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diff --git a/38299-h/38299-h.htm b/38299-h/38299-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce3fc46 --- /dev/null +++ b/38299-h/38299-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7057 @@ +<!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 Under Canvas, by Alan Douglas. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .bbox2 {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .small {font-size: 70%;} + .big {font-size: 110%;} + .bigger {font-size: 210%;} + + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .chaptertitle {text-align: center; font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .adtitle2 {font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + .adtitle {font-size: 200%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .cap {text-align: justify;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts: Under Canvas, 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: The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts: Under Canvas + or, The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost + +Author: Alan Douglas + +Release Date: December 14, 2011 [EBook #38299] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS: UNDER CANVAS *** + + + + +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: 467px;"> +<img src="images/hickory7frontis.png" width="467" height="500" +alt="THE SCOUTS BUSIED THEMSELVES MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMP +MEAL" title="" /> +<span class='caption'>THE SCOUTS BUSIED THEMSELVES MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE +CAMP MEAL<span></div> + + + +<h1>UNDER CANVAS<br /> +OR<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost</span></h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='adtitle2'><span class="smcap">The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts</span></div> + +<div class='center'>A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS<br /> + +By Capt. Alan Douglas, Scout-master<br /> +——————</div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b><span class='big'>The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol</span></b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Their first camping experience affords the scouts splendid opportunities to use +their recently acquired knowledge in a practical way. Elmer <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Chenoweth'">Chenowith</ins>, a lad +from the northwest woods, astonishes everyone by his familiarity with camp +life. A clean, wholesome story every boy should read.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b><br /><span class='big'>Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good</span></b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>This tale presents many stirring situations in which the boys are called upon to +exercise ingenuity and unselfishness. A story filled with healthful excitement.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b><br /><span class='big'>Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot</span></b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected way, greatly to the credit +of our young friends. A variety of incidents follow fast, one after the other.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b><br /><span class='big'>Fast Nine; or, a Challenge from Fairfield</span></b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b><br /><span class='big'>Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop</span></b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b><br /><span class='big'>Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day</span></b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b><br /><span class='big'>Under Canvas; or, The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost</span></b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It was hard to disbelieve the evidence of their eyes but the boys by the +exercise of common-sense solved a mystery which had long puzzled older heads.</p></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b><br /><span class='big'>Storm-bound; or, a Vacation Among the Snow Drifts</span></b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The boys start out on the wrong track, but their scout training comes to the +rescue and their experience proves beneficial to all concerned.</p></div> + +<div class='center'>——————</div> +<div class='center'><b><br /> +Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge Boy<br /> +Scout Series, all illustrated:—<br /> +</b></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Wild Animals of the United States—Tracking—Trees and Wild Flowers of the +United States—Reptiles of the United States—Fishes of the United States—Insects +of the United States and Birds of the United States.</p></div> + +<div class='center'>————————————<br /> +<i>Cloth Binding</i> <i>Cover Illustrations in Four Colors</i> <i>40c. Per Volume</i><br /> +————————————<br /> +<br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b>201 EAST 12th STREET</b> <b>NEW YORK</b><br /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 467px;"> +<img src="images/hickory7frontis.png" width="467" height="500" alt="THE SCOUTS BUSIED THEMSELVES MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMP MEAL" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='bbox'><div class='adtitle2'><span class="center">THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS</span></div></div> + + +<h1>UNDER CANVAS<br /> + +OR<br /> + +<span class="smcap">The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost</span></h1> + + +<div class='center'>BY<br /> +<span class='author'><span class="smcap">Captain</span> ALAN DOUGLAS</span><br /> + +SCOUT MASTER<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="100" height="103" alt="N Y B Co." title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='copyright'> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1915, by</span><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<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">Out for Shell-barks</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">What Happened on the Road</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">Near the Haunt of "Spooks"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">To the Victors Belong the Spoils</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">What a Scout Learns</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Looking Around</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Harvest Time</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">How Elmer's Plan Worked</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">The Camping-out Expedition</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">In for a Glorious Time</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Sacking the Forest Store-house</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">The Midnight Vigil</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">A Strange Figure in White</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Told Around the Camp Fire</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">The Boogie of the Tower</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Homeward Bound—Conclusion</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> +<h2>UNDER CANVAS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>OUT FOR SHELL-BARKS</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Toby</span>, we must be half-way there now; don't +you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Guess you're right about that, Mr. Scout Master; +as near as I can calculate."</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear you say so, Toby, because, excuse +me for saying it, but until I hear something that +sounds like business I'm all up in the air. I've +known you to fool your trusting scout comrades +before this."</p> + +<p>"There you go, George Robbins, suspicious as +ever. No wonder they call you Doubting George. +You never will believe anything till you see it with +your own eyes, and then you often wonder whether +you're awake or dreaming. Now, I told Elmer +here, our Assistant Scout Master, about my plan, +and he took my word for it."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Toby, but unfortunately I +was born different; I'm not so trusting, and things +are mighty deceptive in this world, sometimes."</p> + +<p>A fourth boy of the party in the big wagon broke +into the conversation at this point, by laughing +hoarsely, and going on to remark, with a decided +lisp:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I bet you were, George; and I can thee you +looking up at the doctor and thaying the very first +thing: 'The moon <i>ain't</i> made of green cheeth; +and I won't b'lieve it till you prove the thame to +me, tho there!'"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Ted Burgoyne, don't fall all over +yourself about my shortcomings; I'm not the only +pebble on the beach when it comes to that; there +are others. But to return to the subject. Toby, +here are three of us burning up with curiosity to +know where you're piloting this shell-bark hickory +nut-gathering expedition. You let it out to +Elmer in the start, but the rest of us don't know a +thing about it. You promised to open up when +we'd got far enough along the road so there +wouldn't be any turning back. And there was +something said about half-way; so now's your +chance."</p> + +<p>"I can see you all looking my way," remarked +the fifth boy in khaki, with a peculiar little drawl, +quite musical, to his voice, that stamped him of +Southern birth; "and to hurry things up I move to +make the request unanimous."</p> + +<p>"There, you heard what Chatz Maxfield said, +Toby; take the cover off, and tell us where this +wonderful bonanza lies. You promised that we'd +get every sack we're carrying along filled to the +brim with dandy chestnuts, hickories, and black +walnuts. Why all this mystery? It looks mighty +suspicious to me—excuse me for saying it."</p> + +<p>These five lads, sturdy looking chaps all of them, +belonged to the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +Scouts, Elmer, Ted, Toby and Chatz to the Wolf +Patrol, and George to the Beaver. The troop was +in a flourishing condition, since both patrols had +their full quota of eight members, and a third one, +called the Eagle, was almost complete.</p> + +<p>Elmer Chenowith had long been leader of the +Wolf Patrol, and being a full fledged first-class +scout he had quite some time back secured from +Scout Headquarters his certificate enabling him +to act as Assistant Scout Master in the absence of +the young man, Mr. Roderic Garrabrant, who usually +fulfilled the duties of that important office.</p> + +<p>These bright, wideawake lads, with others of +their chums, had seen considerable in the way of +excitement during the preceding summer. Some +of their adventures and victories have already +been placed before the readers of this Series of +scout books in preceding volumes, so that an extended +introduction to Elmer and his four comrades +is hardly necessary here. What has been +said has only been for the benefit of such readers +as are making their acquaintance for the first time.</p> + +<p>It was on a Saturday morning in Fall that they +were driving over the road some four miles away +from the home town. A sharp frost on the preceding +night was just the thing to make nutting a success, +for it helped open the burrs on the chestnut +trees, as well as caused the hickory nuts and black +walnuts to drop.</p> + +<p>Just before Thanksgiving holidays boys may be +expected to develop a feverish longing for an outing +of some sort. It had struck these scouts in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +full force when Toby Jones confided to them that +he knew a place where almost unlimited amounts +of splendid nuts were to be gathered with very little +trouble, only he declined to reveal his secret +until they were well on the road.</p> + +<p>The consequence was that he had three boys +guessing for the balance of the week; and plaguing +the life out of him in the endeavor to coax him to +tell. But Toby was nothing if not stubborn, and +he only shut those jaws of his tighter, and waved +the tempters away with the remark that some people +called him a clam because he knew how to keep +his lips closed.</p> + +<p>Toby was himself driving the big strong horse +between the shafts of the wagon. The conveyance +belonged to his father, and it sometimes took +all of Toby's strength to hold the frisky animal in.</p> + +<p>Toby's middle name was Ellsworth, given to +him because his grandfather had in the Civil War +been connected with a regiment of Zouaves under +the famous colonel whose death at Alexandria, +Virginia, occurred just about the time hostilities +opened between the North and the South.</p> + +<p>Toby was a strange boy in many ways. He +cherished a burning desire to become a celebrated +aëronaut, and by means of some wonderful invention +that would turn the world upside-down +make the name of Jones famous. As yet, however, +Toby had only succeeded in patching up several +supposed-to-be flying machines, which had +managed to give him a few rough tumbles, though +luckily not any broken bones. His chums never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +knew what he would spring on them next, for he +was constantly grappling with puzzling questions +connected with the science of aviation, and deploring +the fact that there was always something +magnificent just ahead of him that seemed to be +eluding his eager clutch like a will-o'-the-wisp in +the swamp.</p> + +<p>Ted Burgoyne had the misfortune to possess a +hare-lip, which made him lisp. He was not so +sturdy in build as some of his mates, but as smart +as they make them, and with a decided leaning for +the profession of a doctor. Indeed, such was the +extent of his knowledge of surgery and medicine +that he often went by the name of "Doctor Ted." +And having had occasion to perform certain necessary +operations along the line of setting broken +limbs, and bandaging severed arteries, his work +had been commended by several professional +M.D.'s as marvelous.</p> + +<p>When Doubting George made that last plea of +his the driver turned his head and looked at his +companions. He saw an eager glow in the eyes +of the trio who had been kept in the dark up to +that moment with regard to their mysterious destination.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've got along so far that it ain't likely +anybody'll want to turn back, and show the white +feather," he observed, with a quick glance directly +at Chatz Maxfield; "so here goes. We're headed +right now for the old Cartaret place!"</p> + +<p>"Whew! Cartaret's Folly they call it, because +the man who built the same sank a fortune there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +making it beautiful, and then the owls and rats +took charge, which was all of twenty years ago, I +reckon!" George went on to say, first whistling to +mark the surprise he felt over the disclosure.</p> + +<p>"And there's a lot of talk going around to this +day about ghosts being seen in the windows and +around the grounds of that deserted place; but +most people would say that's only old women's +stories. All the same those people who don't believe +in spooks and goblins and all such things +couldn't be hired for any amount of money to camp +out in that big house for just one dark night."</p> + +<p>It was Chatz who made this assertion. All of +his chums knew that Chatz had a deep-rooted vein +of superstition in his system, which it seemed impossible +for him to get rid of. He believed in +spirits coming back to haunt graveyards, and +empty houses where perhaps some violence had +once occurred. Elmer and other scouts had +laughed at him many times, and Chatz even took +himself to task because of his weakness, which he +had probably imbibed through association as a +small child with colored pickaninnies down on the +plantation in South Carolina. Sometimes he +boldly declared he was done with such childish beliefs; +but when an occasion chanced to come along +bearing on the subject it was strange how Chatz +again found himself standing up for his old-time +faith in hobgoblins, and the efficacy of the left +hind-foot of a rabbit shot in a graveyard in the +dark of the moon, to ward off evil influences, and +repel the power of spooks to do bodily harm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was well known that many people shunned the +vicinity of the old Cartaret place, some eight miles +away from Hickory Ridge, because queer stories +passed current concerning white figures seen +stalking about the weed-grown grounds, and looking +out of the open windows of the ruined house. +That was why Toby had been wise enough to keep +his secret until they were so far on the road that +there was little likelihood of any boy venturing to +propose that they abandon the nutting expedition +and return home.</p> + +<p>"Well, I knew some of you fellows would be saying +that," he now remarked; "so I asked Elmer +about it, and he advised me to bottle up till we'd +gone half-way to the place. So now, I hope nobody +wants to go back?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! you needn't look at me that way, Toby," +Chatz hastened to exclaim; "p'raps I may be silly +enough to believe in ghosts, but nobody ever called +me a coward; and where the rest of you go, suh, +Chatz Maxfield can be counted on to follow."</p> + +<p>"Me too!" chirped Ted.</p> + +<p>"P'raps now you may remember that once before +we ran foul of a haunted place up at that old +mill," remarked George, "and it turned out to be +only a bunch of game-fish poachers at work there. +I never did take much stock in ghosts."</p> + +<p>"You never take much stock in anything, suh, I +notice, till you've pulled the same to pieces, and +examined it all ovah," the Southern scout told +him, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Then it theems that you know about the thupply<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +of nuts up at the old Cartaret place, do you, +Toby?" asked Ted.</p> + +<p>"I asked a man who was sent up there only a +couple of weeks back by the lawyers that have the +estate in charge, to look it over and see if it was +worth while to try and repair the ruined house. +And say, he told me he never saw trees loaded +with such a crop of dandy nuts as there were in +that woods back of the house. You never heard +of any fellows going up there to gather hickories, +did you? I guess nobody ever goes inside half a +mile of the place if they c'n help it. And Elmer, +he fell in with my scheme right away. Besides, +you see, I'm taking something with me that I hope +to get a chance to try out on this trip," and Toby +pointed back to a mysterious bundle lying in the +bed of the wagon, on the many gunny-sacks that +had been brought along in order to hold the anticipated +harvest of nuts for winter use.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, well!" George exclaimed, in his +skeptical way, "now chances are that's some other +foolish invention of yours, Toby—a new kind of +flying machine that'll drop you ker-plunk in a frog +pond, or crack your head on a log when you try it +out."</p> + +<p>"Nothing'd ever be accomplished in this world +if everybody had your doubting nature, George," +the driver of the wagon told him; "I happen to be +built on a different model, and p'raps you may live +long enough to hear the name of Jones go thundering +along the pathway of fame on everybody's +lips."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mebbe I will," George told him, "because they +say it's getting mighty near as common as Smith. +But I'd better not say that when my cousin Landy +Smith is around. I only hope this don't turn out +a hoax, that's all. It's going to be an all day trip, +and I'd hate to be sold, and come back with one +measly bag of poor little nuts to be divided among +five."</p> + +<p>"Well, now that you know the dreadful dark +secret, and nobody says turn back home," Toby +announced, with a broad grin, "I'm goin' to invite +the whole bunch to stop off at this wayside grocery +at the crossroads here, and have some sarsaparilla +with me. It's my treat this time."</p> + +<p>As the road had been more or less dusty, and +their throats were accordingly somewhat parched +in consequence, there was no dissenting voice +heard to this generous proposition.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of time to gather all the nuts we want, +and then make an early start for home," Elmer +told them, as Toby pulled near a series of posts +where the horse could be securely hitched.</p> + +<p>"And the best of it is that we've thought to fetch +some stuff along so we can build a fire and have a +cooked dinner," George went on to say, with a +pleased smile; for while he might be given to +doubting many things, he never had occasion to +question his appetite as every one knew—that was +always in positive evidence.</p> + +<p>All of them jumped from the wagon, which had +two seats, so that three boys could sit behind, and +one with the driver. While Toby was doing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +needful with his hitching halter made of rope, the +others stretched their legs, and waited, because it +would be hardly proper for them to troop into the +road grocery ahead of the scout who had invited +them to join him in a refreshing drink.</p> + +<p>A hulking boy was leaning against the fence +near by, and observing the five scouts in a leering +sort of way.</p> + +<p>"Huh! that's Angus McDowd, one of that Fairfield +bunch we beat at baseball last summer," muttered +Toby, as he happened to glance over, and +noticed the other observing them with a sneer on +his face.</p> + +<p>"Never liked him for a thent!" Ted was heard +to say in a low cautious tone; for the other boy +was a strapping big chap, and if provoked might +give them more or less trouble, in a desire to fight +them one after the other, as he had the reputation +of being something of a bruiser.</p> + +<p>"My stars! but he was mad that day we won +the game, though, let me tell you, suh!" observed +Chatz; "and he did his level best to get in a scrap +with some of our fellows. Felix Wagner and +Tom Ballinger had to lead him away, you remember. +He doesn't like the boys of Hickory Ridge +any too well, believe me, fellows."</p> + +<p>They all went inside the little dusty-looking +building, where some enterprising man had started +a wayside grocery, and general store, at which you +could purchase nearly anything from a paper of +needles to a coffin, or an automobile tire, and gasoline.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>Fortunately the man happened to have some +stray bottles of soft drinks like sarsaparilla and +root beer that must have been left over from his +summer trade; and presently each of the scouts +was washing the dust down his throat.</p> + +<p>Altogether they may have spent about ten minutes +in the store; and then after Toby had settled +the account, they again passed out to the wagon.</p> + +<p>The loitering Fairfield boy had disappeared, as +Elmer noted when he looked over toward the fence +where Angus McDowd had been standing on their +arrival.</p> + +<p>"Now, what ails you for a silly thing, Nancy?" +said Toby, as the mare laid back her ears, and +pranced at their approach. "Been getting too +much oats lately, I reckon, with too little exercise. +Well, you won't be feeling so fresh and frisky by +the time we get back home to-night. That load +of nuts is going to make you puff, let me tell you. +Pile in, fellows, while I unfasten the hitching rope. +Whoa! there, don't you dare try to bite me, you +horse with the nasty temper! Why, this is a new +trick for you to show. Grab the lines, won't you, +Elmer? The blame nag's that anxious to show +off she'd leave me in the lurch! Let up, there, +can't you?"</p> + +<p>It was only by making a hasty jump that agile +Toby managed to gain his seat, to take the taut +lines from Elmer's hands. Immediately the mare +commenced to rear up in a most remarkable manner. +Then, taking the bit between her teeth, she +started along the road, fortunately in the right<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +direction, at a whirlwind pace, amidst a cloud of +dust, and with the three scouts who had been sitting +on the second seat tumbling around in a heap +in the bed of the wagon, all of them having been +thrown backward.</p> + +<p>Even as the grocery keeper came running out of +the door to see what was the matter, and while they +were still within hearing distance of the place, +Elmer felt sure he saw a head rise into view above +the pig-pen situated on one side of the road, and +could recognize the grinning face of that Fairfield +loafer, Angus McDowd.</p> + +<p>There was no time to say anything. The mare +was undoubtedly running away, and the wagon +flinging from side to side in the road, as Toby +stood half erect, pulling with might and main on +the lines in the endeavor to hold the frantic animal +in.</p> + +<p>It began to look like croaking George might have +been right when he said he doubted whether the +nutting expedition would be much of a success.</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'>WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Hold</span> her in, Toby!" George was heard to +shout, as he floundered around in the midst of the +gunny sacks, with the other two scouts straddling +him half the time.</p> + +<p>"Whoop! we ain't in thuch a hurry ath all that, +Toby. Get a grip on the linth, Elmer, and help +him pull. Oh! what a quack I got then on my +head. I bet you I'll have a lump ath big ath a +gooth egg! Quit clawing me, George; I can't help +it if I do climb all over you. Look at the way the +wagon thwings, would you?"</p> + +<p>Elmer did not need to be told that it was his +duty to assist Toby control the runaway animal. +No matter what the cause of the beast's strange +fright might turn out to be, their first business was +to drag so heavily on the lines that Nancy would +have to moderate her wild pace.</p> + +<p>Accordingly both of the boys pulled and sawed +and jerked until the mare was made to come to a +full stop. This occurred fully a mile away from +the wayside grocery, which was long ago lost to +sight behind several bends in the road.</p> + +<p>"Jump out and hold her, some of you other fellows!" +gasped Toby, short of breath after his violent +exertions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>Chatz, George and Ted all hastened to obey. +They had been tumbled around in the bed of the +big wagon at such a lively rate that they were +only too glad of the chance to gain their feet. +Held by a stout boy on either side the mare did +not offer to run further, though still acting very +strangely.</p> + +<p>Elmer had once spent some time up on an uncle's +ranch in Northwest Canada; and knew a heap +about horses. He had sometimes seen animals act +this way, and had before then guessed what might +be the matter.</p> + +<p>"Hold her steady, everybody, and let me look +around a little," was what he called, as he jumped +down, and began patting the sweaty back of the +trembling animal.</p> + +<p>A minute later and they heard him give an angry +exclamation.</p> + +<p>"I thought as much," Elmer was saying, as he +held up his hand; "look what was fixed under her +tail."</p> + +<p>"Say, that seems like a bunch of those nasty +little sand spurs that sting and poison like all get-out!" +exclaimed George, and it might have been +noticed that this time he showed no signs of his +customary doubting spirit.</p> + +<p>"Just what they are," Elmer went on to say, +indignation in his whole manner.</p> + +<p>"But how—when—where?" began Ted, when +Chatz burst out with:</p> + +<p>"He did it, Elmer, that skunk of a McDowd. +Must have thought it'd be a fine way to pay back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +what he believed he owed the Hickory Ridge boys. +The low-down coward, to hurt a hoss that way."</p> + +<p>"But why, he might have made some of us get +thrown out, and hurt right bad in the bargain!" +exclaimed George, angrily.</p> + +<p>"Much he'd have cared for that," Toby panted; +"and didn't I just think I heard a silly laugh at +the time Nancy started to rear up, and prance like +a crazy thing? That must a been Angus. And +like as not he's doubled up back there right now +laughing over seeing how we got thrown around +in the wagon because of his sand spur trick. For +five cents I'd turn around, and go back to give him +the licking he needs."</p> + +<p>"Don't bother thinking about that," Elmer told +him. "It was a mean trick, and I've known men +to get a halter out on the plains for playing that +same game. But we got out of the hole without +any damage, only to our feelings; so let's forget +it."</p> + +<p>The others were usually swayed more or less by +what Elmer thought or did. He was a natural +leader, and it had become second nature for the +other scouts to look to him for advice, whenever +an emergency arose.</p> + +<p>"Guess the poor frightened thing'll stand now, +fellows, without holding her any more," Toby suggested; +"so climb back on your seat; and be more +careful next time how you let go your hold. It's +a wonder none of you got dumped out when you +tilted over backward."</p> + +<p>Just as he said, the animal seemed to have partly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +recovered from her mad fright occasioned by the +pain the little sharp-pointed burrs inflicted. +Though still trembling, and acting in a skittish +manner, she gave signs of being docile enough to +be driven.</p> + +<p>The three scouts hastened to climb in at the +back of the wagon, and after securing the gunny +sacks, as well as the large package belonging to +Toby, they once more found seats for themselves. +George and Chatz, however, it might be noticed, +made sure to get a firm grip somewhere on the +side of the wagon; while Ted, being in the middle, +threw an arm around each of his chums, as though +he depended on them to sustain him, should another +runaway occur.</p> + +<p>They were soon going along at a fair clip, +though Toby had to "lean" pretty heavily on the +lines in order to hold the big bay mare in, for he +did not think it advisable to let her have her head +again. The next time she made such a mad spurt +as that they might not find it so easy to get her to +stop.</p> + +<p>"What d'ye reckon possessed that coward to +play such a mean trick on us?" Toby wanted to +know.</p> + +<p>"Oh! he had it in him, that's all, and when the +chance came around he just couldn't help himself," +Elmer told him, for the Assistant Scout +Master was somewhat of a philosophical boy, and +able to figure out things that might puzzle some +of his tent mates.</p> + +<p>"Next time I see that Angus he'll hear my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +opinion of a sneak who could play a dirty trick +like that!" continued the driver, vigorously.</p> + +<p>"Thame here!" chirped Ted. "And if he +giveth me any thath I'll pull hith red noth for him, +thee if I don't."</p> + +<p>"All I can say is, keep your eye out for sledge +hammer punches if ever you go to pulling <i>his</i> +nose," warned George; "because he's a born +scrapper, and would as soon fight as eat."</p> + +<p>"Let's forget about that little affair," suggested +Elmer; "no use crying over spilt milk, and +what's done can't be undone. Toby, suppose you +tell us a little more about this nut grove up at the +old Cartaret place; because if I remember rightly +you said you'd been asking everybody all about +the estate."</p> + +<p>"Why, old Judge Cartaret, the rich man who +built up the place, meaning to live there with his +young and handsome wife, went crazy, they say, +after he'd found her dead in her room. The mystery +never was cleared up. To this day some people +say she was murdered by a man she once +promised to marry before the millionaire judge +came along; another lot seem to believe she committed +suicide because the judge was so cruel, and +wouldn't let her leave the place; and one man told +me he always had believed ever since he was a boy +that the judge struck her down in a fit of passion. +But of course those things don't cut any figure +with us."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary," interrupted Chatz, who had +been listening to all these horrors with wide-open<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +eyes, and a look of intense interest on his dark +face, "they strike me as being decidedly interesting, +suh. If I had a chance I'd like to investigate +this queer thing, and perhaps learn what did happen +in that big house ever so many years ago."</p> + +<p>"But how about the nut treeth, Toby, did the +judge plant the thame when he wath trying to +make a thut-in paradith for that pretty bride of +hith?