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+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: ASCII
+
+*** 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
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic text
+by _underscores_.
+
+
+
+UNDER CANVAS OR THE HUNT FOR THE CARTARET GHOST
+
+
+
+
+THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS
+
+A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS
+
+By Capt. Alan Douglas, Scout-master
+
+
+The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol
+
+      Their first camping experience affords the scouts
+      splendid opportunities to use their recently acquired
+      knowledge in a practical way. Elmer Chenowith, a lad
+      from the northwest woods, astonishes everyone by his
+      familiarity with camp life. A clean, wholesome story
+      every boy should read.
+
+
+Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good
+
+      This tale presents many stirring situations in which
+      the boys are called upon to exercise ingenuity and
+      unselfishness. A story filled with healthful
+      excitement.
+
+
+Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot
+
+      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.
+
+
+Fast Nine; or, a Challenge from Fairfield
+
+      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.
+
+
+Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop
+
+      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.
+
+
+Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day
+
+      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.
+
+
+Under Canvas; or, The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost
+
+      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.
+
+
+Storm-bound; or, a Vacation Among the Snow Drifts
+
+      The boys start out on the wrong track, but their scout
+      training comes to the rescue and their experience
+      proves beneficial to all concerned.
+
+    Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge Boy
+    Scout Series, all illustrated:--
+
+      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.
+
+    _Cloth Binding_      _Cover Illustrations in Four Colors_
+             _40c. Per Volume_
+
+    THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
+    201 EAST 12th STREET      NEW YORK
+
+[Illustration: THE SCOUTS BUSIED THEMSELVES MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE
+CAMP MEAL]
+
+
+
+
+THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS
+
+
+UNDER CANVAS
+
+OR
+
+THE HUNT FOR THE CARTARET GHOST
+
+
+BY CAPTAIN ALAN DOUGLAS
+
+SCOUT MASTER
+
+
+[Illustration: N Y B Co.]
+
+    THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
+    NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+    COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY
+    THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+    CHAPTER                                      PAGE
+       I  OUT FOR SHELL-BARKS                      13
+      II  WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD                25
+     III  NEAR THE HAUNT OF "SPOOKS"               34
+      IV  "TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOILS"       45
+       V  WHAT A SCOUT LEARNS                      55
+      VI  LOOKING AROUND                           66
+     VII  HARVEST TIME                             77
+    VIII  HOW ELMER'S PLAN WORKED                  88
+      IX  THE CAMPING-OUT EXPEDITION               99
+       X  IN FOR A GLORIOUS TIME                  109
+      XI  SACKING THE FOREST STORE-HOUSE          120
+     XII  THE MIDNIGHT VIGIL                      130
+    XIII  A STRANGE FIGURE IN WHITE               141
+     XIV  TOLD AROUND THE CAMP FIRE               152
+      XV  THE BOOGIE OF THE TOWER                 163
+     XVI  HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION              174
+
+
+
+
+UNDER CANVAS
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+OUT FOR SHELL-BARKS
+
+
+"TOBY, we must be half-way there now; don't you think so?"
+
+"Guess you're right about that, Mr. Scout Master; as near as I can
+calculate."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"I bet you were, George; and I can thee you looking up at the doctor and
+thaying the very first thing: 'The moon _ain't_ made of green cheeth;
+and I won't b'lieve it till you prove the thame to me, tho there!'"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+These five lads, sturdy looking chaps all of them, belonged to the
+Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Toby was a strange boy in many ways. He cherished a burning desire to
+become a celebrated aeronaut, 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
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Whew! Cartaret's Folly they call it, because the man who built the same
+sank a fortune there 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Me too!" chirped Ted.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Then it theems that you know about the thupply of nuts up at the old
+Cartaret place, do you, Toby?" asked Ted.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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 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.
+
+A hulking boy was leaning against the fence near by, and observing the
+five scouts in a leering sort of way.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD
+
+
+"HOLD 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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Jump out and hold her, some of you other fellows!" gasped Toby, short
+of breath after his violent exertions.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+A minute later and they heard him give an angry exclamation.
