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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38305-8.txt b/38305-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1520154 --- /dev/null +++ b/38305-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6382 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Endurance Test, by Alan Douglas, Illustrated +by E. C. Caswell + + +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: Endurance Test + or, How Clear Grit Won the Day + + +Author: Alan Douglas + + + +Release Date: December 14, 2011 [eBook #38305] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENDURANCE TEST*** + + +E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, Emmy, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 38305-h.htm or 38305-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38305/38305-h/38305-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38305/38305-h.zip) + + + + + +The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts + +ENDURANCE TEST + +or + +How Clear Grit Won the Day + + * * * * * + +A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS + + Which, in addition to the interesting boy scout + stories by CAPTAIN ALAN DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain + articles on nature lore, native animals and a fund of + other information pertaining to out-of-door life, that + will appeal to the boy's love of the open + + +I. 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. + + +II. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good + + This tale presents many stirring situations in which + some of the boys are called upon to exercise all their + ingenuity and unselfishness. A story filled with + healthful excitement. + + +III. 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. + + +IV. 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. + + +V. 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. + + +VI. 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. + + +Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge Boy Scout Series + + Wild Animals of the United States--Tracking--in Number I. + Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II. + Reptiles of the United States in Number III. + Fishes of the United States in Number IV. + Insects of the United States in Number V. + Birds of the United States in Number VI. + + _Cloth Binding_ _Cover Illustrations in Four Colors_ + _40c. Per Volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK + + * * * * * + + +ENDURANCE TEST + +or + +How Clear Grit Won the Day + + + * * * * * + +COMPLETE ROSTER, WHEN THE PATROLS WERE FILLED, OF + +THE HICKORY RIDGE TROOP OF BOY SCOUTS + +MR. RODERIC GARRABRANT, SCOUT MASTER + + +THE WOLF PATROL + +ELMER CHENOWITH, Patrol Leader, and also Assistant Scout Master + + MARK CUMMINGS + TED (THEODORE) BURGOYNE + TOBY (TOBIAS) ELLSWORTH JONES + "LIL ARTHA" (ARTHUR) STANSBURY + CHATZ (CHARLES) MAXFIELD + PHIL (PHILIP) DALE + GEORGE ROBBINS + + +THE BEAVER PATROL + +MATTY (MATTHEW) EGGLESTON, Patrol Leader + + "RED" (OSCAR) HUGGINS + TY (TYRUS) COLLINS + JASPER MERRIWEATHER + TOM CROPSEY + LARRY (LAWRENCE) BILLINGS + HEN (HENRY) CONDIT + LANDY (PHILANDER) SMITH + + +THE EAGLE PATROL + + JACK ARMITAGE, Patrol Leader + NAT (NATHAN) SCOTT + +(others to be enlisted until this patrol has reached its legitimate +number) + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: "We're gaining a little all the time, fellows!" exclaimed +Elmer.] + + +The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts + +ENDURANCE TEST + +or + +How Clear Grit Won the Day + +by + +CAPTAIN ALAN DOUGLAS SCOUT MASTER + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +The New York Book Company +New York + +Copyright, 1913, by +The New York Book Company + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I.--SURPRISING LANDY 17 + II.--SIGNS OF TROUBLE AHEAD 25 + III.--THE LURE OF THE RED FLAG 35 + IV.--THE FINISH OF TY'S FAMOUS SWEATER 42 + V.--A DOUBLE-ACTION JOKE 50 + VI.--STRANGE SOUNDS FROM THE WATER 58 + VII.--THE NEWS THAT GEORGE BROUGHT 66 + VIII.--UNDER THE TWINKLING STARS 74 + IX.--THE INVASION OF THE CAMP 82 + X.--THE EDUCATION OF ADAM 90 + XI.--A LOUD CALL FOR HELP 98 + XII.--SHOWING THEIR METTLE 106 + XIII.--HOW THE SCOUTS WON OUT 114 + XIV.--SEARCHING THE HAY BARN 122 + XV.--THE CAPTURE OF THE TRAMPS 130 + XVI.--GOOD-BY TO THE SWEETWATER 138 + + + + +ENDURANCE TEST + +OR + +HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY + + + + +THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS + +ENDURANCE TEST; + +OR, + +HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +SURPRISING LANDY. + + +"LET Adam Limburger have a try, fellows!" + +"Yes, give the new tenderfoot scout a chance to show what he can do in +the water." + +"That's the ticket; just watch him take the high dive, will you, boys?" + +"Mine gootness gracious, poys, oxcuse me, if you blease. If you dink I +can dot blunge make vidoudt upsetting mineself, you haf anudder guess +coming." + +"Try it, Adam!" + +"You've just got to, you know, old chap! Everybody's jumped but you; and +all the while you've just sat there on the bank and watched us cutting +up!" + +"Shut your eyes, Adam, if you're timid, and then go; head or feet first, +we don't care which, so long as you make a big splash." + +"Ach, idt vould not, pe sooch a surprises if Adam he preaks his neck: +put, poys, if dot happens, somepody carry de news to mine mudder. Py +chimineddy, here I go!" + +"Get out of the way, Ty Collins, if you don't want to get squashed; for +here comes Adam down the shoot-the-shoot plunge!" + +A number of lads were in swimming out in the country quite a number of +miles away from the home town of Hickory Ridge. Besides the stout German +who was standing in a hesitating way on the springboard that had been +thrust out from the high bank, some ten feet above the water, there were +Elmer Chenowith, Ty Collins, Landy Smith, and Ted Burgoyne, the latter +of whom, though afflicted with a decided lisp, was looked upon with +considerable respect among his fellows in the Boy Scout troop, because +of his knowledge of medicine and the rudiments of surgery. + +They had been splashing and having a splendid time for at least ten +minutes after entering the water, when somebody happened to notice that +the new recruit in the Hickory Ridge troop of Boy Scouts, Adam +Litzburgh, a name that had been quickly corrupted into Limburger by the +boys, did not seem to enter into the sport, but contented himself with +either dipping his feet into the water, as if afraid, or else sitting +ashore in the shade watching his new mates. + +Adam seemed to be inclined toward stoutness, although hardly in the same +class with Landy, who had long been bantered by his chums on account of +his ever-increasing tendency to put on flesh in spite of all he could +do. + +"Lock at the board bend, would you, fellows!" cried Ty Collins, as the +German recruit stood there, balancing at the end, as though fearful of +what the result would be should he jump. + +"He's glued to it, that's what," said Landy, who was anxious to discover +whether Adam would make a greater splash than he himself produced when +he came down like a huge frog into the water of the Sweetwater River; +for this was not the familiar "swimming-hole" of the Hickory Ridge +boys, but miles farther away from home. + +Adam made several violent gestures as though he might be going to jump, +and then shook his head vigorously in the negative. + +"Noddings doing, poys!" he grinned. + +"Hey, none of that crawfishing, now, Adam!" cried Ty. "You've just _got_ +to jump, once anyhow. We'll stand by and yank you out if you can't swim. +Perhaps the boys over in your beloved Yarmany don't learn as early as +Yankees do. Go on, now!" + +"Want us to come up there and push you off, you Dutch cheese!" called +Landy, in the hope of arousing the belligerent nature of the Teuton, and +thus making him conquer his timidity. + +"Vell, py shiminy crickets, off you dink you can scare Adam Litzburgh, +poys, you haf anudder guess goming. Look oudt pelow!" + +Elmer had been watching the antics of Adam with a critical eye. Before +these last words were spoken he had turned to Ted, who chanced to be +swimming near him, and remarked significantly: + +"That fellow is pulling the wool over the eyes of Ty and Landy." + +"Think tho?" asked Ted, quickly. + +"Just watch and see," replied the other, who, besides being the leader +of his patrol, known as the Wolf Patrol, was also the assistant scout +master of the troop and authorized by certificate from the headquarters +of the organization to assume the duties of Mr. Garrabrant whenever that +gentleman was away on business. + +Suddenly Adam gave a bound up and down until the springy board had taken +on a motion superior to anything that had been done by the others in +their efforts to excel. + +As it came up finally, the body of the German boy leaped into the air. +Those who were watching with distended eyes saw him turn over twice +before he struck the surface of the water, beneath which he shot with +the grace of a fish. + +Elmer gave a shout. + +"I thought as much; Adam was hoodwinking you, boys!" he laughed. + +"Wow, did you ever see the like of that! A double somersault before he +struck, and then he dived under like a greenback frog from a log!" and +Landy's fat face was a study as he looked his utter amazement. + +"I take it all back!" shouted Ty. "They _do_ know how to dive over in +Yarmany and beat us all hollow. Say, fellows, I bet you Adam is going to +prove to be the best water dog in all Hickory Ridge. Look at him +swimming there, will you? I've seen an otter or a muskrat doing it that +way, but never a boy. Ain't he the peach though! I take off my hat to +Adam!" + +"That'th what we all thay!" cried Ted, enthusiastically. + +"Three cheers for our new comrade, fellows; here's to Adam, and may he +prove as great a find as a true scout as he has a water duck!" exclaimed +Elmer. + +The cheers rang out, and were followed with a "tiger." Adam was coming +back now, and his red face beamed with satisfaction. They had been +inclined to look on him as a real greenhorn; and no doubt that was what +he would prove to be with regard to most of the ways of woodcraft in +which scouts desire to become proficient; but the boy from across the +big water had certainly surprised his new mates this day by his +expertness at diving and swimming. + +So long as they remained in the water they kept Adam busy showing off. +He had a dozen clever tricks from the springboard; and there was no one +in Hickory Ridge who, as Ty declared, could "hold a candle to him." + +"No, nor in Fairfield, either," said Elmer, after he had seen what the +German lad could do; "and if we ever have another series of rival tests +with our friends over there, make up your minds, fellows, that Adam will +stand in a class all his own." + +Finally, when some of the boys began to show signs of blue lips, Elmer +declared they had been in long enough. When one is not accustomed to +being in the water at all hours, the vitality of the system is exhausted +after a certain time; and those who are wise will make it a point to +come out before they get to shivering, even on a hot September day, like +the one that found these Hickory Ridge scouts in camp up on the +Sweetwater. + +A few of the boys, it seemed, had not had quite enough of outdoor life +during the long vacation and they had induced Elmer to start out for +three days more of camping, taking a tent along and a few things +calculated to add to their comfort. + +Adam, as the latest addition to the troop, asked permission to accompany +them, and as he was something of a comical fellow they expected to have +more or less fun at his expense as a greenhorn. + +After this remarkable experience, however, some of them began to suspect +that the shoe might frequently prove to be on the other foot; and that +the German boy would turn the tables on them, even as he had done in the +water test. + +The tent was pitched close by, at a point selected by Elmer as the best +to be found along that part of the river. The ground had the proper +drainage in case of a heavy storm and was not under any high tree, so +that the danger from lightning was reduced to a minimum. + +They had brought a few things along to eat; and as farms lay not far +away, each day some of the scouts trailed over to one of these in order +to purchase other articles, such as fresh milk, eggs, butter, and green +corn, and on this morning Elmer had brought back a couple of fine +chickens which a farmer had presented to him. + +Of course, the rest of the boys understood that at some past time Elmer +must have done the farmer a favor; for he was always eager to lend a +helping hand when an occasion arose; but he declined to tell the story, +and as they had the chickens the boys found no fault. + +Elmer had made an oven in the ground, after the type used by hunters in +many lands. A deep hole was scooped out, and a hot fire kept going for +some hours; then the red ashes were removed, and the chickens, properly +wrapped in big leaves, placed in the oven which was then hermetically +sealed with clay. + +This might be called the first "fireless cooker." It is the very +principle upon which all those now on the market are constructed; and, +indeed, the bottles that are guaranteed to keep their contents hot for +twenty-four hours are fashioned on some similar lines for retaining the +heat. + +For six hours now had those spring roasters been in "hot storage," as +Landy called it, and many were the appeals to Elmer to know if they +would be ready by the time they had the corn and other things done. + +The afternoon was wasting away. In another hour the sun would be +setting. Elmer was busying himself at the fire with Ty, who claimed to +be something of a cook and had proved this on various occasions. Ted was +overhauling the little case of remedies, without which he seldom went +anywhere. Adam and Landy had taken a small camera, loaned by one of the +other members of the troop, a tall scout known to his chums as "Lil +Artha," and with this they expected to take a few snapshots of the camp, +the picturesque river as seen in the afternoon glow, and such things as +appeal to the average boy looking around for subjects on which to +execute his skill as a photographer. + +They could be heard rummaging among the bushes not far away, and Landy +seemed to be getting more or less fun out of the German tenderfoot, who +was utterly new to the ways of the American woods, however familiar he +might be with any species of water. + +Elmer had just made up his mind, after a sly investigation on his own +account, that the chickens were deliciously done, and hence there need +be no further delay about starting the balance of the dinner, when he +heard Landy's rather whining voice approaching, and raised his head to +watch. + +When the two came into camp it was noticed that Adam seemed to be +leading his companion, who was acting rather queer. At first Elmer +wondered whether the fat boy could have been overcome by the heat, for +his face was unusually red. Then he saw that Landy seemed anxious to dig +his knuckles into his eyes. + +"What's the matter, Landy?" asked Ty, whose attention had also been +directed to the incoming pair. + +"I declare if I know what to make of it, fellows," said the fat boy, as +he stood there, trying to grin at them, though he certainly looked +foolish, with his cheeks beginning to puff out and furiously red. "Just +can't seem to see right. Feels like my eyes were going to close. And no +wasp stung me, either; that is, as far as I know. It feels awful tough, +I tell you now, and that's no joke." + +Elmer bent forward to look closer. + +Then his face assumed a serious expression. + +"Well, I should say it wasn't a joke, Landy!" he exclaimed. + +"But what's the matter with me, Elmer; tell a fellow, won't you?" +pleaded the afflicted one. + +"Why, you're poisoned, that's what!" declared Elmer. + +Landy immediately let out a whoop; but although he was undoubtedly +frightened, it seemed as though his face could not possibly turn white, +as might have been expected under the circumstances. + +"Me poisoned!" he exclaimed. "Oh, whatever do you mean, Elmer!" he +cried, laying a puffy hand on the sleeve of the other's outing shirt, +which he had rolled up above his elbow in order to have greater freedom +in his movements. + +"You've been foolish enough," Elmer went on with grave concern in his +voice, "Landy, to handle that rank stuff, poison ivy, and then rubbed +your hands all over your face. You've got a dose, all right, I'm +afraid!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SIGNS OF TROUBLE AHEAD. + + +LANDY was certainly badly frightened. The grave manner in which the +patrol leader said this with regard to the ivy poisoning seemed to add +to his alarm. Some of the boys afterwards declared that his knees +knocked together, but this the fat boy always indignantly denied. + +Nevertheless it was with an almost plaintive expression that he +proceeded to inquire further about his prospects. + +"Poison ivy, you say, Elmer? Was that the stuff growing around that tree +we rubbed up against? But Adam was in just as deep as I was; why don't +his face burn and turn red like mine?" he asked, as though he considered +it rank injustice that he should be picked out as a victim, when +another, equally guilty, went scot-free from harm. + +"That's the queer thing about poison ivy," replied Elmer. "While it's +bound to act on most people, more or less, a few can handle it without +any bad result." + +"That's so," broke in Ty just then. "Why, I've known fellers that would +begin to itch and burn if they even set eyes on the old stuff, and I +reckon I'm liable to get a little turn myself; had one spell and they +kept doctoring me for a week at home. Hand full of little water +blisters, and I had to be mighty careful, for when they broke they +poisoned wherever the fluid ran. Wow, hope I don't get it again, that's +all!" + +"Oh, my goodness gracious! What's going to become of me, then?" gasped +poor Landy. "Because I've been crazy enough to rub it all over my face. +Me for the hospital, I guess!" + +"Wait!" + +It was Ted who said this, and somehow the very confident tone in which +he spoke awakened a wild hope in the heart of the lad who was in +trouble. + +"Oh, Ted, can _you_ do anything for me?" he asked, eagerly, transferring +his attention from Elmer to the other, who had arisen after listening to +all that had been said, and now approached the group. + +"Let me look at you firtht," remarked the budding doctor of the troop, +gravely. + +He examined the face and hands of the boy closely. + +"When did you rub up againth that vine?" he asked. + +"Why," replied Landy, "just a little bit ago, when Adam was helping me +get a snapshot of the camp. It was in the way and we pulled it off the +tree. Fact is, I tripped over the old thing and got mad, so I yanked it +loose, and Adam, he helped." + +"Then let me tell you, in the firtht plathe, that I don't believe it'th +poithon ivy at all, becauthe that doethn't begin to thow for theveral +hourth," said Ted. + +"Oh, bully for you, Ted; it makes me glad to hear you say that!" +exclaimed the boy who was in trouble. "But mebbe you can tell if you see +the old vine?" + +"Courthe I can, and here'th Elmer who knowth all about it, too. Did it +have jutht three leaveth to each thtem, do you remember?" + +"Sure, I didn't pay any attention to the leaves, I was so anxious to +drag the old thing away so as to get a better view," replied Landy. + +Elmer beckoned to Adam, and the two hurried off. Everyone knew that they +had gone to view the vine that had been accused of doing so terrible a +thing to the fat boy. + +Meanwhile, Dr. Ted had picked up a little bag which he usually carried +with a shoulder strap. Every fellow in the troop knew what that same bag +contained; and indeed, many of them had found reason to bless the +forethought that induced their chum to bring it along on every trip for +emergencies such as the present. Ted delighted to call it his "vade +mecum," and most of the scouts had only a hazy conception of what those +words meant, though they appreciated the bag all right. + +"If it wath really poithon ivy," went on Ted, "the firtht thing to be +done would be to wath the thurfathe of the thkin with warm water, and +then apply thith weak tholution of permanganate of potath. It'th about +three per thent, and the color of wine, you thee. It'll dithcolor the +thkin, of courthe, and for a while Landy can path for an Injun; but it +doeth the work. Elmer put me in touch with the good it can do. He thayth +every hunter of big game out in India and Africa alwayth carrieth thome +along, to take out the poithon if he geth clawed by a tiger, a lion or +any other carnivorouth beatht." + +There was some hot water, fortunately, and in another minute the +quick-witted camp doctor had bathed the face and hands of the patient +with this, as warm as Landy could stand it. Then he started to apply the +contents of the small bottle, to the intense enjoyment of Ty who seemed +to consider the whole thing in the light of a huge joke. + +"Say, you'll be a beaut, Landy, and no mistake!" he chuckled. + +"What's that matter, if it only does the business?" demanded the other. + +"That'th common thenthe, anyhow," commented Ted, as he continued to +make sure that every inch of affected skin was liberally treated with +the liquid, which, as he said before, was of a magenta color. + +"There comes Elmer, and now we'll know," remarked Ty. + +The other two came hurrying back to camp. Poor Landy, whose eyes were +really looking half shut, turned a beseeching gaze upon the patrol +leader. + +"Was it poison ivy, Elmer?" he asked, anxiously. + +"Not in a thousand years," came the hearty reply. + +"Oh, that's almost too good to be true!" said Landy, with the tears +standing in his eyes, for he had begun to fear that he was in for a +horrible experience. + +"What was it then?" asked Ty. + +"I don't know," replied the other. "Some of your plants here are strange +to me, and I reckon it's able to bring on a burning and a swelling +sensation in a hurry, like lots of them are, with some people. But it +can't be anything as bad as the real rhus tox. I've seen some serious +cases of poisoning from ivy. And, Ted, I think you're doing the wise +thing to use that potash solution." + +"It can't do any harm," remarked the doctor, "and you thee, it'th bound +to do thome good. Of courthe Landy will look like the dickenth for +theveral dayth, but he'th a lucky boy if he geth off that eathy." + +"Sure I am," affirmed the victim, readily. "Paint away all you like. +Tell you what, fellers, she feels some better already. Perhaps, after +all, I won't have to be led home with my face lookin' like a big punkin +and my eyes out of sight." + +"We may be happy yet," remarked Ty, who could be cheerful because it was +not _his_ face that burned and stung as though nettles had done their +work. "And, Elmer, would you mind if I once more turned my attention to +getting grub ready? I've got a terrible vacuum down here, and you know +we learned at school that Nature abhors a vacuum." + +"I'll do more and help you get supper ready, Ty," replied the other. "We +can leave Landy in the hands of Dr. Ted. He'll make him lie down and +rest; and above all things keep his hands from his face. It's good he +took hold of the case so quick, for the poison hasn't had much chance to +get in." + +So the work went on, two of the boys hovering over the fire that had +been started, while Adam ran errands for Dr. Ted. Landy was given a +blanket and told to keep quiet, but he insisted on lying so that he +could watch the cooks out of the corners of his eyes, and every now and +then he would sniff the air as though his appetite had not been entirely +chased away by his misfortune. + +When the coffee was done boiling, the Boston baked beans heated to a +turn and everything ready, Elmer opened the odd oven in the ground. + +"Why, they're nearly as hot as when we put 'em in!" declared the +wondering Ty, as he unwrapped the two young chickens that had come from +the friendly farmer. + +Landy sat upright presently. + +"Here, don't you dare to forget me!" he called out, as he saw the others +about to sit down around the spot where the supper was spread. + +"But sick people should never eat a bite," declared Ty, unable to resist +the opportunity to tantalize the patient, whose one weakness lay in his +enormous appetite, which he could never seem to control. + +"I ain't sick, though," retorted the other, getting up with an effort. + +"I always heard that it was the right thing to starve a fever, and stuff +a cold," Ty went on, deliberately helping himself to a portion of a +fowl, which almost fell to pieces in his hands, it was so tender and +well done; "and I guess you've got the fever, all right. Anyhow, you're +as red as a chief in the Buffalo Bill show." + +"Oh, let up on that, Ty Collins!" cried Landy, indignantly. "Just give +me half a chance, and I'll mighty soon show you who's sick around here. +I can make them chickens look that way, I want you to know. Here, make +room for me! Looks don't count in camp. Just think I'm sunburned, that's +all. Elmer, help me to some of that delicious coffee, won't you? I've +been smelling it this long time. It would go right to the spot, I +believe." + +"Sure I will, Landy," replied the other, smilingly; "and it does me good +to know you're feeling so much better. But let's hope this will be a +lesson to you never to handle vines that you don't know." + +"It will, I promise you, Elmer," replied the other, earnestly. "And the +first time you run across some of the genuine poison ivy just call me, +please. I've heard so much about it that I want to know the stuff so I +can beware." + +"I saw some only a few hours back, and to-morrow I'm going to take you +and Adam and Ty there to impress its looks on your minds. It may save +you a heap of suffering if you expect to roam much in the woods after +this." + +Landy was feeling much better. Indeed, the swelling seemed to be going +down rapidly, and even the burning, itching sensation had yielded to the +application of that wonderful remedy. + +Everybody, even Ty, felt glad of this, for Landy was a jolly chum and +they must miss him very much had he been compelled to be taken home in +suffering. + +"Hot work, this cooking in summer weather, fellows," observed Ty, as he +looked up from cleaning off his tin platter. + +"Then why don't you shed that terrible old red sweater?" suggested +Elmer, though he knew beforehand that Ty would find lots of excuses for +declining. + +Winter and summer, Ty always wore that old flaming sweater when engaged +in any outdoor game, whether it be skating, playing hockey, football, +baseball, or even going fishing. The season seemed to make no difference +to him, though some of his chums declared that the mere sight of the +thing made them perspire. + +"What, this!" he exclaimed, as though astonished that anyone should +mention the subject. "Why, I just couldn't do a thing minus my jolly old +sweater. It's been on all sorts of jobs with me. I look on it as my best +friend. Nobody knows how many colds it's saved me from. I'd just feel +lost without it on, that's what." + +"But in hot weather like this it must make you swelter," continued +Elmer. + +"Not much it don't. Why, don't you know it _keeps the warmth out_? +That's what I read once, and I believe in it, too. Besides, all the +fellers have got so used to seeing me with it on that they'd pass me by +if I dropped it," grinned Ty. + +"That'th tho," remarked Ted. + +No one suspected just then what an important part that same red sweater +was to play in a game that might change Ty's mind, and that before many +hours had passed. + +The supper was pronounced prime, and a vote of thanks taken for the +farmer who had once been a boy himself and could appreciate the +appetite of five fellows who were camping out. + +A tent had been brought along, and into this the five crowded when the +hour had grown late, and everyone admitted that he was "real sleepy." + +Nothing out of the way happened during the night. There were no wild +animals of any consequence around that part of the country, although +farther north hunters got deer, and even a black bear had been shot the +previous spring. Now and then a sly fox would create a little excitement +among the neighboring farmers by slipping into their henroosts and +carrying off a fat fowl. Mink might be found along the smaller +tributaries to the Sweetwater; muskrats were plentiful in the marsh +land, and some smart trappers made quite a little sum taking these small +animals during the season. + +Of course raccoons and possums abounded, as they always do around the +smaller towns all through the middle East. Elmer, waking in the night +and coming out to stretch his legs because the presence of five in a +small tent cramped the quarters somewhat, amused himself for some time +in listening to the various sounds that came from the woods close by. + +To one not familiar with the voices of the forest folks, these might +have passed as unmeaning noises, but he could place every one. In +imagination he saw the bushy-tailed coon trying to scoop up a fish from +the end of the log that ran down into the water; he could follow the +movements of the fat possum climbing the tree to her nest in a hollow +limb, and that angry snarling he understood came from a couple of slim +mink who had met while patrolling the bank of a small creek on their +nightly rounds. + +Morning came at last, and as the boys emerged from the tent, the first +thing they did was to take a plunge in the river. Even Landy was on +hand, looking very comical, it is true, with his stained hands and face, +but feeling quite "chipper," as he declared, when Elmer asked concerning +the state of his health. + +They could all swim, of course, even Landy, who earlier in the season +had been utterly ignorant concerning the first rudiments of how to keep +afloat; but association with the other scouts in camp had caused him to +take lessons, and Elmer had shown him how useful the knowledge of +swimming may prove to any boy at some unexpected time. + +"Whose turn to go for milk this morning?" asked Elmer, after they had +dressed. + +"I reckon it's mine," remarked Ty. "Some other fellow must start getting +breakfast, then. Perhaps Adam may turn out as good a cook as he is a +diver. Here, give me the directions how to take that short cut to the +farmer's shack." + +So, presently, Ty wandered off, carrying the tin pail for the milk. The +getting of breakfast went on apace. Adam seemed willing to act as an +assistant to Elmer, and between them they soon had things in an advanced +stage. + +"Thay, that Ty ought to be here with the lacteal fluid," remarked Ted, +who often amused his chums by spouting big words. + +"That's so," remarked Elmer, "and as Adam is busy here and poor old +Landy recuperating from a bad attack of sunburn, I'll appoint you a +committee of one to meander along the trail and hustle Ty up." + +Ted hurried away, for he was beginning to feel the gnawing sensation of +a hunger that always attacks growing boys soon after arising. Besides, +that cold dip seemed to just give them all an additional zest. + +Ten minutes later Landy jumped up in considerable excitement. + +"Look there, fellers!" he exclaimed, pointing along the trail over which +Ted had recently passed, "ain't that our chum Ted comin' back on the +dead run and waving his hands like fun? Tell you what, something's just +gone and happened to Ty! That's what he gets for making fun of me. +P'raps he's run across a rattlesnake! You know that farmer said they +killed one up here last year, and we did the same early this season. Oh, +my, I hope not!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE LURE OF THE RED FLAG. + + +"WHAT'S the matter?" demanded Elmer, as Ted came reeling into camp, +quite out of breath; but upon seeing that the other had a huge grin on +his face he knew the news he was bringing could not be so very serious +after all. + +"Ty!" was all the runner could gasp at first. + +"Yes, what about him?" Elmer exclaimed; while Landy laid a quivering +hand on Ted's arm and inquired: + +"'Taint a rattlesnake, I hope, this time, Ted?" + +The other shook his head in the negative. + +"Bull!" he articulated. + +"Oh, he means that our poor pard has been chewed up by a bulldog!" cried +Landy. "And Ty never did like dogs, either; only hot ones at the county +fair." + +"No, no!" whispered Ted. "Gentleman cow, you thee, and the motht thavage +looking beatht ever. Wow!" + +"A bull! Now I know what you mean," Landy went on, as the light of +understanding broke over his mottled countenance. "Some of these farmers +up here do keep terrors, and enter them in the exhibition for prizes. +But what did the bull do to our poor chum Ty?" + +"Don't know; didn't ask Ty," replied the other, now beginning to get his +breath back again fairly well, so that his voice, lisp and all, was +audible. "You thee, I wath jutht about to thaunter acroth a field, when +I heard thome one yelling like the dickenth. Then I thaw a big red bull +pawing the grath at the foot of a tree; and there wath Ty, ath big ath +life, thitting up on a limb. That'th all I thaw, for the bull tharted +after me, and I got over the fenthe like fun." + +The boys stared at each other; then a wide grin began to appear on their +faces. Since it seemed as though their chum had not been seriously +injured they could not resist the temptation to chuckle over the comical +aspect of the adventure. + +"Say, perhaps the bull just went and heaved Ty up in that tree," +suggested Landy. + +"Oh, I hardly think it went as far as that," said Elmer. "The chances +are, Ty had plenty of warning, and climbed without any help from the +beast." + +"But why would the bull hang around all the time?" asked the fat boy, +wonderingly. "Bulls don't feed on boys, do they?" + +"Not very often," laughed Elmer. "But they do seem to hate a certain +color above all things on this earth. You remember that the Spaniards +use a red flag to make the bull attack in the ring?" + +Then Landy saw a great light. + +"Ty's famous old red sweater, that's what!" he shouted. "It's gone and +pulled him into a peck of trouble, for a fact. And just last night he +was blowing about what a great help it had been to him. Say, he must be +in a nice pickle now, hey?" + +"Breakfast will have to wait a while," declared Elmer; "while the whole +bunch of us sally out to rescue our chum in distress. You know the rules +of the organization. Come on, fellows." + +Even while speaking, Elmer had placed the coffee pot and the frying pan +aside, as far away from the fire as they could go without losing their +heat. Adam, Landy and Ted were apparently only too willing to accompany +him on his errand of mercy. + +Following a trail that led through the woods, they finally came to an +open field. It had just one tree, and that growing some distance from +the high rail fence. + +"There's the bull, just as Ted said," remarked Elmer, as they looked. + +"And he's about the ugliest critter I ever laid eyes on, for a fact," +remarked Landy. "My goodness! Look at him tossing up the dirt with those +nasty little black horns, would you! And he's punched holes through that +tin pail the farmer's women folks loaned us, too. I can see Ty now, +because of that nice red sweater he wears. He's waving at us, and there +he shouts!" + +"Hey, call him off, fellers! Somebody go and coax him around to that +other end of the field. I want to come down. Been up here 'most an hour, +I guess, and I'm getting tired of it. Elmer, you know how to do the +business. Landy, s'pose you climb over and let him see you. He won't be +able to resist trying for such a fat prize!" + +"Listen to his nerve, boys," complained Landy. "He wants me to sacrifice +myself on the altar of friendship for him. Just as if I could ever climb +over this fence again, if that holy terror came snorting and rampaging +for me! I guess not." + +"No need to, Landy," laughed Elmer, as he noted the indignation of the +fat boy. "We'll find some way to get Ty out of his fix without taking +chances of your climbing a fence in one, two, three order." + +"Hurry up!" came floating across the field from the tree, among the +branches of which the owner of the red sweater was waving frantically. + +"Firtht thing to be done, he ought to get out of that thweater, don't +you think, Elmer?" inquired Ted. + +"That's right, and I'll tell him so"; and, accordingly, raising his +voice, he informed Ty that if he expected them to do anything toward +effecting his rescue he must rid himself of the garment that was +exciting the fighting spirit in the bull. + +Of course that went against the grain of Ty; but when the others refused +to make the first move until he had complied, he went about the task +with evident ill humor. + +"But he ain't leaving it hanging in the tree, Elmer," announced Landy, +whose eyesight seemed to be all right this morning, however defective it +may have been on the previous evening after his engagement with that +poison vine. "He's stuffing it inside his shirt, I do declare!" + +"Well, that doesn't matter," the patrol leader remarked; "so long as he +gets rid of it. And now, boys, you stay here to help him over when he +comes. I'm going to go around to the other side and tempt the bull. +Fortunately I've got a red bandana handkerchief myself, which I wear +cowboy style around my neck; and that ought to be a good enough bait for +Mr. Bull." + +"Oh, be careful, Elmer; don't stay in the field too long, because he +might get you," pleaded Landy. + +"You let Elmer alone," said Ted. "He knowth hith buthineth all right. He +cometh from the ranch country, where they breed bullth. All right, +Elmer; we'll get buthy when Ty getth here. Good luck to you!" + +Elmer, when a little distance away, stopped to hold a short talk with +the boy up in the tree. It happened that the border of the field varied, +and this spot was a trifle closer than any other. + +"Now, listen, Ty," he shouted, after he had succeeded in attracting the +attention of the other; "I'm going over to that spot that's farthest +away. When the bull gets a good start for me, you slip down, and run for +all you're worth straight to where the other fellows are waiting. Try +and keep the trunk of the tree between you and the bull all you can. And +if he chases you too hard, throw that red sweater aside. He may stop to +toss it a few times, and that'll give you a chance to make the fence. Do +you understand?" + +"Yes, it's all clear enough; but hold his attention as long as you can, +Elmer, because it looks like a whole mile over to that fence!" Ty called +back. + +So Elmer kept on around the field. The place he had selected as the +scene of operations was exactly opposite where he had left the other +three fellows; and he considered this a favorable circumstance, indeed, +as it increased the chances of the boy in the tree. + +When he had finally arrived, Elmer took the red bandana handkerchief +from his neck, and climbed over the fence. Of course, not being a +professional bullfighter, he did not mean to get far away from his base, +and expected to make good use of that same fence when the crisis came. + +Immediately he began to shout and wave that defiant banner, the bull +took notice. Since the color that he detested so heartily seemed to have +been transferred from the boy in the tree to the one on the ground, so +the interest of the bull changed. + +He instantly started on a mad run toward Elmer, galloping along in a way +that seemed to indicate a desire to be out after business. + +"Get down, quick, Ty, and run for all you're worth!" shouted Elmer, +still waving his bandana, and at the same time trying to correctly +gauge the speed of his enemy, so that he could get out of harm's way in +ample time. + +"Jump, Elmer!" shrieked Landy, who was perched on the top of the fence +across the field, and could not tell just how close the bull had arrived +to his chum. + +Ty had meanwhile dropped out of the tree, and was heading for them as +fast as his nimble legs, aided by his fright, could carry him. But as he +had said, it was quite some distance, and his heart seemed to be in his +mouth every second of the time he was in transit. + +"There! Elmer's made for the fence at last!" cried Landy. "Oh, look at +that rush of the bull, would you! But Elmer was too quick for him, and +he's over the fence and out. Oh, my, just hear that crash when the old +bull banged into the fence! Now, will you be good, you monster? He's +looking around, and I just hope he don't see poor old Ty making this +way!" + +"Py chimineddy! He's goming pack!" declared Adam. + +"He is, and like a whirlwind, too!" gasped Landy. "Oh! now we won't be +able to help our chum a little bit. Run faster, Ty; let out another +kink! He's after you!" + +Evidently there was no need to tell poor Ty that dismal fact, for he had +been taking frequent observations over his left shoulder as he galloped +along. Perhaps he did let out another "kink," as Landy expressed it; but +if so, the fact was not very noticeable, so rapidly was the bull +overtaking him. + +But Ty had not forgotten that last instruction given him by the one who +knew bulls from the ground up, their little weaknesses as well as their +ferocious habits. The friendly fence, with his three anxious chums +perched on the top rail, was not so very far away; but to his eyes it +seemed a long distance, and he just knew he could never make it before +being overtaken. + +In vain did Landy, Adam and Ted wave their arms, shouting at the top of +their voices, in the hope of attracting the attention of the animal; or +perhaps alarming him; he kept doggedly on, aiming straight for the +fleeing boy, whose legs by this time seemed to wabble under him, +possibly through sheer fright. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE FINISH OF TY'S FAMOUS SWEATER. + + +EVERY one of the three scouts, waiting at the fence to assist Ty over, +should he be fortunate enough to arrive ahead of the enraged bull, held +his breath with suspense. + +They could easily see that at the rate of progress made by their +unfortunate chum, he must certainly be overtaken before he could arrive +and have a chance to clamber over that high and stout rail fence, +supposed to be bull proof. + +But they failed to take into consideration the fact that Ty had profited +more than a little from his connection with the scouts. And, besides, +all through his exciting race with that owner of the wicked little black +horns, he had kept in mind the last instructions shouted across the +field by Elmer, the boy who had spent a part of his life on a cattle +ranch and farm, and was supposed to know all about the habits of the +animals. + +"Oh, he's sure a goner!" gasped Landy, as they saw the rapidly advancing +bull draw nearer and nearer the frantic runner. "Poor old Ty; I wonder +will we be able to catch him on the fly!" + +Landy was evidently thinking of baseball, though his excitement was so +great that he hardly knew just what was passing through his mind. + +"Look at that, will you?" burst from Ted. + +Ty had waited until all hope of gaining the fence seemed to have fled. +Over his shoulder he could see his terrible enemy closing in and +apparently putting on greater speed. If anything was to be done it must +be accomplished without the loss of another second. + +It was then that he suddenly drew something from the bosom of his outing +shirt. This "something" proved to be that old red sweater which he had +refused to leave in the crotch of the friendly tree, into the branches +of which he had hurriedly climbed at the time he was first beset. + +He waved the flaming garment wildly about his head in order to make sure +that it caught the eye of the bull; and once that was done it might be +put down as certain that the animal would see nothing else than that +hated color. + +"Wow! He's done it!" cried Landy, as his fat face was pressed tight +against the rails of the fence, between which he had an uninterrupted +view of the proceedings. + +Ty had thrown the red sweater aside. + +It floated to the ground as the slight breeze caught its extended folds, +and must have presented quite an inviting picture to the inflamed orbs +of the bull. + +Would he stop short to pay attention to the object of his wrath, +forgetting all about the boy who was fleeing toward safety? Elmer did +not once doubt it. He knew that this was a familiar trick among the +picadors in the arena during a Spanish bullfight; and one that seldom +fails, if properly carried out. + +Still, he held his breath with anxiety during that brief space of time; +for if the trick did not succeed, Ty would very likely be in for an +experience that must prove exceedingly painful, if not positively +dangerous. + +But the red sweater did not fail its owner. Long had Ty worn that same +garment proudly, in spite of jeers and caustic comments on the part of +his comrades. And if it were fated to meet destruction at this time, at +least it would serve a very useful purpose. + +The animal saw the descending flag that incited his anger. Immediately +he pulled up short, and began to gore the inoffensive article, thrusting +his horns through it, while holding it down with his forefeet at the +same time. In this way it was quickly rent into fragments, which the +triumphant bull seemed to take great delight in tossing up into the air, +as he bellowed with satisfaction. + +And so the puffing Ty was enabled to reach the fence. Willing hands were +extended to him, and with a rush he found himself drawn to safety. + +"Hurrah!" cheered Landy. "You beat him to a frazzle, Ty! That was as +clever a little trick as I ever heard tell of." + +"All right," grunted the saved one, as he glared venomously between the +rails of the fence; "but would you see what he's doing to my fine old +sweater? That makes me feel sick. Two years now I've worn that, and she +was sure good for another." + +"But, man alive, think of what he would have done to you only for that +sweater!" exclaimed the fat boy. + +"Vat's de madder mit you, Ty?" demanded Adam, who looked at things +without the least bit of sentiment; "you pet my life I vould pe gladder +as anydings if I pe in your blace. Let der pull alone; he's enchoying +himself. Shake vonce on dot narrow escape. Py chimineddy! Mine heart it +vas yump in my throat yust as you throw dot sweater avay!" + +But Ty refused to be consoled. The sight of the animal running around as +if looking for him, with a sad portion of the beloved sweater fastened +to one of his ugly little horns, made him grit his teeth. + +"Huh!" he said, disdainfully. "You fellers just think it's fine because +you never did appreciate that beautiful old sweater; but if you think +you're going to get free from seeing me look like myself, you've got +another guess coming, that's what. Say, d'ye think I'm going to let an +old one-eyed bull knock me out of wearing what I fancy? If I feel like +it I'll put on six red coats." + +"Hath he got only one eye, Ty?" asked Ted, eagerly. + +"That's a fact, boys; didn't I see it glaring up at me time and again, +when the sly old critter'd pretend to be eating grass, and hoping I'd +come down," Ty answered, promptly enough. + +"Then jutht think what might have happened to you, my thon, if the old +bull had happened to potheth _two_ eyeth," remarked Ted, soberly. + +Ty would not even smile, he was so angry at the sacrifice of his +garment. Climbing up on the topmost rail of the fence, he shook his fist +at the prancing bull, and even shouted all sorts of things at him. + +"That don't wind it up, not by a long sight!" he declared. "I know where +I can get a better sweater than that old one, and for three dollars, +too. I've got that and more in my bank at home; and the very first thing +I do when I get back will be to bust that same bank open and go down to +Selfridge's department store. Oh, have all the fun you want with it, you +one-eyed beast; but some day perhaps I'll get even with you!" + +"Better forget all that, Ty," remarked Elmer, coming up at this moment. +"You had ought to be so tickled over making such a narrow escape that +you'd never bother your head over the loss of that worn-out old thing." + +"Worn-out nothing," declared the aroused Ty. "I could have had good use +out of that sweater this fall, in football. But never mind; I know just +what I'm going to do about it." + +"Nothing foolish, I hope," observed the patrol leader, as he cast an +apprehensive glance toward the bull. + +"Buy that other red sweater that's hung in the window of our big store +this month and more. Perhaps, after all, I may not be so sorry, because +it's much brighter than that old one; and some of the boys will let out +a howl when they first see me in it." + +Ty actually allowed a grin to appear on his face at the thought of this; +which would apparently indicate that his anger was not so very deep +after all. + +"Anyhow," continued Elmer, "I want to tell you, Ty, old fellow, that you +did that little trick as fine as silk!" + +"D'ye think so, Elmer?" remarked the other, looking pleased; for what +boy does not like the appreciation of his fellows? + +"You certainly did. I've seen cowboys go through with that act many a +time, but never any better than you did it," Elmer went on to say. "The +only thing I was afraid of was, you might throw it in such a doubled-up +way that it would not catch the eye of the bull. But you shook it out +all right; and once he saw it he could look at nothing else after that." + +"Say, I did that on purpose, sure I did, Elmer," declared Ty, eagerly. +"Seemed to me that it was the proper caper to try. And she worked all +right, too. But look here, fellows, he put his horns through that +blessed old tin milk pail the farmer's women folks loaned us. She's a +wreck; and anyhow we couldn't get in there by the tree to pick it up. +What's to be done about it, tell me that?" + +"Oh, there's only one thing to be done," laughed Elmer, taking out half +a dollar and thrusting it into the hand of Ty. "We've just got to pay +for the lost pail and borrow another one. That's part of the funds we +raised before starting out. Are you still going to get that milk, Ty?" + +"Am I? Say, twenty bulls couldn't stop me, once I start on a thing. Milk +we want for our breakfast, and milk we're going to have, you mark me," +said Ty, stubbornly. + +"Shake on that!" laughed Landy. + +"Oxcuse me, off you blease," spoke up Adam with a sly grin; "put is dot +vat you galls a milk-shake?" + +Elmer laughed, and at the same time looked suspiciously at the German; +for somehow he was fast coming to the conclusion that Adam might be +smarter than his stolid appearance indicated. In fact, he believed that +the German often put on an air of extreme innocence when in fact he was +enjoying a sly little joke. + +"He'll bear watching," was what Elmer said to himself, as he heard the +other laughing uproariously at his own humor, while squeezing the hands +of his new chums. + +"But, Ty," the patrol leader remarked, with a twinkle in his own eye, +"you've learned one thing, I think." + +"Sure. Always to see that there's a tree in a field before trying to +cross over," said the other, quickly. + +"Well, that's a good motto, I suppose," remarked Elmer; "but that wasn't +what I meant. You know now that many times the longest way around is the +shortest way to the fire. After this you'll think twice before taking a +short cut." + +"I'll squint around for anything in the shape of a bull, anyway," +chuckled Ty. + +The animal had succeeded in demolishing the offensive garment by this +time, and as if to show his utter contempt for the whole bunch of boys, +he started to crop the short, sweet grass where he happened to be +standing. Whenever he came upon a tattered fragment of the illy treated +sweater, he would give it a toss, utter a defiant bellow, paw the ground +a little, and then calmly resume his feeding. + +But doubtless all the while he was watching the boys beyond the fence +out of a corner of his eye. Elmer knew that this must be so, for he +noticed that the animal always kept his head turned toward them. + +"He vas as mad as some hornets," remarked Adam, who seemed to be +particularly interested in the actions of the bull, for he kept peering +through the fence. "Aber I haf a red sweater I vould see if he likes to +yump at me. Oxcuse me, Elmer, put let me haf de loan off dis." + +He deftly took the bandana handkerchief from the hands of the patrol +leader, as Elmer was about to fasten it once more around his own neck; +for he had used it to attract the attention of the bull, it may be +remembered, when at the other side of the field; and events had followed +so rapidly since, that he had not found a chance to replace the +handkerchief where it belonged. + +"Hold on, no foolish business, Adam!" cried Elmer, clutching a leg of +the German as he started to mount the fence. + +"Nein! I haf no vish to get me a grafeyard in kevick," Adam declared. +"Only I vould like to see if dot pad egg oudt in der field vould run at +me like he dood at Ty. You pet my life I vill not yump _inside_ de +fence; and dot's no choke, Elmer." + +Accordingly, Elmer released his clutch, and the stout German climbed +nimbly to the top of the fence. Here he began to wave the handkerchief +in the most brazen manner, at the same time calling out defiantly at the +animal. + +At first the bull refused to listen, but kept on grazing; though +doubtless the sight of the hated color was working upon him. + +"See him edging this way, would you, the sly old sinner!" called Landy. + +"He's getting ready for a rush," remarked Elmer. + +"Look out, Adam; be ready to drop off there!" cried Landy. + +"And be thure not to take the wrong thide, or you'll be in for it!" +admonished Ted, a little nervously. + +Suddenly the beast threw off the mask, so to speak. He made a plunge, +and was immediately in motion, coming with lowered head on the full run, +and heading for the spot where Adam stood on the fence flaunting that +flag of defiance. + +"He's off!" yelled Landy. "Jump, Adam, before he knocks you into the +field! Oh, ain't he just the limit, though; and as mad as they make 'em! +Jump, why don't you? Elmer make him come down! Perhaps he's got his foot +caught, and can't drop out!" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A DOUBLE-ACTION JOKE. + + +"JUMP, Adam!" called Elmer. + +The German had waited as long as he dared, and as if the voice of the +patrol leader gave him the sign, he suddenly made a backward spring, +turned a somersault in the air, just as he had done from the springboard +when swimming, and landed squarely on his feet. + +Crash! + +That was the bull striking head-on against the fence. And it was +fortunate for the other boys, as well as Adam, perhaps, that the owner +of the bull had made that fence additionally strong. Had it given way +before the onslaught of the animal the chances were Elmer and his mates +would have had to do some lively running to get clear. + +But the fence held, though it wabbled suspiciously, and Elmer felt sure +that a few more such blows must have demolished the barrier completely. + +"Don't you wish you could, old fellow?" taunted Landy, after he had made +sure of the fact that the animal was going to be held back. + +The bull looked through the fence, snorted, pawed the earth, and let out +an angry bellow. Then he walked disdainfully away, as though satisfied +with the victory he had gained, that one fragment of the torn red +sweater still floating from his horn, just for all the world, as Ty +remarked, "like a flag at half mast." + +"Come, let's hike back to camp, boys," remarked Elmer, moving off, "and +finish getting our breakfast ready. By the time Ty manages to come along +we'll be fixed for business." + +"Oh, I'll show up in decent shape, all right," remarked the other. "This +time I'll take no rash chances in crossing fields. Around the fence is +good enough for me, I guess." + +He was as prompt as his word, and came along with his pail of fresh milk +just as Elmer was beating the tattoo on the frying pan that summoned the +party to breakfast. + +"What did they say up at the farmer's, Ty!" asked Landy. + +"Not guilty," replied the other, who was cramming his mouth with a +portion of the flapjacks Elmer had made, and which were really fine. + +"Now, what's the use of giving us puzzles to solve!" complained the fat +boy, as he speared his second helping from the tin platter, and +proceeded to deluge the same with some maple syrup that had been brought +along in a bottle. "Not guilty of what, say!" + +"That ain't their bull, you see," remarked Ty. + +"And tho they declined to buy you a new thweater, ith that it, Ty?" +asked Ted, a little maliciously. + +"Oh, rats!" cried the other; "you know right well I'm not built that +way, Ted Burgoyne. Never once thought of trying to make anybody pay for +my foolishness in trying to cut across a field that had a bull in it. I +only mentioned the fact because, you see, I had to explain what happened +to their tin bucket, when I was paying for it. But after all they +wouldn't accept the money--said it was only an old pail after all, and +the farmer he told me I ought to be glad it was the bull, and not me, +that kicked the bucket." + +"Bully for the farmer!" said Landy, or at least that was what the others +took it for granted he meant, since his mouth was so full of flapjack +that he could hardly do more than mutter. + +After breakfast was over they started to carry out the various duties or +pleasures which each fellow had in view. One wanted to take a few +pictures, and, of course, this was Landy, though his mates solemnly +warned him to be careful what vines he touched while in the woods. +Another declared he felt like trying to tempt some of the finny denizens +of the river from their beds on this bright morning. This was Adam, and +he had brought along a lot of new tackle, as well as a fine jointed rod, +to prove that he was as good a fisherman as he was a water dog. + +Elmer chose to potter around the camp. There were always plenty of +things that could be done to improve conditions and add to the general +comfort of those who occupied the tent and cooked at the fireplace made +of stones. And having the true sportsman spirit in his composition, he +was never more happy than when arranging these many little details +connected with the camp. + +He improved the fireplace so that the coffee pot would not tilt and +threaten to upset from the three metal crossbars that formed a gridiron; +he dug the drain at the back of the tent a little deeper, so that in +case of a sudden heavy downpour the surplus water would be carried off +and not inundate the tent, and, finally, he finished the rude but +effective table on which they could place their food at meal times, and +even had a couple of short sections of log rolled up so as to take the +place of seats when they dined. + +Ty, after the breakfast things had been washed up and put away, wandered +off somewhere. And Ted was supposed to be fishing farther down the +stream, he, too, having expressed a wish for a real fish dinner that +night, if so be the bass in the Sweetwater were in a "taking" humor. + +Several times when Elmer stood up to rest the muscles of his back, and +consider what he would do next, he happened to cast a curious look up to +where Adam had taken his position on the bank of the river. + +Apparently the fish did not respond to the urgent invitations of the +German boy as well as he had expected, or else Adam's education with +regard to the ways the American black bass has to be attracted to the +bait had been neglected. + +For some time he was industriously seen threshing the water as though +issuing a call to all the fish in the river to come and have a bite with +him. Of course that was just the opposite of what he should have done; +for bass are shy and have to be tempted in quietness. + +Elmer chuckled to himself when first he noticed what the new scout was +doing. + +"Looks like Adam is densely ignorant along our ways of fishing," he +thought. "Wonder now what kind of fish he's ever caught that style on +the other side of the ocean. Perhaps he never wet a line before in all +his life. I noticed that he watched Ted closely, and imitated him +exactly in setting up his line, even to the float Ted always persists in +using." + +The third time Elmer looked it was perhaps an hour after Adam had +started fishing, and he saw that a change had come over the manner of +the young Teuton. He was no longer casting out again and again with a +great splashing of the water. On the contrary, he sat astride the tree +trunk that jutted out some eight feet above the water. His line ran +downstream and the float could be seen bobbing in the midst of the +little bubbles that marked an eddy below. + +Elmer watched him closely for five minutes, and not once in all that +time did he see the other move in the least. + +"Well, I declare, I believe the fellow's gone to sleep!" he laughed. "I +reckon Adam isn't used to camping out, and on that account he's had poor +rest these two nights. And that hot sun is enough to make any fellow +feel drowsy, too. Whew, what if he nodded too hard and just dropped off +there! Perhaps I'd better go and wake him up. And while I'm about it I +can just give him a few pointers as to how he'll have at least a decent +chance to coax a few bass to his bait." + +Filled with this feeling of comradery toward the new recruit, whom he +was fast learning to like because of his constant good-nature and really +witty remarks, Elmer started away from the camp. + +It just chanced that instead of heading directly for Adam, he walked +first of all out to the river bank. Looking downstream he could just see +Ted busily engaged in landing a fish that seemed to be fighting hard, +and this told that the bass were "on the feed," if only one knew how to +attract them. + +The idea of that sleepy Adam dozing there and letting the golden harvest +time slip by unheeded made Elmer laugh again. He even allowed himself to +imagine that it would just about pay Adam right if he crept up and gave +his line a sudden tug, to make him think he had a bite. + +Just then something moving attracted his attention. It was directly +below the boy who sat astraddle of the projecting log, and a little +farther downstream. + +Ty, why of course it was that party, though minus his distinguishing red +sweater, which was now, alas, no more. But what under the sun was he +doing there? As near as Elmer could see he appeared to be industriously +attaching some bulky object to the end of a line! + +All at once what seemed to be the truth burst upon the patrol leader. Ty +had also noticed the sleeping Dutchman, and was bent upon having a +little joke at the expense of Adam. Yes, he had managed to draw the line +of the fisherman in, by the aid of a long stick that had a crotch at the +end, and was now fastening a bunch of hemlock browse, done up to +represent a big fish, to the end of the same. + +When all was ready and the current pulled strongly at the bulky object, +possibly the additional strain might arouse Adam, who would immediately +think he had hooked a monster bass, and doubtless the ensuing excitement +would tickle the joker to the top of his bent. + +And if Adam did not wake up himself, it would be easy for Ty to creep +under the projecting log until he could reach out and give the line a +jerk. + +So Elmer concluded that he might as well wait and see the fun. Being a +boy himself, he liked anything that partook of clean sport, so long as +the joke did not border along the cruel or mean stage. + +Now Ty had dropped his artificial fish back into the river. The swift +current that ran farther out did not seize upon it at once, for there +was an eddy and a rather deep pool at the spot Adam had selected for his +fishing. Consequently the pull upon the line did not seem to come up to +the expectations of the joker. + +Ty crouched there waiting for results. + +The minutes passed and all remained peaceful and serene. Adam seemed to +be enjoying a lovely sleep. His head was upon his chest and his whole +figure appeared to be in a relaxed state. + +Twice did Ty rise up to stare at the boy who sat there straddling that +log, as though he wondered why Adam did not arouse to the occasion. +Plainly, the practical joker would have had his labor for his pains +unless something was done to start things moving. + +The third time Ty seemed to come to this conclusion himself, for instead +of merely observing the sleeping fisherman he started to advance toward +him. + +At this point the bank of the river was hollowed out somewhat. There was +just about enough footing below for an agile boy to clamber along and +keep from being precipitated into the water. + +Elmer chuckled quietly. + +"It's coming," he said to himself, as he prepared to see more or less +excitement around that region. "Looks like Adam might be due to a little +surprise party." + +Ty had finally managed to crawl far enough along the narrow ledge. He +was apparently directly below the log that stuck out from the bank above +him. Elmer judged this by the way the other craned his neck in order to +look up. + +"Now he's got his chance, if he can only reach that dangling line!" he +thought. + +Apparently Ty realized the same thing, for he was seen to be extending +that same crotched stick that had before proven so useful. + +In this fashion he speedily drew the line in toward him, gently, so as +not to arouse the fisherman before he was ready to give him a good hard +shock. + +"Pull up the curtain, the stage is all ready!" Elmer said to himself, as +he kept close watch on the movements of the boy below. + +He could see Ty taking a firm grip on the dangling line as though he +meant to have it no halfway affair. + +"Now, go!" exclaimed the watcher. + +Just as though Ty might have been waiting for some such order, he was +seen to suddenly tighten his hold, and then give a tremendous jerk, that +was surely calculated to make Adam believe the champion bass of the +Sweetwater had taken his bait and gorged it. + +Then something happened, something that doubtless the practical joker +crouching below had not anticipated as a result of his prank. + +Adam seemed to suddenly awaken. He was evidently greatly excited, and as +he made a wild clutch at the butt of his rod, which had been partly +jerked out of his grasp by the violence of that bite, he just naturally +lost his seat on the log. + +Elmer saw him gracefully slide around the trunk of the fallen tree and +go down with arms and legs sprawled out like an immense frog. And, +strange to say, as he dropped his extended arms seemed to suddenly clasp +Ty in their embrace, for both of them went headlong into the river with +a tremendous splash! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +STRANGE SOUNDS FROM THE WATER. + + +"ADAM did that on purpose!" was what Elmer exclaimed, as he saw how the +arms of the falling German boy pulled Ty with him into the pool under +the log. + +That great splash was surely enough to frighten away any bass that might +even have had the hardihood to remain around, after the vigorous +threshing of the water by the greenhorn fisherman. + +Of course the two boys immediately came to the surface. Ty was spouting +water like a young whale; but Adam seemed to be all right. He made a few +strokes after his original fashion, that had so aroused the admiration +of Landy, and arriving at the bank, climbed up. + +Ty made a great deal more fuss as he churned his way to the shore; and +Elmer, who had hastened up so as to witness what followed, could see +that there was a look of wonder, almost awe, on the face of the +practical joker. The results had been so sudden, and so disastrous to +himself, that he could hardly understand just what had happened. + +"Ach! put dot vas sooch a surprises to me, Ty," remarked Adam, from the +shore; "I dinks me I haf ketch de biggest fish in der river; undt ven I +throw oudt mine arms to pull him in, py chinks, it vas only you, having +some fun py me. How goes it, londsman; I hopes you enchoy yourself +mooch. Subbose you go pack, undt get my fishing pole, vich is floating +down der stream." + +He gave Ty a push as the other tried to clamber out on the bank and +forced him in again. The other showed signs of fight until Elmer, sizing +up the situation, called out: + +"That's only fair, Ty; you made him lose his rod, as well as take a +ducking with his clothes on. Get the rod again, and let him pull in his +fish." + +Possibly Ty realized the justice of this claim; or it might be he felt +disposed to take his medicine gracefully, for with a laugh he swam out +again, as well as he was able with his garments clinging to his limbs, +secured the rod, which had partly sunk, and came back with it in one +hand. + +As if to prove that he harbored no animosity, Adam frankly stretched out +his hand and helped Ty ashore. There they stood, dripping wet, and +laughing at each other. + +"Oxcuse me, Ty," said the German lad, making a queer face; "put I haf to +laugh, it is so funny! You dinks to make me some droubles, and by +shiminy you fall indo de same hole yourself. So, dere is two of us!" + +"The joke is on Ty," announced Elmer. "I saw the whole thing, and I want +Adam to own up right now that he had one eye open all the while, and was +watching what was going on." + +Adam looked up at him with a leer on his square face; then he shut one +eye and deliberately winked at Elmer. + +"I subbose dot I vas nodt so much asleep as somepody pelieves," he said; +and that was the only confession they could get out of him. + +Fortunately, as the weather was so very warm, there was no danger of +either of the boys taking cold after their ducking. Neither of them +would bother changing their garments, or attempting to dry those they +had on. + +"Let 'em dry on me," said Ty, whose good-nature had returned, though he +declared that everything had conspired to upset all his calculations +that morning; what with the obstinate bull, and now the clumsy Dutchman +who had to throw out his arm and pull him into the river along with +himself. + +Ted had come up from his fishing place below to ask what all the row was +about. + +"Fact ith, you have buthted up the fithing for thith morning," he +declared, with some show of indignation. "If you mutht kick up a racket, +why under the thun don't you go off by yourthelf and do it. I got theven +fith, and one of 'em a beaut. And the biggetht of the bunch wath jutht +going to take hold when you had to make all that beathtly row." + +When, however, the thing was explained to him, Ted enjoyed the joke as +well as Elmer had. He declared that he would wander along down the river +to another promising hole he remembered seeing. And Elmer, thinking that +the German boy might as well begin taking some lessons in bass fishing, +agreed to accompany Adam upstream a little distance, to try for a +capture. + +"Hey, that was just the greatest thing ever!" called out a voice; and +Landy was seen approaching from above, waving his little kodak in glee. + +"What's all this talk about?" demanded Ty. + +"I got it, that's what!" the fat boy kept on saying. "And won't it just +be a corker, though!" + +Elmer jumped to conclusions at this remark. + +"Do you mean you saw the tumble Adam and Ty took?" he asked. + +"Well," Landy went on, "you see, I had just discovered Adam sitting +there asleep on that log sticking out over the water; and I thought what +a lovely subject he would make for a picture. So I crept up till I had a +good focus, and then I pressed the button!" + +"Yes, go on; that wasn't all you did, was it?" asked the patrol leader, +who was able to read the open-faced Landy like the page of a book. + +"Well, you see, it was such a fine subject that I thought I had ought to +knock off another view, so that if one proved poor the other might be +good. And just as I was all ready, why, it happened!" + +"And you snapped it off as they were falling in?" Elmer continued. + +"I think I did," said Landy, eagerly; "for my finger just pressed the +trigger unconsciously. I was that astonished, you see. And I'm going to +develop this roll to-night. Wouldn't it be just immense if it turned out +to be a good picture!" + +"Oh, yes; something to amuse the rest of the troop, and chase the blues +away," grunted Ty, as he hunched his shoulders and sauntered back to the +camp to ascertain what Elmer might have been doing there. + +Elmer did take Adam up the river a piece, and finding a promising spot +where there seemed to be a likelihood of bass frequenting, he proceeded +to instruct the other in the rudiments of the art. + +Adam took to it from the very first. He was frank enough to confess that +he had never done any fishing in the old country, and was therefore +utterly green; but he showed an aptitude for catching on to what Elmer +told him; and before they had been an hour at work he had not only +succeeded in hooking a fine specimen of the gamey bass, but played and +landed him in great style. + +"You'll do, I reckon, now, Adam; so I'll leave you here and go back to +camp. Be sure you come in when you hear the signal, which will be three +loud cooies." + +At noon, when the fishermen gave it up for the day, as the heat stopped +all biting on the part of the bass, it was found that while Ted had +caught seven fair-sized fish, five of them bass, one a large perch, and +a sucker that was the largest Elmer had ever seen around that region, +Adam had brought in two bass and a big catfish. + +"Py shiminy crickets, dot feller vas dry some foolishness py me," he +said, as he held up the still wriggling catfish; "I haf drouples to get +him off der hook; and he sthick me dwice so hardt in der finger. Ooch! +put it do feel sore yet somedimes. I dink me he preak off some dot thorn +in der pone." + +"That's another lesson you must learn, Adam," said Elmer. "The catfish +has ugly spines that hurt like fun when you run your hand against them. +I guess they're poisoned, like the tail of the stingy-ray, down South. +I've known a fellow who had a running sore for a month after being stuck +by the fin of a cat. And, Ted, seems to me here's another chance to use +that colored stuff that was so fine with Landy." + +"Right-o, Elmer," exclaimed the other, making a dive for the tent to +look up his medicine bag. + +So Adam grinned, and allowed the "doctor" to paint his hand in the +region where the spines of the catfish had penetrated with such painful +results. Indeed, he declared an hour later that the pain had all +departed; and Elmer concluded from this that permanganate of potash was +good to use on all sorts of poison wounds. + +"I believe," he went on to say, "that if I was struck on the arm by a +rattler, I'd cut the wound open some, suck all the poison I could out, +providing I had no scratch or sore about my mouth, and then take my +chances, after painting it freely with the strongest solution of this +potash I could bear. Yes, and I think I'd come out much better than +those who believe in soaking the patient with whisky." + +The afternoon they spent in resting up. Indeed, it was unusually hot, +and somehow none of them aspired to exert themselves any more than they +could help. + +Adam had offered to clean the fish, after he had been shown how, and +made quite a good job of it, being very particular, after the fashion of +his kind. And Elmer gave Ty the duty of seeing that the fish were served +that evening at supper. It would be a poor piece of business if they put +several days in up there on the old Sweetwater, famous for its bass +fishing, and never once enjoy a mess of the delicious dish. + +They waited later than usual that evening, hoping the air would cool off +some with the setting of the sun. It was almost dark when Ty got started +with the supper. When the fish began to fry in the pan (in which the +cook had first tried out several slices of salt pork, which grease was +made very hot before the bass, dipped in cracker-dust, were placed in +the pan), some of the boys, who had declared they had no appetite, were +observed to sit up and take notice as they sniffed the fragrant odors +that arose. + +"Guess you-all will come around when things are ready," laughed Ty, who +often liked to mock the Southern scout, Chatz Maxfield, when he talked. + +"Well, I confeth I'm waking up," admitted Ted, frankly. + +"And that stuff smells mighty good, Ty," declared Landy. "I want you to +remember now that it wasn't me said I couldn't eat a bite." + +"I thould thay not," laughed Ted. "Nobody would ever believe you guilty +of thuch a thilly thing. You're alwayth hungry, Landy, and ready to +gobble." + +"Say, now, that's what I call mean," expostulated the fat boy, +pretending to be very indignant, though these attacks on his character +were of daily, almost hourly occurrence, and he was quite accustomed to +meeting them. "Just because I'm big, and need more to keep me up than +the rest of you, some fellows like to say I'm greedy. 'Tain't so. And +some day I'll run you a match, Ty, to see who can keep from eating a +bite the longest." + +"Not much, you will," declared the cook. "Why, it wouldn't be a square +deal. You've got all your fat to fall back on; and look at me, skin and +bones." + +So they laughed and talked, as the preparations for supper went on +apace. + +"What're you listening to, Elmer?" asked Landy, after some time had +passed; and looking toward the patrol leader he saw that he had his head +raised in an attitude that told of suddenly aroused interest. + +"I thought I heard a queer plunk just then, out there on the river," +replied the other. "Yes, there it went again. Did you hear it, boys?" + +"Sure we did," replied Ty, raising his head from his duties at the +cooking fire, in between the stones that had been fashioned somewhat +after the shape of a V, with the evening air fanning the broad end. + +"Whatever can it be, Elmer?" demanded Landy, his face immediately +expressing curiosity, and, perhaps, a trace of alarm; for anything that +savored of mystery always excited the fat boy. + +All of them were now interested, and listened to ascertain whether that +strange sound was repeated. Perhaps an interval of half a minute passed. +Then once more came that plain "plunk!" + +"Sounds like somebody drowning, and givin' the last gasp!" declared Ty. + +"Oh, let up on that thort of thuff, Ty," said Ted. "You're alwayth +thinking about thuch nathty thingth." + +Landy turned appealingly to the patrol leader. He realized that if +anybody ought to know what the character of those queer sounds was, +Elmer must. + +"What is it, Elmer?" he asked again. "The sea serpent or only some old +grand-daddy bullfrog croaking to himself on a log. Say, perhaps that's +one of them funny old loon birds you were telling us about to-day, that +can just laugh so's to make your flesh creep! Tell us about that, Elmer. +Whatever is it? There, that time it was a double plunkety-plunk! Now, I +wonder what in the dickens it means!