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what he did, boys, so they told +me," Toby continued, readily consenting to be +squeezed for information; "he planted a whole lot +of chestnuts, walnuts and shell-bark hickories that +have been growing for several dozen years. +They're busting big trees, and just breaking down +with the finest crop ever known, and with never a +single fellow brave enough up to this time to go +there and gather the harvest. Why, when I heard +what that man had to say about it, I was fairly +wild to be off. And believe me, boys, we'll make +the eyes of the other fellows stick out of their +heads like fun when they see what an enormous +supply of nuts we've gathered for next winter +around the fire. Yum! yum! I always did say +that a plate of red-cheeked apples, a dish of fresh +popped corn, and a pocketful of nuts beats all +creation on a stormy night, winter times."</p> + +<p>"Believe it when I see it!" muttered skeptical +George, who undoubtedly thought this wonderful +harvest was too good to turn out to be true; after +they had arrived on the ground, very probably it +would only be to find that the trees had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +stripped of their burden of nuts by some hardy +souls who did not place much credence in the +stories of the ghost said to haunt the place; something +was always on the eve of turning up to keep +George from reaping success, it seemed.</p> + +<p>"No use talking," observed the disgusted Toby, +"George never will be convinced till he begins to +load up the wagon with bags running over with +nuts. And even then he'll expect some white-sheeted +ghost to step up, and demand that we +throw every one of the same back again where we +found them. You couldn't convince him of a +single thing till he's had a chance to prove it over +and over again."</p> + +<p>"Learned that in school when I was doin' problems," +George declared with one of his most exasperating +grins; "which was why I always passed +with such a high percentage in arithmetic and +algebra. They said I'd make a fine carpenter, because +I'd always measure my boards again and +again before I cut 'em, and that way there never'd +be any mistakes about my sawing."</p> + +<p>"And a great carpenter you'd make, George," +chuckled Toby; "why, you'd take everlasting and +a day just to get your foundation started. The +folks would all die off waiting for you to finish +your job. A carpenter—whew! excuse me if you +please from ever employing a mechanic who +spends all his time figgering out how things could +be so and so."</p> + +<p>"But we must be within a mile or two of the +place by now, fellows," Elmer told them about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +that time, "so if you hold up a little we'll soon +know the worst or the best. I'm of the opinion +myself that what Toby says is going to turn out +true; for nobody ever goes near the Cartaret place +these days. Lots of boys around home never +even heard about it; and others couldn't be coaxed +or hired to explore around a place they call +haunted."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm not the only silly believer in ghosts," +Chatz told them, looking pleased at what Elmer +had just said, "for misery always likes company, +and you'll remember, suh, how the sly old fox +that had fallen into a well told the goat looking +down that it was a lovely place to drop in; and +when Billy had taken him at his word he hopped +on the goat's back and jumped out. But if I have +half a chance I expect to prowl around more or +less while we're up heah, and see if the stories +I've heard about this queer old rookery could ever +have been true. Why, they even say the judge +had the house built so that it was like a big prison, +or some sort of asylum."</p> + +<p>Chatz was full of his subject, and might have +wandered on still further, once he got fairly +started, only for a sudden movement on the part +of Elmer. Sitting alongside the driver it was the +easiest thing going for that worthy to seize the +reins and with a quick strain on the same bring +the mare to a full stop.</p> + +<p>"Why, what under the sun!" began the astonished +Toby, when Elmer clapped his hand over his +mouth and immediately said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hush! be still! Look what's coming out of +that side road ahead there!" and at the same time +he pointed with his disengaged hand.</p> + +<p>All of the others hastened to do as he requested. +There, in plain sight, though their own vehicle was +partly hidden by the foliage still clinging to the +bushes that jutted out at a bend of the road, was a +two-horse wagon, containing four boys, in whom +they readily recognized some of the toughest elements +around the town of Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>As the other wagon rattled into the main road, +and went speedily on without the occupants once +looking toward them, Elmer and his chums exchanged +troubled glances.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>NEAR THE HAUNT OF THE "SPOOKS"</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">We</span> might as well hold up here a little bit, so +as to let that crowd pass on," suggested George. +"I never did take any stock in Connie Mallon anyway. +He's got a pretty bad name down around +our way. My father says he'll land in the penitentiary +before he's two years older, except he reforms, +and I'd never believe he'd change his +ways."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Elmer, I wonder now, could they know +about those splendid nuts, and mean to skin the +trees ahead of us?" exclaimed Toby, as though +nearly overwhelmed by a staggering thought.</p> + +<p>"You've some reason for saying that, Toby?" +Elmer told him.</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you know, it flashed over me just +like a stroke of lightning," was what Toby went +on to say, excitedly, a troubled look on his face. +"You remember that when I was talking to you +over the telephone, Elmer, and telling you about +wanting to get the boys to come up here with me +Saturday, I said several times somebody was +rubbering, and once even told 'em to get off the +wire, which they did, only to come on again."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do remember something like that," admitted +the other scout.</p> + +<p>"Well, our telephone is on a four-party line, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +one of the other three houses is Jackson's down +the street. Phil Jackson is one of the cronies of +Connie Mallon, and he's sitting there in that +wagon right now."</p> + +<p>"Then you think he must have heard all you +were telling me that man said about the immense +crop of nuts up here at the Cartaret place, and has +put the others wise to it?" Elmer asked.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't put it past Phil a minute!" Toby +declared, with an expression of pain, "and now it +looks like we mightn't get what we came after, unless +we fight for it."</p> + +<p>"I knew it!" muttered George; "call me a +doubter all you want, but let me tell you things +ain't always what they seem. There's a string +tied to nearly everything you think you're going +to get so easy. Oh! I know what I'm talking +about, and for one I'm not surprised at anything +happening."</p> + +<p>"Don't throw up the sponge so easy, George," +Elmer told him. "We may have our troubles, but +scouts are supposed to be wide-awake enough to +know how to overcome any kind of difficulties that +happen along. As Sheridan said at the battle of +Cedar Creek, we'll have those camps back, or the +nuts in our case, or know the reason why."</p> + +<p>"Lithen to that kind of talk, would you?" burst +out Ted, brimming over with confidence in their +leader; "why, we haven't begun to get buthy yet. +That Connie may think he'th tholen a march on +our crowd, but thay, he'll have to cut hith eye-teeth +before he can beat Elmer here laying planths."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It may turn out to be a false alarm, after all, +boys," Elmer continued, while Toby still restrained +the impatient Nancy; "but even if we get +there to find that they're on the ground ahead +of us, we'll hatch up a scheme to turn the tables on +that crowd, I give you my word for it."</p> + +<p>"That's the ticket!" Chatz exclaimed, being inclined +to display an impetuous style of talk and +action, as became his hot Southern blood; "if +they've sneaked this idea from Toby by listening +over the wire they've got no business up here. +I'd call it rank piracy, and treat the lot like I would +buccaneers of the Spanish Main. Why, it'd serve +'em right if that ghost they tell about jumped out +at them, and sent the lot scampering off like crazy +things."</p> + +<p>"That's just what I had in my mind, Chatz," +said Elmer, chuckling; "and perhaps we'll find +some way to coax the spook to help us out."</p> + +<p>"Elmer's got the dandy idea, all right," said +George; "you leave him alone, and he'll sure bring +home the bacon. But how much longer do we +have to stay here? I wonder if anybody's getting +cold feet about now?"</p> + +<p>"Speak for yourself, George!" cried Toby; +"I'm for going on three times as much as I was +before we saw that bunch cutting in ahead of us. +When Elmer gives me the word I'll start things +moving."</p> + +<p>"You might do that now," said the leader, "but +take it slow, Toby. I want to keep an eye on the +track of their wheels. If they turn off at any fork<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +in the road, or into the woods, we want to know +it."</p> + +<p>"Thith theems to be getting mighty interethting," +observed Ted; "and I want to thay right +now that I've got tho much confidence in Elmer +and the whole of our crowd that I'd call the +chances five to one we'll go home with a full cargo +thith afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Good boy, Ted; and I second that motion!" +Chatz announced, heatedly.</p> + +<p>The mare was allowed her head, but Toby kept +a tight rein, so that they did not begin to whirl +along with half the speed the other wagon had displayed +as it came out of the side road on to the +main thoroughfare.</p> + +<p>Elmer kept his gaze firmly fixed ahead, where +he could plainly see the marks of that other vehicle +in the dust of the road. Thus they continued for +a short time; then the leader put out his hand, and +Toby again pulled in.</p> + +<p>"They've left the road, and entered the woods +back there twenty feet or so," the acting scout +master told them.</p> + +<p>"On the left, wasn't it, Elmer, that they turned +out?" asked Chatz, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Just what it was, which shows that you were +using your eyes, as a scout should always do," +came the reply. "Back up, Toby, and we'll follow +suit."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we're at the place already?" +asked Toby.</p> + +<p>"I certainly do, though I'm some surprised that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +they knew where to hit that little grass covered +wagon-road that led off among the trees," Elmer +replied. "It was once used as a way through the +forest to the rear of the Cartaret place, so I was +told when I asked a man about it who used to work +for the judge long ago. They must have been busy +doing some of the same kind of missionary work, +because I don't believe any of them has ever been +up here before—to stop I mean."</p> + +<p>"Well, what if we get in where the nut trees are +growing to find that lot skinning every tree, and +ready to put up a rattling fight before they'll let +us have even a look-in; what are we goin' to do +about it?" Toby wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"First of all we'll just hang around, and watch +them work," Elmer declared.</p> + +<p>"That's all very fine, Elmer," interposed +George, who was always the first one with any objection; +"but once they cover the ground with +nuts, we'd find it a hard proposition to chase +the bunch away, and lay claim to what they'd gathered."</p> + +<p>"But they'd be really <i>our</i> nuts," interrupted +Toby, "because didn't the bright idea flash right +into this brain of mine; and ain't first discoverers +entitled to the land always? It's the rule of the +world. They hooked the idea from me by unfair +means, and ain't entitled to any consideration at +our hands. If Elmer can manage to scare them +away you watch and see how quick I'll start to filling +my bag with some of the nuts they've knocked +down."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I only want the chance to do the thame," Ted +insinuated.</p> + +<p>"Ditto here, because, as we said, they're only a +pack of wolves or pirates, and have no rights +honest people are bound to respect," Chatz added +as his quota to the discussion; "after we've filled +all our bags, if there happens to be some more +nuts to be had why they're welcome to the same. +Gentlemen first, every time, we believe, down our +way."</p> + +<p>"Pull up, and let's listen, Toby," Elmer counseled; +"I thought I heard a shout or two just then; +and perhaps they've started to work."</p> + +<p>When the mare had been made to stand they +could all readily hear the sounds that welled up +some little distance ahead. Loud laughter and +boyish shouts attested to the fact that a party of +nut gatherers must be busily engaged in the grove; +for with other sounds could be heard the plain +swish of poles beating the branches of the trees in +an effort to rattle the nuts down.</p> + +<p>"Just our luck!" muttered George, disconsolately.</p> + +<p>"Well, what would you have?" demanded Toby, +like a flash; "it ain't every bunch that can have a +lot of fellows knock down their nuts for 'em, is +it? Think of all the hard work it's going to save +us. Elmer, the more I look at that grand little +scheme of yours the better I like it. Go it, Connie, +Phil and your mates; keep the ball arollin' +right along. The more the merrier, say we. And +now, Elmer, do we hide our rig somewhere around,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +so they won't happen on the same if they come to +skip out of that grove in a big hurry?"</p> + +<p>"That's the idea, Toby," Elmer told him; "turn +out to the left here, and we'll like as not run across +a good hide-out for the wagon. When we've got +the nuts all sacked we can come back for the outfit, +and head for home."</p> + +<p>A short time later they found the place they +were looking for. It offered concealment for the +wagon and the mare; and Toby soon had the latter +securely hitched to a limb.</p> + +<p>"Fetch the bags along with you, boys," remarked +Elmer at this stage of the proceedings, +and picking up several himself as an example.</p> + +<p>Toby saw that the others had cleaned out the +entire assortment of sacks, which fact caused him +to grin with satisfaction. He calmly secured the +rather bulky package that lay in the bottom of the +wagon, and trotted after the rest of the scouts.</p> + +<p>They made a sort of detour in approaching the +spot where all that noise announced a busy lot of +boys covering the ground with shell-barks and +other varieties of choice nuts.</p> + +<p>"Whee! looky over there, Chatz; ain't that the +house you c'n see through the trees? I never +thought I'd ever have the nerve to come up here, +and break in on the enchanted ground given over +to hobgoblins and spooks and owls ever so many +years."</p> + +<p>When George said this in a low and rather shaky +tone he clutched the arm of the Southern boy, and +pointed toward the left. Of course Chatz eagerly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +followed the line of his extended finger; for he had +been wishing to catch the first glimpse of the +haunted house for several minutes back.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's it, all right, George," he replied, +with a sighing breath, as though something he had +long yearned to see was now before him.</p> + +<p>"Come on, you fellows back there," said Elmer, +who did not like to have them lagging so; and +accordingly George and Chatz hurried their steps.</p> + +<p>It was certainly anything but a cheerful place, +for a fact. The trees were very much overgrown, +and the undergrowth had year after year increased +its hold until it would have been difficult to force +one's way through this, only for wandering cows +having made paths which could be followed.</p> + +<p>"Elmer, I c'n see 'em workin' like beavers over +there!" whispered Toby, who had forged alongside +the leader, still burdened with that package +which the others believed must contain some new +fangled contraption of his connected with the +science of aviation.</p> + +<p>The five scouts gathered in a group, being careful +not to expose themselves in a way to draw attention. +They could see a boy in a chestnut tree, +and plainly hear the rattle of nuts from the opened +burrs, whenever he switched the branches with +the long pole he was carrying, secured somewhere +in the woods near by.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever hear it hail nuts like that in all +your born days?" gasped George as they stood +there, sheltered by the bushes and watched operations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! listen to him talk from the other side of +his mouth, fellows?" Toby muttered. "George +has seen a big light; he ain't a doubter any longer, +you notice. He hears the rattle of the nuts, and +sees 'em falling like hail. Talk to me about +beavers and busy bees, that crowd would take the +cake for business. Look at that one climbing to +the very top of the hickory tree to get the best nuts +that always grow up high. There he starts in +slashing, and it's like a regular bombardment on +the ground. If they get away with all that lot I'll +die of a broken heart. There never was, and there +never will be again, such a bully chance to lay in a +big winter's supply of nuts in double-quick time. +And I never did like to take other people's leavings."</p> + +<p>"Make up your mind to it we don't have to," +Elmer assured him.</p> + +<p>"Might as well make ourselves comfy while +we're about it," suggested George, as he dropped +down, and sat tailor-fashion, with his legs doubled +under him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, for we may have to stay here quite some +time," admitted Elmer, copying his example without +hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Ain't it nice to watch other people working for +you?" observed Ted, after a while.</p> + +<p>"Only they don't know it," added George; "but, +Elmer, suppose you give the rest of us a hint +what you mean to do. I see you've been cutting +the bark off that white birch tree, and got the same +in your hand. It's used for marking canoes, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +picture frames as well. Some persons even write +on the brown back of the bark, but I don't think +you mean to send them a notice from spookland, +telling them that if they don't clear out instanter +the bully old ghosts will grab them tight?"</p> + +<p>"Not the kind of message you're thinking +about," replied Elmer, smiling. "In the first +place I don't know what sort of hand writing +ghosts would be apt to use; and then again, I don't +believe they'd pay much attention to that sort of +thing. Watch and see if you can guess now."</p> + +<p>With that he rolled the large strip of bark so +that it looked like a great cornucopia. So had +Elmer seen Indian guides fashion a horn when +wishing to call the aggressive moose on a dark +night, away up in Northern latitudes.</p> + +<p>"Oh! now I see what you're meaning to do!" +exclaimed George; "that looks like a regular +megaphone now, the kind they use when there's a +boat race on, or at college games. You're going +to throw a scare into them by whooping it up +through a horn; is that right, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"You've hit it to a fraction, George, because +that's exactly what I'm meaning to do with this +birch bark horn. And as some of the bunch have +started to slip down the trees even now, thinking +they've got enough nuts on the ground to keep +them busy picking the same up, we'll watch until +they've gathered all they want, and then you'll see +some fun—that is, it'll be fun at this end, but a +serious business for them. Lie low when I give +you the signal."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>They hovered there for a full hour while the +four boys were gathering the nuts, and stowing +them away in sacks that had been brought for the +purpose.</p> + +<p>At last Elmer decided that matters had gone far +enough. There were evidences that one of the +boys had been sent to fetch the horses and wagon +up, in order to load the numerous bags that had +been filled. So cautioning his chums to lie low so +they might not give the game away, Elmer raised +the bark horn to his lips.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>"TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOILS"</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">So</span> far as the other scouts knew, Elmer Chenowith +had never seen such a mystery as a real ghost +in all his life; and he certainly had not heard one +groan, or give any kind of sound. Consequently +his imagination was called upon to conjure up a +series of queer, blood curdling noises such as an +orthodox specter, fresh from the world of shades, +might be expected to utter when tremendously excited.</p> + +<p>Josh and George afterwards confessed that if +they had not known it was the scout master who +amused himself in this way, they too might have +shivered in their shoes. As for the Southern boy, +he lay there amidst the brush, and kept his eyes +glued all the time on the face of Elmer, as though +he dared not depend on his knowledge of facts, +but must back this up with the positive evidence of +his eyes.</p> + +<p>Once Chatz even cautiously put out his hand, +and gently felt of Elmer's khaki sleeve; it was a +mute confession that while never a doubter like +George, the boy from Dixie had to be convinced +when it was a matter of superstition.</p> + +<p>But the main thing, of course, was what effect +Elmer's groaning might have upon the four boys +who had stolen a march upon the scouts, and +reached the harvest of nuts in advance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>No sooner had the first sounds begun to rise than +they looked up with startled expressions on their +faces. Of course, like nearly every other person +in town, the quartette must have heard strange +stories connected with the abandoned Cartaret +place, for such things have a way of traveling +from one end of a county to another, being eagerly +repeated even by many who would scorn to admit +their belief in such silly notions as ghosts.</p> + +<p>Before coming up here perhaps Connie and +Phil, with the other two fellows, may have talked +things over seriously, and expressed many a fervid +hope that their piratical operations might not be +interrupted by any visit from a spectral guardian, +such as was said to watch over the place.</p> + +<p>The first thing they did was to stare at each +other, while their mouths could be seen to open +with astonishment.</p> + +<p>Elmer changed his key, and gave them another +sample of the weird sounds capable of being +coaxed from a birch bark horn. He certainly was +making a great success of his music, his comrades +thought, as they lay there and waited to be invited +to have a share in the proceedings, according to +agreement.</p> + +<p>Toby afterwards solemnly declared that he could +see the caps of the four frightened boys start to +rise, as their hair stood on end; though an element +of doubt always surrounded this statement; for +Toby was so excited himself that possibly his +imagination worked over-time.</p> + +<p>With the change in tune the boys seemed to regain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +in some measure the command of their faculties; +at least they were able to rush close together, +as though seeing protection in mutual sympathy. +It was a plain case of "united we stand, divided +we fall!" And clutching at one another they continued +to shiver and listen,—meanwhile looking all +around, as though more than half expecting to discover +some terrible figure bearing down on them.</p> + +<p>Elmer would have been only too happy to have +provided such a specter for their accommodation; +but unfortunately he had not come prepared to +launch such a thing. Ghosts were hardly in his +line; and in lieu of a specimen for exhibition purposes +he was compelled to do the best he could +with the material on hand; which is always a cardinal +principle with scouts.</p> + +<p>"Now!"</p> + +<p>When Elmer hissed this single word his four +chums knew that their time had come to get into +the game. The snake had been "scotched, not +killed," as Josh later on aptly described it. No +matter how much frightened Connie Mallon and +his cronies might seem to be, if they stood by their +guns what would the advantage amount to? The +affair must be turned into a regular rout in order +that the scouts might reap the full benefit.</p> + +<p>Accordingly all of them got busy immediately. +George pounded on a hollow log with a heavy +stick, and managed to produce a series of throbbing +sounds that were likely to add to the consternation +of the listeners; Ted clapped two stones +together; while Toby and Chatz rattled the brush<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +violently, and added a few choice groans of their +own manufacture as good measure.</p> + +<p>It was enough, yes more than sufficient.</p> + +<p>Human nature had reached its limit, so far as +those alarmed fellows were concerned. Undoubtedly +they must have become convinced that +their raid on the preserves of the ghostly guardian +of the haunted Cartaret place had aroused the ire +of the said defender, and that they were now in +deadly danger of being seized by bony hands.</p> + +<p>Of course Connie and his followers were raw +novices in matters connected with haunts, and all +such things, or they would have known that no self +respecting ghost was ever caught giving +public exhibitions of his oddities in broad daylight. +The gloom of night, or the weird light of +the moon, has always had a monopoly of these +thrilling diversions.</p> + +<p>When Connie Mallon suddenly gave a tremendous +spring forward, and started on a full +run, there was no holding the other three back. +They went plunging madly on in his wake, paying +little attention to the direction they took, so long +as their flight promised to carry them away from +those dreadful manifestations.</p> + +<p>Elmer did not stop his labors; in fact he even +went to some pains to increase the racket, under +the impression that once you get a thing started +it is good policy to keep it moving.</p> + +<p>He had distinctly warned the others, however, +not to allow their excitement to overlap their discretion; +for should one of them so far forget himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +enough to give vent to a genuine boyish shout, +perhaps the panic-stricken quartette might become +wise to the fact that they were being made victims +to a great hoax.</p> + +<p>"Come on, let's chase after them a bit, fellows!" +Elmer told them, between his puffs +through the birch bark megaphone; "but keep well +back, so that they can't get a look-in at us if they +turn their heads. Noise is what we want, and +plenty of the right kind."</p> + +<p>Acting on his suggestion the others trailed after +their leader. They swished in and out of the +bushes, and accompanied their progress with all +manner of novel sounds, each of which was calculated +to add just a mite more to the alarm of the +fugitives.</p> + +<p>More than once they heard loud cries of pain +coming from ahead, as one of the runners collided +with some tree which had not been noticed in his +terror; or else found himself tripped up by a wild +grape-vine that lay in wait for unwary feet. As +Toby declared later on, all this was "just pie" for +the chasers; they feasted off it, and seemed to enjoy +the run immensely; which was more than the +Mallon boy, with his three cronies, could ever say.</p> + +<p>At least Connie seemed to have kept his head +about him in one important particular, which +pleased Elmer very much; he knew in which direction +lay their wagon, for which he had been in the +act of sending one of his companions at the very +moment this awful clamor broke out which had +started them in full flight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>The neigh of a horse close at hand told Elmer +what was happening, and he immediately held his +eager clan in. Far be it from them to wish to delay +the departure of the Mallon tribe, whose room +was worth far more to the scouts than their company.</p> + +<p>"Wait, and listen!" said Elmer, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"You didn't get the whole of that straight, +Elmer," Toby told him, quickly, in a low, husky +voice; "you ought to have said, 'Stop! Look! +Listen!' That's the way it always is at railroad +crossings!"</p> + +<p>"Hist! Be still!" cautioned the leader.</p> + +<p>They could hear loud excited voices near by, accompanied +by the stamping of horses' hoofs, as +though the excitement had communicated to the +team used by Connie Mallon and his three cronies +in their rival nutting expedition.</p> + +<p>"Now, let's start up again, and add the finishing +touches!" Elmer told the others, when a dozen +more seconds had dragged past, and they felt they +might safely assume that the fugitives must have +untied the team, as well as scrambled into the +wagon.</p> + +<p>Once again did that strange chorus break forth, +with Elmer groaning through his birch bark horn, +and the others doing all in their power to accompany +him in regular orthodox ghostly style, in as +far as their limited education along these lines +went.</p> + +<p>Taken altogether the racket was certainly +enough to scare almost any one. Snorts and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +prancing on the part of the horses announced that +they were now sharing the general excitement. +Then came cries urging haste, and presently the +plain unmistakable smack of a whip being brought +down with decided emphasis on the backs of the +animals, several times repeated.</p> + +<p>With that there was the crunch of wheels, and +away dashed the two-horse wagon, making for the +road which Connie knew must not be far away. +Once or twice the scouts had fugitive glimpses of +the departing vehicle as it flashed past small glades +where the view happened to be unobstructed; and +it was certainly "killing," as George called it, to +see those fellows bouncing about in the bed of the +wagon, holding on for dear life, and with Connie +plying the whip savagely, while the horses leaped +and tugged and strained to make fast time over +the uneven floor of the woods.</p> + +<p>The echoes of the flight grew fainter in the distance, +and presently as they stood there the scouts +could tell from the change in sounds that those +who were fleeing from the wrath of the ghosts +must have reached the harder road, for the hoof +beats of the horses came with a pounding stroke.</p> + +<p>Gradually even this was dying away. Then the +five boys turned and looked at each other, with +their faces wreathed in huge grins.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Elmer, is it safe to let off steam +now?" demanded Toby, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"If you're careful not to be too noisy, go it!" +came the reply.</p> + +<p>With that Toby threw himself flat on his back,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +and began to kick his heels up in the air, all the +while laughing, and giving queer gurglings that +were meant to serve his pent-up emotions about +as the escape valve of a boiler does when the steam +presses too heavily on the boiler, and relief is +necessary.</p> + +<p>He was not alone in his hilarity, although the +merriment of the others partook of a different +nature. Ted, Chatz and George went around +shaking hands, and assuring each other that never +in all their lives had they ever run across a more +ridiculous diversion than this flight of the bold +nut-gatherers.</p> + +<p>"Talk to me about Napoleon's retreat from +Moscow," said George, who prided himself on his +knowledge of history, "why, it wasn't in the same +category as that wonderful escape of the Connie +Mallon gang from the raid of the Cartaret ghosts. +And say, what thrilling stories they'll have to tell +about it all! Believe me, the whole Hickory +Ridge will know about it by night time. Oh! I'll +never forget it! I haven't had so much fun for a +whole year as to-day. It was worth coming +twenty miles just to see them on the jump."</p> + +<p>"Why," observed Ted, after he could regain +his breath in part, "that Phil Jackthon took the +cake when it came to covering ground. Did you +thee him clear that log like a buck? I bet you he +made a record jump that time, and beat anything +he ever marked up on the thlate at a match."