+
+"I thought as much," Elmer was saying, as he held up his hand; "look
+what was fixed under her tail."
+
+"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.
+
+"Just what they are," Elmer went on to say, indignation in his whole
+manner.
+
+"But how--when--where?" began Ted, when Chatz burst out with:
+
+"He did it, Elmer, that skunk of a McDowd. Must have thought it'd be a
+fine way to pay back what he believed he owed the Hickory Ridge boys.
+The low-down coward, to hurt a hoss that way."
+
+"But why, he might have made some of us get thrown out, and hurt right
+bad in the bargain!" exclaimed George, angrily.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Just as he said, the animal seemed to have partly 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"What d'ye reckon possessed that coward to play such a mean trick on
+us?" Toby wanted to know.
+
+"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.
+
+"Next time I see that Angus he'll hear my opinion of a sneak who could
+play a dirty trick like that!" continued the driver, vigorously.
+
+"Thame here!" chirped Ted. "And if he giveth me any thath I'll pull hith
+red noth for him, thee if I don't."
+
+"All I can say is, keep your eye out for sledge hammer punches if ever
+you go to pulling _his_ nose," warned George; "because he's a born
+scrapper, and would as soon fight as eat."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"On the contrary," interrupted Chatz, who had been listening to all
+these horrors with wide-open 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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"But we must be within a mile or two of the place by now, fellows,"
+Elmer told them about 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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Why, what under the sun!" began the astonished Toby, when Elmer clapped
+his hand over his mouth and immediately said:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+NEAR THE HAUNT OF THE "SPOOKS"
+
+
+"WE 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"You've some reason for saying that, Toby?" Elmer told him.
+
+"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."
+
+"Yes, I do remember something like that," admitted the other scout.
+
+"Well, our telephone is on a four-party line, and 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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 in the road, or into the woods, we want to know it."
+
+"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."
+
+"Good boy, Ted; and I second that motion!" Chatz announced, heatedly.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"They've left the road, and entered the woods back there twenty feet or
+so," the acting scout master told them.
+
+"On the left, wasn't it, Elmer, that they turned out?" asked Chatz,
+eagerly.
+
+"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."
+
+"Do you think we're at the place already?" asked Toby.
+
+"I certainly do, though I'm some surprised that 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"First of all we'll just hang around, and watch them work," Elmer
+declared.
+
+"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."
+
+"But they'd be really _our_ 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."
+
+"I only want the chance to do the thame," Ted insinuated.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Just our luck!" muttered George, disconsolately.
+
+"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, so they won't happen on the same if they come to skip
+out of that grove in a big hurry?"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Fetch the bags along with you, boys," remarked Elmer at this stage of
+the proceedings, and picking up several himself as an example.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Make up your mind to it we don't have to," Elmer assured him.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, for we may have to stay here quite some time," admitted Elmer,
+copying his example without hesitation.
+
+"Ain't it nice to watch other people working for you?" observed Ted,
+after a while.
+
+"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 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?"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+"TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOILS"
+
+
+SO 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The first thing they did was to stare at each other, while their mouths
+could be seen to open with astonishment.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With the change in tune the boys seemed to regain 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Now!"
+
+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.
+
+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
+violently, and added a few choice groans of their own manufacture as
+good measure.
+
+It was enough, yes more than sufficient.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Wait, and listen!" said Elmer, in a whisper.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Hist! Be still!" cautioned the leader.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Taken altogether the racket was certainly enough to scare almost any
+one. Snorts and 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Gradually even this was dying away. Then the five boys turned and looked
+at each other, with their faces wreathed in huge grins.
+
+"Tell me, Elmer, is it safe to let off steam now?" demanded Toby,
+eagerly.
+
+"If you're careful not to be too noisy, go it!" came the reply.
+
+With that Toby threw himself flat on his back, 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, they're gone, all right," said Chatz; "and from the way they
+whipped their poor 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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+As they were all of one mind a start back was made; and Toby, not
+wishing to be left in the lurch, had to bring his kicking exhibition to
+an abrupt finish, and hasten after his four chums.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Then you're going to leave them for the ghost, are you?" asked Chatz,
+eagerly.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+WHAT A SCOUT LEARNS
+
+
+"HUH! 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Listen to Ted preach, will you?" jeered Toby, who truth to tell was not
+much in favor of carrying 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Like old Santa Claus had been making his annual visit, only this time
+he picked out Thanksgiving 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"It's long after noon, so we might as well get busy with dinner," Elmer
+replied.