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE NEWS THAT GEORGE BROUGHT. + + +ELMER laughed. + +"Listen," he said, "and you'll hear some more of the same kind." + +Hardly had he ceased speaking than there was another loud "chug" heard. + +"My, he jumped into the water that time, sure, if it _was_ a frog!" said +Landy. + +Then came a strange rattling sound, as of half a dozen "plunks" all +mixed up. + +"He threw a handful then for a change, and good measure," remarked +Elmer, dryly. + +"A handful of what?" echoed Ty. + +"Stones!" replied the patrol leader. + +The others stared at each other. + +"Is _that_ what it is, then?" asked Landy, heaving a distinct sigh of +relief. "Why, of course, we all ought to have got on to it before now. +Stones always make that kind of plunk when they drop into the water from +above. But, Elmer, whoever d'ye think it can be; and what's he trying to +do--scare us?" + +"Oh, that remains to be seen. Suppose you fellows go on getting supper +ready, while I slip out quietly and investigate," Elmer proposed. + +"Don't take too many chances, remember, Elmer," cautioned Ty, as he +turned again to his frying pan, filled with fish. + +"Yeth, go thlow, Elmer," said Ted, shaking his head. "You know there'th +a bad lot of fellowth over in Fairfield, alwayth ready to play trickth +on travelerth. It may be they only want to coax one of our crowd out, +and then carry him off. Take a club along with you, Elmer." + +"Yes, do," Landy added, thrusting a stout stick into the hand of the +patrol leader. "And use it if you have to. Remember, one call of the +wolf will bring us along in a rush, Elmer. And I'm going to have some +other nice clubs handy, in a minute or two." + +"Don't go to any trouble, because you may be disappointed," chuckled +Elmer, as he pushed back into the shadows, so that he could enter the +tent. + +Having done this, two minutes later he was crawling out from under the +canvas at the back of the tent, having unfastened the same by uprooting +the peg at that particular spot. + +Of course it was easy enough for Elmer to creep away undetected by +anyone who might be in a position to watch the camp. His experience on +the plains of the new country up beyond the Saskatchewan River in +Canada, where his father had been in charge of a relative's ranch and +farm, was of considerable benefit to him now. + +Once free from the light of the fire, Elmer stopped to listen and made +up his mind concerning certain things. Then he again pushed forward. + +He was now making something in the shape of a half circuit. If he kept +on long enough he would presently bring up on the river bank below the +camp; and this was in reality his destination; for he believed that the +unknown party who was tossing those stones out into the river, with the +intention of mystifying them, must be stationed somewhere there. + +In fact, Elmer had remembered that just here the shore made a sort of +little beach, which they could have used nicely as a landing place, had +they possessed a boat. And he had also noted the fact that there was a +great abundance of round stones there, very tempting to the average boy, +who loves to hurl such things into the water, just to see them splash. + +He was drawing near this particular spot now, and in order to avoid +being seen, as his figure would be outlined against the sky, he dropped +down on his hands and knees, crawling forward the last ten feet after +this Indian fashion. + +The darkness was not intense, and Elmer had a pair of unusually keen +eyes. Hence, as he stopped there just above the little beach, he was +able to make out a figure that seemed to be bent over as if searching +for something. + +"He's hunting another relay of stones," thought Elmer, wondering who the +party could be. + +There was a slight possibility that it might turn out to be some +wandering hobo, who thought he might cause the boys to temporarily +abandon that fine supper, which he could snatch up and make away with. +Then, again, there was a chance of this fellow being only one of a +number of the Fairfield roughs, who, having discovered their camp, were +bound to do all they could to make trouble. + +But Elmer did not take much stock in either of these theories. He was +inclined to look upon the unknown as a friend, one of the fellows from +Hickory Ridge, who had come out to join them for the last day of their +stay on the Sweetwater. + +That was why he listened so keenly, for he hoped to catch some familiar +sound calculated to tell the identity of the dusky figure below. + +The drone of voices from around the fire came to his ears, telling that +his four chums had taken his advice, and were acting as though they had +no particular interest in those queer noises. + +Now the figure below seemed to straighten up, and Elmer knew he meant to +throw another stone, perhaps a second volley that would rattle like shot +as they came down on the surface of the running water. + +And as he heaved them forth, the party below gave vent to a peculiar +little grunt or wheeze that was very familiar to the ears of Elmer +Chenowith. + +"Hello, there, George! Having a great time, I see, amusing yourself!" he +said, in a low, but plainly heard tone. + +There was a moment of silence, as though the unknown was somewhat taken +aback by the fact of his having been caught so neatly, even in the act. + +"That you, Elmer?" he asked, with a short laugh. + +"That's who it is, George," the other replied. "Suppose you come up out +of that, now, and surrender. There's a penalty attached to this thing of +trying to scare us. Do you know what you've got to do now to make good?" + +"No, what's that, Elmer?" asked the boy, who was climbing up the bank by +now, and who happened to be a cousin to Landy Smith, known among his +mates as "Doubting George," simply because he could not help appearing +skeptical about nearly everything that came along. + +"Why," observed Elmer, very seriously, "you've just got to unfasten your +belt, sit down alongside us, and do your level best to get away with a +share of the fine fish supper the boys have ready." + +"Oh, ginger! Count me in on that, won't you?" laughed the other, as he +accepted the extended hand of the patrol leader, and was assisted up the +bank. "It's a long walk up here, and you see, since you fellows hiked +it, I just didn't dare use my wheel. And I tell you I'm hungry enough to +eat anything halfway decent." + +"Well, Ty's chief cook and bottle-washer to-night; and you know enough +about him to understand what that means. Ty's long suit is his cooking. +He's just the boss at that, every day," and Elmer purposely elevated his +voice as he said this, so that those by the fire, now awaiting them, +could overhear what he said. + +"Hey! what's all that you're saying; and who're you talking to, Elmer?" +demanded the party in question. + +Landy gave a shout. + +"By the great horn spoon, if it ain't my cousin George!" he exclaimed. +"Ten to one he doubted whether we had really come up here at all--that +he didn't believe he could ever find us--that he expected to frighten +the whole bunch out of their seven senses by that silly trick; and even +now he isn't sure whether he sees us or is dreaming he does. In fact, +George can find a loophole to doubt anything." + +"All right, say what you want," replied the newcomer, sturdily. "I admit +that I was born with an unfortunate disposition to question everything. +Mother says I must be a great lawyer some day. But there are some things +that are so plain even Doubting George can't miss hitting 'em. That +smell, now, is sure the finest thing that ever came down the pike; and, +anyhow, I don't doubt but that you fellows are going to ask me to share +in the grub with you. How's that, Cousin Philander?" + +"Oh, you're welcome to it," replied Ty, in place of Landy. "Plenty for +all; and we owe this treat to the patience of Ted and Adam here. Later +on you must get our new scout to tell you how he goes in after his +fish, clothes and all. It's a real funny stunt, George." + +"Yeth," put in Ted. "And mind you, he pullth in other fellowth with him. +Be thure to have him tell you that part, my thon. It'th worth hearing, +George." + +Of course, around the fire, as they discussed the qualities of the fish, +the story was told. Everyone seemed to have a share in the telling, so +that George got it from several sources. + +"And pretty soon," declared Landy, "I'm going to use a black pocket in +the woods close by as my dark room, so I can develop that roll of films. +You see, I'm just wild to learn whether I really did push that trigger +on the camera, and shoot it off, just as those two fellows were tumbling +into the water. If I got that, it'll pay me for the whole job of hiking +away up here and losing more'n a pound in weight." + +"Wish you luck, then, Philander," said George, who usually made a +mouthful of his cousin's name. + +Some people said George was really envious of Landy's possessing such an +uncommon name; others believed that he was proud of being connected with +a family that could sport such a classical "cognomen," as he often +termed it. + +"When did you leave good old Hickory Ridge?" asked Ty; for, like most +boys, no sooner was Ty away from home than everything about the place +assumed an almost sacred aspect, and he could never even mention its +name without an affectionate prefix of some sort. + +"I reckon I've been three hours on the way," was George's reply. + +"Three hours to get up here! Say, you didn't walk like that in the big +hike, when you covered the name of Robbins with imperishable glory," +Landy declared. + +"Shucks, and me the lowest score in the whole bunch!" sneered George. +"But I guess I lost the way, and covered a lot more territory than I +ought to have done." + +"Yes," said Landy, "I know what was the matter. You just made up your +mind every signpost lied, and when it said go east, you tried the other +road. That's what you get for doubting everything. It brings heaps of +trouble, and if you're wise you'll shunt that on to the side track in a +hurry." + +"Oh, shucks! Attend to your own mutton, Landy," said George; but his +face had reddened at the accusation of his cousin, and none of the +others doubted but that Landy's random shot had hit pretty close to the +truth. + +"Anything new around Hickory Ridge since we left there?" asked Elmer. + +"Why, yes, there is, fellows," replied George, brightening up, as though +he had just thought of something. + +"Then tell us what it is. Has Hiram Juggles got a new shingle on his +barn; or did the Mosely twins get mixed up again, so that nobody knows +which is Jim and which Jack?" asked Ty. + +"Oh, it's something more serious than that, let me tell you," George +went on, with a vein of mystery in his voice that instantly aroused the +curiosity of Landy. + +"Then why don't you tell us what it is, George, you old ice wagon!" he +exclaimed. "Somebody give him a push, please, and get him to roll his +hoop." + +"They tried to wreck the midnight express--guess you fellows started off +too early in the mornin' to hear about it," George said. + +"We never heard a word, so hurry up and tell us, George," said Elmer. + +"Yes, whatever in the wide world would they want to wreck that train +for? Was it some crazy man; or do they think it could have been an +attempt to rob the express safe?" demanded Ty, anxiously; for he had an +uncle who held the throttle of the engine pulling that particular train, +and was therefore deeply interested. + +"Nobody's dead sure what they wanted to do," George went on, "but the +messenger admits that he was carrying a bigger amount of money than +usual. Perhaps the hoboes got wind of it, and thought they might have a +chance to capture the stuff. They didn't have nerve enough to hold the +train up in western fashion, so they tried the coward play." + +"I notice that you say hoboes did it, as if nobody doubted that part of +the affair," Elmer remarked, significantly. + +"They were seen by a track walker, and had quite a fight with him," +George continued. "The poor chap is in the hospital now, though he's +going to pull through. He managed to crawl to a station and give the +alarm, so no damage was done. And now they're hunting high and low for +two hoboes, one short with red hair, and t'other a long-legged fellow +who limps when he walks, like he'd once had his leg hurt. They are +called Shorty and Lanky Jim!" + +It was Adam who set up a shout that caused the others to stare at him. + +"Hey, what's this mean?" demanded Ty. "He looks like he knew something +about the two rascals you were telling us about, George. Elmer, you take +him in hand, won't you, and see what he's got on his mind. And make him +tell it in plain United States. We left our Dutch dictionaries at home +this trip, you see." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +UNDER THE TWINKLING STARS. + + +SUPPER was forgotten for the time being, under the influence of this new +source of excitement. But then the young campers had taken the edge off +their sharp appetites before now, so that it did not matter very much. + +Adam was grinning as he found himself the one object upon which all eyes +were focused. It would be hard to find the boy who does not enjoy +standing in the lime light, even for a little while. + +"How about this, Adam," said Elmer, "do you know anything about these +two men?" + +"So," drawled the German boy, "aber I am nodt sure. Dey looks to pe +sooch; put mebbe I haf anudder guess goming, poys." + +"Tell us where you think you saw them," the assistant scout master +continued. + +"At Prady's," answered Adam, promptly. + +"Brady's--why, that's where we get our milk," spoke up Landy. + +"Sure it is," declared Ty. "That's funny now; I never remember setting +eyes on anybody answering that description; and I've been over there +twice." + +"Yeth," declared Ted, "and I can thay the thame thing." + +"You think you can; but you're away off, Ted," grinned Ty, who never +grew weary of nagging the other on that lisp, with which he was +afflicted. + +"When did you see them, Adam?" asked Elmer, paying no attention to any +of these side remarks. + +"Vy, berhaps you may remember, Elmer, dot dis very evening I vant to go +py der voods vonce, und get dot milk. Vat ve haf, it did get sour by der +heat, und Ty he say he haf a desire to dake der tramp again nix. So I +volunteer py der game. You pet me I nefer dry to gross dot field py der +pull. I dake der long vay, und pring der milk safely home. Iss it not +so, Ty?" + +"Well, we're drinking some of it in our coffee this meal, so that goes +without saying," the other replied. + +"Tell us about the men--where were they when you saw them, Adam?" Elmer +went on. + +"Py der parn," returned the German scout. + +"Not prowling around like a couple of thieves, Adam?" + +"Nodt as I can see." + +"Then what were they doing?" the patrol leader asked, impatiently; for +it was a most difficult thing to draw the story out of the German, who +seemed to want to be "pumped" step by step, as Landy termed it. + +"Vorking," came the short reply. + +"Oh, then you mean they were apparently in the employ of Mr. Brady?" + +"Dot iss so. Dey toss der hay oop to him py der stack, und he stow it +avay." + +"I believe the farmer is getting in a late crop of clover hay," remarked +Elmer. + +"Yes," broke in Ty, "and he was telling me this very morning when I got +the milk, after my little adventure with that neighbor's bull, how his +man had left him in the lurch, and everybody around was so busy he +hardly knew just how he could get the big crop of hay that was stacked +in the field, ready for the mow." + +Elmer nodded his head as though, after gaining this knowledge, it was +comparatively easy to put two and two together. + +"That settles it," he remarked. "These two hoboes came along, and he +offered them such big wages to help him over his trouble, that they just +couldn't resist. But I know something about tramps, and the real article +wouldn't work at any price." + +"Gee! Perhaps they had some other object in taking the place?" Landy +suggested. + +"Just what I had in mind," Elmer followed. "If they are the rascals who +tried to throw that train off the track for some awful reason, they must +know that there'll be a hunt through the country for them; and, perhaps, +they hope to hide as farm laborers until the thing wears off." + +"Then we ought to warn Mr. Brady, hadn't we?" asked Ted. + +"Yes, but at the same time we must be careful not to excite the +suspicion of those fellows," Elmer replied; and then turning again to +Adam, he continued: "Did you have anything to say to either of the men, +Adam?" + +"Vell," replied the other, slowly and reflectively, "I dink me dot +berhaps von off dem might dell me der vay to der milk house, und so I +stop me to ask." + +"Yes, you asked one of them--which one, Adam?" + +"I notice me dot as I gome close dey look at me like I vos a pad egg, +und put der heads togedder in a punch. So I yust chuck oudt mine preast +und valk right up to der spot, like I vas say: 'Vat's der matter mit +you; I am Adam Litzburgh, und I pelong to der scouts; put dot in your +pipe und smoke it!'" + +"But you didn't say all that; you just asked one of them where the milk +house might be; wasn't that it, Adam?" Elmer went on. + +"Der short von idt vas; und he turn to der udder und he say it pe all +right, nuttings to bother apout from dot Dutch fool. Den, py chinks, he +call oudt to der farmer who vas on der top of dot haymow, und ask vere +der milk house pe." + +"And that was all, was it, Adam?" + +"I knows me nuddings else," replied the German boy; "only ven I gomes me +along again, der short von vaves his hand to me, und laughs him some py +my pack." + +Elmer really sighed with relief when he realized that he had actually +succeeded in getting the whole story out of the uncommunicative fellow. +It was like "drawing teeth," as Landy more than once remarked. + +"You've heard the story, fellows," he said, turning to the others; "what +had we better do about it? I want everybody to have a voice in this, and +majority rules. So don't be bashful, but speak up." + +"Well," remarked Landy, slowly. "I suppose we ought to give Mr. Brady a +hint of the truth; but, as you say, Elmer, we must be mighty careful how +we do it. Those tramps must be a pretty desperate pair, and they'd think +nothing of sailing in to clean us out if they suspected we were on to +their curves." + +"How about you, Ted?" asked Elmer. + +"Oh, count me in the thame lay," replied the one addressed. "Nobody +knowth when they're entertaining angelth unawareth, like the good book +thayth; or bad men either. The farmerth want help tho bad at timeth that +they don't athk too many quethtionth when they get a thanthe to employ a +huthky man. We'll drop around there in the morning thome time, when +they're out in the haying field, and give the women folkth a little +hint that they'd better get rid of the new handth." + +"Ty?" + +"Them's my sentiments. No special need of any hurry, I guess," replied +Ty, who was really feeling the effect of his unusual exercise of that +morning when the unfriendly bull gave him such a lively chase, and who +wanted to keep quiet in camp. + +"George?" + +"Wow! You just couldn't get me to stir away from here to-night unless +you tied a pair of mules to me and started them going," replied the +newcomer, as he slyly helped himself to more fish. + +"And Adam?" + +"I dinks me as how it pe werry comfortaples here," grinned the German, +duplicating the act of George, as though he feared lest he might not get +his full share of the supper. + +"Hey, let me in on that, will you, fellers?" cried Landy, spearing +another portion from the rapidly vanishing pile. "And if you want to +know my sentiments, Elmer, just put them down as 'he also ran.' Because +I'm willing to do whatever the rest of you say." + +Elmer himself looked a trifle disappointed. He had been thinking that +perhaps they ought to warn Mr. Brady that night; for it could not be a +very safe thing to have two such desperate men in his employ longer than +was absolutely necessary. + +Still, he had said that he would be bound by what the majority of his +chums decided was best; and he could not change his ideas. + +After all, the chances seemed to be that if the two new farm hands were +actually Shorty and Lanky Jim, their sole object in taking service with +Mr. Brady must be to lie low until the excitement died away. +Consequently, they would be very careful not to do anything that would +turn attention upon them; and in that case a little delay could not +matter. + +"All right, then," said Elmer; "it's settled that after breakfast +to-morrow we'll make up a party to go after milk and find a chance to +warn the Brady people. Of course the women folks will be scared nearly +to death; but they'll find some way of sending word to town in these +days of telephones. And then the officers will come out to arrest the +fellows. Pass my dish, please, Landy, and get a small help of the fish. +I'm mighty fond of it in camp, and never care for a bite at home. And +this is as good as they make fried fish, thanks to Ty's way of cooking." + +The balance of the supper was eaten amid a lively lot of talk. Of course +much of this concerned the events of the day; the adventure with the +bull; the trick Ty attempted to play on Adam, with disastrous results to +himself; and last, but not least, the coming of Doubting George with +such exciting news. + +When, finally, they went to bed it was with all these things fastened +upon their minds; so that Elmer expected that more than one among them +would be apt to "see things" in the dark that night. + +The fire which, after supper, had been built larger, so that it lent a +cheerful glow to the scene, was allowed to die down. Really the weather +was still so sultry that it took away some of the pleasure of sitting +around a blaze; which is always appreciated most when there is a tang of +frost in the night air; but, then, these boys were up here for fun and +did not mean to be cheated out of anything they considered their due by +such a thing as hot air. + +One by one they crawled under the canvas and subsided. + +The coming of George promised to add to the discomfort of a crowded +tent; and secretly Elmer had decided that he would not occupy his +quarters of the preceding nights. It would not be a new thing at all for +him to sleep out under the stars with a blanket for a covering; and, +indeed, he believed he would enjoy the experience, as it must revive +recollections of the past when he was accompanying the cowboys on a +round-up far away from the home ranch; or else off with a comrade on a +hunt in the big Rocky Mountains of Canada. + +Only one more day remained, and then the wagon would come for the tent +and other things that had to be transported by team. After that they +could look forward to a few days of restlessness; when school duties +would begin once more. + +Elmer noticed that there was little talking indulged in that night. They +seemed too tired all around for any "funny business," such as often +marked the period when the lively boys started to go to bed. + +When all seemed quiet within the tent, Elmer stepped over to where he +had slyly hidden his blanket some little time before. He had already +picked out the spot in which he intended passing the night. It was under +a tree, where he could look up through the leafy branches, and get +glimpses of the star-decked heavens. The soft, caressing touch of the +night wind would lull him to sleep, he felt sure; and on the whole Elmer +infinitely preferred such an experience to being crammed up against five +others, in one small tent. + +So he fixed himself, and lay down. By turning his head he could see the +flickering fire, and imagine it surrounded by some of those good fellows +whom he had known long ago, daring riders of bucking bronchos, and +expert wielders of the flying rope. + +Then Elmer dropped off into a sound sleep. The last thing he remembered +was hearing some one snoring in the tent; he never knew just who the +guilty party might be, although his suspicions pointed to George; since +they had not been afflicted up to his coming. And the sounds seemed +uncertain too, just as though they were inclined to express a lingering +doubt. + +From this state of peace and calm the campers were suddenly aroused by a +most piercing scream, that rang through the woods on the borders of the +river. + +Instantly a scene of wild confusion resulted. Out from the narrow exit +of the tent came a struggling mass of boys in pajamas, grabbing hold of +each other in their excitement. + +And one lone figure might have been seen crawling under the back canvas, +in much the same fashion as Elmer had done at the time he started on +that hunt for the unknown party who was throwing the stones with a plunk +into the river. + +Elmer was on his feet instantly, and could, perhaps, be said to be the +only one in the lot who had control of his senses in this emergency. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE INVASION OF THE CAMP. + + +"OH! what is it?" cried Landy, who was actually trembling all over as he +stood there in the night air, which had grown a trifle cooler during the +hours they had been asleep. + +"What's Elmer going to do?" exclaimed George, as he saw the patrol +leader spring suddenly forward, and bend down. + +"He'th got thomebody!" yelled Ted. "Perhapth it'th jutht one of the +trampth come over here to rob the camp!" + +"Aber I dinks me he iss yust getting some off der vood to puts on der +fire," remarked Adam, who, strange to say, in all the excitement, seemed +to keep fairly calm. + +It turned out to be exactly the case; for immediately Elmer threw +something on the smouldering fire, which started up a cheery blaze. When +this came about it was wonderful how much better all of them felt. A +crackling fire can do more to dispel thoughts of ghosts, and all such +silly things, than any other agency. + +"But Ted," said George, "I don't think you could have guessed right, +because you see there ain't any sign of a tramp here." + +"Sounded to me," ventured Landy, "like it was out there on the river. +Say, p'raps it might have been some poor duck just going down for the +last time!" + +"Shucks!" grunted that unbeliever, George; "he'd never be able to let +out such a whang-doodle yell in that case. I ought to know, because I've +near drowned myself twice, and all I could do was just to gurgle and +kick and grab." + +"How about that loon Elmer wath telling uth about?" suggested Ted, +softly. "From all he thaid I reckon it'd let out jutht thuch a noithe +ath that." + +"Elmer, you heard it, didn't you?" demanded Landy. + +"I sure did," came the reply. + +"Wath it a loon, then?" went on Ted. + +"Not the kind you mean, boys; I give you that straight," replied the +other. + +"But it came from out there on the river, didn't it?" persisted Landy, +who seemed to have that notion imbedded in his brain pretty strongly. + +Elmer shook his head in the negative. + +"Then where did it come from?" asked Landy. + +"I didn't tell you, boys," went on the patrol leader; "but knowing that +six in the tent would make it stuffy, I planned to sleep out here under +the stars, just as I've done many a night, you know. And so I was in a +pretty good position to hear where that whoop came from." + +"Tell us, Elmer, tell us right away," demanded Landy, impatiently. + +"The tent!" said Elmer, without hesitation. + +The boys stared at each other. + +"Say, he means that one of us let that yell out," remarked Landy. + +"I know I didn't!" declared George. + +"Not guilty!" chirped Ted immediately, holding up his right hand as he +spoke. + +"Noddings doing, poys, mit me," Adam ventured to say, positively. + +"How about Ty?" asked Elmer, chuckling. + +"Where is he?" demanded Landy. + +And thus, all at once, they awakened to the fact that one of their +number was absent, though no one save Elmer had noticed this before. + +Landy rushed to the tent and looked in. The fire was by this time giving +out enough light to make it possible to see the entire interior. + +Landy crawled inside, and almost immediately came forth again. + +"Say, he ain't there! Ty's disappeared, fellows! Mebbe he's been taken +with a fit, and jumped into the river!" he cried, in tones that were +filled with horror. + +"Elmer, what have you got to thay about that?" demanded Ted, who had +noticed the significant fact that the patrol leader did not seem to +share the alarm of the rest; indeed, he even smiled as though amused. + +"Watch me," said Elmer. + +He strode back of the tent, while the other boys waited with wondering +eyes. In a minute Elmer reappeared, nor was he alone. He had hold of a +shrinking figure, also clad in pajamas, and these of so violent a color +that they instantly recognized them as belonging to the boy who had +clung so long to that red sweater. + +Yes, it was surely Ty, and he did not seem to be suffering to any great +extent. There was evidence of a grin hovering around the corners of his +mouth. Evidently Ty was the one who had crawled hastily under the canvas +of the tent after that fearful yell had awakened the entire party. "The +wicked flee when no man pursueth," and Ty knew that he was probably in +for a good raking, after giving his mates so great a scare. + +"Hey, he's got him!" declared Landy. "Elmer knew where to find him. See +here, did you let off that awful whoop, Ty Collins?" + +"I s'pose I did," replied the culprit, meekly. "I was dreaming about +that old bull, you see. Thought I was sitting up there between his +horns, and he was just gallivanting around the whole country with me, +jumpin' fences and all that. Then we came to a barn, oh, as high as the +church steeple at Hickory Ridge; and as sure as you live if that critter +didn't make straight for the same. I felt him rising in the air like a +balloon, and then I think I must have let out a squawk, fellers." + +"Listen to him, would you!" cried Landy; "he calls that a squawk! Why, +it sounded like a whistle for down-brakes on the track; or else a feller +falling over a precipice ten thousand feet deep! And he's got the nerve +to say it was only a little squawk, just like a chicken would give!" + +"Well, if you'd been dreaming like I was, you'd holler too," argued Ty. +"Say, I reckon I scared myself pretty bad too, for I crawled out of the +back of the tent in a big hurry, and tried to hide in the bushes. Then I +heard you talkin' and it struck me what I'd done. Didn't feel much like +walkin' in after that; but Elmer, he came and convinced me." + +"No great harm done, boys," said Elmer. "And as Ty didn't mean to +frighten anybody, we'll have to let him off this time." + +"Yes, if he'll promise not to repeat the dose, we might," grumbled +Landy. + +"Don't believe him, if he does, because he won't keep his word," +declared Doubting George. + +"Well, what sort of remedy would you suggest?" asked Ty, indignantly. + +"Gag him; that's the only way," returned George; "and even then I think +he'd find a loophole to let out another howl. Ty always could whoop it +up better than any other fellow at school. That's why they made him the +cheer captain when he couldn't get in the football game on account of a +sprain." + +"You just try it," muttered Ty. "I've got troubles enough, and a plenty; +but a gag is going it a little too strong. Elmer says it's all right, +and that anybody is liable to have bad dreams. Think of what I went +through with, when that bull chased after me! Forget it, fellers, and +let's go back to our blankets." + +"Yes, get along there, the whole bunch of you," laughed Elmer, +pretending to "shoo" them as he might a flock of little chickens. "It's +getting cool out here, and we've got a few more hours for sleep. So +long!" + +So the five crept inside the tent again, and for some little while the +murmur of voices told that they did not find it so easy to drop off into +sleep as on the earlier occasion. + +But finally all became silent. The episode was closed; and once more +sleep dominated the camp by the Sweetwater. + +There was no further alarm that night. Perhaps Ty took warning from the +awful proposition made by George, and found some way of restraining his +inclination to dream; but no one ever knew how he did it. + +When early morning came, with the cheep of birds in the thickets, Elmer +was the first one to be stirring. He kindled the fire afresh, and tidied +up around the camp a bit, after the manner that was so much to his +liking. + +Then he went down to the river and plunged in. + +It was now broad daylight; indeed, the sun was peeping up beyond the low +hills far away to the east. The sound of splashing must have reached +the ears of Landy as he awakened, for presently he came crawling forth. + +"Hi, get up there, you sleepy-heads!" he shouted, stooping to thrust his +head into the tent. "Here's Elmer occupying the whole river, and there +won't be any of it left if you don't hurry!" + +That brought the balance out in a hurry, and soon the six were sporting +gayly in the water. Adam had to do the high dive, with all its attendant +"frills," as Landy called them, in the way of double somersaults, +backward and forward, in order to convince the newcomer of his +accomplishments. For, of course, Doubting George refused to believe +until he had been shown; and even then declared that there must be some +sort of trick about it, because it stood to reason that a greenhorn +could not excel in anything. + +Adam, however, was too good-natured to take offense. As long as they +remained in the water he was kept busy showing the many tricks he knew. +Tenderfoot though he might be in most things connected with boy life in +America, Adam certainly stood in a class by himself when it came to +aquatic events. + +Then came the pleasing job of getting breakfast. Ty, assisted by George, +consented to look after that part of the business. Since George would +only have one whole day in camp, with two nights thrown in, he purposed +getting all he could out of it, and had laid out a list of things he +wished to try before sundown, consisting of fishing, taking a few +pictures with a little camera he had fetched along, and roaming the +neighboring country, looking for promising nut trees for the October +gathering, because George was very fond of hickory nuts, chestnuts and +walnuts, in season and out. + +"Just as like as not there won't be a fish willing to nibble at my +bait," he grumbled, after his customary fashion; "and I'd like to wager +that this year is a bad one for nuts." + +"Oh, let up on that cranky way of looking at things," said Ty. "Perhaps +something's the matter with your new camera too, George!" + +"Well, you never know," replied the other, sighing. "It looks all right; +but the proof of the pudding lies in the eating; and I'm sorter +expecting the thing to turn out a fizzle. Cheap things never do amount +to much, you know." + +"But that was a present on your birthday!" ejaculated Ty. + +"Sure it was; but all the same it's not one of the best; and I'm always +suspicious of these things that don't cost top-notch prices," George +continued. + +"I'd just like to know what you ain't suspicious of," snapped Ty. "Here, +don't you go smelling at my flapjacks like you thought there was a bad +egg in 'em. Every egg we get is fresh from the coop that day, and marked +gilt edge. Before I'd have a way like yours, George, I'd, well, I +believe I'd jump in the river." + +"I don't believe you would," grinned George, once again true to his +reputation as a skeptic. + +"What's Elmer going to say?" remarked Ty, he noticed the patrol leader +coming hastily into camp, with a queer look on his face. + +"Get ready!" Elmer said, mysteriously. + +Ty, Ted, George and Landy looked up at this. + +"Get ready for what!" demanded the fat boy, attempting to gain his feet +in haste, but having to clutch hold of Ted in order to assist himself. + +"To vacate the camp," replied the other. + +"But, Elmer, explain, won't you?" asked Ted. + +"Yes, tell us why we must get out," echoed George, and adding: "I don't +believe he means anything at all, that's what; he's just fooling us, +fellows." + +"Wait and see," Elmer continued, gravely nodding his head, although his +eyes were sparkling with humor. "It's coming, and I tell you that after +it arrives there won't be any room here for you fellows. It will occupy +the whole place!" + +"But, Elmer, what is it that's coming?" asked Landy, visions of the two +desperate hoboes filling his mind. + +Elmer, in reply, commenced to raise his head, and make a face as he +sniffed the air. + +"Just try that and see," he remarked, simply. + +Upon that the whole lot started to drawing in their breath. Immediately +various exclamations told that they had "caught on," as Landy expressed +it. + +"Oh, murder! What sort of an odor is that!" ejaculated George. + +"I know!" cried Landy, who had started to clutch his nose between thumb +and fingers; "it's a skunk, that's what it is. Wow! It's getting worse +all the time, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE EDUCATION OF ADAM. + + +THE utmost consternation seized upon the campers. + +"Oh! what's bringing all that smell along here?" George cried; for this +was his first experience with such a thing, though he had heard lots +about other adventures the scouts had had in that line. + +"It's Adam; he's got a monopoly of the scent!" laughed Elmer. "And he's +on his way to the camp right now. I saw him coming, and got a whiff; +then I hurried on to warn you, because I didn't want you to be caught +unprepared. There's one good thing about it, though, fellows." + +"Good thing?" ejaculated Ted, who had snatched out his handkerchief and +was trying to keep from inhaling more air than was absolutely necessary. + +"Why, yes," Elmer went on, "for once George here doesn't doubt but that +he gets it. You don't hear him asking questions now. He _knows_ it's +here with us. He's getting his dose, all right, ain't you, George?" + +"Look, there he comes!" gasped Landy, pointing to a moving figure that +was pawing a way through the neighboring thicket. + +"Ach! vat iss de matter mit me? I feels like I vas goin' to faint!" +exclaimed a complaining voice. + +"For goodness' sake do it out there, then!" screamed Landy. "Don't you +dare come into camp with that terrible smell hanging to you. Sit down +where you are, and listen to what we've got to say. Oh, gracious, I +can't get my breath! Elmer, you tell him!" + +"Py chimineddy, dis makes me some drouples! It peats all der limpurger +cheese I ever saw. Vat vos idt, Elmer? I am nodt choking, tell me vot I +dood," Adam asked, with a beseeching air, for he was almost overcome by +the fumes. + +"Well, if you ain't choking, we are; so you stay there," George +remarked. + +"How did it happen, Adam?" asked Elmer, trying to stop laughing, for he +knew that after all this was apt to be a serious piece of business for +the other. + +But the German boy only shook his head and coughed, as he tried to get +his breath. + +"Idt iss some foolishness py me; but, poys, I don't know vot it iss +already yet. I vos vandering apout der voods, enchoying mineself, ven I +see der prettiest little squirrel dot ever vos, mit a nice white stripe, +und a pushy tail. I dinks dot he look like he vill pe friends mit me, +und so I yust hold out mine hand und call him; put pefore I could take +hold mit him, I dink I step on von of dem musherooms mit der awful +smell. Ach! it vos so pad I haf to get oudt right avay, und come pack to +der gamp. I'm von sick Dutchman, poys, pelieve me. I dink me I must pe +going to die right avay qvick." + +"I should think you had died a week ago," cried George. + +"He thought the skunk was a pretty squirrel," said Ty; "and he was going +to make a pet of it, think of that, fellows!" + +They laughed and coughed by turns. One minute the comical side of the +event appealed to them, as they saw poor Adam standing there looking so +forlorn; then as if by magic their humor turned, and they began to +wonder what in the wide world could be done. + +"We just can't stand this much longer, Elmer," said Landy. "Make him go +away off in the woods and bury himself." + +"Well, one thing's sure," remarked the patrol leader. "He's got to get +rid of every stitch he has on him. We'll have to rig him out the best we +can afterwards." + +Adam set up a howl upon hearing this. + +"I pelieve it might wash oudt in der river!" he declared. + +"Not in a thousand years," Landy made answer. "The only chance for you +is to go off and bury your clothes--everything you've got on. Then get +in the water, and try to get rid of the smell from your hair. Lucky +thing it's cut short. Oh, ain't this the meanest luck, though?" + +"It might be worse if the whole lot of us had been there and got our +share," remarked Elmer, who could always see things on the bright side, +in which he was the exact reverse of Doubting George. + +"Dell me vat I must do, Elmer. I promise to carry oudt de plans. +Somedings must pe done right qvick, or I shall pe smothered. It is pad; +but I am von scout, und can take der hard knocks mit der good." + +"That's the kind of talk, Adam," Elmer hastened to say. "You're all +right, even if you do seem unpleasant company just now. Listen to me. Go +back into the woods a piece. Then strip off every rag and hide them in +some hollow log. I'll follow you when you go to the river, and fetch +along what stuff we find we can spare. All told I reckon there'll be a +shirt, trousers and shoes for you; and that's all you need this hot +weather. Please make a start, for we've got to the end of our endurance. +Turn around; now you're off!" + +When the unfortunate German lad had vanished, the trouble was far from +being at an end. He left a decided legacy behind him, and Landy was loud +in his wails. + +"How ever can we stand it, Elmer?" he asked. "All the rest of the time +we stay in camp do we just have to endure that rank odor?" + +"'What can't be cured must be endured,' you remember we used to write in +our copybooks at school, Landy," replied the patrol leader. "Nothing +like getting used to things, you know. It isn't pleasant, of course; but +there might be worse happen to us. Suppose now our new recruit had run +across a rattlesnake instead of a polecat! But get a hustle on you, +fellows, and see if we can rig Adam out somehow. I've got an extra shirt +he's welcome to." + +"And there's that pair of trousers I brought along," said Landy; "he can +get into them all right. But I'll say good-by when I hand 'em over; for +I just know the perfume will stick always; and I never could stand it, +never." + +Some one else came forward with shoes, and in this fashion the wretched +victim of confiding innocence and curiosity was supplied with an outfit +calculated to carry him through. + +Taking these things with him, Elmer started forth along the trail of +Adam. + +"Just follow your nose, and you'll find him!" sang out Landy. + +"And look out you don't repeat his sad experience, Elmer," laughed Ty. + +The woods seemed to be pretty strong with the powerful odor, as Elmer +walked on. He was a fair hand at following a trail, and the German lad +had certainly not made any effort to conceal his footprints. + +Presently Elmer found where Adam had stuffed his garments into a hollow +log, just as he had been told; but as he was no longer in sight, the +scout patrol leader took it for granted that he had turned to head for +the river again, in order to plunge in. + +Accordingly Elmer also turned and walked that way, believing that he +would strike the stream a little distance below the camp. + +"Goodness! I hope, now, Adam doesn't lose himself in the woods!" he +exclaimed, as a sudden startling thought flashed into his mind. +"Wouldn't that just be the limit, though, and with not a bit of clothes +along!" + +But a minute later he caught sight of the other stalking along ahead. +The river could also be seen in glimpses between the trees, showing that +after all Adam had chosen the right course. + +"Well, what ails him now?" Elmer asked himself, for as he looked he +suddenly saw the German boy bound up into the air, and start to +threshing about with his hands in the wildest kind of way. + +Then he started to run madly along, letting out a series of shouts, and +finally taking a header from the bank into the river. + +Something came buzzing about Elmer's head. + +"Hornets!" he exclaimed, making a stroke at the insistent insect that +was trying to reach his face, until by a fortunate blow he sent it down. + +Then he started off, making a wide detour so as to avoid the spot where +the unlucky Adam must have run foul of the nest. + +When he finally drew up at the river bank and peeped over, he saw Adam +with everything but the upper part of his head submerged. He seemed to +be looking for a new assortment of enemies hovering over him. His +introduction to the mysteries of the great American woods bade fair to +make a great impression on Adam. Indeed, when finally Elmer induced him +to come forth, he discovered that there were three distinct impressions, +and each of them as large as a hickory nut, one being behind the ear, +another on his right arm, and a third on the calf of his leg, where the +angry little hornets had left their mark. + +No doubt the new recruit thought he was having a pretty rough time of it +all told. But he had a genial nature, and could take things as they +came; so that presently he was able to laugh at his misfortunes. + +When he was dressed in the borrowed clothes Adam looked a "sight," as +Landy declared after he saw him coming to the camp. Of course there must +hover around him more or less of the strong odor; but Elmer told the +others they must make up their minds to get used to that, as it could +not be remedied. + +Breakfast had been ready for some little time when the pair reached the +camp; and all of them were able to do justice to the meal. Even Adam +seemed to have retained his appetite. + +"But it's the only thing he did save," chuckled Landy. + +When the meal was over, Elmer reminded them of the arrangement they had +made on the previous evening. + +"Who goes along with me to Brady's?" he asked, getting up. + +"Don't you think we'd all better paddle along?" remarked Landy; +"because, you see, those fellows are tough characters; and it might be +they'd set on our crowd, if they suspected we'd come to tell on 'em." + +"Count me out," said George. "You know I got a stone bruise yesterday +when on the way here, and I want to let it heal up, so's to be able to +toddle back home when we break camp to-morrow." + +"Oh, rats! The chances are you don't think there's anything worth while +in going over there," declared Ty. "And I meant to show you just where I +had all that fun with the old bull, too." + +"Fun!" shrieked Landy. "Hear that, will you, boys? He calls that +business just fun. But it looked another way, then, you understand, +George. Why, Ty's face was as white as paper when he thought that old +bundle of beef was going to hook him higher than a kite!" + +But Ty declined to argue the matter with him. + +"And I think Adam had better thtay at home, don't you, Elmer?" remarked +Ted. + +"Why, he's that strong he could tackle the hobo crowd alone and +single-handed," observed Ty. + +"I'm afraid he'd turn all the milk in the dairy," chuckled Landy. + +So it was presently decided that two of the scouts were to remain behind +to take charge of the camp. The others, four in number, would trail +along toward the Brady farm; and if the opportunity presented itself, +let the farmer's women folks know the character of the new hands. + +The last that Elmer and his comrades saw of those who were to remain +behind, George seemed to be endeavoring to coax Adam to try his luck +again on the river, for he was holding out the rod of the German. + +"He just wants to get him away for a while," laughed Ty. + +"It looks like George had run up against something at last that won't +stand for any doubts," declared Landy, who had long suffered from this +peculiar malady on the part of his cousin. + +"If it can't be seen, it makes itself felt in another way," remarked +Elmer, who was in the lead of the file that headed through the woods, +Ted swinging the tin milk bucket. + +Reaching the field where Ty had had so much "fun" with the ugly bull, +they failed to see anything of the animal. + +"Afraid to come out again, you see, boys," said Ty, pretending to puff +out with valor. "I guess the farmer who owns him will keep him shut up +till we leave the neighborhood. He'd better, for I was just hatching up +some game that would discourage the old fellow from tackling every one +that walked through his pasture." + +"Perhaps he's loose, and carrying on somewhere else," remarked Elmer, as +he lifted his head in an attitude of listening. + +"Say, that _is_ somebody shouting, as sure as you live!" cried Landy. + +"And hollering to beat the band, too!" echoed Ty. + +The whole four of them stood still, the better to listen. There could be +no longer the least doubt about the matter; for other voices joined in +with the one they had heard at first. + +"It's women yelling, too," said Landy. "Whatever can be the matter? +Elmer, do you think it's that bull broke loose?" + +"More'n likely the hoboes are at the bottom of the row!" declared Ty. + +"Come on with me, fellows, and we'll soon know!" called Elmer, as he +immediately started off on a full run. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A LOUD CALL FOR HELP. + + +A BELL began to ring wildly near by. + +"That's over to the place where the bull belongs; sure the row ain't +there, Elmer?" asked Ty, as he hurried on the heels of the leader. + +Elmer paused to listen again. + +"No," he said, positively, "most all the racket is over yonder in the +direction of the Brady house. You can hear the women screaming, too. +Come along again, boys! They've heard the racket over here, and that +bell's to call the men in from the fields." + +"Sounds just for all the world like what I've read about an Injun attack +in the good old pioneer days," declared the panting Landy, who had to +exert himself more than any of the others in order to keep up with the +procession. + +"Theemth like I thmell thmoke!" remarked Ted. + +"I reckon you do, because I've been getting it for the last half +minute," Elmer threw over his shoulder as he ran on. + +"That means a fire!" cried Ty. + +"It generally does," Elmer added, dryly. + +"What if the Brady house is going up in flames?" ejaculated Ty, again. + +"It would be a bad job," remarked Elmer; "but not quite as hard on them +as if it happened in the dead of winter, with the thermometer down to +zero." + +"But it's always a hard job fighting fire in such steaming hot weather +as this September spell!" Landy observed, as he dug for his +handkerchief, so as to wipe his red face, which was beginning to reek +with perspiration. + +"There, I saw smoke over the trees; it's a house afire, as sure as +anything, boys, and the Brady one at that!" declared Ty. + +None of them doubted it now, since all the indications seemed to point +that way. They kept up their forward rush, hoping to at least be able to +lend a helping hand in the way of getting some of the furniture out; +because that is generally all that can be done at a country blaze, when +there are no fire engines to respond to the call for aid. + +They were rapidly overtaking several persons who seemed to be hurrying +in the same direction they themselves were bound. Two of these were +women, and the other a very old man, whom the excitement had stirred +into unwonted action. + +"What is it?" asked Elmer, as he was passing the three. + +"The Brady house must be afire!" answered a young woman, who seemed to +have her wits fairly well in hand. + +None of the boys stopped, though Landy's tongue was almost hanging from +his mouth because of the exertion on such a hot morning. They continued +to bound along steadily, and expected to come in sight of the burning +house at any moment now. + +As they burst out from the cover it stood before them. Smoke was coming +from windows and doors in heavy volumes; and evidently the fire must +have managed to get considerable headway before being discovered. + +A number of women were running excitedly up and down doing nothing to +aid in saving property, or subduing the flames. Several men were +present, and seemed to be wholly engaged in carrying out some of the +furniture belonging to the parlor. A small cabinet organ had been rolled +over on the grass, and then they added heaps of books to the wreckage. + +"Why don't they try and save the house, Elmer?" asked Ty, as they saw +what was going on. + +"I don't know, unless it's because they have no leader, and nobody is +able to tell what to do," replied the other. + +Elmer was taking the scene in with eyes that nothing escaped. Even while +he was running forward toward the fire he saw that there was a +fair-sized stream close to the barns. His attention was directed to it +chiefly because of a flock of big white Pekin ducks that were flapping +their wings, and adding their loud quacks to the general excitement. + +"If we only could find plenty of buckets, something might be done!" he +called back over his shoulder, never stopping an instant in making for +the building that was threatened with destruction. + +"I see three right now by that pump!" cried Ty. + +"Plenty more in the barn, Elmer!" added Ted, who saw what the other had +in his mind, and thought it worth trying. + +"There's a lot of tin milk buckets hanging on that fence!" called Landy. + +"Go for 'em, fellows!" ordered the patrol leader. "Gather all you can +find, and begin to fill 'em at the brook. I'll see if these ladies won't +stand in line, and pass them along." + +"Hurrah for the Hickory Ridge Fire Brigade!" shouted Landy, fully filled +with the novel idea. + +Each of them made a bee-line for the buckets in sight, and, gathering up +all they could lay hands on, immediately started for the water, where a +great dipping began, to the intense amazement and consternation of the +ducks, which could not understand why these strangers should try to +empty their favorite little stream without asking their permission. + +Meanwhile Elmer must have managed to explain after a fashion what he +purposed doing. He had already coaxed two of the women to stand ready to +take the buckets as they came along, and these were shouting to the +others. + +"More buckets! Try in the barns for some!" called Elmer, as, seizing one +of the first that arrived, he rushed up to where a tongue of fire had +suddenly darted out of a window, like a snake that was striking, and +sent the contents of his receptacle through into the room. + +Now something a little more like sense seemed to seize upon those +present. All they needed was a leader, some one capable of giving +orders; and it would be surprising how much could be accomplished. + +The men stopped trying to save the furniture. If the building could be +kept from burning to the ground the things it contained might have a +chance of being spared. They rushed away to the barn, as though knowing +where horse buckets were to be found; and Elmer knew that he had found +several willing allies in his battle with the flames. + +He saw that these men were the farmer himself, and his son, almost a man +in size. The two farm hands were not to be seen; and this fact gave +Elmer a strong idea that in truth they might have been responsible for +the fire itself. Sometimes when a robbery has been committed the thieves +will try to cover all traces of their work by burning the building. + +By the time those other women had arrived he believed he would have +enough on the ground to form a living chain between the brook and the +house, so that the full buckets could be passed swiftly along from hand +to hand, and the empties returned after the same fashion for a fresh +start. + +Inside of five minutes after the Boy Scouts arrived on the spot it was a +lively scene that was taking place. The smoke continued to pour out of +the windows; but whenever a bit of flame showed itself, Elmer or Ty was +ready to dash a bucket of water on the same. + +"Keep up the good work, fellows!" shouted Landy, who was filling the +buckets at the time. "She ain't gaining much, now; and every one that +comes just adds to the fire brigade, so's to send the buckets along +faster. I'm coming over to help fight soon as that farmer's boy gets +here!" + +"Say, if only we had all our troop here, Elmer, wouldn't we make short +work of it, though?" asked Ty, who was beginning to turn many shades +darker because of the smoke that swept past him every little while. + +"We'll do it as we are!" answered the patrol leader, firmly; for he +believed that they must soon begin to get the mastery over the hungry +flames. + +Then Landy came staggering along, bearing with him a huge bucket, which +he expected to dash personally on some place where it would do the most +good. The farmer's boy had arrived to take his place at the brook, which +set him free for sterner duties. + +"Go for it, fellers!" he gasped; and then as a wicked looking finger of +fire darted out toward him he emptied the contents of his pail in that +direction. "Plenty more where that came from. The crick'll hold out all +right, if only we can get it up here fast enough. That's the way, Ty, +soak it to the measly old thing. We're going to win out yet, see!" + +It was the right sort, of spirit to show at any rate; and afterwards his +chums had only words of praise for Landy's conduct. + +"If we c'n only hold out long enough, we're just bound to knock this old +fire into a cocked hat!" Ty managed to cry out, as he seized another +bucket, and turned to look for a chance to use it. + +Just then he noticed a small girl standing near by, sobbing as if her +heart would break. She seemed to be looking up toward the second story +windows of the house that was on fire, as though there might be +something that she longed to save up there. + +Ty was immediately thrilled with the thought that it might be a human +being. Nobody had as yet said anything about a missing person, whether a +child, a very old man, or a woman; but this might come from the fact +that such tremendous excitement held everybody in its grip. + +Ty had read about daring feats which lads no older than himself had +performed at such critical times. Perhaps within his soul there burned a +desire to outshine these heroes of fact and fiction; and do something to +make the name of Tyrus Collins go ringing down the ages, on the annals +of heroes who have risked their lives in order to save others. + +At any rate, as soon as he had emptied the bucket he was holding, he +passed it along to the nearest woman, and then whirled upon the little +girl. + +"What's the matter with you?" he asked. + +She turned to him eagerly. + +"Oh, he'll be burned, my little baby, Bennie!" she wailed, wringing her +hands as if in the greatest woe. + +Ty was thrilled by the words. Here then was the golden opportunity he +had long sought. A baby, she had said, forgotten in the mad rush and +excitement. And to him had come the chance to show of what metal scouts +were made. + +"Where is he--show me the window of the room!" he demanded in such a +stern tone that the child shrank back; but she managed to point upward +and say: + +"That window--it's the little room over the front hall! Oh, if you could +only bring him out, mister; everybody's too busy to remember poor little +Bennie!" + +That finished Ty. He heard the call to duty and was off. Still, he kept +his wits about him fairly well, and did not plunge recklessly into the +building. + +His first act was to take another look upward, so that he might locate +the window she had mentioned, and remember which it was when groping +about the interior. Elmer was close by; but although he turned toward +the patrol leader at first, Ty changed his mind, fearing that he might +be interfered with in his bold designs. + +No, if a rescue must be made, he would go it alone; and hence all the +glory that was coming would be his. + +"Here, take that full bucket and follow me, Ty!" called Elmer, who saw a +chance to deluge a threatened point in such a way that the fire would be +fully beaten back in that quarter. + +He supposed the other was carrying out his suggestion, and did not know +any different until on turning he found himself face to face with Landy, +who had quickly taken the place of the one called upon. + +"Where's Ty?" asked Elmer, as upon looking around he failed to discover +the figure of his late assistant. + +"He's gone in!" declared Landy, seeming to be a little appalled by +something he had witnessed. + +"Gone in where?" continued the other, hardly understanding what was +meant. + +"He rushed right into the house like he'd lost his senses, Elmer; +whatever do you think made him act like that?" Landy replied. + +The patrol leader looked aghast. + +"I'm sure I don't know," he replied, "unless he heard that some one was +in there, and might be smothered or burned. But it was a nervy thing for +Ty to do. I only hope he comes out again all right!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SHOWING THEIR METTLE. + + +"OH, thay, can't we do anything to thave him?" + +It was, of course, Ted, with his lisp, who said this. He had come up +while the others were talking, and seemed to understand the situation; +perhaps he had even witnessed the strange dash of Ty Collins into the +burning farmhouse. + +Elmer shook his head in the negative, as he replied: + +"You see, the smoke is so heavy that even if one of us did go in, the +chances are he'd never be able to find Ty. We'll have to let him alone. +Ty has a long head on him, and generally knows what he's doing. Let's +work away here as fast as they fetch us the full buckets, and hope our +chum will get out again. Here, hand me that pail, Ted; and get busy, +Landy. No time to be staring around." + +Landy seemed to be half stunned because of the queer actions of the +scout who had entered the house. He was standing there looking up at the +row of windows, out of which the smoke curled and eddied, as though he +expected an answer to the puzzling question there. + +But the energy of the patrol leader influenced him; and taking the +bucket that had reached the end of the line of men and women, he +hastened to dash its contents in the spot Elmer indicated. + +The boys were all showing more or less signs of exhaustion by this time, +owing to the terrific heat, caused by the stickiness of the weather, and +the influence of the fire. But not one of them gave any indication of +showing the white feather. They seemed to feel that the honor of the +scouts was involved in this fight for the farmer's home; and with set +teeth they continued to ply the water. + +"We're gaining a little all the time, fellows!" exclaimed Elmer, meaning +to bolster up the courage of both Ted and Landy; though often he would +cast an anxious eye up at those mute windows, as though beginning to +fear that the missing chum would never again appear. + +"Yeth," said Ted, dolefully, "but every time we leave a plathe to go to +a new one, the fire tharth out again freth ath a daithy. If only a lot +more men would come to help uth out, we might get it under." + +"We will do it, boys, just make up your minds to that," gasped Elmer, as +he once more gripped a big stable bucket and started back to the window +through which he expected to hurl the contents. "We've got the grit to +stick to the job to the bitter end, and grit wins the day every time. +Hurry up there with that other pail; and tell them to find some more, if +they can. Anything will do that can hold water. We've just _got_ to put +this thing out! That's the way, Landy; you did a good job that time!" + +Those words of praise did more to inspire new faith and confidence in +the heart of the almost exhausted fat boy than anything else could have +done. He seemed to pluck up fresh courage, braced himself to his task, +and even grinned at Elmer, although it was a sickly attempt at a smile. + +Landy was, indeed, a sight just then. He was wet to the skin with +perspiration and spilled water from the creek. Besides, his usually +jolly face was streaked with a series of queer marks, where the black +smoke had found lodgment, and been ground in every time he drew his +sleeve across his smarting eyes. + +But then the others were little better off, though possibly they did not +feel the terrible heat quite so much as the stout youth. Regardless of +the damage to their clothes they labored faithfully on, determined that +the Hickory Ridge troop was bound to receive new honor because of what +they did at the Brady fire. + +Seconds had merged into minutes, and Elmer's anxiety grew to an alarming +extent. What if poor Ty had, indeed, fallen in the midst of that smoke +and was lying there now in the house helpless? + +It was a terrible thought, and made him shiver, even though at the time +he was also burning with the heat. Suffocation was just as bad as the +fire itself; and Elmer began to argue with himself that perhaps it was +his sacred duty to rush into the house in the endeavor to find Ty. + +He looked at Landy and Ted with almost pity in his eyes, and yet at that +moment the young patrol leader was proud of his chums. Never had there +been a test of endurance where the stake meant so much. If they could +save the Brady home surely that were far better than any prize which +might have fallen to their prowess because of a great hike, or a +swimming distance match! + +Suddenly he heard Landy give a shrill yell. + +"There he is, Elmer! Hurrah for Ty!" + +The fat boy was pointing a trembling finger upward; and following its +general direction Elmer saw a head thrust forth from a certain window in +the second story. + +Ty did not seem disposed to pay the slightest attention to his chums, +though the three of them stood there waving their hands and shouting. He +was beckoning wildly to the little girl who had been standing near by +all the while, with her eager eyes riveted on the window above, just as +though she expected a miracle to be wrought in her favor. + +When Ty's head poked into view as through a curtain, for eddies of smoke +were all around the scout, the child began to dance up and down, and +clap her hands. At that moment Ty Collins came nearer to being a real +hero in the eyes of a girl than ever before in all his life. + +"Come closer!" he shouted, and as she did so, he continued: "Where did +you say Bennie was, up here? Is this the room?" + +"Yes, yes," she replied, nodding her head at the same time, as if in +fear lest he might not hear her childish voice in the midst of so much +noise, with women calling, and newcomers asking questions as they +reached the scene. + +"Where did you leave him?" demanded the intrepid rescuer. + +"Over in the corner--the box on the floor--Bennie was naughty, and he +had to be punished!" she cried at the top of her shrill voice. + +Ty immediately disappeared, while his three chums below waited with +astonishment written on their faces, not knowing what it all meant. + +"Did you hear that, Elmer?" demanded Landy, plucking at the wet sleeve +of the other. "She said the baby was in a box! Don't that beat the +Dutch, though? Whatever could she have been thinking of to do such a +thing?" + +"It wath the thillieth ever!" declared Ted, "thtuffing a baby in a box +jutht like he wath a rag doll!" + +"Hold on and see," said Elmer, who must have had some sort of suspicion +as to the true state of affairs. + +All eyes were riveted on that window. Seconds passed as before, and the +boys began to get nervous again because Ty failed to appear. Had he +found the baby really smothered? Was he attempting to carry the poor +little darling down the stairs through all that dreadful smoke? + +"Oh, look! look!" cried Landy. + +There was no need of his saying this, because everyone near by had been +watching that window eagerly, and no doubt saw what was happening just +as quickly as the fat boy did; but then Landy was so worked up with +excitement that he could not restrain himself. + +Yes, Ty was there in full sight again. This time he was leaning from the +window, and seemed to be holding something in his arms. + +"Hold on there, Ty," shouted Ted, feeling a thrill of horror, as he +fancied his fellow scout must be about to heave the poor little innocent +darling from that second story window, in the hope of somebody catching +it before it could reach the ground. "Give uth a thanthe to get under +firtht." + +"Yes, hold your horses, old fellow!" panted Landy, as he started forward +with outstretched arms. + +But, singular to say, Ty seemed to pay little or no attention to their +demands; though Elmer was sure he could see a broad grin on the +blackened face of the one who leaned out of the window to get away from +the smoke. + +"Here, take your baby, little girl!" he shouted hoarsely, as he began to +lower away on a strange rope, which Elmer decided he must have made by +tearing a sheet into long strips, and tying these together. + +Something came down, foot by foot--something that struggled, and made +frantic attempts at getting free from the encircling rope. + +"Wow! it's a pup!" shrieked the astonished Landy. + +"Well, I do declare!" echoed Ted. + +Elmer laughed aloud, as he started once more at the task of emptying +several buckets that had meanwhile arrived at the end of the human +chain. For wise Elmer had guessed the truth before the moment when the +other two made their discovery. + +The little girl darted forward and snatched the small woolly dog up the +moment it touched the ground. She began to hug "Bennie" with all the +ardor of an indulgent little mistress; and, then freeing him from the +torn sheet, ran off toward the women as if to show her recovered prize +to her mother. + +"Now come down yourself, Ty!" shouted Elmer. "Don't you think of going +back by way of the stairs, d'ye hear?" + +Ty waved his hand. Perhaps his voice was utterly gone by this time, +thanks to the smoke and his exertions. They saw him swing out of the +window; and Elmer understood from this that at least the scout had +considerable power left in his arms and lower limbs. + +Now his feet were on a little ledge that ran along the face of the house +above the lower windows. Ty had noticed that a shutter was partly open +and meant to make use of this in his descent. It was a clever idea, and +did the boy great credit in the way of judgment. A veteran fireman, +accustomed to such things, could hardly have conceived a better plan of +campaign. + +Once his feet were planted on top of this, Ty gave a sudden move, and +they saw him slipping down until his ready hands caught the upper edge +of the heavy blind. After that he dropped to the ground in a heap, to +quickly stagger to his feet once more. + +"Hurrah for Ty!" shouted Landy, making the high sign of fellowship in +the direction of his chum; for he was too busily engaged just then to +think of abandoning his buckets in order to rush to Ty's side so as to +shake hands with the hero of the occasion. + +What if it was only a miserable little woolly pup that he had managed to +save from possible destruction; it would have been all the same had it +been the real baby that the child had given him to understand was in +peril. And Ty need never feel ashamed of his brave act. It shed new +luster on the name of the Hickory Ridge Boy Scout troop; and Elmer was +determined that when the account was written up, there should be no hint +of humor in the same that might reflect in any way on Ty's act. + +Immediately Ty got busy again, and proceeded to fight the fire with +renewed vigor, though the poor fellow did look as though he had almost +reached the end of his resources. Twice did Elmer tell him to drop out, +and try to recover; but for once Ty refused to obey orders, under the +plea that, as they were not really in uniform, it was not obligatory on +his part. + +"Now something is going to happen!" said Landy, as he brushed past Elmer +while warmly engaged; and at the same time he pointed across the open +space to where a party of stout farm hands had burst into view, running +as fast as they could toward the fire. + +"More bucketh coming, boyth!" called Ted, who had seen that each one of +the newcomers was armed with at least one big pail; which fact proved +that they must have suspected the cause of the wild alarm before they +left home, and had provided in this wise manner against a dearth of +vessels for fighting the flames. + +When those fellows got busy, hurrying up from the friendly creek, each +with a fresh supply of energy, and a pair of big buckets that were +filled to the brim with the liquid so needful in order to check the +spread of the flames, things began to look more cheerful. + +"Now we've got it on the run, fellows!" cried Landy, almost hysterical +through sheer weakness, and his grim determination not to give up so +long as he could put one foot before the other. + +"Thay, look at that giant bringing a wath boiler full of water at a +time!" exclaimed the delighted Ted, almost forgetting to lisp, so great +was his excitement. "When he geth thtarted, it'th good-by to the old +fire. Whoop! hear it thizzle, would you! Hit it again, mithter; it never +will be mithed! Now it'th your turn, Elmer. One, two, three, and thet +'em up again in the other alley! We win, boyth, we win!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +HOW THE SCOUTS WON OUT. + + +THE newcomers, whose coming the boys had noted with pleasure, certainly +showed signs of knowing how to fight a fire in the country. In the first +place, they had brought their tools of trade along with them, in the +shape of buckets. Doubtless they remembered that on former occasions the +fire had gained headway simply on account of a lack of receptacles for +water. + +Then they knew the brook, and that an abundance of water could be had +for the taking. Last of all every man was full of vim, judging from the +way they started in to whoop things up. + +Besides, their coming seemed to invigorate those already on the ground, +and who, by reason of long service, were nearly exhausted. + +"'Everybody's doin' it,' fellers!" gasped Landy, as he staggered forward +with his sixteenth bucket, and gave the contents a fling. + +"It'th a burning thame, what we're doing to that old fire, don't you +know?" laughed Ted, who followed close on the fat boy's heels. + +"Keep it going another round, boys," shouted Elmer; "and by that time, I +reckon, there won't be any more need of water. We've saved the house, +even if it is damaged a little with water and smoke and fire. That's the +ticket, Ty; you're making a record worth while to-day, old fellow! Once +more to the breach; then it's rest for yours." + +"All out!" cried Landy, in another minute, as he dropped his bucket and +sank in a limp heap on the ground, a sight that would have caused his +good mother to throw up her hands in horror. + +But Landy was proud of having had a chance to prove his right to the +name of a Hickory Ridge Boy Scout. He grinned, and looked particularly +happy; for he knew that when the history of the saving of the Brady home +was written, his name would surely have a place of honor among those who +participated in the good work. + +By this time there were fully forty people present. How the news got +abroad it would be hard to say. Some of the farmers in that neighborhood +had telephones, and in this way it may have been passed along the line; +but there were many other methods in which the fire could have made +itself manifest. + +New people kept arriving every few minutes; while a few went away again +to attend to the urgent business of getting in their late crops. + +The four scouts remained in a bunch, talking matters over, and trying to +recover a little from their tremendous exertions before returning to the +camp. + +"Thay, how d'ye thuppothe the old thing got thtarted?" Ted asked, with +the natural curiosity of a boy. + +"That's so," echoed Landy. "It must have been an accident don't you +think, Elmer?" for even in such a matter as this they seemed to turn to +the patrol leader for information. + +"I'm sure I can't say, fellows," replied Elmer. "At this time in the +morning the hands on a farm are out in the fields, and the women washing +up the breakfast things. Perhaps they've got a gasoline stove here, and +somebody was careless. It happens now and then." + +"But here comes Mr. Brady over this way; he may know what started the +old blaze," remarked Ty. + +"Looks kind of smiling," ventured Landy; "which I take it is some +singular for a gentleman whose house has pretty near gone up in smoke. +Tell you what, I know why he's heading this way, fellows." + +"Then thay it right out, Landy," remarked Ted, who had noted how the fat +boy looked toward Ty and grinned. + +"He's coming with a handful of thanks for our brave chum here, on +account of how he saved the little Brady girl's darling baby, Bennie," +said Landy. + +"Huh!" snorted Ty, "I did my best, anyhow, and that's all any fellow c'n +do. How was I to know it was only a silly little purp, and not a real +human being? Didn't she call it the baby? Laugh all you want, Landy; but +all I c'n say is that I reckon anyone of you fellers would have done +just as bad." + +"And that's as fine a compliment as you could pay us, Ty!" declared +Elmer, heartily. "As for me, I want to say right here and now that I'm +proud of the way you went into that burning house, thinking that a poor +little baby was in danger. In my mind it's just as if you had done what +you meant to; and I'm glad to own you as a chum. Never mind if some +fellows try to have a little fun out of it; they don't mean anything by +it. But here's Mr. Brady." + +The farmer was a heavy-set man in the prime of life. He, too, had worked +hard in the effort to save his house; but despite his anxiety and +fatigue, he approached the four scouts with kindling eyes and an +outstretched hand. + +"I want to shake hands with every one of you boys," he said, earnestly. +"Only for you coming when you did, and takin' hold with such a vim, I +guess the old Brady farmhouse would have gone up that time. I see you +all wear trousers and leggings that say you belong to the Hickory Ridge +Boy Scouts; and make sure that I don't mean to forget this. I want the +name of every one of you, and I'm going to make it a point to see your +folks, to tell them what reason they've got to be proud of having such +boys in the family." + +The way that horny hand of the farmer squeezed those of the boys told +that he meant every word he uttered. Landy winced under the pressure, +and came very near crying out for mercy; only he remembered that this +would not seem just right, when they were at the time being complimented +on their manly qualities. + +"We're only too glad that we happened to be coming over to your place at +just the right time, Mr. Brady," remarked Elmer. "If we'd been at our +camp, perhaps we might not have known of the fire until it was too late +to do much good." + +"Coming to see me, the four of you, were you?" said the other, looking a +trifle curious. "What could I do for you, boys? All you have to do is to +mention it: after your noble work this morning I guess it'd be hard for +me to refuse any favor." + +"But you see, sir," Landy exclaimed, "we didn't want to ask a favor. +Fact is, we wanted to do you one, perhaps." + +"I have been looking around, Mr. Brady," observed Elmer, "and I failed +to see your two new hands working to save the house--the short man and +his tall mate." + +Immediately the face of the farmer darkened, and they saw his hands +close with a movement that seemed to speak of anger. + +"No, you didn't, my lad, and for a very good reason," he said, +breathing hard. "They turned out to be a pair of rascals. My daughter +caught them in the act of robbing the house this very morning. I had +sent them out into a field back of the barns, and they knew that with my +son and the horses I expected to go to another part of the farm. So they +waited till the coast was clear, and then sneaked back to the house, +entering through a window when the women folks were busy in the kitchen +and dairy." + +"Oh!" gasped Landy, who had not dreamed that this could be the +explanation of the fire; "then they must have been caught in the act, +and did it for revenge?" + +"Just what they did," replied Mr. Brady, with his teeth gritting in +anger. "My oldest daughter just happened to go upstairs, and ran across +them turning things upside down in the search for valuables. She +screamed, and knowing that the rest of the women folks must have heard +the row, the scoundrels deliberately put matches to things, and then, +jumping from the windows, made off, laughing." + +"Did they steal much from you, Mr. Brady?" asked Ty. + +"That I don't know yet, because the fire took up all my attention as +soon as I got on the ground. And I don't bother much about what they +took, I'm that thankful about saving my house, and that nobody was +hurt," the farmer went on. + +"Not even little Bennie," murmured Landy; though Elmer gave him a +reproachful look. + +"Well, sir," the patrol leader went on, "it happens that we were just on +our way here to warn you about your new hands. One of our troop arrived +in camp last night, and told us a story about two tramps trying to wreck +the express train; and that the officers of several towns were looking +for them. When he described the fellows some of us thought the two new +hands might be the ones who were wanted." + +"Yes," Ty spoke up, "and if Elmer had had his way we'd have come to see +you last night; but the rest of the bunch, being lazy or tired, voted to +wait till morning. Elmer knew best; he nearly always does." + +"Well," the farmer went on, "it was nice of you to think of giving me +warning any time; and mighty lucky that you were on your way here when +the fire started. Only for that there would be a heap of ruins here, +instead of my old house, which has been in the family many generations." + +"You say the two men ran away, Mr. Brady?" remarked Elmer, who felt more +or less curiosity concerning their movements. + +"So the women folks say," came the reply. "Connie, my girl, the one who +came on them while they were turning things upside down, looking under +the mattresses of the beds for money, and even under the edges of the +carpets. She says they ran toward the barns. But I had the horses with +me, so they didn't find a mount." + +"Thay, perhapth they're hiding right now over there in the haymow, or +thomewhere!" suggested Ted. + +"Oh, my goodness! That would be too good a thing, wouldn't it?" cried +Landy, scrambling to his feet, part of his weariness seeming to leave +him at the prospect of new excitement. + +"I never thought of that, now," said the farmer. "The rascals might have +made up their minds that, after all the excitement was over, another +chance would crop up to do some clever robbery. Perhaps I'd be wise to +get some of the men together, and take a look through the barns." + +"Wait a minute, Mr. Brady," said Elmer. "Because, unless I miss my +guess, yonder comes a car that holds some men in uniforms, and they may +turn out to be officers from Hickory Ridge, Fairfield, or some other +place, looking for information about these very two men." + +"Bully! Wouldn't that just be the best thing ever, to think of their +happening here when we need them so much," remarked Landy, staring at +the coming ear. + +"They must have been passing by when they met some of the neighbors +going home, and learned of the fire," ventured Mr. Brady, who made a +motion with his arm to attract the attention of the big, pompous-looking +officer who was getting out of the automobile. + +"I know who he is," remarked Ty. "That's the head of the police over at +Fairfield. His name is Benchley. I've talked with him more'n once. Why, +he used to run some sort of auction shop before they made him the chief +over there. And here he comes to interview us. My! Just get on to his +strut, will you, fellows?" + +"Everybody look out how you talk when he's around!" exclaimed Landy. "He +looks as if he'd like to pinch everybody around, and slap 'em into the +cooler, just to beep his hand in." + +But Mr. Brady had stepped out to meet the man in uniform. + +"What's been going on here, mister?" asked the officer, with a heavy +frown in the direction of the four boys; as though he might be so +accustomed to having his share of trouble with the untamed youths of +Fairfield and Cramertown, that he naturally came to the conclusion, when +anything went wrong, in most cases, it could be traced back to the +depravity of the rising generation. + +Evidently Mr. Benchley was always at war with the boys of his town, +which was one of the greatest mistakes the head of the police force +could make. In Hickory Ridge they managed things better, for the chief +there had long since won the respect of most of the lads, who knew they +had a good friend in the head of the force. + +"Been having a fire; but we were fortunate enough to get it under +control before much damage had been done," replied Mr. Brady. + +"Did these chaps have anything to do with it?" demanded the pompous man +in uniform, again frowning at Elmer and his chums. + +"Sure they did, a whole lot," replied the farmer. + +"Then you want them taken in, I reckon," interrupted the officer, +bracing himself, as though he might be ready to sweep the four scouts +into his car without further ceremony. + +"Taken in?" repeated Mr. Brady. "Well, I should say not. When I agreed +with you that these lads had had considerable to do with the fire I +meant that only for the grand work they did, my house would have burned +to the ground!" + +"Then they didn't set the blaze going?" growled the big man. "Who did, +then?" + +"Two men I engaged yesterday as farm hands; and from what I hear I +believe they are the very scoundrels you are looking for this minute," +the farmer replied. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SEARCHING THE HAY BARN. + + +"SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the +farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears. + +"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday +must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. +Brady. + +"Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a +bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place. + +"One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong. +When I saw what he could lift I thought I'd run across a good hand, +though I own that I didn't just like his face; but at this time of year +farmers can't be choosers, 'cause help is mighty scarce." + +"Did he have a scar on his right cheek?" asked the pompous chief of +police, as he kept his eyes on his notebook. + +"That's just what he did have; told me he had been caught once by a +reaper, and just escaped with his life!" answered Mr. Brady promptly. + +"So. And did you happen to notice his left hand, was the upper joint of +his little finger missing?" the officer continued, in a sing-song tone. + +"It certainly was," replied the farmer, nodding; "he explained that in +the same way; and I agreed with him that he was lucky to lose only so +small a piece, when he had the mower catch him, as the horses ran +away." + +"Settled then; that was Shorty McCabe beyond all doubt," remarked the +official. "Now how about his companion? Was he tall?" + +"Half again as big a man as the other," replied Mr. Brady. + +"Squint with one of his eyes; and talk as if he had his mouth filled +with hot mush?" continued Chief Benchley. + +"You have described him to a dot," answered the other, quickly. + +"Then I have the honor to inform you, sir, that the men who were lately +in your employ are the identical criminals we happen to be looking for +at this very minute." + +"I guessed as much," dryly remarked Mr. Brady; who, it seemed to Elmer, +had sized the important official at his true value, which, as Landy +afterwards declared, was very much along the line of a "bag of wind." + +"Please produce them, and we will see to it that they give you no +further worry," remarked the officer. + +"I only wish I could, sir; but the fact is, that after being caught +robbing the house by one of my family, while my grown son and myself +were in the fields, they set fire to things, and then ran off," the +farmer replied. + +"That is bad," remarked the policeman, sadly. "I had thought you might +have tied the rascals up, and that we could relieve you of their care. +Can you tell me in what direction they fled, sir?" + +"Toward the barns, my daughter says," Mr. Brady replied. + +"Evidently with the design of securing horses, and continuing their +flight," said the big man in blue, as though these things were only for +the practical mind of a man of long experience. + +"Hardly that, sir," the farmer observed. + +"How do you know?" asked Chief Benchley, frowning at the idea of a mere +countryman venturing to differ with him. + +"Because they knew in the first place that I only have two horses just +now, and both of them were being used by my son and myself out in +another field, some distance away from the house. But one of these +wide-awake lads has suggested that perhaps they meant to conceal +themselves in the haymow, or about the barns somewhere, in the hope that +after all the excitement blew over, another chance might open up to +search my house for the money they need to make a get-away." + +The big man in blue wagged his head as he considered this piece of +information. + +"Well, now, that might be worth looking into; it isn't such a bad idea +for a boy to think up. Perhaps we'd better take a look through the barn, +and make sure. Whether we find them there or not, make up your mind the +game's nearly up for the rascals. When they get Benchley hot on the +trail, they're going to cash in and start for the pen in short order. +Lead the way to the barn, then, mister. What did you say your name was?" + +"I didn't mention it, but I'm Silas Brady. I was just going to get some +of the neighbors, and make the search myself when you hove in sight, Mr. +Benchley. But of course I'd be only too glad to have you take entire +charge, for your long experience in such things will be of great +advantage to us," and catching the eye of Elmer just then, Mr. Brady +gave him a sly wink. + +But the pompous man in blue did not see this. He swelled out a little +more, until Landy privately informed Ty that he made him think of a +proud pouter pigeon he had at home, which threatened to burst every +time it strutted around, with its lungs filled with air. + +As they started off toward the barn the officer made a sweeping motion +with his arm that was apparently understood by the three who had come +with him in the car, for they immediately headed as if to join him. + +The farmer also spoke to quite a number of husky fellows whom he knew as +neighbors; so that there was a general exodus from the vicinity of the +house toward the out-buildings of the place. + +As the word was passed from mouth to mouth the brawny farmers began to +show some signs of excitement. One of them picked up a stout cudgel, +which he gripped in a way to indicate that he anticipated using the same +in case of necessity; seeing which the others started to also arm +themselves. + +It was quite a formidable force that began to surround the barn and +cowsheds. + +"Wow!" exclaimed Landy, who had also snatched up a wagon spoke upon +which his eye had alighted, and seemed eager for the fray; "countin' the +four Fairfield cops, we're just sixteen good and true men. My eye! won't +Shorty and Lanky Jim throw up their hands when they see what they're up +against!" + +"If they get just one look at that Benchley," said Ty in a low tone, +"they'll nearly drop dead. Say, just see him strut around, would you? He +couldn't put on more frills if he was a major-general, directing the +Battle of Gettysburg. This is as good as a circus, fellows, and I +wouldn't have missed it for a heap." + +"Thame here," chuckled Ted. "And I wath jutht wondering how he'd act if +that hard faced little fighter, Thorty, would pop out of a hole and jump +him. Thix to one you'd hear that big gath-bag holler for help like a +calf. I know hith breed, boyth." + +Elmer did not make any remark; but if that little smile on his face +stood for anything it meant that the others voiced his sentiments pretty +clearly. + +The surrounding of the out-buildings was now complete. Chief Benchley +made the round, stationing every man afresh as though he did not want to +lose the slightest bit of credit for managing the affair. He was in his +glory, and looked as though the chance of a lifetime were now within his +grasp. + +He had reserved several men to assist him in making the search. Among +these, two of his officers and the farmer himself were to be seen. And +as the official had scorned to place boys on guard, because of the poor +opinion he had of them in general, Elmer and his chums were enabled to +trail into the barn after the searching party, an opportunity they did +not neglect to avail themselves of. + +Twice did the pompous official turn a questioning eye toward them, as +though he might be inclined to order them out; but on second thought he +changed his mind, and said nothing. As the scouts would have declined to +pay any attention to his orders, perhaps after all the Fairfield head of +police was wise not to attempt anything of the kind. + +The Brady barns were unusually large, even for a big farm. As quite a +quantity of hay was stored here, waiting until the market price rose in +the winter, extensive space was needed; though there were also three or +four immense haystacks in the rear of the buildings, as well as one of +straw, left when the threshing machine had passed through, and the oat +crop had been attended to during the summer. + +"If anybody comes across any sign of the culprits, call out, and the +rest of us will hurry to the spot. Just shout out the words, 'Here they +are,' and we will understand," the officer had said, as the party +entered the big barn. + +Then began a scene of bustle, as men went this way and that, poking +about for signs of those who were supposed to be in hiding. + +Of course all this could not be done without causing more or less +racket; and if the two tramps were close by they must have discovered +what was taking place early in the hunt. + +Elmer kept his three scout chums with him. + +"We'll hunt in a bunch, fellows," he had declared. "The Chief doesn't +want us around him, so we'll look in other places. Perhaps we can get +trace of the ones we're looking for." + +"I just bet on you to figure it out, Elmer," remarked the confident +Landy. + +"Shucks; Elmer could give that big bluffer all the handicap going, and +then beat him out. He don't know beans, that's what," snorted Ty, +looking scornfully over to where the important party in uniform was +walking about, giving orders in a loud and consequential tone. + +"Tell uth what to do, Elmer," said Ted; "and we'll poke into every rat +hole in th' old plathe." + +"One thing's sure," the patrol leader went on, as he looked thoughtfully +about him, "if they made up their minds to hide here, then they must +have tunneled under the hay, because that is the best of places for +staying concealed." + +"I second that motion," declared Ty, nodding his head. + +"And so we must keep on the watch for any signs of a hole under the +hay," Elmer continued, as he ran his eye along the base of the mow close +by. + +"Huh! looks to me like hunting for a needle in a haystack!" declared Ty, +after they had been industriously at work for several minutes, without +any success. + +"Only one needle this time; the other's a blunt-headed pin," chuckled +Landy. + +Ted began to sniff the air. + +"Thought I thmelled thmoke," he announced as Elmer looked at him +suspiciously. + +"Well, considering what has happened here lately," remarked Ty, "seems +to me that wouldn't be so very queer. I'm just soaked with it, and +expect to smell smoke for a month of Sundays." + +"But I thmell new thmoke!" Ted continued, positively. + +"He's right, fellows; and I'm of the same opinion," Elmer went on to +say. + +Landy gave a short whistle. + +"Smoke, did you say, Elmer?" he exclaimed. "My stars, boys! what if the +hoboes have set fire now to the old barn? Say, what a blaze she would +make, with all this hay stored here. Me to let them pigs out of the sty +if it happens. It would be a shame to have roast pork when they're only +part grown." + +"Do you really mean it, Elmer?" asked Ty, apparently appalled by the +thought of the terrible consequences that must follow, should the pair +of desperate rascals go to extremes. + +"It seems to be getting stronger all the while," observed the patrol +leader, "and look at Mr. Brady; he is sniffing the air right now, as if +he didn't like it any too well. I reckon he's got the same idea I have; +which is that the men are in hiding here, and being afraid that they +will be found have started a fire to cover their escape. See, Mr. Brady +is telling the Fairfield policemen his suspicions now, and you can see +that he's given him a start too." + +"What a shame it will be if the barn goes, with all this hay," said +Landy. + +"Oh, Mr. Brady's got it all insured, I reckon," ventured Ty. "Farmers +are smart enough these days to look out for that. But it'll make a high +old blaze if it gets started, I tell you, fellows." + +"But won't the thilly foolth be thetting the match to their own funeral +pyre?" demanded Ted. + +"Not by a jugful," chuckled Landy. "Ten to one they fixed all that +before; and even made their old tunnel under the hay. But that smoke is +sure getting heavier all the time, boys; and look there, ain't that the +fire yonder? It is, as sure as you live! Good-by to the old barn, and +this fine crop of hay. Say, look at it jump, will you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE CAPTURE OF THE TRAMPS. + + +ELMER saw at a glance that what his comrade had declared was really +true. And a loud shout from one of the searching men announced that he +too had discovered the fire. + +Tremendous excitement seized upon the whole party, for they could +readily surmise that this new conflagration was not the result of a +smoldering spark, but that it had a meaning all its own. The two +desperate hoboes must have started the second blaze with the same idea +in view that had urged them to put the match to the farmhouse--to divert +attention while they slipped away. + +That was what Elmer thought. And when most of the men rushed toward the +place where the fire was already burning fiercely amidst the hay, he +thought it good policy to turn his attention to another quarter. + +It had flashed across his mind just then that as they passed around the +barn he had noticed a board off, with the hay sticking out of the hole. +And now it came to him what a splendid way of escape that same hole +would prove, did a tunnel under the hay lead to it. + +The watchers outside had been summoned by the loud cries of those +within, and as they came rushing through the wide open doors with the +intention of trying to put down the spreading fire, Elmer saw that the +very condition which those hunted hoboes must have wanted had been +brought about. + +Outside, the way to escape was clear, so far as brawny men went. If +Lanky Jim and Shorty could only wriggle along under the hay until they +arrived at that place where the board was missing, they had an open +field before them, and flight meant a chance to reach the shelter of the +woods beyond the fields. + +"Come with me, and be quick about it, fellows," said Elmer, in his most +thrilling tone; at which Landy's big eyes opened wider than customary, +ditto his mouth. + +The other three trailed along at his heels, wondering what he could have +in his mind. When all the men were gathering in the barn, with the idea +of trying to fight the fire, it seemed strange that Elmer should lead +them outside, and away from the excitement. + +But then by this time those fellows understood that the patrol leader +never did anything without having some good and substantial reason for +it. And they were, as a rule, ready to follow blindly wherever he chose +to lead, leaving the asking of questions until a better chance opened +up. + +Had Doubting George been present, possibly he might have tried to quiz +Elmer ere he yielded full obedience; but then even George must learn +that one of the first duties of a true scout is to exhibit implicit +subjection to authority. + +In this fashion then did Elmer lead his three chums around the outside +of the big barn. They could hear the shouts of those who were fighting +the flames within; but Elmer knew only too well that the chances of the +new fire being subdued were small indeed. Hay burns with frightful +rapidity; and no buckets were handy at the moment. + +Turning, as he drew near the place where the board had been torn from +the back of the barn, he made a motion with his finger that seemed to +call for silence. The other fellows almost held their breath with +suspense, still in doubt as to what Elmer meant to do; although they +began to suspect that he must have conceived an idea looking to the +confusion of the incendiaries. + +When he pointed straight at the place where some of the new hay was +sticking out, Landy's blackened face lighted up with intelligence. + +"He means they're expecting to crawl out right here," he whispered in +the ear of Ty, who was close beside him. + +The other made a suggestive movement with the club he had picked up, and +by which action he meant that it would please him very much if only he +had the opportunity to bring it down upon the head of Shorty, or his +long-legged mate. + +Then they all turned their eyes again on Elmer, expecting him to tell +just what he wanted them to do. They saw the patrol leader pick up a +piece of rope that happened to be lying handy, and fashion a slip-noose +with it. During his life up in that big country of the Canadian +Northwest, Elmer had seen many things which he would never be apt to +forget as long as he lived. And, among others, he had once watched the +mounted police capture a half-breed fugitive from justice, fastening his +hands together behind his back in a clever way, which possibly he might +now have a chance to imitate. + +"Here, take this, Ty," he said, in a low tone, as he handed the noosed +rope over to the one nearest to him. "When I whip the fellow's arms +behind his back, make sure that you get that loop around them, and pull +tight! Understand?" + +Ty nodded his head vigorously, not daring to trust himself to speech. +Things were happening so fast and furious that really he hardly knew +whether he might be awake, or else asleep and dreaming them. + +Of course both Landy and Ted had also caught the significance of the +movement, and were ready to do whatever they were told. Elmer made +motions to give them to understand that he wanted them to range up on +the other side of the hole in the side of the barn, and await +developments, while he and Ty crouched as close to the boards across the +way as possible. + +Landy was heard to chuckle while this was going on. Perhaps something +about the situation reminded the fat boy of other occasions, when he and +some of his mates had endeavored to clutch some rabbit as it came +darting out of its burrow, after a ferret had alarmed it, or a little +dog been let loose in the tunnel. But just now the game was of an +entirely different order, and Elmer frowned at Landy's merriment. + +Inside the barn the noise was redoubled. Evidently the fire-fighters +were having their hands full, with the rapid spread of the blaze. If in +the end they managed to control the conflagration, Elmer felt that he +would be surprised. According to his mind there was not one chance in +ten of such good luck coming to Mr. Brady. He had saved his house, but +his barn would very likely have to go. + +Elmer had his eyes glued on the projecting wisps of hay now. He fancied +that he had detected some little movement to them, though this might be +caused by a passing breeze; or some action on the part of the energetic +fire-fighters within. + +No, as he looked, he distinctly saw the hay move! Then there must be a +reason for this. Elmer instantly placed his hand upon the hay, and the +sense of feeling telegraphed the truth to his brain. Some object was +making a way through the mow, and evidently pushing along a tunnel that +had been previously prepared! + +He turned and put his finger to his lips, seeing which every one of the +wide-awake scouts understood what was meant. + +Imagine the strain on their nerves while they waited for the appearance +of the first tramp. Would he come along head-first, or might they expect +to see a pair of feet thrust out of the opening? + +More violently did the hay move. Whatever made the stir, it was +certainly drawing closer and closer to the spot. All eyes were glued on +the agitated dried grass, and Ty got his loop in readiness for quick +work. + +Then something was seen pushing out through the hay, which gave way +before the energetic attack. Two extra large feet, encased in brogans +that looked as though they might have covered many weary miles in their +day, came into view; proving that the man must be making a crab-like +retreat, keeping his face toward the fire. + +Perhaps fortune favored the boys, for had the man projected his head +first he might have detected their presence in time to duck in again; +though for that matter, with the fire burning briskly beyond, he would +find himself between two evils, and must sooner or later issue forth, or +be cremated in the hay barn. + +Waiting until the main part of the long-legged tramp had wriggled into +view, Elmer made a sudden gesture. The others had been waiting for this, +and instantly pounced upon the figure that lay upon the ground. + +While Ted and Landy deposited their combined weight on the fellow's +back, Elmer on his part hastened to snatch hold of his arms, and whip +them behind him almost before the tramp understood what was happening. + +Ty was waiting, and the way he slipped that loop over both hands, and +tightened it, was worth seeing. + +Having made all secure so far as things had gone, the patrol leader now +seized hold of the kicking legs, and began to pull. As the others came +to his assistance they were hardly two seconds in dragging the tramp out +of the hay mow; and thus far at least not the slightest sound had been +made calculated to betray the facts to the other rascal. + +It was not Elmer's intention to let the fellow see, just yet, at least, +that he owed his capture to a parcel of scouts. He might burst out into +a tirade, which, while it could do him no particular good, might serve +to warn the other fellow, and cause him to change his plans. + +Accordingly he motioned to Landy to sit down on him again; and then +bending low himself he pressed the end of his pocketknife against the +man's neck as he grunted into his ear: + +"Keep still, now, unless you want me to press the trigger!" + +Satisfied that Landy and Ted could manage the tied tramp, even if he +started to kick up a row, which was hardly likely, Elmer once more +turned his attention to that opening under the mow. Once again the +projecting hay was being violently agitated, and he believed the shorter +man must be following close upon his mate. + +The programme would have to be repeated, and Elmer only hoped as good +success might attend his second effort as had his first. + +It would be a big feather in the caps of the scouts could they say that +they had effected the capture of the two would-be train wreckers, alone +and unaided. But at the moment he was not thinking of such a thing as +glory; when it was a stern duty that had been suddenly thrust upon them, +and which they must not attempt to evade under any circumstances, if +they wished to be true to the principles of the organization to which +they belonged. + +Shorty, however, must have managed to change his position in some +manner, if so be he had started along the tunnel in the same crab-like +method of procedure which his comrade had employed. For the first thing +they knew a frowsy head had been thrust out of the hay, and a pair of +eyes were blinking up at them. + +Elmer was afraid lest the fellow draw back upon seeing what awaited him, +just as a tortoise will pull in its head at signs of danger. +Accordingly, he was determined not to allow such a thing to happen. +True, with the advancing fire Shorty would speedily have to decide which +fate he must choose; but that might mean he would yield himself a +prisoner to the Fairfield police; and Elmer wanted the Boy Scouts to get +all the credit possible. + +On this account, then, he pounced on the man, and gripped him by the +shoulders. Elmer was himself far from a weakling, and the man happened +to be taken very much by surprise; so that before he could collect his +wits sufficiently to make any show of defense, he found himself out on +the ground, with a couple of energetic young fellows hovering over him. + +Ty, not having a second rope handy, had snatched up his club again. When +he saw that the shorter rascal was starting to make a move, as though +intending to get to his feet, when trouble must have followed, Ty waved +the wagon spoke threateningly over his head, as he yelled excitedly: + +"Lie down, you, 'less you want me to let her fall! Stretch out and roll +over on your face, d'ye hear? Quick, now, keep amovin'! 'Everybody's +doin' it,' you know. Now, Elmer, if you only had another piece of +string handy, there's a good chance to snug him up good and tight." + +Elmer did not have the cord or the rope; but all the same he was equal +to the demands of the occasion. He snatched his big red bandana +handkerchief from around his neck. He had seen such useful articles +serve strange purposes before; and why should this one not take the +place of a rope? + +So he whipped it quickly around the thick wrists of the man, almost +before the fellow could get it through his head what had happened. + +"Now, let's pull them farther away from here, because the barn's going +to be a hot place pretty soon," Elmer remarked. + +Seizing hold, two to each prisoner, the boys succeeded in dragging them +some little distance off. Meanwhile some one had noticed what they were +doing, and presently the Fairfield Police head came running out of the +barn, rubbing his smarting eyes, and, coming upon the little party, +stopped to stare in astonishment. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +GOOD-BY TO THE SWEETWATER. + + +"WHAT are you doing to those fellows, boys?" demanded the champion of +law and order; from which remark it was plain to be seen that the smoke +had affected the eyes of the police officer to such an extent that he +had failed to recognize the culprits, and possibly believed the boys +were only carrying on high among themselves, as boys over in his town +frequently did, to the unhappiness of the constables. + +"We just took a notion to prevent them from escaping, sir," remarked +Elmer. "And if you think you can hold them, we're willing to turn them +over into your charge, in the presence of Mr. Brady here and the +others." + +A group began to cluster around them, most of the men rubbing their +smarting eyes. Already did they realize the uselessness of trying to put +up a fight against the flames that were spreading resistlessly amid the +hay. + +"Well, I declare if it ain't the two hands that worked for me, and then +tried to rob my house, setting it on fire as they ran away!" declared +Mr. Brady, as he got a good look at the prostrate men. + +"Do you mean to say these are the fugitives I have been chasing, the +desperate yeggmen named Shorty McCabe and Lanky Jim Smith?" cried the +police head. + +"That's just who they are, sir," replied Elmer. + +"But where did you find them?" demanded the other, hardly willing to +believe the plain evidence of his eyes and ears. + +"As soon as I knew they had set fire to the hay I guessed it was only +meant to draw attention to that quarter while they slipped away. I've +seen that game played more than once out West, sir," Elmer remarked, +modestly. + +"And it was a fact, was it; they did try to steal off?" questioned the +other. + +"We found a place where there was a board off the barn, and Elmer, he +expected that was the way they'd come out," said Ty, breaking in; for he +just wanted this consequential personage to understand that he did not +know so very much after all, in spite of his splendid uniform and that +wonderful strut. + +"Which same they did, all right," spoke up Landy, "and then, you see, we +just sat on 'em. Reckon the long feller must 'a' thought a mountain had +caved in when I dropped on his back." + +"Will you take charge of the prisoners, Mr. Benchley?" asked Elmer. + +"That's what we're here for, young fellow; though, as a rule we don't +much fancy boys interfering with the pursuit of justice," answered the +other, who did not look any too happy over the way things had turned +out. + +Elmer, on his part, was fully satisfied Mr. Brady and a number of the +others had crowded around, astonished at the turn matters had taken, and +staring at the two prisoners. They would be in a position to prove, +should it be necessary at any time in the future, that the scouts had +indeed effected the capture of the hunted train wreckers, without any +assistance from the police. + +And as for Shorty and Lanky Jim, it would not be polite to tell what +they thought and said when they discovered that their captors were +merely four half-grown boys. Perhaps on first seeing the khaki trousers +and leggings of the scouts they may have labored under the impression +that the militia had been called out to ran them down; and this would +account for the meekness shown all along. + +The barn was now in the grasp of the fire. They could see the billows of +flame leaping upward; and a dense black smoke began to rise. + +"This is tough luck, Mr. Brady," said Landy, after the officers had +fastened some shining steel ornaments to the wrists of their prisoners, +and led them over to the waiting car. "After saving your house by a +close shave, it's hard to have your barn and hay go up in smoke." + +But the farmer did not seem to be very deeply concerned. + +"Barn's insured; and it's an old one at that," he remarked, with a half +smile; "and as luck would have it, I sold all the hay in there just last +week, for cash! The man who bought it took out insurance, I believe. But +you boys have certainly covered yourselves with a lot of glory this +morning. First, saving my house, and then capturing those tough +characters. I consider that I'm getting off mighty cheap. Hope some of +you fellows will take a notion to camp up this way more times than a +few. It pays to have Boy Scouts around. That's been my experience, +anyhow." + +"Well, how about milk, Mr. Brady?" asked Elmer. + +"We brought that tin bucket along, but it's mixed up with all the rest +now. Suppose we could get one of your women folks to go to the milk +house with all this excitement on?" + +"Why, any one of 'em would be only too proud to do such a little thing +for the brave boys who worked so hard to save a roof over their heads. +And don't think, young fellow," the farmer added, turning on the +confused Ty, suddenly, "that we don't appreciate what you did, just +because it turned out to be a pup instead of a baby. That was as bold a +thing as ever I saw done. If I had any boys about your age, I'd make +sure that they joined the scout movement before they were a week older. +Seems like it cultivates the best there is in a lad." + +All of the boys glowed with pleasure at hearing these hearty words. + +"Thank you, Mr. Brady," said Elmer. "It sure is a satisfaction to know +that you look at things that way. And we feel repaid for all we've done, +don't we, boys?" + +"It's only been a pleasure to play coon for you, Mr. Brady," grinned +Landy. + +"And I'm glad it was only a dog instead of a real baby," declared Ty, +stoutly; "'cause, you see, something might have happened to hitch my +plans, and think what a terrible thing would have happened then." + +"Come with me, boys, and I'll see that you get milk; yes, cream if you'd +prefer it. It's lucky that those haystacks happen to be as far off as +they are, and the wind is blowing away from them; because, you see, I +kept that part of the crop. Intended making a lot of repairs to the barn +after it was empty. Now I'll take the insurance money, add some more to +it, and build me a better place three times over." + +"There go Shorty and Jim," announced Landy, as the car started off for +the near-by public road. + +"And they look at us as if they could eat us alive," commented Ty. + +"I gueth thome of uth would rather thtick in their throath," remarked +Ted, gloomily. + +"What ails you, Ted?" asked Elmer, as they trailed along after Mr. +Brady. "You don't look like you were altogether happy." + +"I know," announced Landy, a little maliciously. "He just wanted to get +a chance to cut off a few arms and legs, and such things as go with a +battle. I could see it in his eyes when it looked like we were going to +have a real rumpus with them train wreckers. And it all turned out so +easy, Ted is disgusted. Ain't it so, Ted?" + +The budding surgeon of the troop shrugged his shoulders and grunted the +one word: "Rotten!" + +And those boys, who knew Ted so well, could understand something of the +wild ambition that must have fired his soul when he figured that one or +more persons must surely be seriously hurt, when the police came in +contact with the two house burners. But it had passed off, and now the +car containing prisoners and captors had gone, without even one little +blow having been struck on either side. + +"What's the sense of knowing how to bind up wounds, and do all that sort +of stunts, when nothing ever happens; that's what Ted is saying to +himself," Landy remarked, chuckling as he spoke, for he did dearly love +to poke fun at others. + +"If you keep on," said Ted, with a dark look, "there'll be a subject +forthcoming in double-quick order. But somebody'll have to sweep you up +with a broom first before I can do anything with you." + +So Landy subsided, even though of course he knew that Ted was only +"talking through his hat," as he expressed it, and for effect. + +Having procured the needed milk, the four boys returned to camp. Loud +were the lamentations of George and Adam when they learned what a great +event they had missed by not accompanying the others to the Brady home. +At first George, true to his nature, declined to believe a word of it; +but when he and Adam, urged on by curiosity to forget whatever cause +they had had for remaining in camp, hurried over to the scene of +excitement, they heard the story from numerous lips; so that the last +doubt was laid. + +The balance of the day was spent in resting up, for all of them were +sore from their unusual exertions, however much they might try to hide +the fact. Of course a plunge in the river had soon removed all the smoke +stains, and refreshed them at the same time. + +"It's lucky we had on our oldest trousers and leggings," remarked Elmer, +when they came to examine into the condition of things. "What with water +slopping over the pails, and the smoke and cinders, these are a sight +right now. But it'll wash out, fellows, and that's something our record +made this day will never do." + +"Only one thing I'm sorry about," remarked Landy. + +"What'th that! Anything to do with the way Ty here thailed into that +burning crib, and thnatched out the poor little innothent lamb, Bennie?" +asked Ted. + +"No. What I meant was that I forgot to take Lil Artha's camera along +when we started for the farmhouse, because I never thought we'd have +anything happen to us worth remembering. Just think, boys, if I had +snapped off half a dozen views of that business, wouldn't they deserve a +frame in our meeting room?" + +"Just what they would," affirmed Landy. "I'd give anything if I had one +to show my folks what a hero their son and heir had grown to be. But +then," he added, sighing, "they wouldn't have known me with all that +black on my face." + +"Come off!" cried George. "Anybody'd know you by your elegant figure; I +could tell you a mile away, with one eye shut." + +"Oh, thank you, George!" said Landy effusively, just as though he really +believed his cousin meant it. "I always knew you were a good chap, and +could appreciate true merit, no matter where found. It's worth something +to hear such splendid words of praise from one of your own family. I'll +treasure them for a long while, sure." + +"Don't believe a word of it," remarked George, true to his colors, and a +doubter from the word "go." + +Nothing more out of the way happened to the scouts while they were in +that snug camp on the Sweetwater. We saw them first on that same stream, +and it seems only right that we should take our last glimpse of some of +our friends while they are still in camp. + +When on the morrow they would start to wend their way homeward, it would +doubtless be with many regrets, for they had certainly had a great time +of it, all told. As school duties began, the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy +Scouts would not find so many opportunities for outings; but the ties +that had bound them together all summer still held good; and no matter +what the sport that engaged their attention, these lads who had signed +the roster under Roderic Garrabrant's guidance were bound to be drawn +together with the strong affection of those who have the same goal in +sight, and look upon one another as "comrades tried and true." + +We shall hope to again meet with Elmer and his chums ere long, and in +new fields follow the fortunes of those good fellows who formed the +several patrols of the Hickory Ridge troop. + + + THE END. + + + + +ADDENDA + +BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE + + + + +BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES. + + + Wild Animals of the United States } in Number I. + Tracking } + +THE CAMPFIRES OF THE WOLF PATROL. + + +Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II. + +WOODCRAFT, OR HOW A PATROL LEADER MADE GOOD. + + +Reptiles of the United States in Number III. + +PATHFINDER, OR THE MISSING TENDERFOOT. + + +Fishes of the United States in Number IV. + +FAST NINE, OR A CHALLENGE FROM FAIRFIELD. + + +Insects of the United States in Number V. + +GREAT HIKE, OR THE PRIDE OF THE KHAKI TROOP. + + +Birds of the United States in Number VI. + +ENDURANCE TEST, OR HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY. + + + + +THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES + + +THE birds constitute a large group of the animal kingdom. Their chief +distinguishing feature is their covering of feathers. Another +characteristic is the production of their young enclosed in eggs. + + +THE VULTURES. + +[Illustration: TURKEY BUZZARD.] + +The name "vulture" is applied to a family of birds of prey. The bill of +the vulture is large and very strong; the head and neck are almost +naked, being very lightly sprinkled with down. It is a carrion-devouring +bird and does not attack living animals. It displays marvelous quickness +in discovering a dead body. Vultures are generally protected in the +countries where they are found because of their value in clearing away +the putrid animal matter which would otherwise be injurious as well as +disagreeable. The American vultures sometimes reach a large size and are +very powerful in flight. + +The Turkey Buzzard and Carrion Crow, both of which are vultures, are +common in the temperate parts of America. The Carrion Crow is found as +far North as Carolina. The Turkey Buzzard is not a true buzzard and is +wrongly so called. + + +THE EAGLE. + +Eagles are large and powerful birds. The flight of this magnificent bird +is very beautiful and imposing, but its gait when on land is rather +awkward. Its food is usually smaller birds and quadrupeds such as hares, +rabbits, etc., but it does not hesitate to carry off young lambs or +sometimes to destroy sickly sheep. It generally hunts in pairs, one +eagle watching at some height while the other courses along the +ground and scares the game from the bushes. It lays two eggs of a +yellowish-white color with brownish spots on a nest composed of a great +mass of sticks, brush and grass. The young are fledged about the end of +July. While the young are in the nest it is very dangerous to approach +it as the eagles are then extremely fierce and daring. Some instances +have been related of children that have been carried off by an eagle, +but these stories are very doubtful. Eagles have certainly been known to +pounce upon children and carry them a little way, but there are no true +accounts of children having been actually taken to the eagles' nest, +although there are many stories founded on such a supposition. The beak +of the eagle is curved from the face, having a sharp point. Its wings +are long and large. They catch and kill their own prey, but unlike the +vultures will not eat carrion. The eagle which is found in North America +is usually the golden eagle, and inhabits the Western States. The +Indians called it "the War Eagle." Its feathers are dark brown. + +[Illustration: AMERICAN BALD EAGLE.] + + +THE BUZZARDS. + +The family of Buzzards are distinguished by their short beaks, large +rounded wings and squared tails. They live on small animals, reptiles +and various insects. + +[Illustration: COMMON BUZZARD.] + +The Common Buzzard, when searching for food, rests upon some high +branch, keeping a keen watch on the ground, and waiting patiently until +some small animal makes its appearance or some bit of carrion is +scented. Its length is from twenty to twenty-two inches. In flight it is +rather slow and heavy. The bird popularly known as a Hen Hawk is a +buzzard. + + +THE FALCONS. + +The falcons are also birds of prey. Hawks are members of this family. +The Peregrine Falcon is an inhabitant of most parts of Europe, Asia, +South America and North America. It builds its nest on cliffs and lays +from two to four eggs which are spotted with dark red. It preys on other +birds; its strength and swiftness are very great, enabling it to strike +down its prey with great ease; indeed, it has been known to disable five +partridges in succession. It changes the color of its plumage several +times before it arrives at full maturity. Its length is from fifteen to +eighteen inches. + +The Sparrow Hawk feeds on mice, ground squirrels, insects, small birds. +It displays great pertinacity in pursuit of its prey which it will chase +for a long while, skimming along a few feet above the ground. When taken +young it is easily tamed and will then associate with the most +incongruous companions. Its length is from twelve to fifteen feet. It +builds upon lofty trees. + + +THE OWLS. + +The owls are nocturnal birds, pursuing their prey by night and sleeping +by day. They have a large round head with enormous eyes looking forward. +Many species possess two feathery tufts placed on the head greatly +resembling horns. In order to enable them to see their prey their eyes +are enormously large, capable of taking in every ray of light. To +protect them from the cold they are furnished with a dense covering of +downy feathers which also prevents the movements of the wing from being +heard. The beak is short and horny, but very strong. They prey on small +animals, fish, insects, reptiles. The cry of the owl is very peculiar +and weird. This, coupled with their strange appearance, has made them +objects of superstition. The ancients adopted them as symbols of wisdom. +The owls of North America that are the best known are the Horned Owl, +the Grayish-barred Owl and the Mottled Owl. + +[Illustration: AN OWL.] + +The Snowy Owl also is found in North America; it is a good fisher, +snatching its prey from the water by a sudden grasp of the foot; it also +preys on small animals, chasing and striking at them with its foot. It +makes its nest on the ground and lays three or four white eggs. Its +length is from twenty-two to twenty-seven inches. It extends its wings +four feet. There are some species of owl found in America that burrow, +living in the same hole with prairie dogs, making their nest in the +mouth of the prairie dog's burrow. + +Cousins to the owls are the Nightjars, for example, the night hawk and +whip-poor-will. They feed on moths and insects which they catch as they +fly. Their eggs are laid on the ground without a nest. + + +THE SWALLOWS. + +Swallows are remarkable for their great power of wing, their wide +mouths, their short legs and weak feet. Their wing feathers are long, +stiff and pointed, and their tails are long and forked. Nine species of +swallow are found north of Mexico. They spend most of their time on the +wing and live almost entirely upon insects which they capture as they +fly; their large mouths particularly adapt them for this manner of +feeding. They nest frequently in colonies; they migrate in large flocks +and can often be seen in great quantities at roosting places. They show +skill in the construction of their nests. The purple martin belongs to +this family; it is common in the South but rare in the Northern States. +The tree swallow builds its nest, of grasses and feathers in the hollow +of a tree. The bank swallow nests in a sand-bank. + + +THE SWIFTS. + +The swifts are often confused with swallows owing to the similarity of +their flight and the manner in which they feed. A Chimney Swift, +commonly but erroneously called the Chimney Swallow, in construction is +more like the humming-bird than the swallow; they nest in chimneys about +ten feet from the top. + + +THE KINGFISHER. + +These birds are chiefly tropical, the Belted Kingfisher being the only +one of the family that is found north of Texas. They feed on fishes and +frequent the land near the water and nest in holes which they make in a +bank. They perch on some limb overhanging the water and watchfully wait +for their dinner. + +[Illustration: KINGFISHER.] + + +THE HUMMING-BIRD. + +[Illustration: HUMMING-BIRD.] + +Eighteen species of these have been found in the United States, but only +one of these is found east of the Mississippi. They feed on insects and +also on the juices of flowers. The humming-bird has no song, but the +beauty of its plumage makes up for this deficiency. It darts through the +air almost as quickly as thought; now it is within a yard of your +path--in an instant gone--now it flutters from flower to flower to sip +the dew--it is now a ruby--now a topaz--now an emerald--now burnished +gold. Its tongue is almost like that of the woodpecker, being curled +around the head under the skin, and is thus capable of being darted to a +considerable distance; like many other little creatures, it is +remarkable for its assurance and impudence; it is easily tamed for that +very reason and has been known to domesticate itself in an hour from the +time it is captured, and often when released has returned again to +partake of the dainties which it has tasted during its captivity. It +seems to have no fear and will attack any bird, irrespective of size. +The nest of the humming-bird is as dainty as the bird itself. + + +THE WRENS. + +The American House Wren is larger than the European wren, being about +five inches long. It is of a reddish-brown color. The nest of the wren +is built in any convenient cranny: an ivy-covered tree, the thatch of a +barn or a warm scarecrow are all used by this featherless little bird. +It is a good fighter and will attack bluebirds and swallows. The nest is +usually of an oval shape, always covered on the outside with some +material resembling the color of the objects around it, such as green +moss, if built among ivy, or brown lichen, if built on a rock or in the +fork of a withered branch. The eggs are six or eight in number--white, +specked with reddish-brown. + +The Carolina Wren frequents the undergrowth in thickets; he is the most +nervously active of all the wrens. + +The Bewick's Wren is often found in the barnyard. + +The Winter Wren builds its nest usually in the tree-roots and heaps of +brush. + +The Marsh Wrens build their nests of a globular shape with the entrance +at the side, either attached to weeds or tall grass, near or on the +ground. + + +THE WARBLERS. + +This is a very large family; they feed almost entirely upon insects. +They are the first to leave upon the approach of winter and the last to +come in the spring. They migrate at night and thousands are killed +annually by dashing against lighthouses. + +The black and white warbler is streaked with black and white and can be +readily identified; it can be often seen creeping under branches in +search of its insect food. + +The yellow warbler. What boy has not seen a "wild canary"? It likes to +inspect the gardens and shrubbery around our houses, and consequently +may be frequently noticed. There are a great many more in this numerous +family. + + +THE THRUSHES. + +This is another large bird family. In it are the bluebird and the +friendly robin; their song is very sweet. + +The wood thrush is less shy than the veery or hermit thrush. It can be +distinguished from the others by its larger size and its ruddy color and +the large black spots covering its underparts. The veery's upper parts +are cinnamon color; its dress is finely marked and its sides almost +white; it inhabits the dense woods and does not frequent the habitation +of man as does the wood thrush. + +The Hermit Thrush is distinguished by its red tail, which is much +brighter in color than its back; it comes early in the spring and +lingers long in the autumn. + +There are probably few boys who do not know a robin when they see one, +nor does the bluebird need to be introduced. + + +THE BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES. + +The Red-winged Blackbird has bright scarlet shoulders; the rest of the +feathers are mainly black; they frequent marshes. + +Orchard Orioles are to be found in the orchards, the elms, the maples, +and other trees of our lawns. This bird is remarkable for the complete +change he makes in his plumage, from a dull yellow to a deep orange and +black, the bird in the summer presenting an entirely different aspect +from that in the winter. He builds his nest very near the end of a tall +limb where it will swing in the wind like a hammock. + +The Bobolink is another one of this family that changes its clothes each +year. It goes North as the bobolink and goes South as the reedbird or +ricebird. + +The Purple Grackle comes to us early in the spring; its plumage is an +iridescent purplish and greenish black. + +The Cowbirds build no nests; they deposit their eggs in the nests of +smaller birds. These eggs are hatched with the others in the nest and +the young birds clamor constantly for food and often starve or crowd out +the rightful bird babies. + + +THE THRASHERS, MOCKING-BIRDS, ETC., + +frequent the borders or the edges of the woods and have considerable +singing ability; possibly the best known of this family is the catbird, +so called because his most familiar cry is similar to the plaintive +"meow" of the cat. Although very few seem to know it, the catbird is +also a fine songster. + +The mocking-bird is a great singer, sometimes singing throughout a +particularly bright moonlight night as well as all day long. While +sitting on its eggs it is an exceedingly courageous bird, attacking +without discrimination men, dogs, or any animal that may approach too +near the nest. The black snake is the special object of its vengeance. +The snake, which has perhaps just arrived at the vicinity of the nest, +and is contemplating a pleasant breakfast on the young or eggs, is +violently attacked by the enraged mocking-bird, which, by repeated blows +on the head, generally destroys its enemy, and then, mounting on a bush, +pours forth a triumphant song of victory. The nest is made generally in +a bush or fruit tree, frequently close to houses, as the bird is +protected by the inhabitants. The mocking-bird is often kept tame, in +which case, so far from its imitative powers showing any decrease, the +variety of domestic sounds heard about the house is often very +perplexing. + +[Illustration: MOCKING-BIRD.] + +The thrasher is also a vocalist of some quality; he likes to sit where +he can be seen when he is singing, generally high up in the tree. + + +THE FLYCATCHERS. + +The flycatchers are songless; they are found all over the United States. +They remain on their perch, waiting for a passing insect; when their +prey is within sight they dart after it and then return to their +station. + +The kingbird is grayish in color and bears a crest which, when raised, +reveals reddish feathers. He perches quietly at his station, but is +alert to every movement near him, and rarely does a passing insect +escape his keen eye. + +The phoebe is very fond of building its nest under an old bridge. His +call is a monotonous, plaintive reiteration. It sounds as though he were +saying, "phoebe"; hence his name. + +Very common flycatchers are the Arcadian Flycatcher, the Wood Peewee and +the Least Flycatcher: the latter being called the Least Flycatcher on +account of its being the smallest in size. + + +THE SHRIKES. + +The color of this bird is gray, black and white. It causes fright at +once among sparrows, on which it preys as well as upon mice and insects. +He has a characteristic flight, flying steadily and in a straight line +close to the ground, flapping his wings. When he gets near his +destination he reaches it by a sudden upward movement. The shrikes are +often called "butcher birds"; they well deserve their name; they +transfix their prey upon a thorn preparatory to devouring it, having +darted on it from some place of concealment after the same manner as the +flycatchers. + + +THE CROWS AND JAYS. + +It will probably surprise you to know that the gaily colored blue jay +belongs to the same family as the dusky crow. All of this family are +great feeders, taking fruits, seeds, insects, eggs and refuse; all of +them possess great intelligence. The blue jay seems to take positive +pleasure in teasing other birds; he is noisy and reckless; he nests +usually in the crotch of a tree from ten to twenty feet high. + +The crow's harsh voice, large size and black plumage make this bird well +known. Every boy who lives in the country knows how fond the crow is of +corn, and who has not seen the scarecrows flapping their empty sleeves +in the winds of the cornfield. + + +THE FINCHES AND SPARROWS. + +[Illustration: BLUE JAY.] + +This is the largest bird family. They possess stout bills fitted to +crush the seeds on which they feed. The House, or English sparrow, was +first introduced into the United States in 1851. The Crossbill derives +its name from having the tips of its bill crossed. They frequent pine +forests and the structure of their bills helps them in forcing the +cones open to get at the seeds within. + +The Goldfinches are canary-yellow and black; they travel usually in +small flocks; in song they become at times so ecstatic that it seems as +if they would burst their little bodies. + +The Junco is a small, plump bird. When the summer birds have left for +the South the Junco comes from the North. + +The Cardinal is one of the gayest of our feathered friends; its plumage +is a rosy-red with a little black patch at the throat and the crest; it +nests in bushes, the nest being composed of twigs, rootlets and lined +with grasses. + +The Indigo Bunting is blue as his name. You will find him in old +pastures among bushes and clearings. The female of this bird is like a +sparrow in marking, except for the tinge of blue which you may discover +in her plumage. + + +THE TANAGERS + +are closely related to the finches; all of them have pretty clothes, +especially the Scarlet Tanager, who is bright scarlet with black wings +and tail. It is well worth a day's tramp to see one. + + +THE WAXWINGS. + +The Cedar Waxwings arrive late in the spring. They have a black line +which runs through the eye; their upper parts are brown, their head is +greenish, their tails gray. You will often find them among fruit and +shady trees; they like old orchards where they hunt for cankerworms. +They have red spots on their wings that look like drops of sealing-wax. + + +THE VIREOS. + +Small insect-eating birds; they do not catch their prey on the wing as +do the flycatchers, but search for their food on bark and leaves; they +are pleasant songsters and their nests are neat and well-rounded, +suspended from the fork of a branch. + + +THE WOODPECKERS. + +[Illustration: WOODPECKERS.] + +The claw of the woodpecker is constructed of two toes forward and two +toes backward, which assist them in climbing the tree-trunks; their tail +feathers are pointed and stiff and serve as a prop; the bill is adapted +for chiseling out the homes of grubs, insects, etc., in the bark. + +The Downy Woodpecker. Its upper parts are black, scarlet band on the +neck, the middle of the back is white, while the wing feathers are +specked with white. You can often see him in an orchard or in the trees +on the lawn, picking out the grubs as he climbs the tree-trunks and +branches. + +The Sapsucker has a scarlet cap; its back is black and yellow, tail +black; it feeds largely on tree juices. + +Red-headed Woodpecker. Head, neck, throat and principal parts red; back +black and white; nests generally in a dead tree. + +The Flicker. The top of the head gray; red band across back of the neck; +back brownish with black bars; they are frequently called "high-holes." + + +THE PIGEONS AND DOVES. + +The passenger pigeon is now practically extinct. Captain Bendire, +writing twenty years ago, says: "It looks now as if their total +extermination might be accomplished within the present century. The only +thing which retards their complete extinction is that it no longer pays +to net these birds, they being too scarce for this now, at least in the +more settled portions of the country, and also, perhaps, that from +constant and unremitting prosecution on their breeding-grounds they have +changed their habits somewhat, the majority no longer breeding in +colonies, but scattering all over the country and breeding in isolated +pairs." They used to be seen in enormous flocks, which, as they +migrated, really hid the sun, destroyed forests miles wide, breaking +down branches with their weight and wasting the crops far and wide. This +bird moves with extraordinary speed and goes enormous distances. Many +have been killed in New York State with their crops full of rice that +they must have eaten in Georgia. That means that they flew three hundred +miles in six hours. In 1813, Audubon says the air was literally filled +with pigeons, and the midday sun darkened as in an eclipse, and the +flocks flew over him in countless numbers for three whole days. + +The Mourning Dove is similar to the Passenger Pigeon, but not as large. + + +GROUSE. + +The Grouse are as a rule ground birds and trust to their ability to hide +to escape detection, their color being such as to make them difficult to +detect against a background of dead leaves. The Ruffed Grouse can easily +be detected by the drumming sound which it makes. This drumming begins +gradually and gradually dies away. The sound is made by the male bird +beating its wings in the air. The young birds run about like small +chickens. They feed on insects, berries and seeds. + + +QUAIL. + +Who has not heard the quail call across the fields "bobwhite, poor +bobwhite"? They like the fields of corn in the fall; in the winter they +journey to the deep woods; like the grouse, they rely upon their +coloration for protection and will only take flight as a last resort. + + +THE PLOVERS. + +In habit they are like the snipes; but their tails are shorter and +thicker. The Golden Plover may be found in marshes and sand-flats; they +can run very rapidly; they may be seen as the tide goes out feeding on +sand-flats or sand-bars. After running a few yards they stop suddenly +and seem to take their bearings. It is well known by its plaintive cry +and the stratagems it employs to decoy intruders away from its nest, or +rather eggs. + +The Killdeer is so called on account of the cry which it utters; it +resembles "kill-dee, kill-dee." It is found usually in flocks and nests +on the ground in a hollow. + + +THE CRANES + +frequent marshes and are fond of frogs, field mice, snakes, etc. They +have a loud cry. When in flight the neck is not bent like the Heron's. +They nest on the ground. + + +THE HERONS AND BITTERNS. + +[Illustration: HERON.] + +The Herons nest in flocks; the bitterns are not as sociable. The latter +inhabit grassy marshes, while Herons like the shores of lakes and +rivers. The Herons fly with their neck bent in between their shoulders. +The American Bittern lives in large grassy meadows; it makes a peculiar +booming sound which can be heard for a long distance. The Great White +Heron is found along the Gulf of Mexico and in Florida. The Great Blue +Heron is found further north; its nest is usually in tall trees and is +made up of sticks and twigs. The Egrets belong to this family. + + +THE SPOONBILLS. + +The Roseate Spoonbill is found only in the very Southern parts of the +United States and in small quantities; their bill is large and flat, +shaped at the end like a large spoon. + +[Illustration: THE SPOONBILLS.] + + +THE IBISES. + +The Ibises find their food on mud-flats along the shores of lakes and +rivers. It consists of frogs, small fish, etc. + + +THE SNIPES AND SANDPIPERS. + +The birds are also found near the water; they have long bills which they +force into the mud in search of their food. + +The Wilson Snipe nests in meadows and swamps. It builds its nest on the +ground and is a game bird popular with the sportsman. The Snipe in its +habits much resembles the Woodcock; its flight is very singular, +rendering it a difficult mark. + + +THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. + +The presence of Woodcock can always be determined by the holes which +they make in the earth in search of worms; these are known as woodcock +borings. When the bird is found near its nest or young birds it will +feign an injury and will endeavor in this way to lead you away from +them. The Woodcock frequents dense thickets during the day and at night +it leaves for swamps and meadows in search of worms and insects. + + +AVOCETS AND STILTS. + +Called "The Wading Snipe"; they wade in shallow water and can swim when +necessary. The bill of this bird is curved like that of the Curlew, but +the curve is upward instead of downward. + + +THE RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS. + +The Rails live in marshes. The Gallinules live on marshy banks of +rivers, lakes, etc. The Coots are still more aquatic, and are very +noisy; all of this family lay their eggs on the ground. + +[Illustration: FLAMINGOES.] + + +THE FLAMINGOES. + +The Flamingoes formerly visited Southern Florida every winter. Now their +appearance is rare. The singularly shaped beak of this splendid bird is +peculiarly adapted to its long and flexible neck. When the bird wishes +to feed it merely stoops its head into the water; the upper mandible is +then lowest and is well fitted to receive the nutritive substances which +are entangled in a filter placed on the edges of the beak. + +The color of its plumage is a deep brilliant scarlet, except the quill +feathers, which are black. When a number of these birds stand ranged in +a line, according to their custom, they present the appearance of a +small and well-drilled body of soldiers. + + +THE SWANS. + +Wild Swans are now rare birds in the United States. They feed as they +swim by putting their long necks and heads under the water. They swim +with great rapidity. + +[Illustration: SWAN.] + + +GEESE. + +Watch the skies in the spring and when you see a V-shaped flock of birds +flying northward, the wild geese are flying. It is said that the apex of +the V is always an old gander. They feed on vegetable matter, both in +the water and on shore. + +The White-fronted Goose is common in the Mississippi Valley and on the +Pacific Coast. + +The Canada Goose travels many thousand miles each year in its +migrations. + +Geese nest on the ground, the nest being made of grasses and twigs and +thickly lined with down. + + +DUCKS. + +The Mallard is the origin of our domestic bird, and is widely spread +over the northern parts of Europe, Asia and America. In the winter it +migrates in countless flocks to the warmer States. + +[Illustration: WILD DUCK.] + +The Black Duck is sometimes called the Black Mallard. The Red-head Duck +along the Atlantic Coast feeds in salt water. The Canvasback is in great +demand on account of the superior quality of its flesh as food. Both the +Red-head and Canvasback are fond of feeding on wild celery, and it is +said that it is this that gives their flesh the fine flavor. + + +THE PELICANS. + +These birds nest in colonies. Their flight is strong. The White Pelican +and the Brown Pelican are found in Florida. It is a very conspicuous +bird, its singular membranous pouch offering a distinction perfectly +unmistakable. The pouch, when distended, holds two gallons of water, but +the bird has the power of contracting it so that it can scarcely be +discerned. + +[Illustration: PELICAN.] + +The pouch serves as a net in which to scoop up the fish on which the +Pelican feeds. + +Another most important use of the pouch is to convey food to the young. +The parent Pelican presses the pouch against its breast, in order to +enable the young to obtain the fish, which action in all probability +gave rise to the fable of the Pelican feeding its own blood. Although +web-footed, it can perch on trees, although it prefers sitting on rocks. + + +THE CORMORANTS. + +Cormorants like the sea, but sometimes may be seen inland. They, too, +are colony birds. Their nests are made of sticks and seaweed. + +[Illustration: CORMORANT.] + +The Cormorant is exceedingly voracious, and devours an almost incredible +amount of fish. It is an excellent diver, and chases the fish actually +under the water, seldom if ever returning without having secured its +prey. Like the otter, when engaged in chase, it occasionally rises to +take breath, and then resumes the pursuit with renewed vigor. It has the +power of perching on trees, an accomplishment which we should hardly +suspect a web-footed bird of possessing. + +The Cormorant is easily tamed, and its fishing propensities can be +turned to good account. The Chinese, at the present day, employ a kind +of Cormorant for that purpose, having previously placed a ring round the +bird's neck to prevent it from swallowing the fish. Its length is about +three feet. + + +THE PETRELS. + +The Stormy Petrel is, under the name of Mother Carey's Chicken, the +terror of the sailor, who always considers the bird as the precursor of +a storm. It is the smallest of the web-footed birds. Few storms are +violent enough to keep this curious little bird from wandering over the +waves in search of the food that the disturbed water casts to the +surface. + + +THE ALBATROSSES. + +The Albatrosses are relatives of the Petrels, but much larger birds. + +The Wandering Albatross, the largest of the genus, is a well-known bird +in the southern seas, following ships for many miles. The flight of this +bird is peculiarly majestic. Its extreme length of wing prevents it from +rising at once from the ground, but when once launched into the air it +seems to float and direct its course without effort. + +[Illustration: ALBATROSS.] + + +THE TERNS. + +The Terns, or Sea Swallows, are possessed of great power and endurance +of flight, their long forked tails and pointed wings indicating strength +and swiftness. + +It preys on fish, which it snatches from the surface with unerring aim +as it skims over the waves with astonishing velocity. + +They inhabit the seashore and, unlike gulls, make distant journeys from +the coast. + + +THE GULLS. + +The Gulls are larger birds than the Terns. As the vultures are the +scavengers of the land, these birds are the scavengers of the sea. They +are frequently seen at great distance from land, resting on the water. +Their nests are found in colonies. + +[Illustration: GULL.] + + +PUFFINS. + +The Puffin is an excellent diver, plunging fearlessly from a lofty cliff +into the sea, and speedily returning with its beak full of fish, which +are secured by their heads, and lie in a row along the bill of the +Puffin, forming a kind of piscatorial fringe. Its enormous and +sharp-edged bill renders it a formidable antagonist to intruders. It is +often called the "Sea Parrot." + + +LOONS. + +Inhabit fresh water lakes during the summer and the sea during the +winter. They can swim considerable distances under water. Their nest is +near the shore. + + +GREBES. + +The foot of the Grebes is not webbed like that of most water birds, but +each toe is separated and flattened, so as to serve as a separate +paddle. + + +COMMON RED BIRDS. + + Scarlet Tanager. + Cardinal. + Rose-breasted Grossbeak. + Redstart. + + +COMMON BLUE BIRDS. + + Blue Jay. + Bluebird. + + +COMMON YELLOW AND ORANGE BIRDS. + + Yellow Warbler. + Flicker. + Baltimore Oriole. + + +COMMON BLACK BIRDS. + + Crow. + Purple Grackle. + Red-winged Blackbird. + Cowbird. + + +COMMON BLACK AND WHITE BIRDS. + + Black and White Warbler. + Bobolink. + Downy Woodpecker. + + +COMMON BROWN BIRDS. + + Thrushes. + Sparrows. + + + + +INDEX. + + + PAGE + + Albatross, 174, 175 + Wandering, 174 + + American Bald Eagle, 149 + + American House Wren, 156 + + Arcadian Flycatcher, 160 + + Avocet, 168 + + + Baltimore Oriole, 177 + + Bank Swallow, 153 + + Belted Kingfisher, 153 + + Bewick's Wren, 156 + + Bittern, 166 + + Black and White Warbler, 157, 177 + + Blackbirds, 157 + Red-winged, 157, 177 + + Black Duck, 172 + + Bluebird, 157, 177 + + Blue Jay, 160, 161, 177 + + Bobolink, 158, 177 + + Bobwhite, 165 + + Brown Pelican, 172 + + Butcher Bird, 160 + + Buzzards, 150 + Common, 150 + Turkey, 147, 148 + + + Canada Goose, 171 + + Canvasback Duck, 172 + + Cardinal, 162, 177 + + Carolina Wren, 156 + + Carrion Crow, 148 + + Catbird, 158 + + Cedar Waxwing, 162 + + Chimney Swift, 153 + + Common Buzzard, 150 + + Coot, 168 + + Cormorant, 173, 174 + + Cowbird, 158, 177 + + Crane, 166 + + Crossbill, 161 + + Crow, 160, 177 + Carrion, 148 + + Curlew, 168 + + + Doves, 164 + Mourning, 165 + + Downy Woodpecker, 164, 177 + + Ducks, 171, 172 + Black, 172 + Canvasback, 172 + Mallard, 171 + Red-head, 172 + + + Eagles, 148, 149 + American Bald, 149 + Golden, 148 + + Egrets, 167 + + English Sparrows, 161 + + European Wren, 156 + + + Falcons, 151 + Peregrine, 161 + + Finches, 161 + Gold, 162 + + Flamingoes, 168, 169, 170 + + Flicker, 164, 177 + + Flycatchers, 159 + Arcadian, 160 + Least, 160 + + + Gallinules, 168 + + Geese, 171 + Canadian, 171 + White-fronted, 171 + + Golden Eagle, 148 + Plover, 165 + + Goldfinch, 162 + + Grackle, Purple, 158, 177 + + Grayish-barred Owl, 152 + + Great Blue Heron, 167 + White Heron, 167 + + Grebes, 177 + + Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, 177 + + Grouse, 165 + Ruffed, 165 + + Gulls, 175, 176 + + + Hawks, 151 + Hen, 150 + Sparrow, 151 + + Hermit Thrush, 157 + + Herons, 166, 167 + Great Blue, 167 + White, 167 + + High Hole, 164 + + Horned Owl, 152 + + House Sparrows, 161 + + House Wren, 156 + + Humming-birds, 155 + + + Ibis, 167 + + Indigo Bunting, 162 + + + Jay, 160, 161 + + Junco, 162 + + + Killdeer, 165 + + Kingbird, 159 + + Kingfisher, 153, 154 + Belted, 153 + + + Least Flycatcher, 160 + + Loon, 176 + + + Mallard Ducks, 171 + + Marsh Wren, 156 + + Martin, Purple, 153 + + Mocking-bird, 158,159 + + Mother Carey's Chickens, 174 + + Mottled Owl, 152 + + Mourning Doves, 165 + + + Night Hawk, 153 + + Nightjar, 153 + + + Oriole, 157 + Baltimore, 177 + Orchard, 157 + + Owls, 151 + Grayish-barred, 152 + Horned, 152 + Mottled, 152 + Snowy, 152 + + + Passenger Pigeon, 164 + + Pewee, Wood, 160 + + Pelican, 172 + Brown, 172 + White, 172 + + Peregrine Falcon, 151 + + Petrel, Stormy, 174 + + Phoebe, 159 + + Pigeon, 164 + Passenger, 164 + + Plover, 165 + Golden, 165 + + Puffin, 176 + + Purple Grackle, 158, 177 + Martin, 153 + + + Quail, 165 + + + Rails, 168 + + Red-head Duck, 172 + Headed Woodpecker, 164 + Winged Blackbird, 157, 177 + + Redstart, 177 + + Reedbird, 158 + + Ricebird, 158 + + Robin, 157 + + Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 177 + + Roseate Spoonbill, 167 + + Ruffed Grouse, 165 + + + Sandpipers, 168 + + Sapsucker, 164 + + Scarlet Tanager, 162 + + Sea Parrot, 176 + + Shrike, 160 + + Snipe, 168 + Wading, 168 + Wilson's, 168 + + Snowy Owl, 152 + + Sparrow Hawk, 151 + + Sparrows, 161, 177 + English, 161 + House, 161 + + Spoonbill, 167 + Roseate, 167 + + Stormy Petrel, 174 + + Swallows, 153 + Bank, 153 + Tree, 153 + + Swans, 170 + + Swifts, 153 + Chimney, 153 + + + Tanagers, 162, 177 + Scarlet, 162, 177 + + Terns, 175 + + Thrasher, 158, 159 + + Thrush, 157, 177 + Hermit, 157 + Veery, 157 + Wood, 157 + + Tree Swallow, 153 + + Turkey Buzzard, 147, 148 + + + Veery Thrush, 157 + + Vireo, 162 + + Vulture, 147, 148 + + + Wading Snipe, 168 + + Wandering Albatross, 174 + + Warblers, 156, 157 + Black and White, 157, 177 + Yellow, 157, 177 + + Waxwing, 162 + Cedar, 162 + + Whip-poor-will, 153 + + White-fronted Goose, 171 + Pelican, 172 + + Wilson's Snipe, 168 + + Winter Wren, 156 + + Woodcock, 168 + + Woodpecker, 163 + Downy, 164, 177 + Red-headed, 164 + + Wood Thrush, 157 + + Wood Pewee, 160 + + Wrens, 156 + American House, 156 + Bewick's, 156 + Carolina, 156 + European, 156 + House, 156 + Marsh, 156 + Winter, 156 + + + Yellow Warbler, 157, 177 + + + + +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. + + 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 + 147 FOURTH AVENUE + NEW YORK + + + + +Christy Mathewson's Book + + +[Illustration: WON IN THE NINTH] + + _A Ripping Good Baseball Story by One Who Knows the + Game_ + +This book has attained a larger sale than any baseball story ever +published. + +The narrative deals with the students of a large university and their +baseball team, the members of which have names which enable the reader +to recognize them as some of the foremost baseball stars of the day +before their entrance into the major leagues. + +One gains a very clear idea of "inside baseball" stripped of wearisome +technicalities. The book is profusely illustrated throughout and +contains also a number of plates showing the manner in which Mathewson +throws his deceptive curves, together with brief description of each. + + _Cloth bound 5-1/2 × 7-5/8_ _Price 50c. per volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK + + + + +Mrs. Meade's Books for Girls + +Primrose Edition + +Printed on fine quality book paper. Separate cover designs in colors. + + + Daddy's Girl. + A Girl from America. + Sue, a Little Heroine. + The School Queens. + Wild Kitty. + A Sweet Girl Graduate. + A World of Girls. + Polly--A New-Fashioned Girl. + + _Each, 12mo._ _Cloth._ _40 cents per volume_ + + Mrs. Meade's girls' books never lose their popularity. + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE + NEW YORK + + + + +_ECONOMICAL COOKING_ + +_Primrose Edition_ + +_Planned for Two or More Persons_ + +By + +MISS WINIFRED S. 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Y. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Obvious punctuation errors were corrected. + +First advertising page, "Chenoweth" changed to "Chenowith" to match +actual book usage (Elmer Chenowith, a lad from) + +Page 27, "ith" changed to "it" (stand it) + +Page 65, "suite" changed to "suit" (Ty's long suit is) + +Page 85, "galivanting" changed to "gallivanting" (he was just +gallivanting) + +Page 129, "beween" changed to "between" (find himself beween) + +Page 151, "iself" changed to "itself" (bird itself) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENDURANCE TEST*** + + +******* This file should be named 38305-8.txt or 38305-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/8/3/0/38305 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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C. Caswell</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Endurance Test</p> +<p> or, How Clear Grit Won the Day</p> +<p>Author: Alan Douglas</p> +<p>Release Date: December 14, 2011 [eBook #38305]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENDURANCE TEST***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by<br /> + Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, Emmy,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="379" height="600" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'><span class="smcap"><span class='bigger'><b>The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts</b></span></span><br /> + +<b>A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS</b><br /> + +<b>Which, in addition to the interesting boy scout stories by CAPTAIN ALAN<br /> +DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain articles on nature lore, native animals<br /> +and a fund of other information pertaining to out-of-door life,<br /> +that will appeal to the boy's love of the open.</b></div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b>I. The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol</b></div> + +<div class="blockquot">Their first camping experience affords the scouts splendid opportunities to use +their recently acquired knowledge in a practical way. Elmer <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Chenoweth'">Chenowith</ins>, a lad +from the northwest woods, astonishes everyone by his familiarity with camp +life. A clean, wholesome story every boy should read.</div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b>II. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good</b></div> + +<div class="blockquot">This tale presents many stirring situations in which some of the boys are called +upon to exercise all their ingenuity and unselfishness. A story filled with +healthful excitement.</div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b>III. Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot</b></div> + +<div class="blockquot">Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected way, greatly to the credit +of our young friends. A variety of incidents follow fast, one after the other.</div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b>IV. Fast Nine; or, a Challenge From Fairfield</b></div> + +<div class="blockquot">They show the same team-work here as when in camp. The description of the +final game with the team of a rival town, and the outcome thereof, form a +stirring narrative. One of the best baseball stories of recent years.</div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b>V. Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop</b></div> + +<div class="blockquot">After weeks of preparation the scouts start out on their greatest undertaking. +Their march takes them far from home, and the good-natured rivalry of the +different patrols furnishes many interesting and amusing situations.</div> + + +<div class='unindent'><b>VI. Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day</b></div> + +<div class="blockquot">Few stories "get" us more than illustrations of pluck in the face of apparent +failure. Our heroes show the stuff they are made of and surprise their most +ardent admirers. One of the best stories Captain Douglas has written.</div> + +<div class='center'>——————<br /> +<b>Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge<br /> +Boy Scout Series</b></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Nature Lore list"> +<tr><td align='left'>Wild Animals of the United States—Tracking—in Number I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Reptiles of the United States in Number III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fishes of the United States in Number IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Insects of the United States in Number V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Birds of the United States in Number VI.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /> +<span class='u'><i>Cloth Binding</i> <i>Cover Illustrations in Four Colors</i> <i>40c. Per Volume</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<span class='small'><b>147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK</b></span><br /></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>ENDURANCE TEST<br /> + +or<br /> + +<span class="smcap">How Clear Grit Won the Day</span></h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='bbox'> +<div class='center'>COMPLETE ROSTER, WHEN THE<br /> +PATROLS WERE FILLED, OF<br /> +<br /> +<span class='big'>THE HICKORY RIDGE TROOP</span><br /> +<span class='big'>OF BOY SCOUTS</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">MR. RODERIC GARRABRANT, Scout Master</span><br /> +<br /> +—————<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>THE WOLF PATROL<br /> + +<span class="smcap">Elmer Chenowith</span>, Patrol Leader, and also +Assistant Scout Master</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Wolf Patrol"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mark Cummings</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Ted (Theodore) Burgoyne</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Toby (Tobias) Ellsworth Jones</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">"Lil Artha" (Arthur) Stansbury</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Chatz (Charles) Maxfield</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">Phil (Philip) Dale</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">George Robbins</span></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE BEAVER PATROL<br /> + +<span class="smcap">Matty (Matthew) Eggleston</span>, Patrol Leader</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Beaver patrol"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Red" (Oscar) Huggins</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Ty (Tyrus) Collins</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Jasper Merriweather</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Tom Cropsey</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Larry (Lawrence) Billings</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">Hen (Henry) Condit</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">Landy (Philander) Smith</span></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE EAGLE PATROL<br /> + + +<span class="smcap">Jack Armitage</span>, Patrol Leader<br /> +<span class="smcap">Nat (Nathan) Scott</span><br /> +<br /> + +<span class='small'>(OTHERS TO BE ENLISTED UNTIL THIS PATROL HAS<br /> +REACHED ITS LEGITIMATE NUMBER)</span></div> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 442px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6frontis.png" width="442" height="500" alt=""We're gaining a little all the time, fellows!" exclaimed Elmer." title="" /> +<span class="caption">"We're gaining a little all the time, fellows!" exclaimed Elmer.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/adtitle1.png" width="500" height="113" alt="THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1>ENDURANCE TEST<br /> + +or<br /> + +<span class="smcap">How Clear Grit Won the Day</span></h1> + +<div class='author'><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class='small'>by</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Captain</span> ALAN DOUGLAS<br /> +<span class='small'>SCOUT MASTER</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="100" height="103" alt="Emblem" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><br /><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='copyright'> +<span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1913, <span class="smcap">BY</span><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td align='left'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Surprising Landy</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Signs of Trouble Ahead</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Lure of the Red Flag</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Finish of Ty's Famous Sweater</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Double-action Joke</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Strange Sounds from the Water</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The News that George Brought</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Under the Twinkling Stars</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Invasion of the Camp</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Education of Adam</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Loud Call for Help</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Showing Their Mettle</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">How the Scouts Won Out</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Searching the Hay Barn</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Capture of the Tramps</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Good-by to the Sweetwater</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="u">THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS</span><br /> +<br /> +ENDURANCE TEST;<br /> +<br /> +OR,<br /> +<br /> +HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SURPRISING LANDY.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Let</span> Adam Limburger have a try, fellows!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, give the new tenderfoot scout a chance to show +what he can do in the water."</p> + +<p>"That's the ticket; just watch him take the high dive, +will you, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Mine gootness gracious, poys, oxcuse me, if you blease. +If you dink I can dot blunge make vidoudt upsetting mineself, +you haf anudder guess coming."</p> + +<p>"Try it, Adam!"</p> + +<p>"You've just got to, you know, old chap! Everybody's +jumped but you; and all the while you've just sat there +on the bank and watched us cutting up!"</p> + +<p>"Shut your eyes, Adam, if you're timid, and then go; +head or feet first, we don't care which, so long as you +make a big splash."</p> + +<p>"Ach, idt vould not, pe sooch a surprises if Adam he +preaks his neck: put, poys, if dot happens, somepody carry +de news to mine mudder. Py chimineddy, here I go!"</p> + +<p>"Get out of the way, Ty Collins, if you don't want to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +get squashed; for here comes Adam down the shoot-the-shoot +plunge!"</p> + +<p>A number of lads were in swimming out in the country +quite a number of miles away from the home town of +Hickory Ridge. Besides the stout German who was standing +in a hesitating way on the springboard that had been +thrust out from the high bank, some ten feet above the +water, there were Elmer Chenowith, Ty Collins, Landy +Smith, and Ted Burgoyne, the latter of whom, though +afflicted with a decided lisp, was looked upon with considerable +respect among his fellows in the Boy Scout troop, +because of his knowledge of medicine and the rudiments of +surgery.</p> + +<p>They had been splashing and having a splendid time for +at least ten minutes after entering the water, when somebody +happened to notice that the new recruit in the Hickory +Ridge troop of Boy Scouts, Adam Litzburgh, a name that +had been quickly corrupted into Limburger by the boys, did +not seem to enter into the sport, but contented himself with +either dipping his feet into the water, as if afraid, or else +sitting ashore in the shade watching his new mates.</p> + +<p>Adam seemed to be inclined toward stoutness, although +hardly in the same class with Landy, who had long been +bantered by his chums on account of his ever-increasing +tendency to put on flesh in spite of all he could do.</p> + +<p>"Lock at the board bend, would you, fellows!" cried +Ty Collins, as the German recruit stood there, balancing at +the end, as though fearful of what the result would be +should he jump.</p> + +<p>"He's glued to it, that's what," said Landy, who was +anxious to discover whether Adam would make a greater +splash than he himself produced when he came down like +a huge frog into the water of the Sweetwater River; for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +this was not the familiar "swimming-hole" of the Hickory +Ridge boys, but miles farther away from home.</p> + +<p>Adam made several violent gestures as though he might +be going to jump, and then shook his head vigorously in +the negative.