</p> + +<p>"Well, they're gone, all right," said Chatz; +"and from the way they whipped their poor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +hosses I'd like to guess they'll keep on the wild +run till they get home. And there isn't much +chance that we'll be bothered again by that Mallon +bunch to-day; how about that, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"You can set that down as certain," replied the +one spoken to. "It would take more spunk than +any of that crowd happens to own for them to +change their minds, and come back here. And +that's why I wanted you to be careful not to give +the secret away. We've got the field to ourselves +the rest of the day."</p> + +<p>"Unless something comes along to give us a +scare too," added Chatz, meaningly; for truth to +tell, the superstitious Southern boy was already +wondering whether all this playing ghost on their +part might not bring something down on their +heads savoring of retribution.</p> + +<p>"Then what's to hinder our getting busy, and +changing all that pile of fine nuts from their sacks +to ours?" George wanted to know. "The spoils +of battle belong to the victors every time; and besides, +they were trying to beat us out of our share +as first discoverers. For one I ain't a bit +ashamed to grab everything. Let that silly bunch +wake up earlier next time, if they mean to get +away with the game."</p> + +<p>What Elmer may have thought just then he did +not say; but his ideas were certainly not so pronounced +as those of George, who was a pretty +blunt fellow, one of the "give-and-take" kind.</p> + +<p>As they were all of one mind a start back was +made; and Toby, not wishing to be left in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +lurch, had to bring his kicking exhibition to an abrupt +finish, and hasten after his four chums.</p> + +<p>The glorious store of nuts that had already been +gathered was immediately turned from the sacks +owned by Connie Mallon and his cronies into the +burlap bags the scouts had provided for the purpose. +Then, far from satisfied, the boys proceeded +to take up the work where the late nut-gatherers +had left off. They climbed trees, and +whipped the branches with the long poles, delighting +in the sound of splendid nuts rattling +down like hail. There is such a fascination about +this sport that it is difficult to know just when to +stop it; and the ground was soon covered to such +an extent, that when the harvest had been gleaned +several of the enemy's bags were more than half +filled with the surplus.</p> + +<p>"I never saw half so many chestnuts, walnuts +and shell-bark hickory nuts gathered in heaps in +all my life, as there are right here!" declared +George; "a big bag apiece all around, and with +three partly filled sacks belonging to that crowd +left over."</p> + +<p>"Which extra plunder," said Elmer, quietly, +"I'm sure none of us would think of wanting, as +we've got twice as much as we can use already."</p> + +<p>"Then you're going to leave them for the ghost, +are you?" asked Chatz, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"We'll take them along," said Elmer, "and +turn them over to Connie Mallon as a consolation +prize; he'll find them in his front yard to-morrow +morning, bright and early."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>WHAT A SCOUT LEARNS</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Huh!</span> so far as the nuts go, I haven't any objection," +remarked George; "but to my mind it's +going to be like casting pearls before swine. +They'll never appreciate the real motive back of +the thing; and chances are they'll reckon we're +throwing them a sop so they won't hold hard feelings +against us."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you're right, George," Elmer admitted; +"but don't forget we're every one of us true +scouts, and that we've promised to hold out the +olive branch to those we call our enemies, whenever +we find the chance. There's such a thing as +heaping coals of fire on another fellow's head, +doing a kindness to the one who hates you, and +making him ashamed of himself. Scouts learn +that lesson early in their service, you remember. +If we didn't have all the nuts ourselves, perhaps +I'd hesitate to put this up to you, but it's no sacrifice +to any of us."</p> + +<p>"Elmer, I agree with you there," Ted spoke up. +"Of courth none of us may ever know jutht how +they take it; but when a fellow hath done his duty +he needn't bother himthelf wondering whether it +payth."</p> + +<p>"Listen to Ted preach, will you?" jeered Toby, +who truth to tell was not much in favor of carrying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +those three half-filled hags of nuts all the way +to town, just to serve as a "consolation prize" to +those fellows who had conspired to cheat them out +of their just dues.</p> + +<p>"But he's right in what he says," maintained +Chatz stoutly, for he had a Southerner's code of +honor, and was more chivalrous that any other +fellow in the whole troop of scouts. "Duty is +duty, no matter how disagreeable it seems. And +when once you realize that it's up to you to hold +out a hand to the treacherous enemy who's flim-flammed +you many a time, why, you'll have no +peace of mind till you've made the effort."</p> + +<p>"But," Toby went on to say, sneeringly; "if +you step up to Connie Mallon, and say: 'Here's +your bags come back, and we chucked the leavings +in the same, which the ghost is sending you by us +to sort of soft soap your injured feelings,' why, +d'ye know what he's apt to do; jump on you, and +begin to use those big fists of his like pile drivers. +You'll have to excuse me from being the white-winged +messenger of peace, Elmer. I pass."</p> + +<p>"There's no need of doing it that way, Toby," +he was informed by the scout master. "Some +time to-night, as late as we can make it, we'll carry +these partly filled bags around to Connie's place, +and drop them over the fence. Hold on, here's +another of the same sort; now, if we only had that +as full as the rest it would be just one all around, +and we could leave them in each yard, you see."</p> + +<p>"Like old Santa Claus had been making his +annual visit, only this time he picked out Thanksgiving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +time instead of Christmas," remarked +Toby, a trifle bitterly; and yet strange to say he +was the very first one to start in gathering more +nuts and thrusting his find into the fourth Mallon +bag; which told Elmer that much of his objection +was mere surface talk, and that his heart really +beat as true to the principles of scout membership +as did any other present.</p> + +<p>"Many hands make light work," and so plentiful +were the several varieties of nuts that it was +not long before the fourth bag was half filled. +No doubt those boys felt better because of this +act. The chances were they would never get any +credit for what they were doing, but as Elmer told +them, the consciousness of having done a decent +act should always be quite enough for any ordinary +scout.</p> + +<p>"And every one of us has a clear title to turning +our badges right-side up, after working so +hard for our enemies," Chatz declared, as they +"knocked off."</p> + +<p>"Well, how about that dinner, camp style?" +demanded Toby, drawing out the waistband of his +khaki trousers to show what a quantity of room +he had for a supply of cooked food.</p> + +<p>"It's long after noon, so we might as well get +busy with dinner," Elmer replied.</p> + +<p>After stowing all the sacks away in the bushes, +where they were not likely to be discovered, should +any outsider wander on the scene while they were +employed elsewhere, the scouts busied themselves +in making preparations for the camp meal which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +all of them had so long been anxiously looking forward +to.</p> + +<p>First of all a fire was started in the most approved +manner, some flat stones being built up in +two parallel ridges. Long ago these lads had +found that there was nothing so splendidly adapted +for camp cooking as a gridiron of some sort, made +after the pattern of the shelf in the kitchen oven +at home, with grill bars. This could be easily +placed on stones, or even mounds of earth if the +first were not available, and there was no danger +of anything upsetting; while the flames, or the +heat of the red coals had a chance to accomplish +the work. So they never went forth, when there +was a possibility of cooking being done, without +carrying this contrivance along with them.</p> + +<p>They had been thoughtful enough to also fetch +along a coffee-pot, an extra large frying-pan made +of sheetiron, and the necessary tin platters, cups, +knives, forks and spoons.</p> + +<p>Soon the delicious odor of dinner began to steal +forth, causing Toby to sniff the air with rapture, +and loudly declare:</p> + +<p>"Fried onions, coffee, ham, potatoes, and plenty +of fresh bread and butter; that's the bill of fare, +is it? Gee! whiz! you couldn't beat it if you tried +all day. And every minute's going to seem like a +whole hour to me till I hear the welcome call to +the feast."</p> + +<p>"We're a lucky lot to be sitting around here +like this, and a bully dinner coming on, when we +think of that bunch of soreheads hustling for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +home, not even half a dozen nuts in their pockets, +and even their gunny sacks lost," Chatz remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, provided somebody don't get too gay, +and upset all that coffee into the fire," grumbled +George, who evidently would not feel sure of his +dinner until he had devoured it, because, as he was +fond of repeating, "there's many a slip 'tween the +cup and the lip," and Toby was so apt to be so +clumsy in moving around.</p> + +<p>As usually occurred, however, George's fears +proved groundless, because no accident happened +to the splendid dinner, which they were soon enjoying +to their hearts' content. There was +enough and to spare, so that even Toby admitted +he could find no more room, when Elmer pressed +him to have a third helping.</p> + +<p>"If we had Ty Collins and Lil Arthur Stansbury +along there never would be even a crumb left +over, no matter how much you cooked," said +Toby, as he heaved a sigh, and released another +button so as to add to his comfort; "I'm a pretty +good hand, but when it comes to crowding the +mourners, and stowing the grub away, they take +the prize."</p> + +<p>For a while afterward the boys sat around the +fire, and talked of the recent happenings. There +was plenty of time to get home before dusk, which +was really all that they wished to do, so none of +them showed any desire to hurry off.</p> + +<p>Later on, however, when some one happened to +mention the fact that if there was nothing more to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +be done they might as well bring the wagon up, +load their cargo of well filled sacks, and be moving +along toward town, Toby suddenly remembered +something.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare if I didn't nearly forget one of +the most important things of the whole excursion!" +he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked George, ready to object at once, +if the thing did not meet with his approval.</p> + +<p>"Why, you know I told you I'd been fixing up +another little stunt connected with the wonderful +science of aviation, and right here's where I see +a golden opportunity to try it out for the second +time. It seemed to work all right with me in a +ten-foot drop, and next thing is to make it thirty. +If she does that, and I live to tell the tale, you're +apt to see the name of Jones right often in the +papers pretty soon."</p> + +<p>He had pounced on that mysterious package of +his while speaking, and was busily engaged in unwrapping +the same, while the others crowded +around, curious to learn what it could be that the +aspiring inventor had hit on now. So many of +Toby's startling devices had turned out to be the +rankest fizzles, that his comrades had come to be +very skeptical with regard to his ability to make +good.</p> + +<p>"Why, I declare if it ain't only an old umbrella +after all!" exclaimed George, with his accustomed +sniff of disdain, as the contents of the package +became visible after the paper had been cast +aside.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're away off there, George," affirmed +Toby; "because every bit of it's brand new. My +own invention too; nothing just like it ever known +before."</p> + +<p>"Huh! I believe you!" grumbled the skeptical +George.</p> + +<p>"It's what they call a parachute," Toby continued, +glibly. "You know the kind the hot air +balloon men use at county fairs when they go up; +well this is an improvement along that line, and is +intended to let an aeronaut drop a mile and more, +if anything happens to his machine when he's up +among the clouds."</p> + +<p>"That sounds pretty well, Toby," remarked +Elmer, though there was a shade of doubt on his +face, for up to then Toby had really never managed +to impress his chums with his greatness as +an inventor; he was always getting excited over +things, but seemed to lack the ability to successfully +grasp the ideas that were floating around in +his mind.</p> + +<p>"You'll soon see that this time I have got a +grand scheme in this safety device," the inventor +boasted; "you know there are an awful lot of +casualties among air-men these days. Some sort +of thing goes wrong when they're away up, and +nearly every time it means they fall like a stone. +My wonderful parachute will make it <i>impossible</i> +for the aviator who carries one along with him to +be killed. Let his machine head for the earth like +a meteor, and as for him he'll drift down as softly +as you please."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go on and tell us how all this is meant to do the +business," asked Chatz, as Toby amused himself +in opening and closing the folds of the big stout +umbrella, which certainly seemed to work +smoothly enough.</p> + +<p>"Why, you see it's fixed so that it will be attached +to the back of the man in the aeroplane all +the time he's up; a sort of insurance plan, because +while he may not need it at all, if he does it's there +handy. When he finds his machine has gone back +on him all he has to do is to jump boldly out into +space. The Jones patent parachute does all the +rest. It's as reliable as United States bonds, and +will save lots of the poor fellows who, but for my +thinking up this scheme, might have lost their +lives this next year."</p> + +<p>"Of course you've tried it out, Toby?" suggested +Chatz.</p> + +<p>"Never will work in the wide world," affirmed +George; "because in nine cases out of ten it'd get +caught somehow in the planes or the machinery of +the aeroplane, and the poor chump who had +pinned his faith to the Jones Parachute would +come down ker-plunk with his wrecked motor!"</p> + +<p>"Shows how little you know about some things, +George," Toby flashed back; "if the directions are +faithfully followed there never can be an accident +like you say. As to trying it out, I've had +one little drop, say of about ten feet, but that was +too short, because the umbrella didn't have a +chance to get fully open; and when I struck the +ground it near rattled every tooth in my head out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +But now I want to get up at least thirty feet, and +then drop with the thing already open."</p> + +<p>"But see here," Elmer told him; "I should +think you'd have found a way to test the opening +of the thing by throwing it over some precipice, +with a heavy rock tied in place of a man."</p> + +<p>"Just what I did, Elmer!" cried the other, +hastily. "I spent a whole Saturday morning up +at that big rock that overlooks Lake Jupiter, and +five different times I tossed the parachute, folded +up, over the edge, with a stone weighing more than +a hundred and fifty pounds fastened to the same."</p> + +<p>"And how did it work?" asked Chatz.</p> + +<p>"Like a charm," replied the happy inventor. +"The umbrella opened as quick as it began to +drop, and after that it floated to the ground all +right. Course it hit a little hard, because you +couldn't expect it to sail along like a thistle-down, +with all that weight attached; but the shock +wasn't enough to hurt—much, I guess. And while +we sat here eating I saw the very tree I'm meaning +to climb. Look over there, and notice that +half dead one, with one big dead limb hanging +out, and nothing else on that same side. How +high would you call that, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Nearer forty feet than thirty, I should judge; +and enough to kill you if you fell straight," replied +the scout master.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about me, now; I'm all fixed for +it, and I've got on my rubber-soled shoes in the +bargain, so I'll be light on my feet. But I would +like some of you to give me a lift up that tree."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's got plenty of branches on this side, so +that you won't have much trouble climbing, once +you get a start," Chatz told him, starting forward +to lend what assistance lay in his power.</p> + +<p>"Better not try that risky game, Toby," objected +George, possibly really concerned about +the safety of his comrade, but more than likely +voicing his natural liking for being on the side of +the opposition, for some boys are built that way, +and never so happy as when throwing obstacles +in the way of success.</p> + +<p>Toby, however, paid no attention to this +grumbling on the part of George. Ted and Chatz +helped him into the tree, and then handed up the +wonderful parachute which, if it turned out to be +one-half as successful as its proud inventor +claimed, was going to be a great boon for all those +who took their lives in their hands and went up +among the clouds in air machines.</p> + +<p>Higher climbed Toby, managing somehow to +lug his burden along with him, although it certainly +could not have been any light weight.</p> + +<p>His objective point was a large decayed limb +that stood out all alone on one side of the trunk. +As Elmer had calculated this was all the way +from thirty-five to forty feet from the ground, +and that distance offered him a good chance to experiment +with his parachute.</p> + +<p>"Be careful, Toby, and don't take too many +risks!" Elmer called out to him, making use of the +birch bark megaphone, so as to impress his words +more positively on the other.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! look there what's running up ahead of +Toby, would you?" cried George. "As sure as +you live it's a 'coon, with its striped tail, and +scared half to death because a critter with two +legs has clumb his private tree. He must have +popped out of that hole you c'n see where Toby is. +And say, if the little fool hasn't gone and run out +on that very limb where Toby's planned to jump +from."</p> + +<p>"Keep back, everybody!" warned Elmer; "give +Toby and the 'coon all the room they need, because +our chum is attaching the parachute to his +body right now!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>LOOKING AROUND</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Here</span> goes, fellows; now watch me make the +jump!"</p> + +<p>Toby had adjusted the big parachute to his satisfaction, +before he called this out; and it seemed +to have been attached to his back by means of some +device of his own. When open it resembled a +large umbrella, only the ribs were made much +more solid than the usual ones.</p> + +<p>"It's lucky the ground's pretty soft down here, +Toby!" called George; "because you're apt to +get a swift knock when you land. Be sure and +keep that tongue of yours well inside your mouth, +or you might bite it off."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me you do your share of biting, +George; you've always got some ill-natured remark +to make about everything I invent. Nothing +venture, nothing gained, is my motto. And +now I'll walk a little further out on this limb, so +as to get a better chance to jump; and then watch +me sail like a thistle-down!"</p> + +<p>"Careful, there, Toby!" shouted Elmer, as the +scout up in the tree started to move out further, +looking very queer with that canopy over his +head, and his waving arms assisting him to keep +his balance.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the scout master given this warning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +than what he possibly anticipated happened. +There was an ominous crack, and the rotten limb +started to drop earthward. So did Toby, though +the parachute caught the air, and sustained his +weight pretty fairly. How it would have been had +he been thousands of feet up, instead of a paltry +thirty-five, was a question that could not be answered.</p> + +<p>The four boys saw the limb come crashing +down, to break into fragments when it landed. +Strange to say the ring-tailed animal that had +accompanied the rotten limb in its sudden descent +did not appear to have suffered any material +damage from the drop; because it was seen to run +away as soon as the termination of the unexpected +aerial voyage had been reached.</p> + +<p>As for Toby, he was certainly falling, but +buoyed up by that stout material extended in the +shape of a parachute, his descent was not nearly +so rapid as it must otherwise have been.</p> + +<p>He struck the ground with a resounding thump, +and then fell over in a heap; though from the +scrambling that ensued the others knew he could +not have been hurt very much.</p> + +<p>"How'd she go, Toby?" demanded Chatz, hurrying +forward to assist the daring air navigator, +if it turned out he needed any help.</p> + +<p>"Kinder hard slap it gave me when I hit terra +firma," replied the other, whose lip was bleeding +a little, showing that he must have bitten it; "but +all that's going to be remedied easy enough. +What she needs is a little more canvas; ain't a big<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +enough sail yet to hold me up. But whee! who'd +ever expect that limb to snap off as sudden as +that? See what it means to be prepared, fellows? +Scouts ain't the only ones that ought to do that +same; for if anybody ever needed to be ready, the +air pilot does. He never knows what's going to +happen to him next."</p> + +<p>"Well," the scout master remarked, "let's hope +that's plenty for you to-day, Toby. We've +stood and watched you make a record drop, and +you came through in pretty decent shape; but +enough's as good as a feast. The next time things +mightn't turn out as nice for you; and we don't +want to carry a scout with a broken leg home in +our wagon to-day."</p> + +<p>"But think of that little 'coon coming down with +it all, and then running away as if he didn't have +a scratch to show for it?" George observed.</p> + +<p>"He got off sound and unhurt, did he?" asked +Toby; "I'm real glad of that, 'cause I wouldn't +want him to be injured. I reckon that 'coon was +a mascot to me, and gave me good luck. But do +we get ready to start home so early in the afternoon, +Elmer?"</p> + +<p>Before any opinion could be advanced by the +scout master, Chatz broke in hastily:</p> + +<p>"I'm going to ask you a great favor, suh," he +told Elmer; "and which I hope you can grant +without interfering at all with any plans you have +formed."</p> + +<p>"What's that, Chatz?" asked the other; although +from the quick look he cast in the quarter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +where lay the haunted house, it was easy to see +that he could give a pretty fair guess what it's +nature would prove to be.</p> + +<p>"Why, suh, we may never get the chance again, +and I've always wanted to see what the inside of +a haunted house looked like," Chatz went on to +say.</p> + +<p>"Whee!" burst from the lips of Ted; while both +George and Toby pricked up their ears, and began +to show considerable interest.</p> + +<p>"You mean that while we're up here, and have +half an hour or so on our hands," Elmer suggested, +"we might as well take a look-in over +there, and see if the rats and the owls are the only +things living in the Cartaret house."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to very much, suh, believe me, I +would," Chatz continued, with one of his winning +smiles that were very difficult to resist.</p> + +<p>"What do the rest say about that?" and as Elmer +made this remark he turned to the other three +scouts.</p> + +<p>"I vote in the affirmative!" Toby immediately +answered.</p> + +<p>"Thame here," purred Ted.</p> + +<p>"Oh! of course I'll join you in anything you +hatch up, fellows," George told them; "though I +don't take any stock in all this nonsense about +ghosts and such. If you show me one, and I can +pinch his arm, and feel the bones in his hand, I +might believe in the stuff; but you never can, and +that's a fact. Still, I'd like to see what the inside +of this old Cartaret house is like. I don't believe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +there's a single fellow in Hickory Ridge that can +boast he's been through it. Lead the way, then, +Elmer, or Chatz. We'll follow you."</p> + +<p>That was always the way with George. He +would oblige a comrade every time, but his chronic +way of fault-finding, or unbelief, often took away +much of the pleasure his accommodating nature +might have afforded.</p> + +<p>They had bundled the cooking utensils together, +ready to be placed in the wagon when it was +brought up; Toby also fastened his wonderful +parachute in as small a compass as possible, and +laid it down alongside the other things.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't want to forget to take that along +home for a king's ransom," he stoutly declared, +looking defiantly at George, because of course that +individual was smiling in a fashion that smacked +strongly of incredulity.</p> + +<p>After that the whole five of them headed toward +the spot where they knew the deserted house +was to be found. Chatz was fairly quivering with +eagerness, and there was a glow in his dark eyes +that told how much he appreciated this chance to +pry into the secret lodging place of a reported +ghost.</p> + +<p>Everything was overgrown, and looked very +wild. Elmer remarked that if there really were +such things as hobgoblins in this world, they certainly +could look long and far without finding a +more congenial neighborhood in which to reside; +for the whole appearance of the place seemed +to smack of the supernatural. The breeze actually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +whined as it passed through the bare branches +of the untrimmed trees close to the house; +and loose shutters and windows added to the +creaky sounds by their rattling, every time a little +gust happened to blow.</p> + +<p>"Wow! this sure is spooky enough around here +to suit me," Toby frankly admitted, as they stood +there, and looked about them.</p> + +<p>The house itself had once been quite an extensive, +and perhaps costly affair, with two wings, +and a spacious hall in the center. That was long +ago, for now it was in the throes of dissolution, a +mere wreck of its former self, and fit only for +bats, owls, and rats. Doors hung on a single +hinge, and shutters had been torn off long ago by +gales, leaving the paneless windows gaping beyond. +Moss streaked the rotten roof, and parts +of the porch had given way under accumulated +snow piles in previous winters.</p> + +<p>As Toby said it certainly was gloomy enough, +and one did not need to have a very vivid imagination +to picture the tragic scenes that were said to +have been enacted here many years ago, when +the place was a regular Eden, with flower beds and +outbuildings on all sides.</p> + +<p>"Gives you the creeps, all right," admitted +George.</p> + +<p>"Now, for my part," Elmer remarked just +then, "I kind of like the feeling it makes pass over +you. And as few people have visited here for the +last ten years, I'm glad you asked us to look +around with you, Chatz. Let's go inside."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was no trouble about finding a place of +entrance, for there were plenty of the same, some +originally intended for this purpose, and others +the result of decay while the old mansion lay here +year after year the sport of winds and storms, +winter and summer.</p> + +<p>They wandered around from room to room, +viewing the wreck of what had once been a very +fine house.</p> + +<p>"Looks to me like there might be some truth in +that story about the Judge making this a regular +prison for his young and pretty wife," Elmer announced +as his opinion, after they had been pretty +well through the lower story, and were climbing +the shaky stairs to the upper floor.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, there were actually bars across the +windows in that last room!" declared Chatz; "it's +just such a place as I've always had in my mind +whenever I got to thinking about haunted houses. +You could imagine anything might happen here. +Right now, if it was midnight, we could watch and +see if there was any truth in all those stories +about the ghost of the Judge's young wife storming +around here, going through all that terrible +scene again. I'd give something to be able to +learn if she does come back to visit the scenes +where she was so unhappy."</p> + +<p>"Here, you'll have uth all shaking like we had +the ague, if you don't stop that thort of talk," +said Ted, apprehensively, and when he thought no +one was looking, rubbing the back of his hand +across his eyes, as though something connected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +with the sad story of the old-time tragedy had +brought unbidden tears there.</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps you may have just such a +chance, Chatz," said Elmer, suddenly, as though +he had made his mind up.</p> + +<p>"Tell me how," requested the Southern boy, +trying to control the eagerness that burned within +his soul when he heard this said.</p> + +<p>"You remember that we'd about made up our +minds to spend the Thanksgiving holidays in camp +somewhere, just to have another little outing before +winter dropped down on us?" Elmer went +on.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's right, we did," muttered Toby, +who was almost as much interested in the matter +as Chatz.</p> + +<p>"And where could we find a better place for +spending those few days than right here in the +dense woods close to the Cartaret house? +There's everything to be had that the heart of a +camper might wish; and if you're a ghost hunter, +why, here's a splendid field for your activities."</p> + +<p>"Elmer, will you do that much for me?" asked +Chatz, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Much more, if the chance ever came along, and +you know it, Chatz," replied the scout master, +warmly. "So, what do you say, shall we consider +that settled, boys?"</p> + +<p>All of them held up a hand, which meant that +they voted in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"But," interposed the Great Objector, "we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +mustn't forget that there will be several other +fellows of our troop along with us on that little +outing; and p'raps they mightn't just fancy camping +so close to a mouldy old ruin, where the owls +and bats fly around nights, and lots of other unpleasant +things are apt to crop up."</p> + +<p>"Oh! we know Lil Artha, Ty Collins, and Landy +Smith well enough to be able to speak for them, +too," Elmer ventured; "and the chances are when +they hear what we're aiming to do they'll be as +wild as Chatz here to investigate."</p> + +<p>"We've got a big job cut out for us, I'm thinking, +boys," faltered George.</p> + +<p>"Rats! who's afraid? Gimme two cents' worth +of peanuts, please!" exclaimed Toby, who seemed +to be in an unusually good humor, perhaps because +of that successful parachute drop, looked +forward to with an admixture of hope and fear +for a considerable time.</p> + +<p>They passed through every part of the house +that seemed worth while, even visiting the attic, +where the rain had beaten in so many times, that +some of the woodwork seemed very mouldy. +They frightened an army of bats up there, and +there was a lively ducking of heads, with numerous +attempts at knocking the flying creatures down +with whatever the boys could lay hands on.</p> + +<p>Underneath lay the cellars, and determined to +see it all the boys trooped down the rotten stairs, +saving George, who declared he had had quite +enough of the exploration, and that after all he +didn't believe in ghosts, and therefore an old ruin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +with a tragic story back of it failed to impress him +as worth much time.</p> + +<p>When the others came out a little later, talking +about what queer dungeons lay underground, some +of which possibly had been constructed by the +rich judge to serve as wine cellars, they found +George sitting at his ease, and watching the +shadow on the stone face of an old and unreliable +sun dial.</p> + +<p>"I guess long ago that pretty young wife used +to sit right where you are, George, and watch the +shadow creep around to the hour mark," said +Elmer, who must have had a pretty good touch of +the romantic in his make-up, to speak in this way.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe," George retorted, as though falling +back on his old principles, and not willing to believe +anything unless shown.