+
+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 all of them had so long been
+anxiously looking forward to.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Soon the delicious odor of dinner began to steal forth, causing Toby to
+sniff the air with rapture, and loudly declare:
+
+"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."
+
+"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
+home, not even half a dozen nuts in their pockets, and even their gunny
+sacks lost," Chatz remarked.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Later on, however, when some one happened to mention the fact that if
+there was nothing more to 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.
+
+"Well, I declare if I didn't nearly forget one of the most important
+things of the whole excursion!" he exclaimed.
+
+"What?" asked George, ready to object at once, if the thing did not meet
+with his approval.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Huh! I believe you!" grumbled the skeptical George.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _impossible_ 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Of course you've tried it out, Toby?" suggested Chatz.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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. But now I want to get up at
+least thirty feet, and then drop with the thing already open."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"And how did it work?" asked Chatz.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Nearer forty feet than thirty, I should judge; and enough to kill you
+if you fell straight," replied the scout master.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Higher climbed Toby, managing somehow to lug his burden along with him,
+although it certainly could not have been any light weight.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+LOOKING AROUND
+
+
+"HERE goes, fellows; now watch me make the jump!"
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+"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.
+
+Hardly had the scout master given this warning 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"How'd she go, Toby?" demanded Chatz, hurrying forward to assist the
+daring air navigator, if it turned out he needed any help.
+
+"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 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+Before any opinion could be advanced by the scout master, Chatz broke in
+hastily:
+
+"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."
+
+"What's that, Chatz?" asked the other; although from the quick look he
+cast in the quarter 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Whee!" burst from the lips of Ted; while both George and Toby pricked
+up their ears, and began to show considerable interest.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"What do the rest say about that?" and as Elmer made this remark he
+turned to the other three scouts.
+
+"I vote in the affirmative!" Toby immediately answered.
+
+"Thame here," purred Ted.
+
+"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 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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"Wow! this sure is spooky enough around here to suit me," Toby frankly
+admitted, as they stood there, and looked about them.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Gives you the creeps, all right," admitted George.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+They wandered around from room to room, viewing the wreck of what had
+once been a very fine house.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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 with the sad story of the old-time tragedy
+had brought unbidden tears there.
+
+"Well, perhaps you may have just such a chance, Chatz," said Elmer,
+suddenly, as though he had made his mind up.
+
+"Tell me how," requested the Southern boy, trying to control the
+eagerness that burned within his soul when he heard this said.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, that's right, we did," muttered Toby, who was almost as much
+interested in the matter as Chatz.
+
+"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."
+
+"Elmer, will you do that much for me?" asked Chatz, earnestly.
+
+"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?"
+
+All of them held up a hand, which meant that they voted in the
+affirmative.
+
+"But," interposed the Great Objector, "we 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"We've got a big job cut out for us, I'm thinking, boys," faltered
+George.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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 with a tragic story back of it failed
+to impress him as worth much time.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Mebbe," George retorted, as though falling back on his old principles,
+and not willing to believe anything unless shown.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Then we might as well get the horse up, and load our cargo?" Elmer
+suggested.
+
+"Oh! did you see that?" shouted Toby, just then.
+
+"What was it, and where did you see anything?" demanded George, always
+suspecting that the others were playing practical jokes.
+
+"Up at one of the windows there!" Toby went on, pointing, while his face
+filled with excitement and a little touch of awe.
+
+"What was it like?" asked Chatz, his interest aroused to fever heat.
+
+"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!"
+
+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
+_something_ 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!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+HARVEST TIME
+
+
+NO 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"I'm on!" replied one of them before Toby had really finished speaking;
+and of course it was Chatz who agreed so readily.
+
+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.
+
+In this fashion they entered the house, and immediately passed up to the
+second floor, looking 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.
+
+"Now be sure you pick out the right window, Toby," warned Chatz.