</p> + +<p>"Noddings doing, poys!" he grinned.</p> + +<p>"Hey, none of that crawfishing, now, Adam!" cried +Ty. "You've just <i>got</i> to jump, once anyhow. We'll +stand by and yank you out if you can't swim. Perhaps +the boys over in your beloved Yarmany don't learn as +early as Yankees do. Go on, now!"</p> + +<p>"Want us to come up there and push you off, you Dutch +cheese!" called Landy, in the hope of arousing the belligerent +nature of the Teuton, and thus making him conquer +his timidity.</p> + +<p>"Vell, py shiminy crickets, off you dink you can scare +Adam Litzburgh, poys, you haf anudder guess goming. +Look oudt pelow!"</p> + +<p>Elmer had been watching the antics of Adam with a +critical eye. Before these last words were spoken he had +turned to Ted, who chanced to be swimming near him, and +remarked significantly:</p> + +<p>"That fellow is pulling the wool over the eyes of Ty and +Landy."</p> + +<p>"Think tho?" asked Ted, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Just watch and see," replied the other, who, besides +being the leader of his patrol, known as the Wolf Patrol, +was also the assistant scout master of the troop and authorized +by certificate from the headquarters of the organization +to assume the duties of Mr. Garrabrant whenever +that gentleman was away on business.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Adam gave a bound up and down until the +springy board had taken on a motion superior to anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +that had been done by the others in their efforts to +excel.</p> + +<p>As it came up finally, the body of the German boy leaped +into the air. Those who were watching with distended eyes +saw him turn over twice before he struck the surface of +the water, beneath which he shot with the grace of a fish.</p> + +<p>Elmer gave a shout.</p> + +<p>"I thought as much; Adam was hoodwinking you, +boys!" he laughed.</p> + +<p>"Wow, did you ever see the like of that! A double +somersault before he struck, and then he dived under like +a greenback frog from a log!" and Landy's fat face was +a study as he looked his utter amazement.</p> + +<p>"I take it all back!" shouted Ty. "They <i>do</i> know +how to dive over in Yarmany and beat us all hollow. Say, +fellows, I bet you Adam is going to prove to be the best +water dog in all Hickory Ridge. Look at him swimming +there, will you? I've seen an otter or a muskrat doing it +that way, but never a boy. Ain't he the peach though! +I take off my hat to Adam!"</p> + +<p>"That'th what we all thay!" cried Ted, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for our new comrade, fellows; here's to +Adam, and may he prove as great a find as a true scout +as he has a water duck!" exclaimed Elmer.</p> + +<p>The cheers rang out, and were followed with a "tiger." +Adam was coming back now, and his red face beamed with +satisfaction. They had been inclined to look on him as a +real greenhorn; and no doubt that was what he would prove +to be with regard to most of the ways of woodcraft in +which scouts desire to become proficient; but the boy +from across the big water had certainly surprised his new +mates this day by his expertness at diving and swimming.</p> + +<p>So long as they remained in the water they kept Adam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +busy showing off. He had a dozen clever tricks from the +springboard; and there was no one in Hickory Ridge who, +as Ty declared, could "hold a candle to him."</p> + +<p>"No, nor in Fairfield, either," said Elmer, after he had +seen what the German lad could do; "and if we ever have +another series of rival tests with our friends over there, +make up your minds, fellows, that Adam will stand in a +class all his own."</p> + +<p>Finally, when some of the boys began to show signs of +blue lips, Elmer declared they had been in long enough. +When one is not accustomed to being in the water at all +hours, the vitality of the system is exhausted after a certain +time; and those who are wise will make it a point to +come out before they get to shivering, even on a hot September +day, like the one that found these Hickory Ridge scouts +in camp up on the Sweetwater.</p> + +<p>A few of the boys, it seemed, had not had quite enough +of outdoor life during the long vacation and they had +induced Elmer to start out for three days more of camping, +taking a tent along and a few things calculated to add to +their comfort.</p> + +<p>Adam, as the latest addition to the troop, asked permission +to accompany them, and as he was something of a +comical fellow they expected to have more or less fun at +his expense as a greenhorn.</p> + +<p>After this remarkable experience, however, some of them +began to suspect that the shoe might frequently prove to be +on the other foot; and that the German boy would turn +the tables on them, even as he had done in the water test.</p> + +<p>The tent was pitched close by, at a point selected by +Elmer as the best to be found along that part of the river. +The ground had the proper drainage in case of a heavy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +storm and was not under any high tree, so that the danger +from lightning was reduced to a minimum.</p> + +<p>They had brought a few things along to eat; and as +farms lay not far away, each day some of the scouts trailed +over to one of these in order to purchase other articles, +such as fresh milk, eggs, butter, and green corn, and on +this morning Elmer had brought back a couple of fine +chickens which a farmer had presented to him.</p> + +<p>Of course, the rest of the boys understood that at some +past time Elmer must have done the farmer a favor; for +he was always eager to lend a helping hand when an occasion +arose; but he declined to tell the story, and as they +had the chickens the boys found no fault.</p> + +<p>Elmer had made an oven in the ground, after the type +used by hunters in many lands. A deep hole was scooped +out, and a hot fire kept going for some hours; then the +red ashes were removed, and the chickens, properly wrapped +in big leaves, placed in the oven which was then hermetically +sealed with clay.</p> + +<p>This might be called the first "fireless cooker." It is +the very principle upon which all those now on the market +are constructed; and, indeed, the bottles that are guaranteed +to keep their contents hot for twenty-four hours are +fashioned on some similar lines for retaining the heat.</p> + +<p>For six hours now had those spring roasters been in "hot +storage," as Landy called it, and many were the appeals +to Elmer to know if they would be ready by the time they +had the corn and other things done.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was wasting away. In another hour the +sun would be setting. Elmer was busying himself at the +fire with Ty, who claimed to be something of a cook and +had proved this on various occasions. Ted was overhauling +the little case of remedies, without which he seldom went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +anywhere. Adam and Landy had taken a small camera, +loaned by one of the other members of the troop, a tall +scout known to his chums as "Lil Artha," and with this +they expected to take a few snapshots of the camp, the +picturesque river as seen in the afternoon glow, and such +things as appeal to the average boy looking around for +subjects on which to execute his skill as a photographer.</p> + +<p>They could be heard rummaging among the bushes not +far away, and Landy seemed to be getting more or less fun +out of the German tenderfoot, who was utterly new to the +ways of the American woods, however familiar he might +be with any species of water.</p> + +<p>Elmer had just made up his mind, after a sly investigation +on his own account, that the chickens were deliciously +done, and hence there need be no further delay about starting +the balance of the dinner, when he heard Landy's +rather whining voice approaching, and raised his head to +watch.</p> + +<p>When the two came into camp it was noticed that Adam +seemed to be leading his companion, who was acting rather +queer. At first Elmer wondered whether the fat boy could +have been overcome by the heat, for his face was unusually +red. Then he saw that Landy seemed anxious to dig his +knuckles into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Landy?" asked Ty, whose attention +had also been directed to the incoming pair.</p> + +<p>"I declare if I know what to make of it, fellows," said +the fat boy, as he stood there, trying to grin at them, though +he certainly looked foolish, with his cheeks beginning to +puff out and furiously red. "Just can't seem to see right. +Feels like my eyes were going to close. And no wasp stung +me, either; that is, as far as I know. It feels awful tough, +I tell you now, and that's no joke."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer bent forward to look closer.</p> + +<p>Then his face assumed a serious expression.</p> + +<p>"Well, I should say it wasn't a joke, Landy!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"But what's the matter with me, Elmer; tell a fellow, +won't you?" pleaded the afflicted one.</p> + +<p>"Why, you're poisoned, that's what!" declared Elmer.</p> + +<p>Landy immediately let out a whoop; but although he was +undoubtedly frightened, it seemed as though his face could +not possibly turn white, as might have been expected under +the circumstances.</p> + +<p>"Me poisoned!" he exclaimed. "Oh, whatever do you +mean, Elmer!" he cried, laying a puffy hand on the sleeve +of the other's outing shirt, which he had rolled up above +his elbow in order to have greater freedom in his movements.</p> + +<p>"You've been foolish enough," Elmer went on with +grave concern in his voice, "Landy, to handle that rank +stuff, poison ivy, and then rubbed your hands all over your +face. You've got a dose, all right, I'm afraid!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SIGNS OF TROUBLE AHEAD.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Landy</span> was certainly badly frightened. The grave manner +in which the patrol leader said this with regard to the +ivy poisoning seemed to add to his alarm. Some of the boys +afterwards declared that his knees knocked together, but +this the fat boy always indignantly denied.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless it was with an almost plaintive expression +that he proceeded to inquire further about his prospects.</p> + +<p>"Poison ivy, you say, Elmer? Was that the stuff growing +around that tree we rubbed up against? But Adam +was in just as deep as I was; why don't his face burn and +turn red like mine?" he asked, as though he considered it +rank injustice that he should be picked out as a victim, +when another, equally guilty, went scot-free from harm.</p> + +<p>"That's the queer thing about poison ivy," replied +Elmer. "While it's bound to act on most people, more or +less, a few can handle it without any bad result."</p> + +<p>"That's so," broke in Ty just then. "Why, I've known +fellers that would begin to itch and burn if they even set +eyes on the old stuff, and I reckon I'm liable to get a little +turn myself; had one spell and they kept doctoring me +for a week at home. Hand full of little water blisters, and +I had to be mighty careful, for when they broke they poisoned +wherever the fluid ran. Wow, hope I don't get it +again, that's all!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my goodness gracious! What's going to become of +me, then?" gasped poor Landy. "Because I've been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +crazy enough to rub it all over my face. Me for the hospital, +I guess!"</p> + +<p>"Wait!"</p> + +<p>It was Ted who said this, and somehow the very confident +tone in which he spoke awakened a wild hope in the heart +of the lad who was in trouble.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ted, can <i>you</i> do anything for me?" he asked, +eagerly, transferring his attention from Elmer to the other, +who had arisen after listening to all that had been said, +and now approached the group.</p> + +<p>"Let me look at you firtht," remarked the budding doctor +of the troop, gravely.</p> + +<p>He examined the face and hands of the boy closely.</p> + +<p>"When did you rub up againth that vine?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why," replied Landy, "just a little bit ago, when +Adam was helping me get a snapshot of the camp. It was +in the way and we pulled it off the tree. Fact is, I tripped +over the old thing and got mad, so I yanked it loose, and +Adam, he helped."</p> + +<p>"Then let me tell you, in the firtht plathe, that I don't +believe it'th poithon ivy at all, becauthe that doethn't begin +to thow for theveral hourth," said Ted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, bully for you, Ted; it makes me glad to hear you +say that!" exclaimed the boy who was in trouble. "But +mebbe you can tell if you see the old vine?"</p> + +<p>"Courthe I can, and here'th Elmer who knowth all about +it, too. Did it have jutht three leaveth to each thtem, do +you remember?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, I didn't pay any attention to the leaves, I was so +anxious to drag the old thing away so as to get a better +view," replied Landy.</p> + +<p>Elmer beckoned to Adam, and the two hurried off. +Everyone knew that they had gone to view the vine that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +had been accused of doing so terrible a thing to the fat +boy.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Dr. Ted had picked up a little bag which +he usually carried with a shoulder strap. Every fellow in +the troop knew what that same bag contained; and indeed, +many of them had found reason to bless the forethought +that induced their chum to bring it along on every trip +for emergencies such as the present. Ted delighted to call +it his "vade mecum," and most of the scouts had only a +hazy conception of what those words meant, though they +appreciated the bag all right.</p> + +<p>"If it wath really poithon ivy," went on Ted, "the firtht +thing to be done would be to wath the thurfathe of the thkin +with warm water, and then apply thith weak tholution of +permanganate of potath. It'th about three per thent, and +the color of wine, you thee. It'll dithcolor the thkin, of +courthe, and for a while Landy can path for an Injun; but +it doeth the work. Elmer put me in touch with the good it +can do. He thayth every hunter of big game out in India +and Africa alwayth carrieth thome along, to take out the +poithon if he geth clawed by a tiger, a lion or any other +carnivorouth beatht."</p> + +<p>There was some hot water, fortunately, and in another +minute the quick-witted camp doctor had bathed the face +and hands of the patient with this, as warm as Landy could +stand <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ith'">it</ins>. Then he started to apply the contents of the +small bottle, to the intense enjoyment of Ty who seemed to +consider the whole thing in the light of a huge joke.</p> + +<p>"Say, you'll be a beaut, Landy, and no mistake!" +he chuckled.</p> + +<p>"What's that matter, if it only does the business?" demanded +the other.</p> + +<p>"That'th common thenthe, anyhow," commented Ted, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +he continued to make sure that every inch of affected skin +was liberally treated with the liquid, which, as he said before, +was of a magenta color.</p> + +<p>"There comes Elmer, and now we'll know," remarked +Ty.</p> + +<p>The other two came hurrying back to camp. Poor Landy, +whose eyes were really looking half shut, turned a beseeching +gaze upon the patrol leader.</p> + +<p>"Was it poison ivy, Elmer?" he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Not in a thousand years," came the hearty reply.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's almost too good to be true!" said Landy, +with the tears standing in his eyes, for he had begun to fear +that he was in for a horrible experience.</p> + +<p>"What was it then?" asked Ty.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied the other. "Some of your +plants here are strange to me, and I reckon it's able to bring +on a burning and a swelling sensation in a hurry, like lots +of them are, with some people. But it can't be anything +as bad as the real rhus tox. I've seen some serious cases +of poisoning from ivy. And, Ted, I think you're doing +the wise thing to use that potash solution."</p> + +<p>"It can't do any harm," remarked the doctor, "and you +thee, it'th bound to do thome good. Of courthe Landy will +look like the dickenth for theveral dayth, but he'th a lucky +boy if he geth off that eathy."</p> + +<p>"Sure I am," affirmed the victim, readily. "Paint +away all you like. Tell you what, fellers, she feels some +better already. Perhaps, after all, I won't have to be led +home with my face lookin' like a big punkin and my eyes +out of sight."</p> + +<p>"We may be happy yet," remarked Ty, who could be +cheerful because it was not <i>his</i> face that burned and stung +as though nettles had done their work. "And, Elmer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +would you mind if I once more turned my attention to +getting grub ready? I've got a terrible vacuum down here, +and you know we learned at school that Nature abhors a +vacuum."</p> + +<p>"I'll do more and help you get supper ready, Ty," replied +the other. "We can leave Landy in the hands of +Dr. Ted. He'll make him lie down and rest; and above +all things keep his hands from his face. It's good he took +hold of the case so quick, for the poison hasn't had much +chance to get in."</p> + +<p>So the work went on, two of the boys hovering over the +fire that had been started, while Adam ran errands for Dr. +Ted. Landy was given a blanket and told to keep quiet, +but he insisted on lying so that he could watch the cooks out +of the corners of his eyes, and every now and then he would +sniff the air as though his appetite had not been entirely +chased away by his misfortune.</p> + +<p>When the coffee was done boiling, the Boston baked +beans heated to a turn and everything ready, Elmer opened +the odd oven in the ground.</p> + +<p>"Why, they're nearly as hot as when we put 'em in!" +declared the wondering Ty, as he unwrapped the two young +chickens that had come from the friendly farmer.</p> + +<p>Landy sat upright presently.</p> + +<p>"Here, don't you dare to forget me!" he called out, as +he saw the others about to sit down around the spot where +the supper was spread.</p> + +<p>"But sick people should never eat a bite," declared Ty, +unable to resist the opportunity to tantalize the patient, +whose one weakness lay in his enormous appetite, which +he could never seem to control.</p> + +<p>"I ain't sick, though," retorted the other, getting up +with an effort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I always heard that it was the right thing to starve a +fever, and stuff a cold," Ty went on, deliberately helping +himself to a portion of a fowl, which almost fell to pieces +in his hands, it was so tender and well done; "and I guess +you've got the fever, all right. Anyhow, you're as red +as a chief in the Buffalo Bill show."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let up on that, Ty Collins!" cried Landy, indignantly. +"Just give me half a chance, and I'll mighty +soon show you who's sick around here. I can make them +chickens look that way, I want you to know. Here, make +room for me! Looks don't count in camp. Just think I'm +sunburned, that's all. Elmer, help me to some of that +delicious coffee, won't you? I've been smelling it this long +time. It would go right to the spot, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Sure I will, Landy," replied the other, smilingly; +"and it does me good to know you're feeling so much +better. But let's hope this will be a lesson to you never to +handle vines that you don't know."</p> + +<p>"It will, I promise you, Elmer," replied the other, earnestly. +"And the first time you run across some of the +genuine poison ivy just call me, please. I've heard so +much about it that I want to know the stuff so I can +beware."</p> + +<p>"I saw some only a few hours back, and to-morrow I'm +going to take you and Adam and Ty there to impress its +looks on your minds. It may save you a heap of suffering +if you expect to roam much in the woods after this."</p> + +<p>Landy was feeling much better. Indeed, the swelling +seemed to be going down rapidly, and even the burning, +itching sensation had yielded to the application of that +wonderful remedy.</p> + +<p>Everybody, even Ty, felt glad of this, for Landy was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +jolly chum and they must miss him very much had he been +compelled to be taken home in suffering.</p> + +<p>"Hot work, this cooking in summer weather, fellows," +observed Ty, as he looked up from cleaning off his tin +platter.</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you shed that terrible old red +sweater?" suggested Elmer, though he knew beforehand +that Ty would find lots of excuses for declining.</p> + +<p>Winter and summer, Ty always wore that old flaming +sweater when engaged in any outdoor game, whether it +be skating, playing hockey, football, baseball, or even going +fishing. The season seemed to make no difference to him, +though some of his chums declared that the mere sight of +the thing made them perspire.</p> + +<p>"What, this!" he exclaimed, as though astonished that +anyone should mention the subject. "Why, I just couldn't +do a thing minus my jolly old sweater. It's been on all +sorts of jobs with me. I look on it as my best friend. +Nobody knows how many colds it's saved me from. I'd just +feel lost without it on, that's what."</p> + +<p>"But in hot weather like this it must make you +swelter," continued Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Not much it don't. Why, don't you know it <i>keeps the +warmth out</i>? That's what I read once, and I believe in it, +too. Besides, all the fellers have got so used to seeing me +with it on that they'd pass me by if I dropped it," grinned +Ty.</p> + +<p>"That'th tho," remarked Ted.</p> + +<p>No one suspected just then what an important part that +same red sweater was to play in a game that might change +Ty's mind, and that before many hours had passed.</p> + +<p>The supper was pronounced prime, and a vote of thanks +taken for the farmer who had once been a boy himself and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +could appreciate the appetite of five fellows who were camping +out.</p> + +<p>A tent had been brought along, and into this the five +crowded when the hour had grown late, and everyone admitted +that he was "real sleepy."</p> + +<p>Nothing out of the way happened during the night. +There were no wild animals of any consequence around that +part of the country, although farther north hunters got +deer, and even a black bear had been shot the previous +spring. Now and then a sly fox would create a little excitement +among the neighboring farmers by slipping into +their henroosts and carrying off a fat fowl. Mink might +be found along the smaller tributaries to the Sweetwater; +muskrats were plentiful in the marsh land, and some smart +trappers made quite a little sum taking these small animals +during the season.</p> + +<p>Of course raccoons and possums abounded, as they always +do around the smaller towns all through the middle East. +Elmer, waking in the night and coming out to stretch +his legs because the presence of five in a small tent +cramped the quarters somewhat, amused himself for some +time in listening to the various sounds that came from the +woods close by.</p> + +<p>To one not familiar with the voices of the forest folks, +these might have passed as unmeaning noises, but he could +place every one. In imagination he saw the bushy-tailed +coon trying to scoop up a fish from the end of the log +that ran down into the water; he could follow the movements +of the fat possum climbing the tree to her nest in a +hollow limb, and that angry snarling he understood came +from a couple of slim mink who had met while patrolling +the bank of a small creek on their nightly rounds.</p> + +<p>Morning came at last, and as the boys emerged from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +tent, the first thing they did was to take a plunge in the +river. Even Landy was on hand, looking very comical, it is +true, with his stained hands and face, but feeling quite +"chipper," as he declared, when Elmer asked concerning +the state of his health.</p> + +<p>They could all swim, of course, even Landy, who earlier +in the season had been utterly ignorant concerning the first +rudiments of how to keep afloat; but association with the +other scouts in camp had caused him to take lessons, and +Elmer had shown him how useful the knowledge of swimming +may prove to any boy at some unexpected time.</p> + +<p>"Whose turn to go for milk this morning?" asked Elmer, +after they had dressed.</p> + +<p>"I reckon it's mine," remarked Ty. "Some other fellow +must start getting breakfast, then. Perhaps Adam +may turn out as good a cook as he is a diver. Here, give +me the directions how to take that short cut to the farmer's +shack."</p> + +<p>So, presently, Ty wandered off, carrying the tin pail for +the milk. The getting of breakfast went on apace. Adam +seemed willing to act as an assistant to Elmer, and between +them they soon had things in an advanced stage.</p> + +<p>"Thay, that Ty ought to be here with the lacteal fluid," +remarked Ted, who often amused his chums by spouting +big words.</p> + +<p>"That's so," remarked Elmer, "and as Adam is busy +here and poor old Landy recuperating from a bad attack +of sunburn, I'll appoint you a committee of one to meander +along the trail and hustle Ty up."</p> + +<p>Ted hurried away, for he was beginning to feel the gnawing +sensation of a hunger that always attacks growing boys +soon after arising. Besides, that cold dip seemed to just +give them all an additional zest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ten minutes later Landy jumped up in considerable excitement.</p> + +<p>"Look there, fellers!" he exclaimed, pointing along +the trail over which Ted had recently passed, "ain't that +our chum Ted comin' back on the dead run and waving +his hands like fun? Tell you what, something's just gone +and happened to Ty! That's what he gets for making fun +of me. P'raps he's run across a rattlesnake! You know +that farmer said they killed one up here last year, and we +did the same early this season. Oh, my, I hope not!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE LURE OF THE RED FLAG.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What's</span> the matter?" demanded Elmer, as Ted came +reeling into camp, quite out of breath; but upon seeing +that the other had a huge grin on his face he knew the +news he was bringing could not be so very serious after all.</p> + +<p>"Ty!" was all the runner could gasp at first.</p> + +<p>"Yes, what about him?" Elmer exclaimed; while +Landy laid a quivering hand on Ted's arm and inquired:</p> + +<p>"'Taint a rattlesnake, I hope, this time, Ted?"</p> + +<p>The other shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>"Bull!" he articulated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he means that our poor pard has been chewed up +by a bulldog!" cried Landy. "And Ty never did like +dogs, either; only hot ones at the county fair."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" whispered Ted. "Gentleman cow, you thee, +and the motht thavage looking beatht ever. Wow!"</p> + +<p>"A bull! Now I know what you mean," Landy went +on, as the light of understanding broke over his mottled +countenance. "Some of these farmers up here do keep +terrors, and enter them in the exhibition for prizes. But +what did the bull do to our poor chum Ty?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know; didn't ask Ty," replied the other, now +beginning to get his breath back again fairly well, so that +his voice, lisp and all, was audible. "You thee, I wath +jutht about to thaunter acroth a field, when I heard thome +one yelling like the dickenth. Then I thaw a big red bull +pawing the grath at the foot of a tree; and there wath<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +Ty, ath big ath life, thitting up on a limb. That'th all I +thaw, for the bull tharted after me, and I got over the +fenthe like fun."</p> + +<p>The boys stared at each other; then a wide grin began +to appear on their faces. Since it seemed as though their +chum had not been seriously injured they could not resist +the temptation to chuckle over the comical aspect of the +adventure.</p> + +<p>"Say, perhaps the bull just went and heaved Ty up in +that tree," suggested Landy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hardly think it went as far as that," said Elmer. +"The chances are, Ty had plenty of warning, and climbed +without any help from the beast."</p> + +<p>"But why would the bull hang around all the time?" +asked the fat boy, wonderingly. "Bulls don't feed on +boys, do they?"</p> + +<p>"Not very often," laughed Elmer. "But they do seem +to hate a certain color above all things on this earth. You +remember that the Spaniards use a red flag to make the +bull attack in the ring?"</p> + +<p>Then Landy saw a great light.</p> + +<p>"Ty's famous old red sweater, that's what!" he +shouted. "It's gone and pulled him into a peck of trouble, +for a fact. And just last night he was blowing about +what a great help it had been to him. Say, he must be +in a nice pickle now, hey?"</p> + +<p>"Breakfast will have to wait a while," declared Elmer; +"while the whole bunch of us sally out to rescue our +chum in distress. You know the rules of the organization. +Come on, fellows."</p> + +<p>Even while speaking, Elmer had placed the coffee pot +and the frying pan aside, as far away from the fire as they +could go without losing their heat. Adam, Landy and Ted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +were apparently only too willing to accompany him on his +errand of mercy.</p> + +<p>Following a trail that led through the woods, they +finally came to an open field. It had just one tree, and +that growing some distance from the high rail fence.</p> + +<p>"There's the bull, just as Ted said," remarked Elmer, +as they looked.</p> + +<p>"And he's about the ugliest critter I ever laid eyes on, +for a fact," remarked Landy. "My goodness! Look at +him tossing up the dirt with those nasty little black horns, +would you! And he's punched holes through that tin pail +the farmer's women folks loaned us, too. I can see Ty now, +because of that nice red sweater he wears. He's waving +at us, and there he shouts!"</p> + +<p>"Hey, call him off, fellers! Somebody go and coax him +around to that other end of the field. I want to come +down. Been up here 'most an hour, I guess, and I'm getting +tired of it. Elmer, you know how to do the business. +Landy, s'pose you climb over and let him see you. He +won't be able to resist trying for such a fat prize!"</p> + +<p>"Listen to his nerve, boys," complained Landy. "He +wants me to sacrifice myself on the altar of friendship for +him. Just as if I could ever climb over this fence again, +if that holy terror came snorting and rampaging for me! +I guess not."</p> + +<p>"No need to, Landy," laughed Elmer, as he noted the +indignation of the fat boy. "We'll find some way to get +Ty out of his fix without taking chances of your climbing +a fence in one, two, three order."</p> + +<p>"Hurry up!" came floating across the field from the +tree, among the branches of which the owner of the red +sweater was waving frantically.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Firtht thing to be done, he ought to get out of that +thweater, don't you think, Elmer?" inquired Ted.</p> + +<p>"That's right, and I'll tell him so"; and, accordingly, +raising his voice, he informed Ty that if he expected them +to do anything toward effecting his rescue he must rid +himself of the garment that was exciting the fighting spirit +in the bull.</p> + +<p>Of course that went against the grain of Ty; but when +the others refused to make the first move until he had +complied, he went about the task with evident ill humor.</p> + +<p>"But he ain't leaving it hanging in the tree, Elmer," +announced Landy, whose eyesight seemed to be all right +this morning, however defective it may have been on the +previous evening after his engagement with that poison +vine. "He's stuffing it inside his shirt, I do declare!"</p> + +<p>"Well, that doesn't matter," the patrol leader remarked; +"so long as he gets rid of it. And now, boys, +you stay here to help him over when he comes. I'm going +to go around to the other side and tempt the bull. Fortunately +I've got a red bandana handkerchief myself, +which I wear cowboy style around my neck; and that +ought to be a good enough bait for Mr. Bull."</p> + +<p>"Oh, be careful, Elmer; don't stay in the field too long, +because he might get you," pleaded Landy.</p> + +<p>"You let Elmer alone," said Ted. "He knowth hith +buthineth all right. He cometh from the ranch country, +where they breed bullth. All right, Elmer; we'll get buthy +when Ty getth here. Good luck to you!"</p> + +<p>Elmer, when a little distance away, stopped to hold a +short talk with the boy up in the tree. It happened that +the border of the field varied, and this spot was a trifle +closer than any other.</p> + +<p>"Now, listen, Ty," he shouted, after he had succeeded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +in attracting the attention of the other; "I'm going over +to that spot that's farthest away. When the bull gets a +good start for me, you slip down, and run for all you're +worth straight to where the other fellows are waiting. +Try and keep the trunk of the tree between you and the +bull all you can. And if he chases you too hard, throw +that red sweater aside. He may stop to toss it a few +times, and that'll give you a chance to make the fence. +Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's all clear enough; but hold his attention as +long as you can, Elmer, because it looks like a whole mile +over to that fence!" Ty called back.</p> + +<p>So Elmer kept on around the field. The place he had +selected as the scene of operations was exactly opposite +where he had left the other three fellows; and he considered +this a favorable circumstance, indeed, as it increased +the chances of the boy in the tree.</p> + +<p>When he had finally arrived, Elmer took the red bandana +handkerchief from his neck, and climbed over the +fence. Of course, not being a professional bullfighter, he +did not mean to get far away from his base, and expected +to make good use of that same fence when the crisis came.</p> + +<p>Immediately he began to shout and wave that defiant +banner, the bull took notice. Since the color that he detested +so heartily seemed to have been transferred from +the boy in the tree to the one on the ground, so the interest +of the bull changed.</p> + +<p>He instantly started on a mad run toward Elmer, galloping +along in a way that seemed to indicate a desire to +be out after business.</p> + +<p>"Get down, quick, Ty, and run for all you're worth!" +shouted Elmer, still waving his bandana, and at the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +time trying to correctly gauge the speed of his enemy, +so that he could get out of harm's way in ample time.</p> + +<p>"Jump, Elmer!" shrieked Landy, who was perched on +the top of the fence across the field, and could not tell just +how close the bull had arrived to his chum.</p> + +<p>Ty had meanwhile dropped out of the tree, and was +heading for them as fast as his nimble legs, aided by his +fright, could carry him. But as he had said, it was quite +some distance, and his heart seemed to be in his mouth +every second of the time he was in transit.</p> + +<p>"There! Elmer's made for the fence at last!" cried +Landy. "Oh, look at that rush of the bull, would you! +But Elmer was too quick for him, and he's over the fence +and out. Oh, my, just hear that crash when the old bull +banged into the fence! Now, will you be good, you monster? +He's looking around, and I just hope he don't see +poor old Ty making this way!"</p> + +<p>"Py chimineddy! He's goming pack!" declared Adam.</p> + +<p>"He is, and like a whirlwind, too!" gasped Landy. +"Oh! now we won't be able to help our chum a little +bit. Run faster, Ty; let out another kink! He's after +you!"</p> + +<p>Evidently there was no need to tell poor Ty that dismal +fact, for he had been taking frequent observations over +his left shoulder as he galloped along. Perhaps he did +let out another "kink," as Landy expressed it; but if so, +the fact was not very noticeable, so rapidly was the bull +overtaking him.</p> + +<p>But Ty had not forgotten that last instruction given +him by the one who knew bulls from the ground up, their +little weaknesses as well as their ferocious habits. The +friendly fence, with his three anxious chums perched on the +top rail, was not so very far away; but to his eyes it seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +a long distance, and he just knew he could never make it +before being overtaken.</p> + +<p>In vain did Landy, Adam and Ted wave their arms, +shouting at the top of their voices, in the hope of attracting +the attention of the animal; or perhaps alarming him; +he kept doggedly on, aiming straight for the fleeing boy, +whose legs by this time seemed to wabble under him, possibly +through sheer fright.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE FINISH OF TY'S FAMOUS SWEATER.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Every</span> one of the three scouts, waiting at the fence to +assist Ty over, should he be fortunate enough to arrive +ahead of the enraged bull, held his breath with suspense.</p> + +<p>They could easily see that at the rate of progress made +by their unfortunate chum, he must certainly be overtaken +before he could arrive and have a chance to clamber over +that high and stout rail fence, supposed to be bull proof.</p> + +<p>But they failed to take into consideration the fact that +Ty had profited more than a little from his connection +with the scouts. And, besides, all through his exciting +race with that owner of the wicked little black horns, he +had kept in mind the last instructions shouted across the +field by Elmer, the boy who had spent a part of his life +on a cattle ranch and farm, and was supposed to know +all about the habits of the animals.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's sure a goner!" gasped Landy, as they saw the +rapidly advancing bull draw nearer and nearer the frantic +runner. "Poor old Ty; I wonder will we be able to catch +him on the fly!"</p> + +<p>Landy was evidently thinking of baseball, though his +excitement was so great that he hardly knew just what +was passing through his mind.</p> + +<p>"Look at that, will you?" burst from Ted.</p> + +<p>Ty had waited until all hope of gaining the fence seemed +to have fled. Over his shoulder he could see his terrible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +enemy closing in and apparently putting on greater speed. +If anything was to be done it must be accomplished without +the loss of another second.</p> + +<p>It was then that he suddenly drew something from the +bosom of his outing shirt. This "something" proved to +be that old red sweater which he had refused to leave in +the crotch of the friendly tree, into the branches of which +he had hurriedly climbed at the time he was first beset.</p> + +<p>He waved the flaming garment wildly about his head in +order to make sure that it caught the eye of the bull; +and once that was done it might be put down as certain +that the animal would see nothing else than that hated +color.</p> + +<p>"Wow! He's done it!" cried Landy, as his fat face +was pressed tight against the rails of the fence, between +which he had an uninterrupted view of the proceedings.</p> + +<p>Ty had thrown the red sweater aside.</p> + +<p>It floated to the ground as the slight breeze caught its +extended folds, and must have presented quite an inviting +picture to the inflamed orbs of the bull.</p> + +<p>Would he stop short to pay attention to the object of +his wrath, forgetting all about the boy who was fleeing +toward safety? Elmer did not once doubt it. He knew +that this was a familiar trick among the picadors in the +arena during a Spanish bullfight; and one that seldom +fails, if properly carried out.</p> + +<p>Still, he held his breath with anxiety during that brief +space of time; for if the trick did not succeed, Ty would +very likely be in for an experience that must prove exceedingly +painful, if not positively dangerous.</p> + +<p>But the red sweater did not fail its owner. Long had +Ty worn that same garment proudly, in spite of jeers and +caustic comments on the part of his comrades. And if it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +were fated to meet destruction at this time, at least it +would serve a very useful purpose.</p> + +<p>The animal saw the descending flag that incited his +anger. Immediately he pulled up short, and began to gore +the inoffensive article, thrusting his horns through it, while +holding it down with his forefeet at the same time. In +this way it was quickly rent into fragments, which the +triumphant bull seemed to take great delight in tossing +up into the air, as he bellowed with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>And so the puffing Ty was enabled to reach the fence. +Willing hands were extended to him, and with a rush he +found himself drawn to safety.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cheered Landy. "You beat him to a frazzle, +Ty! That was as clever a little trick as I ever heard +tell of."</p> + +<p>"All right," grunted the saved one, as he glared venomously +between the rails of the fence; "but would you +see what he's doing to my fine old sweater? That makes +me feel sick. Two years now I've worn that, and she was +sure good for another."</p> + +<p>"But, man alive, think of what he would have done to +you only for that sweater!" exclaimed the fat boy.</p> + +<p>"Vat's de madder mit you, Ty?" demanded Adam, who +looked at things without the least bit of sentiment; "you +pet my life I vould pe gladder as anydings if I pe in your +blace. Let der pull alone; he's enchoying himself. Shake +vonce on dot narrow escape. Py chimineddy! Mine heart +it vas yump in my throat yust as you throw dot sweater +avay!"</p> + +<p>But Ty refused to be consoled. The sight of the animal +running around as if looking for him, with a sad portion +of the beloved sweater fastened to one of his ugly little +horns, made him grit his teeth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Huh!" he said, disdainfully. "You fellers just think +it's fine because you never did appreciate that beautiful +old sweater; but if you think you're going to get free +from seeing me look like myself, you've got another guess +coming, that's what. Say, d'ye think I'm going to let an +old one-eyed bull knock me out of wearing what I fancy? +If I feel like it I'll put on six red coats."</p> + +<p>"Hath he got only one eye, Ty?" asked Ted, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"That's a fact, boys; didn't I see it glaring up at me +time and again, when the sly old critter'd pretend to be +eating grass, and hoping I'd come down," Ty answered, +promptly enough.</p> + +<p>"Then jutht think what might have happened to you, +my thon, if the old bull had happened to potheth <i>two</i> +eyeth," remarked Ted, soberly.</p> + +<p>Ty would not even smile, he was so angry at the sacrifice +of his garment. Climbing up on the topmost rail of +the fence, he shook his fist at the prancing bull, and even +shouted all sorts of things at him.</p> + +<p>"That don't wind it up, not by a long sight!" he declared. +"I know where I can get a better sweater than +that old one, and for three dollars, too. I've got that and +more in my bank at home; and the very first thing I do +when I get back will be to bust that same bank open and +go down to Selfridge's department store. Oh, have all +the fun you want with it, you one-eyed beast; but some +day perhaps I'll get even with you!"</p> + +<p>"Better forget all that, Ty," remarked Elmer, coming +up at this moment. "You had ought to be so tickled over +making such a narrow escape that you'd never bother +your head over the loss of that worn-out old thing."</p> + +<p>"Worn-out nothing," declared the aroused Ty. "I +could have had good use out of that sweater this fall, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +football. But never mind; I know just what I'm going to +do about it."</p> + +<p>"Nothing foolish, I hope," observed the patrol leader, +as he cast an apprehensive glance toward the bull.</p> + +<p>"Buy that other red sweater that's hung in the window +of our big store this month and more. Perhaps, after all, +I may not be so sorry, because it's much brighter than that +old one; and some of the boys will let out a howl when +they first see me in it."</p> + +<p>Ty actually allowed a grin to appear on his face at the +thought of this; which would apparently indicate that his +anger was not so very deep after all.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow," continued Elmer, "I want to tell you, Ty, +old fellow, that you did that little trick as fine as silk!"</p> + +<p>"D'ye think so, Elmer?" remarked the other, looking +pleased; for what boy does not like the appreciation of his +fellows?</p> + +<p>"You certainly did. I've seen cowboys go through with +that act many a time, but never any better than you did +it," Elmer went on to say. "The only thing I was afraid +of was, you might throw it in such a doubled-up way that +it would not catch the eye of the bull. But you shook +it out all right; and once he saw it he could look at nothing +else after that."</p> + +<p>"Say, I did that on purpose, sure I did, Elmer," declared +Ty, eagerly. "Seemed to me that it was the proper +caper to try. And she worked all right, too. But look +here, fellows, he put his horns through that blessed old +tin milk pail the farmer's women folks loaned us. She's +a wreck; and anyhow we couldn't get in there by the tree +to pick it up. What's to be done about it, tell me that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's only one thing to be done," laughed +Elmer, taking out half a dollar and thrusting it into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +hand of Ty. "We've just got to pay for the lost pail +and borrow another one. That's part of the funds we +raised before starting out. Are you still going to get +that milk, Ty?"</p> + +<p>"Am I? Say, twenty bulls couldn't stop me, once I +start on a thing. Milk we want for our breakfast, and +milk we're going to have, you mark me," said Ty, stubbornly.</p> + +<p>"Shake on that!" laughed Landy.</p> + +<p>"Oxcuse me, off you blease," spoke up Adam with a +sly grin; "put is dot vat you galls a milk-shake?"</p> + +<p>Elmer laughed, and at the same time looked suspiciously +at the German; for somehow he was fast coming +to the conclusion that Adam might be smarter than his +stolid appearance indicated. In fact, he believed that the +German often put on an air of extreme innocence when in +fact he was enjoying a sly little joke.</p> + +<p>"He'll bear watching," was what Elmer said to himself, +as he heard the other laughing uproariously at his own +humor, while squeezing the hands of his new chums.</p> + +<p>"But, Ty," the patrol leader remarked, with a twinkle +in his own eye, "you've learned one thing, I think."</p> + +<p>"Sure. Always to see that there's a tree in a field +before trying to cross over," said the other, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a good motto, I suppose," remarked +Elmer; "but that wasn't what I meant. You know now +that many times the longest way around is the shortest +way to the fire. After this you'll think twice before taking +a short cut."</p> + +<p>"I'll squint around for anything in the shape of a bull, +anyway," chuckled Ty.</p> + +<p>The animal had succeeded in demolishing the offensive +garment by this time, and as if to show his utter contempt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +for the whole bunch of boys, he started to crop the short, +sweet grass where he happened to be standing. Whenever +he came upon a tattered fragment of the illy treated +sweater, he would give it a toss, utter a defiant bellow, +paw the ground a little, and then calmly resume his +feeding.</p> + +<p>But doubtless all the while he was watching the boys +beyond the fence out of a corner of his eye. Elmer knew +that this must be so, for he noticed that the animal always +kept his head turned toward them.</p> + +<p>"He vas as mad as some hornets," remarked Adam, +who seemed to be particularly interested in the actions of +the bull, for he kept peering through the fence. "Aber +I haf a red sweater I vould see if he likes to yump at me. +Oxcuse me, Elmer, put let me haf de loan off dis."</p> + +<p>He deftly took the bandana handkerchief from the hands +of the patrol leader, as Elmer was about to fasten it once +more around his own neck; for he had used it to attract +the attention of the bull, it may be remembered, when at +the other side of the field; and events had followed so +rapidly since, that he had not found a chance to replace +the handkerchief where it belonged.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, no foolish business, Adam!" cried Elmer, +clutching a leg of the German as he started to mount the +fence.</p> + +<p>"Nein! I haf no vish to get me a grafeyard in kevick," +Adam declared. "Only I vould like to see if dot pad +egg oudt in der field vould run at me like he dood at Ty. +You pet my life I vill not yump <i>inside</i> de fence; and dot's +no choke, Elmer."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Elmer released his clutch, and the stout +German climbed nimbly to the top of the fence. Here he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +began to wave the handkerchief in the most brazen manner, +at the same time calling out defiantly at the animal.</p> + +<p>At first the bull refused to listen, but kept on grazing; +though doubtless the sight of the hated color was working +upon him.</p> + +<p>"See him edging this way, would you, the sly old sinner!" +called Landy.</p> + +<p>"He's getting ready for a rush," remarked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Adam; be ready to drop off there!" cried +Landy.</p> + +<p>"And be thure not to take the wrong thide, or you'll +be in for it!" admonished Ted, a little nervously.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the beast threw off the mask, so to speak. He +made a plunge, and was immediately in motion, coming +with lowered head on the full run, and heading for the +spot where Adam stood on the fence flaunting that flag +of defiance.</p> + +<p>"He's off!" yelled Landy. "Jump, Adam, before he +knocks you into the field! Oh, ain't he just the limit, +though; and as mad as they make 'em! Jump, why don't +you? Elmer make him come down! Perhaps he's got his +foot caught, and can't drop out!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A DOUBLE-ACTION JOKE.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Jump</span>, Adam!" called Elmer.</p> + +<p>The German had waited as long as he dared, and as if +the voice of the patrol leader gave him the sign, he suddenly +made a backward spring, turned a somersault in the +air, just as he had done from the springboard when swimming, +and landed squarely on his feet.</p> + +<p>Crash!</p> + +<p>That was the bull striking head-on against the fence. +And it was fortunate for the other boys, as well as Adam, +perhaps, that the owner of the bull had made that fence +additionally strong. Had it given way before the onslaught +of the animal the chances were Elmer and his mates would +have had to do some lively running to get clear.</p> + +<p>But the fence held, though it wabbled suspiciously, and +Elmer felt sure that a few more such blows must have demolished +the barrier completely.</p> + +<p>"Don't you wish you could, old fellow?" taunted +Landy, after he had made sure of the fact that the animal +was going to be held back.</p> + +<p>The bull looked through the fence, snorted, pawed the +earth, and let out an angry bellow. Then he walked disdainfully +away, as though satisfied with the victory he had +gained, that one fragment of the torn red sweater still +floating from his horn, just for all the world, as Ty remarked, +"like a flag at half mast."</p> + +<p>"Come, let's hike back to camp, boys," remarked Elmer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +moving off, "and finish getting our breakfast ready. By +the time Ty manages to come along we'll be fixed for business."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll show up in decent shape, all right," remarked +the other. "This time I'll take no rash chances in crossing +fields. Around the fence is good enough for me, I guess."</p> + +<p>He was as prompt as his word, and came along with his +pail of fresh milk just as Elmer was beating the tattoo on +the frying pan that summoned the party to breakfast.</p> + +<p>"What did they say up at the farmer's, Ty!" asked +Landy.</p> + +<p>"Not guilty," replied the other, who was cramming his +mouth with a portion of the flapjacks Elmer had made, and +which were really fine.</p> + +<p>"Now, what's the use of giving us puzzles to solve!" +complained the fat boy, as he speared his second helping +from the tin platter, and proceeded to deluge the same with +some maple syrup that had been brought along in a bottle. +"Not guilty of what, say!"</p> + +<p>"That ain't their bull, you see," remarked Ty.</p> + +<p>"And tho they declined to buy you a new thweater, ith +that it, Ty?" asked Ted, a little maliciously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, rats!" cried the other; "you know right well I'm +not built that way, Ted Burgoyne. Never once thought of +trying to make anybody pay for my foolishness in trying +to cut across a field that had a bull in it. I only mentioned +the fact because, you see, I had to explain what happened +to their tin bucket, when I was paying for it. But after all +they wouldn't accept the money—said it was only an old +pail after all, and the farmer he told me I ought to be glad +it was the bull, and not me, that kicked the bucket."</p> + +<p>"Bully for the farmer!" said Landy, or at least that +was what the others took it for granted he meant, since his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +mouth was so full of flapjack that he could hardly do more +than mutter.</p> + +<p>After breakfast was over they started to carry out the +various duties or pleasures which each fellow had in view. +One wanted to take a few pictures, and, of course, this was +Landy, though his mates solemnly warned him to be careful +what vines he touched while in the woods. Another declared +he felt like trying to tempt some of the finny denizens +of the river from their beds on this bright morning. This +was Adam, and he had brought along a lot of new tackle, +as well as a fine jointed rod, to prove that he was as good +a fisherman as he was a water dog.</p> + +<p>Elmer chose to potter around the camp. There were always +plenty of things that could be done to improve conditions +and add to the general comfort of those who occupied +the tent and cooked at the fireplace made of stones. +And having the true sportsman spirit in his composition, +he was never more happy than when arranging these many +little details connected with the camp.</p> + +<p>He improved the fireplace so that the coffee pot would +not tilt and threaten to upset from the three metal crossbars +that formed a gridiron; he dug the drain at the back of +the tent a little deeper, so that in case of a sudden heavy +downpour the surplus water would be carried off and not +inundate the tent, and, finally, he finished the rude but +effective table on which they could place their food at +meal times, and even had a couple of short sections of log +rolled up so as to take the place of seats when they dined.</p> + +<p>Ty, after the breakfast things had been washed up and +put away, wandered off somewhere. And Ted was supposed +to be fishing farther down the stream, he, too, having +expressed a wish for a real fish dinner that night, if so +be the bass in the Sweetwater were in a "taking" humor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>Several times when Elmer stood up to rest the muscles +of his back, and consider what he would do next, he happened +to cast a curious look up to where Adam had taken +his position on the bank of the river.</p> + +<p>Apparently the fish did not respond to the urgent invitations +of the German boy as well as he had expected, +or else Adam's education with regard to the ways the +American black bass has to be attracted to the bait had +been neglected.</p> + +<p>For some time he was industriously seen threshing the +water as though issuing a call to all the fish in the river +to come and have a bite with him. Of course that was just +the opposite of what he should have done; for bass are +shy and have to be tempted in quietness.</p> + +<p>Elmer chuckled to himself when first he noticed what the +new scout was doing.</p> + +<p>"Looks like Adam is densely ignorant along our ways +of fishing," he thought. "Wonder now what kind of fish +he's ever caught that style on the other side of the ocean. +Perhaps he never wet a line before in all his life. I noticed +that he watched Ted closely, and imitated him exactly in +setting up his line, even to the float Ted always persists in +using."</p> + +<p>The third time Elmer looked it was perhaps an hour +after Adam had started fishing, and he saw that a change +had come over the manner of the young Teuton. He was +no longer casting out again and again with a great splashing +of the water. On the contrary, he sat astride the tree +trunk that jutted out some eight feet above the water. +His line ran downstream and the float could be seen bobbing +in the midst of the little bubbles that marked an +eddy below.</p> + +<p>Elmer watched him closely for five minutes, and not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +once in all that time did he see the other move in the +least.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare, I believe the fellow's gone to sleep!" +he laughed. "I reckon Adam isn't used to camping out, +and on that account he's had poor rest these two nights. +And that hot sun is enough to make any fellow feel drowsy, +too. Whew, what if he nodded too hard and just dropped +off there! Perhaps I'd better go and wake him up. And +while I'm about it I can just give him a few pointers as to +how he'll have at least a decent chance to coax a few bass +to his bait."</p> + +<p>Filled with this feeling of comradery toward the new +recruit, whom he was fast learning to like because of his +constant good-nature and really witty remarks, Elmer +started away from the camp.</p> + +<p>It just chanced that instead of heading directly for +Adam, he walked first of all out to the river bank. Looking +downstream he could just see Ted busily engaged in +landing a fish that seemed to be fighting hard, and this told +that the bass were "on the feed," if only one knew how +to attract them.</p> + +<p>The idea of that sleepy Adam dozing there and letting +the golden harvest time slip by unheeded made Elmer +laugh again. He even allowed himself to imagine that it +would just about pay Adam right if he crept up and gave +his line a sudden tug, to make him think he had a bite.</p> + +<p>Just then something moving attracted his attention. It +was directly below the boy who sat astraddle of the projecting +log, and a little farther downstream.</p> + +<p>Ty, why of course it was that party, though minus his +distinguishing red sweater, which was now, alas, no more. +But what under the sun was he doing there? As near as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +Elmer could see he appeared to be industriously attaching +some bulky object to the end of a line!</p> + +<p>All at once what seemed to be the truth burst upon the +patrol leader. Ty had also noticed the sleeping Dutchman, +and was bent upon having a little joke at the expense of +Adam. Yes, he had managed to draw the line of the fisherman +in, by the aid of a long stick that had a crotch at the +end, and was now fastening a bunch of hemlock browse, +done up to represent a big fish, to the end of the same.</p> + +<p>When all was ready and the current pulled strongly at +the bulky object, possibly the additional strain might +arouse Adam, who would immediately think he had hooked +a monster bass, and doubtless the ensuing excitement would +tickle the joker to the top of his bent.</p> + +<p>And if Adam did not wake up himself, it would be easy +for Ty to creep under the projecting log until he could +reach out and give the line a jerk.</p> + +<p>So Elmer concluded that he might as well wait and see +the fun. Being a boy himself, he liked anything that partook +of clean sport, so long as the joke did not border along +the cruel or mean stage.</p> + +<p>Now Ty had dropped his artificial fish back into the river. +The swift current that ran farther out did not seize upon +it at once, for there was an eddy and a rather deep pool at +the spot Adam had selected for his fishing. Consequently +the pull upon the line did not seem to come up to the expectations +of the joker.</p> + +<p>Ty crouched there waiting for results.</p> + +<p>The minutes passed and all remained peaceful and serene. +Adam seemed to be enjoying a lovely sleep. His head was +upon his chest and his whole figure appeared to be in a +relaxed state.</p> + +<p>Twice did Ty rise up to stare at the boy who sat there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +straddling that log, as though he wondered why Adam did +not arouse to the occasion. Plainly, the practical joker +would have had his labor for his pains unless something +was done to start things moving.</p> + +<p>The third time Ty seemed to come to this conclusion himself, +for instead of merely observing the sleeping fisherman +he started to advance toward him.</p> + +<p>At this point the bank of the river was hollowed out somewhat. +There was just about enough footing below for an +agile boy to clamber along and keep from being precipitated +into the water.</p> + +<p>Elmer chuckled quietly.</p> + +<p>"It's coming," he said to himself, as he prepared to see +more or less excitement around that region. "Looks like +Adam might be due to a little surprise party."</p> + +<p>Ty had finally managed to crawl far enough along the +narrow ledge. He was apparently directly below the log +that stuck out from the bank above him. Elmer judged +this by the way the other craned his neck in order to look +up.</p> + +<p>"Now he's got his chance, if he can only reach that +dangling line!" he thought.</p> + +<p>Apparently Ty realized the same thing, for he was seen +to be extending that same crotched stick that had before +proven so useful.</p> + +<p>In this fashion he speedily drew the line in toward him, +gently, so as not to arouse the fisherman before he was +ready to give him a good hard shock.</p> + +<p>"Pull up the curtain, the stage is all ready!" Elmer +said to himself, as he kept close watch on the movements of +the boy below.</p> + +<p>He could see Ty taking a firm grip on the dangling line +as though he meant to have it no halfway affair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, go!" exclaimed the watcher.</p> + +<p>Just as though Ty might have been waiting for some +such order, he was seen to suddenly tighten his hold, and +then give a tremendous jerk, that was surely calculated to +make Adam believe the champion bass of the Sweetwater +had taken his bait and gorged it.</p> + +<p>Then something happened, something that doubtless the +practical joker crouching below had not anticipated as a +result of his prank.</p> + +<p>Adam seemed to suddenly awaken. He was evidently +greatly excited, and as he made a wild clutch at the butt +of his rod, which had been partly jerked out of his grasp +by the violence of that bite, he just naturally lost his seat +on the log.</p> + +<p>Elmer saw him gracefully slide around the trunk of the +fallen tree and go down with arms and legs sprawled out +like an immense frog. And, strange to say, as he dropped +his extended arms seemed to suddenly clasp Ty in their embrace, +for both of them went headlong into the river with +a tremendous splash!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>STRANGE SOUNDS FROM THE WATER.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Adam</span> did that on purpose!" was what Elmer exclaimed, +as he saw how the arms of the falling German +boy pulled Ty with him into the pool under the log.</p> + +<p>That great splash was surely enough to frighten away +any bass that might even have had the hardihood to remain +around, after the vigorous threshing of the water by the +greenhorn fisherman.</p> + +<p>Of course the two boys immediately came to the surface. +Ty was spouting water like a young whale; but Adam +seemed to be all right. He made a few strokes after his +original fashion, that had so aroused the admiration of +Landy, and arriving at the bank, climbed up.</p> + +<p>Ty made a great deal more fuss as he churned his +way to the shore; and Elmer, who had hastened up so +as to witness what followed, could see that there was a +look of wonder, almost awe, on the face of the practical +joker. The results had been so sudden, and so disastrous +to himself, that he could hardly understand just what had +happened.</p> + +<p>"Ach! put dot vas sooch a surprises to me, Ty," remarked +Adam, from the shore; "I dinks me I haf ketch +de biggest fish in der river; undt ven I throw oudt mine +arms to pull him in, py chinks, it vas only you, having +some fun py me. How goes it, londsman; I hopes you +enchoy yourself mooch. Subbose you go pack, undt get +my fishing pole, vich is floating down der stream."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>He gave Ty a push as the other tried to clamber out +on the bank and forced him in again. The other showed +signs of fight until Elmer, sizing up the situation, called +out:</p> + +<p>"That's only fair, Ty; you made him lose his rod, as +well as take a ducking with his clothes on. Get the rod +again, and let him pull in his fish."</p> + +<p>Possibly Ty realized the justice of this claim; or it +might be he felt disposed to take his medicine gracefully, +for with a laugh he swam out again, as well as he was +able with his garments clinging to his limbs, secured the +rod, which had partly sunk, and came back with it in one +hand.</p> + +<p>As if to prove that he harbored no animosity, Adam +frankly stretched out his hand and helped Ty ashore. +There they stood, dripping wet, and laughing at each +other.</p> + +<p>"Oxcuse me, Ty," said the German lad, making a queer +face; "put I haf to laugh, it is so funny! You dinks to +make me some droubles, and by shiminy you fall indo de +same hole yourself. So, dere is two of us!"</p> + +<p>"The joke is on Ty," announced Elmer. "I saw the +whole thing, and I want Adam to own up right now that +he had one eye open all the while, and was watching what +was going on."</p> + +<p>Adam looked up at him with a leer on his square face; +then he shut one eye and deliberately winked at Elmer.</p> + +<p>"I subbose dot I vas nodt so much asleep as somepody +pelieves," he said; and that was the only confession they +could get out of him.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, as the weather was so very warm, there +was no danger of either of the boys taking cold after their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +ducking. Neither of them would bother changing their +garments, or attempting to dry those they had on.</p> + +<p>"Let 'em dry on me," said Ty, whose good-nature had +returned, though he declared that everything had conspired +to upset all his calculations that morning; what with +the obstinate bull, and now the clumsy Dutchman who +had to throw out his arm and pull him into the river along +with himself.</p> + +<p>Ted had come up from his fishing place below to ask +what all the row was about.</p> + +<p>"Fact ith, you have buthted up the fithing for thith +morning," he declared, with some show of indignation. +"If you mutht kick up a racket, why under the thun don't +you go off by yourthelf and do it. I got theven fith, and +one of 'em a beaut. And the biggetht of the bunch wath +jutht going to take hold when you had to make all that +beathtly row."</p> + +<p>When, however, the thing was explained to him, Ted +enjoyed the joke as well as Elmer had. He declared that +he would wander along down the river to another promising +hole he remembered seeing. And Elmer, thinking that +the German boy might as well begin taking some lessons +in bass fishing, agreed to accompany Adam upstream a +little distance, to try for a capture.</p> + +<p>"Hey, that was just the greatest thing ever!" called +out a voice; and Landy was seen approaching from above, +waving his little kodak in glee.</p> + +<p>"What's all this talk about?" demanded Ty.</p> + +<p>"I got it, that's what!" the fat boy kept on saying. +"And won't it just be a corker, though!"</p> + +<p>Elmer jumped to conclusions at this remark.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean you saw the tumble Adam and Ty +took?" he asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," Landy went on, "you see, I had just discovered +Adam sitting there asleep on that log sticking out over +the water; and I thought what a lovely subject he would +make for a picture. So I crept up till I had a good focus, +and then I pressed the button!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, go on; that wasn't all you did, was it?" asked +the patrol leader, who was able to read the open-faced +Landy like the page of a book.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, it was such a fine subject that I thought +I had ought to knock off another view, so that if one proved +poor the other might be good. And just as I was all ready, +why, it happened!"</p> + +<p>"And you snapped it off as they were falling in?" +Elmer continued.</p> + +<p>"I think I did," said Landy, eagerly; "for my finger +just pressed the trigger unconsciously. I was that astonished, +you see. And I'm going to develop this roll to-night. +Wouldn't it be just immense if it turned out to be a good +picture!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; something to amuse the rest of the troop, +and chase the blues away," grunted Ty, as he hunched his +shoulders and sauntered back to the camp to ascertain +what Elmer might have been doing there.</p> + +<p>Elmer did take Adam up the river a piece, and finding +a promising spot where there seemed to be a likelihood of +bass frequenting, he proceeded to instruct the other in the +rudiments of the art.</p> + +<p>Adam took to it from the very first. He was frank +enough to confess that he had never done any fishing in +the old country, and was therefore utterly green; but he +showed an aptitude for catching on to what Elmer told +him; and before they had been an hour at work he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +not only succeeded in hooking a fine specimen of the gamey +bass, but played and landed him in great style.</p> + +<p>"You'll do, I reckon, now, Adam; so I'll leave you here +and go back to camp. Be sure you come in when you hear +the signal, which will be three loud cooies."</p> + +<p>At noon, when the fishermen gave it up for the day, as +the heat stopped all biting on the part of the bass, it was +found that while Ted had caught seven fair-sized fish, +five of them bass, one a large perch, and a sucker that was +the largest Elmer had ever seen around that region, Adam +had brought in two bass and a big catfish.</p> + +<p>"Py shiminy crickets, dot feller vas dry some foolishness +py me," he said, as he held up the still wriggling +catfish; "I haf drouples to get him off der hook; and he +sthick me dwice so hardt in der finger. Ooch! put it do +feel sore yet somedimes. I dink me he preak off some +dot thorn in der pone."</p> + +<p>"That's another lesson you must learn, Adam," said +Elmer. "The catfish has ugly spines that hurt like fun +when you run your hand against them. I guess they're +poisoned, like the tail of the stingy-ray, down South. I've +known a fellow who had a running sore for a month after +being stuck by the fin of a cat. And, Ted, seems to me +here's another chance to use that colored stuff that was +so fine with Landy."</p> + +<p>"Right-o, Elmer," exclaimed the other, making a dive +for the tent to look up his medicine bag.</p> + +<p>So Adam grinned, and allowed the "doctor" to paint +his hand in the region where the spines of the catfish had +penetrated with such painful results. Indeed, he declared +an hour later that the pain had all departed; and Elmer +concluded from this that permanganate of potash was good +to use on all sorts of poison wounds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I believe," he went on to say, "that if I was struck +on the arm by a rattler, I'd cut the wound open some, +suck all the poison I could out, providing I had no scratch +or sore about my mouth, and then take my chances, after +painting it freely with the strongest solution of this potash +I could bear. Yes, and I think I'd come out much better +than those who believe in soaking the patient with +whisky."</p> + +<p>The afternoon they spent in resting up. Indeed, it was +unusually hot, and somehow none of them aspired to exert +themselves any more than they could help.</p> + +<p>Adam had offered to clean the fish, after he had been +shown how, and made quite a good job of it, being very +particular, after the fashion of his kind. And Elmer +gave Ty the duty of seeing that the fish were served that +evening at supper. It would be a poor piece of business +if they put several days in up there on the old Sweetwater, +famous for its bass fishing, and never once enjoy a mess +of the delicious dish.</p> + +<p>They waited later than usual that evening, hoping the +air would cool off some with the setting of the sun. It +was almost dark when Ty got started with the supper. +When the fish began to fry in the pan (in which the cook +had first tried out several slices of salt pork, which grease +was made very hot before the bass, dipped in cracker-dust, +were placed in the pan), some of the boys, who had declared +they had no appetite, were observed to sit up and +take notice as they sniffed the fragrant odors that arose.</p> + +<p>"Guess you-all will come around when things are +ready," laughed Ty, who often liked to mock the Southern +scout, Chatz Maxfield, when he talked.</p> + +<p>"Well, I confeth I'm waking up," admitted Ted, +frankly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And that stuff smells mighty good, Ty," declared +Landy. "I want you to remember now that it wasn't +me said I couldn't eat a bite."</p> + +<p>"I thould thay not," laughed Ted. "Nobody would +ever believe you guilty of thuch a thilly thing. You're alwayth +hungry, Landy, and ready to gobble."</p> + +<p>"Say, now, that's what I call mean," expostulated the +fat boy, pretending to be very indignant, though these +attacks on his character were of daily, almost hourly occurrence, +and he was quite accustomed to meeting them. +"Just because I'm big, and need more to keep me up than +the rest of you, some fellows like to say I'm greedy. +'Tain't so. And some day I'll run you a match, Ty, to +see who can keep from eating a bite the longest."</p> + +<p>"Not much, you will," declared the cook. "Why, it +wouldn't be a square deal. You've got all your fat to fall +back on; and look at me, skin and bones."</p> + +<p>So they laughed and talked, as the preparations for supper +went on apace.</p> + +<p>"What're you listening to, Elmer?" asked Landy, after +some time had passed; and looking toward the patrol leader +he saw that he had his head raised in an attitude that +told of suddenly aroused interest.</p> + +<p>"I thought I heard a queer plunk just then, out there +on the river," replied the other. "Yes, there it went +again. Did you hear it, boys?"</p> + +<p>"Sure we did," replied Ty, raising his head from his +duties at the cooking fire, in between the stones that had +been fashioned somewhat after the shape of a V, with +the evening air fanning the broad end.</p> + +<p>"Whatever can it be, Elmer?" demanded Landy, his +face immediately expressing curiosity, and, perhaps, a trace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +of alarm; for anything that savored of mystery always excited +the fat boy.</p> + +<p>All of them were now interested, and listened to ascertain +whether that strange sound was repeated. Perhaps +an interval of half a minute passed. Then once more came +that plain "plunk!"</p> + +<p>"Sounds like somebody drowning, and givin' the last +gasp!" declared Ty.</p> + +<p>"Oh, let up on that thort of thuff, Ty," said Ted. +"You're alwayth thinking about thuch nathty thingth."</p> + +<p>Landy turned appealingly to the patrol leader. He realized +that if anybody ought to know what the character +of those queer sounds was, Elmer must.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Elmer?" he asked again. "The sea serpent +or only some old grand-daddy bullfrog croaking to +himself on a log. Say, perhaps that's one of them funny +old loon birds you were telling us about to-day, that can +just laugh so's to make your flesh creep! Tell us about +that, Elmer. Whatever is it? There, that time it was a +double plunkety-plunk! Now, I wonder what in the +dickens it means!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE NEWS THAT GEORGE BROUGHT.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Elmer</span> laughed.</p> + +<p>"Listen," he said, "and you'll hear some more of the +same kind."</p> + +<p>Hardly had he ceased speaking than there was another +loud "chug" heard.</p> + +<p>"My, he jumped into the water that time, sure, if it +<i>was</i> a frog!" said Landy.</p> + +<p>Then came a strange rattling sound, as of half a dozen +"plunks" all mixed up.</p> + +<p>"He threw a handful then for a change, and good +measure," remarked Elmer, dryly.</p> + +<p>"A handful of what?" echoed Ty.</p> + +<p>"Stones!" replied the patrol leader.</p> + +<p>The others stared at each other.</p> + +<p>"Is <i>that</i> what it is, then?" asked Landy, heaving a +distinct sigh of relief. "Why, of course, we all ought to +have got on to it before now. Stones always make that +kind of plunk when they drop into the water from above. +But, Elmer, whoever d'ye think it can be; and what's he +trying to do—scare us?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that remains to be seen. Suppose you fellows go +on getting supper ready, while I slip out quietly and investigate," +Elmer proposed.</p> + +<p>"Don't take too many chances, remember, Elmer," cautioned +Ty, as he turned again to his frying pan, filled with +fish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yeth, go thlow, Elmer," said Ted, shaking his head. +"You know there'th a bad lot of fellowth over in Fairfield, +alwayth ready to play trickth on travelerth. It may be they +only want to coax one of our crowd out, and then carry +him off. Take a club along with you, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"Yes, do," Landy added, thrusting a stout stick into +the hand of the patrol leader. "And use it if you have +to. Remember, one call of the wolf will bring us along +in a rush, Elmer. And I'm going to have some other +nice clubs handy, in a minute or two."</p> + +<p>"Don't go to any trouble, because you may be disappointed," +chuckled Elmer, as he pushed back into the +shadows, so that he could enter the tent.</p> + +<p>Having done this, two minutes later he was crawling out +from under the canvas at the back of the tent, having +unfastened the same by uprooting the peg at that particular +spot.</p> + +<p>Of course it was easy enough for Elmer to creep away +undetected by anyone who might be in a position to watch +the camp. His experience on the plains of the new country +up beyond the Saskatchewan River in Canada, where his +father had been in charge of a relative's ranch and farm, +was of considerable benefit to him now.</p> + +<p>Once free from the light of the fire, Elmer stopped to +listen and made up his mind concerning certain things. +Then he again pushed forward.</p> + +<p>He was now making something in the shape of a half +circuit. If he kept on long enough he would presently +bring up on the river bank below the camp; and this was +in reality his destination; for he believed that the unknown +party who was tossing those stones out into the river, with +the intention of mystifying them, must be stationed somewhere +there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>In fact, Elmer had remembered that just here the shore +made a sort of little beach, which they could have used +nicely as a landing place, had they possessed a boat. And +he had also noted the fact that there was a great abundance +of round stones there, very tempting to the average boy, +who loves to hurl such things into the water, just to see +them splash.</p> + +<p>He was drawing near this particular spot now, and in +order to avoid being seen, as his figure would be outlined +against the sky, he dropped down on his hands and knees, +crawling forward the last ten feet after this Indian fashion.</p> + +<p>The darkness was not intense, and Elmer had a pair of +unusually keen eyes. Hence, as he stopped there just +above the little beach, he was able to make out a figure +that seemed to be bent over as if searching for something.</p> + +<p>"He's hunting another relay of stones," thought Elmer, +wondering who the party could be.</p> + +<p>There was a slight possibility that it might turn out to +be some wandering hobo, who thought he might cause the +boys to temporarily abandon that fine supper, which he +could snatch up and make away with. Then, again, there +was a chance of this fellow being only one of a number of +the Fairfield roughs, who, having discovered their camp, +were bound to do all they could to make trouble.</p> + +<p>But Elmer did not take much stock in either of these +theories. He was inclined to look upon the unknown as +a friend, one of the fellows from Hickory Ridge, who had +come out to join them for the last day of their stay on the +Sweetwater.</p> + +<p>That was why he listened so keenly, for he hoped to catch +some familiar sound calculated to tell the identity of the +dusky figure below.</p> + +<p>The drone of voices from around the fire came to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +ears, telling that his four chums had taken his advice, +and were acting as though they had no particular interest +in those queer noises.</p> + +<p>Now the figure below seemed to straighten up, and Elmer +knew he meant to throw another stone, perhaps a second +volley that would rattle like shot as they came down on +the surface of the running water.</p> + +<p>And as he heaved them forth, the party below gave vent +to a peculiar little grunt or wheeze that was very familiar +to the ears of Elmer Chenowith.</p> + +<p>"Hello, there, George! Having a great time, I see, +amusing yourself!" he said, in a low, but plainly heard +tone.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence, as though the unknown +was somewhat taken aback by the fact of his having been +caught so neatly, even in the act.</p> + +<p>"That you, Elmer?" he asked, with a short laugh.