</p> + +<p>"That finishes our visit to the Cartaret place, +for this time, Chatz," Elmer continued, turning +to the Southern boy; "I hope you think it paid +you for the trouble."</p> + +<p>"A dozen times over, suh, I assuah you; and +I'll not soon forget your kindness that made this +interesting visit possible. Yes, and that promise +to come up here again next week, when we're out +for our little vacation camping. I shall look forward +to the same with the greatest pleasure, believe +me, suh."</p> + +<p>"Then we might as well get the horse up, and +load our cargo?" Elmer suggested.</p> + +<p>"Oh! did you see that?" shouted Toby, just +then.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What was it, and where did you see anything?" +demanded George, always suspecting that +the others were playing practical jokes.</p> + +<p>"Up at one of the windows there!" Toby went +on, pointing, while his face filled with excitement +and a little touch of awe.</p> + +<p>"What was it like?" asked Chatz, his interest +aroused to fever heat.</p> + +<p>"I only had a peek at it, because it disappeared, +just like it might be smoke," Toby went on to explain; +"but it was a white face, and if there ever +was such a thing on this here earth as a ghost, I +saw one then, sure I did, fellows!"</p> + +<p>Elmer had his eyes glued on the face of the +scout when he was making this astonishing assertion; +and he knew that Toby, though a practical +joker at times, was not trying to deceive them +now; he had seen <i>something</i> up there at that window, +or believed he had, which amounted to the +same thing; and yet they had just explored every +bit of that portion of the ruins without meeting a +single soul!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>HARVEST TIME</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">No</span> one said a single word for the better part of +a minute, after Toby had made this astonishing +statement. They continued to exchange uneasy +looks, and then cast furtive glances up toward the +particular window at which Toby had been pointing +his trembling finger.</p> + +<p>It was however excitement, not fear, that made +Toby shiver; for after all he was the first to break +the sombre silence, and then it was to make a +proposition.</p> + +<p>"Let's go back up there, and take a turn +around," he said, eagerly; "mebbe we did miss +some room, and after all there's somebody ahidin' +in the blooming haunted house. What d'ye say, +fellows?"</p> + +<p>"I'm on!" replied one of them before Toby had +really finished speaking; and of course it was +Chatz who agreed so readily.</p> + +<p>Elmer immediately made a move that announced +his readiness to do what the first discoverer of the +ghost proposed; Ted and Toby followed suit; and +finally George, shrugging his shoulders as though +he considered it all folly, came tagging along at +their heels grunting to himself.</p> + +<p>In this fashion they entered the house, and immediately +passed up to the second floor, looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +curiously about them again. Nothing was in +sight, not even a trespassing bat, for the little +creatures had all been alarmed when the boys +made their first entry, and flown through various +openings into the outer air.</p> + +<p>"Now be sure you pick out the right window, +Toby," warned Chatz.</p> + +<p>"I counted 'em from the outside," replied the +other, with a business-like air, "and it was exactly +the seventh from the end; and here she is. +Everybody count and see for yourselves."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," remarked George, triumphantly; +"but suppose you show us your old ghost, +Toby."</p> + +<p>"Never said it was one," protested the other, +as he looked about in a puzzled manner; "what I +did remark, and I stand back of it still, was that +if ever there was such a thing as a spook in this +world that must have been one."</p> + +<p>George sniffed contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"Go on and poke him out, then; I want to be +shown, if I ain't from Missouri!" he told Toby, +who turned his back on him.</p> + +<p>"Well, there doesn't seem to be anything here, +Toby, for a fact," said Elmer, as he looked carefully +around, up and down, on the floor, and along +the hall.</p> + +<p>"It's disappeared, as sure as shooting, Elmer," +admitted the pilot of the ghost-hunting expedition; +"but I give you my affidavy that I did see a +face, a white one at that, though it flipped out of +sight before I could grab a second look."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Beats the Dutch what an <i>imagination</i> some +fellows have got," grumbled George.</p> + +<p>"I tell you I did see something, George!" repeated +Toby, firmly.</p> + +<p>"Sure, you might have done that," agreed the +other, cheerfully; "but it's my honest opinion that +it might have been just a little flash of sunlight on +a window pane. I've known such a thing to +startle me more'n once. And when you shifted +your head, why, you got out of focus, and the +thing disappeared as you say, like a wreath of +smoke. Now, I'm one of the kind that likes to look +deep into things; and I never let a mystery grip +me. Make up your mind, Toby, that it was +something like I'm telling you, and let it go at +that."</p> + +<p>Toby did not answer. Truth to tell he did not +know what to say, for while he still firmly believed +he had seen a human face at the window there was +nothing around by means of which he could prove +it.</p> + +<p>He went to the window and looked out.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow," he remarked, disconsolately, "even +if I was fooled by something, it sure wasn't the +sun, because it never strikes this side of the house +after noontime; and look at the heavy trees shading +it, will you? I give the thing up, and yet I'd +like to take a look over this floor."</p> + +<p>"Suppose we start in and do it, then?" remarked +Elmer, quietly.</p> + +<p>Even George accompanied them, though he continued +to look superior, and allowed a skeptical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +expression to appear on his face. Possibly, in +spite of his avowed disbelief in ghosts, George did +not really care to be left alone in that house; his +valor might all be on the surface.</p> + +<p>Nothing was found, and Toby finally admitted +that it seemed useless wasting any more time +prowling around.</p> + +<p>"But I'll always believe I did see something," +he avowed, as they started out of the building +again; "and if we come up here to camp during +the Thanksgiving holidays we ought to look into +this business closer. P'raps something might +show up in the night time that'd be worth seeing."</p> + +<p>"Do you really think so, Toby?" exclaimed +Chatz, with rapture, as though even the mention +of it gave him secret delight.</p> + +<p>"Rats!" sneered the unconvinced George.</p> + +<p>They had gone only a little way from the house +when Elmer called a halt.</p> + +<p>"Just wait for me a few minutes, boys," he +said; "or, if you feel like it, fetch the wagon +around to load up our sacks of nuts."</p> + +<p>With these words he turned and went straight +back into the house. The others exchanged looks, +but did not say anything, though they must have +thought this queer on the part of the scout master. +But then Elmer was a privileged character, and +often did things that mystified his chums, explaining +later on, to their complete satisfaction. Perhaps +he may have dropped something up there on +that second floor, or else conceived a sudden idea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +which caused him to return for another look +around.</p> + +<p>"Might as well get loaded up, as hang around +here any longer?" suggested Toby.</p> + +<p>"I think the same," added George, "for there's +no telling who'll be seeing all sorts of queer +things next. Must be in the air. Once that sort +of thing begins to get around, and it takes a solid +mind to ward it off. Never bothers <i>me</i>, though."</p> + +<p>"I'll bring the horse up," suggested Toby, with +a grin; for in spite of finding himself the target +for these shafts of ridicule on the part of the +scoffer, Toby dearly loved to hear George offering +objections.</p> + +<p>"Guess you'd better, because Nancy knows +you more'n she does any of the rest of us; and a +hoss is a rantankerous creature," said Chatz.</p> + +<p>"Particularly a mare," added Toby, as he hurried +away; but they noticed that he cast many side +glances at the surrounding dense foliage as he +went in the direction of the spot where they had +left Nancy and the wagon when approaching the +grove of nut trees, as though he did not wholly +fancy finding himself alone amidst such weird +surroundings.</p> + +<p>Once the wagon was brought up it did not take +the scouts long to get all the sacks of nuts loaded. +When they saw what a splendid showing the collection +made it caused a fresh outbreak of congratulations +all around.</p> + +<p>"There never was such a grand lot of nuts +brought into town from the day the first cabin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +was built away back!" declared George, who could +not see any reason to throw cold water on this +positive fact, with the evidence plainly before him.</p> + +<p>"That's what comes of having an idea," remarked +Toby, proudly; "if I hadn't engineered +this plan we might have spent a hard day in the +woods, and only brought home a single bag to +show for it. Just look at that wholesale lot, will +you?"</p> + +<p>"Yeth, and we're all ready to thay you did it +with your little hatchet, Toby; it taketh you to +hatch up plans, thure it doeth," admitted Ted.</p> + +<p>"Wonder what's keeping Elmer?" Chatz observed, +as he turned to look toward the house, +glimpses of which they could catch through small +openings in the dense growth of trees; to immediately +add: "there he comes right now."</p> + +<p>"Hope he found what he was looking for," +George ventured, and nothing further was said +in regard to the matter.</p> + +<p>Elmer quickly joined them. Chatz looked +keenly at his face, and fancied that he could detect +something like a faint smile there; but even if the +scout master had made any sort of discovery on +his last visit to the haunted house, he did not +seem ready to take his chums into his confidence.</p> + +<p>"Well, that looks like something, boys," he remarked, +as he surveyed the great load of filled +bags that occupied nearly every bit of space in the +wagon bed.</p> + +<p>"Oh! we believe in doing a wholesale business<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +when we get started," laughed Toby; "the only +thing that's bothering me is where Chatz, Ted +and George can find room to sit. Guess they'll +have to fix it so as to stretch out on top of our +load."</p> + +<p>"Ted can crowd in with the two of us on the +front seat, if he wants," explained Elmer; "and +if somebody gives me a hand we'll soon arrange a +place for the other seat back here on top of these +four partly filled sacks."</p> + +<p>"Consolation prizes, you mean!" muttered +George, who did not exactly like the idea of their +going to all the trouble of carrying the extra sacks +home just to drop them in the yards of the members +of the Mallon crowd; George was inclined to +be proud, and it seemed to smack too much of pulling +"chestnuts out of the fire" for others.</p> + +<p>"Well, after all, suh, they worked hard enough +to knock those nuts down to be entitled to a +share," Chatz remarked, that fine Southern sense +of justice cropping up again, despite his dislike +for Connie Mallon and all those who trained in +his camp.</p> + +<p>"Not to speak of the bruises and black eyes +some of them must have picked up when they conducted +that masterly retreat," Elmer added; "I'll +never forget that panic; for I don't believe I ever +saw fellows more frightened than they were."</p> + +<p>"Well, do you blame them?" asked Ted; "if I +got it in my head that bunch of ghosth had it in for +me on account of my breaking in on their haunt +I'd run like a whitehead too, and thatth right."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd like to see Connie's face when he discovers +that sack of nuts in his yard to-morrow <span class="smcap">a. m.</span>," +George continued, actually pursing up his lips in +a smile, something he was seldom guilty of.</p> + +<p>"Reckon he'll think it rained down in the +night," chuckled Chatz.</p> + +<p>"More'n likely he'll begin to believe he's only +been dreaming that these things happened, and +that he did fetch the nuts home with him, after +all," Toby volunteered.</p> + +<p>"But when the other counties are heard from, +and they all compare notes, won't they get on to +the game then?" George asked.</p> + +<p>"How about that, Elmer?" Toby inquired, +turning to the scout master.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how they can help but figure it out +as it stands," came the reply.</p> + +<p>"That is, they'll guess we fetched back their +bags for 'em, and not wanting to turn the same +over empty, just chucked a lot of nuts in to make +'em stand up," and George as he said this looked +as consequential as though he had solved some +great problem.</p> + +<p>"All I'm afraid of," resumed Toby, "is they'll +get the idea in their dense heads that we're only +doing this because of fear; that is, we're +offering a bribe, hoping they'll forgive us +for frightening them, and won't hold us to a +reckoning. I don't like knuckling down that way. +I wish we thought to put a note in each sack telling +them we only turned these nuts over because +we had more than we could use ourselves, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +thought they'd worked hard enough to earn +some."</p> + +<p>Elmer, however, shook his head.</p> + +<p>"That wouldn't be worth while trying!" he declared. +"I think it'd only make them more bitter +against us. The best way to do is just to +leave the bags in their yards, and say nothing. +If they ever ask us why we did it, let's say we +thought it only fair they should have some of the +proceeds of the raid on the Cartaret grove, because +they worked hard enough for it. If they +want to make trouble after that why we'll have to +accommodate them, that's all."</p> + +<p>That settled the matter. When Elmer clinched +an argument he seldom left any ground for the +others to stand on; and in this case all of the boys +seemed to be satisfied to let him do as he proposed, +though several privately disliked the idea of +carrying that additional weight back home, just +to turn over to that turbulent, trouble-making +crowd.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing more to keep us here, seems +like," suggested George; "so what do you say to +going home?"</p> + +<p>"It's time," admitted Chatz, "and if Nancy is +able to draw such a heavy load, we ought to get +there before dark, which comes along about five, +these November days."</p> + +<p>"It's mostly down-grade," Toby went on to +say, as he climbed to his seat, and took up the +lines; "besides, I told you the animal needed a +good haul to take some of that extra spirit out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +her. All aboard, fellows; those who can't get a +board find a rail. Homeward bound, and with the +greatest load of bouncing big nuts ever harvested +along Hickory Ridge."</p> + +<p>They were a merry lot as they found places on +the wagon.</p> + +<p>"Hope Nancy behaves herself going home," +George remarked, as he tried to fix himself firmly +in his seat; "if she took a notion to cut up all of +a sudden where d'ye think we'd land back here, +with the wagon so full?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty of room on the road, George; and believe +me you wouldn't have to question where +you'd dropped, because it'd be a convincing argument," +Elmer told him.</p> + +<p>So they started, and all of them turned to take +a last look in the direction of the haunted house, +as they caught a glimpse of it through the trees.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye old ghost!" cried Toby, waving the +hand that did not hold the reins; "we'll come +again and interview you, mebbe. Take care of +yourself, and don't play any mad pranks while +we're away."</p> + +<p>As they rode off, making their way among the +trees, and heading for the vicinity of the road, +Chatz turned to Ted, who was sitting in the middle +again, having decided to cast his fortunes with +the comrades of the rear seat, and remarked in +what he meant to be a low tone:</p> + +<p>"I'd give something to know, suh, whether Elmer +<i>did</i> find out about that <i>thing</i> when he went +back into the old house again!" but Ted only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +shook his head in reply, as though the subject was +too deep for him, or else he believed Elmer would +take them all into his confidence when he saw fit +to do so.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>HOW ELMER'S PLAN WORKED</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">How</span> had we better arrange about the nuts, +Elmer?" asked Toby, when they were drawing +close to the border of the town, with the twilight +gathering around them.</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking about that, Toby," replied +the other; "and the best way all around would be +for you to keep the whole lot in your barn. Some +day we'll get together and divide up, because, as +they stand now some bags have only walnuts, +others hickories, while a couple have got most of +the chestnuts in them."</p> + +<p>"Are the rest agreeable, and do they trust me +as far as that?" demanded Toby.</p> + +<p>"Trust you with my pocketbook, Toby," George +assured him.</p> + +<p>"That's because there's never a red cent in the +same, then," the driver flashed back, as quick as +anything; "but see here, Elmer, what about the +other four half-filled sacks?"</p> + +<p>"I was coming to that," replied the scout +master; "and unless somebody objects to the programme, +why, I'll drop around after supper, say +before nine o'clock, and between us, Toby, we'll +lift all our own bags out, and stow the same away +in that room in your barn that's got a lock to it. +Then I'd like you to hitch up Nancy again, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +we can go around and drop these other bags in +the yards of the four fellows. It's apt to be +pretty quiet along about that time, even if it's +Saturday night; and not much danger of anybody +spying on us."</p> + +<p>"Just as you say, Elmer; I'm with you," replied +Toby, who was a very accommodating fellow, +and easily influenced; "I guess I'll feel +stronger, and more like tackling the job after I've +had my supper."</p> + +<p>There was no objection to that plan, since it had +already been decided to work things that way; +and possibly George, as well as Ted, felt that they +were escaping some hard labor when they allowed +these two comrades to shoulder the burden.</p> + +<p>At various corners the others jumped off the +heavily loaded wagon, and made for their homes. +It happened that no boys were abroad just then +to ask where they had been, for supper time came +early in most of the Hickory Ridge homes during +the fall and winter days; and so Toby was not +forced to explain that he and his four chums had +been off nutting.</p> + +<p>True to his word by half-past eight Elmer made +his appearance at the Jones domicile, and with +Toby and a lighted lantern proceeded to the big +barn. Here they found that the wagon stood just +where it had been left when Toby unharnessed +Nancy, and stripping off their coats the two lads +proceeded to complete their job.</p> + +<p>It was no light one at that, lifting out those +sacks filled with nuts, and stowing the same away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +in the man's room near by; but both were husky +fellows, and by degrees managed to complete their +task.</p> + +<p>"There," said Toby, wiping his streaming +brow, "that part's done, and the rest won't be so +hard, because the bags are only half filled; but I +kind of wish we had 'em planted O.K., and were +on the way home again. Whew! what would happen, +d'ye think, Elmer, if Connie Mallon dropped +in on us when we were dumping a sack over the +fence into his yard?"</p> + +<p>"That'd be hard to say," replied Elmer; "but +what's the use crossing bridges before you come +to them? Time enough to bother with that when +it happens. And if you knew Connie as well as I +do, because he doesn't live far away from my +house, you'd never expect him to be home at nine +o'clock on a Saturday night. He's too fond of +loafing down in the pool room with his crowd; or +being off on some lark, robbing some orchard of +late apples. Now, suppose you lead Nancy out, +after you've got her harness on, and we'll hitch +up."</p> + +<p>This was soon done, and afterwards Toby +started to back the vehicle out of the barn, while +Elmer extinguished the lantern.</p> + +<p>"I'll leave it here alongside the door, so we can +find it again when we come back," he told the +driver; after doing which he mounted beside +Toby, and they started off on their queer errand.</p> + +<p>Phil Jackson lived close by the Jones home, so +they paid the first visit there. Lights could be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +seen through the windows, but the boys found it +an easy thing to lift one of the half-filled sacks of +nuts out of the wagon, and silently slip it over the +fence, leaving it there to be discovered by Phil is +the morning.</p> + +<p>After that a second visit was made, and their +end was accomplished quite as easily as at the +Jackson house. The third one proved a little +harder, for there were some people standing at +the door as the boys drove past.</p> + +<p>"Better make a turn around the block, Toby," +suggested the scout master; "they've been having +visitors, and perhaps they'll be gone when we get +back again."</p> + +<p>This proved to be the case, and having decided +just where they wished to leave the sack of nuts, +the boys drew in the animal and quickly dropped +their burden over the picket fence.</p> + +<p>"Things are booming," remarked Toby; "that +makes three of the lot, and only one left, which is +Connie Mallon's bag."</p> + +<p>He seemed to be a little nervous about approaching +this place, for the bully had a bad reputation +as a fighter among the boys of the town; +but everything appeared to be quiet, and there +was not a single light to be seen in the small house +where the Mallon family lived.</p> + +<p>All the same Toby breathed freer when he felt +the bag slip from his grasp over the fence. +Hardly had they managed this than there was an +explosion of savage barks and a bulldog came +rushing toward the corner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wow! ain't I glad that Towser's on the other +side of the fence?" Toby exclaimed, as he hastened +to jump up on the wagon; while the dog continued +to bark fiercely, with his blunt nose pressed +against the palings surrounding the enclosure; +"hurry, Elmer, and let's get away. I don't think +he can climb fences, but I won't take any chances +with that brute. He's spoiled one pair of +trousers for me already."</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards the two boys parted at the +gate of the Jones place.</p> + +<p>"I feel like we'd had a great time of it to-day, +don't you, Elmer?" Toby was saying; and then, +not waiting for an answer, he continued: "and I +have to laugh every time I think of what a crazy +scramble that Connie and his bunch put up when +you gave 'em the ghost walk with that birch bark +horn. Most people like to see the ghost walk on +pay days, but this one wasn't the same kind. +Wouldn't I give a cooky, though, to see what they +look like to-night, and hear what they say about +bein' chased by that Cartaret spook!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it's been a good enough day for us, +Toby; and I think we ought to have a great time +if we go up in that region for our Thanksgiving +camping trip. Good night," and with that Elmer +walked away, not a little tired himself, for it had +been a pretty strenuous day, all told.</p> + +<p>In the morning he was up early, because he had +an object in view, and Elmer was not the one to +sleep late at any time, even though it were Sunday +morning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>From a certain place up in the loft of the barn +he knew he could see the Mallon yard quite +plainly; and taking a field glass he owned along +with him, he now proceeded to occupy this lookout.</p> + +<p>As he had already had some breakfast he was +nor bothered by gnawing hunger as he continued +to sit there, and watch the back door of the Mallon +cottage.</p> + +<p>He saw Connie's mother come out several times, +and judged she was getting breakfast ready. +Then the big hulking boy himself appeared, bearing +a bucket in his hand, and yawning at a great +rate.</p> + +<p>Elmer sat up and watched closely, for he anticipated +that a fellow who possessed as sharp eyes +as Connie, could not help but see the bag that lay +in plain sight near the fence. The dog had already +been chained to his kennel by Mrs. Mallon, +the watcher fancied, though he had not seen her +do this. Connie stopped to speak to the ugly +looking beast, and from the way Towser wagged +his crooked stump of a tail it seemed as though he +must be somewhat fond of his master.</p> + +<p>Then the big boy shuffled on toward the well, +where he was evidently expecting to draw a +bucket of drinking water.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Elmer, who was using the glasses +now, saw him come to a standstill, and look +straight at the bag, as though he could hardly +believe his eyes.</p> + +<p>Down went the water pail, and Connie hastily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +strode across the yard until he reached the bag +lying where Elmer and Toby had dropped it, snug +up against the fence palings.</p> + +<p>He bent down, and opening the bag by cutting +the stout cord that had been wound around the +flap above the store of nuts, stared hard at the +latter. Elmer saw that he was greatly staggered, +for he started to scratch his head after the manner +of one who did not know what to believe. +Just as Chatz had suggested, perhaps he began +to think the prize must have rained down in the +night, for he examined the sack, and evidently +recognized it as one of those he had taken with +him on the preceding day when starting out on +that nutting expedition with the idea of getting +ahead of the scouts.</p> + +<p>Then again it might be that he began to believe +all that affair of the panic and flight must have +been a bad dream, and that after all he and his +cronies had brought back some spoils when they +returned. Again Elmer saw him put his hand up +to his face and feel of his cheek.</p> + +<p>"He's got a cut there to show where he banged +against a tree," the scout told himself, "and +that's plain proof there was a panic. There, he's +examining the bag again, as if he thought it would +speak and explain the mystery. This is surely +worth watching. Hello! there comes Phil Jackson, +and that Benners fellow on the run. Looks +like they had found their bags at home, and are +coming to see what Connie has to say about it. +And now there'll be a high old time, I expect."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was, after the two newcomers had discovered +that one of the bags half filled with nuts +stood in the Mallon yard, just as they had found +at their homes.</p> + +<p>Elmer sat there for fully fifteen minutes, watching +them talk and make gestures. He imagined +that they had quickly figured it all out, and must +know to whom they were indebted for a winter's +stock of nuts. What they might choose to do +about it was another question, however. Elmer +hoped for the best, yet was prepared to meet the +worst, whatever might come.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, Connie's concluded not to refuse the +nuts just because they came to him through the +scouts he hates so bitterly," Elmer concluded, as +he saw the Mallon boy shoulder the sack and +carry it to the house, after saying good-bye to the +other two, who hastened away, possibly to learn +if the fourth and last member of the expedition +had likewise been favored by a visit from the fairies +during the night.</p> + +<p>School held for the next three days, and then +came glorious Thanksgiving with its turkey, and +pumpkin pies, and all the splendid things that go +to make up the annual feast. All this while there +had not been the least hint from Connie or his +three allies that they knew who put those nuts +there. It almost seemed as though they purposely +avoided meeting Elmer and his chums. Even at +school they kept away from the others, and Toby +declared that it was mighty queer, because he had +fully expected to have a tongue lashing from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +big bully, even if nothing more serious came to +pass.</p> + +<p>Elmer was satisfied with the way things had +turned out. As a scout he could feel that he had +done the right thing, and deep down in his heart +he hoped it might in some fashion show Connie +Mallon there was such a thing as returning evil +with good.</p> + +<p>Nothing might come of it just then, but Elmer +hoped the seed would find lodging, and perhaps +later on germinate.</p> + +<p>When they got to talking it over, as they made +preparations for leaving home bright and early on +the morning after Thanksgiving, George of course +professed to doubt whether it had made even a +dent in the callous surface of Connie's mind.</p> + +<p>"Take my word for it, fellows!" he declared, +pompously, "you'd have to swing a sledge hammer +and give more'n a little tap at that, to make +any impression there, he's so extra tough. +Chances are he just don't want to stir us up for +fear we'll tell the whole story, and all his pals +would have the laugh on him for running away +from a ghost!"</p> + +<p>Toby himself seemed more than half inclined to +believe something along these same lines; but +Chatz knew Elmer must be looking beyond this +explanation, and still entertained hopes that +the olive branch extended might not be wholly +wasted.</p> + +<p>They had all their arrangements made that +night, and expected to start with the rising of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +sun on Friday morning. This would give them +two nights in camp, even if they did have to come +back on Sunday afternoon in order to be ready for +school on Monday.</p> + +<p>"And it looks like we might have fine weather +along with us, too," Elmer told the others, as they +said goodnight at his door; "there's a tang like +frost in the air even now, and you can see your +breath easily. That means we'll enjoy a camp +fire more than ever, because it never feels half as +good on a hot summer night. Look for you bright +and early, Toby, with the wagon and the tent and +all the stuff. I'll be ready with my bundles, and +that piece of ham."</p> + +<p>All preparations having been made they parted +with mutual good wishes for a fair dawn, and +Elmer, standing there in the doorway, found himself +a little disappointed because there had been no +response to the invitation extended to Connie +Mallon to bridge over the chasm, at the time they +left those nuts in his yard.</p> + +<p>Elmer was astir long before daybreak on the +following morning, because he meant to get himself +a light breakfast, so as to be ready for the +wagon when it came along about sunrise. Having +satisfied his hunger, and seen that all his various +bundles were ready he stepped out of the +back door to listen, in expectation of hearing the +sound of wheels.</p> + +<p>Then he had a little surprise, for hanging there +on a nail beside the door was a brace of freshly +killed rabbits; and Elmer knew to a certainty nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +the kind dangled there on the preceding evening.</p> + +<p>He took them down, and laid them on the kitchen +table, while a whimsical smile crept over his boyish +face, and a glow of satisfaction could be seen +in his eyes as he rubbed his hand along the sleek +side of the larger bunny.</p> + +<p>For Elmer chanced to know that Connie Mallon +had spent Thanksgiving day off in the woods and +meadows hunting; and the very fact that he had +thus shared the results of his tramp with the boy +he had fought against so long gave Elmer a queer +feeling of triumph deep down in his heart.</p> + +<p>Then the wagon came along, with all the other +boys aboard, and the bed of the vehicle pretty well +filled with their camping outfit; so Elmer got in +his seat, wondering what Doubting George would +have to say when he learned how a good action +may set even the worst boy in town to thinking, +and changing his ways.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE CAMPING OUT EXPEDITION</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> time there was a load for Nancy to pull, +since besides the five scouts who had made the +nutting trip three additional fellows were along.