+
+"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."
+
+"That's all right," remarked George, triumphantly; "but suppose you show
+us your old ghost, Toby."
+
+"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."
+
+George sniffed contemptuously.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Beats the Dutch what an _imagination_ some fellows have got," grumbled
+George.
+
+"I tell you I did see something, George!" repeated Toby, firmly.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+He went to the window and looked out.
+
+"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."
+
+"Suppose we start in and do it, then?" remarked Elmer, quietly.
+
+Even George accompanied them, though he continued to look superior, and
+allowed a skeptical 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.
+
+Nothing was found, and Toby finally admitted that it seemed useless
+wasting any more time prowling around.
+
+"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."
+
+"Do you really think so, Toby?" exclaimed Chatz, with rapture, as though
+even the mention of it gave him secret delight.
+
+"Rats!" sneered the unconvinced George.
+
+They had gone only a little way from the house when Elmer called a halt.
+
+"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."
+
+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 which caused him to return for another look around.
+
+"Might as well get loaded up, as hang around here any longer?" suggested
+Toby.
+
+"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 _me_, though."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"There never was such a grand lot of nuts brought into town from the day
+the first cabin 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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Hope he found what he was looking for," George ventured, and nothing
+further was said in regard to the matter.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh! we believe in doing a wholesale business 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"I'd like to see Connie's face when he discovers that sack of nuts in
+his yard to-morrow A. M.," George continued, actually pursing up his
+lips in a smile, something he was seldom guilty of.
+
+"Reckon he'll think it rained down in the night," chuckled Chatz.
+
+"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.
+
+"But when the other counties are heard from, and they all compare notes,
+won't they get on to the game then?" George asked.
+
+"How about that, Elmer?" Toby inquired, turning to the scout master.
+
+"I don't see how they can help but figure it out as it stands," came the
+reply.
+
+"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.
+
+"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
+thought they'd worked hard enough to earn some."
+
+Elmer, however, shook his head.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"There's nothing more to keep us here, seems like," suggested George;
+"so what do you say to going home?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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 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."
+
+They were a merry lot as they found places on the wagon.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"I'd give something to know, suh, whether Elmer _did_ find out about
+that _thing_ when he went back into the old house again!" but Ted only
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+HOW ELMER'S PLAN WORKED
+
+
+"HOW 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Are the rest agreeable, and do they trust me as far as that?" demanded
+Toby.
+
+"Trust you with my pocketbook, Toby," George assured him.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was no light one at that, lifting out those sacks filled with nuts,
+and stowing the same away in the man's room near by; but both were
+husky fellows, and by degrees managed to complete their task.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+This was soon done, and afterwards Toby started to back the vehicle out
+of the barn, while Elmer extinguished the lantern.
+
+"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.
+
+Phil Jackson lived close by the Jones home, so they paid the first visit
+there. Lights could be 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Things are booming," remarked Toby; "that makes three of the lot, and
+only one left, which is Connie Mallon's bag."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Soon afterwards the two boys parted at the gate of the Jones place.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then the big boy shuffled on toward the well, where he was evidently
+expecting to draw a bucket of drinking water.
+
+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.
+
+Down went the water pail, and Connie hastily strode across the yard
+until he reached the bag lying where Elmer and Toby had dropped it, snug
+up against the fence palings.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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 big bully, even if nothing more serious came
+to pass.
+
+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.
+
+Nothing might come of it just then, but Elmer hoped the seed would find
+lodging, and perhaps later on germinate.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+They had all their arrangements made that night, and expected to start
+with the rising of the 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 the kind dangled there on the preceding evening.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE CAMPING OUT EXPEDITION
+
+
+THIS 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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, and there was a
+brief lull in the general chaffing.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh! I don't know," Toby said, with his favorite drawl. "Elmer here
+seems to be of the opinion that it's done _some_ good. Anyhow, none of
+us has had any trouble with that Mallon crowd since then. They seem to
+slide away every time they see us coming down the street, or across the
+campus at school."
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"A brace of the fattest and biggest rabbits I ever saw, and fresh killed
+at that," replied the scout master, impressively.
+
+"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 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?"