</p> + +<p>"That's who it is, George," the other replied. "Suppose +you come up out of that, now, and surrender. There's +a penalty attached to this thing of trying to scare us. +Do you know what you've got to do now to make good?"</p> + +<p>"No, what's that, Elmer?" asked the boy, who was +climbing up the bank by now, and who happened to be a +cousin to Landy Smith, known among his mates as +"Doubting George," simply because he could not help appearing +skeptical about nearly everything that came along.</p> + +<p>"Why," observed Elmer, very seriously, "you've just +got to unfasten your belt, sit down alongside us, and do +your level best to get away with a share of the fine fish +supper the boys have ready."</p> + +<p>"Oh, ginger! Count me in on that, won't you?" +laughed the other, as he accepted the extended hand of +the patrol leader, and was assisted up the bank. "It's a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +long walk up here, and you see, since you fellows hiked +it, I just didn't dare use my wheel. And I tell you I'm +hungry enough to eat anything halfway decent."</p> + +<p>"Well, Ty's chief cook and bottle-washer to-night; and +you know enough about him to understand what that +means. Ty's long <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'suite'">suit</ins> is his cooking. He's just the boss +at that, every day," and Elmer purposely elevated his +voice as he said this, so that those by the fire, now awaiting +them, could overhear what he said.</p> + +<p>"Hey! what's all that you're saying; and who're you +talking to, Elmer?" demanded the party in question.</p> + +<p>Landy gave a shout.</p> + +<p>"By the great horn spoon, if it ain't my cousin +George!" he exclaimed. "Ten to one he doubted whether +we had really come up here at all—that he didn't believe +he could ever find us—that he expected to frighten the +whole bunch out of their seven senses by that silly trick; +and even now he isn't sure whether he sees us or is dreaming +he does. In fact, George can find a loophole to doubt +anything."</p> + +<p>"All right, say what you want," replied the newcomer, +sturdily. "I admit that I was born with an unfortunate +disposition to question everything. Mother says I must be +a great lawyer some day. But there are some things that +are so plain even Doubting George can't miss hitting 'em. +That smell, now, is sure the finest thing that ever came +down the pike; and, anyhow, I don't doubt but that you +fellows are going to ask me to share in the grub with you. +How's that, Cousin Philander?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're welcome to it," replied Ty, in place of +Landy. "Plenty for all; and we owe this treat to the +patience of Ted and Adam here. Later on you must get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +our new scout to tell you how he goes in after his fish, +clothes and all. It's a real funny stunt, George."</p> + +<p>"Yeth," put in Ted. "And mind you, he pullth in +other fellowth with him. Be thure to have him tell you +that part, my thon. It'th worth hearing, George."</p> + +<p>Of course, around the fire, as they discussed the qualities +of the fish, the story was told. Everyone seemed to have +a share in the telling, so that George got it from several +sources.</p> + +<p>"And pretty soon," declared Landy, "I'm going to +use a black pocket in the woods close by as my dark room, +so I can develop that roll of films. You see, I'm just +wild to learn whether I really did push that trigger on +the camera, and shoot it off, just as those two fellows were +tumbling into the water. If I got that, it'll pay me for +the whole job of hiking away up here and losing more'n +a pound in weight."</p> + +<p>"Wish you luck, then, Philander," said George, who +usually made a mouthful of his cousin's name.</p> + +<p>Some people said George was really envious of Landy's +possessing such an uncommon name; others believed that +he was proud of being connected with a family that could +sport such a classical "cognomen," as he often termed it.</p> + +<p>"When did you leave good old Hickory Ridge?" asked +Ty; for, like most boys, no sooner was Ty away from home +than everything about the place assumed an almost sacred +aspect, and he could never even mention its name without +an affectionate prefix of some sort.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I've been three hours on the way," was +George's reply.</p> + +<p>"Three hours to get up here! Say, you didn't walk like +that in the big hike, when you covered the name of Robbins +with imperishable glory," Landy declared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Shucks, and me the lowest score in the whole bunch!" +sneered George. "But I guess I lost the way, and covered +a lot more territory than I ought to have done."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Landy, "I know what was the matter. +You just made up your mind every signpost lied, and +when it said go east, you tried the other road. That's +what you get for doubting everything. It brings heaps +of trouble, and if you're wise you'll shunt that on to the +side track in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks! Attend to your own mutton, Landy," +said George; but his face had reddened at the accusation +of his cousin, and none of the others doubted but that +Landy's random shot had hit pretty close to the truth.</p> + +<p>"Anything new around Hickory Ridge since we left +there?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, there is, fellows," replied George, brightening +up, as though he had just thought of something.</p> + +<p>"Then tell us what it is. Has Hiram Juggles got a +new shingle on his barn; or did the Mosely twins get mixed +up again, so that nobody knows which is Jim and which +Jack?" asked Ty.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's something more serious than that, let me tell +you," George went on, with a vein of mystery in his voice +that instantly aroused the curiosity of Landy.</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you tell us what it is, George, you old +ice wagon!" he exclaimed. "Somebody give him a push, +please, and get him to roll his hoop."</p> + +<p>"They tried to wreck the midnight express—guess you +fellows started off too early in the mornin' to hear about +it," George said.</p> + +<p>"We never heard a word, so hurry up and tell us, +George," said Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Yes, whatever in the wide world would they want to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +wreck that train for? Was it some crazy man; or do they +think it could have been an attempt to rob the express +safe?" demanded Ty, anxiously; for he had an uncle who +held the throttle of the engine pulling that particular +train, and was therefore deeply interested.</p> + +<p>"Nobody's dead sure what they wanted to do," George +went on, "but the messenger admits that he was carrying +a bigger amount of money than usual. Perhaps the hoboes +got wind of it, and thought they might have a chance to +capture the stuff. They didn't have nerve enough to hold +the train up in western fashion, so they tried the coward +play."</p> + +<p>"I notice that you say hoboes did it, as if nobody +doubted that part of the affair," Elmer remarked, significantly.</p> + +<p>"They were seen by a track walker, and had quite a +fight with him," George continued. "The poor chap is +in the hospital now, though he's going to pull through. +He managed to crawl to a station and give the alarm, so +no damage was done. And now they're hunting high and +low for two hoboes, one short with red hair, and t'other +a long-legged fellow who limps when he walks, like he'd +once had his leg hurt. They are called Shorty and Lanky +Jim!"</p> + +<p>It was Adam who set up a shout that caused the others +to stare at him.</p> + +<p>"Hey, what's this mean?" demanded Ty. "He looks +like he knew something about the two rascals you were +telling us about, George. Elmer, you take him in hand, +won't you, and see what he's got on his mind. And make +him tell it in plain United States. We left our Dutch dictionaries +at home this trip, you see."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>UNDER THE TWINKLING STARS.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Supper</span> was forgotten for the time being, under the influence +of this new source of excitement. But then the +young campers had taken the edge off their sharp appetites +before now, so that it did not matter very much.</p> + +<p>Adam was grinning as he found himself the one object +upon which all eyes were focused. It would be hard to +find the boy who does not enjoy standing in the lime light, +even for a little while.</p> + +<p>"How about this, Adam," said Elmer, "do you know +anything about these two men?"</p> + +<p>"So," drawled the German boy, "aber I am nodt sure. +Dey looks to pe sooch; put mebbe I haf anudder guess +goming, poys."</p> + +<p>"Tell us where you think you saw them," the assistant +scout master continued.</p> + +<p>"At Prady's," answered Adam, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Brady's—why, that's where we get our milk," spoke +up Landy.</p> + +<p>"Sure it is," declared Ty. "That's funny now; I +never remember setting eyes on anybody answering that +description; and I've been over there twice."</p> + +<p>"Yeth," declared Ted, "and I can thay the thame +thing."</p> + +<p>"You think you can; but you're away off, Ted," +grinned Ty, who never grew weary of nagging the other +on that lisp, with which he was afflicted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When did you see them, Adam?" asked Elmer, paying +no attention to any of these side remarks.</p> + +<p>"Vy, berhaps you may remember, Elmer, dot dis very +evening I vant to go py der voods vonce, und get dot milk. +Vat ve haf, it did get sour by der heat, und Ty he say +he haf a desire to dake der tramp again nix. So I volunteer +py der game. You pet me I nefer dry to gross dot field +py der pull. I dake der long vay, und pring der milk +safely home. Iss it not so, Ty?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we're drinking some of it in our coffee this meal, +so that goes without saying," the other replied.</p> + +<p>"Tell us about the men—where were they when you +saw them, Adam?" Elmer went on.</p> + +<p>"Py der parn," returned the German scout.</p> + +<p>"Not prowling around like a couple of thieves, Adam?"</p> + +<p>"Nodt as I can see."</p> + +<p>"Then what were they doing?" the patrol leader asked, +impatiently; for it was a most difficult thing to draw the +story out of the German, who seemed to want to be +"pumped" step by step, as Landy termed it.</p> + +<p>"Vorking," came the short reply.</p> + +<p>"Oh, then you mean they were apparently in the employ +of Mr. Brady?"</p> + +<p>"Dot iss so. Dey toss der hay oop to him py der stack, +und he stow it avay."</p> + +<p>"I believe the farmer is getting in a late crop of clover +hay," remarked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Yes," broke in Ty, "and he was telling me this very +morning when I got the milk, after my little adventure +with that neighbor's bull, how his man had left him in +the lurch, and everybody around was so busy he hardly +knew just how he could get the big crop of hay that was +stacked in the field, ready for the mow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer nodded his head as though, after gaining this +knowledge, it was comparatively easy to put two and two +together.</p> + +<p>"That settles it," he remarked. "These two hoboes +came along, and he offered them such big wages to help +him over his trouble, that they just couldn't resist. But +I know something about tramps, and the real article +wouldn't work at any price."</p> + +<p>"Gee! Perhaps they had some other object in taking +the place?" Landy suggested.</p> + +<p>"Just what I had in mind," Elmer followed. "If they +are the rascals who tried to throw that train off the track +for some awful reason, they must know that there'll be a +hunt through the country for them; and, perhaps, they +hope to hide as farm laborers until the thing wears off."</p> + +<p>"Then we ought to warn Mr. Brady, hadn't we?" +asked Ted.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but at the same time we must be careful not to +excite the suspicion of those fellows," Elmer replied; and +then turning again to Adam, he continued: "Did you +have anything to say to either of the men, Adam?"</p> + +<p>"Vell," replied the other, slowly and reflectively, "I +dink me dot berhaps von off dem might dell me der vay +to der milk house, und so I stop me to ask."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you asked one of them—which one, Adam?"</p> + +<p>"I notice me dot as I gome close dey look at me like +I vos a pad egg, und put der heads togedder in a punch. +So I yust chuck oudt mine preast und valk right up to +der spot, like I vas say: 'Vat's der matter mit you; I +am Adam Litzburgh, und I pelong to der scouts; put dot +in your pipe und smoke it!'"</p> + +<p>"But you didn't say all that; you just asked one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +them where the milk house might be; wasn't that it, +Adam?" Elmer went on.</p> + +<p>"Der short von idt vas; und he turn to der udder und +he say it pe all right, nuttings to bother apout from dot +Dutch fool. Den, py chinks, he call oudt to der farmer +who vas on der top of dot haymow, und ask vere der milk +house pe."</p> + +<p>"And that was all, was it, Adam?"</p> + +<p>"I knows me nuddings else," replied the German boy; +"only ven I gomes me along again, der short von vaves his +hand to me, und laughs him some py my pack."</p> + +<p>Elmer really sighed with relief when he realized that +he had actually succeeded in getting the whole story out +of the uncommunicative fellow. It was like "drawing +teeth," as Landy more than once remarked.</p> + +<p>"You've heard the story, fellows," he said, turning to +the others; "what had we better do about it? I want +everybody to have a voice in this, and majority rules. So +don't be bashful, but speak up."</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Landy, slowly. "I suppose we +ought to give Mr. Brady a hint of the truth; but, as you +say, Elmer, we must be mighty careful how we do it. +Those tramps must be a pretty desperate pair, and they'd +think nothing of sailing in to clean us out if they suspected +we were on to their curves."</p> + +<p>"How about you, Ted?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Oh, count me in the thame lay," replied the one addressed. +"Nobody knowth when they're entertaining angelth +unawareth, like the good book thayth; or bad men +either. The farmerth want help tho bad at timeth that they +don't athk too many quethtionth when they get a thanthe to +employ a huthky man. We'll drop around there in the +morning thome time, when they're out in the haying field,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +and give the women folkth a little hint that they'd better +get rid of the new handth."</p> + +<p>"Ty?"</p> + +<p>"Them's my sentiments. No special need of any hurry, +I guess," replied Ty, who was really feeling the effect of +his unusual exercise of that morning when the unfriendly +bull gave him such a lively chase, and who wanted to keep +quiet in camp.</p> + +<p>"George?"</p> + +<p>"Wow! You just couldn't get me to stir away from +here to-night unless you tied a pair of mules to me and +started them going," replied the newcomer, as he slyly +helped himself to more fish.</p> + +<p>"And Adam?"</p> + +<p>"I dinks me as how it pe werry comfortaples here," +grinned the German, duplicating the act of George, as +though he feared lest he might not get his full share of +the supper.</p> + +<p>"Hey, let me in on that, will you, fellers?" cried +Landy, spearing another portion from the rapidly vanishing +pile. "And if you want to know my sentiments, +Elmer, just put them down as 'he also ran.' Because I'm +willing to do whatever the rest of you say."</p> + +<p>Elmer himself looked a trifle disappointed. He had been +thinking that perhaps they ought to warn Mr. Brady that +night; for it could not be a very safe thing to have two +such desperate men in his employ longer than was absolutely +necessary.</p> + +<p>Still, he had said that he would be bound by what the +majority of his chums decided was best; and he could not +change his ideas.</p> + +<p>After all, the chances seemed to be that if the two +new farm hands were actually Shorty and Lanky Jim,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +their sole object in taking service with Mr. Brady must +be to lie low until the excitement died away. Consequently, +they would be very careful not to do anything +that would turn attention upon them; and in that case a +little delay could not matter.</p> + +<p>"All right, then," said Elmer; "it's settled that after +breakfast to-morrow we'll make up a party to go after +milk and find a chance to warn the Brady people. Of +course the women folks will be scared nearly to death; +but they'll find some way of sending word to town in these +days of telephones. And then the officers will come out +to arrest the fellows. Pass my dish, please, Landy, and get +a small help of the fish. I'm mighty fond of it in camp, +and never care for a bite at home. And this is as good +as they make fried fish, thanks to Ty's way of cooking."</p> + +<p>The balance of the supper was eaten amid a lively lot +of talk. Of course much of this concerned the events of +the day; the adventure with the bull; the trick Ty attempted +to play on Adam, with disastrous results to himself; +and last, but not least, the coming of Doubting +George with such exciting news.</p> + +<p>When, finally, they went to bed it was with all these +things fastened upon their minds; so that Elmer expected +that more than one among them would be apt to "see +things" in the dark that night.</p> + +<p>The fire which, after supper, had been built larger, so +that it lent a cheerful glow to the scene, was allowed to +die down. Really the weather was still so sultry that it +took away some of the pleasure of sitting around a blaze; +which is always appreciated most when there is a tang of +frost in the night air; but, then, these boys were up here +for fun and did not mean to be cheated out of anything +they considered their due by such a thing as hot air.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>One by one they crawled under the canvas and subsided.</p> + +<p>The coming of George promised to add to the discomfort +of a crowded tent; and secretly Elmer had decided +that he would not occupy his quarters of the preceding +nights. It would not be a new thing at all for him to +sleep out under the stars with a blanket for a covering; +and, indeed, he believed he would enjoy the experience, +as it must revive recollections of the past when he was +accompanying the cowboys on a round-up far away from +the home ranch; or else off with a comrade on a hunt in +the big Rocky Mountains of Canada.</p> + +<p>Only one more day remained, and then the wagon would +come for the tent and other things that had to be transported +by team. After that they could look forward to +a few days of restlessness; when school duties would begin +once more.</p> + +<p>Elmer noticed that there was little talking indulged in +that night. They seemed too tired all around for any +"funny business," such as often marked the period when +the lively boys started to go to bed.</p> + +<p>When all seemed quiet within the tent, Elmer stepped +over to where he had slyly hidden his blanket some little +time before. He had already picked out the spot in which +he intended passing the night. It was under a tree, where +he could look up through the leafy branches, and get +glimpses of the star-decked heavens. The soft, caressing +touch of the night wind would lull him to sleep, he felt +sure; and on the whole Elmer infinitely preferred such an +experience to being crammed up against five others, in one +small tent.</p> + +<p>So he fixed himself, and lay down. By turning his +head he could see the flickering fire, and imagine it surrounded +by some of those good fellows whom he had known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +long ago, daring riders of bucking bronchos, and expert +wielders of the flying rope.</p> + +<p>Then Elmer dropped off into a sound sleep. The last +thing he remembered was hearing some one snoring in +the tent; he never knew just who the guilty party might +be, although his suspicions pointed to George; since they +had not been afflicted up to his coming. And the sounds +seemed uncertain too, just as though they were inclined to +express a lingering doubt.</p> + +<p>From this state of peace and calm the campers were +suddenly aroused by a most piercing scream, that rang +through the woods on the borders of the river.</p> + +<p>Instantly a scene of wild confusion resulted. Out from +the narrow exit of the tent came a struggling mass of boys +in pajamas, grabbing hold of each other in their excitement.</p> + +<p>And one lone figure might have been seen crawling under +the back canvas, in much the same fashion as Elmer had +done at the time he started on that hunt for the unknown +party who was throwing the stones with a plunk into the +river.</p> + +<p>Elmer was on his feet instantly, and could, perhaps, be +said to be the only one in the lot who had control of his +senses in this emergency.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE INVASION OF THE CAMP.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Oh!</span> what is it?" cried Landy, who was actually +trembling all over as he stood there in the night air, which +had grown a trifle cooler during the hours they had been +asleep.</p> + +<p>"What's Elmer going to do?" exclaimed George, as +he saw the patrol leader spring suddenly forward, and +bend down.</p> + +<p>"He'th got thomebody!" yelled Ted. "Perhapth it'th +jutht one of the trampth come over here to rob the +camp!"</p> + +<p>"Aber I dinks me he iss yust getting some off der vood +to puts on der fire," remarked Adam, who, strange to say, +in all the excitement, seemed to keep fairly calm.</p> + +<p>It turned out to be exactly the case; for immediately +Elmer threw something on the smouldering fire, which +started up a cheery blaze. When this came about it was +wonderful how much better all of them felt. A crackling +fire can do more to dispel thoughts of ghosts, and all such +silly things, than any other agency.</p> + +<p>"But Ted," said George, "I don't think you could +have guessed right, because you see there ain't any sign +of a tramp here."</p> + +<p>"Sounded to me," ventured Landy, "like it was out +there on the river. Say, p'raps it might have been some +poor duck just going down for the last time!"</p> + +<p>"Shucks!" grunted that unbeliever, George; "he'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +never be able to let out such a whang-doodle yell in that +case. I ought to know, because I've near drowned myself +twice, and all I could do was just to gurgle and kick and +grab."</p> + +<p>"How about that loon Elmer wath telling uth about?" +suggested Ted, softly. "From all he thaid I reckon it'd +let out jutht thuch a noithe ath that."</p> + +<p>"Elmer, you heard it, didn't you?" demanded Landy.</p> + +<p>"I sure did," came the reply.</p> + +<p>"Wath it a loon, then?" went on Ted.</p> + +<p>"Not the kind you mean, boys; I give you that +straight," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"But it came from out there on the river, didn't it?" +persisted Landy, who seemed to have that notion imbedded +in his brain pretty strongly.</p> + +<p>Elmer shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>"Then where did it come from?" asked Landy.</p> + +<p>"I didn't tell you, boys," went on the patrol leader; +"but knowing that six in the tent would make it stuffy, +I planned to sleep out here under the stars, just as I've +done many a night, you know. And so I was in a pretty +good position to hear where that whoop came from."</p> + +<p>"Tell us, Elmer, tell us right away," demanded Landy, +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"The tent!" said Elmer, without hesitation.</p> + +<p>The boys stared at each other.</p> + +<p>"Say, he means that one of us let that yell out," +remarked Landy.</p> + +<p>"I know I didn't!" declared George.</p> + +<p>"Not guilty!" chirped Ted immediately, holding up +his right hand as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Noddings doing, poys, mit me," Adam ventured to +say, positively.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How about Ty?" asked Elmer, chuckling.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" demanded Landy.</p> + +<p>And thus, all at once, they awakened to the fact that +one of their number was absent, though no one save Elmer +had noticed this before.</p> + +<p>Landy rushed to the tent and looked in. The fire was +by this time giving out enough light to make it possible +to see the entire interior.</p> + +<p>Landy crawled inside, and almost immediately came +forth again.</p> + +<p>"Say, he ain't there! Ty's disappeared, fellows! +Mebbe he's been taken with a fit, and jumped into the +river!" he cried, in tones that were filled with horror.</p> + +<p>"Elmer, what have you got to thay about that?" demanded +Ted, who had noticed the significant fact that the +patrol leader did not seem to share the alarm of the rest; +indeed, he even smiled as though amused.</p> + +<p>"Watch me," said Elmer.</p> + +<p>He strode back of the tent, while the other boys waited +with wondering eyes. In a minute Elmer reappeared, nor +was he alone. He had hold of a shrinking figure, also clad +in pajamas, and these of so violent a color that they instantly +recognized them as belonging to the boy who had +clung so long to that red sweater.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was surely Ty, and he did not seem to be suffering +to any great extent. There was evidence of a grin +hovering around the corners of his mouth. Evidently Ty +was the one who had crawled hastily under the canvas of +the tent after that fearful yell had awakened the entire +party. "The wicked flee when no man pursueth," and +Ty knew that he was probably in for a good raking, after +giving his mates so great a scare.</p> + +<p>"Hey, he's got him!" declared Landy. "Elmer knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +where to find him. See here, did you let off that awful +whoop, Ty Collins?"</p> + +<p>"I s'pose I did," replied the culprit, meekly. "I was +dreaming about that old bull, you see. Thought I was +sitting up there between his horns, and he was just <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'galivanting'">gallivanting</ins> +around the whole country with me, jumpin' fences +and all that. Then we came to a barn, oh, as high as the +church steeple at Hickory Ridge; and as sure as you live +if that critter didn't make straight for the same. I felt +him rising in the air like a balloon, and then I think I +must have let out a squawk, fellers."</p> + +<p>"Listen to him, would you!" cried Landy; "he calls +that a squawk! Why, it sounded like a whistle for down-brakes +on the track; or else a feller falling over a precipice +ten thousand feet deep! And he's got the nerve to +say it was only a little squawk, just like a chicken would +give!"</p> + +<p>"Well, if you'd been dreaming like I was, you'd holler +too," argued Ty. "Say, I reckon I scared myself pretty +bad too, for I crawled out of the back of the tent in a +big hurry, and tried to hide in the bushes. Then I heard +you talkin' and it struck me what I'd done. Didn't feel +much like walkin' in after that; but Elmer, he came and +convinced me."</p> + +<p>"No great harm done, boys," said Elmer. "And as +Ty didn't mean to frighten anybody, we'll have to let him +off this time."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if he'll promise not to repeat the dose, we might," +grumbled Landy.</p> + +<p>"Don't believe him, if he does, because he won't keep +his word," declared Doubting George.</p> + +<p>"Well, what sort of remedy would you suggest?" asked +Ty, indignantly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Gag him; that's the only way," returned George; +"and even then I think he'd find a loophole to let out +another howl. Ty always could whoop it up better than +any other fellow at school. That's why they made him +the cheer captain when he couldn't get in the football game +on account of a sprain."</p> + +<p>"You just try it," muttered Ty. "I've got troubles +enough, and a plenty; but a gag is going it a little too +strong. Elmer says it's all right, and that anybody is +liable to have bad dreams. Think of what I went through +with, when that bull chased after me! Forget it, fellers, +and let's go back to our blankets."</p> + +<p>"Yes, get along there, the whole bunch of you," +laughed Elmer, pretending to "shoo" them as he might +a flock of little chickens. "It's getting cool out here, and +we've got a few more hours for sleep. So long!"</p> + +<p>So the five crept inside the tent again, and for some +little while the murmur of voices told that they did not find +it so easy to drop off into sleep as on the earlier occasion.</p> + +<p>But finally all became silent. The episode was closed; +and once more sleep dominated the camp by the Sweetwater.</p> + +<p>There was no further alarm that night. Perhaps Ty +took warning from the awful proposition made by George, +and found some way of restraining his inclination to +dream; but no one ever knew how he did it.</p> + +<p>When early morning came, with the cheep of birds in +the thickets, Elmer was the first one to be stirring. He +kindled the fire afresh, and tidied up around the camp +a bit, after the manner that was so much to his liking.</p> + +<p>Then he went down to the river and plunged in.</p> + +<p>It was now broad daylight; indeed, the sun was peeping +up beyond the low hills far away to the east. The sound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +of splashing must have reached the ears of Landy as he +awakened, for presently he came crawling forth.</p> + +<p>"Hi, get up there, you sleepy-heads!" he shouted, +stooping to thrust his head into the tent. "Here's Elmer +occupying the whole river, and there won't be any of it +left if you don't hurry!"</p> + +<p>That brought the balance out in a hurry, and soon the +six were sporting gayly in the water. Adam had to do +the high dive, with all its attendant "frills," as Landy +called them, in the way of double somersaults, backward +and forward, in order to convince the newcomer of his +accomplishments. For, of course, Doubting George refused +to believe until he had been shown; and even then +declared that there must be some sort of trick about it, +because it stood to reason that a greenhorn could not excel +in anything.</p> + +<p>Adam, however, was too good-natured to take offense. +As long as they remained in the water he was kept busy +showing the many tricks he knew. Tenderfoot though he +might be in most things connected with boy life in America, +Adam certainly stood in a class by himself when it +came to aquatic events.</p> + +<p>Then came the pleasing job of getting breakfast. Ty, +assisted by George, consented to look after that part of +the business. Since George would only have one whole +day in camp, with two nights thrown in, he purposed getting +all he could out of it, and had laid out a list of +things he wished to try before sundown, consisting of fishing, +taking a few pictures with a little camera he had +fetched along, and roaming the neighboring country, looking +for promising nut trees for the October gathering, +because George was very fond of hickory nuts, chestnuts +and walnuts, in season and out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Just as like as not there won't be a fish willing to +nibble at my bait," he grumbled, after his customary +fashion; "and I'd like to wager that this year is a bad +one for nuts."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let up on that cranky way of looking at things," +said Ty. "Perhaps something's the matter with your new +camera too, George!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you never know," replied the other, sighing. +"It looks all right; but the proof of the pudding lies in +the eating; and I'm sorter expecting the thing to turn out +a fizzle. Cheap things never do amount to much, you +know."</p> + +<p>"But that was a present on your birthday!" ejaculated +Ty.</p> + +<p>"Sure it was; but all the same it's not one of the best; +and I'm always suspicious of these things that don't cost +top-notch prices," George continued.</p> + +<p>"I'd just like to know what you ain't suspicious of," +snapped Ty. "Here, don't you go smelling at my flapjacks +like you thought there was a bad egg in 'em. Every +egg we get is fresh from the coop that day, and marked +gilt edge. Before I'd have a way like yours, George, I'd, +well, I believe I'd jump in the river."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you would," grinned George, once +again true to his reputation as a skeptic.</p> + +<p>"What's Elmer going to say?" remarked Ty, he +noticed the patrol leader coming hastily into camp, with +a queer look on his face.</p> + +<p>"Get ready!" Elmer said, mysteriously.</p> + +<p>Ty, Ted, George and Landy looked up at this.</p> + +<p>"Get ready for what!" demanded the fat boy, attempting +to gain his feet in haste, but having to clutch hold of +Ted in order to assist himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To vacate the camp," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"But, Elmer, explain, won't you?" asked Ted.</p> + +<p>"Yes, tell us why we must get out," echoed George, and +adding: "I don't believe he means anything at all, that's +what; he's just fooling us, fellows."</p> + +<p>"Wait and see," Elmer continued, gravely nodding his +head, although his eyes were sparkling with humor. "It's +coming, and I tell you that after it arrives there won't +be any room here for you fellows. It will occupy the +whole place!"</p> + +<p>"But, Elmer, what is it that's coming?" asked Landy, +visions of the two desperate hoboes filling his mind.</p> + +<p>Elmer, in reply, commenced to raise his head, and make +a face as he sniffed the air.</p> + +<p>"Just try that and see," he remarked, simply.</p> + +<p>Upon that the whole lot started to drawing in their +breath. Immediately various exclamations told that they +had "caught on," as Landy expressed it.</p> + +<p>"Oh, murder! What sort of an odor is that!" ejaculated +George.</p> + +<p>"I know!" cried Landy, who had started to clutch his +nose between thumb and fingers; "it's a skunk, that's +what it is. Wow! It's getting worse all the time, too!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE EDUCATION OF ADAM.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> utmost consternation seized upon the campers.</p> + +<p>"Oh! what's bringing all that smell along here?" +George cried; for this was his first experience with such +a thing, though he had heard lots about other adventures +the scouts had had in that line.</p> + +<p>"It's Adam; he's got a monopoly of the scent!" +laughed Elmer. "And he's on his way to the camp right +now. I saw him coming, and got a whiff; then I hurried on +to warn you, because I didn't want you to be caught unprepared. +There's one good thing about it, though, fellows."</p> + +<p>"Good thing?" ejaculated Ted, who had snatched out +his handkerchief and was trying to keep from inhaling +more air than was absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," Elmer went on, "for once George here +doesn't doubt but that he gets it. You don't hear him +asking questions now. He <i>knows</i> it's here with us. He's +getting his dose, all right, ain't you, George?"</p> + +<p>"Look, there he comes!" gasped Landy, pointing to a +moving figure that was pawing a way through the neighboring +thicket.</p> + +<p>"Ach! vat iss de matter mit me? I feels like I vas +goin' to faint!" exclaimed a complaining voice.</p> + +<p>"For goodness' sake do it out there, then!" screamed +Landy. "Don't you dare come into camp with that terrible +smell hanging to you. Sit down where you are, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +listen to what we've got to say. Oh, gracious, I can't get +my breath! Elmer, you tell him!"</p> + +<p>"Py chimineddy, dis makes me some drouples! It peats +all der limpurger cheese I ever saw. Vat vos idt, Elmer? I +am nodt choking, tell me vot I dood," Adam asked, with +a beseeching air, for he was almost overcome by the fumes.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you ain't choking, we are; so you stay there," +George remarked.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen, Adam?" asked Elmer, trying to +stop laughing, for he knew that after all this was apt to +be a serious piece of business for the other.</p> + +<p>But the German boy only shook his head and coughed, +as he tried to get his breath.</p> + +<p>"Idt iss some foolishness py me; but, poys, I don't know +vot it iss already yet. I vos vandering apout der voods, enchoying +mineself, ven I see der prettiest little squirrel dot +ever vos, mit a nice white stripe, und a pushy tail. I dinks +dot he look like he vill pe friends mit me, und so I yust +hold out mine hand und call him; put pefore I could take +hold mit him, I dink I step on von of dem musherooms mit +der awful smell. Ach! it vos so pad I haf to get oudt +right avay, und come pack to der gamp. I'm von sick +Dutchman, poys, pelieve me. I dink me I must pe going +to die right avay qvick."</p> + +<p>"I should think you had died a week ago," cried George.</p> + +<p>"He thought the skunk was a pretty squirrel," said Ty; +"and he was going to make a pet of it, think of that, +fellows!"</p> + +<p>They laughed and coughed by turns. One minute the +comical side of the event appealed to them, as they saw +poor Adam standing there looking so forlorn; then as if by +magic their humor turned, and they began to wonder what +in the wide world could be done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We just can't stand this much longer, Elmer," said +Landy. "Make him go away off in the woods and bury +himself."</p> + +<p>"Well, one thing's sure," remarked the patrol leader. +"He's got to get rid of every stitch he has on him. We'll +have to rig him out the best we can afterwards."</p> + +<p>Adam set up a howl upon hearing this.</p> + +<p>"I pelieve it might wash oudt in der river!" he declared.</p> + +<p>"Not in a thousand years," Landy made answer. "The +only chance for you is to go off and bury your clothes—everything +you've got on. Then get in the water, and try +to get rid of the smell from your hair. Lucky thing it's +cut short. Oh, ain't this the meanest luck, though?"</p> + +<p>"It might be worse if the whole lot of us had been there +and got our share," remarked Elmer, who could always +see things on the bright side, in which he was the exact +reverse of Doubting George.</p> + +<p>"Dell me vat I must do, Elmer. I promise to carry +oudt de plans. Somedings must pe done right qvick, or +I shall pe smothered. It is pad; but I am von scout, und +can take der hard knocks mit der good."</p> + +<p>"That's the kind of talk, Adam," Elmer hastened to +say. "You're all right, even if you do seem unpleasant +company just now. Listen to me. Go back into the woods +a piece. Then strip off every rag and hide them in some +hollow log. I'll follow you when you go to the river, and +fetch along what stuff we find we can spare. All told I +reckon there'll be a shirt, trousers and shoes for you; and +that's all you need this hot weather. Please make a start, +for we've got to the end of our endurance. Turn around; +now you're off!"</p> + +<p>When the unfortunate German lad had vanished, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +trouble was far from being at an end. He left a decided +legacy behind him, and Landy was loud in his wails.</p> + +<p>"How ever can we stand it, Elmer?" he asked. "All +the rest of the time we stay in camp do we just have to endure +that rank odor?"</p> + +<p>"'What can't be cured must be endured,' you remember +we used to write in our copybooks at school, Landy," replied +the patrol leader. "Nothing like getting used to +things, you know. It isn't pleasant, of course; but there +might be worse happen to us. Suppose now our new recruit +had run across a rattlesnake instead of a polecat! But get +a hustle on you, fellows, and see if we can rig Adam out +somehow. I've got an extra shirt he's welcome to."</p> + +<p>"And there's that pair of trousers I brought along," +said Landy; "he can get into them all right. But I'll say +good-by when I hand 'em over; for I just know the perfume +will stick always; and I never could stand it, never."</p> + +<p>Some one else came forward with shoes, and in this +fashion the wretched victim of confiding innocence and curiosity +was supplied with an outfit calculated to carry him +through.</p> + +<p>Taking these things with him, Elmer started forth along +the trail of Adam.</p> + +<p>"Just follow your nose, and you'll find him!" sang +out Landy.</p> + +<p>"And look out you don't repeat his sad experience, +Elmer," laughed Ty.</p> + +<p>The woods seemed to be pretty strong with the powerful +odor, as Elmer walked on. He was a fair hand at following +a trail, and the German lad had certainly not made +any effort to conceal his footprints.</p> + +<p>Presently Elmer found where Adam had stuffed his garments +into a hollow log, just as he had been told; but as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +he was no longer in sight, the scout patrol leader took it +for granted that he had turned to head for the river again, +in order to plunge in.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Elmer also turned and walked that way, +believing that he would strike the stream a little distance +below the camp.</p> + +<p>"Goodness! I hope, now, Adam doesn't lose himself +in the woods!" he exclaimed, as a sudden startling thought +flashed into his mind. "Wouldn't that just be the limit, +though, and with not a bit of clothes along!"</p> + +<p>But a minute later he caught sight of the other stalking +along ahead. The river could also be seen in glimpses +between the trees, showing that after all Adam had chosen +the right course.</p> + +<p>"Well, what ails him now?" Elmer asked himself, for +as he looked he suddenly saw the German boy bound up +into the air, and start to threshing about with his hands +in the wildest kind of way.</p> + +<p>Then he started to run madly along, letting out a series of +shouts, and finally taking a header from the bank into the +river.</p> + +<p>Something came buzzing about Elmer's head.</p> + +<p>"Hornets!" he exclaimed, making a stroke at the insistent +insect that was trying to reach his face, until by a +fortunate blow he sent it down.</p> + +<p>Then he started off, making a wide detour so as to avoid +the spot where the unlucky Adam must have run foul of +the nest.</p> + +<p>When he finally drew up at the river bank and peeped +over, he saw Adam with everything but the upper part of +his head submerged. He seemed to be looking for a new +assortment of enemies hovering over him. His introduction +to the mysteries of the great American woods bade fair to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +make a great impression on Adam. Indeed, when finally +Elmer induced him to come forth, he discovered that there +were three distinct impressions, and each of them as large +as a hickory nut, one being behind the ear, another on his +right arm, and a third on the calf of his leg, where the +angry little hornets had left their mark.</p> + +<p>No doubt the new recruit thought he was having a pretty +rough time of it all told. But he had a genial nature, and +could take things as they came; so that presently he was +able to laugh at his misfortunes.</p> + +<p>When he was dressed in the borrowed clothes Adam +looked a "sight," as Landy declared after he saw him +coming to the camp. Of course there must hover around +him more or less of the strong odor; but Elmer told the +others they must make up their minds to get used to that, +as it could not be remedied.</p> + +<p>Breakfast had been ready for some little time when the +pair reached the camp; and all of them were able to do justice +to the meal. Even Adam seemed to have retained his +appetite.</p> + +<p>"But it's the only thing he did save," chuckled Landy.</p> + +<p>When the meal was over, Elmer reminded them of the +arrangement they had made on the previous evening.</p> + +<p>"Who goes along with me to Brady's?" he asked, getting +up.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we'd all better paddle along?" remarked +Landy; "because, you see, those fellows are tough +characters; and it might be they'd set on our crowd, if +they suspected we'd come to tell on 'em."</p> + +<p>"Count me out," said George. "You know I got a +stone bruise yesterday when on the way here, and I want +to let it heal up, so's to be able to toddle back home when +we break camp to-morrow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, rats! The chances are you don't think there's anything +worth while in going over there," declared Ty. +"And I meant to show you just where I had all that fun +with the old bull, too."</p> + +<p>"Fun!" shrieked Landy. "Hear that, will you, boys? +He calls that business just fun. But it looked another way, +then, you understand, George. Why, Ty's face was as +white as paper when he thought that old bundle of beef +was going to hook him higher than a kite!"</p> + +<p>But Ty declined to argue the matter with him.</p> + +<p>"And I think Adam had better thtay at home, don't +you, Elmer?" remarked Ted.</p> + +<p>"Why, he's that strong he could tackle the hobo crowd +alone and single-handed," observed Ty.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he'd turn all the milk in the dairy," +chuckled Landy.</p> + +<p>So it was presently decided that two of the scouts were +to remain behind to take charge of the camp. The others, +four in number, would trail along toward the Brady farm; +and if the opportunity presented itself, let the farmer's +women folks know the character of the new hands.</p> + +<p>The last that Elmer and his comrades saw of those who +were to remain behind, George seemed to be endeavoring to +coax Adam to try his luck again on the river, for he was +holding out the rod of the German.</p> + +<p>"He just wants to get him away for a while," laughed +Ty.</p> + +<p>"It looks like George had run up against something at +last that won't stand for any doubts," declared Landy, who +had long suffered from this peculiar malady on the part of +his cousin.</p> + +<p>"If it can't be seen, it makes itself felt in another way,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +remarked Elmer, who was in the lead of the file that headed +through the woods, Ted swinging the tin milk bucket.</p> + +<p>Reaching the field where Ty had had so much "fun" +with the ugly bull, they failed to see anything of the animal.</p> + +<p>"Afraid to come out again, you see, boys," said Ty, +pretending to puff out with valor. "I guess the farmer +who owns him will keep him shut up till we leave the +neighborhood. He'd better, for I was just hatching up +some game that would discourage the old fellow from tackling +every one that walked through his pasture."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he's loose, and carrying on somewhere else," +remarked Elmer, as he lifted his head in an attitude of +listening.</p> + +<p>"Say, that <i>is</i> somebody shouting, as sure as you live!" +cried Landy.</p> + +<p>"And hollering to beat the band, too!" echoed Ty.</p> + +<p>The whole four of them stood still, the better to listen. +There could be no longer the least doubt about the matter; +for other voices joined in with the one they had heard at +first.</p> + +<p>"It's women yelling, too," said Landy. "Whatever +can be the matter? Elmer, do you think it's that bull broke +loose?"</p> + +<p>"More'n likely the hoboes are at the bottom of the +row!" declared Ty.</p> + +<p>"Come on with me, fellows, and we'll soon know!" +called Elmer, as he immediately started off on a full run.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A LOUD CALL FOR HELP.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A bell</span> began to ring wildly near by.</p> + +<p>"That's over to the place where the bull belongs; sure +the row ain't there, Elmer?" asked Ty, as he hurried on +the heels of the leader.</p> + +<p>Elmer paused to listen again.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, positively, "most all the racket is over +yonder in the direction of the Brady house. You can hear +the women screaming, too. Come along again, boys! +They've heard the racket over here, and that bell's to call +the men in from the fields."</p> + +<p>"Sounds just for all the world like what I've read +about an Injun attack in the good old pioneer days," +declared the panting Landy, who had to exert himself more +than any of the others in order to keep up with the procession.</p> + +<p>"Theemth like I thmell thmoke!" remarked Ted.</p> + +<p>"I reckon you do, because I've been getting it for the +last half minute," Elmer threw over his shoulder as he +ran on.</p> + +<p>"That means a fire!" cried Ty.</p> + +<p>"It generally does," Elmer added, dryly.</p> + +<p>"What if the Brady house is going up in flames?" +ejaculated Ty, again.</p> + +<p>"It would be a bad job," remarked Elmer; "but not +quite as hard on them as if it happened in the dead of +winter, with the thermometer down to zero."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But it's always a hard job fighting fire in such steaming +hot weather as this September spell!" Landy observed, +as he dug for his handkerchief, so as to wipe his red face, +which was beginning to reek with perspiration.</p> + +<p>"There, I saw smoke over the trees; it's a house afire, +as sure as anything, boys, and the Brady one at that!" +declared Ty.</p> + +<p>None of them doubted it now, since all the indications +seemed to point that way. They kept up their forward +rush, hoping to at least be able to lend a helping hand in +the way of getting some of the furniture out; because that +is generally all that can be done at a country blaze, when +there are no fire engines to respond to the call for aid.</p> + +<p>They were rapidly overtaking several persons who seemed +to be hurrying in the same direction they themselves were +bound. Two of these were women, and the other a very old +man, whom the excitement had stirred into unwonted +action.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Elmer, as he was passing the three.</p> + +<p>"The Brady house must be afire!" answered a young +woman, who seemed to have her wits fairly well in hand.</p> + +<p>None of the boys stopped, though Landy's tongue was +almost hanging from his mouth because of the exertion on +such a hot morning. They continued to bound along steadily, +and expected to come in sight of the burning house at +any moment now.</p> + +<p>As they burst out from the cover it stood before them. +Smoke was coming from windows and doors in heavy volumes; +and evidently the fire must have managed to get +considerable headway before being discovered.</p> + +<p>A number of women were running excitedly up and down +doing nothing to aid in saving property, or subduing the +flames. Several men were present, and seemed to be wholly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +engaged in carrying out some of the furniture belonging to +the parlor. A small cabinet organ had been rolled over on +the grass, and then they added heaps of books to the wreckage.</p> + +<p>"Why don't they try and save the house, Elmer?" asked +Ty, as they saw what was going on.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, unless it's because they have no leader, +and nobody is able to tell what to do," replied the other.</p> + +<p>Elmer was taking the scene in with eyes that nothing +escaped. Even while he was running forward toward the +fire he saw that there was a fair-sized stream close to the +barns. His attention was directed to it chiefly because of a +flock of big white Pekin ducks that were flapping their +wings, and adding their loud quacks to the general excitement.</p> + +<p>"If we only could find plenty of buckets, something +might be done!" he called back over his shoulder, never +stopping an instant in making for the building that was +threatened with destruction.</p> + +<p>"I see three right now by that pump!" cried Ty.</p> + +<p>"Plenty more in the barn, Elmer!" added Ted, who +saw what the other had in his mind, and thought it worth +trying.</p> + +<p>"There's a lot of tin milk buckets hanging on that +fence!" called Landy.</p> + +<p>"Go for 'em, fellows!" ordered the patrol leader. +"Gather all you can find, and begin to fill 'em at the +brook. I'll see if these ladies won't stand in line, and pass +them along."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the Hickory Ridge Fire Brigade!" +shouted Landy, fully filled with the novel idea.</p> + +<p>Each of them made a bee-line for the buckets in sight, +and, gathering up all they could lay hands on, immediately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +started for the water, where a great dipping began, to the +intense amazement and consternation of the ducks, which +could not understand why these strangers should try to +empty their favorite little stream without asking their permission.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Elmer must have managed to explain after +a fashion what he purposed doing. He had already coaxed +two of the women to stand ready to take the buckets as +they came along, and these were shouting to the others.</p> + +<p>"More buckets! Try in the barns for some!" called +Elmer, as, seizing one of the first that arrived, he rushed +up to where a tongue of fire had suddenly darted out of a +window, like a snake that was striking, and sent the contents +of his receptacle through into the room.</p> + +<p>Now something a little more like sense seemed to seize +upon those present. All they needed was a leader, some one +capable of giving orders; and it would be surprising how +much could be accomplished.</p> + +<p>The men stopped trying to save the furniture. If the +building could be kept from burning to the ground the +things it contained might have a chance of being spared. +They rushed away to the barn, as though knowing where +horse buckets were to be found; and Elmer knew that he +had found several willing allies in his battle with the flames.</p> + +<p>He saw that these men were the farmer himself, and his +son, almost a man in size. The two farm hands were not to +be seen; and this fact gave Elmer a strong idea that in truth +they might have been responsible for the fire itself. Sometimes +when a robbery has been committed the thieves will +try to cover all traces of their work by burning the building.</p> + +<p>By the time those other women had arrived he believed +he would have enough on the ground to form a living chain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +between the brook and the house, so that the full buckets +could be passed swiftly along from hand to hand, and the +empties returned after the same fashion for a fresh start.</p> + +<p>Inside of five minutes after the Boy Scouts arrived on +the spot it was a lively scene that was taking place. The +smoke continued to pour out of the windows; but whenever +a bit of flame showed itself, Elmer or Ty was ready +to dash a bucket of water on the same.</p> + +<p>"Keep up the good work, fellows!" shouted Landy, +who was filling the buckets at the time. "She ain't gaining +much, now; and every one that comes just adds to the +fire brigade, so's to send the buckets along faster. I'm +coming over to help fight soon as that farmer's boy gets +here!"</p> + +<p>"Say, if only we had all our troop here, Elmer, wouldn't +we make short work of it, though?" asked Ty, who was +beginning to turn many shades darker because of the smoke +that swept past him every little while.</p> + +<p>"We'll do it as we are!" answered the patrol leader, +firmly; for he believed that they must soon begin to get +the mastery over the hungry flames.</p> + +<p>Then Landy came staggering along, bearing with him a +huge bucket, which he expected to dash personally on some +place where it would do the most good. The farmer's boy +had arrived to take his place at the brook, which set him +free for sterner duties.</p> + +<p>"Go for it, fellers!" he gasped; and then as a wicked +looking finger of fire darted out toward him he emptied the +contents of his pail in that direction. "Plenty more where +that came from. The crick'll hold out all right, if only we +can get it up here fast enough. That's the way, Ty, soak +it to the measly old thing. We're going to win out yet, +see!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was the right sort, of spirit to show at any rate; and +afterwards his chums had only words of praise for Landy's +conduct.</p> + +<p>"If we c'n only hold out long enough, we're just bound +to knock this old fire into a cocked hat!" Ty managed to +cry out, as he seized another bucket, and turned to look for +a chance to use it.</p> + +<p>Just then he noticed a small girl standing near by, sobbing +as if her heart would break. She seemed to be looking +up toward the second story windows of the house that was +on fire, as though there might be something that she longed +to save up there.</p> + +<p>Ty was immediately thrilled with the thought that it +might be a human being. Nobody had as yet said anything +about a missing person, whether a child, a very old man, +or a woman; but this might come from the fact that such +tremendous excitement held everybody in its grip.</p> + +<p>Ty had read about daring feats which lads no older than +himself had performed at such critical times. Perhaps +within his soul there burned a desire to outshine these +heroes of fact and fiction; and do something to make the +name of Tyrus Collins go ringing down the ages, on the +annals of heroes who have risked their lives in order to save +others.</p> + +<p>At any rate, as soon as he had emptied the bucket he was +holding, he passed it along to the nearest woman, and then +whirled upon the little girl.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She turned to him eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'll be burned, my little baby, Bennie!" she +wailed, wringing her hands as if in the greatest woe.</p> + +<p>Ty was thrilled by the words. Here then was the golden +opportunity he had long sought. A baby, she had said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +forgotten in the mad rush and excitement. And to him had +come the chance to show of what metal scouts were made.</p> + +<p>"Where is he—show me the window of the room!" he +demanded in such a stern tone that the child shrank back; +but she managed to point upward and say:</p> + +<p>"That window—it's the little room over the front hall! +Oh, if you could only bring him out, mister; everybody's +too busy to remember poor little Bennie!"</p> + +<p>That finished Ty. He heard the call to duty and was +off. Still, he kept his wits about him fairly well, and did +not plunge recklessly into the building.</p> + +<p>His first act was to take another look upward, so that he +might locate the window she had mentioned, and remember +which it was when groping about the interior. Elmer was +close by; but although he turned toward the patrol leader at +first, Ty changed his mind, fearing that he might be interfered +with in his bold designs.</p> + +<p>No, if a rescue must be made, he would go it alone; and +hence all the glory that was coming would be his.</p> + +<p>"Here, take that full bucket and follow me, Ty!" called +Elmer, who saw a chance to deluge a threatened point in +such a way that the fire would be fully beaten back in that +quarter.</p> + +<p>He supposed the other was carrying out his suggestion, +and did not know any different until on turning he found +himself face to face with Landy, who had quickly taken the +place of the one called upon.</p> + +<p>"Where's Ty?" asked Elmer, as upon looking around +he failed to discover the figure of his late assistant.</p> + +<p>"He's gone in!" declared Landy, seeming to be a little +appalled by something he had witnessed.</p> + +<p>"Gone in where?" continued the other, hardly understanding +what was meant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He rushed right into the house like he'd lost his senses, +Elmer; whatever do you think made him act like that?" +Landy replied.</p> + +<p>The patrol leader looked aghast.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know," he replied, "unless he heard +that some one was in there, and might be smothered or +burned. But it was a nervy thing for Ty to do. I only +hope he comes out again all right!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SHOWING THEIR METTLE.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Oh</span>, thay, can't we do anything to thave him?"</p> + +<p>It was, of course, Ted, with his lisp, who said this. He +had come up while the others were talking, and seemed +to understand the situation; perhaps he had even witnessed +the strange dash of Ty Collins into the burning +farmhouse.</p> + +<p>Elmer shook his head in the negative, as he replied:</p> + +<p>"You see, the smoke is so heavy that even if one of us +did go in, the chances are he'd never be able to find Ty. +We'll have to let him alone. Ty has a long head on him, +and generally knows what he's doing. Let's work away +here as fast as they fetch us the full buckets, and hope +our chum will get out again. Here, hand me that pail, +Ted; and get busy, Landy. No time to be staring around."</p> + +<p>Landy seemed to be half stunned because of the queer +actions of the scout who had entered the house. He was +standing there looking up at the row of windows, out of +which the smoke curled and eddied, as though he expected +an answer to the puzzling question there.</p> + +<p>But the energy of the patrol leader influenced him; and +taking the bucket that had reached the end of the line +of men and women, he hastened to dash its contents in +the spot Elmer indicated.</p> + +<p>The boys were all showing more or less signs of exhaustion +by this time, owing to the terrific heat, caused by the +stickiness of the weather, and the influence of the fire.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +But not one of them gave any indication of showing the +white feather. They seemed to feel that the honor of the +scouts was involved in this fight for the farmer's home; +and with set teeth they continued to ply the water.</p> + +<p>"We're gaining a little all the time, fellows!" exclaimed +Elmer, meaning to bolster up the courage of both +Ted and Landy; though often he would cast an anxious +eye up at those mute windows, as though beginning to +fear that the missing chum would never again appear.</p> + +<p>"Yeth," said Ted, dolefully, "but every time we leave +a plathe to go to a new one, the fire tharth out again freth +ath a daithy. If only a lot more men would come to help +uth out, we might get it under."</p> + +<p>"We will do it, boys, just make up your minds to that," +gasped Elmer, as he once more gripped a big stable bucket +and started back to the window through which he expected +to hurl the contents. "We've got the grit to stick +to the job to the bitter end, and grit wins the day every +time. Hurry up there with that other pail; and tell +them to find some more, if they can. Anything will do that +can hold water. We've just <i>got</i> to put this thing out! +That's the way, Landy; you did a good job that time!"</p> + +<p>Those words of praise did more to inspire new faith and +confidence in the heart of the almost exhausted fat boy +than anything else could have done. He seemed to pluck +up fresh courage, braced himself to his task, and even +grinned at Elmer, although it was a sickly attempt at a +smile.</p> + +<p>Landy was, indeed, a sight just then. He was wet to +the skin with perspiration and spilled water from the +creek. Besides, his usually jolly face was streaked with +a series of queer marks, where the black smoke had found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +lodgment, and been ground in every time he drew his +sleeve across his smarting eyes.</p> + +<p>But then the others were little better off, though possibly +they did not feel the terrible heat quite so much as +the stout youth. Regardless of the damage to their clothes +they labored faithfully on, determined that the Hickory +Ridge troop was bound to receive new honor because of +what they did at the Brady fire.</p> + +<p>Seconds had merged into minutes, and Elmer's anxiety +grew to an alarming extent. What if poor Ty had, indeed, +fallen in the midst of that smoke and was lying there now +in the house helpless?</p> + +<p>It was a terrible thought, and made him shiver, even +though at the time he was also burning with the heat. +Suffocation was just as bad as the fire itself; and Elmer +began to argue with himself that perhaps it was his sacred +duty to rush into the house in the endeavor to find Ty.</p> + +<p>He looked at Landy and Ted with almost pity in his +eyes, and yet at that moment the young patrol leader +was proud of his chums. Never had there been a test of +endurance where the stake meant so much. If they could +save the Brady home surely that were far better than any +prize which might have fallen to their prowess because +of a great hike, or a swimming distance match!</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard Landy give a shrill yell.</p> + +<p>"There he is, Elmer! Hurrah for Ty!"</p> + +<p>The fat boy was pointing a trembling finger upward; +and following its general direction Elmer saw a head thrust +forth from a certain window in the second story.</p> + +<p>Ty did not seem disposed to pay the slightest attention +to his chums, though the three of them stood there waving +their hands and shouting. He was beckoning wildly to +the little girl who had been standing near by all the while,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +with her eager eyes riveted on the window above, just as +though she expected a miracle to be wrought in her +favor.</p> + +<p>When Ty's head poked into view as through a curtain, for +eddies of smoke were all around the scout, the child began +to dance up and down, and clap her hands. At that moment +Ty Collins came nearer to being a real hero in the +eyes of a girl than ever before in all his life.</p> + +<p>"Come closer!" he shouted, and as she did so, he continued: +"Where did you say Bennie was, up here? Is +this the room?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," she replied, nodding her head at the same +time, as if in fear lest he might not hear her childish +voice in the midst of so much noise, with women calling, +and newcomers asking questions as they reached the scene.</p> + +<p>"Where did you leave him?" demanded the intrepid +rescuer.</p> + +<p>"Over in the corner—the box on the floor—Bennie was +naughty, and he had to be punished!" she cried at the +top of her shrill voice.</p> + +<p>Ty immediately disappeared, while his three chums +below waited with astonishment written on their faces, +not knowing what it all meant.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear that, Elmer?" demanded Landy, plucking +at the wet sleeve of the other. "She said the baby +was in a box! Don't that beat the Dutch, though? Whatever +could she have been thinking of to do such a thing?"</p> + +<p>"It wath the thillieth ever!" declared Ted, "thtuffing +a baby in a box jutht like he wath a rag doll!"</p> + +<p>"Hold on and see," said Elmer, who must have had +some sort of suspicion as to the true state of affairs.</p> + +<p>All eyes were riveted on that window. Seconds passed +as before, and the boys began to get nervous again because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +Ty failed to appear. Had he found the baby really +smothered? Was he attempting to carry the poor little +darling down the stairs through all that dreadful smoke?</p> + +<p>"Oh, look! look!" cried Landy.</p> + +<p>There was no need of his saying this, because everyone +near by had been watching that window eagerly, and no +doubt saw what was happening just as quickly as the fat +boy did; but then Landy was so worked up with excitement +that he could not restrain himself.</p> + +<p>Yes, Ty was there in full sight again. This time he was +leaning from the window, and seemed to be holding something +in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Hold on there, Ty," shouted Ted, feeling a thrill of +horror, as he fancied his fellow scout must be about to +heave the poor little innocent darling from that second +story window, in the hope of somebody catching it before +it could reach the ground. "Give uth a thanthe to get +under firtht."</p> + +<p>"Yes, hold your horses, old fellow!" panted Landy, as +he started forward with outstretched arms.</p> + +<p>But, singular to say, Ty seemed to pay little or no attention +to their demands; though Elmer was sure he could +see a broad grin on the blackened face of the one who +leaned out of the window to get away from the smoke.</p> + +<p>"Here, take your baby, little girl!" he shouted hoarsely, +as he began to lower away on a strange rope, which +Elmer decided he must have made by tearing a sheet into +long strips, and tying these together.</p> + +<p>Something came down, foot by foot—something that +struggled, and made frantic attempts at getting free from +the encircling rope.</p> + +<p>"Wow! it's a pup!" shrieked the astonished Landy.</p> + +<p>"Well, I do declare!" echoed Ted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer laughed aloud, as he started once more at the +task of emptying several buckets that had meanwhile arrived +at the end of the human chain. For wise Elmer +had guessed the truth before the moment when the other +two made their discovery.</p> + +<p>The little girl darted forward and snatched the small +woolly dog up the moment it touched the ground. She +began to hug "Bennie" with all the ardor of an indulgent +little mistress; and, then freeing him from the torn +sheet, ran off toward the women as if to show her recovered +prize to her mother.</p> + +<p>"Now come down yourself, Ty!" shouted Elmer. +"Don't you think of going back by way of the stairs, d'ye +hear?"</p> + +<p>Ty waved his hand. Perhaps his voice was utterly gone +by this time, thanks to the smoke and his exertions. They +saw him swing out of the window; and Elmer understood +from this that at least the scout had considerable power +left in his arms and lower limbs.</p> + +<p>Now his feet were on a little ledge that ran along the +face of the house above the lower windows. Ty had noticed +that a shutter was partly open and meant to make use of +this in his descent. It was a clever idea, and did the boy +great credit in the way of judgment. A veteran fireman, +accustomed to such things, could hardly have conceived a +better plan of campaign.</p> + +<p>Once his feet were planted on top of this, Ty gave a +sudden move, and they saw him slipping down until his +ready hands caught the upper edge of the heavy blind. +After that he dropped to the ground in a heap, to quickly +stagger to his feet once more.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for Ty!" shouted Landy, making the high +sign of fellowship in the direction of his chum; for he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +too busily engaged just then to think of abandoning his +buckets in order to rush to Ty's side so as to shake hands +with the hero of the occasion.</p> + +<p>What if it was only a miserable little woolly pup that +he had managed to save from possible destruction; it would +have been all the same had it been the real baby that the +child had given him to understand was in peril. And Ty +need never feel ashamed of his brave act. It shed new +luster on the name of the Hickory Ridge Boy Scout troop; +and Elmer was determined that when the account was +written up, there should be no hint of humor in the same +that might reflect in any way on Ty's act.</p> + +<p>Immediately Ty got busy again, and proceeded to fight +the fire with renewed vigor, though the poor fellow did +look as though he had almost reached the end of his resources. +Twice did Elmer tell him to drop out, and try +to recover; but for once Ty refused to obey orders, under +the plea that, as they were not really in uniform, it was +not obligatory on his part.</p> + +<p>"Now something is going to happen!" said Landy, as +he brushed past Elmer while warmly engaged; and at the +same time he pointed across the open space to where a +party of stout farm hands had burst into view, running +as fast as they could toward the fire.</p> + +<p>"More bucketh coming, boyth!" called Ted, who had +seen that each one of the newcomers was armed with at +least one big pail; which fact proved that they must have +suspected the cause of the wild alarm before they left +home, and had provided in this wise manner against a +dearth of vessels for fighting the flames.</p> + +<p>When those fellows got busy, hurrying up from the +friendly creek, each with a fresh supply of energy, and a +pair of big buckets that were filled to the brim with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +liquid so needful in order to check the spread of the flames, +things began to look more cheerful.</p> + +<p>"Now we've got it on the run, fellows!" cried Landy, +almost hysterical through sheer weakness, and his grim +determination not to give up so long as he could put one +foot before the other.</p> + +<p>"Thay, look at that giant bringing a wath boiler full +of water at a time!" exclaimed the delighted Ted, almost +forgetting to lisp, so great was his excitement. "When +he geth thtarted, it'th good-by to the old fire. Whoop! hear +it thizzle, would you! Hit it again, mithter; it never will +be mithed! Now it'th your turn, Elmer. One, two, three, +and thet 'em up again in the other alley! We win, boyth, +we win!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>HOW THE SCOUTS WON OUT.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> newcomers, whose coming the boys had noted with +pleasure, certainly showed signs of knowing how to fight +a fire in the country. In the first place, they had brought +their tools of trade along with them, in the shape of buckets. +Doubtless they remembered that on former occasions +the fire had gained headway simply on account of a lack +of receptacles for water.</p> + +<p>Then they knew the brook, and that an abundance of +water could be had for the taking. Last of all every man +was full of vim, judging from the way they started in to +whoop things up.</p> + +<p>Besides, their coming seemed to invigorate those already +on the ground, and who, by reason of long service, were +nearly exhausted.</p> + +<p>"'Everybody's doin' it,' fellers!" gasped Landy, as he +staggered forward with his sixteenth bucket, and gave the +contents a fling.</p> + +<p>"It'th a burning thame, what we're doing to that old +fire, don't you know?" laughed Ted, who followed close +on the fat boy's heels.</p> + +<p>"Keep it going another round, boys," shouted Elmer; +"and by that time, I reckon, there won't be any more +need of water. We've saved the house, even if it is damaged +a little with water and smoke and fire. That's the +ticket, Ty; you're making a record worth while to-day, old +fellow! Once more to the breach; then it's rest for yours."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All out!" cried Landy, in another minute, as he +dropped his bucket and sank in a limp heap on the ground, +a sight that would have caused his good mother to throw +up her hands in horror.</p> + +<p>But Landy was proud of having had a chance to prove +his right to the name of a Hickory Ridge Boy Scout. He +grinned, and looked particularly happy; for he knew that +when the history of the saving of the Brady home was +written, his name would surely have a place of honor +among those who participated in the good work.</p> + +<p>By this time there were fully forty people present. How +the news got abroad it would be hard to say. Some of the +farmers in that neighborhood had telephones, and in this +way it may have been passed along the line; but there +were many other methods in which the fire could have +made itself manifest.</p> + +<p>New people kept arriving every few minutes; while a +few went away again to attend to the urgent business of +getting in their late crops.</p> + +<p>The four scouts remained in a bunch, talking matters +over, and trying to recover a little from their tremendous +exertions before returning to the camp.</p> + +<p>"Thay, how d'ye thuppothe the old thing got thtarted?" +Ted asked, with the natural curiosity of a boy.</p> + +<p>"That's so," echoed Landy. "It must have been an +accident don't you think, Elmer?" for even in such a +matter as this they seemed to turn to the patrol leader +for information.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I can't say, fellows," replied Elmer. "At +this time in the morning the hands on a farm are out in +the fields, and the women washing up the breakfast things. +Perhaps they've got a gasoline stove here, and somebody +was careless. It happens now and then."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But here comes Mr. Brady over this way; he may +know what started the old blaze," remarked Ty.</p> + +<p>"Looks kind of smiling," ventured Landy; "which I +take it is some singular for a gentleman whose house has +pretty near gone up in smoke. Tell you what, I know why +he's heading this way, fellows."</p> + +<p>"Then thay it right out, Landy," remarked Ted, who +had noted how the fat boy looked toward Ty and grinned.</p> + +<p>"He's coming with a handful of thanks for our brave +chum here, on account of how he saved the little Brady +girl's darling baby, Bennie," said Landy.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" snorted Ty, "I did my best, anyhow, and +that's all any fellow c'n do. How was I to know it was +only a silly little purp, and not a real human being? +Didn't she call it the baby? Laugh all you want, Landy; +but all I c'n say is that I reckon anyone of you fellers +would have done just as bad."</p> + +<p>"And that's as fine a compliment as you could pay us, +Ty!" declared Elmer, heartily. "As for me, I want to +say right here and now that I'm proud of the way you +went into that burning house, thinking that a poor little +baby was in danger. In my mind it's just as if you had +done what you meant to; and I'm glad to own you as a +chum. Never mind if some fellows try to have a little +fun out of it; they don't mean anything by it. But here's +Mr. Brady."</p> + +<p>The farmer was a heavy-set man in the prime of life. +He, too, had worked hard in the effort to save his house; +but despite his anxiety and fatigue, he approached the +four scouts with kindling eyes and an outstretched hand.</p> + +<p>"I want to shake hands with every one of you boys," +he said, earnestly. "Only for you coming when you did, +and takin' hold with such a vim, I guess the old Brady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +farmhouse would have gone up that time. I see you all +wear trousers and leggings that say you belong to the +Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts; and make sure that I don't +mean to forget this. I want the name of every one of +you, and I'm going to make it a point to see your folks, +to tell them what reason they've got to be proud of having +such boys in the family."</p> + +<p>The way that horny hand of the farmer squeezed those +of the boys told that he meant every word he uttered. +Landy winced under the pressure, and came very near +crying out for mercy; only he remembered that this would +not seem just right, when they were at the time being complimented +on their manly qualities.</p> + +<p>"We're only too glad that we happened to be coming over +to your place at just the right time, Mr. Brady," remarked +Elmer. "If we'd been at our camp, perhaps we +might not have known of the fire until it was too late to +do much good."</p> + +<p>"Coming to see me, the four of you, were you?" said +the other, looking a trifle curious. "What could I do for +you, boys? All you have to do is to mention it: after +your noble work this morning I guess it'd be hard for me +to refuse any favor."</p> + +<p>"But you see, sir," Landy exclaimed, "we didn't want +to ask a favor. Fact is, we wanted to do you one, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"I have been looking around, Mr. Brady," observed +Elmer, "and I failed to see your two new hands working +to save the house—the short man and his tall mate."</p> + +<p>Immediately the face of the farmer darkened, and they +saw his hands close with a movement that seemed to speak +of anger.</p> + +<p>"No, you didn't, my lad, and for a very good reason,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +he said, breathing hard. "They turned out to be a pair +of rascals. My daughter caught them in the act of robbing +the house this very morning. I had sent them out +into a field back of the barns, and they knew that with +my son and the horses I expected to go to another part +of the farm. So they waited till the coast was clear, and +then sneaked back to the house, entering through a window +when the women folks were busy in the kitchen and dairy."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" gasped Landy, who had not dreamed that this +could be the explanation of the fire; "then they must +have been caught in the act, and did it for revenge?"</p> + +<p>"Just what they did," replied Mr. Brady, with his teeth +gritting in anger. "My oldest daughter just happened to +go upstairs, and ran across them turning things upside +down in the search for valuables. She screamed, and knowing +that the rest of the women folks must have heard the +row, the scoundrels deliberately put matches to things, and +then, jumping from the windows, made off, laughing."</p> + +<p>"Did they steal much from you, Mr. Brady?" asked Ty.</p> + +<p>"That I don't know yet, because the fire took up all my +attention as soon as I got on the ground. And I don't +bother much about what they took, I'm that thankful about +saving my house, and that nobody was hurt," the farmer +went on.</p> + +<p>"Not even little Bennie," murmured Landy; though +Elmer gave him a reproachful look.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," the patrol leader went on, "it happens +that we were just on our way here to warn you about your +new hands. One of our troop arrived in camp last night, +and told us a story about two tramps trying to wreck the +express train; and that the officers of several towns were +looking for them. When he described the fellows some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +of us thought the two new hands might be the ones who +were wanted."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Ty spoke up, "and if Elmer had had his way +we'd have come to see you last night; but the rest of the +bunch, being lazy or tired, voted to wait till morning. +Elmer knew best; he nearly always does."</p> + +<p>"Well," the farmer went on, "it was nice of you to +think of giving me warning any time; and mighty lucky +that you were on your way here when the fire started. +Only for that there would be a heap of ruins here, instead +of my old house, which has been in the family many generations."</p> + +<p>"You say the two men ran away, Mr. Brady?" remarked +Elmer, who felt more or less curiosity concerning +their movements.