</p> + +<p>First of all there was a lanky boy who long ago +in a spirit of derision had been dubbed "Lil +Artha" by his Comrades; and although he stood +fully a head taller than any of his intimate chums, +he still answered cheerfully to this silly name. +Arthur Stansbury was a good scout, and well +liked, though at critical times he showed a disposition +to get what boys call "rattled," and on more +than one occasion this weakness had resulted in +his getting those long legs of his twisted in a knot, +resulting in trouble all around.</p> + +<p>Landy Smith was a cousin of George Robbins. +Philander was rather fat, belonged to the Wolf +Patrol, and had been known to walk in his sleep, +so that often the others, whenever any mysterious +thing happened in camp at nighttime, accused +Landy of doing it while under the influence of this +strange wandering spirit, that made him get up +while asleep, to play tricks, and disturb his mates.</p> + +<p>The third boy was Tyrus Collins. His specialty +as a scout, if he had any, was his recognized ability +as a cook; and Ty's weakness might be said to be +a fondness for wearing a sweater of a pronounced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +fiery hue. Once a garment of this type had gotten +Ty into a lot of trouble with a furious bull, when +he was caught in a pasture, and forced to take +refuge in a lone tree. He had only escaped in +the end by sacrificing his red sweater, which the +bull stopped to rend while the fleeing boy managed +to gain a friendly fence.</p> + +<p>But Ty could not always be expected to remember +this danger, and at present he boasted of another +garment of a sanguinary hue, which he wore +when he believed there were no bulls around.</p> + +<p>Here, then, were eight lively fellows seated +"every-which-way" in that commodious wagon, +and enlivening the time as they journeyed toward +camp with much jabbering, and not a little loud +singing of popular songs.</p> + +<p>They appeared to be completely happy. Ty +was wearing his "grand sweater" right then, and +treated the warnings solemnly uttered by some of +his mates with abject scorn. Nancy certainly did +have a pretty heavy load to transport, and after +the first mile or so along the frosty road there +were no further manifestations of gaiety on her +part, only dull care, for she labored heavily.</p> + +<p>But then these boys were merciful, and they +generally jumped off, to walk up any steep hills, +so as to relieve the beast of burden. Scouts early +learn to think of the woes of dumb animals, and +show a disposition to lighten their work all that +is possible. If being a scout did not teach a boy +a single thing more than that it would still have +accomplished much; and posterity would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +great cause to be grateful to General Baden-Powell +as the originator of the organization that +has long ere now circled the globe, and made converts +in every clime.</p> + +<p>The boys were of course all dressed in the +familiar khaki uniforms associated with scouts +everywhere; and they carried with them a couple +of tents, as well as other necessary things connected +with camping out. There were no firearms +visible, though possibly a gun or two might turn +up later on, when the contents of that heavily +laden wagon had been fully disclosed. Several +of the boys were fond of hunting under favorable +conditions; and besides, as there was always some +danger to be encountered from wild beasts or +snakes, Elmer thought it advisable to be prepared +for an emergency.</p> + +<p>He sat on the front seat with Toby and George; +Chatz, Ty and Landy had managed to pre-empt the +second one by virtue of early arrival; while Ted +and Lil Artha, the "long and the short of it," +made themselves fairly comfortable on the soft +tents, and claimed to have the best of the bargain.</p> + +<p>The tall scout dangled his long legs over the +tail-board, and was frequently called upon to +"quit dragging," whenever the pace of the animal +between the shafts slowed down from any +cause.</p> + +<p>"How about going all the way in with the rig +this time, Elmer; could we make the riffle, do you +think?" Toby was asking, after they had gone +three-fourths of the distance to the Cartaret place,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +and there was a brief lull in the general chaffing.</p> + +<p>The others listened in order to catch the reply of +the scout master, for of course they were one and +all interested in what was being said.</p> + +<p>"I don't see any particular reason why we +shouldn't," Elmer answered; "we found it possible +to take the wagon all the way to the nut grove +when we wanted to load our sacks; and by watching +out smartly I reckon we'll find a way to push +through the woods there."</p> + +<p>"I only mention it," continued Toby, as though +he thought some explanation were necessary, "because +we've got a raft of stuff along this time, and +if we had to tote the same on our backs to and +from the wagon, it'd mean a lot of hard work, all +of which could be saved."</p> + +<p>"And I think it a good idea too," chimed in +George; "though of course I'm always willing to +shoulder my share of the hard work when it's got +to be done."</p> + +<p>There was more or less chuckling and nudging +among the other scouts when this broad statement +was made, because George had a reputation a little +bit along the line of a "shirk," when it came +to hard labor, though always ready to do his duty +manfully when a meal had to be disposed of.</p> + +<p>"Well, we ought to get there in about twenty +minutes more, if only Nancy doesn't drop dead +with heart disease," Toby went on to say.</p> + +<p>"Not much danger of that, Toby," ventured +Ted, from the rear of the wagon; "I alwayth did +thay that Nanthy wath the toughest thing that ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +wore the iron on her hoofth. And I expect to thee +her doing duty yearth after I come back with my +diploma from college. And they tell me thereth +only one hoth older than Nancy in the county, +which ith owned by that Connie Mallon's dad, the +mathon."</p> + +<p>Somehow the very mention of that name which +had been associated with considerable of tumult in +the past history of the scouts' organization seemed +to remind Toby and George of the remarkable +events connected with their late nutting expedition. +Elmer, therefore, was not in the least surprised +to hear George immediately voice the feeling +of detestation he entertained toward Connie +Mallon.</p> + +<p>"I hope that gang enjoyed the treat we fetched +home for 'em the other day; and which I believe +you and Toby here distributed like a pair of +Thanksgiving Santa Claus," he remarked, with a +vein of satire in his voice that was almost as natural +to Doubting George as breathing was; "but I +never did take any stock in the game, though I +agreed to assist out, to please you, Elmer. And +to my mind it was a flat failure in the bargain. +We might as well have handed all that lot of good +nuts to some poor family, or turned the same into +the pig-pen for the porkers."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't know," Toby said, with his favorite +drawl. "Elmer here seems to be of the +opinion that it's done <i>some</i> good. Anyhow, none +of us has had any trouble with that Mallon crowd +since then. They seem to slide away every time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +they see us coming down the street, or across the +campus at school."</p> + +<p>"Good reason," piped up George, "because +they're afraid that if they say a word we'll start +the ball arolling, and everybody in town'll hear +how they ran like Sam Hill, leaving their nuts behind, +and thinking a ghost was chasing after 'em. +Huh! don't you give that tough crowd credit for +thinking anything decent, because it ain't in 'em."</p> + +<p>"Listen," said Elmer, quietly, "and perhaps +you'll find it best to change your tune, Old Question +Mark. I had a little surprise this same morning +when I came out of the house, just as dawn +was breaking. Something dangling there alongside +the back door caught my eye, and what do you +think it was?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! give it up, Elmer," said George, with a +shrug of his shoulders; while the others leaned +forward eagerly, intent on hearing the answer; +"couldn't guess in a year of Sundays, so open up +and tell us."</p> + +<p>"A brace of the fattest and biggest rabbits I +ever saw, and fresh killed at that," replied the +scout master, impressively.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you don't mean to say it?" ejaculated +Toby; "and, Elmer, as sure as anything I saw +Connie Mallon coming home late last evening with +four of the same hanging over his shoulder, and +looking as proud as a turkey cock. He just +grinned as he walked past, and even nodded his +head, but I was too surprised to answer him, or +ask where he struck such great luck. But then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +everybody knows Connie is the best rabbit hunter +around Hickory Ridge, and has got a boss hound +in the bargain. So you think he left that brace +hanging at your back door, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm as sure of it as if I saw him sneaking in +late at night, and fastening the pair there," said +Elmer, positively; "and he divided evenly with +me, you see, if he had just four. Now, George, +what do you say to that? Was it a silly thing in +our taking those four bags of nuts, and leaving +them where we did? Don't you think Connie Mallon +was set <i>thinking</i>, and that unable to express +himself in any other way he carried out this fine +thing to show me he understood the motive back +of what we did?"</p> + +<p>George died hard.</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't just like to say that much, +Elmer," he admitted; "because I don't believe +that tough case could understand a decent motive; +but he evidently wanted to let you know he'd keep +still, if you fellows only wouldn't blab on him and +his crowd."</p> + +<p>"I don't agree with you, George," the other told +him, sharply. "I think you've got to rub your +eyes some yourself, and get the scales off. It's +my opinion that in his own crude way Connie +meant to tell me he was holding out the olive +branch. I've got a hunch he's in a humor to be +approached, and met more than half-way; and +when we get back after this camping trip I'm going +to have a chin with him the first chance I get +to see him alone."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Huh! wish you luck then, that's all," grunted +George; "but I give you my opinion for what it's +worth, and the chances are ten to one you'll rub +up against a stone wall."</p> + +<p>"Well, there'll be no harm done, anyway," continued +Elmer, nor did he insist on carrying the +argument any further, for he knew how persistent +George could be, and that although possessed of +many sterling qualities, being broad-minded was +not a cardinal virtue of the doubting scout.</p> + +<p>A short time later and those who had been up in +this region recently began to call the attention of +their companions to certain features of the landscape, +and comment on the same.</p> + +<p>"I'd give a heap," said Chatz, "to own a picture +of that other rig coming whooping out of the +woods somewhere around here, and turning down +the road in the direction of town. Well, suh, I +reckon the fellow who held the whip was using the +same on the backs of those hosses like fun, and the +lot of them shouting to him to make the team go +faster, because they believed the ghost would overtake +them."</p> + +<p>"It sure must have been a glorious sight," +called out the long-legged Lil Artha, from the rear +of the vehicle; "and just like you, Chatz, I'd give +a heap to see a photograph of the same. Do we +turn in here, Toby?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you fellows hang on now, tooth and +nail," replied the driver, "or there's a chance of +you getting pitched out, because the old wagon +joggles dreadfully most of the time over roots<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +and stones. Steady, back there, everybody!"</p> + +<p>What Toby said turned out to be the truth. He +tried to pick the easiest trail possible, but in spite +of this it proved to be so rough that presently Elmer +called a halt.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to walk the balance of the way, fellows," +he declared, as he made a jump and landed +on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Me too!" echoed Landy Smith, following suit.</p> + +<p>In another minute Toby was the only one left +aboard, and he too might have gladly sought the +ground only that it was necessary for some one to +do the driving.</p> + +<p>Old Nancy appreciated this lightening of her +load by striving harder than ever to draw it; while +George and Ted and Chatz continued to call attention +to various features of the landscape.</p> + +<p>"There's where we hid our wagon that other +time," the last named declared, pointing to a +thick cover of brush, into which the track of +wheels led; "and Toby, you notice, is turning out, +because this time we don't want to head direct for +the nut grove, but the dense woods alongside. We +saw a fine spring as we came by, and I reckon, +suh, that our efficient scout master has it all fixed +in his mind's eye to pitch our tents close to +that."</p> + +<p>"Saves a heap of water lugging, and that +counts," admitted Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"That oughtn't to bother you much, Lil Artha," +said George; "when you're built to cover half a +mile at every step. All you'd have to do would be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +to take one look-in, fill your pail, and then turning +around, come right back again."</p> + +<p>"Our camp, then, will be pretty close to the +old house, won't it?" ventured Chatz; and there +was an eagerness in his voice that betrayed how +much he had been thinking of his luck at being in +the vicinity of a building said to be haunted, for +two full nights.</p> + +<p>"That's what it will," Toby called out over his +shoulder, for he was following the pilot of the expedition, +Elmer, who strode on all by himself away +in the van; "and you'll have a chance to scrape +up an acquaintance with that old hobgoblin, Chatz. +You're welcome to all the fun; I haven't lost any +ghost that I know about, and you don't ketch me +hanging about in there half the night, waiting for +something white and clammy to stalk around. +Ugh! I should say not. Oh! what was that?"</p> + +<p>Nancy, up to then behaving very well, because +quite tired after the long pull, began to prance at a +lively rate; and every one of the four scouts craned +their necks and stared in one particular direction; +it was in that quarter George had just said the +haunted house lay; and what had come to their +ears was the strangest sort of a cry they had ever +heard, a mingling of pain and rage it seemed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>IN FOR A GLORIOUS TIME</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">A wildcat!</span>" exclaimed Ty Collins, excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe only an old owl," Lil Artha ventured; +"because I remember you fellows told us there +were some whoopers up here; and when an old +house has got bats in its belfry it's likely to have +owls too."</p> + +<p>"The house is over that way, ain't it?" questioned +Landy Smith, showing a mild interest in +the matter; but his indifference was more than +made up for by the excitement on the part of the +Southern scout, whose dark eyes fairly danced +with eagerness.</p> + +<p>"I should say it was," he told Landy, "and if +you think that's only an owl, or even a wildcat, +suh, I reckon you've got another guess coming to +you."</p> + +<p>"Listen to that, would you?" broke from Ty; +"our chum from Dixie here believes in ghosts, and +he even thinks that was one warning us away +from the haunted house. It'd take a dozen of the +same to scare <i>me</i> off. I may light out before an +enraged bull, but you don't find me sneaking away +when there's a white thing waving up and down +in the road. Had a lesson once, when I found it +out to be just a rag hangin' from a branch, and +since then nothing spooky ever faizes Ty Collins."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>Chatz looked keenly at the speaker, and nodded +his head. Although he made no remark, his manner +was that of a prophet, and Elmer, noticing it, +could imagine him saying: "Just wait, and we'll +see what sort of nerve you've got, Ty Collins. +Things seem different at high noon from what they +do when it's midnight. And if I have my way +you'll get a chance to see a real ghost, for once in +your life; because I just believe in the things, make +all the fun you want to."</p> + +<p>Whatever the strange thrilling cry may have +been, at least it was not repeated. Nancy was +quieted by Toby, and the other scouts stood there, +listening earnestly, for fully five minutes, but +nothing developed worth noticing.</p> + +<p>Finally Elmer called out to them:</p> + +<p>"Here, get a move on, Toby, and come along. +We've got lots to do before we can cook our first +dinner; and I don't know how you fellows feel, +but I'm as hungry as a wolf. Make a sharp turn +here, Toby, because we want to push straight into +the woods, and reach that spring."</p> + +<p>Of all the scouts, George was really the only one +who, as they walked on, turned his head and +glanced back several times toward the region from +which that strange sound had come.</p> + +<p>Chatz noticed it, and smiled grimly, as though +making up his mind that perhaps he might find a +convert in his belief in George, especially if anything +remarkable did come to pass, as he felt almost +sure would be the case.</p> + +<p>Presently they came to the running water, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +by following this up a short distance found the +spring.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! here we rest! Alabama for mine!" +cried Lil Artha, as he turned and surveyed his +surroundings, with the eye of one who had +camped on numerous previous occasions, and +might be expected to know something about such +things.</p> + +<p>Then ensued a bustle, as the scouts began to +unload the contents of the wagon, stake out the +mare, and start to get things arranged.</p> + +<p>Every fellow had his share of the work apportioned +to him, so that there was little real confusion, +or getting in each other's way; and it was +wonderful how things seemed to almost grow like +magic.</p> + +<p>Two khaki-colored waterproofed tents soon +stood there, facing toward the south, and with the +spring only twenty feet away. Inside these the +scouts began immediately to arrange their +blankets, though the beds would not be made up +until after the coming of night.</p> + +<p>Another pair attended to the very important +duty of making the cooking range, on top of which +they would spread the metal top that was to serve +as a gridiron, to hold such utensils as were necessary +for cooking purposes.</p> + +<p>When this had been constructed to their satisfaction +a fire was quickly kindled, for the air was +still rather sharp, even for a November day, and +all of them felt they would be much better for a +warm lunch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>Amidst more or less good-natured chaffing the +meal was prepared. There was no lack of assistant +cooks to help Ty, who had taken upon himself +the duties of <i>chef</i> for the occasion, since long +ago he had proved his capacity in that line; everybody +seemed only too willing to help, such is the +potent effect of genuine hunger.</p> + +<p>Even George was bustling around, trying to +hurry things along, picking out all the best wood +in order to make a hotter fire, and occasionally +peeping in under the covers of the two kettles to +learn if the contents might not be sufficiently +cooked.</p> + +<p>It was about an hour after noon when dinner +was ready, and all of them admitted the result was +well worth waiting for. That frosty November +air had given them an enormous appetite, and +everything tasted better than it could possibly do +at home; so for a certain length of time little was +said, since they were too busy in disposing of the +meal to talk.</p> + +<p>When the edge had been taken from their appetites +they fell into a disjointed conversation, and +almost every subject under the sun was discussed +from the standpoint of scouts.</p> + +<p>Afterwards they lounged around for a while, +being really too full to think of doing anything +strenuous. As this was not supposed to be a +regular camping trip of the whole troop, Elmer +had not laid out any particular programme looking +to their practicing the various "stunts" which +scouts are interested in. Under ordinary conditions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +there would have been all manner of events +underway, such as wigwagging classes, tracking +advocates, new wrinkles in nature-study unfolded; +photography of wild animals and birds in their +native haunts undertaken, and many other educational +features that make the camping out experience +of Boy Scouts so vastly superior to those of +other lads who simply go to the woods to loaf +away the time, swim, and fish, and eat.</p> + +<p>Of course each fellow was at liberty to employ +himself as best he thought would give him the +most pleasure, only there was no authority +brought to bear, and no one felt constrained to do +anything that he did not particularly care for.</p> + +<p>"Where's Chatz gone?" asked Lil Artha, after +they had been knocking around in this fashion for +nearly an hour after eating, and several of them +showed signs of wanting to be on the move.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I saw him slip away a while back," remarked +Toby, "and chances are he's prowling in +and out of that old shebang over beyond the trees, +the haunted house that Judge Cartaret built fifty +years or so ago. Chatz is clear daft on the subject +of spirits, you know. And from what I've +seen of him, it wouldn't surprise me a little bit if +the fellow before we left here, tried to get us to +make some sort of a ghost trap, to grab that wonderful +spook in."</p> + +<p>"If he ever did that," Elmer remarked, "it +would show that deep down in his heart Chatz +didn't believe in any such notion; because if there +was such a thing as a real ghost no trap we could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +manufacture would ever hold it. If Chatz proposed +that to us he'd be as much as saying he believed +the ghost to be a man, playing a game for +some reason or other."</p> + +<p>"But," interposed Ty Collins, "what sort of a +game would make anybody prance around here +night after night, with a sheet wrapped around +him, and p'raps luminous paint on his face, like I +remember a ghost once did. But in that case +there was a good reason, for he wanted to give a +bad name to the property so he could buy it in +for a song. That wouldn't be the case here with +the Cartaret place, you know."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's foolish trying to guess a thing when +we haven't even seen the ghost," George interrupted +the others to say; "and I've got to be +shown such a thing before I'll take the least stock +in it; though I must say that as a rule Chatz is +a long-headed chap, and not easy fooled."</p> + +<p>When Elmer heard George say this he fancied +that it would only take one mysterious ghostly +manifestation to make the doubter an ardent believer +in supernatural things. Scoffer that George +was, once he saw with his own eyes, he went to the +other extreme, and became firmly convinced. It +was just like the swing of the pendulum with him +every time.</p> + +<p>"Oh! let's forget all that stuff about white-sheeted +things that walk in the middle of the +night!" exclaimed Landy Smith, "and pick up a +more cheerful subject. Now just yesterday I +chanced to be reading an account that told how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +three scouts in this very state made a study of +hunting for the hives of wild honey bees up in the +hollow limbs of trees in the woods. Elmer, do you +think we could run across a hive filled with delicious +honeycombs around here?"</p> + +<p>"Whee! you make my mouth water just to hear +you talk about it," Lil Artha arose to say, "and +if so be any of you make the try for a hive just +count me in, will you?"</p> + +<p>"You bet we will," Landy hastened to assure +him, "and right now consider yourself appointed +commissioner-in-chief, whose principal duty will +be to climb the honey tree, after we locate the +same, and cause the warm-footed little innocents +to vacate, so that we can gather in a store of the +nectar. Wow! I'm going right away to see if I +can't find the tree. Who'll be my backer? Don't +all speak at once!"</p> + +<p>Lil Artha and Ted proved to be the most eager +for the adventure. Upon making inquiries it was +found that Landy had read all about how to locate +a bee tree, if by good luck any such happened to +be in the neighborhood, and was ready to show +his chums how the thing ought to be done.</p> + +<p>His talk concerning the subject proved to be so +interesting that when a start was made he had +gained another convert, being Ty Collins.</p> + +<p>"I rather think I'd like to see how that thing's +done, myself," this worthy admitted, "so with +your permission, Landy, I'll tag along, and if you +need any help in carrying the stock of honeycomb +home count on me. Right now I feel like I could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +tackle a few big wedges myself, and enjoy the +same."</p> + +<p>"All right, come along with us, Ty," Landy +told him, cheerfully; "but I'd feel a whole lot +easier in my mind if you'd take off that red +sweater, and wear something else."</p> + +<p>"What for?" demanded Ty, who could be pretty +stubborn when he chose. "This is going to be a +bee hunt, not a bull fight, that I know of. Why +should you object to me going warmly clad, I'd +like to know?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! well," replied Landy with a grin that told +he had only been drawing the other on for a purpose; +"there might be an old king bee that had a +detestation for red, just the same as a bull does, +and he'd make it so warm for us we'd have to get +out of the woods in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Rats!" the other shot back at him, "bees don't +bother about what they see; I've been told by an +old bee man that it's <i>sounds</i> they get mad at. +And then there ain't such a thing as a king bee anyhow—queens, +drones and workers make up a colony. +Oh! I ain't quite such a ninny as some people +think. So I guess this beautiful red sweater +goes along."</p> + +<p>"All right, if you're willing to take such a +terrible risk it's nothing to the rest of us, is it, +fellows?" Landy told him, with a chuckle; and +then went on to add: "Now, we'll carry a little +sugar water along to use if we happen to run +across any bees flying around, which at this late +day ain't likely. Best we can do is to watch every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +tree-top and try to hear the buzzing of a swarm of +young bees. They come out every fine day as +long as the weather lets 'em, around noontime, +and try their wings. An old bee hunter can get +on to the little hum far off and locate the hive that +way. Let's see if we've got ears worth anything."</p> + +<p>"The best of luck go with you!" called out Elmer, +who was busy with something or other; "and +if you need any help come back after the rest of +the bunch. I see you're carrying our camp ax, +Lil Artha; be careful and don't lose it, because +we need that same thing right along."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about that, Elmer," the elongated +scout shouted back. "I wouldn't let that get +away from me for all the honey in seven counties. +But in case we do find a tree that looks good to us +I'm ready to swing the ax for all I'm worth," and +so saying he strode away after the other three.</p> + +<p>That left just Elmer, Toby and George in camp.</p> + +<p>"I'd be tickled half to death if they <i>did</i> find a +tree, and got a lot of honey," Toby remarked, +grinning in anticipation, and licking his lips at the +same time; "and I can just see that Lil +Artha whooping things when the tree drops, and +he rushes headlong in among the branches to scoop +up some of the sweet stuff that bursts out of the +crack, with a million bees swarming around his +ears. If I was you, Elmer, I'd get some witch +hazel ready to put on stings, for they'll need it +right bad."</p> + +<p>"Time enough for that when they report a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +find!" declared Elmer, who evidently did not have +a great deal of confidence in the ability of Landy +Smith to locate a hive, especially at that time of +year, when the little insects were apt to be lying +more or less dormant.</p> + +<p>An hour passed by. Then Elmer began to wonder +what could be detaining Chatz so long, for he +several times looked in the direction where he +knew the old deserted Cartaret house must lie, +as though half expecting to see the Southern boy +come on the full run, with some wonderful story +of sights he had seen, or imagined he had, which +was the same thing.</p> + +<p>When Chatz did appear he was walking slowly, +and his face had an expression of subdued disappointment +resting on it. Apparently, then, all +his prowling in and out of the building could not +have met with any particular reward. In other +words the Cartaret ghost was not very accommodating, +and respectfully declined to make its appearance +at such an unheard of hour as three in +the afternoon; when every one knew that all respectable +spirits only manifest themselves around +the midnight hour.</p> + +<p>"You didn't run across anything new, did you, +Chatz?" Elmer asked him, as he came into camp, +took a drink of cool water, and threw himself on +the ground to rest.</p> + +<p>"Not a single thing, suh; but then I didn't really +expect to in broad daylight. Wait till to-night, and +I reckon there may be something doing," and then +Chatz allowed his brow to show three wrinkles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +that told of perplexity, for he had heard Elmer +chuckle; and all at once it struck him that on the +former occasion the scout master had gone back +into the house after he and the other comrades had +left; and once more the Southern boy who had the +vein of superstition in his make-up asked himself +what Elmer could have seen on that occasion to +make him look so knowing, and have that queer +smile cross his face whenever the ghost was mentioned.</p> + +<p>But Elmer did not offer to explain, and so Chatz +had to content himself with the thought that perhaps +on the coming night the veil of secrecy might +be lifted from the mystery.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SACKING THE FOREST STORE-HOUSE</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Toby</span> had insisted upon stowing that wonderful +aeroplane appendix which he called an "aviator's +life-saver parachute," in the bottom of the wagon +when starting out on this camping trip. He was +working at it while helping to keep camp the first +afternoon after their arrival.</p> + +<p>"All I hope is," he went on to say, when Elmer +chanced to come around close to where he straddled +a log, and did some heavy sewing with the +toughest waxed string he could use, "that I find a +chance to try out this thing again while we're in +this region. If no other place shows up I might +climb to the top of the tower on the old house, and +jump off there. How high would you guess, off-hand, +that might be, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! perhaps thirty-five or forty feet," replied +the other, carelessly, and hardly noting what Toby +was saying, because just then he had caught a +peculiar sound that came from some little distance +away.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear that, Elmer?" called out George.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I was trying to make out what it was +when you spoke," replied the scout master. "I +reckon it must be some one busy with an ax, for +the blows are repeated as regular as clock-work."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And our chums took the camp ax away with +them?" suggested Toby, looking up, an eager glow +commencing to show in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and they went off in that direction, too," +added George.</p> + +<p>With that the four camp keepers smiled at each +other.</p> + +<p>"Can it be possible they've found a bee-tree, +after all?" asked George, who, despite his yearning +for a honeycomb, could not overcome his +skeptical disposition, and believe that such a delightful +consummation of the bee hunt had come +about.</p> + +<p>"Listen to that whanging, will you?" cried +Toby; "nobody but Lil Artha could use an ax like +that. As sure as you live they must have struck +something. Tell me about the babes in the woods, +will you; some people wade in good luck every +time they start out!"