+
+"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
+_thinking_, 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?"
+
+George died hard.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 and stones. Steady, back
+there, everybody!"
+
+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.
+
+"I'm going to walk the balance of the way, fellows," he declared, as he
+made a jump and landed on the ground.
+
+"Me too!" echoed Landy Smith, following suit.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Saves a heap of water lugging, and that counts," admitted Lil Artha.
+
+"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
+to take one look-in, fill your pail, and then turning around, come right
+back again."
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+IN FOR A GLORIOUS TIME
+
+
+"A WILDCAT!" exclaimed Ty Collins, excitedly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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 _me_ 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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+Finally Elmer called out to them:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Presently they came to the running water, and by following this up a
+short distance found the spring.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _chef_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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 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?"
+
+"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?"
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+His talk concerning the subject proved to be so interesting that when a
+start was made he had gained another convert, being Ty Collins.
+
+"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 tackle a few big wedges myself, and enjoy
+the same."
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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 _sounds_ 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."
+
+"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 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+That left just Elmer, Toby and George in camp.
+
+"I'd be tickled half to death if they _did_ 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."
+
+"Time enough for that when they report a 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+SACKING THE FOREST STORE-HOUSE
+
+
+TOBY 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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Do you hear that, Elmer?" called out George.
+
+"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."
+
+"And our chums took the camp ax away with them?" suggested Toby, looking
+up, an eager glow commencing to show in his eyes.
+
+"Yes, and they went off in that direction, too," added George.
+
+With that the four camp keepers smiled at each other.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+A short time afterwards they heard some one coming on the run. Then a
+figure broke out of the brush, waving excitedly.
+
+"Hi! get your buckets, and come along to help gather the harvest!" Lil
+Artha was shouting as he approached, half out of breath.
+
+"Then you sure enough did find a bee-tree, and it isn't any joke?"
+demanded the incredulous George.
+
+"Take a look at me, and then say if I show up like a joke!" demanded the
+long-legged scout, indignantly.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+While Elmer was doctoring the battered comrade George kept plying him
+with questions, as though he had great difficulty in believing the
+glorious truth.
+
+"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?"
+
+"And smelled it too!" cried the afflicted scout. "Why, the old tree
+burst open when it fell, and 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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"All ready here, Lil Artha!" exclaimed George; "and now lead us to your
+wonderful wild honey hive. I just want to see it with my own eyes,
+that's all."
+
+Lil Artha looked severely at him, that is, as well as he could with
+those half-shut eyes of his, and then remarked sarcastically:
+
+"Well, if you ain't the limit, George; I sure hope you _do_ see the
+plain evidence, yes, and _feel_ 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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They shortly came out bearing pans full of splendid honey, and
+doubtless a considerable number of stings in spite of all the
+precautions taken against this evil.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Elmer started back to camp bearing their one bucket actually full of the
+most delicious honey he had ever tasted; and soon afterwards Lil Artha
+followed with two kettles also heavily laden with the same.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"I'm thinking about all that darker honey we left there," Lil Artha was
+saying, as they sat around the crackling fire long after night had
+fallen, and supper had been disposed of an hour or more.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"But you don't think there are bears around here, do you?" asked George,
+always to be found on the side of the opposition.
+
+"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."
+
+"No, that's so," Ty Collins remarked; "more likely a ghost hunt," and he
+gave Chatz a sly look out of the corner of his eye as he said this.
+
+"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?"
+
+Elmer laughed softly.
+
+"Do you mean that as a dare, Chatz?" he asked.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _afraid_.
+
+"Count me in!" added Ty Collins, with a laugh, that bordered on the
+reckless.
+
+"I'll go along, too," observed Ted.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE MIDNIGHT VIGIL
+
+
+"I'M 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Lassoing ghosts, for instance!" Lil Artha murmured.
+
+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.
+
+"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: "Now, don't get the notion
+in your heads that because I've selected you for playing the role 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. Landy
+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?"
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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 to this camp here, why, the running is better when you have
+moonlight, you know."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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,
+and getting ready for a drop with my reliable parachute."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Just as Chatz had predicted the moon arose close on ten o'clock. It was
+no longer as round 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.