</p> + +<p>"So the women folks say," came the reply. "Connie, +my girl, the one who came on them while they were turning +things upside down, looking under the mattresses of +the beds for money, and even under the edges of the +carpets. She says they ran toward the barns. But I had +the horses with me, so they didn't find a mount."</p> + +<p>"Thay, perhapth they're hiding right now over there +in the haymow, or thomewhere!" suggested Ted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my goodness! That would be too good a thing, +wouldn't it?" cried Landy, scrambling to his feet, part of +his weariness seeming to leave him at the prospect of new +excitement.</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that, now," said the farmer. "The +rascals might have made up their minds that, after all the +excitement was over, another chance would crop up to do +some clever robbery. Perhaps I'd be wise to get some of +the men together, and take a look through the barns."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, Mr. Brady," said Elmer. "Because,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +unless I miss my guess, yonder comes a car that holds some +men in uniforms, and they may turn out to be officers +from Hickory Ridge, Fairfield, or some other place, looking +for information about these very two men."</p> + +<p>"Bully! Wouldn't that just be the best thing ever, +to think of their happening here when we need them so +much," remarked Landy, staring at the coming ear.</p> + +<p>"They must have been passing by when they met some +of the neighbors going home, and learned of the fire," +ventured Mr. Brady, who made a motion with his arm +to attract the attention of the big, pompous-looking officer +who was getting out of the automobile.</p> + +<p>"I know who he is," remarked Ty. "That's the head +of the police over at Fairfield. His name is Benchley. +I've talked with him more'n once. Why, he used to run +some sort of auction shop before they made him the chief +over there. And here he comes to interview us. My! Just +get on to his strut, will you, fellows?"</p> + +<p>"Everybody look out how you talk when he's around!" +exclaimed Landy. "He looks as if he'd like to pinch +everybody around, and slap 'em into the cooler, just to +beep his hand in."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Brady had stepped out to meet the man in uniform.</p> + +<p>"What's been going on here, mister?" asked the officer, +with a heavy frown in the direction of the four boys; +as though he might be so accustomed to having his share +of trouble with the untamed youths of Fairfield and Cramertown, +that he naturally came to the conclusion, when +anything went wrong, in most cases, it could be traced +back to the depravity of the rising generation.</p> + +<p>Evidently Mr. Benchley was always at war with the +boys of his town, which was one of the greatest mistakes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +the head of the police force could make. In Hickory +Ridge they managed things better, for the chief there had +long since won the respect of most of the lads, who knew +they had a good friend in the head of the force.</p> + +<p>"Been having a fire; but we were fortunate enough to +get it under control before much damage had been done," +replied Mr. Brady.</p> + +<p>"Did these chaps have anything to do with it?" demanded +the pompous man in uniform, again frowning at +Elmer and his chums.</p> + +<p>"Sure they did, a whole lot," replied the farmer.</p> + +<p>"Then you want them taken in, I reckon," interrupted +the officer, bracing himself, as though he might be ready +to sweep the four scouts into his car without further ceremony.</p> + +<p>"Taken in?" repeated Mr. Brady. "Well, I should +say not. When I agreed with you that these lads had had +considerable to do with the fire I meant that only for the +grand work they did, my house would have burned to the +ground!"</p> + +<p>"Then they didn't set the blaze going?" growled the +big man. "Who did, then?"</p> + +<p>"Two men I engaged yesterday as farm hands; and +from what I hear I believe they are the very scoundrels +you are looking for this minute," the farmer replied.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SEARCHING THE HAY BARN.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Say</span> that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as +he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe +his ears.</p> + +<p>"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I +hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking +for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.</p> + +<p>"Er—describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, +as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain +place.</p> + +<p>"One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but +enormously strong. When I saw what he could lift I +thought I'd run across a good hand, though I own that I +didn't just like his face; but at this time of year farmers +can't be choosers, 'cause help is mighty scarce."</p> + +<p>"Did he have a scar on his right cheek?" asked the +pompous chief of police, as he kept his eyes on his notebook.</p> + +<p>"That's just what he did have; told me he had been +caught once by a reaper, and just escaped with his life!" +answered Mr. Brady promptly.</p> + +<p>"So. And did you happen to notice his left hand, was +the upper joint of his little finger missing?" the officer +continued, in a sing-song tone.</p> + +<p>"It certainly was," replied the farmer, nodding; "he +explained that in the same way; and I agreed with him +that he was lucky to lose only so small a piece, when he had +the mower catch him, as the horses ran away."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Settled then; that was Shorty McCabe beyond all +doubt," remarked the official. "Now how about his companion? +Was he tall?"</p> + +<p>"Half again as big a man as the other," replied Mr. +Brady.</p> + +<p>"Squint with one of his eyes; and talk as if he had his +mouth filled with hot mush?" continued Chief Benchley.</p> + +<p>"You have described him to a dot," answered the other, +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Then I have the honor to inform you, sir, that the men +who were lately in your employ are the identical criminals +we happen to be looking for at this very minute."</p> + +<p>"I guessed as much," dryly remarked Mr. Brady; who, +it seemed to Elmer, had sized the important official at his +true value, which, as Landy afterwards declared, was very +much along the line of a "bag of wind."</p> + +<p>"Please produce them, and we will see to it that they +give you no further worry," remarked the officer.</p> + +<p>"I only wish I could, sir; but the fact is, that after +being caught robbing the house by one of my family, while +my grown son and myself were in the fields, they set fire +to things, and then ran off," the farmer replied.</p> + +<p>"That is bad," remarked the policeman, sadly. "I +had thought you might have tied the rascals up, and that +we could relieve you of their care. Can you tell me in +what direction they fled, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Toward the barns, my daughter says," Mr. Brady +replied.</p> + +<p>"Evidently with the design of securing horses, and continuing +their flight," said the big man in blue, as though +these things were only for the practical mind of a man of +long experience.</p> + +<p>"Hardly that, sir," the farmer observed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you know?" asked Chief Benchley, frowning +at the idea of a mere countryman venturing to differ with +him.</p> + +<p>"Because they knew in the first place that I only have +two horses just now, and both of them were being used by +my son and myself out in another field, some distance +away from the house. But one of these wide-awake lads has +suggested that perhaps they meant to conceal themselves +in the haymow, or about the barns somewhere, in the hope +that after all the excitement blew over, another chance +might open up to search my house for the money they need +to make a get-away."</p> + +<p>The big man in blue wagged his head as he considered +this piece of information.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, that might be worth looking into; it isn't +such a bad idea for a boy to think up. Perhaps we'd better +take a look through the barn, and make sure. Whether +we find them there or not, make up your mind the game's +nearly up for the rascals. When they get Benchley hot on +the trail, they're going to cash in and start for the pen +in short order. Lead the way to the barn, then, mister. +What did you say your name was?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't mention it, but I'm Silas Brady. I was just +going to get some of the neighbors, and make the search +myself when you hove in sight, Mr. Benchley. But of +course I'd be only too glad to have you take entire charge, +for your long experience in such things will be of great +advantage to us," and catching the eye of Elmer just then, +Mr. Brady gave him a sly wink.</p> + +<p>But the pompous man in blue did not see this. He +swelled out a little more, until Landy privately informed +Ty that he made him think of a proud pouter pigeon he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +had at home, which threatened to burst every time it strutted +around, with its lungs filled with air.</p> + +<p>As they started off toward the barn the officer made a +sweeping motion with his arm that was apparently understood +by the three who had come with him in the car, for +they immediately headed as if to join him.</p> + +<p>The farmer also spoke to quite a number of husky fellows +whom he knew as neighbors; so that there was a general +exodus from the vicinity of the house toward the out-buildings +of the place.</p> + +<p>As the word was passed from mouth to mouth the +brawny farmers began to show some signs of excitement. +One of them picked up a stout cudgel, which he gripped in +a way to indicate that he anticipated using the same in +case of necessity; seeing which the others started to also arm +themselves.</p> + +<p>It was quite a formidable force that began to surround +the barn and cowsheds.</p> + +<p>"Wow!" exclaimed Landy, who had also snatched up a +wagon spoke upon which his eye had alighted, and seemed +eager for the fray; "countin' the four Fairfield cops, we're +just sixteen good and true men. My eye! won't Shorty and +Lanky Jim throw up their hands when they see what they're +up against!"</p> + +<p>"If they get just one look at that Benchley," said Ty +in a low tone, "they'll nearly drop dead. Say, just see +him strut around, would you? He couldn't put on more +frills if he was a major-general, directing the Battle of +Gettysburg. This is as good as a circus, fellows, and I +wouldn't have missed it for a heap."</p> + +<p>"Thame here," chuckled Ted. "And I wath jutht wondering +how he'd act if that hard faced little fighter, Thorty, +would pop out of a hole and jump him. Thix to one you'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +hear that big gath-bag holler for help like a calf. I know +hith breed, boyth."</p> + +<p>Elmer did not make any remark; but if that little smile +on his face stood for anything it meant that the others +voiced his sentiments pretty clearly.</p> + +<p>The surrounding of the out-buildings was now complete. +Chief Benchley made the round, stationing every man +afresh as though he did not want to lose the slightest bit +of credit for managing the affair. He was in his glory, +and looked as though the chance of a lifetime were now +within his grasp.</p> + +<p>He had reserved several men to assist him in making the +search. Among these, two of his officers and the farmer +himself were to be seen. And as the official had scorned to +place boys on guard, because of the poor opinion he had +of them in general, Elmer and his chums were enabled to +trail into the barn after the searching party, an opportunity +they did not neglect to avail themselves of.</p> + +<p>Twice did the pompous official turn a questioning eye +toward them, as though he might be inclined to order them +out; but on second thought he changed his mind, and said +nothing. As the scouts would have declined to pay any +attention to his orders, perhaps after all the Fairfield head +of police was wise not to attempt anything of the kind.</p> + +<p>The Brady barns were unusually large, even for a big +farm. As quite a quantity of hay was stored here, waiting +until the market price rose in the winter, extensive space +was needed; though there were also three or four immense +haystacks in the rear of the buildings, as well as one of +straw, left when the threshing machine had passed through, +and the oat crop had been attended to during the summer.</p> + +<p>"If anybody comes across any sign of the culprits, call +out, and the rest of us will hurry to the spot. Just shout<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +out the words, 'Here they are,' and we will understand," +the officer had said, as the party entered the big barn.</p> + +<p>Then began a scene of bustle, as men went this way and +that, poking about for signs of those who were supposed to +be in hiding.</p> + +<p>Of course all this could not be done without causing more +or less racket; and if the two tramps were close by they +must have discovered what was taking place early in the +hunt.</p> + +<p>Elmer kept his three scout chums with him.</p> + +<p>"We'll hunt in a bunch, fellows," he had declared. +"The Chief doesn't want us around him, so we'll look +in other places. Perhaps we can get trace of the ones we're +looking for."</p> + +<p>"I just bet on you to figure it out, Elmer," remarked +the confident Landy.</p> + +<p>"Shucks; Elmer could give that big bluffer all the +handicap going, and then beat him out. He don't know +beans, that's what," snorted Ty, looking scornfully over +to where the important party in uniform was walking about, +giving orders in a loud and consequential tone.</p> + +<p>"Tell uth what to do, Elmer," said Ted; "and we'll +poke into every rat hole in th' old plathe."</p> + +<p>"One thing's sure," the patrol leader went on, as he +looked thoughtfully about him, "if they made up their +minds to hide here, then they must have tunneled under the +hay, because that is the best of places for staying concealed."</p> + +<p>"I second that motion," declared Ty, nodding his +head.</p> + +<p>"And so we must keep on the watch for any signs of +a hole under the hay," Elmer continued, as he ran his eye +along the base of the mow close by.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Huh! looks to me like hunting for a needle in a haystack!" +declared Ty, after they had been industriously +at work for several minutes, without any success.</p> + +<p>"Only one needle this time; the other's a blunt-headed +pin," chuckled Landy.</p> + +<p>Ted began to sniff the air.</p> + +<p>"Thought I thmelled thmoke," he announced as Elmer +looked at him suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Well, considering what has happened here lately," remarked +Ty, "seems to me that wouldn't be so very queer. +I'm just soaked with it, and expect to smell smoke for a +month of Sundays."</p> + +<p>"But I thmell new thmoke!" Ted continued, positively.</p> + +<p>"He's right, fellows; and I'm of the same opinion," +Elmer went on to say.</p> + +<p>Landy gave a short whistle.</p> + +<p>"Smoke, did you say, Elmer?" he exclaimed. "My +stars, boys! what if the hoboes have set fire now to the +old barn? Say, what a blaze she would make, with all this +hay stored here. Me to let them pigs out of the sty if it +happens. It would be a shame to have roast pork when +they're only part grown."</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it, Elmer?" asked Ty, apparently +appalled by the thought of the terrible consequences that +must follow, should the pair of desperate rascals go to +extremes.</p> + +<p>"It seems to be getting stronger all the while," observed +the patrol leader, "and look at Mr. Brady; he is sniffing +the air right now, as if he didn't like it any too well. I +reckon he's got the same idea I have; which is that the men +are in hiding here, and being afraid that they will be +found have started a fire to cover their escape. See, Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +Brady is telling the Fairfield policemen his suspicions now, +and you can see that he's given him a start too."</p> + +<p>"What a shame it will be if the barn goes, with all this +hay," said Landy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Brady's got it all insured, I reckon," ventured +Ty. "Farmers are smart enough these days to look +out for that. But it'll make a high old blaze if it gets +started, I tell you, fellows."</p> + +<p>"But won't the thilly foolth be thetting the match to +their own funeral pyre?" demanded Ted.</p> + +<p>"Not by a jugful," chuckled Landy. "Ten to one they +fixed all that before; and even made their old tunnel under +the hay. But that smoke is sure getting heavier all the +time, boys; and look there, ain't that the fire yonder? It +is, as sure as you live! Good-by to the old barn, and this +fine crop of hay. Say, look at it jump, will you?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE CAPTURE OF THE TRAMPS.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Elmer</span> saw at a glance that what his comrade had declared +was really true. And a loud shout from one of the +searching men announced that he too had discovered the +fire.</p> + +<p>Tremendous excitement seized upon the whole party, +for they could readily surmise that this new conflagration +was not the result of a smoldering spark, but that it had +a meaning all its own. The two desperate hoboes must +have started the second blaze with the same idea in view +that had urged them to put the match to the farmhouse—to +divert attention while they slipped away.</p> + +<p>That was what Elmer thought. And when most of the men +rushed toward the place where the fire was already burning +fiercely amidst the hay, he thought it good policy to turn his +attention to another quarter.</p> + +<p>It had flashed across his mind just then that as they +passed around the barn he had noticed a board off, with the +hay sticking out of the hole. And now it came to him what +a splendid way of escape that same hole would prove, did +a tunnel under the hay lead to it.</p> + +<p>The watchers outside had been summoned by the loud +cries of those within, and as they came rushing through the +wide open doors with the intention of trying to put down the +spreading fire, Elmer saw that the very condition which +those hunted hoboes must have wanted had been brought +about.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>Outside, the way to escape was clear, so far as brawny +men went. If Lanky Jim and Shorty could only wriggle +along under the hay until they arrived at that place where +the board was missing, they had an open field before them, +and flight meant a chance to reach the shelter of the woods +beyond the fields.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, and be quick about it, fellows," said +Elmer, in his most thrilling tone; at which Landy's big +eyes opened wider than customary, ditto his mouth.</p> + +<p>The other three trailed along at his heels, wondering +what he could have in his mind. When all the men were +gathering in the barn, with the idea of trying to fight the +fire, it seemed strange that Elmer should lead them outside, +and away from the excitement.</p> + +<p>But then by this time those fellows understood that the +patrol leader never did anything without having some good +and substantial reason for it. And they were, as a rule, +ready to follow blindly wherever he chose to lead, leaving +the asking of questions until a better chance opened up.</p> + +<p>Had Doubting George been present, possibly he might +have tried to quiz Elmer ere he yielded full obedience; +but then even George must learn that one of the first duties +of a true scout is to exhibit implicit subjection to authority.</p> + +<p>In this fashion then did Elmer lead his three chums +around the outside of the big barn. They could hear the +shouts of those who were fighting the flames within; but +Elmer knew only too well that the chances of the new +fire being subdued were small indeed. Hay burns with +frightful rapidity; and no buckets were handy at the +moment.</p> + +<p>Turning, as he drew near the place where the board had +been torn from the back of the barn, he made a motion +with his finger that seemed to call for silence. The other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +fellows almost held their breath with suspense, still in +doubt as to what Elmer meant to do; although they began +to suspect that he must have conceived an idea looking to +the confusion of the incendiaries.</p> + +<p>When he pointed straight at the place where some of the +new hay was sticking out, Landy's blackened face lighted +up with intelligence.</p> + +<p>"He means they're expecting to crawl out right here," +he whispered in the ear of Ty, who was close beside him.</p> + +<p>The other made a suggestive movement with the club +he had picked up, and by which action he meant that it +would please him very much if only he had the opportunity +to bring it down upon the head of Shorty, or his long-legged +mate.</p> + +<p>Then they all turned their eyes again on Elmer, expecting +him to tell just what he wanted them to do. They saw +the patrol leader pick up a piece of rope that happened +to be lying handy, and fashion a slip-noose with it. During +his life up in that big country of the Canadian Northwest, +Elmer had seen many things which he would never +be apt to forget as long as he lived. And, among others, +he had once watched the mounted police capture a half-breed +fugitive from justice, fastening his hands together +behind his back in a clever way, which possibly he might +now have a chance to imitate.</p> + +<p>"Here, take this, Ty," he said, in a low tone, as he handed +the noosed rope over to the one nearest to him. "When I +whip the fellow's arms behind his back, make sure that you +get that loop around them, and pull tight! Understand?"</p> + +<p>Ty nodded his head vigorously, not daring to trust himself +to speech. Things were happening so fast and furious that +really he hardly knew whether he might be awake, or else +asleep and dreaming them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>Of course both Landy and Ted had also caught the significance +of the movement, and were ready to do whatever +they were told. Elmer made motions to give them to +understand that he wanted them to range up on the other +side of the hole in the side of the barn, and await developments, +while he and Ty crouched as close to the boards +across the way as possible.</p> + +<p>Landy was heard to chuckle while this was going on. +Perhaps something about the situation reminded the fat +boy of other occasions, when he and some of his mates +had endeavored to clutch some rabbit as it came darting +out of its burrow, after a ferret had alarmed it, or a little +dog been let loose in the tunnel. But just now the game +was of an entirely different order, and Elmer frowned at +Landy's merriment.</p> + +<p>Inside the barn the noise was redoubled. Evidently the +fire-fighters were having their hands full, with the rapid +spread of the blaze. If in the end they managed to control +the conflagration, Elmer felt that he would be surprised. +According to his mind there was not one chance in +ten of such good luck coming to Mr. Brady. He had saved +his house, but his barn would very likely have to go.</p> + +<p>Elmer had his eyes glued on the projecting wisps of +hay now. He fancied that he had detected some little +movement to them, though this might be caused by a passing +breeze; or some action on the part of the energetic +fire-fighters within.</p> + +<p>No, as he looked, he distinctly saw the hay move! Then +there must be a reason for this. Elmer instantly placed his +hand upon the hay, and the sense of feeling telegraphed the +truth to his brain. Some object was making a way through +the mow, and evidently pushing along a tunnel that had +been previously prepared!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>He turned and put his finger to his lips, seeing which +every one of the wide-awake scouts understood what was +meant.</p> + +<p>Imagine the strain on their nerves while they waited +for the appearance of the first tramp. Would he come along +head-first, or might they expect to see a pair of feet thrust +out of the opening?</p> + +<p>More violently did the hay move. Whatever made the +stir, it was certainly drawing closer and closer to the spot. +All eyes were glued on the agitated dried grass, and Ty got +his loop in readiness for quick work.</p> + +<p>Then something was seen pushing out through the hay, +which gave way before the energetic attack. Two extra +large feet, encased in brogans that looked as though they +might have covered many weary miles in their day, came +into view; proving that the man must be making a crab-like +retreat, keeping his face toward the fire.</p> + +<p>Perhaps fortune favored the boys, for had the man projected +his head first he might have detected their presence +in time to duck in again; though for that matter, with the +fire burning briskly beyond, he would find himself <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'beween'">between</ins> +two evils, and must sooner or later issue forth, or be cremated +in the hay barn.</p> + +<p>Waiting until the main part of the long-legged tramp +had wriggled into view, Elmer made a sudden gesture. The +others had been waiting for this, and instantly pounced +upon the figure that lay upon the ground.</p> + +<p>While Ted and Landy deposited their combined weight +on the fellow's back, Elmer on his part hastened to snatch +hold of his arms, and whip them behind him almost before +the tramp understood what was happening.</p> + +<p>Ty was waiting, and the way he slipped that loop over +both hands, and tightened it, was worth seeing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having made all secure so far as things had gone, the +patrol leader now seized hold of the kicking legs, and began +to pull. As the others came to his assistance they were +hardly two seconds in dragging the tramp out of the hay +mow; and thus far at least not the slightest sound had been +made calculated to betray the facts to the other rascal.</p> + +<p>It was not Elmer's intention to let the fellow see, just +yet, at least, that he owed his capture to a parcel of scouts. +He might burst out into a tirade, which, while it could do +him no particular good, might serve to warn the other +fellow, and cause him to change his plans.</p> + +<p>Accordingly he motioned to Landy to sit down on him +again; and then bending low himself he pressed the end +of his pocketknife against the man's neck as he grunted into +his ear:</p> + +<p>"Keep still, now, unless you want me to press the trigger!"</p> + +<p>Satisfied that Landy and Ted could manage the tied +tramp, even if he started to kick up a row, which was +hardly likely, Elmer once more turned his attention to +that opening under the mow. Once again the projecting +hay was being violently agitated, and he believed the shorter +man must be following close upon his mate.</p> + +<p>The programme would have to be repeated, and Elmer +only hoped as good success might attend his second effort +as had his first.</p> + +<p>It would be a big feather in the caps of the scouts could +they say that they had effected the capture of the two +would-be train wreckers, alone and unaided. But at the +moment he was not thinking of such a thing as glory; when +it was a stern duty that had been suddenly thrust upon +them, and which they must not attempt to evade under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +any circumstances, if they wished to be true to the principles +of the organization to which they belonged.</p> + +<p>Shorty, however, must have managed to change his position +in some manner, if so be he had started along the +tunnel in the same crab-like method of procedure which +his comrade had employed. For the first thing they knew a +frowsy head had been thrust out of the hay, and a pair of +eyes were blinking up at them.</p> + +<p>Elmer was afraid lest the fellow draw back upon seeing +what awaited him, just as a tortoise will pull in its head at +signs of danger. Accordingly, he was determined not to +allow such a thing to happen. True, with the advancing +fire Shorty would speedily have to decide which fate he +must choose; but that might mean he would yield himself +a prisoner to the Fairfield police; and Elmer wanted the +Boy Scouts to get all the credit possible.</p> + +<p>On this account, then, he pounced on the man, and +gripped him by the shoulders. Elmer was himself far +from a weakling, and the man happened to be taken very +much by surprise; so that before he could collect his wits +sufficiently to make any show of defense, he found himself +out on the ground, with a couple of energetic young fellows +hovering over him.</p> + +<p>Ty, not having a second rope handy, had snatched up +his club again. When he saw that the shorter rascal was +starting to make a move, as though intending to get to his +feet, when trouble must have followed, Ty waved the +wagon spoke threateningly over his head, as he yelled +excitedly:</p> + +<p>"Lie down, you, 'less you want me to let her fall! +Stretch out and roll over on your face, d'ye hear? Quick, +now, keep amovin'! 'Everybody's doin' it,' you know.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +Now, Elmer, if you only had another piece of string handy, +there's a good chance to snug him up good and tight."</p> + +<p>Elmer did not have the cord or the rope; but all the same +he was equal to the demands of the occasion. He snatched +his big red bandana handkerchief from around his neck. +He had seen such useful articles serve strange purposes +before; and why should this one not take the place of a +rope?</p> + +<p>So he whipped it quickly around the thick wrists of the +man, almost before the fellow could get it through his head +what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Now, let's pull them farther away from here, because +the barn's going to be a hot place pretty soon," Elmer +remarked.</p> + +<p>Seizing hold, two to each prisoner, the boys succeeded in +dragging them some little distance off. Meanwhile some +one had noticed what they were doing, and presently the +Fairfield Police head came running out of the barn, rubbing +his smarting eyes, and, coming upon the little party, +stopped to stare in astonishment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>GOOD-BY TO THE SWEETWATER.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What</span> are you doing to those fellows, boys?" demanded +the champion of law and order; from which remark +it was plain to be seen that the smoke had affected the eyes +of the police officer to such an extent that he had failed to +recognize the culprits, and possibly believed the boys were +only carrying on high among themselves, as boys over in his +town frequently did, to the unhappiness of the constables.</p> + +<p>"We just took a notion to prevent them from escaping, +sir," remarked Elmer. "And if you think you can hold +them, we're willing to turn them over into your charge, +in the presence of Mr. Brady here and the others."</p> + +<p>A group began to cluster around them, most of the men +rubbing their smarting eyes. Already did they realize the +uselessness of trying to put up a fight against the flames +that were spreading resistlessly amid the hay.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare if it ain't the two hands that worked +for me, and then tried to rob my house, setting it on fire +as they ran away!" declared Mr. Brady, as he got a good +look at the prostrate men.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say these are the fugitives I have been +chasing, the desperate yeggmen named Shorty McCabe and +Lanky Jim Smith?" cried the police head.</p> + +<p>"That's just who they are, sir," replied Elmer.</p> + +<p>"But where did you find them?" demanded the other, +hardly willing to believe the plain evidence of his eyes and +ears.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As soon as I knew they had set fire to the hay I +guessed it was only meant to draw attention to that quarter +while they slipped away. I've seen that game played +more than once out West, sir," Elmer remarked, modestly.</p> + +<p>"And it was a fact, was it; they did try to steal off?" +questioned the other.</p> + +<p>"We found a place where there was a board off the +barn, and Elmer, he expected that was the way they'd +come out," said Ty, breaking in; for he just wanted this +consequential personage to understand that he did not +know so very much after all, in spite of his splendid uniform +and that wonderful strut.</p> + +<p>"Which same they did, all right," spoke up Landy, +"and then, you see, we just sat on 'em. Reckon the long +feller must 'a' thought a mountain had caved in when I +dropped on his back."</p> + +<p>"Will you take charge of the prisoners, Mr. Benchley?" +asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"That's what we're here for, young fellow; though, as +a rule we don't much fancy boys interfering with the pursuit +of justice," answered the other, who did not look any +too happy over the way things had turned out.</p> + +<p>Elmer, on his part, was fully satisfied Mr. Brady and +a number of the others had crowded around, astonished at +the turn matters had taken, and staring at the two prisoners. +They would be in a position to prove, should it be +necessary at any time in the future, that the scouts had +indeed effected the capture of the hunted train wreckers, +without any assistance from the police.</p> + +<p>And as for Shorty and Lanky Jim, it would not be polite +to tell what they thought and said when they discovered +that their captors were merely four half-grown boys. Perhaps +on first seeing the khaki trousers and leggings of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +scouts they may have labored under the impression that +the militia had been called out to ran them down; and this +would account for the meekness shown all along.</p> + +<p>The barn was now in the grasp of the fire. They could +see the billows of flame leaping upward; and a dense black +smoke began to rise.</p> + +<p>"This is tough luck, Mr. Brady," said Landy, after the +officers had fastened some shining steel ornaments to the +wrists of their prisoners, and led them over to the waiting +car. "After saving your house by a close shave, it's hard +to have your barn and hay go up in smoke."</p> + +<p>But the farmer did not seem to be very deeply concerned.</p> + +<p>"Barn's insured; and it's an old one at that," he remarked, +with a half smile; "and as luck would have it, +I sold all the hay in there just last week, for cash! The +man who bought it took out insurance, I believe. But you +boys have certainly covered yourselves with a lot of glory +this morning. First, saving my house, and then capturing +those tough characters. I consider that I'm getting off +mighty cheap. Hope some of you fellows will take a notion +to camp up this way more times than a few. It pays to have +Boy Scouts around. That's been my experience, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Well, how about milk, Mr. Brady?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"We brought that tin bucket along, but it's mixed up +with all the rest now. Suppose we could get one of your +women folks to go to the milk house with all this excitement +on?"</p> + +<p>"Why, any one of 'em would be only too proud to do +such a little thing for the brave boys who worked so hard to +save a roof over their heads. And don't think, young +fellow," the farmer added, turning on the confused Ty, +suddenly, "that we don't appreciate what you did, just +because it turned out to be a pup instead of a baby. That<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +was as bold a thing as ever I saw done. If I had any +boys about your age, I'd make sure that they joined the +scout movement before they were a week older. Seems like +it cultivates the best there is in a lad."</p> + +<p>All of the boys glowed with pleasure at hearing these +hearty words.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Brady," said Elmer. "It sure is a +satisfaction to know that you look at things that way. And +we feel repaid for all we've done, don't we, boys?"</p> + +<p>"It's only been a pleasure to play coon for you, Mr. +Brady," grinned Landy.</p> + +<p>"And I'm glad it was only a dog instead of a real +baby," declared Ty, stoutly; "'cause, you see, something +might have happened to hitch my plans, and think what a +terrible thing would have happened then."</p> + +<p>"Come with me, boys, and I'll see that you get milk; +yes, cream if you'd prefer it. It's lucky that those haystacks +happen to be as far off as they are, and the wind is +blowing away from them; because, you see, I kept that part +of the crop. Intended making a lot of repairs to the barn +after it was empty. Now I'll take the insurance money, +add some more to it, and build me a better place three times +over."</p> + +<p>"There go Shorty and Jim," announced Landy, as the +car started off for the near-by public road.</p> + +<p>"And they look at us as if they could eat us alive," +commented Ty.</p> + +<p>"I gueth thome of uth would rather thtick in their +throath," remarked Ted, gloomily.</p> + +<p>"What ails you, Ted?" asked Elmer, as they trailed +along after Mr. Brady. "You don't look like you were +altogether happy."</p> + +<p>"I know," announced Landy, a little maliciously. "He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +just wanted to get a chance to cut off a few arms and legs, +and such things as go with a battle. I could see it in his +eyes when it looked like we were going to have a real rumpus +with them train wreckers. And it all turned out so +easy, Ted is disgusted. Ain't it so, Ted?"</p> + +<p>The budding surgeon of the troop shrugged his shoulders +and grunted the one word: "Rotten!"</p> + +<p>And those boys, who knew Ted so well, could understand +something of the wild ambition that must have fired +his soul when he figured that one or more persons must +surely be seriously hurt, when the police came in contact +with the two house burners. But it had passed off, and now +the car containing prisoners and captors had gone, without +even one little blow having been struck on either side.</p> + +<p>"What's the sense of knowing how to bind up wounds, +and do all that sort of stunts, when nothing ever happens; +that's what Ted is saying to himself," Landy remarked, +chuckling as he spoke, for he did dearly love to poke fun +at others.</p> + +<p>"If you keep on," said Ted, with a dark look, "there'll +be a subject forthcoming in double-quick order. But somebody'll +have to sweep you up with a broom first before I +can do anything with you."</p> + +<p>So Landy subsided, even though of course he knew that +Ted was only "talking through his hat," as he expressed +it, and for effect.</p> + +<p>Having procured the needed milk, the four boys returned +to camp. Loud were the lamentations of George and Adam +when they learned what a great event they had missed by +not accompanying the others to the Brady home. At first +George, true to his nature, declined to believe a word of it; +but when he and Adam, urged on by curiosity to forget +whatever cause they had had for remaining in camp, hurried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +over to the scene of excitement, they heard the story +from numerous lips; so that the last doubt was laid.</p> + +<p>The balance of the day was spent in resting up, for all +of them were sore from their unusual exertions, however +much they might try to hide the fact. Of course a plunge +in the river had soon removed all the smoke stains, and refreshed +them at the same time.</p> + +<p>"It's lucky we had on our oldest trousers and leggings," +remarked Elmer, when they came to examine into the condition +of things. "What with water slopping over the pails, +and the smoke and cinders, these are a sight right now. +But it'll wash out, fellows, and that's something our record +made this day will never do."</p> + +<p>"Only one thing I'm sorry about," remarked Landy.</p> + +<p>"What'th that! Anything to do with the way Ty here +thailed into that burning crib, and thnatched out the poor +little innothent lamb, Bennie?" asked Ted.</p> + +<p>"No. What I meant was that I forgot to take Lil +Artha's camera along when we started for the farmhouse, +because I never thought we'd have anything happen to us +worth remembering. Just think, boys, if I had snapped off +half a dozen views of that business, wouldn't they deserve +a frame in our meeting room?"</p> + +<p>"Just what they would," affirmed Landy. "I'd give +anything if I had one to show my folks what a hero their +son and heir had grown to be. But then," he added, sighing, +"they wouldn't have known me with all that black +on my face."</p> + +<p>"Come off!" cried George. "Anybody'd know you by +your elegant figure; I could tell you a mile away, with +one eye shut."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, George!" said Landy effusively, just as +though he really believed his cousin meant it. "I always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +knew you were a good chap, and could appreciate true +merit, no matter where found. It's worth something to +hear such splendid words of praise from one of your own +family. I'll treasure them for a long while, sure."</p> + +<p>"Don't believe a word of it," remarked George, true to +his colors, and a doubter from the word "go."</p> + +<p>Nothing more out of the way happened to the scouts +while they were in that snug camp on the Sweetwater. We +saw them first on that same stream, and it seems only right +that we should take our last glimpse of some of our friends +while they are still in camp.</p> + +<p>When on the morrow they would start to wend their way +homeward, it would doubtless be with many regrets, for +they had certainly had a great time of it, all told. As +school duties began, the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy Scouts +would not find so many opportunities for outings; but the +ties that had bound them together all summer still held +good; and no matter what the sport that engaged their +attention, these lads who had signed the roster under +Roderic Garrabrant's guidance were bound to be drawn +together with the strong affection of those who have the +same goal in sight, and look upon one another as "comrades +tried and true."</p> + +<p>We shall hope to again meet with Elmer and his chums +ere long, and in new fields follow the fortunes of those good +fellows who formed the several patrols of the Hickory Ridge +troop.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +THE END.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> +<h2>ADDENDA</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>————<br />BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> +<div class='chaptertitle'>BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE<br /> +HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES.</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Wild Animals of the United States</td><td align='left' rowspan='2'><span class='huge'>}</span></td><td align='left' rowspan='2'> in Number I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tracking</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Woodcraft, or How a Patrol Leader Made Good.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Reptiles of the United States in Number III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Pathfinder, or the Missing Tenderfoot.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Fishes of the United States in Number IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Fast Nine, or a Challenge from Fairfield.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Insects of the United States in Number V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Great Hike, or the Pride of the Khaki Troop.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Birds of the United States in Number VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Endurance Test, or How Clear Grit Won the Day.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> birds constitute a large group of the animal kingdom. +Their chief distinguishing feature is their covering +of feathers. Another characteristic is the production of +their young enclosed in eggs.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Vultures.</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page147.png" width="500" height="320" alt="TURKEY BUZZARD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">TURKEY BUZZARD.</span> +</div> + +<p>The name "vulture" is applied to a family of birds +of prey. The bill of the vulture is large and very strong; +the head and neck are almost naked, being very lightly +sprinkled with down. It is a carrion-devouring bird and +does not attack living animals. It displays marvelous quickness +in discovering a dead body. Vultures are generally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +protected in the countries where they are found because +of their value in clearing away the putrid animal matter +which would otherwise be injurious as well as disagreeable. +The American vultures sometimes reach a large size +and are very powerful in flight.</p> + +<p>The Turkey Buzzard and Carrion Crow, both of which +are vultures, are common in the temperate parts of America. +The Carrion Crow is found as far North as Carolina. +The Turkey Buzzard is not a true buzzard and is wrongly +so called.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Eagle.</span></div> + +<p>Eagles are large and powerful birds. The flight of this +magnificent bird is very beautiful and imposing, but its +gait when on land is rather awkward. Its food is usually +smaller birds and quadrupeds such as hares, rabbits, etc., +but it does not hesitate to carry off young lambs or sometimes +to destroy sickly sheep. It generally hunts in pairs, +one eagle watching at some height while the other courses +along the ground and scares the game from the bushes. +It lays two eggs of a yellowish-white color with brownish +spots on a nest composed of a great mass of sticks, brush +and grass. The young are fledged about the end of July. +While the young are in the nest it is very dangerous to +approach it as the eagles are then extremely fierce and +daring. Some instances have been related of children that +have been carried off by an eagle, but these stories are +very doubtful. Eagles have certainly been known to +pounce upon children and carry them a little way, but +there are no true accounts of children having been actually +taken to the eagles' nest, although there are many stories +founded on such a supposition. The beak of the eagle is +curved from the face, having a sharp point. Its wings are +long and large. They catch and kill their own prey, but +unlike the vultures will not eat carrion. The eagle which +is found in North America is usually the golden eagle, +and inhabits the Western States. The Indians called it +"the War Eagle." Its feathers are dark brown.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 365px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page149.png" width="365" height="500" alt="AMERICAN BALD EAGLE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">AMERICAN BALD EAGLE.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Buzzards.</span></div> + +<p>The family of Buzzards are distinguished by their short +beaks, large rounded wings and squared tails. They live +on small animals, reptiles and various insects.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 389px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page150.png" width="389" height="475" alt="COMMON BUZZARD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">COMMON BUZZARD.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Common Buzzard, when searching for food, rests +upon some high branch, keeping a keen watch on the +ground, and waiting patiently until some small animal +makes its appearance or some bit of carrion is scented. Its +length is from twenty to twenty-two inches. In flight it +is rather slow and heavy. The bird popularly known as a +Hen Hawk is a buzzard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Falcons.</span></div> + +<p>The falcons are also birds of prey. Hawks are members +of this family. The Peregrine Falcon is an inhabitant of +most parts of Europe, Asia, South America and North +America. It builds its nest on cliffs and lays from two +to four eggs which are spotted with dark red. It preys on +other birds; its strength and swiftness are very great, +enabling it to strike down its prey with great ease; indeed, +it has been known to disable five partridges in succession. +It changes the color of its plumage several times before it +arrives at full maturity. Its length is from fifteen to +eighteen inches.</p> + +<p>The Sparrow Hawk feeds on mice, ground squirrels, insects, +small birds. It displays great pertinacity in pursuit +of its prey which it will chase for a long while, skimming +along a few feet above the ground. When taken +young it is easily tamed and will then associate with the +most incongruous companions. Its length is from twelve +to fifteen feet. It builds upon lofty trees.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Owls.</span></div> + +<p>The owls are nocturnal birds, pursuing their prey by +night and sleeping by day. They have a large round +head with enormous eyes looking forward. Many species +possess two feathery tufts placed on the head greatly resembling +horns. In order to enable them to see their prey +their eyes are enormously large, capable of taking in every +ray of light. To protect them from the cold they are furnished +with a dense covering of downy feathers which also +prevents the movements of the wing from being heard. +The beak is short and horny, but very strong. They prey +on small animals, fish, insects, reptiles. The cry of the +owl is very peculiar and weird. This, coupled with their +strange appearance, has made them objects of superstition. +The ancients adopted them as symbols of wisdom. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +owls of North America that are the best known are the +Horned Owl, the Grayish-barred Owl and the Mottled Owl.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page152.png" width="364" height="500" alt="AN OWL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">AN OWL.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Snowy Owl also is found in North America; it is a +good fisher, snatching its prey from the water by a sudden +grasp of the foot; it also preys on small animals, chasing +and striking at them with its foot. It makes its nest on +the ground and lays three or four white eggs. Its length +is from twenty-two to twenty-seven inches. It extends its +wings four feet. There are some species of owl found in +America that burrow, living in the same hole with prairie +dogs, making their nest in the mouth of the prairie dog's +burrow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>Cousins to the owls are the Nightjars, for example, the +night hawk and whip-poor-will. They feed on moths and +insects which they catch as they fly. Their eggs are laid +on the ground without a nest.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Swallows.</span></div> + +<p>Swallows are remarkable for their great power of wing, +their wide mouths, their short legs and weak feet. Their +wing feathers are long, stiff and pointed, and their tails are +long and forked. Nine species of swallow are found north +of Mexico. They spend most of their time on the wing and +live almost entirely upon insects which they capture as +they fly; their large mouths particularly adapt them for +this manner of feeding. They nest frequently in colonies; +they migrate in large flocks and can often be seen in great +quantities at roosting places. They show skill in the construction +of their nests. The purple martin belongs to this +family; it is common in the South but rare in the Northern +States. The tree swallow builds its nest, of grasses and +feathers in the hollow of a tree. The bank swallow nests +in a sand-bank.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Swifts.</span></div> + +<p>The swifts are often confused with swallows owing to +the similarity of their flight and the manner in which they +feed. A Chimney Swift, commonly but erroneously called +the Chimney Swallow, in construction is more like the +humming-bird than the swallow; they nest in chimneys +about ten feet from the top.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Kingfisher.</span></div> + +<p>These birds are chiefly tropical, the Belted Kingfisher +being the only one of the family that is found north of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +Texas. They feed on fishes and frequent the land near +the water and nest in holes which they make in a bank. +They perch on some limb overhanging the water and +watchfully wait for their dinner.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 472px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page154.png" width="472" height="550" alt="KINGFISHER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">KINGFISHER.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Humming-bird.</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 435px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page155.png" width="435" height="450" alt="HUMMING-BIRD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HUMMING-BIRD.</span> +</div> + +<p>Eighteen species of these have been found in the United +States, but only one of these is found east of the Mississippi. +They feed on insects and also on the juices of flowers. The +humming-bird has no song, but the beauty of its plumage +makes up for this deficiency. It darts through the air +almost as quickly as thought; now it is within a yard of +your path—in an instant gone—now it flutters from flower +to flower to sip the dew—it is now a ruby—now a topaz—now +an emerald—now burnished gold. Its tongue is almost +like that of the woodpecker, being curled around the +head under the skin, and is thus capable of being darted +to a considerable distance; like many other little creatures, +it is remarkable for its assurance and impudence; it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +easily tamed for that very reason and has been known to +domesticate itself in an hour from the time it is captured, +and often when released has returned again to partake of +the dainties which it has tasted during its captivity. It +seems to have no fear and will attack any bird, irrespective +of size. The nest of the humming-bird is as dainty as the +bird <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'iself'">itself</ins>.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Wrens.</span></div> + +<p>The American House Wren is larger than the European +wren, being about five inches long. It is of a reddish-brown +color. The nest of the wren is built in any convenient +cranny: an ivy-covered tree, the thatch of a barn +or a warm scarecrow are all used by this featherless little +bird. It is a good fighter and will attack bluebirds and +swallows. The nest is usually of an oval shape, always +covered on the outside with some material resembling the +color of the objects around it, such as green moss, if built +among ivy, or brown lichen, if built on a rock or in the fork +of a withered branch. The eggs are six or eight in number—white, +specked with reddish-brown.</p> + +<p>The Carolina Wren frequents the undergrowth in thickets; +he is the most nervously active of all the wrens.</p> + +<p>The Bewick's Wren is often found in the barnyard.</p> + +<p>The Winter Wren builds its nest usually in the tree-roots +and heaps of brush.</p> + +<p>The Marsh Wrens build their nests of a globular shape +with the entrance at the side, either attached to weeds or +tall grass, near or on the ground.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Warblers.</span></div> + +<p>This is a very large family; they feed almost entirely +upon insects. They are the first to leave upon the approach +of winter and the last to come in the spring. They +migrate at night and thousands are killed annually by +dashing against lighthouses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>The black and white warbler is streaked with black and +white and can be readily identified; it can be often seen +creeping under branches in search of its insect food.</p> + +<p>The yellow warbler. What boy has not seen a "wild +canary"? It likes to inspect the gardens and shrubbery +around our houses, and consequently may be frequently +noticed. There are a great many more in this numerous +family.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Thrushes.</span></div> + +<p>This is another large bird family. In it are the bluebird +and the friendly robin; their song is very sweet.</p> + +<p>The wood thrush is less shy than the veery or hermit +thrush. It can be distinguished from the others by its +larger size and its ruddy color and the large black spots +covering its underparts. The veery's upper parts are cinnamon +color; its dress is finely marked and its sides almost +white; it inhabits the dense woods and does not frequent +the habitation of man as does the wood thrush.</p> + +<p>The Hermit Thrush is distinguished by its red tail, which +is much brighter in color than its back; it comes early in +the spring and lingers long in the autumn.</p> + +<p>There are probably few boys who do not know a robin +when they see one, nor does the bluebird need to be introduced.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Blackbirds and Orioles.</span></div> + +<p>The Red-winged Blackbird has bright scarlet shoulders; +the rest of the feathers are mainly black; they frequent +marshes.</p> + +<p>Orchard Orioles are to be found in the orchards, the elms, +the maples, and other trees of our lawns. This bird is remarkable +for the complete change he makes in his plumage, +from a dull yellow to a deep orange and black, the bird in +the summer presenting an entirely different aspect from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +that in the winter. He builds his nest very near the end +of a tall limb where it will swing in the wind like a hammock.</p> + +<p>The Bobolink is another one of this family that changes +its clothes each year. It goes North as the bobolink and +goes South as the reedbird or ricebird.</p> + +<p>The Purple Grackle comes to us early in the spring; its +plumage is an iridescent purplish and greenish black.</p> + +<p>The Cowbirds build no nests; they deposit their eggs in +the nests of smaller birds. These eggs are hatched with +the others in the nest and the young birds clamor constantly +for food and often starve or crowd out the rightful +bird babies.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Thrashers, Mocking-birds, etc.</span>,</div> + +<p>frequent the borders or the edges of the woods and have +considerable singing ability; possibly the best known of +this family is the catbird, so called because his most familiar +cry is similar to the plaintive "meow" of the cat. +Although very few seem to know it, the catbird is also a +fine songster.</p> + +<p>The mocking-bird is a great singer, sometimes singing +throughout a particularly bright moonlight night as well +as all day long. While sitting on its eggs it is an exceedingly +courageous bird, attacking without discrimination +men, dogs, or any animal that may approach too near the +nest. The black snake is the special object of its vengeance. +The snake, which has perhaps just arrived at the vicinity of +the nest, and is contemplating a pleasant breakfast on the +young or eggs, is violently attacked by the enraged mocking-bird, +which, by repeated blows on the head, generally +destroys its enemy, and then, mounting on a bush, pours +forth a triumphant song of victory. The nest is made generally +in a bush or fruit tree, frequently close to houses, +as the bird is protected by the inhabitants. The mocking-bird +is often kept tame, in which case, so far from its imitative<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +powers showing any decrease, the variety of domestic +sounds heard about the house is often very perplexing.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page159.png" width="500" height="405" alt="MOCKING-BIRD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MOCKING-BIRD.</span> +</div> + +<p>The thrasher is also a vocalist of some quality; he likes +to sit where he can be seen when he is singing, generally +high up in the tree.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Flycatchers.</span></div> + +<p>The flycatchers are songless; they are found all over the +United States. They remain on their perch, waiting for +a passing insect; when their prey is within sight they dart +after it and then return to their station.</p> + +<p>The kingbird is grayish in color and bears a crest which, +when raised, reveals reddish feathers. He perches quietly +at his station, but is alert to every movement near him, and +rarely does a passing insect escape his keen eye.</p> + +<p>The phœbe is very fond of building its nest under an old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +bridge. His call is a monotonous, plaintive reiteration. +It sounds as though he were saying, "phœbe"; hence his +name.</p> + +<p>Very common flycatchers are the Arcadian Flycatcher, +the Wood Peewee and the Least Flycatcher: the latter being +called the Least Flycatcher on account of its being the +smallest in size.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Shrikes.</span></div> + +<p>The color of this bird is gray, black and white. It +causes fright at once among sparrows, on which it preys +as well as upon mice and insects. He has a characteristic +flight, flying steadily and in a straight line close to the +ground, flapping his wings. When he gets near his destination +he reaches it by a sudden upward movement. The +shrikes are often called "butcher birds"; they well deserve +their name; they transfix their prey upon a thorn +preparatory to devouring it, having darted on it from some +place of concealment after the same manner as the flycatchers.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Crows and Jays.</span></div> + +<p>It will probably surprise you to know that the gaily +colored blue jay belongs to the same family as the dusky +crow. All of this family are great feeders, taking fruits, +seeds, insects, eggs and refuse; all of them possess great +intelligence. The blue jay seems to take positive pleasure +in teasing other birds; he is noisy and reckless; he nests +usually in the crotch of a tree from ten to twenty feet +high.</p> + +<p>The crow's harsh voice, large size and black plumage +make this bird well known. Every boy who lives in the +country knows how fond the crow is of corn, and who has +not seen the scarecrows flapping their empty sleeves in +the winds of the cornfield.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Finches and Sparrows.</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page161.png" width="468" height="550" alt="BLUE JAY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">BLUE JAY.</span> +</div> + +<p>This is the largest bird family. They possess stout bills +fitted to crush the seeds on which they feed. The House, +or English sparrow, was first introduced into the United +States in 1851. The Crossbill derives its name from having +the tips of its bill crossed. They frequent pine forests<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +and the structure of their bills helps them in forcing the +cones open to get at the seeds within.</p> + +<p>The Goldfinches are canary-yellow and black; they +travel usually in small flocks; in song they become at times +so ecstatic that it seems as if they would burst their little +bodies.</p> + +<p>The Junco is a small, plump bird. When the summer +birds have left for the South the Junco comes from the +North.</p> + +<p>The Cardinal is one of the gayest of our feathered +friends; its plumage is a rosy-red with a little black patch +at the throat and the crest; it nests in bushes, the nest +being composed of twigs, rootlets and lined with grasses.</p> + +<p>The Indigo Bunting is blue as his name. You will find +him in old pastures among bushes and clearings. The female +of this bird is like a sparrow in marking, except for +the tinge of blue which you may discover in her plumage.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Tanagers</span></div> + +<p>are closely related to the finches; all of them have pretty +clothes, especially the Scarlet Tanager, who is bright scarlet +with black wings and tail. It is well worth a day's tramp +to see one.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Waxwings.</span></div> + +<p>The Cedar Waxwings arrive late in the spring. They +have a black line which runs through the eye; their upper +parts are brown, their head is greenish, their tails gray. +You will often find them among fruit and shady trees; +they like old orchards where they hunt for cankerworms. +They have red spots on their wings that look like drops +of sealing-wax.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Vireos.</span></div> + +<p>Small insect-eating birds; they do not catch their prey +on the wing as do the flycatchers, but search for their +food on bark and leaves; they are pleasant songsters and +their nests are neat and well-rounded, suspended from the +fork of a branch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Woodpeckers.</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 416px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page163.png" width="416" height="500" alt="WOODPECKERS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WOODPECKERS.</span> +</div> + +<p>The claw of the woodpecker is constructed of two toes +forward and two toes backward, which assist them in +climbing the tree-trunks; their tail feathers are pointed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +and stiff and serve as a prop; the bill is adapted for +chiseling out the homes of grubs, insects, etc., in the bark.</p> + +<p>The Downy Woodpecker. Its upper parts are black, scarlet +band on the neck, the middle of the back is white, while +the wing feathers are specked with white. You can often +see him in an orchard or in the trees on the lawn, picking +out the grubs as he climbs the tree-trunks and branches.</p> + +<p>The Sapsucker has a scarlet cap; its back is black and +yellow, tail black; it feeds largely on tree juices.</p> + +<p>Red-headed Woodpecker. Head, neck, throat and principal +parts red; back black and white; nests generally in +a dead tree.</p> + +<p>The Flicker. The top of the head gray; red band across +back of the neck; back brownish with black bars; they are +frequently called "high-holes."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Pigeons and Doves.</span></div> + +<p>The passenger pigeon is now practically extinct. Captain +Bendire, writing twenty years ago, says: "It looks +now as if their total extermination might be accomplished +within the present century. The only thing which retards +their complete extinction is that it no longer pays to net +these birds, they being too scarce for this now, at least in +the more settled portions of the country, and also, perhaps, +that from constant and unremitting prosecution on their +breeding-grounds they have changed their habits somewhat, +the majority no longer breeding in colonies, but +scattering all over the country and breeding in isolated +pairs." They used to be seen in enormous flocks, which, as +they migrated, really hid the sun, destroyed forests miles +wide, breaking down branches with their weight and wasting +the crops far and wide. This bird moves with extraordinary +speed and goes enormous distances. Many have +been killed in New York State with their crops full of +rice that they must have eaten in Georgia. That means +that they flew three hundred miles in six hours. In 1813, +Audubon says the air was literally filled with pigeons, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +the midday sun darkened as in an eclipse, and the flocks +flew over him in countless numbers for three whole days.</p> + +<p>The Mourning Dove is similar to the Passenger Pigeon, +but not as large.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Grouse.</span></div> + +<p>The Grouse are as a rule ground birds and trust to +their ability to hide to escape detection, their color being +such as to make them difficult to detect against a background +of dead leaves. The Ruffed Grouse can easily be +detected by the drumming sound which it makes. This +drumming begins gradually and gradually dies away. The +sound is made by the male bird beating its wings in the +air. The young birds run about like small chickens. They +feed on insects, berries and seeds.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Quail.</span></div> + +<p>Who has not heard the quail call across the fields "bobwhite, +poor bobwhite"? They like the fields of corn in +the fall; in the winter they journey to the deep woods; +like the grouse, they rely upon their coloration for protection +and will only take flight as a last resort.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Plovers.</span></div> + +<p>In habit they are like the snipes; but their tails are +shorter and thicker. The Golden Plover may be found in +marshes and sand-flats; they can run very rapidly; they +may be seen as the tide goes out feeding on sand-flats or +sand-bars. After running a few yards they stop suddenly +and seem to take their bearings. It is well known by its +plaintive cry and the stratagems it employs to decoy intruders +away from its nest, or rather eggs.</p> + +<p>The Killdeer is so called on account of the cry which +it utters; it resembles "kill-dee, kill-dee." It is found +usually in flocks and nests on the ground in a hollow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Cranes</span></div> + +<p>frequent marshes and are fond of frogs, field mice, snakes, +etc. They have a loud cry. When in flight the neck is +not bent like the Heron's. They nest on the ground.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Herons and Bitterns.</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 417px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page166.png" width="417" height="550" alt="HERON." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HERON.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Herons nest in flocks; the bitterns are not as sociable. +The latter inhabit grassy marshes, while Herons like the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +shores of lakes and rivers. The Herons fly with their neck +bent in between their shoulders. The American Bittern +lives in large grassy meadows; it makes a peculiar booming +sound which can be heard for a long distance. The Great +White Heron is found along the Gulf of Mexico and in +Florida. The Great Blue Heron is found further north; +its nest is usually in tall trees and is made up of sticks +and twigs. The Egrets belong to this family.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Spoonbills.</span></div> + +<p>The Roseate Spoonbill is found only in the very Southern +parts of the United States and in small quantities; their +bill is large and flat, shaped at the end like a large spoon.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page167.png" width="550" height="379" alt="THE SPOONBILLS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE SPOONBILLS.</span> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Ibises.</span></div> + +<p>The Ibises find their food on mud-flats along the shores of +lakes and rivers. It consists of frogs, small fish, etc.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Snipes and Sandpipers.</span></div> + +<p>The birds are also found near the water; they have long +bills which they force into the mud in search of their +food.</p> + +<p>The Wilson Snipe nests in meadows and swamps. It +builds its nest on the ground and is a game bird popular +with the sportsman. The Snipe in its habits much resembles +the Woodcock; its flight is very singular, rendering +it a difficult mark.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The American Woodcock.</span></div> + +<p>The presence of Woodcock can always be determined by +the holes which they make in the earth in search of worms; +these are known as woodcock borings. When the bird +is found near its nest or young birds it will feign an injury +and will endeavor in this way to lead you away from them. +The Woodcock frequents dense thickets during the day +and at night it leaves for swamps and meadows in search +of worms and insects.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Avocets and Stilts.</span></div> + +<p>Called "The Wading Snipe"; they wade in shallow +water and can swim when necessary. The bill of this bird +is curved like that of the Curlew, but the curve is upward +instead of downward.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Rails, Gallinules and Coots.</span></div> + +<p>The Rails live in marshes. The Gallinules live on marshy +banks of rivers, lakes, etc. The Coots are still more aquatic, +and are very noisy; all of this family lay their eggs on +the ground.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 433px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page169.png" width="433" height="600" alt="FLAMINGOES." title="" /> +<span class="caption">FLAMINGOES.</span> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Flamingoes.</span></div> + +<p>The Flamingoes formerly visited Southern Florida every +winter. Now their appearance is rare. The singularly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +shaped beak of this splendid bird is peculiarly adapted +to its long and flexible neck. When the bird wishes to +feed it merely stoops its head into the water; the upper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +mandible is then lowest and is well fitted to receive the +nutritive substances which are entangled in a filter placed +on the edges of the beak.</p> + +<p>The color of its plumage is a deep brilliant scarlet, except +the quill feathers, which are black. When a number of +these birds stand ranged in a line, according to their custom, +they present the appearance of a small and well-drilled +body of soldiers.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Swans.</span></div> + +<p>Wild Swans are now rare birds in the United States. +They feed as they swim by putting their long necks and +heads under the water. They swim with great rapidity.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page170.png" width="500" height="464" alt="SWAN." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SWAN.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Geese.</span></div> + +<p>Watch the skies in the spring and when you see a V-shaped +flock of birds flying northward, the wild geese are +flying. It is said that the apex of the V is always an old +gander. They feed on vegetable matter, both in the water +and on shore.</p> + +<p>The White-fronted Goose is common in the Mississippi +Valley and on the Pacific Coast.</p> + +<p>The Canada Goose travels many thousand miles each +year in its migrations.</p> + +<p>Geese nest on the ground, the nest being made of grasses +and twigs and thickly lined with down.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Ducks.</span></div> + +<p>The Mallard is the origin of our domestic bird, and is +widely spread over the northern parts of Europe, Asia +and America. In the winter it migrates in countless flocks +to the warmer States.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page171.png" width="500" height="305" alt="WILD DUCK." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WILD DUCK.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Black Duck is sometimes called the Black Mallard. +The Red-head Duck along the Atlantic Coast feeds in salt +water. The Canvasback is in great demand on account +of the superior quality of its flesh as food. Both the Red-head +and Canvasback are fond of feeding on wild celery, +and it is said that it is this that gives their flesh the fine +flavor.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Pelicans.</span></div> + +<p>These birds nest in colonies. Their flight is strong. The +White Pelican and the Brown Pelican are found in Florida. +It is a very conspicuous bird, its singular membranous pouch +offering a distinction perfectly unmistakable. The pouch, +when distended, holds two gallons of water, but the bird +has the power of contracting it so that it can scarcely be +discerned.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page172.png" width="400" height="262" alt="PELICAN." title="" /> +<span class="caption">PELICAN.</span> +</div> + +<p>The pouch serves as a net in which to scoop up the fish +on which the Pelican feeds.</p> + +<p>Another most important use of the pouch is to convey +food to the young. The parent Pelican presses the pouch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +against its breast, in order to enable the young to obtain +the fish, which action in all probability gave rise to the +fable of the Pelican feeding its own blood. Although web-footed, +it can perch on trees, although it prefers sitting +on rocks.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Cormorants.</span></div> + +<p>Cormorants like the sea, but sometimes may be seen +inland. They, too, are colony birds. Their nests are made +of sticks and seaweed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page175.png" width="475" height="404" alt="CORMORANT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CORMORANT.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Cormorant is exceedingly voracious, and devours an +almost incredible amount of fish. It is an excellent diver, +and chases the fish actually under the water, seldom if ever +returning without having secured its prey. Like the otter, +when engaged in chase, it occasionally rises to take breath, +and then resumes the pursuit with renewed vigor. It has +the power of perching on trees, an accomplishment which +we should hardly suspect a web-footed bird of possessing.</p> + +<p>The Cormorant is easily tamed, and its fishing propensities +can be turned to good account. The Chinese, at the +present day, employ a kind of Cormorant for that purpose, +having previously placed a ring round the bird's neck to +prevent it from swallowing the fish. Its length is about +three feet.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Petrels.</span></div> + +<p>The Stormy Petrel is, under the name of Mother Carey's +Chicken, the terror of the sailor, who always considers the +bird as the precursor of a storm. It is the smallest of the +web-footed birds. Few storms are violent enough to keep +this curious little bird from wandering over the waves in +search of the food that the disturbed water casts to the +surface.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Albatrosses.</span></div> + +<p>The Albatrosses are relatives of the Petrels, but much +larger birds.</p> + +<p>The Wandering Albatross, the largest of the genus, is a +well-known bird in the southern seas, following ships for +many miles. The flight of this bird is peculiarly majestic. +Its extreme length of wing prevents it from rising at once +from the ground, but when once launched into the air it +seems to float and direct its course without effort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6page176.png" width="475" height="323" alt="ALBATROSS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ALBATROSS.</span> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Terns.</span></div> + +<p>The Terns, or Sea Swallows, are possessed of great power +and endurance of flight, their long forked tails and pointed +wings indicating strength and swiftness.</p> + +<p>It preys on fish, which it snatches from the surface with +unerring aim as it skims over the waves with astonishing +velocity.</p> + +<p>They inhabit the seashore and, unlike gulls, make distant +journeys from the coast.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Gulls.</span></div> + +<p>The Gulls are larger birds than the Terns. As the +vultures are the scavengers of the land, these birds are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +the scavengers of the sea. They are frequently seen at +great distance from land, resting on the water. Their +nests are found in colonies.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/hidkory6page173.png" width="450" height="541" alt="GULL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">GULL.</span> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Puffins.</span></div> + +<p>The Puffin is an excellent diver, plunging fearlessly from +a lofty cliff into the sea, and speedily returning with its +beak full of fish, which are secured by their heads, and +lie in a row along the bill of the Puffin, forming a kind +of piscatorial fringe. Its enormous and sharp-edged bill +renders it a formidable antagonist to intruders. It is +often called the "Sea Parrot."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Loons.</span></div> + +<p>Inhabit fresh water lakes during the summer and the +sea during the winter. They can swim considerable distances +under water. Their nest is near the shore.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Grebes.</span></div> + +<p>The foot of the Grebes is not webbed like that of most +water birds, but each toe is separated and flattened, so as +to serve as a separate paddle.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Common Red Birds.</span></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Common Red Birds"> +<tr><td align='left'>Scarlet Tanager.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cardinal.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Rose-breasted Grossbeak.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Redstart.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Common Blue Birds.</span></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Common Blue Birds"> +<tr><td align='left'>Blue Jay.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bluebird.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Common Yellow and Orange Birds.</span></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Common Yellow and Orange Birds"> +<tr><td align='left'>Yellow Warbler.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Flicker.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Baltimore Oriole.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Common Black Birds.</span></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Common Black Birds"> +<tr><td align='left'>Crow.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Purple Grackle.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Red-winged Blackbird.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cowbird.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Common Black and White Birds.</span></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Common Black and White Birds"> +<tr><td align='left'>Black and White Warbler.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bobolink.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Downy Woodpecker.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Common Brown Birds.</span></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Common Brown Birds"> +<tr><td align='left'>Thrushes.