</p> + +<p>"Another fellow has taken hold, because the +sound changes," George observed, sagaciously; +"and p'raps Ty Collins is swinging the ax now. +He can hew close to the line; fact is, I never saw a +scout who could chop as evenly as Ty. Wow! did +you hear that crash, fellows? A tree went down +that time, whether there's any honey in the same +or not. I'll only believe it when I see, smell and +taste the nectar."</p> + +<p>A short time afterwards they heard some one +coming on the run. Then a figure broke out of +the brush, waving excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Hi! get your buckets, and come along to help<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +gather the harvest!" Lil Artha was shouting as he +approached, half out of breath.</p> + +<p>"Then you sure enough did find a bee-tree, and +it isn't any joke?" demanded the incredulous +George.</p> + +<p>"Take a look at me, and then say if I show up +like a joke!" demanded the long-legged scout, indignantly.</p> + +<p>Everybody laughed as he twisted his face up, +and tried to look serious. It was an utter impossibility +with that lump ornamenting the end of +his nose, others gradually swelling his cheeks, +while various suspicious signs behind his ears +marked the places where the angry little bees had +left their stings.</p> + +<p>"No hurry, Lil Artha," said Elmer; "let me +rub your face with this witch hazel, and put a little +ointment on to relieve the pain and reduce the +swelling. You're puffing out under the eyes right +now, and if something isn't done you'll have to be +led around for a while."</p> + +<p>While Elmer was doctoring the battered comrade +George kept plying him with questions, as +though he had great difficulty in believing the glorious +truth.</p> + +<p>"I hope it isn't only an old hornet's nest you've +struck," he went on to say, doubtfully; "but then +there wouldn't be any at this time of year, I +guess. Sure you saw real honey, did you, Lil +Artha?"</p> + +<p>"And smelled it too!" cried the afflicted scout. +"Why, the old tree burst open when it fell, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +you just ought to see what gallons of the stuff fills +the hollow trunk away up near the top. My! but +the bees are mad, and swarming around there by +the million! I ran in among 'em, thinking to +snatch a comb, and get away with it, but they +swooped down on me, and I had to cut for it like +fun. Elmer, however, can we get some of that +honey without being stung to death? Oh! if only +I had one of Daddy Green's bee head-nets that he +loans to people when he's showing them the inside +of a hive in his apiary, wouldn't it be the boss; +and rubber gloves to go with the same."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I might rig up a net somehow," Elmer +mused; "I've got a piece of mosquito netting in +my bag that I use for a minnow seine, and that +ought to make several head-nets. Let's see if we +can find any gloves that'll help keep our hands out +of danger."</p> + +<p>After a hunt through all the traps the boys managed +to secure enough coverings to answer the +purpose after a clumsy fashion. Meanwhile +George and Toby had hastily gathered what utensils +they had with them capable of holding some +of the honey. Everybody was wildly excited, for +they had never really passed through an experience +of this sort. Bee trees they had heard of +many times, but that one should actually be discovered +when they were camping out, and yearning +for something of a sweet nature, seemed almost +too good to be true.</p> + +<p>"All ready here, Lil Artha!" exclaimed George; +"and now lead us to your wonderful wild honey<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +hive. I just want to see it with my own eyes, +that's all."</p> + +<p>Lil Artha looked severely at him, that is, as well +as he could with those half-shut eyes of his, and +then remarked sarcastically:</p> + +<p>"Well, if you ain't the limit, George; I sure hope +you <i>do</i> see the plain evidence, yes, and <i>feel</i> some +of 'em too, like I did. They say the poison of bee +stings is used in medicine, and it's mighty good +for some things. P'raps a dose of the same'd +cure you of your questioning everything there is. +But come on, everybody."</p> + +<p>Elmer did not know whether they were exactly +wise in abandoning the camp, even for a brief +time; but he felt that it would be hard to keep any +one there; so he concluded to take the slight risk.</p> + +<p>Lil Artha was a pretty good scout. He had +noted directions as he went forth on the expedition, +so that in returning to the camp he had made +what might be called in more senses than one a +"bee-line"; and now the trail was so plainly +marked that even a fellow with one eye, or half-closed +ones, could follow it back to where the +other three scouts awaited their coming, hiding +behind the brush so as not to attract too much attention +from the buzzing horde of insects.</p> + +<p>The netting was fashioned into head protectors, +the ends being tucked well down in their coats. +Then donning heavy gloves the two boys selected +for the work, George and Ty Collins, started boldly +into that whirling mass of excited bees.</p> + +<p>They shortly came out bearing pans full of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +splendid honey, and doubtless a considerable number +of stings in spite of all the precautions taken +against this evil.</p> + +<p>"Next time look for a little fresher stock," Elmer +told them; "for while this is all right, and +like amber in color, you'll find that it's last year's +gathering. Split the tree further up, and get the +latest stuff!"</p> + +<p>So Ty took the ax back with him; while George +worked a sort of smoke smudge Elmer had prepared, +in order to help stupefy the bees. It did +the business in great shape, too, as every bee +keeper uses this means for keeping the little insects +from paying too much attention to him when +he is working with their hive. They seem to +fancy that their home is in deadly danger of being +consumed, and every working bee immediately +burdens itself down with all the honey it can carry, +and for the time being renders itself helpless to +use its sting.</p> + +<p>Every scout managed to accumulate one or more +lumps, however, for the air was heavily charged +with the bewildered insects, now homeless on a +fall afternoon; and although the boys did a great +deal of dodging they could not avoid contact all +the time. But then the sight of that splendid +honey made them forget their present troubles. +They snatched up the bottle of witch hazel, or applied +the ammonia solution recklessly, to immediately +start in again working like heroes.</p> + +<p>Elmer started back to camp bearing their one +bucket actually full of the most delicious honey he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +had ever tasted; and soon afterwards Lil Artha +followed with two kettles also heavily laden with +the same.</p> + +<p>When Chatz came along with several heavy +honeycombs secured with an arrangement consisting +of cords, and stout twigs from some hickory +tree, the three looked at each other in dire dismay.</p> + +<p>"We can't live on honey alone, you know," Lil +Artha up and said; "and it looks like we've already +got every cooking vessel loaded down, with +not half the store of sweet stuff cleaned out. +What in the wide world can we do with it all? I +guess this is a case of too much of a good thing."</p> + +<p>"I know!" declared Chatz, suddenly; "in +prowling around that haunted house I saw several +old stone jars in what was once used as a pantry. +Let's go over and lug the same to camp, Lil Artha. +They can be washed out clean, and will hold all +that honey, I assure you, suh. And we can carry +most of the same back home with us to show other +scouts what we've been doing up here in the +woods."</p> + +<p>So the pair hastened away, and after a while +came back with the stone crocks or jars, each of +which would hold several gallons. Elmer pronounced +them the finest possible thing for holding +their rich find, and proceeded to cleanse them +thoroughly at the spring, after which the various +cooking receptacles were emptied, and both Chatz +and Lil Artha started eagerly back to the fountainhead +for a fresh supply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>They certainly cleaned out the best part of that +tree hive during the next hour, and had four jars +full of splendid honey, some of it as clear as crystal. +It was the greatest "harvest home" the +Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts had ever experienced; +and they seemed never to get quite enough of the +sweet stuff, for every one kept tasting as new supplies +were disclosed by splitting the tree further.</p> + +<p>Finally, however, it came to an end, and the distracted +bees were let alone with the sad wreck of +their once fine hive. Perhaps, if they survived +the chill of the coming night, some of them would +start in fresh, and carry away enough of the discolored +honey, refused by the discriminating +scouts, to start a new hive, and keep the swarm +alive during the winter.</p> + +<p>Nobody seemed furiously hungry as the afternoon +waned and the shades of night began to +gather around the camp. This was hardly to be +wondered at, however, since they had tasted so +much honey for hours that it took away their customary +zest for ordinary food. Elmer told them +it was a bad thing, and every fellow promised that +from that time on he would take his sweet stuff in +moderation.</p> + +<p>Of course they cooked some dinner; and after +once getting a taste of the fried onions and potatoes +it seemed that to some degree their fickle +appetites did return, so that the food vanished in +the end.</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking about all that darker honey we +left there," Lil Artha was saying, as they sat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +around the crackling fire long after night had +fallen, and supper had been disposed of an hour +or more.</p> + +<p>"My starth!" ejaculated Ted, "I hope now you +don't want to lay in any more of the thweet thtuff, +do you, Lil Artha? Why, we'll be thticky all over +with it. Don't be a hog. Leave thome to the poor +little beeth; and it didn't look real nice, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I wasn't regretting that we couldn't make +a clean sweep," explained the tall scout, whose +face was once more gradually resuming its normal +appearance; "but if what I've read is true, up in +some places where they have black bears, they always +set a watch when they've cut down a bee +tree. You see, the smell of the honey is in the +air, and if there's a bruin inside of five miles he'll +be visiting that broken tree hive before morning, +when the watcher can send a bullet into him."</p> + +<p>"But you don't think there are bears around +here, do you?" asked George, always to be found +on the side of the opposition.</p> + +<p>"Well, hardly," replied Lil Artha, "though +some of us wish it might be so, because we've got +a gun along, and they say bear steak isn't half bad +when you're in camp, even if it does taste like dry +tough beef when you're at home, and sitting down +with a white table cloth before you. I'd like to +try some, that's what; but this expedition wasn't +started for a bear hunt, you know."</p> + +<p>"No, that's so," Ty Collins remarked; "more +likely a ghost hunt," and he gave Chatz a sly look<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +out of the corner of his eye as he said this.</p> + +<p>"That was meant for me, suh," Chatz said, +with dignity; "you think you can laugh at me because +I'm weak enough to believe there may be +such a thing as a ghost. But if you-all are so sure +nothing of the kind ever could happen, what's to +hinder me from having the entire camp along to-night +when I go over there and hide, to watch what +happens at exactly midnight?"</p> + +<p>Elmer laughed softly.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that as a dare, Chatz?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Take it as you please, suh; and we'll soon see +who believes in ghosts or not; because the one who +backs down first is likely after all to be afraid of +meeting up with visitors from the spirit land."</p> + +<p>"Who's going along with Chatz and myself?" +asked Elmer, turning to the circling scouts; who +began to look serious, and cast quick glances toward +each other.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'll keep you company, Elmer!" said +George, first of all; for somehow he fancied everybody +was staring hard at him, and not for worlds +would he allow them to think he was <i>afraid</i>.</p> + +<p>"Count me in!" added Ty Collins, with a laugh, +that bordered on the reckless.</p> + +<p>"I'll go along, too," observed Ted.</p> + +<p>Landy Smith hastened to nod his head in the +affirmative when Elmer looked at him; Lil Artha +spoke up and said he was bound to be one of the +number; and finally Toby completed the list by +signifying that he was ready to sacrifice himself +also.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE MIDNIGHT VIGIL</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">I'm</span> glad to learn we don't have any 'fraidcats +in this camp, and that I'm likely enough to +have plenty of company in keeping watch to-night +in the haunted house," Chatz remarked cheerfully, +after the last scout had been heard from.</p> + +<p>"I've waited to see if it was going to be made +unanimous," Elmer told them at this juncture; +"and now that you've all toed the mark so handsomely, +why of course I'll have to exercise my +judgment in picking out, say a couple of fellows, +who will stay to look after the camp here while the +rest of us are otherwise employed."</p> + +<p>"Lassoing ghosts, for instance!" Lil Artha +murmured.</p> + +<p>Elmer looked around the circle of faces again. +All of them knew that he was selecting the pair of +scouts who would be left behind, and while doubtless +a number of the boys were secretly hoping +deep down in their hearts that they might be one +of the lucky number, they tried their best to appear +indifferent.</p> + +<p>"Ted, you're one!" said the leader, presently; +"and I think I'll appoint Landy to keep you company." +The latter commenced to splutter a little, +when Elmer raised his hand, and continued:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +"Now, don't get the notion in your heads that because +I've selected you for playing the rôle of +martyr it was because I thought you'd prove weak-kneed, +or in any way show up poorly. I've no +reason to think anything of the sort; only there +had to be two chosen, and I've taken you for +reasons of my own. <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Sandy'">Landy</ins> was complaining a +short time ago of feeling squeamish, after gorging +himself with all that honey; and in case he gets +sick who could attend so well to him as our Doctor +Ted?"</p> + +<p>That was explanation enough, and every one +had to rest satisfied. Perhaps, if the truth were +told, neither of the two scouts had any regrets +coming; and secretly they were envied by some +of the less fortunate ones, who would gladly have +guarded the camp stores, if given the opportunity.</p> + +<p>"One thing good," Chatz informed them, +"we're going to have a moon poking up in a little +while. You know it's past the full stage, but from +ten o'clock up to daylight it'll hold the fort up +above."</p> + +<p>"Fine!" exclaimed George, with a half laugh; +"I always do like to have bright moonlight whenever +I go after ghosts. You can see the white +things so much better, and watch 'em flit around +as soft as silk. I'm glad you've ordered up a +moon to help out, Chatz; it'll sure make things +more interesting."</p> + +<p>"I think myself it will, suh," the Southern boy +said, placidly in his turn; "and if any of us feel +like we'd want to make a bee-line from the house<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +to this camp here, why, the running is better when +you have moonlight, you know."</p> + +<p>"Huh! that was meant for me, I guess, Chatz," +sneered George; "but you'll have to take it out in +waiting if you expect to see me chasing along, and +hollering for help, because some old owl with a +white front shows up, or the bats begin to fly in +and out of that tower. I'm not built very much +that way."</p> + +<p>"I hope not, suh!" was all Chatz said in reply; +but George was seen to color up, and look a trifle +confused, as though possibly he might not be feeling +quite as bold inwardly as his words would +imply.</p> + +<p>"When ought we start over?" asked Lil Artha, +just as carelessly, to all appearances, as though it +might be a friendly visit to some neighboring +camp, instead of a thrilling experience in a +haunted house.</p> + +<p>"In about half an hour or so after the moon +rises," Elmer informed him; "that ought to be +time enough, don't you think, Chatz?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty, suh," came the reply, "because, if +there is any truth at all in these stories they tell +about such places, the fun doesn't ever begin till +midnight."</p> + +<p>"Fun!" muttered Toby, rubbing his chin reflectively; +"well, it does beat all creation what +some people call fun. Now, so far as I'm concerned, +while I'm going along with you, and can't +be made to back out, it's all a silly nuisance. I'd +rather be climbing up into that same old tower,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +and getting ready for a drop with my reliable +parachute."</p> + +<p>"No use of that in the night-time, Toby," remonstrated +Ty; "mebbe to-morrow we'll get a +blanket brigade to stand below while you make +your first jump, so's to let you down easy if the +old thing breaks."</p> + +<p>"No danger of that, Ty; because I've gone all +over it again and again, and right now she could +sustain a weight of half a ton, I reckon. But it's +good of you to be interested enough in my invention +to lend a helping hand. Think what it'll +mean to all the tribe of aeronauts when every flier +is equipped with a Jones Life-saving Parachute, +that is guaranteed to float him softly to the ground +even if he has a breakdown accident a mile up in +the clouds."</p> + +<p>Toby after that fell into a musing spell. Perhaps +in imagination he peopled the air fairly +filled with flitting aeroplanes, and every single +aviator supplied with the remarkable device that +was going to make the name of Jones the most +famous in all the wide land.</p> + +<p>The other scouts chatted, and exchanged all +sorts of lively remarks. They even indulged in +several songs that sounded very strange when +heard among those whispering pines of the grove, +and knowing as they did what manner of house +stood close by, with a halo of mystery surrounding +it.</p> + +<p>Just as Chatz had predicted the moon arose +close on ten o'clock. It was no longer as round<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +as a shield, but had an end lopped off; still the +flood of mellow light that came from the lantern +in the sky was very acceptable to the scouts, and +served to render their intended mission less objectionable.</p> + +<p>Finally Elmer arose, and there was a start on +the part of those who had been selected to accompany +the leader and Chatz on their singular +errand.</p> + +<p>"I hope you'll let me carry the gun, Elmer?" +Lil Artha remarked, coaxingly.</p> + +<p>"Why should you?" replied the other, instantly; +"if it is a real ghost a bullet wouldn't hurt a bit; +and if it should turn out to be some one playing a +mad prank I don't think you'd feel easy in your +mind if you were tempted to shoot him."</p> + +<p>"But it might be some tramp or hard case, and +we'd want to subdue him; how about that, Elmer?" +questioned Toby.</p> + +<p>"Well, we can carry clubs if we like," said +Elmer; "and I mean to have a piece of stout rope, +so we can tie him up if we overpower him. Six +scouts can put up a pretty hefty sort of fight, it +strikes me, if things get to that point. No, leave +the gun for the defenders of the camp and the +grub."</p> + +<p>When presently the six boys stalked forth on +their singular errand they did not seem to be in +very merry spirits. True, Elmer was smiling as +though he could give half a guess as to what they +were about to run up against; and there was +Chatz, a satisfied grin on his dark countenance;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +but the remainder of the investigating party +could hardly have looked more solemn and melancholy +if they had been about to attend the funeral +of a dear departed friend.</p> + +<p>"Good luck!" called out Ted, after them; while +Landy waved his hand mockingly, and grinned +happily as he remarked:</p> + +<p>"We'll expect to see you fetch back at least +one full-fledged ghost, boys; and take care he +don't bite you. They're apt to do something along +that order, I'm told, by people who've interviewed +some of the species. But you c'n tame +'em so they'll even eat out of your hand."</p> + +<p>"Just you wait, that's all," was the sum total +of what the departing scouts deigned to reply, as +they vanished amidst the mixture of silvery moonbeams +and darkening shadows.</p> + +<p>Soon they glimpsed the house through the dense +vegetation. It stood out boldly in the moonlight, +grim and silent. There was not the half expected +gleam of any inside illumination, only the dilapidated +windows, the walls covered in many places +by a rank growth of Virginia Creeper vine, the +broken chimneys rearing themselves up above the +ridge, and that square tower overtopping it all.</p> + +<p>As they approached the walls of the house it +might have been noticed that those of the scouts +who had been lingering a little back of the rest +somehow seemed to think they ought to close the +gap, for they hurried their footsteps, and were +soon in a cluster, with no laggards.</p> + +<p>"I've thought to fetch my little handy electric<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +torch along, Elmer," said Lil Artha about this +time.</p> + +<p>"It may come in useful," was the reply Elmer +made; "but with all that moonlight going to waste +I hardly think we'll need it. Still, you never can +tell, and it's a mighty clever affair. You were +wise to think of fetching it, Lil Artha."</p> + +<p>"Are we going to separate, Elmer; and if we +do, will you let me place the rest of the boys, suh?" +Chatz asked before they reached the yawning +doorway of the deserted building.</p> + +<p>"How about that, fellows?" the leader asked +them; "do you think we had better split up into +several small parties or stand together?"</p> + +<p>Toby, Lil Artha, Ty Collins and George heard +this announcement with a new sense of consternation. +In imagination they could easily picture +how dreary and unpleasant it was going to be if +each one had to take a post isolated from the rest, +there to stand and listen, and perhaps <i>shiver</i> as +the time crept on, until he must become so nervous +that he could give a yell.</p> + +<p>"For my part, Elmer," Lil Artha said, hastily, +"I think we had ought to stick in a bunch. One +couldn't do much against a—er—ghost, you see; +while the lot of us might be able to down anything +going."</p> + +<p>"That's what I think too, Elmer," piped up +George, "though of course, if you say so, I'm willing +to do anything to carry on the game."</p> + +<p>"United we stand, divided we fall!" spouted Ty +Collins, who, while a big blustering good-hearted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +fellow himself, did not exactly like the thought of +being alone in that weather-beaten and half +wrecked house, as the hour drew on toward midnight.</p> + +<p>"I think we ought to stick together, Elmer," +Toby declared, which confession appeared to tickle +Chatz, judging from the low snicker he gave utterance +to; for, just as he had suspected, while none +of these fellows would admit that they placed +the least faith in things bordering on the supernatural, +still they did not fancy finding themselves +left alone in a house that had been given a bad +name.</p> + +<p>Elmer had been talking matters over with +Chatz, so that they were agreed as to where the +watchers should take up their positions. All talking +except in whispers was frowned down upon +from that time forward; and there is always +something exciting about a situation when everybody +is speaking in low tones.</p> + +<p>They entered the house, and led by Chatz passed +up the rickety stairs. This was evidence enough +that their vigil was about to be undertaken in the +upper story. George seemed to think that if he +could manifest a disposition to joke a little it +would be pretty good evidence that he at least was +not afraid; and while as a rule he left this weakness +to Toby and Lil Artha he could not resist +the temptation to lean over and whisper to Ty, so +that Chatz also might hear, something to the effect +that it was just as well they were mounting +those shaky stairs because people who believed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +silly ghosts must be weak in the upper story.</p> + +<p>No one laughed, so George did not attempt any +more witticisms. Truth to tell, he was not feeling +as perfectly indifferent as he tried to make +out; and when one of the others slipped a little, +George it was who exclaimed hastily:</p> + +<p>"Oh! what in thunder was that?"</p> + +<p>When the six scouts had gained the second +floor they passed along the wide hall to the place +that had been chosen for the vigil. While in the +gloom themselves it was easily possible for them +to look along the moonlit hall, diversified with +shadows, and see any moving thing that might attempt +to pass that way. At the same time by +turning their heads they could see out of the nearest +window, and have a fair view of the open space +between the wall of the house and the dense bushes +close by. Beyond arose the thickly interlaced +trees, a wild scramble along the line of the survival +of the fittest.</p> + +<p>Elmer stationed them all as he thought would +be best. They were told that they could sit down +cross-legged, Turkish fashion, if they chose; but +under no circumstances was any one to allow himself +to be overpowered by sleep. If a scout had +reason to believe the one next to him were nodding +suspiciously he must whisper words of warning +in his ear; and should that fail to effect a radical +cure he was empowered to try other tactics, if +by chance he possessed a pin.</p> + +<p>Having been fully awake at the time of their +arrival, something like half an hour went by with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +all the scouts apparently on the watch. Then +George had to be admonished by Lil Artha several +times, until finally a low gasp, and muttering, +as well as quick rubbing of his thigh on the part +of George announced that the radical means had +been employed in order to keep him awake.</p> + +<p>There is nothing more reliable as a sleep preventative +than the jab of a pin; it seems to send +an electric shock through the whole system, and +eyes that were just about to close fly wide-open +again.</p> + +<p>Twenty minutes later another low gurgling cry +arose; this time it came from the elongated scout, +and George was heard to whisper savagely:</p> + +<p>"Tit for tat, Lil Artha; you gave me a stab, +and now we're even."</p> + +<p>"'Sh! I thought I heard something moving +down there in the bushes!" the scout master told +them, cautiously.</p> + +<p>Of course every one was immediately quivering +with intense anxiety and eagerness. It was very +close on the mystic hour of midnight, too, which +added to the interest of the matter. Could it be +that they were about to witness some strange +manifestation such as Chatz professed to believe +was possible? No wonder that the boys wriggled +erect, stiff in their joints after sitting there tailor-fashion +so long, and pressing toward the open +window stared down toward the bushes to which +Elmer had referred when he spoke.</p> + +<p>So bright was the moon, now fairly high in the +sky, that even small objects could readily be distinguished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +There was nothing in sight that they +could notice where the rank grass grew, and the +trees and bushes were absent; but looking further +they could actually see something white moving +along through the brush.</p> + +<p>No one said a single word, but there might have +been heard several quick gasps; and a hand that +fell on the sleeve of Elmer's khaki coat trembled +fiercely. If ever some of those boys were willing +to confess to the truth they would admit that their +hearts began to beat furiously about that time, +as with staring eyes they watched that mysterious +white object pushing through the matted bushes +that grew just beyond the open space near the +walls of the haunted house.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A STRANGE FIGURE IN WHITE</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Oh!</span>"</p> + +<p>After all it was George, boasting George, who +gasped this one word in Elmer's ear; and the +scout master knew then whose trembling hand had +clutched his sleeve.</p> + +<p>But if several of the others refrained from giving +vent to their agitated feelings about that time, +it was only because they had lost their breath completely.</p> + +<p>All of them were staring as hard as they could +at the strange white object that kept creeping, +creeping along through the brush. Not the slightest +sound did it appear to make, and that added +to the weirdness of it all. They must just then +have had flash into their brains all they had ever +read or heard about the wonderful manner in +which ghosts and hobgoblins are able to advance +or retreat, without betraying their presence by +even the least rustling.</p> + +<p>Then all at once there broke out the sharp, furious +barking of a dog. Every scout reeled back +as though struck a blow. At the same moment +they saw the white object whirl around, and rush +away through the brush; and now they could +plainly detect the rapid patter of canine feet.</p> + +<p>"It was only a stray farmer's dog after all!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +exclaimed Lil Artha, with a sigh of absolute relief.</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Toby, "and when he barked up +at us he was scared at the sound he made himself, +so that he lit out as though he had a tin pan +tied to his tail. But I own up I was shivering to +beat the band, for I sure thought it must be that +Cartaret <i>thing</i> they say hangs out here. Whew!"</p> + +<p>George, as usual, having recovered from his +own fright wanted to make it appear that he considered +any one foolish who would actually allow +himself to be alarmed by such a silly thing as a +white object.</p> + +<p>"Anybody might have known it was only a white +cur," he affirmed; "why, if you looked right sharp +you could see the shine of his eyes out there in the +shadows."</p> + +<p>"Did you look sharp, George; and if so why +didn't you put us wise?" demanded Toby. "But +I bet you were just as badly rattled as the rest of +us, only you won't own up to it."</p> + +<p>"What, me? Huh, guess again, Toby, and +don't measure everybody by your own standard, +please," George told him; meanwhile congratulating +himself over the fact that he had been standing +in the shadow, so that none of his mates could +possibly have seen how pale he must have been.</p> + +<p>"That dog couldn't belong around here, Elmer!" +suggested Chatz.</p> + +<p>"No, it was most likely some farmer's dog that +had been running rabbits through the forest, and +chanced to wander over this way. But even he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +considered it a queer place, and was glad to shake +the dust of it off his paws after he gave that one +volley of barks. No danger of him coming back."</p> + +<p>"He scented us up here, don't you think?" continued +Chatz.</p> + +<p>"As like as not; but don't say anything more +now, please. It must be close on twelve o'clock!"</p> + +<p>They knew what Elmer meant when he said +that. If the ghost walked at all it must be around +the middle of the night. So they would have to +take up their weary vigil again, and await developments. +Even whispering must cease, and +their attention be wholly given to watching, inside +and out of the house.</p> + +<p>The seconds crept into minutes, though to some +of the scouts these latter had never moved with +such leaden wings, and they could almost believe +hours were passing in review instead.</p> + +<p>Had it been summer-time when they made this +pilgrimage to the woods near the old Cartaret +house they would have expected to hear the chirping +of crickets in the lush grass; the shrill call of +the katydid answering his mate, and prophesying +an early frost; and perhaps other sounds as well—the +croak of the bull-frog, the loud cry of the +whippoorwill, or the hooting of owls perched on +some dead tree.