+
+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.
+
+"I hope you'll let me carry the gun, Elmer?" Lil Artha remarked,
+coaxingly.
+
+"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."
+
+"But it might be some tramp or hard case, and we'd want to subdue him;
+how about that, Elmer?" questioned Toby.
+
+"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."
+
+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;
+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.
+
+"Good luck!" called out Ted, after them; while Landy waved his hand
+mockingly, and grinned happily as he remarked:
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"I've thought to fetch my little handy electric torch along, Elmer,"
+said Lil Artha about this time.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"How about that, fellows?" the leader asked them; "do you think we had
+better split up into several small parties or stand together?"
+
+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 _shiver_
+as the time crept on, until he must become so nervous that he could give
+a yell.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"United we stand, divided we fall!" spouted Ty Collins, who, while a big
+blustering good-hearted 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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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 silly ghosts must be weak in the upper story.
+
+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:
+
+"Oh! what in thunder was that?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Having been fully awake at the time of their arrival, something like
+half an hour went by with 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.
+
+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.
+
+Twenty minutes later another low gurgling cry arose; this time it came
+from the elongated scout, and George was heard to whisper savagely:
+
+"Tit for tat, Lil Artha; you gave me a stab, and now we're even."
+
+"'Sh! I thought I heard something moving down there in the bushes!" the
+scout master told them, cautiously.
+
+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.
+
+So bright was the moon, now fairly high in the sky, that even small
+objects could readily be distinguished. 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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A STRANGE FIGURE IN WHITE
+
+
+"OH!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"It was only a stray farmer's dog after all!" exclaimed Lil Artha, with
+a sigh of absolute relief.
+
+"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 _thing_ they say hangs out here.
+Whew!"
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"That dog couldn't belong around here, Elmer!" suggested Chatz.
+
+"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
+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."
+
+"He scented us up here, don't you think?" continued Chatz.
+
+"As like as not; but don't say anything more now, please. It must be
+close on twelve o'clock!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 to produce nervousness on the part of the
+listening boys than any combination of well known night cries.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 to come along to
+please Elmer, as well as show them that ghosts had no terrors for any
+sensible scout.
+
+"'Sh!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+He went on hands and knees, picking out his shelter carefully as he
+advanced.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Elmer also stopped to rub his eyes, not that he was doubting what he
+saw, but the continued strain weakened them, and even brought signs of
+tears, that made accurate seeing next to impossible.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 to probe the enigma, and find a reasonable answer that
+would fit the case.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+TOLD AROUND THE CAMP FIRE
+
+
+OF 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"But my stars! Elmer," exclaimed Lil Artha, in dismay, "you didn't
+expect to jump that spooky thing all alone, I hope?"
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Then, suh, you don't mean to give up this ghost hunt?" asked Chatz,
+with a ring of exultation in his voice.
+
+"Not if we have another chance to hook up with the mystery," replied
+Elmer.
+
+"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.
+
+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 in spirits, had never
+before come so close to an object that had all the earmarks of a ghost;
+and he was correspondingly elated.
+
+"I guess I was all of that," Elmer replied, quietly.
+
+"And what do you think about it, Elmer?" continued George, persistently.
+
+"We want to know!" added Toby, determined to get his word in somehow.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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 back to see what fun you could
+shake out of the situation."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"He's gone to see if he can find any footprints in the dust on the
+floor?" suggested Ty Collins.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+Whether or not he had been successful in finding any traces of the
+mysterious _thing_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+Of course the pair who had been left behind were eager to know what had
+happened to their 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.
+
+"Yes, we did see something, and that's right," admitted the latter
+scout.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Oh! gosh!" was all the staggered Landy could say, but it expressed the
+state of his feelings exactly.
+
+"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 _aw_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."
+
+"Take my word for it," Lil Artha told them, "I'm wild to hear what Elmer
+knows."
+
+"What he _believes_, say, Lil Artha," corrected the scout master,
+pleasantly; "for I haven't been able to prove it to my satisfaction
+yet, though I hope to do that before we leave up here."