</p> + +<p>At the tail end of November, with most of the +dead leaves strewn on the ground, and the trees +standing there bare of foliage, these familiar +sounds were hushed; and only a somber silence +lay upon the land, which was ten times more apt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +to produce nervousness on the part of the listening +boys than any combination of well known night +cries.</p> + +<p>Now and then some one would sigh, or move +slightly; but beyond that they maintained the utmost +silence; which showed how well drilled they +were as scouts, and obedient to orders.</p> + +<p>Their senses were under such a tremendous +strain that it actually seemed to Toby and perhaps +Lil Artha, that they would have given a great +deal for the privilege of shouting at the top of +their voices a few times; but they did not attempt +such a foolish remedy.</p> + +<p>Lil Artha did make a slight movement after a +long time, and as the others fastened their anxious +eyes upon him they saw that he had gently taken +out the little nickel dollar watch he carried. +Bending forward so that a ray of moonlight might +fall on the face of the time-piece, Lil Artha consulted +it to learn if his suspicions were correct.</p> + +<p>When he glanced around and saw that he was +the center of observation, he just nodded his head +up and down several times. In that fashion he +informed the others that it was fully midnight; +which was what they were so anxious to know.</p> + +<p>So far there had been no sign of a walking +specter. George was getting over his fears. He +even commenced to shrug his shoulders every time +he saw one of the others looking his way. That +was George's mute protest against all this foolishness; +of course he had known that it would end +this way right from the start, and had only agreed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +to come along to please Elmer, as well as show +them that ghosts had no terrors for any sensible +scout.</p> + +<p>"'Sh!"</p> + +<p>A thrill passed over every fellow as Elmer gave +vent to this warning hiss. They looked at him instinctively +in order to learn the reason for it, and +found that the scout master did not seem to be +staring out of the open window as before. On +the contrary he was intently focussing his gaze +down the wide hall toward the group of shadows +that clustered at the further end.</p> + +<p>And as their eyes also roved in this direction +once again did that cold hand seem to grip every +heart. Something white was moving there, beyond +the shadow of a doubt! They watched it +advance, and then retreat methodically, systematically, +as though it might be a part of a well-oiled +machine.</p> + +<p>Toby rubbed his eyes very hard, as though +under the impression that they were playing him +false; while George shoved up closer to the next +in line, which happened to be Chatz, who bent +over to stare into his face, as though eager to +learn the condition of George's bold heart.</p> + +<p>What could it be? Certainly no dog had anything +to do with this new source of alarm, for it +was tall, after the fashion of a man, and seemed to +be dressed in white from head to foot.</p> + +<p>Though they listened with all their might none +of them could catch the sound of footfalls. If the +mysterious object were a human being he must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +barefooted to be able to move along without making +a sound; while if it were a spirit, as doubtless +most of them were ready to admit by now, of +course there was not anything remarkable about +the silent tread, because all spirits are able to project +themselves through space without even a shivering +sound—so those who deem themselves competent +to judge tell us.</p> + +<p>Elmer was perhaps also mystified more or less. +Though he might know more about the secrets of +the old house than any of his companions, still +this particular manifestation was something he +would like to have explained.</p> + +<p>There was no use asking any of the other boys, +because they were naturally much more shaken up +than he could be, and hardly able to give any information. +The only way to do was to go to +headquarters for his knowledge of facts; in other +words creep along the hall, keeping in the +shadows, until he found himself close enough to +learn the true nature of the "ghost."</p> + +<p>That was what Elmer finally started to do. +George managed to sense his going, and the gasp +he gave voiced his apprehension, as well as his +admiration for the bravery of his fellow scout.</p> + +<p>"Stay here!" whispered the leader, in the lowest +possible tone, which could not have penetrated +more than two feet away, but was enough to warn +the others that he did not wish them to follow +when he crept away.</p> + +<p>He went on hands and knees, picking out his +shelter carefully as he advanced.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>Five other fellows crouched there and continued +to watch, first that puzzling white figure that +noiselessly kept up its ceaseless parade back and +forth, and then the creeping scout, slowly and +carefully covering the space that separated him +from the object under observation.</p> + +<p>They did not know what to expect in the way of +a shock; anything seemed liable to happen just +then. George in particular was wondering if his +scoffing remarks, so lately uttered, could have been +overheard; and whether they would likely attract +particular attention in his quarter. He also remembered +what Chatz had said, while they were +still near the tents, to the effect that it was always +much easier running in the moonlight than when +the pall of darkness lay upon things; not that +George was contemplating a wild retreat, of +course not, so long as the others stood their +ground; but then it did no harm to be prepared +like a true and careful scout, so that he would +know just how he must leap through that open +window if there arose a sudden necessity.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, there was Elmer hunching his way +along the hall toward the moving object in white +that had so mystified them. He would raise himself, +and push along a foot or so, and then resume +his squatting position; but all the while steady +progress was being made, and without any noise, +however slight.</p> + +<p>When he had managed to make out what the +nature of the white thing was, Elmer planned to +return again to his chums, and if it proved to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +be simply a human being like themselves, he had +a scheme in his mind looking to first cutting off +all retreat, and then making a capture, after which +perhaps they could learn what all this mummery +meant.</p> + +<p>Of course Elmer was always conscious of the +fact that it would be an unwise act for him to pass +out of the line of shadow, and allow the moonlight +to fall upon him while making this advance. +Fortunately there was sufficient shadow to admit +of his passage without taking these chances.</p> + +<p>He had already passed over a quarter of the distance +separating him from the mystery at the time +he started, and everything seemed to be going as +well as any one could wish. If he could only keep +the good work up a little while longer Elmer believed +he would be in a position to judge things +for what they were, and not what the fears of the +boys had made them appear.</p> + +<p>By straining his eyes to the utmost he fancied +that he could even now make out what seemed to +be the tall figure of a man, who was dressed all in +white. His bearing was erect, and he carried +himself with the stiffness of a soldier on parade. +Yes, this comparison was made even stronger by +the fact that he seemed to have something very +much like a gun, though it may have been merely +a stick, gripped tight, and held as a sentry might +his weapon, while pacing back and forth before +the tent where his commanding general lay sleeping.</p> + +<p>Elmer also stopped to rub his eyes, not that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +was doubting what he saw, but the continued +strain weakened them, and even brought signs of +tears, that made accurate seeing next to impossible.</p> + +<p>Well, half a dozen or so more hunches ought to +carry him along far enough to enable him to make +positive; and he believed he could accomplish it +without betraying his presence to the unknown +walker, be he human or a ghost.</p> + +<p>By this time the scout had drawn so close that +he thought it good policy to remain perfectly quiet +while the mysterious white object advanced toward +him, making all his progress when the other +had turned, and was moving away.</p> + +<p>The half-dozen contemplated movements had +now been reduced to three, and he saw no reason +to believe that his presence was known. This +spoke well for his work as a scout; it also promised +such a thing as success.</p> + +<p>Elmer had one thing in his favor, and this was +an entire freedom from any belief in things supernatural. +While he never boasted, like George, +and some of the other scouts liked to do, at the +same time he believed that everything claimed as +belonging to the realm of spirits could be explained, +if only one went about it the right way.</p> + +<p>On this account, then, he had not allowed himself +to give even the least thought to such a thing as +meeting a ghost. That white figure, to him, must +be a man, no matter what motive influenced him to +act in this strange way; and before he was done +with the affair the scout master hoped to be able<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +to probe the enigma, and find a reasonable answer +that would fit the case.</p> + +<p>Another turn along on his hands and haunches +took him just that much nearer the object of his +solicitude. That left only two more to be negotiated +before he would have reached the mark he +had mentally chosen as the limit of his investigation. +After that he must return to inform his +friends of his discoveries, so that together they +might lay plans looking to the capture of the white +mystery.</p> + +<p>But boys as well as men often lay splendid +plans without taking into account the element of +chance that always abounds. Elmer might be doing +all he figured on, and yet meet with a cruel +disappointment.</p> + +<p>He had just drawn back to make the next to last +forward hunch, and was in a position where any +other movement was an utter impossibility when +there sounded a loud and unmistakable sneeze! +A draught of air had caught George without warning, +and brought this catastrophe about before he +could think to try and head it off by rubbing the +sides of his nose vigorously, or through any other +known agency.</p> + +<p>As the sneeze rang out Elmer, knowing what the +result must be, attempted to gain his feet, meaning +to spring boldly forward; but his awkward +position placed a handicap on quick action, so that +he wasted several precious seconds trying. +When he did finally manage to gain an upright<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +position it was to find that the white figure had +vanished as utterly as though the floor had opened +and swallowed it up; nor had the scout heard the +slightest sound of a footfall.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>TOLD AROUND THE CAMP FIRE</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Of</span> course Elmer was disappointed when his +carefully laid plans all went by the board, owing +to that unfortunate sneeze, just at the worst possible +time.</p> + +<p>As a matter of duty he ran forward to where +that strange figure in white had been marching +to and fro, but just as he fully expected there was +not a single sign of the late presence.</p> + +<p>So Elmer walked back to where his anxious +chums were crouching, craning their necks in the +endeavor to ascertain what was going on. He +found them ready to ply him with questions; and +Toby's first act was to free himself from suspicion.</p> + +<p>"George did it, Elmer!" he hastened to say; +"with his silly little sneeze. It sure gave us all a +shock, and when I thought to look again that bally +ghost was gone."</p> + +<p>"But how could I help it?" complained the +guilty culprit. "I never had the least idea it was +coming, when all at once it gripped me hard. If +you'd offered me half a million dollars right then +not to sneeze, I couldn't have earned thirty cents. +It took me just as quick as that," and he snapped +his fingers to illustrate how impotent he had been +in the grasp of a necessity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I've been there myself, George," said Elmer, +kindly, because he knew how badly the other scout +must feel on account of having upset all their +plans; "and just as you say, sometimes a sneeze +comes so fast you can't keep it back if your life +depended on it. Of course it was unfortunate, +because in another minute I'd have been close +enough to have done all I wanted."</p> + +<p>"But my stars! Elmer," exclaimed Lil Artha, +in dismay, "you didn't expect to jump that spooky +thing all alone, I hope?"</p> + +<p>Elmer laughed, which act proved to the distressed +George that his offense could not set so +heavily on the mind of the scout master after all.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Lil Artha," Elmer told the +long-legged scout; "I expected to drop back, and +get the rest of you before anything was done. +But accidents will happen even in the best regulated +scout troops, and that was something nobody +could help. Better luck next time."</p> + +<p>"Then, suh, you don't mean to give up this +ghost hunt?" asked Chatz, with a ring of exultation +in his voice.</p> + +<p>"Not if we have another chance to hook up with +the mystery," replied Elmer.</p> + +<p>"But tell us, weren't you close enough up to +see whether it was a real ghost or not?" demanded +George, arousing to his old self again.</p> + +<p>Chatz could be heard giving a little indignant +snort. He was evidently unable to understand +how any one could doubt after seeing what they +had. Chatz, with all his leaning toward a belief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +in spirits, had never before come so close to an +object that had all the earmarks of a ghost; and +he was correspondingly elated.</p> + +<p>"I guess I was all of that," Elmer replied, +quietly.</p> + +<p>"And what do you think about it, Elmer?" continued +George, persistently.</p> + +<p>"We want to know!" added Toby, determined +to get his word in somehow.</p> + +<p>"There's a whole lot to tell," said Elmer, "and +this isn't just the place to begin the story. So +let's get back to the camp, where we can sit around +the fire for another half hour, while I enlighten +you on some things I happen to know."</p> + +<p>What he said gave the others a new thrill. For +the first time some of the scouts became aware that +their leader had all along been in possession of +certain facts in connection with the strange appearance +of this reputed ghost. One or two there +were, notably Chatz Maxfield, who had suspected +something of the kind, owing to the queer way +Elmer had often smiled while the others were disputing +fiercely concerning the possible identity of +the specter.</p> + +<p>"That sounds good to me, Elmer," announced +Lil Artha, without a second's hesitation, "and for +one I'm ready to skip out of this place. It's raw +and spooky enough here to give us all pneumonia. +Let's get alongside a cheery old camp fire; and +then you to spin the yarn. It wouldn't surprise +me so much if I heard that you'd known the pedigree +of our ghost all along, and was just holding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +back to see what fun you could shake out of the +situation."</p> + +<p>"No, you're wrong there, Lil Artha!" declared +the scout master, earnestly; "that isn't so. I began +to have my suspicions, but up to now had +found nothing to confirm them enough to warrant +me telling what I knew, or thought. But the time +has come, because this thing has gone far enough. +Lend me your little flash-light torch, Lil Artha. +The rest of you wait here for me again, please."</p> + +<p>As Elmer hurried away they noticed that he +was making along the hall directly toward the +spot where they had recently seen the weird white +object that moved forward and back, again and +again, with the regularity of clockwork.</p> + +<p>"He's gone to see if he can find any footprints +in the dust on the floor?" suggested Ty Collins.</p> + +<p>At that Chatz gave another grunt, as though to +his superior mind it was a very foolish remark; +because ghosts never left any tracks behind them. +But as he seemed to be in the minority, and knew +it was hardly wise to invite another verbal attack, +Chatz chose to seal his lips and remain dumb. +His triumph would come later on, when they were +seated around the glowing fire, and Elmer chose +to explain his views of the matter, gleaned at close +range.</p> + +<p>A short time passed thus. The scouts were +keyed up to top-notch pitch, and the seconds +dragged fearfully while they awaited the coming +of their leader. They could see him moving +about, by means of the little glow cast by the hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +electric torch he had borrowed from Lil Artha; +who felt that his fetching such a useful article +along had vindicated his wisdom. Scouts should +look ahead, and prepare themselves for all sorts of +possible needs. That was what they were learning +to do day after day, as they strove to earn new +honors, and reach a higher plane in the great +organization.</p> + +<p>Finally when the waiting scouts were beginning +to sigh, and wish Elmer would get through with +his searching around, they heard him give the +well-known signal that was meant to call them to +his side.</p> + +<p>"All ready to go back to camp now, fellows," +was all Elmer said as they hastened to join him; +for it was necessary to pass by that way in heading +for the stairs.</p> + +<p>Whether or not he had been successful in finding +any traces of the mysterious <i>thing</i> they had +been gaping at so long, Elmer did not bother +telling them just then. That would keep until +he was ready to explain fully.</p> + +<p>The camp, as we happen to know, was not far +removed from the haunted house that had gained +such a bad name among the farmers of that +section for many years, on account of the sad +story connected with its past; and in a short time +they filed in before the two guardians of the +stores, much to the satisfaction of Landy and +Ted.</p> + +<p>Of course the pair who had been left behind +were eager to know what had happened to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +more fortunate comrades who had gone on the +ghost-hunting expedition; and they started to +bombard Toby and Lil Artha with a series of questions +that made the victims throw up their hands.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we did see something, and that's right," +admitted the latter scout.</p> + +<p>"A tall white figure, too," broke in Chatz, who +wanted to make sure that nothing was omitted in +the telling that ought to be narrated; "and it kept +moving up and down again and again like an uneasy +spirit. If you asked me I'd say it was the +ghost of old Judge Cartaret, come back to visit +the scene of his crime!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! gosh!" was all the staggered Landy could +say, but it expressed the state of his feelings exactly.</p> + +<p>"Don't believe too much of what Chatz says till +you hear what Elmer's got to tell us all," warned +Toby. "You see, he went and crept up close to +that <i>aw</i>ful figure, and then George here, just like +he wanted to try things out, and see if it really +was a ghost, had to give a whopper of a sneeze; +and when we looked again the thing had disappeared +like smoke. But Elmer knows something, +and he promised to tell us the real stuff when we +got sitting around our bully fire here. So pull +up, fellows, and let him know we're all ready to +listen."</p> + +<p>"Take my word for it," Lil Artha told them, +"I'm wild to hear what Elmer knows."</p> + +<p>"What he <i>believes</i>, say, Lil Artha," corrected +the scout master, pleasantly; "for I haven't been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +able to prove it to my satisfaction yet, though I +hope to do that before we leave up here."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Elmer," said Toby, quickly; +"your word's as good as your bond, and when you +<i>think</i> a thing it's pretty sure to be it!"</p> + +<p>This remarkable confidence which his chums +had in him always spurred Elmer on to doing his +level best. He felt that he could not afford to +lose a shred of such sublime faith; and no doubt +on many occasions this had enabled him to gain +his end when otherwise he might have considered +the case hopeless, and abandoned all design of succeeding.</p> + +<p>Accordingly the whole eight of them found +places around the fire, which had of course been +built up again until it was a cheery sight. Around +midnight at the extreme end of November the air +is apt to be pretty chilly during the small hours +of the night, so that the boys could hardly keep +up too hot a blaze to satisfy their wants.</p> + +<p>Naturally all of them had made sure that from +where they sat they could see the face of Elmer. +As he was the center of attraction it was bound +to add more to their pleasure if they could watch +him as he explained, and told his story of achievement.</p> + +<p>The scout master looked around at that circle +of eager boyish faces, and smiled. He was very +fond of every one there; after his own fashion +each scout had his good points, and Elmer knew +them all, for had he not seen them tested many a +time?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> + +<p>"First of all, fellows," he remarked, "I'm going +back to the other time we were up here, and +Toby declared he saw a white face at one of the +windows, which news gave us all such a queer feeling, +because we couldn't tell whether it was so or +not. You remember after we left the house I +went back again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sure you did, Elmer; but you never said a +word about finding anything!" George remarked.</p> + +<p>"But he looked it," muttered Chatz, with increasing +uneasiness.</p> + +<p>"I went up to that window again, and hunted +around to see if there was any sign of footprints +there," Elmer continued. "You know that in all +the years the house has been lying there deserted +the dust has collected everywhere, though don't +ask me where it could come from, because I don't +know. Sometimes rain would beat in through the +broken windows, and lay it, but the wind coming +later on set it free again. Anyway, there was +tracking dust there on that floor, and I found what +I was looking for!"</p> + +<p>Everybody was hanging on his words. Chatz +gave a groan. He saw that a death blow was +being given to his cherished belief; for of course +if Elmer had found <i>tracks</i>, the one who had made +them could never have been a ghost.</p> + +<p>No one else was sorry, apparently. Indeed, +there was more or less actual relief in the series +of sighs that welled up, especially from George, +who had secretly been getting a little shaky with +regard to his disinclination to believe in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +ability of spirits to return to the scene of their +earthly troubles for divers purposes.</p> + +<p>"You mean there was a track there; is that it, +Elmer?" asked Toby.</p> + +<p>"I found several of them, though our tramping +around had almost covered the trail up," Elmer +went on, steadily.</p> + +<p>"But how could you tell them from the marks +we left?" continued Toby.</p> + +<p>At that Elmer laughed.</p> + +<p>"Well, that was as easy as tumbling off a log, +Toby," he replied. "I guess even a tenderfoot +could have told, because you see the strange track +showed that the other party was <i>barefooted</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" gasped George and Lil Artha in a +breath; while Chatz did not say a single word, +only sat there with his eyes fixed on the beaming +face of the scout master, and the light of a cruel +disappointment in their depths.</p> + +<p>"I tried to follow the trail," continued Elmer, +"but that dust happened to be limited in its scope, +so that it was more than I could master, and I +had to give it up. But of course the fact that a +barefooted man had been at that window where +Toby said he saw a white face gave me lots to +think about, even if I did make up my mind not to +say anything about my find until I had more to +tell."</p> + +<p>When Elmer paused to get his breath Toby +grinned as though greatly pleased.</p> + +<p>"See!" he ejaculated, thrusting his chin out aggressively, +"some of you other fellows thought I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +was seeing things that didn't exist, and you +knocked me right hard about gettin' a pair of +specs, because I needed the same. But seems like +it was you ought to go and visit the oculist. I <i>did</i> +see a face, and it was sure a white one in the bargain. +But excuse me, Elmer, for keepin' the floor +so long; that's out of my system now, and let's +forget it. Please go on and tell us the rest, because +I'm dead sure there's a lot more back of +this."</p> + +<p>"Well," the other scout observed, "of course, +when we got home I was bound to go around and +ask a lot of questions about the old Cartaret place +up here; and everything else I could hit on. +What I learned didn't add a great deal to my +stock of knowledge until just by accident I happened +to read a little item in an old number of the +Stackhouse <i>News</i> that came to our house, and it +set me to thinking out a theory. That article was +about a family named Oxley that live near Stackhouse +I should think. It seems that they have the +misfortune to have a son who is crazy, because of +some accident to his head several years ago. He +wasn't violent, and like some people they couldn't +bear the thought of having him shut up in an +asylum; so they hired a keeper, and he was +watched at home. But it seems that he must have +slipped away, for a report had gone out that he +was missing, and the paper asked its readers to +communicate with the family if by chance they +came upon a demented man, dressed in the white +uniform of a Spanish officer; for it seems he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +been in Cuba during the war, and imagined himself +a soldier again."</p> + +<p>Elmer paused to let what he had said sink into +the minds of his chums; and it could be easily seen +from the way they exchanged knowing looks that +the full significance of the scout master's discovery +had struck them heavily.</p> + +<p>"Elmer, you hit the right nail on the head when +you guessed that!" cried Toby.</p> + +<p>"Dressed in white, too; that clinches the +thing!" added Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it does," sighed Chatz, in a disappointed +tone, while George only said:</p> + +<p>"Mebbe it does; but you can't always sometimes +tell!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE BOOGIE OF THE TOWER</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Let</span> Elmer go on, and tell us some more," suggested +Toby.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we can talk it all over after we know the +whole thing," added Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"Once I got that notion in my head," the scout +master continued, "and I began to investigate +along those lines. When I heard from two +farmers in the market, who happened to live up +this way, that for weeks they had been missing +things off their places, mostly something to eat, I +began to figure it out that the crazy man had to +live, and would most likely forage for his grub, +about like Sherman's bummers did in the Civil +War, subsisting on the enemy's country.</p> + +<p>"One of the hayseeds told me he had even set a +trap for the thief, thinking it might be just an +ordinary hobo; and when the alarm came one night +he had hurried out to the hen-house only to find a +couple of chickens gone, and the trap sprung, but +no victim in it, for the thief had been too smart +for him. But he said it beat him all hollow when +he found tracks of <i>bare feet</i> around on the partly +frozen ground in the morning, because it seemed +queer that any tramp would be going around without +shoes so near winter time!"</p> + +<p>"Whew!" gasped Toby, entranced, and almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +held spellbound by this thrilling recital of facts +and fancies.</p> + +<p>"The other farmer," Elmer went on to say, +"told me that twice when he had had a visit from +the strange thief he managed to glimpse something +white that was making off at top speed, and +which he expected was a man, though he couldn't +be sure. He also said he had loaded up his +double-barrel shotgun, and was going to give the +rascal a hot reception the next time he called +around. All of which kept making me feel that I +was on the right track."</p> + +<p>"You just bet you were, Elmer!" Lil Artha exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"A figure in white, remember, fellows; and the +one we saw to-night was dressed that way, as sure +as shooting!" said Toby, convincingly.</p> + +<p>"The poor Oxley fellow was in Cuba during the +Spanish war, and must have fetched the white uniform +of a Spanish officer home with him," suggested +Ty Collins; "when he went out of his mind +he imagined himself a Spanish recruit, and they +let him wear that soldier suit to humor him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and right now he believes he has escaped +from an American prison, and is trying to hide +from the guard. He has to eat to live, and so he +steals things from the farmers around. Of course +it's only a matter of good luck that he hasn't been +shot before now; and it couldn't last much +longer."</p> + +<p>"Why, when winter gets here in dead earnest +the poor fellow would freeze to death, like as not,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +George remarked, showing that he was being convinced +against his will.</p> + +<p>"But what gets me is his staying around the +old haunted house," remarked Toby.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't see what there is queer about +that," Lil Artha declared. "Course he couldn't +know anything about all this talk, so it's hardly +likely he's been trying to play ghost on us. We +fooled ourselves, that's what," with a quick look +toward Chatz, as though to intimate that possibly +the Southern boy had had considerable to do with +their being hoodwinked; which was a lamentable +fact, for a small fraction of yeast will scatter +through the whole pan of dough.</p> + +<p>"And when you come to think of it," added Lil +Artha, who had something of a long head when +a knotty question was involved, "where could a +crazy man find a better hiding place than in a +house said to be haunted, I'd like to know?"</p> + +<p>"The poor fellow!" Ted was heard to say, that +being his first utterance. "Tell you what, we +ought to put in all the rest of our time up here trying +to capture him. I'd never feel thatithfied to +lie in my comfy bed at home nighth, thinking of +him up here, freezing perhapth. Thay we will, +Elmer, and you too, boyth!"</p> + +<p>Ted was tender-hearted, and could never bear +to see any one suffer if he had it in his power to +alleviate the pain. He promised to make a fine +doctor some day, for his knowledge along the +line of medicine and surgery was really wonderful; +but while the other scouts had been so deeply<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +interested in figuring things out, and settling the +question of the strange man's identity, Ted had +doubtless only considered his physical sufferings +past and present.</p> + +<p>"I promise you that, Ted, with all my heart," +Elmer assured him, promptly enough, "because I +wouldn't be satisfied to go away and leave a helpless +fellow like that here. I only wonder that he +hasn't tried to steal some of our stores before now; +and perhaps we could set a trap that would catch +him, if he ever does come into camp. But we +won't depend too much on that. Sometimes the +mountain won't come to you; and then you've got +to go to the mountain. That's one of the sayings +the Mohammedans have about their prophet, you +know. Well, to-morrow we'll get busy looking +around, and see if we can locate this Ralph +Oxley."</p> + +<p>"Oh! is that his full name, then?" asked Toby, +and he repeated it to himself, as though he rather +liked the sound: "Ralph Oxley!"</p> + +<p>"He must have some sort of hiding-place around +here," Toby ventured, "and who knows but what +we might run across the trail of a barefooted man +somewhere, that would lead us to his den."</p> + +<p>"These crazy people are pretty slick, let me tell +you," George hinted; "and it ain't going to be an +easy job to run him down."</p> + +<p>"It mightn't be for some fellows who knew next +to nothing about tracking," Lil Artha spoke up, +proudly; "but when scouts have been through as +much as we have it's different. Once we get a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +sight of his tracks, and believe me there'll be +something doing right away."