+
+"That's all right, Elmer," said Toby, quickly; "your word's as good as
+your bond, and when you _think_ a thing it's pretty sure to be it!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+"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?"
+
+"Yes, sure you did, Elmer; but you never said a word about finding
+anything!" George remarked.
+
+"But he looked it," muttered Chatz, with increasing uneasiness.
+
+"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!"
+
+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 _tracks_, the one who had made them could never have
+been a ghost.
+
+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 ability of spirits to return to the
+scene of their earthly troubles for divers purposes.
+
+"You mean there was a track there; is that it, Elmer?" asked Toby.
+
+"I found several of them, though our tramping around had almost covered
+the trail up," Elmer went on, steadily.
+
+"But how could you tell them from the marks we left?" continued Toby.
+
+At that Elmer laughed.
+
+"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 _barefooted_!"
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+When Elmer paused to get his breath Toby grinned as though greatly
+pleased.
+
+"See!" he ejaculated, thrusting his chin out aggressively, "some of you
+other fellows thought I 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
+_did_ 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."
+
+"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 _News_
+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 been in Cuba during the war, and imagined himself a soldier again."
+
+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.
+
+"Elmer, you hit the right nail on the head when you guessed that!" cried
+Toby.
+
+"Dressed in white, too; that clinches the thing!" added Lil Artha.
+
+"I'm afraid it does," sighed Chatz, in a disappointed tone, while George
+only said:
+
+"Mebbe it does; but you can't always sometimes tell!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE BOOGIE OF THE TOWER
+
+
+"LET Elmer go on, and tell us some more," suggested Toby.
+
+"Yes, we can talk it all over after we know the whole thing," added Lil
+Artha.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _bare feet_ 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!"
+
+"Whew!" gasped Toby, entranced, and almost held spellbound by this
+thrilling recital of facts and fancies.
+
+"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."
+
+"You just bet you were, Elmer!" Lil Artha exclaimed.
+
+"A figure in white, remember, fellows; and the one we saw to-night was
+dressed that way, as sure as shooting!" said Toby, convincingly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Why, when winter gets here in dead earnest the poor fellow would freeze
+to death, like as not," George remarked, showing that he was being
+convinced against his will.
+
+"But what gets me is his staying around the old haunted house," remarked
+Toby.
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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!"
+
+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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh! is that his full name, then?" asked Toby, and he repeated it to
+himself, as though he rather liked the sound: "Ralph Oxley!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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 sight of his
+tracks, and believe me there'll be something doing right away."
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+Toby surveyed him scornfully.
+
+"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."
+
+"Whew! you have got it down pat," chuckled Landy.
+
+"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 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."
+
+"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 _some_ progressive people livin' these
+days, like Edison, Marconi, and a few others."
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"One thing I think we'd better do, Toby," suggested Ty.
+
+"Well, name it," the other threw over his shoulder as he tramped
+sturdily along, carrying his wonderful parachute ready for business.
+
+"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."
+
+Toby seemed to ponder this for half a minute; and then remarked:
+
+"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 '_how--oooo_' call that'll
+fetch 'em running."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"We'll stay down here, Toby," said Ty, as he took up a position that was
+directly underneath the tower.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+"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, 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!"
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION
+
+
+"HELP! Let go of me! Hi! Elmer, he's up here! Come quick, I can't hold
+him any longer!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Never hurt me a teenty bit!" he shrilled, in his excitement; and then
+he suddenly stilled his 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I don't think tho," Doctor Ted hastened to tell him; "he got a nathty
+cwack on the head, 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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+Elmer rushed forward, and stood over the recumbent man, who looked at
+him with a puzzled air.
+
+"Your name is Ralph Oxley, isn't it?" asked the scout master, quietly.
+
+"Yes, it is, but--" began the other, when Elmer raised his hand to stop
+him.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"It is all a mystery to me," Ralph Oxley told 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?"
+
+He seemed awed by the thought.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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, and none of the
+scouts happened to know them.
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+Ralph Oxley had tears in his eyes as he insisted on shaking hands with
+every one of the scouts.
+
+"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 that
+accident came about. But I'll never forget it, fellows; and you'll hear
+from the Oxley family later on."
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"Hurrah for Jones, the greatest after Edison this country has ever
+produced," cried Lil Artha, pretending to wave his hat furiously.
+
+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.
+
+It was a long though not uninteresting afternoon ride; because they were
+passing over a district that was practically new to them.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was all a part of the outing, and no one appeared to regret having
+followed the generous dictates of their warm young hearts.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+_The Mountain Boys Series_
+
+
+    1. PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS
+    2. PHIL BRADLEY AT THE WHEEL
+    3. PHIL BRADLEY'S SHOOTING BOX
+    4. PHIL BRADLEY'S SNOW-SHOE TRAIL
+
+These books describe with interesting detail the experiences of a party
+of boys among the mountain pines.
+
+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.
+
+    _12mo._        _Cloth._
+    _40 cents per volume; postpaid_
+
+    THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
+
+    201 EAST 12TH STREET        NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+The Campfire and Trail Series
+
+
+    1. IN CAMP ON THE BIG SUNFLOWER.
+    2. THE RIVALS OF THE TRAIL.
+    3. THE STRANGE CABIN ON CATAMOUNT ISLAND.
+    4. LOST IN THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP.
+    5. WITH TRAPPER JIM IN THE NORTH WOODS.
+    6. CAUGHT IN A FOREST FIRE.
+    7. CHUMS OF THE CAMPFIRE.
+    8. AFLOAT ON THE FLOOD.
+
+    By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE.
+
+A series of wholesome stories for boys told in an interesting way and
+appealing to their love of the open.
+
+    _Each, 12mo._        _Cloth._        _40 cents per volume_
+
+    THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
+    201 EAST 12th       STREET NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE "HOW-TO-DO-IT" BOOKS
+
+BY J. S. ZERBE
+
+
+CARPENTRY FOR BOYS
+
+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.
+
+
+ELECTRICITY FOR BOYS
+
+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.
+
+
+PRACTICAL MECHANICS FOR BOYS
+
+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.
+
+    _12mo, cloth._        _Price 60 cents per volume_
+
+    THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
+    201 EAST 12th STREET        NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+
+BY ROGER T. FINLAY
+
+
+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.
+
+    THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+    The Castaways
+
+    THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+    Exploring the Island
+
+    THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+    The Mysteries of the Caverns
+
+    THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+    The Tribesmen
+
+    THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+    The Capture and Pursuit
+
+    THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+    The Conquest of the Savages
+
+    THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+    Adventures on Strange Islands
+
+    THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
+    Treasures of the Islands
+
+    _Large 12mo, cloth._         _Many illustrations._
+    _60 cents per vol., postpaid._
+
+    PUBLISHED BY
+
+    THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
+    201 EAST 12th STREET        NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE BOY GLOBE TROTTERS
+
+By ELBERT FISHER
+
+    _12mo, Cloth._       _Many illustrations._      _60c. per Volume_
+
+
+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.
+
+=1. From New York to the Golden Gate=, 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.
+
+=2. From San Francisco to Japan=, 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.
+
+=3. From Tokio to Bombay.= 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.
+
+=4. From India to the War Zone=, 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.
+
+
+    THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
+    201 EAST 12th STREET        NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+The Ethel Morton Books
+
+By MABELL S. C. SMITH
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+LIST OF TITLES
+
+    ETHEL MORTON AT CHAUTAUQUA
+    ETHEL MORTON AND THE CHRISTMAS SHIP
+    ETHEL MORTON'S HOLIDAYS
+    ETHEL MORTON AT ROSE HOUSE
+    ETHEL MORTON'S ENTERPRISE
+    ETHEL MORTON AT SWEET BRIER LODGE
+
+
+    _Price 60 cents per volume; postpaid_
+
+
+    PUBLISHED BY
+
+    The New York Book Company
+    201 EAST 12TH STREET      NEW YORK, N. Y.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
+
+First advertising page, "Chenoweth" changed to "Chenowith" to match
+actual book usage (Elmer Chenowith, a lad from)
+
+Page 131, "Sandy" changed to "Landy" (Landy was complaining)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts: Under
+Canvas, by Alan Douglas
+
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