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear you say that, Lil Artha," the +scout master told him; "it shows that you've got +a heap of confidence in your knowledge of the +trail. Well, you've a right to feel that way. I +can remember several times when you beat us all +out in finding signs, and getting there in the end. +We'll all do our level best to find his lair, and +bring back Mr. Oxley's son in the flesh. They +must be dreadfully worried about his absence by +this time, and believe he has been drowned in +either Lake Jupiter or the Sweetwater River. It +would be a feather in our caps if we could restore +the poor fellow to his folks."</p> + +<p>"You told us he was a soldier, didn't you, Elmer?" +pursued Toby; "and say, p'raps now he +thought he was on guard when he kept marching +back and forth dozens of times to-night. How +about that, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"No doubt about it at all, Toby," came the reply; +"for that was what he was doing. I remembered +what they had told me about his wearing +white clothes, even if they were soiled some by +now, and thinking he is a Spanish soldier. I believe +he had a stick held up against his shoulder, +for all the world like a sentry's gun, and if we +hadn't frightened him off he might have kept that +thing up for hours."</p> + +<p>They continued to talk it over for some further +time, and then having apparently about exhausted +the subject made ready to turn in. First Elmer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +picked out two others who were to constitute the +first watch with him. They had to sit it out for +a certain length of time, and keep constantly on +the lookout for a visitor; but as the limit of their +vigil was reached, and nothing happened, Elmer +aroused three other scouts, and bade them take +the places vacated by himself, Toby and Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>Morning arrived, and there had been no alarm. +It was to be assumed that those who had fulfilled +the duties of sentries during the latter part of the +night had not slept on their posts. Elmer made +an examination of the stores, and found nothing +amiss there; so it was settled that the crazy man +could not have mustered up enough courage to invade +the camp of those he considered his enemies.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Elmer, accompanied by Chatz +and Lil Artha, started out to take a turn around +in the woods, and look for signs of a trail made by +bare feet. Some of the others amused themselves +as they saw fit, sure that if the trail-seekers +did make any interesting discovery they would +hear all about the same, and undoubtedly be given +a chance to help follow it.</p> + +<p>It was Saturday, and had they been at home no +doubt these same boys might have been kicking +the pigskin oval around with their fellows, since it +was still the gridiron season, and most of them belonged +to the Hickory Ridge football squad. +They were much happier, however, in having +chosen this last camping trip of the season, for +like true scouts their keenest enjoyment lay in getting +in close touch with Nature, and learning many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +of her most cherished secrets. Football was all +very good in its way, but there were better things, +as they had learned through experience; and a +search after practical knowledge was one of them.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'll never get a better time to try it out," +Toby up and declared as he began to gather that +bundle of his in his arms; "and I hope a couple of +you fellows will come with me to see my crowning +triumph."</p> + +<p>"I s'pose that means you're thinking of taking +that fool jump off the tower of the old house, and +want us to be parties to the crime?" George suggested, +bitingly.</p> + +<p>Toby surveyed him scornfully.</p> + +<p>"I'm intending to make a glorious drop, and +land on the ground as light as any chicken feather +might," he went on to say, with emphasis. "If +that's all the faith you've got in your chum's +ability, George, mebbe you'd better stay here in +camp. It will spare you the sight of my getting +a broken leg, you know. I didn't ask you when I +extended that invitation; but I would like to have +Ty and Ted come along; Landy too if he wants to +join us, and shout when I prove the great value +of my noble invention along humanitarian lines."</p> + +<p>"Whew! you have got it down pat," chuckled +Landy.</p> + +<p>"Sure you want Doctor Ted along," sneered +George; "you know which side of your bread's +buttered, don't you, Toby? If a cog slips in +your wheels, and you take a hard tumble you'll +find his being on hand mighty acceptable. I'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +carry splints and bandages in plenty, Ted. And +if I have time I think I'll start to shaping up some +kind of crutch while you're away. Things like +that come in handy sometimes. This is going to +be one of those times, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p>"Rats! you old croaker, nothing would ever be +accomplished in this world if everybody was like +you. They'd be afraid to take a chance. Things +that their ancestors used 'd be good enough for +them, like the Chinese. But thank goodness +there are <i>some</i> progressive people livin' these +days, like Edison, Marconi, and a few others."</p> + +<p>"Jones, f'r instance!" chuckled George. +"Well, if I don't show up at the exhibition good +luck to you, Toby. I hope it won't be anything +worse than a leg, or your collarbone, or five teeth +knocked out. I wish you great success. Tell me +all about it when you get back. And I'm in dead +earnest about that crutch, too. I think I know +how to shape one out of a thick wild grapevine, if +I can only find the right sort."</p> + +<p>There was no use trying to talk George down, +once he got started, and no one knew this better +than Toby, who had been worsted in many a +verbal encounter before now, so he only jerked +his head contemptuously, and lifting his burden, +called out to the others:</p> + +<p>"Come along, boys, if you've decided to be witnesses +to my triumph. Mebbe your names will go +ringing down the ages too, as being present when +the glorious test was made that marked the end of +aviators' perils."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"One thing I think we'd better do, Toby," suggested +Ty.</p> + +<p>"Well, name it," the other threw over his shoulder +as he tramped sturdily along, carrying his +wonderful parachute ready for business.</p> + +<p>"When you say you're all ready for the jump +I'm going to give the wolf call, so Elmer, Lil Artha +and Chatz can have a chance to come around, and +share the honor with us of being living witnesses +of your work."</p> + +<p>Toby seemed to ponder this for half a minute; +and then remarked:</p> + +<p>"I guess that would only be fair, because Elmer +might feel huffed if I jumped into glory, and him +not there to see it. Yes, I'll get up on the tower +and when I say the word you give the '<i>how—oooo</i>' +call that'll fetch 'em running."</p> + +<p>"Consider that a bargain then, Toby," Ty told +him; "and remember, don't you go to making your +jump till they come up. Elmer might be provoked, +and believe you sneaked off unbeknown to +him to try the same. They're likely somewhere +close by, I reckon, and we're apt to run across the +trackers hard at work while we're on our way to +the haunted house right now."</p> + +<p>But they did not, although they caught the sound +of voices through the aisles of the dense woods, +and knew that Elmer with his comrades must be +somewhere, not far away.</p> + +<p>The old building stood there just as they had +seen it before. Landy and Ty had not been along +when the nutting party met with their first adventure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +here; but on the preceding afternoon they +had surveyed the wreck of a house, so that their +only experience had not been the one at midnight.</p> + +<p>Besides, now that the halo of mystery had been +removed, so that they knew the white object they +had seen was only a poor crazy fellow and not a +ghost from the other world, the boys experienced +far less timidity about approaching the house.</p> + +<p>"We'll stay down here, Toby," said Ty, as he +took up a position that was directly underneath +the tower.</p> + +<p>Ted had carried a burden along with him also. +This he now threw upon the ground, and it proved +to be one of the stout camping blankets. Toby +only chuckled when he saw that.</p> + +<p>"Please yourselves, fellows," he assured his +comrades, "but you won't need anything like that. +I'm going to float like a thistledown. It'll be the +triumph of the age, and don't you forget it. +Watch what I do, now, everybody!"</p> + +<p>With that Toby boldly entered the house, and +started to make his way up to the tower. Apparently +he must have noticed how one could reach +that elevated region, though as yet none of them +had thought to go there. Inside of five minutes +the boys below saw him looking down at them from +far above.</p> + +<p>"Wait till I get my parachute ready, fellows!" +he called; "and there's Elmer and the rest hurrying +up, waving their hands like they wanted me to +hold on till they got here. Mebbe I will; the more +the merrier! Stretchin' out your old blanket,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +are you? Well, take my word for it you won't +need to grab me any. I'm staking a heap on this +thing to hold me up easy. Wow! what's this? +Let go, there, you don't get that precious thing +away from me! Hey! fellows, here's that crazy +man tackled me! He's wantin' to grab everything! +Quit pushin' or you'll have us both +tumblin' over the edge! Whoop! somebody come +up here and help, or he'll get me!"</p> + +<p>The two boys below heard all this shouted at the +top of Toby's voice; although of course they had +but slight glimpses of the struggling figures above. +A desperate wrestling for the possession of the +parachute was evidently going on, for they could +hear the sound of scuffling feet; and besides, Elmer +and the others who were fast coming on the +run, seemed to be shouting at the top of their +voices, as though under the impression that by the +noise of their yells they might alarm the man who +was out of his mind and had attacked the scout, +believing him an enemy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>HOMEWARD BOUND—CONCLUSION</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Help!</span> Let go of me! Hi! Elmer, he's up +here! Come quick, I can't hold him any longer!"</p> + +<p>That was what Toby was shrieking excitedly, +as he struggled with the poor demented Spanish +War veteran. Then there came answering shouts +from Elmer, now close at hand; but of course Toby +could not carry out any directions that were fired +at him.</p> + +<p>Presently those below saw the two figures topple +over the edge, Toby still frantically clutching his +beloved parachute, which was extended to its +fullest dimensions, and the other evidently fiercely +trying to hold on to his supposed enemy.</p> + +<p>The extended blanket was torn from the grasp +of the two boys, despite their earnest attempt to +hold it taut; but at the same time it must have +helped break the fall of the pair. The parachute +had not been built for two, and could not be expected +to bear their combined weight, in spite of +Toby's boasts about half a ton not being too +much.</p> + +<p>One of the recumbent figures instantly sprang +to his knees. It was Toby, and he still gripped +the rod of his parachute with a determined hold.</p> + +<p>"Never hurt me a teenty bit!" he shrilled, in +his excitement; and then he suddenly stilled his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +ardor, for on looking down he saw the crazy man, +dressed in that soiled white uniform brought from +Cuba, lying there with the blood trickling down +the side of his head, and the sight shocked Toby +into repressing his exultation.</p> + +<p>But Elmer was coming on the run, and already +Doctor Ted had knelt beside Ralph Oxley, with +his professional instincts all aroused. He sent +one of the boys racing to the camp for his medicine +case; and Elmer on his arrival suggested that +they carry the unconscious young man to where +the fire burned.</p> + +<p>Being scouts, and accustomed to making a good +litter out of almost anything, they speedily arranged +it so that between four of them the victim +of the fall was borne to the camp. On the way +they met Lil Artha and George, hurrying toward +the house; but of course these parties now returned +with them, since the medicine case was +needed in camp.</p> + +<p>Ted first of all washed the wound in the young +soldier's head with cold water, and then applied +a cloth soaked in soothing balm, that would assist +in stopping the bleeding.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I hope he isn't going to die on us," +said Toby, who seemed to feel that in some way +his desire to test his parachute life-saving appliance +from the tower of the old house had +brought this near-tragedy about, and hence he felt +unusually sorry.</p> + +<p>"I don't think tho," Doctor Ted hastened to +tell him; "he got a nathty cwack on the head,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +and it's fwactured it thome, but right now he +theems to be coming out of the daze. There, did +you thee his eyeth open and thut again? Next +time he'll keep them open, believe me, fellowth."</p> + +<p>Imagine the amazement and consternation of +the boys when a minute later Ralph Oxley not +only opened his eyes, but stared all around at +each one in turn, then at the tents and the burning +camp fire.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?" he stammered, weakly. +"What's all this mean? Are we still at the +front? Where's my khaki uniform like the ones +you're wearing, and why have you put this old +white one on me? It's a Spanish suit. I know +because I've got one like it home. Who are +you? I don't seem to recognize any of you +boys."</p> + +<p>What seemed next door to a miracle had been +wrought! Elmer and Ted stared eagerly at each +other as though they could hardly believe their +senses.</p> + +<p>"He's got his mind back again!" exclaimed +Chatz, wildly exultant. "It must have been the +crack on the head did it. I've heard of such +things, but never thought I'd ever run up against +a case. Why, he's as sensible as any of us, fellows!"</p> + +<p>Elmer rushed forward, and stood over the recumbent +man, who looked at him with a puzzled +air.</p> + +<p>"Your name is Ralph Oxley, isn't it?" asked +the scout master, quietly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, it is, but—" began the other, when Elmer +raised his hand to stop him.</p> + +<p>"I'll explain as near as I can to you," he went +on to say. "You were hurt on the head a few +years ago, and went out of your mind. Ever +since your folks have kept you at home because +they said you were not dangerous, but there was +an attendant employed to look after you. Some +weeks ago you escaped, and nobody has ever +found where you went. They feared you had +been drowned somewhere. But you must have +had the idea you were a Spanish soldier escaped +from an American prison, for you have been in +hiding up here at the old Cartaret house, and +getting what food you could by raiding the farms +all around. We are Boy Scouts belonging at +Hickory Ridge, and the other day when we were +up here we thought we glimpsed somebody, but +a few of my chums believed it was a ghost. Now +we've come to spend our Thanksgiving holidays +in camp. You had a bad tumble, striking your +head again, and cutting it; but somehow it has +brought you back to your right mind, Ralph Oxley."</p> + +<p>The young man, who could hardly have been +more than thirty-five years of age, though a veteran +of the Spanish war, put up his hand, and +felt of his head, wincing with the pain the contact +gave him. A tinge of color was creeping +back into his pale face, which Elmer was delighted +to see.</p> + +<p>"It is all a mystery to me," Ralph Oxley told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +them, shaking his head. "I have no recollection +of doing anything like you say. In fact, the last +thing I remember seems to be of riding out to +look over a new farm my father had bought, and +of my horse running away when some one shot +close by the road. After that it is all a dead +blank; and yet you say some years have passed +since then?"</p> + +<p>He seemed awed by the thought.</p> + +<p>"That must have been where you were +thrown, striking on your head, received the injury +that caused your mind to become a blank," +Elmer told him; while Doctor Ted nodded vigorously +as though seconding the motion.</p> + +<p>"But I'm in a terrible position, with only these +thin clothes on, and no shoes or socks on my +feet," remarked the man, who, now that he had +returned to his senses, could apparently feel the +sting of the cold air, something that doubtless he +may not have been sensitive to before.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can fix you up with something to +tide over," Chatz told him. "Here's Lil Artha, +whose feet must be the same size as yours, and I +happen to know he brought a pair of new extra +moccasins along, which he hasn't worn yet."</p> + +<p>First one, and then another proposed lending +Ralph certain garments, until in the end he was +well taken care of. He even sat with them, +propped up in a comfortable seat, and ate the +dinner the scouts prepared, asking dozens of +eager questions, many of which they were not +able to answer, because they concerned his people,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +and none of the scouts happened to know +them.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to make a proposition to you, fellows," +said Elmer, when they had finished their +meal; "and here it is. You know Stackhouse is +about eleven miles away from here, though twice +that far from Hickory Ridge. My map shows a +fairly decent road leading there. Suppose we +pull up stakes and start for Mr. Oxley's home? +We could make it before sunset, I should think. +It's true that our camping trip would be cut short +a day, but I'm sure I voice the sentiments of +every fellow that we'll feel mighty well repaid +for any little sacrifice like that when we turn in +to the Oxley place and bring back their lost son, +not what he was when he ran away, but clothed +in his right mind. Everybody in favor of that +move say aye!"</p> + +<p>A chorus answered him in the affirmative; why, +even that hardened objector, Doubting George, +shouted with the rest; for once having apparently +chosen to be what Toby called "civilized."</p> + +<p>Ralph Oxley had tears in his eyes as he insisted +on shaking hands with every one of the +scouts.</p> + +<p>"You're a fine lot of boys, let me tell you!" +he declared, with deep feeling; "and I wouldn't +accept your sacrifice only for my mother's sake. +They ought to know the happy news as soon as +possible. Every minute that I'm delayed is just +so much more suffering for my dear parents; and +a sweet girl too that I was going to marry when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +that accident came about. But I'll never forget +it, fellows; and you'll hear from the Oxley family +later on."</p> + +<p>"Not a word about any money reward, suh!" +cried Chatz, sternly; "we're scouts, and we'd +scorn to accept anything in the way of pay for +doing a thing like this. It's given us a heap more +pleasure than anything that's happened for many +moons, believe me, suh!"</p> + +<p>"And to think," added Toby, with a beaming +smile on his face, "my remarkable parachute +came near holding up double weight. I really +believe if only Mr. Oxley here hadn't managed +to strike his head on that cornice when he fell, +both of us would have landed without a scratch. +And let me tell you that I think it's already +shown what a life-saver it's bound to be."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for Jones, the greatest after Edison +this country has ever produced," cried Lil Artha, +pretending to wave his hat furiously.</p> + +<p>They were soon all at work, and the tents came +down with a rush, for long experience along these +lines had made Elmer and his scouts clever hands +at anything pertaining to camp life. Nancy was +hitched up, and the wagon loaded. They made a +comfortable seat with the tents and the blankets +for the injured young man; and before an hour +had elapsed, after finishing that last meal, they +had said good-bye to the haunted house, and were +on their way.</p> + +<p>It was a long though not uninteresting afternoon +ride; because they were passing over a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +district that was practically new to them.</p> + +<p>Presently they overtook a young woman who +was tripping along ahead of them. Just as Elmer +was about to ask her something about the +Oxleys she gave a shriek, and rushing to the tail-end +of the wagon commenced to reach out toward +the wounded passenger, calling his name in +great excitement.</p> + +<p>It developed, of course, that this was the same +girl Ralph had been about to marry at the time of +his unfortunate accident; and her wild delight +at finding that the missing one had not only been +found, but was restored to his proper senses as by +a miracle, can better be imagined than described.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards they turned in at the fine +Oxley farm, and it was not long before the greatest +excitement came about that had been known +in that region for many a month. The mother +had her boy in her arms, and was trying to laugh +and cry at the same time; the father came running +madly to the spot; and what with dogs barking, +and people shouting, persons passing must +have thought a lunatic asylum had broken loose.</p> + +<p>The boys did not linger long after they had +seen the family reunited; though everybody +wanted to shower them with thanks, and praise +for their having brought such happiness to the +bereft home of the Oxleys. And Ralph assured +them that he and the young woman who was to +be his wife would certainly drive over to see the +Hickory Ridge folks just as soon as he was able +to be about again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>Well, as they were a long distance from home, +with darkness near at hand, the boys determined +to go as far along the road toward Hickory Ridge +as Nancy could draw the load, and then proceed +to camp somewhere for one night.</p> + +<p>It was all a part of the outing, and no one appeared +to regret having followed the generous +dictates of their warm young hearts.</p> + +<p>While their camp that night may not have been +as comfortable as before, because of the lack of +time to do certain things, they managed to get +a fair amount of sleep. No doubt the consciousness +of having responded to the demands of scout +duty afforded them more or less solid satisfaction; +for even George was heard to say, as they +drew near the familiar home scenes on that quiet +Sunday afternoon, it had been one of the best +little outings the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts had +ever enjoyed; and it must needs be something +beyond the ordinary that could coax this kind of +stuff from Doubting George.</p> + +<p>But that year was fated not to die out without +Elmer and his chums being given another splendid +opportunity to show what their scout training +was worth, as the reader will discover upon +securing the volume that follows this, and which +is to be had under the title of "The Hickory +Ridge Boy Scouts Storm-Bound; or, A Vacation +Among the Snow Drifts."</p> + + +<div class='center'>THE END</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='adtitle'><i><span class='u'>The</span> <span class='u'>Mountain</span> <span class='u'>Boys</span> <span class='u'>Series</span></i></div> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Book list"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. <span class="smcap">Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. <span class="smcap">Phil Bradley at the Wheel</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. <span class="smcap">Phil Bradley's Shooting Box</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. <span class="smcap">Phil Bradley's Snow-Shoe Trail</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>These books describe with interesting +detail the experiences of a party of boys +among the mountain pines.</p> + +<p>They teach the young reader how to +protect himself against the elements, what +to do and what to avoid, and above all to +become self-reliant and manly.</p> + +<div class='center'> +<i>12mo.</i> :: :: :: <i>Cloth.</i><br /> +<i>40 cents per volume; postpaid</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">201 East 12th Street</span> <span class="smcap">New York</span><br /> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> +<div class='bbox2'><div class='center'><span class='adtitle2'>The Campfire and Trail Series</span></div></div> + +<div class='bbox2'> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Booklist"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. <span class="smcap">In Camp on the Big Sunflower.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. <span class="smcap">The Rivals of the Trail.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. <span class="smcap">The Strange Cabin on Catamount Island.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. <span class="smcap">Lost in the Great Dismal Swamp.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. <span class="smcap">With Trapper Jim in the North Woods.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. <span class="smcap">Caught in a Forest Fire.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>7. <span class="smcap">Chums of the Campfire.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>8. <span class="smcap">Afloat on the Flood.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> +<div class='center'><br /> +By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A series of wholesome stories for boys told +in an interesting way and appealing to their +love of the open.</p> + +<div class='center'> +<i>Each, 12mo.</i> <i>Cloth.</i> <i>40 cents per volume</i><br /> +</div><br /></div><div class='bbox2'> +<div class='center'>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +201 EAST 12th :: :: STREET NEW YORK<br /> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>THE "HOW-TO-DO-IT" BOOKS</div> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">By J. S. ZERBE</span></div> + + +<div class='adtitle'><br /><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='center'>——————</div> + +<div class='adtitle'><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='center'>——————</div> + + +<div class='adtitle'><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 /> + +<i>12mo, cloth.</i> <i>Price 60 cents per volume</i><br /> +————————————<br /> +<br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b>201 <span class="smcap">East</span> 12th <span class="smcap">Street</span></b> <span class="smcap"><b>New York</b></span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle'><span class="smcap">The Wonder Island Boys</span></div> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">By ROGER T. FINLAY</span></div> + + +<p>A new series of books, each complete in itself, relating +the remarkable experiences of two boys and a man, +who are cast upon an island in the South Seas with +absolutely nothing but the clothing they wore. By the +exercise of their ingenuity they succeed in fashioning +clothing, tools and weapons and not only do they train +nature's forces to work for them but they subdue and +finally civilize neighboring savage tribes. The books +contain two thousand items of interest that every boy +ought to know.</p> + +<div class='center'> +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 /> +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS<br /> +Adventures on Strange Islands<br /> +<br /> +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS<br /> +Treasures of the Islands<br /> +<br />—————<br /> + + +<i>Large 12mo, cloth.</i> <i>Many illustrations.</i><br /> +<i>60 cents per vol., postpaid.</i><br /> + +<span class='small'>PUBLISHED BY</span><br /> + +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +201 <span class="smcap">East</span> 12th <span class="smcap">Street</span> <span class="smcap">New York</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle'>THE BOY GLOBE TROTTERS</div> + +<div class='center'>By ELBERT FISHER<br /> + + +<i>12mo, Cloth.</i> <i>Many illustrations.</i> <i>60c. per Volume</i><br /> +—————— +</div> + +<p>This is a series of four books relating the adventures of two boys, who +make a trip around the world, working their way as they go. They +meet with various peoples having strange habits and customs, and their +adventures form a medium for the introduction of much instructive +matter relative to the character and industries of the cities and countries +through which they pass. A description is given of the native sports +of boys in each of the foreign countries through which they travel. The +books are illustrated by decorative head and end pieces for each chapter, +there being 36 original drawings in each book, all by the author, and four +striking halftones.</p> + +<p><b>1. From New York to the Golden Gate</b>, takes in many of the principal +points between New York and California, and contains a highly +entertaining narrative of the boys' experiences overland and not a little +useful information.</p> + +<p><b>2. From San Francisco to Japan</b>, relates the experiences of the two +boys at the Panama Exposition, and subsequently their journeyings to +Hawaii, Samoa and Japan. The greater portion of their time is spent +at sea, and a large amount of interesting information appears throughout +the text.</p> + +<p><b>3. From Tokio to Bombay.</b> This book covers their interesting +experiences in Japan, followed by sea voyages to the Philippines, Hongkong +and finally to India. Their experiences with the natives cover a +field seldom touched upon in juvenile publications, as it relates to the +great Hyderabad region of South India.</p> + +<p><b>4. From India to the War Zone</b>, describes their trip toward the +Persian Gulf. They go by way of the River Euphrates and pass the +supposed site of the Garden of Eden, and manage to connect themselves +with a caravan through the Great Syrian Desert. After traversing +the Holy Land, where they visit the Dead Sea, they arrive at the Mediterranean +port of Joppa, and their experiences thereafter within the war +zone are fully described.</p> + +<div class='center'> +————————————<br /> +<b><span class='big'>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</span></b><br /> +<b>201 EAST 12th STREET</b> <b> NEW YORK</b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle'>The Ethel Morton Books</div> + +<div class='center'>By MABELL S. C. SMITH</div> + + +<p>This series strikes a new note in the publication of books +for girls. Fascinating descriptions of the travels and amusing +experiences of our young friends are combined with a +fund of information relating their accomplishment of things +every girl wishes to know.</p> + +<p>In reading the books a girl becomes acquainted with +many of the entertaining features of handcraft, elements +of cooking, also of swimming, boating and similar pastimes. +This information is so imparted as to hold the interest +throughout. Many of the subjects treated are illustrated +by halftones and line engravings throughout the +text.</p> + + +<div class='center'>LIST OF TITLES</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Book list"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ethel Morton at Chautauqua</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ethel Morton and the Christmas Ship</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ethel Morton's Holidays</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ethel Morton at Rose House</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ethel Morton's Enterprise</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ethel Morton at Sweet Brier Lodge</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +<span class='u'><i>Price 60 cents per volume; postpaid</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span class='small'>PUBLISHED BY</span><br /> + +<span class='big'><b>The New York Book Company</b></span><br /> +<span class="smcap"><span class='small'>201 East 12th Street New York, N. Y.</span></span><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 The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts: Under +Canvas, by Alan Douglas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS: UNDER CANVAS *** + +***** This file should be named 38299-h.htm or 38299-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/2/9/38299/ + +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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