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sparrows.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> +<h2>INDEX.</h2> + + +<div> +Albatross, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wandering, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></span><br /> +<br /> +American Bald Eagle, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><br /> +<br /> +American House Wren, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Arcadian Flycatcher, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Avocet, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Baltimore Oriole, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Bank Swallow, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Belted Kingfisher, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Bewick's Wren, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Bittern, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Black and White Warbler, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Blackbirds, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red-winged, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Black Duck, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Bluebird, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Blue Jay, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Bobolink, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Bobwhite, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<br /> +Brown Pelican, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Butcher Bird, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Buzzards, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Common, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Turkey, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Canada Goose, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Canvasback Duck, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Cardinal, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Carolina Wren, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Carrion Crow, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +Catbird, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Cedar Waxwing, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Chimney Swift, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Common Buzzard, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Coot, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Cormorant, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Cowbird, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Crane, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Crossbill, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Crow, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Carrion, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Curlew, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Doves, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mourning, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Downy Woodpecker, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Ducks, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Canvasback, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mallard, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red-head, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Eagles, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">American Bald, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Golden, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Egrets, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><br /> +<br /> +English Sparrows, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +European Wren, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Falcons, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Peregrine, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Finches, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gold, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Flamingoes, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><br /> +<br /> +Flicker, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Flycatchers, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Arcadian, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Least, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Gallinules, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Geese, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Canadian, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White-fronted, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Golden Eagle, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Plover, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Goldfinch, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Grackle, Purple, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Grayish-barred Owl, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Great Blue Heron, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White Heron, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Grebes, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Grouse, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ruffed, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Gulls, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Hawks, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hen, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sparrow, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Hermit Thrush, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +Herons, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Great Blue, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></span><br /> +<br /> +High Hole, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<br /> +Horned Owl, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +House Sparrows, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +House Wren, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Humming-birds, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ibis, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><br /> +<br /> +Indigo Bunting, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jay, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Junco, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Killdeer, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<br /> +Kingbird, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Kingfisher, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Belted, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Least Flycatcher, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Loon, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Mallard Ducks, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Marsh Wren, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Martin, Purple, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Mocking-bird, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>,159<br /> +<br /> +Mother Carey's Chickens, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Mottled Owl, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Mourning Doves, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Night Hawk, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Nightjar, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Oriole, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Baltimore, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Orchard, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Owls, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grayish-barred, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Horned, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mottled, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Snowy, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Passenger Pigeon, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<br /> +Pewee, Wood, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Pelican, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brown, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Peregrine Falcon, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Petrel, Stormy, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Phœbe, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Pigeon, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Passenger, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Plover, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Golden, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Puffin, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Purple Grackle, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Martin, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>Quail, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Rails, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Red-head Duck, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Headed Woodpecker, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Winged Blackbird, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Redstart, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Reedbird, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Ricebird, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Robin, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +Rose-breasted Grosbeak, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Roseate Spoonbill, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><br /> +<br /> +Ruffed Grouse, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Sandpipers, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Sapsucker, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<br /> +Scarlet Tanager, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Sea Parrot, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Shrike, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Snipe, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wading, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wilson's, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Snowy Owl, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Sparrow Hawk, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Sparrows, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">English, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">House, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Spoonbill, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Roseate, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Stormy Petrel, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Swallows, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bank, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tree, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Swans, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><br /> +<br /> +Swifts, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chimney, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Tanagers, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scarlet, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Terns, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Thrasher, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Thrush, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hermit, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Veery, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wood, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Tree Swallow, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Turkey Buzzard, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Veery Thrush, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +Vireo, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Vulture, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Wading Snipe, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Wandering Albatross, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Warblers, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black and White, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yellow, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Waxwing, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cedar, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Whip-poor-will, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +White-fronted Goose, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pelican, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Wilson's Snipe, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Winter Wren, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Woodcock, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Woodpecker, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Downy, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red-headed, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Wood Thrush, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +Wood Pewee, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Wrens, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">American House, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bewick's, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Carolina, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">European, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">House, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Marsh, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Winter, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Yellow Warbler, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<div class='bbox'><div class='center'>THE<br /></div> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>Campfire and Trail Series</div></div> + + + + +<div class='center'><br /> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Campfire series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. In Camp on the Big Sunflower.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. The Rivals of the Trail.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. The Strange Cabin on Catamount Island.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. Lost in the Great Dismal Swamp.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. With Trapper Jim in the North Woods.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. Caught in a Forest Fire.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /> +By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +A series of wholesome stories for boys told +in an interesting way and appealing to their +love of the open.<br /><br /> + + +————————————<br /> +<i>Each, 12mo.</i> <i>Cloth.</i> <i>40 cents per volume</i><br /> +————————————<br /><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> +<div class='center'><span class='bigger'><b>Christy Mathewson's Book</b></span></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book and description"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/hickory6ad1.png" width="173" height="300" alt="WON IN THE NINTH" title="" /> +</td><td align='center'><i>A Ripping Good<br /> +Baseball Story<br /> +by One Who<br /> +Knows the Game</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<p>This book has attained a +larger sale than any baseball +story ever published.</p> + +<p>The narrative deals with the +students of a large university +and their baseball team, the members of which +have names which enable the reader to recognize them +as some of the foremost baseball stars of the day before +their entrance into the major leagues.</p> + +<p>One gains a very clear idea of "inside baseball" +stripped of wearisome technicalities. The book is profusely +illustrated throughout and contains also a number +of plates showing the manner in which Mathewson +throws his deceptive curves, together with brief description +of each.</p> + +<div class='center'> +————————————<br /> + +<i>Cloth bound 5<sup>1</sup>/<sub>2</sub> × 7<sup>5</sup>/<sub>8</sub></i> <i>Price 50c. per volume</i><br /> +————————————<br /> +<br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> +<div class='bbox'><div class='center'><span class='bigger'><b>Mrs. Meade's Books for Girls</b></span><br /> + +<span class='small'>Primrose Edition</span></div></div> + +<div class='center'><span class='small'>Printed on fine quality book paper. Separate cover designs in colors.</span></div> + + + + +<div class='center'><br /> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Meade book list"> +<tr><td align='left'>Daddy's Girl.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Girl from America.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sue, a Little Heroine.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The School Queens.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Wild Kitty.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Sweet Girl Graduate.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A World of Girls.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Polly—A New-Fashioned Girl.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /> +————————————<br /> +<i>Each, 12mo.</i> <i>Cloth.</i> <i>40 cents per volume</i><br /> +————————————<br /> + + +Mrs. Meade's girls' books never<br /> +lose their popularity.<br /> + +————————————<br /> + +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE<br /> +NEW YORK</b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> +<div class='center'><i><span class='bigger'><span class='u'>ECONOMICAL</span> <span class='u'>COOKING</span></span></i><br /> + +<i>Primrose Edition</i><br /> + +<span class='big'><i>Planned for Two or More Persons</i></span><br /> + +<span class='small'>By</span><br /> + +MISS WINIFRED S. GIBBS<br /> + +<span class='small'>Dietitian and Teacher of Cooking of the New York</span><br /> +<span class='small'>Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor</span><br /> + +<br /> +<i>Printed on Fine Quality Book Paper.</i> <i>Cover Design in Colors</i><br /> +</div> + + +<div class='cap'>Many Cook Books have been published, from time +to time, to meet various requirements, or to elucidate +certain theories, but very few have been written to +meet the needs of the large proportion of our population +who are acutely affected by the constantly increasing +cost of food products. Notwithstanding that by its +valuable suggestions this book helps to reduce the expense +of supplying the table, the recipes are so planned that +the economies effected thereby are not offset by any +lessening in the attractiveness, variety or palatability of +the dishes.</div> + +<p>Of equal importance are the sections of this work +which deal with food values, the treatment of infants and +invalids and the proper service of various dishes.</p> + +<p>The recipes are planned for two persons, but may +readily be adapted for a larger number. The book is +replete with illustrations and tables of food compositions—the +latter taken from the latest Government statistics.</p> + +<div class='center'> +————————————<br /> +<i>Cloth Binding</i> <i>Illustrated</i> <i>30c. per volume, postpaid</i><br /> +————————————<br /> + +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b>147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK</b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> +<div class='bigger'><b>CUT-OUT AND PAINT BOOKS</b></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 119px;"> +<img src="images/hickory6ad2.png" width="119" height="150" alt="SCISSORS BOOK Dolls of All Nations" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>An original line of art +studies printed in full rich +colors on high grade paper. +This series introduces many +novel features of interest, and +as the subject matters have +been selected with unusual +care, the books make a strong +appeal not only to the little ones but even to those of +riper years.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Book List"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Post Cards</b></td><td align='left'><i>Painting Book</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Dolls of all Nations</b></td><td align='left'><i>Scissors Book</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Our Army</b></td><td align='left'><i>Scissors Book</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Children's Pets</b></td><td align='left'><i>Puzzle Book</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /> +<i>Size 8¼ × 10¼ inches</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>Price 15c. per copy</b><br /> +<br /> +<span class='small'>Send for sample and trade discount</span><br /> +<br /> +————————————<br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b>147 FOURTH AVENUE</b> <b>NEW YORK</b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>The Alger Books by Horatio Alger, Jr.</div> + +<div class='center'>"THE TWO-IN-ONE EDITION"</div> + + +<p>A new edition, 5 × 7¼ inches, bulk one inch, 330 +pages, from new plates, with new illustrations, two +titles or stories to each volume, sewed, cloth bindings, +with picture covers in colors, in several designs.</p> + +<p>The two titles or stories contained in one volume +gives more reading matter and better value for the +price than has been offered heretofore in cloth-bound +Alger books.</p> + +<p>The following volumes, each containing the two +stories as listed, are ready to deliver:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Alger books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 1—"Strong and Steady" and "Strive and Succeed"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 2—"Bound to Rise" and "Risen from the Ranks"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 3—"Jack's Ward" and "Shifting for Himself"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 4—"Paul the Peddler" and "Phil the Fiddler"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 5—"Slow and Sure" and "Julius the Street Boy"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 6—"Facing the World" and "Harry Vane"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 7—"The Young Outlaw" and "Sam's Chance"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 8—"Wait and Hope" and "Tony the Tramp"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 9—"Herbert Carter's Legacy" and "Do and Dare"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 10—"Luke Walton" and "A Cousin's Conspiracy"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 11—"Try and Trust" and "Brave and Bold"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 12—"Andy Gordon" and "Bob Burton"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 13—"The Young Adventurer" and "The Young Salesman"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 14—"Making His Way" and "Sink or Swim"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 15—"Mark Mason's Triumph" and "Joe's Luck"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 16—"The Telegraph Boy" and "The Cash Boy"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 17—"Struggling Upward" and "Hector's Inheritance"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 18—"Only an Irish Boy" and "Tom the Bootblack"</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /> +LIST PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A VOLUME<br /> +</div> + +<p>More Alger books are sold and they are more popular +than any other Boys' books. Their high moral +character, clean, manly tone and the wholesome lessons +they teach without being goody-goody, make Alger +books as acceptable to the parents as to the boys. The +tendency of Alger stories is to the formation of an +honorable, manly character. They convey lessons of +pluck, perseverance and self-reliance.</p> + +<div class='center'><br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b><span class='small'>PUBLISHERS, 147 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y.</span></b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> +<h2>FAMOUS FICTION</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE "TWO-IN-ONE" EDITION</div> + +<p>A new series of novels, containing the great books +of the greatest novelists, with either two novels in +one volume, or in the case of some of the very long +novels, two volumes combined in one volume.</p> + +<p>Size 5 × 7¼ inches, bulk one inch, 384 pages, from +new plates, with new illustrations, sewed, cloth +bindings, with picture covers in colors, in several +designs.</p> + +<p>The following volumes are ready to deliver:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>VOL. 1—AIKENSIDE and DORA DEANE, both by Mary J. Holmes</p> + +<p>VOL. 2—LENA RIVERS, by Mary J. Holmes, and TEN NIGHTS IN A BAR ROOM, by T. S. Arthur</p> + +<p>VOL. 3—BEULAH and INEZ, both by Augusta J. Evans</p> + +<p>VOL. 4—THE BARONET'S BRIDE and WHO WINS, both by Charles Garvice</p> + +<p>VOL. 5—STAUNCH AS A WOMAN and LED BY LOVE, both by Charles Garvice</p> + +<p>VOL. 6—CAST UP BY THE TIDE, by Dora Delmar, and GOLDEN GATES, by Bertha M. Clay</p> + +<p>VOL. 7—FAITH GARTNEY'S GIRLHOOD, by Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney, and DADDY'S GIRL, by Mrs. L. T. Meade</p> + +<p>VOL. 8—SOLDIERS THREE and THE LIGHT THAT FAILED, both by Rudyard Kipling</p> + +<p>VOL. 9—THE RIFLE RANGERS, by Mayne Reid, and TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST, by R. H. Dana</p> + +<p>VOL. 10—GREAT EXPECTATIONS, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, by Charles Dickens</p> + +<p>VOL. 11—ISHMAEL, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, by Mrs. Southworth</p> + +<p>VOL. 12—SELF-RAISED, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, by Mrs. Southworth</p></div> + +<div class='center'><br /> +PRICE THIRTY CENTS A VOLUME<br /> +SOLD BY DEALERS EVERYWHERE<br /> +</div> + +<p>The two titles or stories contained in one volume +gives more reading matter and better value for the +price than has been offered heretofore in cloth-bound +fiction books.</p> + +<div class='center'> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +PUBLISHERS, 147 FOURTH AVE., NEW YORK, N. Y.<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines +under the corrections. 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C. Caswell + + +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: Endurance Test + or, How Clear Grit Won the Day + + +Author: Alan Douglas + + + +Release Date: December 14, 2011 [eBook #38305] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENDURANCE TEST*** + + +E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, Emmy, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 38305-h.htm or 38305-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38305/38305-h/38305-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38305/38305-h.zip) + + + + + +The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts + +ENDURANCE TEST + +or + +How Clear Grit Won the Day + + * * * * * + +A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS + + Which, in addition to the interesting boy scout + stories by CAPTAIN ALAN DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain + articles on nature lore, native animals and a fund of + other information pertaining to out-of-door life, that + will appeal to the boy's love of the open + + +I. 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. + + +II. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good + + This tale presents many stirring situations in which + some of the boys are called upon to exercise all their + ingenuity and unselfishness. A story filled with + healthful excitement. + + +III. 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. + + +IV. 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. + + +V. 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. + + +VI. 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. + + +Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge Boy Scout Series + + Wild Animals of the United States--Tracking--in Number I. + Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II. + Reptiles of the United States in Number III. + Fishes of the United States in Number IV. + Insects of the United States in Number V. + Birds of the United States in Number VI. + + _Cloth Binding_ _Cover Illustrations in Four Colors_ + _40c. Per Volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK + + * * * * * + + +ENDURANCE TEST + +or + +How Clear Grit Won the Day + + + * * * * * + +COMPLETE ROSTER, WHEN THE PATROLS WERE FILLED, OF + +THE HICKORY RIDGE TROOP OF BOY SCOUTS + +MR. RODERIC GARRABRANT, SCOUT MASTER + + +THE WOLF PATROL + +ELMER CHENOWITH, Patrol Leader, and also Assistant Scout Master + + MARK CUMMINGS + TED (THEODORE) BURGOYNE + TOBY (TOBIAS) ELLSWORTH JONES + "LIL ARTHA" (ARTHUR) STANSBURY + CHATZ (CHARLES) MAXFIELD + PHIL (PHILIP) DALE + GEORGE ROBBINS + + +THE BEAVER PATROL + +MATTY (MATTHEW) EGGLESTON, Patrol Leader + + "RED" (OSCAR) HUGGINS + TY (TYRUS) COLLINS + JASPER MERRIWEATHER + TOM CROPSEY + LARRY (LAWRENCE) BILLINGS + HEN (HENRY) CONDIT + LANDY (PHILANDER) SMITH + + +THE EAGLE PATROL + + JACK ARMITAGE, Patrol Leader + NAT (NATHAN) SCOTT + +(others to be enlisted until this patrol has reached its legitimate +number) + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: "We're gaining a little all the time, fellows!" exclaimed +Elmer.] + + +The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts + +ENDURANCE TEST + +or + +How Clear Grit Won the Day + +by + +CAPTAIN ALAN DOUGLAS SCOUT MASTER + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +The New York Book Company +New York + +Copyright, 1913, by +The New York Book Company + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I.--SURPRISING LANDY 17 + II.--SIGNS OF TROUBLE AHEAD 25 + III.--THE LURE OF THE RED FLAG 35 + IV.--THE FINISH OF TY'S FAMOUS SWEATER 42 + V.--A DOUBLE-ACTION JOKE 50 + VI.--STRANGE SOUNDS FROM THE WATER 58 + VII.--THE NEWS THAT GEORGE BROUGHT 66 + VIII.--UNDER THE TWINKLING STARS 74 + IX.--THE INVASION OF THE CAMP 82 + X.--THE EDUCATION OF ADAM 90 + XI.--A LOUD CALL FOR HELP 98 + XII.--SHOWING THEIR METTLE 106 + XIII.--HOW THE SCOUTS WON OUT 114 + XIV.--SEARCHING THE HAY BARN 122 + XV.--THE CAPTURE OF THE TRAMPS 130 + XVI.--GOOD-BY TO THE SWEETWATER 138 + + + + +ENDURANCE TEST + +OR + +HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY + + + + +THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS + +ENDURANCE TEST; + +OR, + +HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +SURPRISING LANDY. + + +"LET Adam Limburger have a try, fellows!" + +"Yes, give the new tenderfoot scout a chance to show what he can do in +the water." + +"That's the ticket; just watch him take the high dive, will you, boys?" + +"Mine gootness gracious, poys, oxcuse me, if you blease. If you dink I +can dot blunge make vidoudt upsetting mineself, you haf anudder guess +coming." + +"Try it, Adam!" + +"You've just got to, you know, old chap! Everybody's jumped but you; and +all the while you've just sat there on the bank and watched us cutting +up!" + +"Shut your eyes, Adam, if you're timid, and then go; head or feet first, +we don't care which, so long as you make a big splash." + +"Ach, idt vould not, pe sooch a surprises if Adam he preaks his neck: +put, poys, if dot happens, somepody carry de news to mine mudder. Py +chimineddy, here I go!" + +"Get out of the way, Ty Collins, if you don't want to get squashed; for +here comes Adam down the shoot-the-shoot plunge!" + +A number of lads were in swimming out in the country quite a number of +miles away from the home town of Hickory Ridge. Besides the stout German +who was standing in a hesitating way on the springboard that had been +thrust out from the high bank, some ten feet above the water, there were +Elmer Chenowith, Ty Collins, Landy Smith, and Ted Burgoyne, the latter +of whom, though afflicted with a decided lisp, was looked upon with +considerable respect among his fellows in the Boy Scout troop, because +of his knowledge of medicine and the rudiments of surgery. + +They had been splashing and having a splendid time for at least ten +minutes after entering the water, when somebody happened to notice that +the new recruit in the Hickory Ridge troop of Boy Scouts, Adam +Litzburgh, a name that had been quickly corrupted into Limburger by the +boys, did not seem to enter into the sport, but contented himself with +either dipping his feet into the water, as if afraid, or else sitting +ashore in the shade watching his new mates. + +Adam seemed to be inclined toward stoutness, although hardly in the same +class with Landy, who had long been bantered by his chums on account of +his ever-increasing tendency to put on flesh in spite of all he could +do. + +"Lock at the board bend, would you, fellows!" cried Ty Collins, as the +German recruit stood there, balancing at the end, as though fearful of +what the result would be should he jump. + +"He's glued to it, that's what," said Landy, who was anxious to discover +whether Adam would make a greater splash than he himself produced when +he came down like a huge frog into the water of the Sweetwater River; +for this was not the familiar "swimming-hole" of the Hickory Ridge +boys, but miles farther away from home. + +Adam made several violent gestures as though he might be going to jump, +and then shook his head vigorously in the negative. + +"Noddings doing, poys!" he grinned. + +"Hey, none of that crawfishing, now, Adam!" cried Ty. "You've just _got_ +to jump, once anyhow. We'll stand by and yank you out if you can't swim. +Perhaps the boys over in your beloved Yarmany don't learn as early as +Yankees do. Go on, now!" + +"Want us to come up there and push you off, you Dutch cheese!" called +Landy, in the hope of arousing the belligerent nature of the Teuton, and +thus making him conquer his timidity. + +"Vell, py shiminy crickets, off you dink you can scare Adam Litzburgh, +poys, you haf anudder guess goming. Look oudt pelow!" + +Elmer had been watching the antics of Adam with a critical eye. Before +these last words were spoken he had turned to Ted, who chanced to be +swimming near him, and remarked significantly: + +"That fellow is pulling the wool over the eyes of Ty and Landy." + +"Think tho?" asked Ted, quickly. + +"Just watch and see," replied the other, who, besides being the leader +of his patrol, known as the Wolf Patrol, was also the assistant scout +master of the troop and authorized by certificate from the headquarters +of the organization to assume the duties of Mr. Garrabrant whenever that +gentleman was away on business. + +Suddenly Adam gave a bound up and down until the springy board had taken +on a motion superior to anything that had been done by the others in +their efforts to excel. + +As it came up finally, the body of the German boy leaped into the air. +Those who were watching with distended eyes saw him turn over twice +before he struck the surface of the water, beneath which he shot with +the grace of a fish. + +Elmer gave a shout. + +"I thought as much; Adam was hoodwinking you, boys!" he laughed. + +"Wow, did you ever see the like of that! A double somersault before he +struck, and then he dived under like a greenback frog from a log!" and +Landy's fat face was a study as he looked his utter amazement. + +"I take it all back!" shouted Ty. "They _do_ know how to dive over in +Yarmany and beat us all hollow. Say, fellows, I bet you Adam is going to +prove to be the best water dog in all Hickory Ridge. Look at him +swimming there, will you? I've seen an otter or a muskrat doing it that +way, but never a boy. Ain't he the peach though! I take off my hat to +Adam!" + +"That'th what we all thay!" cried Ted, enthusiastically. + +"Three cheers for our new comrade, fellows; here's to Adam, and may he +prove as great a find as a true scout as he has a water duck!" exclaimed +Elmer. + +The cheers rang out, and were followed with a "tiger." Adam was coming +back now, and his red face beamed with satisfaction. They had been +inclined to look on him as a real greenhorn; and no doubt that was what +he would prove to be with regard to most of the ways of woodcraft in +which scouts desire to become proficient; but the boy from across the +big water had certainly surprised his new mates this day by his +expertness at diving and swimming. + +So long as they remained in the water they kept Adam busy showing off. +He had a dozen clever tricks from the springboard; and there was no one +in Hickory Ridge who, as Ty declared, could "hold a candle to him." + +"No, nor in Fairfield, either," said Elmer, after he had seen what the +German lad could do; "and if we ever have another series of rival tests +with our friends over there, make up your minds, fellows, that Adam will +stand in a class all his own." + +Finally, when some of the boys began to show signs of blue lips, Elmer +declared they had been in long enough. When one is not accustomed to +being in the water at all hours, the vitality of the system is exhausted +after a certain time; and those who are wise will make it a point to +come out before they get to shivering, even on a hot September day, like +the one that found these Hickory Ridge scouts in camp up on the +Sweetwater. + +A few of the boys, it seemed, had not had quite enough of outdoor life +during the long vacation and they had induced Elmer to start out for +three days more of camping, taking a tent along and a few things +calculated to add to their comfort. + +Adam, as the latest addition to the troop, asked permission to accompany +them, and as he was something of a comical fellow they expected to have +more or less fun at his expense as a greenhorn. + +After this remarkable experience, however, some of them began to suspect +that the shoe might frequently prove to be on the other foot; and that +the German boy would turn the tables on them, even as he had done in the +water test. + +The tent was pitched close by, at a point selected by Elmer as the best +to be found along that part of the river. The ground had the proper +drainage in case of a heavy storm and was not under any high tree, so +that the danger from lightning was reduced to a minimum. + +They had brought a few things along to eat; and as farms lay not far +away, each day some of the scouts trailed over to one of these in order +to purchase other articles, such as fresh milk, eggs, butter, and green +corn, and on this morning Elmer had brought back a couple of fine +chickens which a farmer had presented to him. + +Of course, the rest of the boys understood that at some past time Elmer +must have done the farmer a favor; for he was always eager to lend a +helping hand when an occasion arose; but he declined to tell the story, +and as they had the chickens the boys found no fault. + +Elmer had made an oven in the ground, after the type used by hunters in +many lands. A deep hole was scooped out, and a hot fire kept going for +some hours; then the red ashes were removed, and the chickens, properly +wrapped in big leaves, placed in the oven which was then hermetically +sealed with clay. + +This might be called the first "fireless cooker." It is the very +principle upon which all those now on the market are constructed; and, +indeed, the bottles that are guaranteed to keep their contents hot for +twenty-four hours are fashioned on some similar lines for retaining the +heat. + +For six hours now had those spring roasters been in "hot storage," as +Landy called it, and many were the appeals to Elmer to know if they +would be ready by the time they had the corn and other things done. + +The afternoon was wasting away. In another hour the sun would be +setting. Elmer was busying himself at the fire with Ty, who claimed to +be something of a cook and had proved this on various occasions. Ted was +overhauling the little case of remedies, without which he seldom went +anywhere. Adam and Landy had taken a small camera, loaned by one of the +other members of the troop, a tall scout known to his chums as "Lil +Artha," and with this they expected to take a few snapshots of the camp, +the picturesque river as seen in the afternoon glow, and such things as +appeal to the average boy looking around for subjects on which to +execute his skill as a photographer. + +They could be heard rummaging among the bushes not far away, and Landy +seemed to be getting more or less fun out of the German tenderfoot, who +was utterly new to the ways of the American woods, however familiar he +might be with any species of water. + +Elmer had just made up his mind, after a sly investigation on his own +account, that the chickens were deliciously done, and hence there need +be no further delay about starting the balance of the dinner, when he +heard Landy's rather whining voice approaching, and raised his head to +watch. + +When the two came into camp it was noticed that Adam seemed to be +leading his companion, who was acting rather queer. At first Elmer +wondered whether the fat boy could have been overcome by the heat, for +his face was unusually red. Then he saw that Landy seemed anxious to dig +his knuckles into his eyes. + +"What's the matter, Landy?" asked Ty, whose attention had also been +directed to the incoming pair. + +"I declare if I know what to make of it, fellows," said the fat boy, as +he stood there, trying to grin at them, though he certainly looked +foolish, with his cheeks beginning to puff out and furiously red. "Just +can't seem to see right. Feels like my eyes were going to close. And no +wasp stung me, either; that is, as far as I know. It feels awful tough, +I tell you now, and that's no joke." + +Elmer bent forward to look closer. + +Then his face assumed a serious expression. + +"Well, I should say it wasn't a joke, Landy!" he exclaimed. + +"But what's the matter with me, Elmer; tell a fellow, won't you?" +pleaded the afflicted one. + +"Why, you're poisoned, that's what!" declared Elmer. + +Landy immediately let out a whoop; but although he was undoubtedly +frightened, it seemed as though his face could not possibly turn white, +as might have been expected under the circumstances. + +"Me poisoned!" he exclaimed. "Oh, whatever do you mean, Elmer!" he +cried, laying a puffy hand on the sleeve of the other's outing shirt, +which he had rolled up above his elbow in order to have greater freedom +in his movements. + +"You've been foolish enough," Elmer went on with grave concern in his +voice, "Landy, to handle that rank stuff, poison ivy, and then rubbed +your hands all over your face. You've got a dose, all right, I'm +afraid!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SIGNS OF TROUBLE AHEAD. + + +LANDY was certainly badly frightened. The grave manner in which the +patrol leader said this with regard to the ivy poisoning seemed to add +to his alarm. Some of the boys afterwards declared that his knees +knocked together, but this the fat boy always indignantly denied. + +Nevertheless it was with an almost plaintive expression that he +proceeded to inquire further about his prospects. + +"Poison ivy, you say, Elmer? Was that the stuff growing around that tree +we rubbed up against? But Adam was in just as deep as I was; why don't +his face burn and turn red like mine?" he asked, as though he considered +it rank injustice that he should be picked out as a victim, when +another, equally guilty, went scot-free from harm. + +"That's the queer thing about poison ivy," replied Elmer. "While it's +bound to act on most people, more or less, a few can handle it without +any bad result." + +"That's so," broke in Ty just then. "Why, I've known fellers that would +begin to itch and burn if they even set eyes on the old stuff, and I +reckon I'm liable to get a little turn myself; had one spell and they +kept doctoring me for a week at home. Hand full of little water +blisters, and I had to be mighty careful, for when they broke they +poisoned wherever the fluid ran. Wow, hope I don't get it again, that's +all!" + +"Oh, my goodness gracious! What's going to become of me, then?" gasped +poor Landy. "Because I've been crazy enough to rub it all over my face. +Me for the hospital, I guess!" + +"Wait!" + +It was Ted who said this, and somehow the very confident tone in which +he spoke awakened a wild hope in the heart of the lad who was in +trouble. + +"Oh, Ted, can _you_ do anything for me?" he asked, eagerly, transferring +his attention from Elmer to the other, who had arisen after listening to +all that had been said, and now approached the group. + +"Let me look at you firtht," remarked the budding doctor of the troop, +gravely. + +He examined the face and hands of the boy closely. + +"When did you rub up againth that vine?" he asked. + +"Why," replied Landy, "just a little bit ago, when Adam was helping me +get a snapshot of the camp. It was in the way and we pulled it off the +tree. Fact is, I tripped over the old thing and got mad, so I yanked it +loose, and Adam, he helped." + +"Then let me tell you, in the firtht plathe, that I don't believe it'th +poithon ivy at all, becauthe that doethn't begin to thow for theveral +hourth," said Ted. + +"Oh, bully for you, Ted; it makes me glad to hear you say that!" +exclaimed the boy who was in trouble. "But mebbe you can tell if you see +the old vine?" + +"Courthe I can, and here'th Elmer who knowth all about it, too. Did it +have jutht three leaveth to each thtem, do you remember?" + +"Sure, I didn't pay any attention to the leaves, I was so anxious to +drag the old thing away so as to get a better view," replied Landy. + +Elmer beckoned to Adam, and the two hurried off. Everyone knew that they +had gone to view the vine that had been accused of doing so terrible a +thing to the fat boy. + +Meanwhile, Dr. Ted had picked up a little bag which he usually carried +with a shoulder strap. Every fellow in the troop knew what that same bag +contained; and indeed, many of them had found reason to bless the +forethought that induced their chum to bring it along on every trip for +emergencies such as the present. Ted delighted to call it his "vade +mecum," and most of the scouts had only a hazy conception of what those +words meant, though they appreciated the bag all right. + +"If it wath really poithon ivy," went on Ted, "the firtht thing to be +done would be to wath the thurfathe of the thkin with warm water, and +then apply thith weak tholution of permanganate of potath. It'th about +three per thent, and the color of wine, you thee. It'll dithcolor the +thkin, of courthe, and for a while Landy can path for an Injun; but it +doeth the work. Elmer put me in touch with the good it can do. He thayth +every hunter of big game out in India and Africa alwayth carrieth thome +along, to take out the poithon if he geth clawed by a tiger, a lion or +any other carnivorouth beatht." + +There was some hot water, fortunately, and in another minute the +quick-witted camp doctor had bathed the face and hands of the patient +with this, as warm as Landy could stand it. Then he started to apply the +contents of the small bottle, to the intense enjoyment of Ty who seemed +to consider the whole thing in the light of a huge joke. + +"Say, you'll be a beaut, Landy, and no mistake!" he chuckled. + +"What's that matter, if it only does the business?" demanded the other. + +"That'th common thenthe, anyhow," commented Ted, as he continued to +make sure that every inch of affected skin was liberally treated with +the liquid, which, as he said before, was of a magenta color. + +"There comes Elmer, and now we'll know," remarked Ty. + +The other two came hurrying back to camp. Poor Landy, whose eyes were +really looking half shut, turned a beseeching gaze upon the patrol +leader. + +"Was it poison ivy, Elmer?" he asked, anxiously. + +"Not in a thousand years," came the hearty reply. + +"Oh, that's almost too good to be true!" said Landy, with the tears +standing in his eyes, for he had begun to fear that he was in for a +horrible experience. + +"What was it then?" asked Ty. + +"I don't know," replied the other. "Some of your plants here are strange +to me, and I reckon it's able to bring on a burning and a swelling +sensation in a hurry, like lots of them are, with some people. But it +can't be anything as bad as the real rhus tox. I've seen some serious +cases of poisoning from ivy. And, Ted, I think you're doing the wise +thing to use that potash solution." + +"It can't do any harm," remarked the doctor, "and you thee, it'th bound +to do thome good. Of courthe Landy will look like the dickenth for +theveral dayth, but he'th a lucky boy if he geth off that eathy." + +"Sure I am," affirmed the victim, readily. "Paint away all you like. +Tell you what, fellers, she feels some better already. Perhaps, after +all, I won't have to be led home with my face lookin' like a big punkin +and my eyes out of sight." + +"We may be happy yet," remarked Ty, who could be cheerful because it was +not _his_ face that burned and stung as though nettles had done their +work. "And, Elmer, would you mind if I once more turned my attention to +getting grub ready? I've got a terrible vacuum down here, and you know +we learned at school that Nature abhors a vacuum." + +"I'll do more and help you get supper ready, Ty," replied the other. "We +can leave Landy in the hands of Dr. Ted. He'll make him lie down and +rest; and above all things keep his hands from his face. It's good he +took hold of the case so quick, for the poison hasn't had much chance to +get in." + +So the work went on, two of the boys hovering over the fire that had +been started, while Adam ran errands for Dr. Ted. Landy was given a +blanket and told to keep quiet, but he insisted on lying so that he +could watch the cooks out of the corners of his eyes, and every now and +then he would sniff the air as though his appetite had not been entirely +chased away by his misfortune. + +When the coffee was done boiling, the Boston baked beans heated to a +turn and everything ready, Elmer opened the odd oven in the ground. + +"Why, they're nearly as hot as when we put 'em in!" declared the +wondering Ty, as he unwrapped the two young chickens that had come from +the friendly farmer. + +Landy sat upright presently. + +"Here, don't you dare to forget me!" he called out, as he saw the others +about to sit down around the spot where the supper was spread. + +"But sick people should never eat a bite," declared Ty, unable to resist +the opportunity to tantalize the patient, whose one weakness lay in his +enormous appetite, which he could never seem to control. + +"I ain't sick, though," retorted the other, getting up with an effort. + +"I always heard that it was the right thing to starve a fever, and stuff +a cold," Ty went on, deliberately helping himself to a portion of a +fowl, which almost fell to pieces in his hands, it was so tender and +well done; "and I guess you've got the fever, all right. Anyhow, you're +as red as a chief in the Buffalo Bill show." + +"Oh, let up on that, Ty Collins!" cried Landy, indignantly. "Just give +me half a chance, and I'll mighty soon show you who's sick around here. +I can make them chickens look that way, I want you to know. Here, make +room for me! Looks don't count in camp. Just think I'm sunburned, that's +all. Elmer, help me to some of that delicious coffee, won't you? I've +been smelling it this long time. It would go right to the spot, I +believe." + +"Sure I will, Landy," replied the other, smilingly; "and it does me good +to know you're feeling so much better. But let's hope this will be a +lesson to you never to handle vines that you don't know." + +"It will, I promise you, Elmer," replied the other, earnestly. "And the +first time you run across some of the genuine poison ivy just call me, +please. I've heard so much about it that I want to know the stuff so I +can beware." + +"I saw some only a few hours back, and to-morrow I'm going to take you +and Adam and Ty there to impress its looks on your minds. It may save +you a heap of suffering if you expect to roam much in the woods after +this." + +Landy was feeling much better. Indeed, the swelling seemed to be going +down rapidly, and even the burning, itching sensation had yielded to the +application of that wonderful remedy. + +Everybody, even Ty, felt glad of this, for Landy was a jolly chum and +they must miss him very much had he been compelled to be taken home in +suffering. + +"Hot work, this cooking in summer weather, fellows," observed Ty, as he +looked up from cleaning off his tin platter. + +"Then why don't you shed that terrible old red sweater?" suggested +Elmer, though he knew beforehand that Ty would find lots of excuses for +declining. + +Winter and summer, Ty always wore that old flaming sweater when engaged +in any outdoor game, whether it be skating, playing hockey, football, +baseball, or even going fishing. The season seemed to make no difference +to him, though some of his chums declared that the mere sight of the +thing made them perspire. + +"What, this!" he exclaimed, as though astonished that anyone should +mention the subject. "Why, I just couldn't do a thing minus my jolly old +sweater. It's been on all sorts of jobs with me. I look on it as my best +friend. Nobody knows how many colds it's saved me from. I'd just feel +lost without it on, that's what." + +"But in hot weather like this it must make you swelter," continued +Elmer. + +"Not much it don't. Why, don't you know it _keeps the warmth out_? +That's what I read once, and I believe in it, too. Besides, all the +fellers have got so used to seeing me with it on that they'd pass me by +if I dropped it," grinned Ty. + +"That'th tho," remarked Ted. + +No one suspected just then what an important part that same red sweater +was to play in a game that might change Ty's mind, and that before many +hours had passed. + +The supper was pronounced prime, and a vote of thanks taken for the +farmer who had once been a boy himself and could appreciate the +appetite of five fellows who were camping out. + +A tent had been brought along, and into this the five crowded when the +hour had grown late, and everyone admitted that he was "real sleepy." + +Nothing out of the way happened during the night. There were no wild +animals of any consequence around that part of the country, although +farther north hunters got deer, and even a black bear had been shot the +previous spring. Now and then a sly fox would create a little excitement +among the neighboring farmers by slipping into their henroosts and +carrying off a fat fowl. Mink might be found along the smaller +tributaries to the Sweetwater; muskrats were plentiful in the marsh +land, and some smart trappers made quite a little sum taking these small +animals during the season. + +Of course raccoons and possums abounded, as they always do around the +smaller towns all through the middle East. Elmer, waking in the night +and coming out to stretch his legs because the presence of five in a +small tent cramped the quarters somewhat, amused himself for some time +in listening to the various sounds that came from the woods close by. + +To one not familiar with the voices of the forest folks, these might +have passed as unmeaning noises, but he could place every one. In +imagination he saw the bushy-tailed coon trying to scoop up a fish from +the end of the log that ran down into the water; he could follow the +movements of the fat possum climbing the tree to her nest in a hollow +limb, and that angry snarling he understood came from a couple of slim +mink who had met while patrolling the bank of a small creek on their +nightly rounds. + +Morning came at last, and as the boys emerged from the tent, the first +thing they did was to take a plunge in the river. Even Landy was on +hand, looking very comical, it is true, with his stained hands and face, +but feeling quite "chipper," as he declared, when Elmer asked concerning +the state of his health. + +They could all swim, of course, even Landy, who earlier in the season +had been utterly ignorant concerning the first rudiments of how to keep +afloat; but association with the other scouts in camp had caused him to +take lessons, and Elmer had shown him how useful the knowledge of +swimming may prove to any boy at some unexpected time. + +"Whose turn to go for milk this morning?" asked Elmer, after they had +dressed. + +"I reckon it's mine," remarked Ty. "Some other fellow must start getting +breakfast, then. Perhaps Adam may turn out as good a cook as he is a +diver. Here, give me the directions how to take that short cut to the +farmer's shack." + +So, presently, Ty wandered off, carrying the tin pail for the milk. The +getting of breakfast went on apace. Adam seemed willing to act as an +assistant to Elmer, and between them they soon had things in an advanced +stage. + +"Thay, that Ty ought to be here with the lacteal fluid," remarked Ted, +who often amused his chums by spouting big words. + +"That's so," remarked Elmer, "and as Adam is busy here and poor old +Landy recuperating from a bad attack of sunburn, I'll appoint you a +committee of one to meander along the trail and hustle Ty up." + +Ted hurried away, for he was beginning to feel the gnawing sensation of +a hunger that always attacks growing boys soon after arising. Besides, +that cold dip seemed to just give them all an additional zest. + +Ten minutes later Landy jumped up in considerable excitement. + +"Look there, fellers!" he exclaimed, pointing along the trail over which +Ted had recently passed, "ain't that our chum Ted comin' back on the +dead run and waving his hands like fun? Tell you what, something's just +gone and happened to Ty! That's what he gets for making fun of me. +P'raps he's run across a rattlesnake! You know that farmer said they +killed one up here last year, and we did the same early this season. Oh, +my, I hope not!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE LURE OF THE RED FLAG. + + +"WHAT'S the matter?" demanded Elmer, as Ted came reeling into camp, +quite out of breath; but upon seeing that the other had a huge grin on +his face he knew the news he was bringing could not be so very serious +after all. + +"Ty!" was all the runner could gasp at first. + +"Yes, what about him?" Elmer exclaimed; while Landy laid a quivering +hand on Ted's arm and inquired: + +"'Taint a rattlesnake, I hope, this time, Ted?" + +The other shook his head in the negative. + +"Bull!" he articulated. + +"Oh, he means that our poor pard has been chewed up by a bulldog!" cried +Landy. "And Ty never did like dogs, either; only hot ones at the county +fair." + +"No, no!" whispered Ted. "Gentleman cow, you thee, and the motht thavage +looking beatht ever. Wow!" + +"A bull! Now I know what you mean," Landy went on, as the light of +understanding broke over his mottled countenance. "Some of these farmers +up here do keep terrors, and enter them in the exhibition for prizes. +But what did the bull do to our poor chum Ty?" + +"Don't know; didn't ask Ty," replied the other, now beginning to get his +breath back again fairly well, so that his voice, lisp and all, was +audible. "You thee, I wath jutht about to thaunter acroth a field, when +I heard thome one yelling like the dickenth. Then I thaw a big red bull +pawing the grath at the foot of a tree; and there wath Ty, ath big ath +life, thitting up on a limb. That'th all I thaw, for the bull tharted +after me, and I got over the fenthe like fun." + +The boys stared at each other; then a wide grin began to appear on their +faces. Since it seemed as though their chum had not been seriously +injured they could not resist the temptation to chuckle over the comical +aspect of the adventure. + +"Say, perhaps the bull just went and heaved Ty up in that tree," +suggested Landy. + +"Oh, I hardly think it went as far as that," said Elmer. "The chances +are, Ty had plenty of warning, and climbed without any help from the +beast." + +"But why would the bull hang around all the time?" asked the fat boy, +wonderingly. "Bulls don't feed on boys, do they?" + +"Not very often," laughed Elmer. "But they do seem to hate a certain +color above all things on this earth. You remember that the Spaniards +use a red flag to make the bull attack in the ring?" + +Then Landy saw a great light. + +"Ty's famous old red sweater, that's what!" he shouted. "It's gone and +pulled him into a peck of trouble, for a fact. And just last night he +was blowing about what a great help it had been to him. Say, he must be +in a nice pickle now, hey?" + +"Breakfast will have to wait a while," declared Elmer; "while the whole +bunch of us sally out to rescue our chum in distress. You know the rules +of the organization. Come on, fellows." + +Even while speaking, Elmer had placed the coffee pot and the frying pan +aside, as far away from the fire as they could go without losing their +heat. Adam, Landy and Ted were apparently only too willing to accompany +him on his errand of mercy. + +Following a trail that led through the woods, they finally came to an +open field. It had just one tree, and that growing some distance from +the high rail fence. + +"There's the bull, just as Ted said," remarked Elmer, as they looked. + +"And he's about the ugliest critter I ever laid eyes on, for a fact," +remarked Landy. "My goodness! Look at him tossing up the dirt with those +nasty little black horns, would you! And he's punched holes through that +tin pail the farmer's women folks loaned us, too. I can see Ty now, +because of that nice red sweater he wears. He's waving at us, and there +he shouts!" + +"Hey, call him off, fellers! Somebody go and coax him around to that +other end of the field. I want to come down. Been up here 'most an hour, +I guess, and I'm getting tired of it. Elmer, you know how to do the +business. Landy, s'pose you climb over and let him see you. He won't be +able to resist trying for such a fat prize!" + +"Listen to his nerve, boys," complained Landy. "He wants me to sacrifice +myself on the altar of friendship for him. Just as if I could ever climb +over this fence again, if that holy terror came snorting and rampaging +for me! I guess not." + +"No need to, Landy," laughed Elmer, as he noted the indignation of the +fat boy. "We'll find some way to get Ty out of his fix without taking +chances of your climbing a fence in one, two, three order." + +"Hurry up!" came floating across the field from the tree, among the +branches of which the owner of the red sweater was waving frantically. + +"Firtht thing to be done, he ought to get out of that thweater, don't +you think, Elmer?" inquired Ted. + +"That's right, and I'll tell him so"; and, accordingly, raising his +voice, he informed Ty that if he expected them to do anything toward +effecting his rescue he must rid himself of the garment that was +exciting the fighting spirit in the bull. + +Of course that went against the grain of Ty; but when the others refused +to make the first move until he had complied, he went about the task +with evident ill humor. + +"But he ain't leaving it hanging in the tree, Elmer," announced Landy, +whose eyesight seemed to be all right this morning, however defective it +may have been on the previous evening after his engagement with that +poison vine. "He's stuffing it inside his shirt, I do declare!" + +"Well, that doesn't matter," the patrol leader remarked; "so long as he +gets rid of it. And now, boys, you stay here to help him over when he +comes. I'm going to go around to the other side and tempt the bull. +Fortunately I've got a red bandana handkerchief myself, which I wear +cowboy style around my neck; and that ought to be a good enough bait for +Mr. Bull." + +"Oh, be careful, Elmer; don't stay in the field too long, because he +might get you," pleaded Landy. + +"You let Elmer alone," said Ted. "He knowth hith buthineth all right. He +cometh from the ranch country, where they breed bullth. All right, +Elmer; we'll get buthy when Ty getth here. Good luck to you!" + +Elmer, when a little distance away, stopped to hold a short talk with +the boy up in the tree. It happened that the border of the field varied, +and this spot was a trifle closer than any other. + +"Now, listen, Ty," he shouted, after he had succeeded in attracting the +attention of the other; "I'm going over to that spot that's farthest +away. When the bull gets a good start for me, you slip down, and run for +all you're worth straight to where the other fellows are waiting. Try +and keep the trunk of the tree between you and the bull all you can. And +if he chases you too hard, throw that red sweater aside. He may stop to +toss it a few times, and that'll give you a chance to make the fence. Do +you understand?" + +"Yes, it's all clear enough; but hold his attention as long as you can, +Elmer, because it looks like a whole mile over to that fence!" Ty called +back. + +So Elmer kept on around the field. The place he had selected as the +scene of operations was exactly opposite where he had left the other +three fellows; and he considered this a favorable circumstance, indeed, +as it increased the chances of the boy in the tree. + +When he had finally arrived, Elmer took the red bandana handkerchief +from his neck, and climbed over the fence. Of course, not being a +professional bullfighter, he did not mean to get far away from his base, +and expected to make good use of that same fence when the crisis came. + +Immediately he began to shout and wave that defiant banner, the bull +took notice. Since the color that he detested so heartily seemed to have +been transferred from the boy in the tree to the one on the ground, so +the interest of the bull changed. + +He instantly started on a mad run toward Elmer, galloping along in a way +that seemed to indicate a desire to be out after business. + +"Get down, quick, Ty, and run for all you're worth!" shouted Elmer, +still waving his bandana, and at the same time trying to correctly +gauge the speed of his enemy, so that he could get out of harm's way in +ample time. + +"Jump, Elmer!" shrieked Landy, who was perched on the top of the fence +across the field, and could not tell just how close the bull had arrived +to his chum. + +Ty had meanwhile dropped out of the tree, and was heading for them as +fast as his nimble legs, aided by his fright, could carry him. But as he +had said, it was quite some distance, and his heart seemed to be in his +mouth every second of the time he was in transit. + +"There! Elmer's made for the fence at last!" cried Landy. "Oh, look at +that rush of the bull, would you! But Elmer was too quick for him, and +he's over the fence and out. Oh, my, just hear that crash when the old +bull banged into the fence! Now, will you be good, you monster? He's +looking around, and I just hope he don't see poor old Ty making this +way!" + +"Py chimineddy! He's goming pack!" declared Adam. + +"He is, and like a whirlwind, too!" gasped Landy. "Oh! now we won't be +able to help our chum a little bit. Run faster, Ty; let out another +kink! He's after you!" + +Evidently there was no need to tell poor Ty that dismal fact, for he had +been taking frequent observations over his left shoulder as he galloped +along. Perhaps he did let out another "kink," as Landy expressed it; but +if so, the fact was not very noticeable, so rapidly was the bull +overtaking him. + +But Ty had not forgotten that last instruction given him by the one who +knew bulls from the ground up, their little weaknesses as well as their +ferocious habits. The friendly fence, with his three anxious chums +perched on the top rail, was not so very far away; but to his eyes it +seemed a long distance, and he just knew he could never make it before +being overtaken. + +In vain did Landy, Adam and Ted wave their arms, shouting at the top of +their voices, in the hope of attracting the attention of the animal; or +perhaps alarming him; he kept doggedly on, aiming straight for the +fleeing boy, whose legs by this time seemed to wabble under him, +possibly through sheer fright. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE FINISH OF TY'S FAMOUS SWEATER. + + +EVERY one of the three scouts, waiting at the fence to assist Ty over, +should he be fortunate enough to arrive ahead of the enraged bull, held +his breath with suspense. + +They could easily see that at the rate of progress made by their +unfortunate chum, he must certainly be overtaken before he could arrive +and have a chance to clamber over that high and stout rail fence, +supposed to be bull proof. + +But they failed to take into consideration the fact that Ty had profited +more than a little from his connection with the scouts. And, besides, +all through his exciting race with that owner of the wicked little black +horns, he had kept in mind the last instructions shouted across the +field by Elmer, the boy who had spent a part of his life on a cattle +ranch and farm, and was supposed to know all about the habits of the +animals. + +"Oh, he's sure a goner!" gasped Landy, as they saw the rapidly advancing +bull draw nearer and nearer the frantic runner. "Poor old Ty; I wonder +will we be able to catch him on the fly!" + +Landy was evidently thinking of baseball, though his excitement was so +great that he hardly knew just what was passing through his mind. + +"Look at that, will you?" burst from Ted. + +Ty had waited until all hope of gaining the fence seemed to have fled. +Over his shoulder he could see his terrible enemy closing in and +apparently putting on greater speed. If anything was to be done it must +be accomplished without the loss of another second. + +It was then that he suddenly drew something from the bosom of his outing +shirt. This "something" proved to be that old red sweater which he had +refused to leave in the crotch of the friendly tree, into the branches +of which he had hurriedly climbed at the time he was first beset. + +He waved the flaming garment wildly about his head in order to make sure +that it caught the eye of the bull; and once that was done it might be +put down as certain that the animal would see nothing else than that +hated color. + +"Wow! He's done it!" cried Landy, as his fat face was pressed tight +against the rails of the fence, between which he had an uninterrupted +view of the proceedings. + +Ty had thrown the red sweater aside. + +It floated to the ground as the slight breeze caught its extended folds, +and must have presented quite an inviting picture to the inflamed orbs +of the bull. + +Would he stop short to pay attention to the object of his wrath, +forgetting all about the boy who was fleeing toward safety? Elmer did +not once doubt it. He knew that this was a familiar trick among the +picadors in the arena during a Spanish bullfight; and one that seldom +fails, if properly carried out. + +Still, he held his breath with anxiety during that brief space of time; +for if the trick did not succeed, Ty would very likely be in for an +experience that must prove exceedingly painful, if not positively +dangerous. + +But the red sweater did not fail its owner. Long had Ty worn that same +garment proudly, in spite of jeers and caustic comments on the part of +his comrades. And if it were fated to meet destruction at this time, at +least it would serve a very useful purpose. + +The animal saw the descending flag that incited his anger. Immediately +he pulled up short, and began to gore the inoffensive article, thrusting +his horns through it, while holding it down with his forefeet at the +same time. In this way it was quickly rent into fragments, which the +triumphant bull seemed to take great delight in tossing up into the air, +as he bellowed with satisfaction. + +And so the puffing Ty was enabled to reach the fence. Willing hands were +extended to him, and with a rush he found himself drawn to safety. + +"Hurrah!" cheered Landy. "You beat him to a frazzle, Ty! That was as +clever a little trick as I ever heard tell of." + +"All right," grunted the saved one, as he glared venomously between the +rails of the fence; "but would you see what he's doing to my fine old +sweater? That makes me feel sick. Two years now I've worn that, and she +was sure good for another." + +"But, man alive, think of what he would have done to you only for that +sweater!" exclaimed the fat boy. + +"Vat's de madder mit you, Ty?" demanded Adam, who looked at things +without the least bit of sentiment; "you pet my life I vould pe gladder +as anydings if I pe in your blace. Let der pull alone; he's enchoying +himself. Shake vonce on dot narrow escape. Py chimineddy! Mine heart it +vas yump in my throat yust as you throw dot sweater avay!" + +But Ty refused to be consoled. The sight of the animal running around as +if looking for him, with a sad portion of the beloved sweater fastened +to one of his ugly little horns, made him grit his teeth. + +"Huh!" he said, disdainfully. "You fellers just think it's fine because +you never did appreciate that beautiful old sweater; but if you think +you're going to get free from seeing me look like myself, you've got +another guess coming, that's what. Say, d'ye think I'm going to let an +old one-eyed bull knock me out of wearing what I fancy? If I feel like +it I'll put on six red coats." + +"Hath he got only one eye, Ty?" asked Ted, eagerly. + +"That's a fact, boys; didn't I see it glaring up at me time and again, +when the sly old critter'd pretend to be eating grass, and hoping I'd +come down," Ty answered, promptly enough. + +"Then jutht think what might have happened to you, my thon, if the old +bull had happened to potheth _two_ eyeth," remarked Ted, soberly. + +Ty would not even smile, he was so angry at the sacrifice of his +garment. Climbing up on the topmost rail of the fence, he shook his fist +at the prancing bull, and even shouted all sorts of things at him. + +"That don't wind it up, not by a long sight!" he declared. "I know where +I can get a better sweater than that old one, and for three dollars, +too. I've got that and more in my bank at home; and the very first thing +I do when I get back will be to bust that same bank open and go down to +Selfridge's department store. Oh, have all the fun you want with it, you +one-eyed beast; but some day perhaps I'll get even with you!" + +"Better forget all that, Ty," remarked Elmer, coming up at this moment. +"You had ought to be so tickled over making such a narrow escape that +you'd never bother your head over the loss of that worn-out old thing." + +"Worn-out nothing," declared the aroused Ty. "I could have had good use +out of that sweater this fall, in football. But never mind; I know just +what I'm going to do about it." + +"Nothing foolish, I hope," observed the patrol leader, as he cast an +apprehensive glance toward the bull. + +"Buy that other red sweater that's hung in the window of our big store +this month and more. Perhaps, after all, I may not be so sorry, because +it's much brighter than that old one; and some of the boys will let out +a howl when they first see me in it." + +Ty actually allowed a grin to appear on his face at the thought of this; +which would apparently indicate that his anger was not so very deep +after all. + +"Anyhow," continued Elmer, "I want to tell you, Ty, old fellow, that you +did that little trick as fine as silk!" + +"D'ye think so, Elmer?" remarked the other, looking pleased; for what +boy does not like the appreciation of his fellows? + +"You certainly did. I've seen cowboys go through with that act many a +time, but never any better than you did it," Elmer went on to say. "The +only thing I was afraid of was, you might throw it in such a doubled-up +way that it would not catch the eye of the bull. But you shook it out +all right; and once he saw it he could look at nothing else after that." + +"Say, I did that on purpose, sure I did, Elmer," declared Ty, eagerly. +"Seemed to me that it was the proper caper to try. And she worked all +right, too. But look here, fellows, he put his horns through that +blessed old tin milk pail the farmer's women folks loaned us. She's a +wreck; and anyhow we couldn't get in there by the tree to pick it up. +What's to be done about it, tell me that?" + +"Oh, there's only one thing to be done," laughed Elmer, taking out half +a dollar and thrusting it into the hand of Ty. "We've just got to pay +for the lost pail and borrow another one. That's part of the funds we +raised before starting out. Are you still going to get that milk, Ty?" + +"Am I? Say, twenty bulls couldn't stop me, once I start on a thing. Milk +we want for our breakfast, and milk we're going to have, you mark me," +said Ty, stubbornly. + +"Shake on that!" laughed Landy. + +"Oxcuse me, off you blease," spoke up Adam with a sly grin; "put is dot +vat you galls a milk-shake?" + +Elmer laughed, and at the same time looked suspiciously at the German; +for somehow he was fast coming to the conclusion that Adam might be +smarter than his stolid appearance indicated. In fact, he believed that +the German often put on an air of extreme innocence when in fact he was +enjoying a sly little joke. + +"He'll bear watching," was what Elmer said to himself, as he heard the +other laughing uproariously at his own humor, while squeezing the hands +of his new chums. + +"But, Ty," the patrol leader remarked, with a twinkle in his own eye, +"you've learned one thing, I think." + +"Sure. Always to see that there's a tree in a field before trying to +cross over," said the other, quickly. + +"Well, that's a good motto, I suppose," remarked Elmer; "but that wasn't +what I meant. You know now that many times the longest way around is the +shortest way to the fire. After this you'll think twice before taking a +short cut." + +"I'll squint around for anything in the shape of a bull, anyway," +chuckled Ty. + +The animal had succeeded in demolishing the offensive garment by this +time, and as if to show his utter contempt for the whole bunch of boys, +he started to crop the short, sweet grass where he happened to be +standing. Whenever he came upon a tattered fragment of the illy treated +sweater, he would give it a toss, utter a defiant bellow, paw the ground +a little, and then calmly resume his feeding. + +But doubtless all the while he was watching the boys beyond the fence +out of a corner of his eye. Elmer knew that this must be so, for he +noticed that the animal always kept his head turned toward them. + +"He vas as mad as some hornets," remarked Adam, who seemed to be +particularly interested in the actions of the bull, for he kept peering +through the fence. "Aber I haf a red sweater I vould see if he likes to +yump at me. Oxcuse me, Elmer, put let me haf de loan off dis." + +He deftly took the bandana handkerchief from the hands of the patrol +leader, as Elmer was about to fasten it once more around his own neck; +for he had used it to attract the attention of the bull, it may be +remembered, when at the other side of the field; and events had followed +so rapidly since, that he had not found a chance to replace the +handkerchief where it belonged. + +"Hold on, no foolish business, Adam!" cried Elmer, clutching a leg of +the German as he started to mount the fence. + +"Nein! I haf no vish to get me a grafeyard in kevick," Adam declared. +"Only I vould like to see if dot pad egg oudt in der field vould run at +me like he dood at Ty. You pet my life I vill not yump _inside_ de +fence; and dot's no choke, Elmer." + +Accordingly, Elmer released his clutch, and the stout German climbed +nimbly to the top of the fence. Here he began to wave the handkerchief +in the most brazen manner, at the same time calling out defiantly at the +animal. + +At first the bull refused to listen, but kept on grazing; though +doubtless the sight of the hated color was working upon him. + +"See him edging this way, would you, the sly old sinner!" called Landy. + +"He's getting ready for a rush," remarked Elmer. + +"Look out, Adam; be ready to drop off there!" cried Landy. + +"And be thure not to take the wrong thide, or you'll be in for it!" +admonished Ted, a little nervously. + +Suddenly the beast threw off the mask, so to speak. He made a plunge, +and was immediately in motion, coming with lowered head on the full run, +and heading for the spot where Adam stood on the fence flaunting that +flag of defiance. + +"He's off!" yelled Landy. "Jump, Adam, before he knocks you into the +field! Oh, ain't he just the limit, though; and as mad as they make 'em! +Jump, why don't you? Elmer make him come down! Perhaps he's got his foot +caught, and can't drop out!" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A DOUBLE-ACTION JOKE. + + +"JUMP, Adam!" called Elmer. + +The German had waited as long as he dared, and as if the voice of the +patrol leader gave him the sign, he suddenly made a backward spring, +turned a somersault in the air, just as he had done from the springboard +when swimming, and landed squarely on his feet. + +Crash! + +That was the bull striking head-on against the fence. And it was +fortunate for the other boys, as well as Adam, perhaps, that the owner +of the bull had made that fence additionally strong. Had it given way +before the onslaught of the animal the chances were Elmer and his mates +would have had to do some lively running to get clear. + +But the fence held, though it wabbled suspiciously, and Elmer felt sure +that a few more such blows must have demolished the barrier completely. + +"Don't you wish you could, old fellow?" taunted Landy, after he had made +sure of the fact that the animal was going to be held back. + +The bull looked through the fence, snorted, pawed the earth, and let out +an angry bellow. Then he walked disdainfully away, as though satisfied +with the victory he had gained, that one fragment of the torn red +sweater still floating from his horn, just for all the world, as Ty +remarked, "like a flag at half mast." + +"Come, let's hike back to camp, boys," remarked Elmer, moving off, "and +finish getting our breakfast ready. By the time Ty manages to come along +we'll be fixed for business." + +"Oh, I'll show up in decent shape, all right," remarked the other. "This +time I'll take no rash chances in crossing fields. Around the fence is +good enough for me, I guess." + +He was as prompt as his word, and came along with his pail of fresh milk +just as Elmer was beating the tattoo on the frying pan that summoned the +party to breakfast. + +"What did they say up at the farmer's, Ty!" asked Landy. + +"Not guilty," replied the other, who was cramming his mouth with a +portion of the flapjacks Elmer had made, and which were really fine. + +"Now, what's the use of giving us puzzles to solve!" complained the fat +boy, as he speared his second helping from the tin platter, and +proceeded to deluge the same with some maple syrup that had been brought +along in a bottle. "Not guilty of what, say!" + +"That ain't their bull, you see," remarked Ty. + +"And tho they declined to buy you a new thweater, ith that it, Ty?" +asked Ted, a little maliciously. + +"Oh, rats!" cried the other; "you know right well I'm not built that +way, Ted Burgoyne. Never once thought of trying to make anybody pay for +my foolishness in trying to cut across a field that had a bull in it. I +only mentioned the fact because, you see, I had to explain what happened +to their tin bucket, when I was paying for it. But after all they +wouldn't accept the money--said it was only an old pail after all, and +the farmer he told me I ought to be glad it was the bull, and not me, +that kicked the bucket." + +"Bully for the farmer!" said Landy, or at least that was what the others +took it for granted he meant, since his mouth was so full of flapjack +that he could hardly do more than mutter. + +After breakfast was over they started to carry out the various duties or +pleasures which each fellow had in view. One wanted to take a few +pictures, and, of course, this was Landy, though his mates solemnly +warned him to be careful what vines he touched while in the woods. +Another declared he felt like trying to tempt some of the finny denizens +of the river from their beds on this bright morning. This was Adam, and +he had brought along a lot of new tackle, as well as a fine jointed rod, +to prove that he was as good a fisherman as he was a water dog. + +Elmer chose to potter around the camp. There were always plenty of +things that could be done to improve conditions and add to the general +comfort of those who occupied the tent and cooked at the fireplace made +of stones. And having the true sportsman spirit in his composition, he +was never more happy than when arranging these many little details +connected with the camp. + +He improved the fireplace so that the coffee pot would not tilt and +threaten to upset from the three metal crossbars that formed a gridiron; +he dug the drain at the back of the tent a little deeper, so that in +case of a sudden heavy downpour the surplus water would be carried off +and not inundate the tent, and, finally, he finished the rude but +effective table on which they could place their food at meal times, and +even had a couple of short sections of log rolled up so as to take the +place of seats when they dined. + +Ty, after the breakfast things had been washed up and put away, wandered +off somewhere. And Ted was supposed to be fishing farther down the +stream, he, too, having expressed a wish for a real fish dinner that +night, if so be the bass in the Sweetwater were in a "taking" humor. + +Several times when Elmer stood up to rest the muscles of his back, and +consider what he would do next, he happened to cast a curious look up to +where Adam had taken his position on the bank of the river. + +Apparently the fish did not respond to the urgent invitations of the +German boy as well as he had expected, or else Adam's education with +regard to the ways the American black bass has to be attracted to the +bait had been neglected. + +For some time he was industriously seen threshing the water as though +issuing a call to all the fish in the river to come and have a bite with +him. Of course that was just the opposite of what he should have done; +for bass are shy and have to be tempted in quietness. + +Elmer chuckled to himself when first he noticed what the new scout was +doing. + +"Looks like Adam is densely ignorant along our ways of fishing," he +thought. "Wonder now what kind of fish he's ever caught that style on +the other side of the ocean. Perhaps he never wet a line before in all +his life. I noticed that he watched Ted closely, and imitated him +exactly in setting up his line, even to the float Ted always persists in +using." + +The third time Elmer looked it was perhaps an hour after Adam had +started fishing, and he saw that a change had come over the manner of +the young Teuton. He was no longer casting out again and again with a +great splashing of the water. On the contrary, he sat astride the tree +trunk that jutted out some eight feet above the water. His line ran +downstream and the float could be seen bobbing in the midst of the +little bubbles that marked an eddy below. + +Elmer watched him closely for five minutes, and not once in all that +time did he see the other move in the least. + +"Well, I declare, I believe the fellow's gone to sleep!" he laughed. "I +reckon Adam isn't used to camping out, and on that account he's had poor +rest these two nights. And that hot sun is enough to make any fellow +feel drowsy, too. Whew, what if he nodded too hard and just dropped off +there! Perhaps I'd better go and wake him up. And while I'm about it I +can just give him a few pointers as to how he'll have at least a decent +chance to coax a few bass to his bait." + +Filled with this feeling of comradery toward the new recruit, whom he +was fast learning to like because of his constant good-nature and really +witty remarks, Elmer started away from the camp. + +It just chanced that instead of heading directly for Adam, he walked +first of all out to the river bank. Looking downstream he could just see +Ted busily engaged in landing a fish that seemed to be fighting hard, +and this told that the bass were "on the feed," if only one knew how to +attract them. + +The idea of that sleepy Adam dozing there and letting the golden harvest +time slip by unheeded made Elmer laugh again. He even allowed himself to +imagine that it would just about pay Adam right if he crept up and gave +his line a sudden tug, to make him think he had a bite. + +Just then something moving attracted his attention. It was directly +below the boy who sat astraddle of the projecting log, and a little +farther downstream. + +Ty, why of course it was that party, though minus his distinguishing red +sweater, which was now, alas, no more. But what under the sun was he +doing there? As near as Elmer could see he appeared to be industriously +attaching some bulky object to the end of a line! + +All at once what seemed to be the truth burst upon the patrol leader. Ty +had also noticed the sleeping Dutchman, and was bent upon having a +little joke at the expense of Adam. Yes, he had managed to draw the line +of the fisherman in, by the aid of a long stick that had a crotch at the +end, and was now fastening a bunch of hemlock browse, done up to +represent a big fish, to the end of the same. + +When all was ready and the current pulled strongly at the bulky object, +possibly the additional strain might arouse Adam, who would immediately +think he had hooked a monster bass, and doubtless the ensuing excitement +would tickle the joker to the top of his bent. + +And if Adam did not wake up himself, it would be easy for Ty to creep +under the projecting log until he could reach out and give the line a +jerk. + +So Elmer concluded that he might as well wait and see the fun. Being a +boy himself, he liked anything that partook of clean sport, so long as +the joke did not border along the cruel or mean stage. + +Now Ty had dropped his artificial fish back into the river. The swift +current that ran farther out did not seize upon it at once, for there +was an eddy and a rather deep pool at the spot Adam had selected for his +fishing. Consequently the pull upon the line did not seem to come up to +the expectations of the joker. + +Ty crouched there waiting for results. + +The minutes passed and all remained peaceful and serene. Adam seemed to +be enjoying a lovely sleep. His head was upon his chest and his whole +figure appeared to be in a relaxed state. + +Twice did Ty rise up to stare at the boy who sat there straddling that +log, as though he wondered why Adam did not arouse to the occasion. +Plainly, the practical joker would have had his labor for his pains +unless something was done to start things moving. + +The third time Ty seemed to come to this conclusion himself, for instead +of merely observing the sleeping fisherman he started to advance toward +him. + +At this point the bank of the river was hollowed out somewhat. There was +just about enough footing below for an agile boy to clamber along and +keep from being precipitated into the water. + +Elmer chuckled quietly. + +"It's coming," he said to himself, as he prepared to see more or less +excitement around that region. "Looks like Adam might be due to a little +surprise party." + +Ty had finally managed to crawl far enough along the narrow ledge. He +was apparently directly below the log that stuck out from the bank above +him. Elmer judged this by the way the other craned his neck in order to +look up. + +"Now he's got his chance, if he can only reach that dangling line!" he +thought. + +Apparently Ty realized the same thing, for he was seen to be extending +that same crotched stick that had before proven so useful. + +In this fashion he speedily drew the line in toward him, gently, so as +not to arouse the fisherman before he was ready to give him a good hard +shock. + +"Pull up the curtain, the stage is all ready!" Elmer said to himself, as +he kept close watch on the movements of the boy below. + +He could see Ty taking a firm grip on the dangling line as though he +meant to have it no halfway affair. + +"Now, go!" exclaimed the watcher. + +Just as though Ty might have been waiting for some such order, he was +seen to suddenly tighten his hold, and then give a tremendous jerk, that +was surely calculated to make Adam believe the champion bass of the +Sweetwater had taken his bait and gorged it. + +Then something happened, something that doubtless the practical joker +crouching below had not anticipated as a result of his prank. + +Adam seemed to suddenly awaken. He was evidently greatly excited, and as +he made a wild clutch at the butt of his rod, which had been partly +jerked out of his grasp by the violence of that bite, he just naturally +lost his seat on the log. + +Elmer saw him gracefully slide around the trunk of the fallen tree and +go down with arms and legs sprawled out like an immense frog. And, +strange to say, as he dropped his extended arms seemed to suddenly clasp +Ty in their embrace, for both of them went headlong into the river with +a tremendous splash! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +STRANGE SOUNDS FROM THE WATER. + + +"ADAM did that on purpose!" was what Elmer exclaimed, as he saw how the +arms of the falling German boy pulled Ty with him into the pool under +the log. + +That great splash was surely enough to frighten away any bass that might +even have had the hardihood to remain around, after the vigorous +threshing of the water by the greenhorn fisherman. + +Of course the two boys immediately came to the surface. Ty was spouting +water like a young whale; but Adam seemed to be all right. He made a few +strokes after his original fashion, that had so aroused the admiration +of Landy, and arriving at the bank, climbed up. + +Ty made a great deal more fuss as he churned his way to the shore; and +Elmer, who had hastened up so as to witness what followed, could see +that there was a look of wonder, almost awe, on the face of the +practical joker. The results had been so sudden, and so disastrous to +himself, that he could hardly understand just what had happened. + +"Ach! put dot vas sooch a surprises to me, Ty," remarked Adam, from the +shore; "I dinks me I haf ketch de biggest fish in der river; undt ven I +throw oudt mine arms to pull him in, py chinks, it vas only you, having +some fun py me. How goes it, londsman; I hopes you enchoy yourself +mooch. Subbose you go pack, undt get my fishing pole, vich is floating +down der stream." + +He gave Ty a push as the other tried to clamber out on the bank and +forced him in again. The other showed signs of fight until Elmer, sizing +up the situation, called out: + +"That's only fair, Ty; you made him lose his rod, as well as take a +ducking with his clothes on. Get the rod again, and let him pull in his +fish." + +Possibly Ty realized the justice of this claim; or it might be he felt +disposed to take his medicine gracefully, for with a laugh he swam out +again, as well as he was able with his garments clinging to his limbs, +secured the rod, which had partly sunk, and came back with it in one +hand. + +As if to prove that he harbored no animosity, Adam frankly stretched out +his hand and helped Ty ashore. There they stood, dripping wet, and +laughing at each other. + +"Oxcuse me, Ty," said the German lad, making a queer face; "put I haf to +laugh, it is so funny! You dinks to make me some droubles, and by +shiminy you fall indo de same hole yourself. So, dere is two of us!" + +"The joke is on Ty," announced Elmer. "I saw the whole thing, and I want +Adam to own up right now that he had one eye open all the while, and was +watching what was going on." + +Adam looked up at him with a leer on his square face; then he shut one +eye and deliberately winked at Elmer. + +"I subbose dot I vas nodt so much asleep as somepody pelieves," he said; +and that was the only confession they could get out of him. + +Fortunately, as the weather was so very warm, there was no danger of +either of the boys taking cold after their ducking. Neither of them +would bother changing their garments, or attempting to dry those they +had on. + +"Let 'em dry on me," said Ty, whose good-nature had returned, though he +declared that everything had conspired to upset all his calculations +that morning; what with the obstinate bull, and now the clumsy Dutchman +who had to throw out his arm and pull him into the river along with +himself. + +Ted had come up from his fishing place below to ask what all the row was +about. + +"Fact ith, you have buthted up the fithing for thith morning," he +declared, with some show of indignation. "If you mutht kick up a racket, +why under the thun don't you go off by yourthelf and do it. I got theven +fith, and one of 'em a beaut. And the biggetht of the bunch wath jutht +going to take hold when you had to make all that beathtly row." + +When, however, the thing was explained to him, Ted enjoyed the joke as +well as Elmer had. He declared that he would wander along down the river +to another promising hole he remembered seeing. And Elmer, thinking that +the German boy might as well begin taking some lessons in bass fishing, +agreed to accompany Adam upstream a little distance, to try for a +capture. + +"Hey, that was just the greatest thing ever!" called out a voice; and +Landy was seen approaching from above, waving his little kodak in glee. + +"What's all this talk about?" demanded Ty. + +"I got it, that's what!" the fat boy kept on saying. "And won't it just +be a corker, though!" + +Elmer jumped to conclusions at this remark. + +"Do you mean you saw the tumble Adam and Ty took?" he asked. + +"Well," Landy went on, "you see, I had just discovered Adam sitting +there asleep on that log sticking out over the water; and I thought what +a lovely subject he would make for a picture. So I crept up till I had a +good focus, and then I pressed the button!" + +"Yes, go on; that wasn't all you did, was it?" asked the patrol leader, +who was able to read the open-faced Landy like the page of a book. + +"Well, you see, it was such a fine subject that I thought I had ought to +knock off another view, so that if one proved poor the other might be +good. And just as I was all ready, why, it happened!" + +"And you snapped it off as they were falling in?" Elmer continued. + +"I think I did," said Landy, eagerly; "for my finger just pressed the +trigger unconsciously. I was that astonished, you see. And I'm going to +develop this roll to-night. Wouldn't it be just immense if it turned out +to be a good picture!" + +"Oh, yes; something to amuse the rest of the troop, and chase the blues +away," grunted Ty, as he hunched his shoulders and sauntered back to the +camp to ascertain what Elmer might have been doing there. + +Elmer did take Adam up the river a piece, and finding a promising spot +where there seemed to be a likelihood of bass frequenting, he proceeded +to instruct the other in the rudiments of the art. + +Adam took to it from the very first. He was frank enough to confess that +he had never done any fishing in the old country, and was therefore +utterly green; but he showed an aptitude for catching on to what Elmer +told him; and before they had been an hour at work he had not only +succeeded in hooking a fine specimen of the gamey bass, but played and +landed him in great style. + +"You'll do, I reckon, now, Adam; so I'll leave you here and go back to +camp. Be sure you come in when you hear the signal, which will be three +loud cooies." + +At noon, when the fishermen gave it up for the day, as the heat stopped +all biting on the part of the bass, it was found that while Ted had +caught seven fair-sized fish, five of them bass, one a large perch, and +a sucker that was the largest Elmer had ever seen around that region, +Adam had brought in two bass and a big catfish. + +"Py shiminy crickets, dot feller vas dry some foolishness py me," he +said, as he held up the still wriggling catfish; "I haf drouples to get +him off der hook; and he sthick me dwice so hardt in der finger. Ooch! +put it do feel sore yet somedimes. I dink me he preak off some dot thorn +in der pone." + +"That's another lesson you must learn, Adam," said Elmer. "The catfish +has ugly spines that hurt like fun when you run your hand against them. +I guess they're poisoned, like the tail of the stingy-ray, down South. +I've known a fellow who had a running sore for a month after being stuck +by the fin of a cat. And, Ted, seems to me here's another chance to use +that colored stuff that was so fine with Landy." + +"Right-o, Elmer," exclaimed the other, making a dive for the tent to +look up his medicine bag. + +So Adam grinned, and allowed the "doctor" to paint his hand in the +region where the spines of the catfish had penetrated with such painful +results. Indeed, he declared an hour later that the pain had all +departed; and Elmer concluded from this that permanganate of potash was +good to use on all sorts of poison wounds. + +"I believe," he went on to say, "that if I was struck on the arm by a +rattler, I'd cut the wound open some, suck all the poison I could out, +providing I had no scratch or sore about my mouth, and then take my +chances, after painting it freely with the strongest solution of this +potash I could bear. Yes, and I think I'd come out much better than +those who believe in soaking the patient with whisky." + +The afternoon they spent in resting up. Indeed, it was unusually hot, +and somehow none of them aspired to exert themselves any more than they +could help. + +Adam had offered to clean the fish, after he had been shown how, and +made quite a good job of it, being very particular, after the fashion of +his kind. And Elmer gave Ty the duty of seeing that the fish were served +that evening at supper. It would be a poor piece of business if they put +several days in up there on the old Sweetwater, famous for its bass +fishing, and never once enjoy a mess of the delicious dish. + +They waited later than usual that evening, hoping the air would cool off +some with the setting of the sun. It was almost dark when Ty got started +with the supper. When the fish began to fry in the pan (in which the +cook had first tried out several slices of salt pork, which grease was +made very hot before the bass, dipped in cracker-dust, were placed in +the pan), some of the boys, who had declared they had no appetite, were +observed to sit up and take notice as they sniffed the fragrant odors +that arose. + +"Guess you-all will come around when things are ready," laughed Ty, who +often liked to mock the Southern scout, Chatz Maxfield, when he talked. + +"Well, I confeth I'm waking up," admitted Ted, frankly. + +"And that stuff smells mighty good, Ty," declared Landy. "I want you to +remember now that it wasn't me said I couldn't eat a bite." + +"I thould thay not," laughed Ted. "Nobody would ever believe you guilty +of thuch a thilly thing. You're alwayth hungry, Landy, and ready to +gobble." + +"Say, now, that's what I call mean," expostulated the fat boy, +pretending to be very indignant, though these attacks on his character +were of daily, almost hourly occurrence, and he was quite accustomed to +meeting them. "Just because I'm big, and need more to keep me up than +the rest of you, some fellows like to say I'm greedy. 'Tain't so. And +some day I'll run you a match, Ty, to see who can keep from eating a +bite the longest." + +"Not much, you will," declared the cook. "Why, it wouldn't be a square +deal. You've got all your fat to fall back on; and look at me, skin and +bones." + +So they laughed and talked, as the preparations for supper went on +apace. + +"What're you listening to, Elmer?" asked Landy, after some time had +passed; and looking toward the patrol leader he saw that he had his head +raised in an attitude that told of suddenly aroused interest. + +"I thought I heard a queer plunk just then, out there on the river," +replied the other. "Yes, there it went again. Did you hear it, boys?" + +"Sure we did," replied Ty, raising his head from his duties at the +cooking fire, in between the stones that had been fashioned somewhat +after the shape of a V, with the evening air fanning the broad end. + +"Whatever can it be, Elmer?" demanded Landy, his face immediately +expressing curiosity, and, perhaps, a trace of alarm; for anything that +savored of mystery always excited the fat boy. + +All of them were now interested, and listened to ascertain whether that +strange sound was repeated. Perhaps an interval of half a minute passed. +Then once more came that plain "plunk!" + +"Sounds like somebody drowning, and givin' the last gasp!" declared Ty. + +"Oh, let up on that thort of thuff, Ty," said Ted. "You're alwayth +thinking about thuch nathty thingth." + +Landy turned appealingly to the patrol leader. He realized that if +anybody ought to know what the character of those queer sounds was, +Elmer must. + +"What is it, Elmer?" he asked again. "The sea serpent or only some old +grand-daddy bullfrog croaking to himself on a log. Say, perhaps that's +one of them funny old loon birds you were telling us about to-day, that +can just laugh so's to make your flesh creep! Tell us about that, Elmer. +Whatever is it? There, that time it was a double plunkety-plunk! Now, I +wonder what in the dickens it means!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE NEWS THAT GEORGE BROUGHT. + + +ELMER laughed. + +"Listen," he said, "and you'll hear some more of the same kind." + +Hardly had he ceased speaking than there was another loud "chug" heard. + +"My, he jumped into the water that time, sure, if it _was_ a frog!" said +Landy. + +Then came a strange rattling sound, as of half a dozen "plunks" all +mixed up. + +"He threw a handful then for a change, and good measure," remarked +Elmer, dryly. + +"A handful of what?" echoed Ty. + +"Stones!" replied the patrol leader. + +The others stared at each other. + +"Is _that_ what it is, then?" asked Landy, heaving a distinct sigh of +relief. "Why, of course, we all ought to have got on to it before now. +Stones always make that kind of plunk when they drop into the water from +above. But, Elmer, whoever d'ye think it can be; and what's he trying to +do--scare us?" + +"Oh, that remains to be seen. Suppose you fellows go on getting supper +ready, while I slip out quietly and investigate," Elmer proposed. + +"Don't take too many chances, remember, Elmer," cautioned Ty, as he +turned again to his frying pan, filled with fish. + +"Yeth, go thlow, Elmer," said Ted, shaking his head. "You know there'th +a bad lot of fellowth over in Fairfield, alwayth ready to play trickth +on travelerth. It may be they only want to coax one of our crowd out, +and then carry him off. Take a club along with you, Elmer." + +"Yes, do," Landy added, thrusting a stout stick into the hand of the +patrol leader. "And use it if you have to. Remember, one call of the +wolf will bring us along in a rush, Elmer. And I'm going to have some +other nice clubs handy, in a minute or two." + +"Don't go to any trouble, because you may be disappointed," chuckled +Elmer, as he pushed back into the shadows, so that he could enter the +tent. + +Having done this, two minutes later he was crawling out from under the +canvas at the back of the tent, having unfastened the same by uprooting +the peg at that particular spot. + +Of course it was easy enough for Elmer to creep away undetected by +anyone who might be in a position to watch the camp. His experience on +the plains of the new country up beyond the Saskatchewan River in +Canada, where his father had been in charge of a relative's ranch and +farm, was of considerable benefit to him now. + +Once free from the light of the fire, Elmer stopped to listen and made +up his mind concerning certain things. Then he again pushed forward. + +He was now making something in the shape of a half circuit. If he kept +on long enough he would presently bring up on the river bank below the +camp; and this was in reality his destination; for he believed that the +unknown party who was tossing those stones out into the river, with the +intention of mystifying them, must be stationed somewhere there. + +In fact, Elmer had remembered that just here the shore made a sort of +little beach, which they could have used nicely as a landing place, had +they possessed a boat. And he had also noted the fact that there was a +great abundance of round stones there, very tempting to the average boy, +who loves to hurl such things into the water, just to see them splash. + +He was drawing near this particular spot now, and in order to avoid +being seen, as his figure would be outlined against the sky, he dropped +down on his hands and knees, crawling forward the last ten feet after +this Indian fashion. + +The darkness was not intense, and Elmer had a pair of unusually keen +eyes. Hence, as he stopped there just above the little beach, he was +able to make out a figure that seemed to be bent over as if searching +for something. + +"He's hunting another relay of stones," thought Elmer, wondering who the +party could be. + +There was a slight possibility that it might turn out to be some +wandering hobo, who thought he might cause the boys to temporarily +abandon that fine supper, which he could snatch up and make away with. +Then, again, there was a chance of this fellow being only one of a +number of the Fairfield roughs, who, having discovered their camp, were +bound to do all they could to make trouble. + +But Elmer did not take much stock in either of these theories. He was +inclined to look upon the unknown as a friend, one of the fellows from +Hickory Ridge, who had come out to join them for the last day of their +stay on the Sweetwater. + +That was why he listened so keenly, for he hoped to catch some familiar +sound calculated to tell the identity of the dusky figure below. + +The drone of voices from around the fire came to his ears, telling that +his four chums had taken his advice, and were acting as though they had +no particular interest in those queer noises. + +Now the figure below seemed to straighten up, and Elmer knew he meant to +throw another stone, perhaps a second volley that would rattle like shot +as they came down on the surface of the running water. + +And as he heaved them forth, the party below gave vent to a peculiar +little grunt or wheeze that was very familiar to the ears of Elmer +Chenowith. + +"Hello, there, George! Having a great time, I see, amusing yourself!" he +said, in a low, but plainly heard tone. + +There was a moment of silence, as though the unknown was somewhat taken +aback by the fact of his having been caught so neatly, even in the act. + +"That you, Elmer?" he asked, with a short laugh. + +"That's who it is, George," the other replied. "Suppose you come up out +of that, now, and surrender. There's a penalty attached to this thing of +trying to scare us. Do you know what you've got to do now to make good?" + +"No, what's that, Elmer?" asked the boy, who was climbing up the bank by +now, and who happened to be a cousin to Landy Smith, known among his +mates as "Doubting George," simply because he could not help appearing +skeptical about nearly everything that came along. + +"Why," observed Elmer, very seriously, "you've just got to unfasten your +belt, sit down alongside us, and do your level best to get away with a +share of the fine fish supper the boys have ready." + +"Oh, ginger! Count me in on that, won't you?" laughed the other, as he +accepted the extended hand of the patrol leader, and was assisted up the +bank. "It's a long walk up here, and you see, since you fellows hiked +it, I just didn't dare use my wheel. And I tell you I'm hungry enough to +eat anything halfway decent." + +"Well, Ty's chief cook and bottle-washer to-night; and you know enough +about him to understand what that means. Ty's long suit is his cooking. +He's just the boss at that, every day," and Elmer purposely elevated his +voice as he said this, so that those by the fire, now awaiting them, +could overhear what he said. + +"Hey! what's all that you're saying; and who're you talking to, Elmer?" +demanded the party in question. + +Landy gave a shout. + +"By the great horn spoon, if it ain't my cousin George!" he exclaimed. +"Ten to one he doubted whether we had really come up here at all--that +he didn't believe he could ever find us--that he expected to frighten +the whole bunch out of their seven senses by that silly trick; and even +now he isn't sure whether he sees us or is dreaming he does. In fact, +George can find a loophole to doubt anything." + +"All right, say what you want," replied the newcomer, sturdily. "I admit +that I was born with an unfortunate disposition to question everything. +Mother says I must be a great lawyer some day. But there are some things +that are so plain even Doubting George can't miss hitting 'em. That +smell, now, is sure the finest thing that ever came down the pike; and, +anyhow, I don't doubt but that you fellows are going to ask me to share +in the grub with you. How's that, Cousin Philander?" + +"Oh, you're welcome to it," replied Ty, in place of Landy. "Plenty for +all; and we owe this treat to the patience of Ted and Adam here. Later +on you must get our new scout to tell you how he goes in after his +fish, clothes and all. It's a real funny stunt, George." + +"Yeth," put in Ted. "And mind you, he pullth in other fellowth with him. +Be thure to have him tell you that part, my thon. It'th worth hearing, +George." + +Of course, around the fire, as they discussed the qualities of the fish, +the story was told. Everyone seemed to have a share in the telling, so +that George got it from several sources. + +"And pretty soon," declared Landy, "I'm going to use a black pocket in +the woods close by as my dark room, so I can develop that roll of films. +You see, I'm just wild to learn whether I really did push that trigger +on the camera, and shoot it off, just as those two fellows were tumbling +into the water. If I got that, it'll pay me for the whole job of hiking +away up here and losing more'n a pound in weight." + +"Wish you luck, then, Philander," said George, who usually made a +mouthful of his cousin's name. + +Some people said George was really envious of Landy's possessing such an +uncommon name; others believed that he was proud of being connected with +a family that could sport such a classical "cognomen," as he often +termed it. + +"When did you leave good old Hickory Ridge?" asked Ty; for, like most +boys, no sooner was Ty away from home than everything about the place +assumed an almost sacred aspect, and he could never even mention its +name without an affectionate prefix of some sort. + +"I reckon I've been three hours on the way," was George's reply. + +"Three hours to get up here! Say, you didn't walk like that in the big +hike, when you covered the name of Robbins with imperishable glory," +Landy declared. + +"Shucks, and me the lowest score in the whole bunch!" sneered George. +"But I guess I lost the way, and covered a lot more territory than I +ought to have done." + +"Yes," said Landy, "I know what was the matter. You just made up your +mind every signpost lied, and when it said go east, you tried the other +road. That's what you get for doubting everything. It brings heaps of +trouble, and if you're wise you'll shunt that on to the side track in a +hurry." + +"Oh, shucks! Attend to your own mutton, Landy," said George; but his +face had reddened at the accusation of his cousin, and none of the +others doubted but that Landy's random shot had hit pretty close to the +truth. + +"Anything new around Hickory Ridge since we left there?" asked Elmer. + +"Why, yes, there is, fellows," replied George, brightening up, as though +he had just thought of something. + +"Then tell us what it is. Has Hiram Juggles got a new shingle on his +barn; or did the Mosely twins get mixed up again, so that nobody knows +which is Jim and which Jack?" asked Ty. + +"Oh, it's something more serious than that, let me tell you," George +went on, with a vein of mystery in his voice that instantly aroused the +curiosity of Landy. + +"Then why don't you tell us what it is, George, you old ice wagon!" he +exclaimed. "Somebody give him a push, please, and get him to roll his +hoop." + +"They tried to wreck the midnight express--guess you fellows started off +too early in the mornin' to hear about it," George said. + +"We never heard a word, so hurry up and tell us, George," said Elmer. + +"Yes, whatever in the wide world would they want to wreck that train +for? Was it some crazy man; or do they think it could have been an +attempt to rob the express safe?" demanded Ty, anxiously; for he had an +uncle who held the throttle of the engine pulling that particular train, +and was therefore deeply interested. + +"Nobody's dead sure what they wanted to do," George went on, "but the +messenger admits that he was carrying a bigger amount of money than +usual. Perhaps the hoboes got wind of it, and thought they might have a +chance to capture the stuff. They didn't have nerve enough to hold the +train up in western fashion, so they tried the coward play." + +"I notice that you say hoboes did it, as if nobody doubted that part of +the affair," Elmer remarked, significantly. + +"They were seen by a track walker, and had quite a fight with him," +George continued. "The poor chap is in the hospital now, though he's +going to pull through. He managed to crawl to a station and give the +alarm, so no damage was done. And now they're hunting high and low for +two hoboes, one short with red hair, and t'other a long-legged fellow +who limps when he walks, like he'd once had his leg hurt. They are +called Shorty and Lanky Jim!" + +It was Adam who set up a shout that caused the others to stare at him. + +"Hey, what's this mean?" demanded Ty. "He looks like he knew something +about the two rascals you were telling us about, George. Elmer, you take +him in hand, won't you, and see what he's got on his mind. And make him +tell it in plain United States. We left our Dutch dictionaries at home +this trip, you see." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +UNDER THE TWINKLING STARS. + + +SUPPER was forgotten for the time being, under the influence of this new +source of excitement. But then the young campers had taken the edge off +their sharp appetites before now, so that it did not matter very much. + +Adam was grinning as he found himself the one object upon which all eyes +were focused. It would be hard to find the boy who does not enjoy +standing in the lime light, even for a little while. + +"How about this, Adam," said Elmer, "do you know anything about these +two men?" + +"So," drawled the German boy, "aber I am nodt sure. Dey looks to pe +sooch; put mebbe I haf anudder guess goming, poys." + +"Tell us where you think you saw them," the assistant scout master +continued. + +"At Prady's," answered Adam, promptly. + +"Brady's--why, that's where we get our milk," spoke up Landy. + +"Sure it is," declared Ty. "That's funny now; I never remember setting +eyes on anybody answering that description; and I've been over there +twice." + +"Yeth," declared Ted, "and I can thay the thame thing." + +"You think you can; but you're away off, Ted," grinned Ty, who never +grew weary of nagging the other on that lisp, with which he was +afflicted. + +"When did you see them, Adam?" asked Elmer, paying no attention to any +of these side remarks. + +"Vy, berhaps you may remember, Elmer, dot dis very evening I vant to go +py der voods vonce, und get dot milk. Vat ve haf, it did get sour by der +heat, und Ty he say he haf a desire to dake der tramp again nix. So I +volunteer py der game. You pet me I nefer dry to gross dot field py der +pull. I dake der long vay, und pring der milk safely home. Iss it not +so, Ty?" + +"Well, we're drinking some of it in our coffee this meal, so that goes +without saying," the other replied. + +"Tell us about the men--where were they when you saw them, Adam?" Elmer +went on. + +"Py der parn," returned the German scout. + +"Not prowling around like a couple of thieves, Adam?" + +"Nodt as I can see." + +"Then what were they doing?" the patrol leader asked, impatiently; for +it was a most difficult thing to draw the story out of the German, who +seemed to want to be "pumped" step by step, as Landy termed it. + +"Vorking," came the short reply. + +"Oh, then you mean they were apparently in the employ of Mr. Brady?" + +"Dot iss so. Dey toss der hay oop to him py der stack, und he stow it +avay." + +"I believe the farmer is getting in a late crop of clover hay," remarked +Elmer. + +"Yes," broke in Ty, "and he was telling me this very morning when I got +the milk, after my little adventure with that neighbor's bull, how his +man had left him in the lurch, and everybody around was so busy he +hardly knew just how he could get the big crop of hay that was stacked +in the field, ready for the mow." + +Elmer nodded his head as though, after gaining this knowledge, it was +comparatively easy to put two and two together. + +"That settles it," he remarked. "These two hoboes came along, and he +offered them such big wages to help him over his trouble, that they just +couldn't resist. But I know something about tramps, and the real article +wouldn't work at any price." + +"Gee! Perhaps they had some other object in taking the place?" Landy +suggested. + +"Just what I had in mind," Elmer followed. "If they are the rascals who +tried to throw that train off the track for some awful reason, they must +know that there'll be a hunt through the country for them; and, perhaps, +they hope to hide as farm laborers until the thing wears off." + +"Then we ought to warn Mr. Brady, hadn't we?" asked Ted. + +"Yes, but at the same time we must be careful not to excite the +suspicion of those fellows," Elmer replied; and then turning again to +Adam, he continued: "Did you have anything to say to either of the men, +Adam?" + +"Vell," replied the other, slowly and reflectively, "I dink me dot +berhaps von off dem might dell me der vay to der milk house, und so I +stop me to ask." + +"Yes, you asked one of them--which one, Adam?" + +"I notice me dot as I gome close dey look at me like I vos a pad egg, +und put der heads togedder in a punch. So I yust chuck oudt mine preast +und valk right up to der spot, like I vas say: 'Vat's der matter mit +you; I am Adam Litzburgh, und I pelong to der scouts; put dot in your +pipe und smoke it!'" + +"But you didn't say all that; you just asked one of them where the milk +house might be; wasn't that it, Adam?" Elmer went on. + +"Der short von idt vas; und he turn to der udder und he say it pe all +right, nuttings to bother apout from dot Dutch fool. Den, py chinks, he +call oudt to der farmer who vas on der top of dot haymow, und ask vere +der milk house pe." + +"And that was all, was it, Adam?" + +"I knows me nuddings else," replied the German boy; "only ven I gomes me +along again, der short von vaves his hand to me, und laughs him some py +my pack." + +Elmer really sighed with relief when he realized that he had actually +succeeded in getting the whole story out of the uncommunicative fellow. +It was like "drawing teeth," as Landy more than once remarked. + +"You've heard the story, fellows," he said, turning to the others; "what +had we better do about it? I want everybody to have a voice in this, and +majority rules. So don't be bashful, but speak up." + +"Well," remarked Landy, slowly. "I suppose we ought to give Mr. Brady a +hint of the truth; but, as you say, Elmer, we must be mighty careful how +we do it. Those tramps must be a pretty desperate pair, and they'd think +nothing of sailing in to clean us out if they suspected we were on to +their curves." + +"How about you, Ted?" asked Elmer. + +"Oh, count me in the thame lay," replied the one addressed. "Nobody +knowth when they're entertaining angelth unawareth, like the good book +thayth; or bad men either. The farmerth want help tho bad at timeth that +they don't athk too many quethtionth when they get a thanthe to employ a +huthky man. We'll drop around there in the morning thome time, when +they're out in the haying field, and give the women folkth a little +hint that they'd better get rid of the new handth." + +"Ty?" + +"Them's my sentiments. No special need of any hurry, I guess," replied +Ty, who was really feeling the effect of his unusual exercise of that +morning when the unfriendly bull gave him such a lively chase, and who +wanted to keep quiet in camp. + +"George?" + +"Wow! You just couldn't get me to stir away from here to-night unless +you tied a pair of mules to me and started them going," replied the +newcomer, as he slyly helped himself to more fish. + +"And Adam?" + +"I dinks me as how it pe werry comfortaples here," grinned the German, +duplicating the act of George, as though he feared lest he might not get +his full share of the supper. + +"Hey, let me in on that, will you, fellers?" cried Landy, spearing +another portion from the rapidly vanishing pile. "And if you want to +know my sentiments, Elmer, just put them down as 'he also ran.' Because +I'm willing to do whatever the rest of you say." + +Elmer himself looked a trifle disappointed. He had been thinking that +perhaps they ought to warn Mr. Brady that night; for it could not be a +very safe thing to have two such desperate men in his employ longer than +was absolutely necessary. + +Still, he had said that he would be bound by what the majority of his +chums decided was best; and he could not change his ideas. + +After all, the chances seemed to be that if the two new farm hands were +actually Shorty and Lanky Jim, their sole object in taking service with +Mr. Brady must be to lie low until the excitement died away. +Consequently, they would be very careful not to do anything that would +turn attention upon them; and in that case a little delay could not +matter. + +"All right, then," said Elmer; "it's settled that after breakfast +to-morrow we'll make up a party to go after milk and find a chance to +warn the Brady people. Of course the women folks will be scared nearly +to death; but they'll find some way of sending word to town in these +days of telephones. And then the officers will come out to arrest the +fellows. Pass my dish, please, Landy, and get a small help of the fish. +I'm mighty fond of it in camp, and never care for a bite at home. And +this is as good as they make fried fish, thanks to Ty's way of cooking." + +The balance of the supper was eaten amid a lively lot of talk. Of course +much of this concerned the events of the day; the adventure with the +bull; the trick Ty attempted to play on Adam, with disastrous results to +himself; and last, but not least, the coming of Doubting George with +such exciting news. + +When, finally, they went to bed it was with all these things fastened +upon their minds; so that Elmer expected that more than one among them +would be apt to "see things" in the dark that night. + +The fire which, after supper, had been built larger, so that it lent a +cheerful glow to the scene, was allowed to die down. Really the weather +was still so sultry that it took away some of the pleasure of sitting +around a blaze; which is always appreciated most when there is a tang of +frost in the night air; but, then, these boys were up here for fun and +did not mean to be cheated out of anything they considered their due by +such a thing as hot air. + +One by one they crawled under the canvas and subsided. + +The coming of George promised to add to the discomfort of a crowded +tent; and secretly Elmer had decided that he would not occupy his +quarters of the preceding nights. It would not be a new thing at all for +him to sleep out under the stars with a blanket for a covering; and, +indeed, he believed he would enjoy the experience, as it must revive +recollections of the past when he was accompanying the cowboys on a +round-up far away from the home ranch; or else off with a comrade on a +hunt in the big Rocky Mountains of Canada. + +Only one more day remained, and then the wagon would come for the tent +and other things that had to be transported by team. After that they +could look forward to a few days of restlessness; when school duties +would begin once more. + +Elmer noticed that there was little talking indulged in that night. They +seemed too tired all around for any "funny business," such as often +marked the period when the lively boys started to go to bed. + +When all seemed quiet within the tent, Elmer stepped over to where he +had slyly hidden his blanket some little time before. He had already +picked out the spot in which he intended passing the night. It was under +a tree, where he could look up through the leafy branches, and get +glimpses of the star-decked heavens. The soft, caressing touch of the +night wind would lull him to sleep, he felt sure; and on the whole Elmer +infinitely preferred such an experience to being crammed up against five +others, in one small tent. + +So he fixed himself, and lay down. By turning his head he could see the +flickering fire, and imagine it surrounded by some of those good fellows +whom he had known long ago, daring riders of bucking bronchos, and +expert wielders of the flying rope. + +Then Elmer dropped off into a sound sleep. The last thing he remembered +was hearing some one snoring in the tent; he never knew just who the +guilty party might be, although his suspicions pointed to George; since +they had not been afflicted up to his coming. And the sounds seemed +uncertain too, just as though they were inclined to express a lingering +doubt. + +From this state of peace and calm the campers were suddenly aroused by a +most piercing scream, that rang through the woods on the borders of the +river. + +Instantly a scene of wild confusion resulted. Out from the narrow exit +of the tent came a struggling mass of boys in pajamas, grabbing hold of +each other in their excitement. + +And one lone figure might have been seen crawling under the back canvas, +in much the same fashion as Elmer had done at the time he started on +that hunt for the unknown party who was throwing the stones with a plunk +into the river. + +Elmer was on his feet instantly, and could, perhaps, be said to be the +only one in the lot who had control of his senses in this emergency. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE INVASION OF THE CAMP. + + +"OH! what is it?" cried Landy, who was actually trembling all over as he +stood there in the night air, which had grown a trifle cooler during the +hours they had been asleep. + +"What's Elmer going to do?" exclaimed George, as he saw the patrol +leader spring suddenly forward, and bend down. + +"He'th got thomebody!" yelled Ted. "Perhapth it'th jutht one of the +trampth come over here to rob the camp!" + +"Aber I dinks me he iss yust getting some off der vood to puts on der +fire," remarked Adam, who, strange to say, in all the excitement, seemed +to keep fairly calm. + +It turned out to be exactly the case; for immediately Elmer threw +something on the smouldering fire, which started up a cheery blaze. When +this came about it was wonderful how much better all of them felt. A +crackling fire can do more to dispel thoughts of ghosts, and all such +silly things, than any other agency. + +"But Ted," said George, "I don't think you could have guessed right, +because you see there ain't any sign of a tramp here." + +"Sounded to me," ventured Landy, "like it was out there on the river. +Say, p'raps it might have been some poor duck just going down for the +last time!" + +"Shucks!" grunted that unbeliever, George; "he'd never be able to let +out such a whang-doodle yell in that case. I ought to know, because I've +near drowned myself twice, and all I could do was just to gurgle and +kick and grab." + +"How about that loon Elmer wath telling uth about?" suggested Ted, +softly. "From all he thaid I reckon it'd let out jutht thuch a noithe +ath that." + +"Elmer, you heard it, didn't you?" demanded Landy. + +"I sure did," came the reply. + +"Wath it a loon, then?" went on Ted. + +"Not the kind you mean, boys; I give you that straight," replied the +other. + +"But it came from out there on the river, didn't it?" persisted Landy, +who seemed to have that notion imbedded in his brain pretty strongly. + +Elmer shook his head in the negative. + +"Then where did it come from?" asked Landy. + +"I didn't tell you, boys," went on the patrol leader; "but knowing that +six in the tent would make it stuffy, I planned to sleep out here under +the stars, just as I've done many a night, you know. And so I was in a +pretty good position to hear where that whoop came from." + +"Tell us, Elmer, tell us right away," demanded Landy, impatiently. + +"The tent!" said Elmer, without hesitation. + +The boys stared at each other. + +"Say, he means that one of us let that yell out," remarked Landy. + +"I know I didn't!" declared George. + +"Not guilty!" chirped Ted immediately, holding up his right hand as he +spoke. + +"Noddings doing, poys, mit me," Adam ventured to say, positively. + +"How about Ty?" asked Elmer, chuckling. + +"Where is he?" demanded Landy. + +And thus, all at once, they awakened to the fact that one of their +number was absent, though no one save Elmer had noticed this before. + +Landy rushed to the tent and looked in. The fire was by this time giving +out enough light to make it possible to see the entire interior. + +Landy crawled inside, and almost immediately came forth again. + +"Say, he ain't there! Ty's disappeared, fellows! Mebbe he's been taken +with a fit, and jumped into the river!" he cried, in tones that were +filled with horror. + +"Elmer, what have you got to thay about that?" demanded Ted, who had +noticed the significant fact that the patrol leader did not seem to +share the alarm of the rest; indeed, he even smiled as though amused. + +"Watch me," said Elmer. + +He strode back of the tent, while the other boys waited with wondering +eyes. In a minute Elmer reappeared, nor was he alone. He had hold of a +shrinking figure, also clad in pajamas, and these of so violent a color +that they instantly recognized them as belonging to the boy who had +clung so long to that red sweater. + +Yes, it was surely Ty, and he did not seem to be suffering to any great +extent. There was evidence of a grin hovering around the corners of his +mouth. Evidently Ty was the one who had crawled hastily under the canvas +of the tent after that fearful yell had awakened the entire party. "The +wicked flee when no man pursueth," and Ty knew that he was probably in +for a good raking, after giving his mates so great a scare. + +"Hey, he's got him!" declared Landy. "Elmer knew where to find him. See +here, did you let off that awful whoop, Ty Collins?" + +"I s'pose I did," replied the culprit, meekly. "I was dreaming about +that old bull, you see. Thought I was sitting up there between his +horns, and he was just gallivanting around the whole country with me, +jumpin' fences and all that. Then we came to a barn, oh, as high as the +church steeple at Hickory Ridge; and as sure as you live if that critter +didn't make straight for the same. I felt him rising in the air like a +balloon, and then I think I must have let out a squawk, fellers." + +"Listen to him, would you!" cried Landy; "he calls that a squawk! Why, +it sounded like a whistle for down-brakes on the track; or else a feller +falling over a precipice ten thousand feet deep! And he's got the nerve +to say it was only a little squawk, just like a chicken would give!" + +"Well, if you'd been dreaming like I was, you'd holler too," argued Ty. +"Say, I reckon I scared myself pretty bad too, for I crawled out of the +back of the tent in a big hurry, and tried to hide in the bushes. Then I +heard you talkin' and it struck me what I'd done. Didn't feel much like +walkin' in after that; but Elmer, he came and convinced me." + +"No great harm done, boys," said Elmer. "And as Ty didn't mean to +frighten anybody, we'll have to let him off this time." + +"Yes, if he'll promise not to repeat the dose, we might," grumbled +Landy. + +"Don't believe him, if he does, because he won't keep his word," +declared Doubting George. + +"Well, what sort of remedy would you suggest?" asked Ty, indignantly. + +"Gag him; that's the only way," returned George; "and even then I think +he'd find a loophole to let out another howl. Ty always could whoop it +up better than any other fellow at school. That's why they made him the +cheer captain when he couldn't get in the football game on account of a +sprain." + +"You just try it," muttered Ty. "I've got troubles enough, and a plenty; +but a gag is going it a little too strong. Elmer says it's all right, +and that anybody is liable to have bad dreams. Think of what I went +through with, when that bull chased after me! Forget it, fellers, and +let's go back to our blankets." + +"Yes, get along there, the whole bunch of you," laughed Elmer, +pretending to "shoo" them as he might a flock of little chickens. "It's +getting cool out here, and we've got a few more hours for sleep. So +long!" + +So the five crept inside the tent again, and for some little while the +murmur of voices told that they did not find it so easy to drop off into +sleep as on the earlier occasion. + +But finally all became silent. The episode was closed; and once more +sleep dominated the camp by the Sweetwater. + +There was no further alarm that night. Perhaps Ty took warning from the +awful proposition made by George, and found some way of restraining his +inclination to dream; but no one ever knew how he did it. + +When early morning came, with the cheep of birds in the thickets, Elmer +was the first one to be stirring. He kindled the fire afresh, and tidied +up around the camp a bit, after the manner that was so much to his +liking. + +Then he went down to the river and plunged in. + +It was now broad daylight; indeed, the sun was peeping up beyond the low +hills far away to the east. The sound of splashing must have reached +the ears of Landy as he awakened, for presently he came crawling forth. + +"Hi, get up there, you sleepy-heads!" he shouted, stooping to thrust his +head into the tent. "Here's Elmer occupying the whole river, and there +won't be any of it left if you don't hurry!" + +That brought the balance out in a hurry, and soon the six were sporting +gayly in the water. Adam had to do the high dive, with all its attendant +"frills," as Landy called them, in the way of double somersaults, +backward and forward, in order to convince the newcomer of his +accomplishments. For, of course, Doubting George refused to believe +until he had been shown; and even then declared that there must be some +sort of trick about it, because it stood to reason that a greenhorn +could not excel in anything. + +Adam, however, was too good-natured to take offense. As long as they +remained in the water he was kept busy showing the many tricks he knew. +Tenderfoot though he might be in most things connected with boy life in +America, Adam certainly stood in a class by himself when it came to +aquatic events. + +Then came the pleasing job of getting breakfast. Ty, assisted by George, +consented to look after that part of the business. Since George would +only have one whole day in camp, with two nights thrown in, he purposed +getting all he could out of it, and had laid out a list of things he +wished to try before sundown, consisting of fishing, taking a few +pictures with a little camera he had fetched along, and roaming the +neighboring country, looking for promising nut trees for the October +gathering, because George was very fond of hickory nuts, chestnuts and +walnuts, in season and out. + +"Just as like as not there won't be a fish willing to nibble at my +bait," he grumbled, after his customary fashion; "and I'd like to wager +that this year is a bad one for nuts." + +"Oh, let up on that cranky way of looking at things," said Ty. "Perhaps +something's the matter with your new camera too, George!" + +"Well, you never know," replied the other, sighing. "It looks all right; +but the proof of the pudding lies in the eating; and I'm sorter +expecting the thing to turn out a fizzle. Cheap things never do amount +to much, you know." + +"But that was a present on your birthday!" ejaculated Ty. + +"Sure it was; but all the same it's not one of the best; and I'm always +suspicious of these things that don't cost top-notch prices," George +continued. + +"I'd just like to know what you ain't suspicious of," snapped Ty. "Here, +don't you go smelling at my flapjacks like you thought there was a bad +egg in 'em. Every egg we get is fresh from the coop that day, and marked +gilt edge. Before I'd have a way like yours, George, I'd, well, I +believe I'd jump in the river." + +"I don't believe you would," grinned George, once again true to his +reputation as a skeptic. + +"What's Elmer going to say?" remarked Ty, he noticed the patrol leader +coming hastily into camp, with a queer look on his face. + +"Get ready!" Elmer said, mysteriously. + +Ty, Ted, George and Landy looked up at this. + +"Get ready for what!" demanded the fat boy, attempting to gain his feet +in haste, but having to clutch hold of Ted in order to assist himself. + +"To vacate the camp," replied the other. + +"But, Elmer, explain, won't you?" asked Ted. + +"Yes, tell us why we must get out," echoed George, and adding: "I don't +believe he means anything at all, that's what; he's just fooling us, +fellows." + +"Wait and see," Elmer continued, gravely nodding his head, although his +eyes were sparkling with humor. "It's coming, and I tell you that after +it arrives there won't be any room here for you fellows. It will occupy +the whole place!" + +"But, Elmer, what is it that's coming?" asked Landy, visions of the two +desperate hoboes filling his mind. + +Elmer, in reply, commenced to raise his head, and make a face as he +sniffed the air. + +"Just try that and see," he remarked, simply. + +Upon that the whole lot started to drawing in their breath. Immediately +various exclamations told that they had "caught on," as Landy expressed +it. + +"Oh, murder! What sort of an odor is that!" ejaculated George. + +"I know!" cried Landy, who had started to clutch his nose between thumb +and fingers; "it's a skunk, that's what it is. Wow! It's getting worse +all the time, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE EDUCATION OF ADAM. + + +THE utmost consternation seized upon the campers. + +"Oh! what's bringing all that smell along here?" George cried; for this +was his first experience with such a thing, though he had heard lots +about other adventures the scouts had had in that line. + +"It's Adam; he's got a monopoly of the scent!" laughed Elmer. "And he's +on his way to the camp right now. I saw him coming, and got a whiff; +then I hurried on to warn you, because I didn't want you to be caught +unprepared. There's one good thing about it, though, fellows." + +"Good thing?" ejaculated Ted, who had snatched out his handkerchief and +was trying to keep from inhaling more air than was absolutely necessary. + +"Why, yes," Elmer went on, "for once George here doesn't doubt but that +he gets it. You don't hear him asking questions now. He _knows_ it's +here with us. He's getting his dose, all right, ain't you, George?" + +"Look, there he comes!" gasped Landy, pointing to a moving figure that +was pawing a way through the neighboring thicket. + +"Ach! vat iss de matter mit me? I feels like I vas goin' to faint!" +exclaimed a complaining voice. + +"For goodness' sake do it out there, then!" screamed Landy. "Don't you +dare come into camp with that terrible smell hanging to you. Sit down +where you are, and listen to what we've got to say. Oh, gracious, I +can't get my breath! Elmer, you tell him!" + +"Py chimineddy, dis makes me some drouples! It peats all der limpurger +cheese I ever saw. Vat vos idt, Elmer? I am nodt choking, tell me vot I +dood," Adam asked, with a beseeching air, for he was almost overcome by +the fumes. + +"Well, if you ain't choking, we are; so you stay there," George +remarked. + +"How did it happen, Adam?" asked Elmer, trying to stop laughing, for he +knew that after all this was apt to be a serious piece of business for +the other. + +But the German boy only shook his head and coughed, as he tried to get +his breath. + +"Idt iss some foolishness py me; but, poys, I don't know vot it iss +already yet. I vos vandering apout der voods, enchoying mineself, ven I +see der prettiest little squirrel dot ever vos, mit a nice white stripe, +und a pushy tail. I dinks dot he look like he vill pe friends mit me, +und so I yust hold out mine hand und call him; put pefore I could take +hold mit him, I dink I step on von of dem musherooms mit der awful +smell. Ach! it vos so pad I haf to get oudt right avay, und come pack to +der gamp. I'm von sick Dutchman, poys, pelieve me. I dink me I must pe +going to die right avay qvick." + +"I should think you had died a week ago," cried George. + +"He thought the skunk was a pretty squirrel," said Ty; "and he was going +to make a pet of it, think of that, fellows!" + +They laughed and coughed by turns. One minute the comical side of the +event appealed to them, as they saw poor Adam standing there looking so +forlorn; then as if by magic their humor turned, and they began to +wonder what in the wide world could be done. + +"We just can't stand this much longer, Elmer," said Landy. "Make him go +away off in the woods and bury himself." + +"Well, one thing's sure," remarked the patrol leader. "He's got to get +rid of every stitch he has on him. We'll have to rig him out the best we +can afterwards." + +Adam set up a howl upon hearing this. + +"I pelieve it might wash oudt in der river!" he declared. + +"Not in a thousand years," Landy made answer. "The only chance for you +is to go off and bury your clothes--everything you've got on. Then get +in the water, and try to get rid of the smell from your hair. Lucky +thing it's cut short. Oh, ain't this the meanest luck, though?" + +"It might be worse if the whole lot of us had been there and got our +share," remarked Elmer, who could always see things on the bright side, +in which he was the exact reverse of Doubting George. + +"Dell me vat I must do, Elmer. I promise to carry oudt de plans. +Somedings must pe done right qvick, or I shall pe smothered. It is pad; +but I am von scout, und can take der hard knocks mit der good." + +"That's the kind of talk, Adam," Elmer hastened to say. "You're all +right, even if you do seem unpleasant company just now. Listen to me. Go +back into the woods a piece. Then strip off every rag and hide them in +some hollow log. I'll follow you when you go to the river, and fetch +along what stuff we find we can spare. All told I reckon there'll be a +shirt, trousers and shoes for you; and that's all you need this hot +weather. Please make a start, for we've got to the end of our endurance. +Turn around; now you're off!" + +When the unfortunate German lad had vanished, the trouble was far from +being at an end. He left a decided legacy behind him, and Landy was loud +in his wails. + +"How ever can we stand it, Elmer?" he asked. "All the rest of the time +we stay in camp do we just have to endure that rank odor?" + +"'What can't be cured must be endured,' you remember we used to write in +our copybooks at school, Landy," replied the patrol leader. "Nothing +like getting used to things, you know. It isn't pleasant, of course; but +there might be worse happen to us. Suppose now our new recruit had run +across a rattlesnake instead of a polecat! But get a hustle on you, +fellows, and see if we can rig Adam out somehow. I've got an extra shirt +he's welcome to." + +"And there's that pair of trousers I brought along," said Landy; "he can +get into them all right. But I'll say good-by when I hand 'em over; for +I just know the perfume will stick always; and I never could stand it, +never." + +Some one else came forward with shoes, and in this fashion the wretched +victim of confiding innocence and curiosity was supplied with an outfit +calculated to carry him through. + +Taking these things with him, Elmer started forth along the trail of +Adam. + +"Just follow your nose, and you'll find him!" sang out Landy. + +"And look out you don't repeat his sad experience, Elmer," laughed Ty. + +The woods seemed to be pretty strong with the powerful odor, as Elmer +walked on. He was a fair hand at following a trail, and the German lad +had certainly not made any effort to conceal his footprints. + +Presently Elmer found where Adam had stuffed his garments into a hollow +log, just as he had been told; but as he was no longer in sight, the +scout patrol leader took it for granted that he had turned to head for +the river again, in order to plunge in. + +Accordingly Elmer also turned and walked that way, believing that he +would strike the stream a little distance below the camp. + +"Goodness! I hope, now, Adam doesn't lose himself in the woods!" he +exclaimed, as a sudden startling thought flashed into his mind. +"Wouldn't that just be the limit, though, and with not a bit of clothes +along!" + +But a minute later he caught sight of the other stalking along ahead. +The river could also be seen in glimpses between the trees, showing that +after all Adam had chosen the right course. + +"Well, what ails him now?" Elmer asked himself, for as he looked he +suddenly saw the German boy bound up into the air, and start to +threshing about with his hands in the wildest kind of way. + +Then he started to run madly along, letting out a series of shouts, and +finally taking a header from the bank into the river. + +Something came buzzing about Elmer's head. + +"Hornets!" he exclaimed, making a stroke at the insistent insect that +was trying to reach his face, until by a fortunate blow he sent it down. + +Then he started off, making a wide detour so as to avoid the spot where +the unlucky Adam must have run foul of the nest. + +When he finally drew up at the river bank and peeped over, he saw Adam +with everything but the upper part of his head submerged. He seemed to +be looking for a new assortment of enemies hovering over him. His +introduction to the mysteries of the great American woods bade fair to +make a great impression on Adam. Indeed, when finally Elmer induced him +to come forth, he discovered that there were three distinct impressions, +and each of them as large as a hickory nut, one being behind the ear, +another on his right arm, and a third on the calf of his leg, where the +angry little hornets had left their mark. + +No doubt the new recruit thought he was having a pretty rough time of it +all told. But he had a genial nature, and could take things as they +came; so that presently he was able to laugh at his misfortunes. + +When he was dressed in the borrowed clothes Adam looked a "sight," as +Landy declared after he saw him coming to the camp. Of course there must +hover around him more or less of the strong odor; but Elmer told the +others they must make up their minds to get used to that, as it could +not be remedied. + +Breakfast had been ready for some little time when the pair reached the +camp; and all of them were able to do justice to the meal. Even Adam +seemed to have retained his appetite. + +"But it's the only thing he did save," chuckled Landy. + +When the meal was over, Elmer reminded them of the arrangement they had +made on the previous evening. + +"Who goes along with me to Brady's?" he asked, getting up. + +"Don't you think we'd all better paddle along?" remarked Landy; +"because, you see, those fellows are tough characters; and it might be +they'd set on our crowd, if they suspected we'd come to tell on 'em." + +"Count me out," said George. "You know I got a stone bruise yesterday +when on the way here, and I want to let it heal up, so's to be able to +toddle back home when we break camp to-morrow." + +"Oh, rats! The chances are you don't think there's anything worth while +in going over there," declared Ty. "And I meant to show you just where I +had all that fun with the old bull, too." + +"Fun!" shrieked Landy. "Hear that, will you, boys? He calls that +business just fun. But it looked another way, then, you understand, +George. Why, Ty's face was as white as paper when he thought that old +bundle of beef was going to hook him higher than a kite!" + +But Ty declined to argue the matter with him. + +"And I think Adam had better thtay at home, don't you, Elmer?" remarked +Ted. + +"Why, he's that strong he could tackle the hobo crowd alone and +single-handed," observed Ty. + +"I'm afraid he'd turn all the milk in the dairy," chuckled Landy. + +So it was presently decided that two of the scouts were to remain behind +to take charge of the camp. The others, four in number, would trail +along toward the Brady farm; and if the opportunity presented itself, +let the farmer's women folks know the character of the new hands. + +The last that Elmer and his comrades saw of those who were to remain +behind, George seemed to be endeavoring to coax Adam to try his luck +again on the river, for he was holding out the rod of the German. + +"He just wants to get him away for a while," laughed Ty. + +"It looks like George had run up against something at last that won't +stand for any doubts," declared Landy, who had long suffered from this +peculiar malady on the part of his cousin. + +"If it can't be seen, it makes itself felt in another way," remarked +Elmer, who was in the lead of the file that headed through the woods, +Ted swinging the tin milk bucket. + +Reaching the field where Ty had had so much "fun" with the ugly bull, +they failed to see anything of the animal. + +"Afraid to come out again, you see, boys," said Ty, pretending to puff +out with valor. "I guess the farmer who owns him will keep him shut up +till we leave the neighborhood. He'd better, for I was just hatching up +some game that would discourage the old fellow from tackling every one +that walked through his pasture." + +"Perhaps he's loose, and carrying on somewhere else," remarked Elmer, as +he lifted his head in an attitude of listening. + +"Say, that _is_ somebody shouting, as sure as you live!" cried Landy. + +"And hollering to beat the band, too!" echoed Ty. + +The whole four of them stood still, the better to listen. There could be +no longer the least doubt about the matter; for other voices joined in +with the one they had heard at first. + +"It's women yelling, too," said Landy. "Whatever can be the matter? +Elmer, do you think it's that bull broke loose?" + +"More'n likely the hoboes are at the bottom of the row!" declared Ty. + +"Come on with me, fellows, and we'll soon know!" called Elmer, as he +immediately started off on a full run. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A LOUD CALL FOR HELP. + + +A BELL began to ring wildly near by. + +"That's over to the place where the bull belongs; sure the row ain't +there, Elmer?" asked Ty, as he hurried on the heels of the leader. + +Elmer paused to listen again. + +"No," he said, positively, "most all the racket is over yonder in the +direction of the Brady house. You can hear the women screaming, too. +Come along again, boys! They've heard the racket over here, and that +bell's to call the men in from the fields." + +"Sounds just for all the world like what I've read about an Injun attack +in the good old pioneer days," declared the panting Landy, who had to +exert himself more than any of the others in order to keep up with the +procession. + +"Theemth like I thmell thmoke!" remarked Ted. + +"I reckon you do, because I've been getting it for the last half +minute," Elmer threw over his shoulder as he ran on. + +"That means a fire!" cried Ty. + +"It generally does," Elmer added, dryly. + +"What if the Brady house is going up in flames?" ejaculated Ty, again. + +"It would be a bad job," remarked Elmer; "but not quite as hard on them +as if it happened in the dead of winter, with the thermometer down to +zero." + +"But it's always a hard job fighting fire in such steaming hot weather +as this September spell!" Landy observed, as he dug for his +handkerchief, so as to wipe his red face, which was beginning to reek +with perspiration. + +"There, I saw smoke over the trees; it's a house afire, as sure as +anything, boys, and the Brady one at that!" declared Ty. + +None of them doubted it now, since all the indications seemed to point +that way. They kept up their forward rush, hoping to at least be able to +lend a helping hand in the way of getting some of the furniture out; +because that is generally all that can be done at a country blaze, when +there are no fire engines to respond to the call for aid. + +They were rapidly overtaking several persons who seemed to be hurrying +in the same direction they themselves were bound. Two of these were +women, and the other a very old man, whom the excitement had stirred +into unwonted action. + +"What is it?" asked Elmer, as he was passing the three. + +"The Brady house must be afire!" answered a young woman, who seemed to +have her wits fairly well in hand. + +None of the boys stopped, though Landy's tongue was almost hanging from +his mouth because of the exertion on such a hot morning. They continued +to bound along steadily, and expected to come in sight of the burning +house at any moment now. + +As they burst out from the cover it stood before them. Smoke was coming +from windows and doors in heavy volumes; and evidently the fire must +have managed to get considerable headway before being discovered. + +A number of women were running excitedly up and down doing nothing to +aid in saving property, or subduing the flames. Several men were +present, and seemed to be wholly engaged in carrying out some of the +furniture belonging to the parlor. A small cabinet organ had been rolled +over on the grass, and then they added heaps of books to the wreckage. + +"Why don't they try and save the house, Elmer?" asked Ty, as they saw +what was going on. + +"I don't know, unless it's because they have no leader, and nobody is +able to tell what to do," replied the other. + +Elmer was taking the scene in with eyes that nothing escaped. Even while +he was running forward toward the fire he saw that there was a +fair-sized stream close to the barns. His attention was directed to it +chiefly because of a flock of big white Pekin ducks that were flapping +their wings, and adding their loud quacks to the general excitement. + +"If we only could find plenty of buckets, something might be done!" he +called back over his shoulder, never stopping an instant in making for +the building that was threatened with destruction. + +"I see three right now by that pump!" cried Ty. + +"Plenty more in the barn, Elmer!" added Ted, who saw what the other had +in his mind, and thought it worth trying. + +"There's a lot of tin milk buckets hanging on that fence!" called Landy. + +"Go for 'em, fellows!" ordered the patrol leader. "Gather all you can +find, and begin to fill 'em at the brook. I'll see if these ladies won't +stand in line, and pass them along." + +"Hurrah for the Hickory Ridge Fire Brigade!" shouted Landy, fully filled +with the novel idea. + +Each of them made a bee-line for the buckets in sight, and, gathering up +all they could lay hands on, immediately started for the water, where a +great dipping began, to the intense amazement and consternation of the +ducks, which could not understand why these strangers should try to +empty their favorite little stream without asking their permission. + +Meanwhile Elmer must have managed to explain after a fashion what he +purposed doing. He had already coaxed two of the women to stand ready to +take the buckets as they came along, and these were shouting to the +others. + +"More buckets! Try in the barns for some!" called Elmer, as, seizing one +of the first that arrived, he rushed up to where a tongue of fire had +suddenly darted out of a window, like a snake that was striking, and +sent the contents of his receptacle through into the room. + +Now something a little more like sense seemed to seize upon those +present. All they needed was a leader, some one capable of giving +orders; and it would be surprising how much could be accomplished. + +The men stopped trying to save the furniture. If the building could be +kept from burning to the ground the things it contained might have a +chance of being spared. They rushed away to the barn, as though knowing +where horse buckets were to be found; and Elmer knew that he had found +several willing allies in his battle with the flames. + +He saw that these men were the farmer himself, and his son, almost a man +in size. The two farm hands were not to be seen; and this fact gave +Elmer a strong idea that in truth they might have been responsible for +the fire itself. Sometimes when a robbery has been committed the thieves +will try to cover all traces of their work by burning the building. + +By the time those other women had arrived he believed he would have +enough on the ground to form a living chain between the brook and the +house, so that the full buckets could be passed swiftly along from hand +to hand, and the empties returned after the same fashion for a fresh +start. + +Inside of five minutes after the Boy Scouts arrived on the spot it was a +lively scene that was taking place. The smoke continued to pour out of +the windows; but whenever a bit of flame showed itself, Elmer or Ty was +ready to dash a bucket of water on the same. + +"Keep up the good work, fellows!" shouted Landy, who was filling the +buckets at the time. "She ain't gaining much, now; and every one that +comes just adds to the fire brigade, so's to send the buckets along +faster. I'm coming over to help fight soon as that farmer's boy gets +here!" + +"Say, if only we had all our troop here, Elmer, wouldn't we make short +work of it, though?" asked Ty, who was beginning to turn many shades +darker because of the smoke that swept past him every little while. + +"We'll do it as we are!" answered the patrol leader, firmly; for he +believed that they must soon begin to get the mastery over the hungry +flames. + +Then Landy came staggering along, bearing with him a huge bucket, which +he expected to dash personally on some place where it would do the most +good. The farmer's boy had arrived to take his place at the brook, which +set him free for sterner duties. + +"Go for it, fellers!" he gasped; and then as a wicked looking finger of +fire darted out toward him he emptied the contents of his pail in that +direction. "Plenty more where that came from. The crick'll hold out all +right, if only we can get it up here fast enough. That's the way, Ty, +soak it to the measly old thing. We're going to win out yet, see!" + +It was the right sort, of spirit to show at any rate; and afterwards his +chums had only words of praise for Landy's conduct. + +"If we c'n only hold out long enough, we're just bound to knock this old +fire into a cocked hat!" Ty managed to cry out, as he seized another +bucket, and turned to look for a chance to use it. + +Just then he noticed a small girl standing near by, sobbing as if her +heart would break. She seemed to be looking up toward the second story +windows of the house that was on fire, as though there might be +something that she longed to save up there. + +Ty was immediately thrilled with the thought that it might be a human +being. Nobody had as yet said anything about a missing person, whether a +child, a very old man, or a woman; but this might come from the fact +that such tremendous excitement held everybody in its grip. + +Ty had read about daring feats which lads no older than himself had +performed at such critical times. Perhaps within his soul there burned a +desire to outshine these heroes of fact and fiction; and do something to +make the name of Tyrus Collins go ringing down the ages, on the annals +of heroes who have risked their lives in order to save others. + +At any rate, as soon as he had emptied the bucket he was holding, he +passed it along to the nearest woman, and then whirled upon the little +girl. + +"What's the matter with you?" he asked. + +She turned to him eagerly. + +"Oh, he'll be burned, my little baby, Bennie!" she wailed, wringing her +hands as if in the greatest woe. + +Ty was thrilled by the words. Here then was the golden opportunity he +had long sought. A baby, she had said, forgotten in the mad rush and +excitement. And to him had come the chance to show of what metal scouts +were made. + +"Where is he--show me the window of the room!" he demanded in such a +stern tone that the child shrank back; but she managed to point upward +and say: + +"That window--it's the little room over the front hall! Oh, if you could +only bring him out, mister; everybody's too busy to remember poor little +Bennie!" + +That finished Ty. He heard the call to duty and was off. Still, he kept +his wits about him fairly well, and did not plunge recklessly into the +building. + +His first act was to take another look upward, so that he might locate +the window she had mentioned, and remember which it was when groping +about the interior. Elmer was close by; but although he turned toward +the patrol leader at first, Ty changed his mind, fearing that he might +be interfered with in his bold designs. + +No, if a rescue must be made, he would go it alone; and hence all the +glory that was coming would be his. + +"Here, take that full bucket and follow me, Ty!" called Elmer, who saw a +chance to deluge a threatened point in such a way that the fire would be +fully beaten back in that quarter. + +He supposed the other was carrying out his suggestion, and did not know +any different until on turning he found himself face to face with Landy, +who had quickly taken the place of the one called upon. + +"Where's Ty?" asked Elmer, as upon looking around he failed to discover +the figure of his late assistant. + +"He's gone in!" declared Landy, seeming to be a little appalled by +something he had witnessed. + +"Gone in where?" continued the other, hardly understanding what was +meant. + +"He rushed right into the house like he'd lost his senses, Elmer; +whatever do you think made him act like that?" Landy replied. + +The patrol leader looked aghast. + +"I'm sure I don't know," he replied, "unless he heard that some one was +in there, and might be smothered or burned. But it was a nervy thing for +Ty to do. I only hope he comes out again all right!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SHOWING THEIR METTLE. + + +"OH, thay, can't we do anything to thave him?" + +It was, of course, Ted, with his lisp, who said this. He had come up +while the others were talking, and seemed to understand the situation; +perhaps he had even witnessed the strange dash of Ty Collins into the +burning farmhouse. + +Elmer shook his head in the negative, as he replied: + +"You see, the smoke is so heavy that even if one of us did go in, the +chances are he'd never be able to find Ty. We'll have to let him alone. +Ty has a long head on him, and generally knows what he's doing. Let's +work away here as fast as they fetch us the full buckets, and hope our +chum will get out again. Here, hand me that pail, Ted; and get busy, +Landy. No time to be staring around." + +Landy seemed to be half stunned because of the queer actions of the +scout who had entered the house. He was standing there looking up at the +row of windows, out of which the smoke curled and eddied, as though he +expected an answer to the puzzling question there. + +But the energy of the patrol leader influenced him; and taking the +bucket that had reached the end of the line of men and women, he +hastened to dash its contents in the spot Elmer indicated. + +The boys were all showing more or less signs of exhaustion by this time, +owing to the terrific heat, caused by the stickiness of the weather, and +the influence of the fire. But not one of them gave any indication of +showing the white feather. They seemed to feel that the honor of the +scouts was involved in this fight for the farmer's home; and with set +teeth they continued to ply the water. + +"We're gaining a little all the time, fellows!" exclaimed Elmer, meaning +to bolster up the courage of both Ted and Landy; though often he would +cast an anxious eye up at those mute windows, as though beginning to +fear that the missing chum would never again appear. + +"Yeth," said Ted, dolefully, "but every time we leave a plathe to go to +a new one, the fire tharth out again freth ath a daithy. If only a lot +more men would come to help uth out, we might get it under." + +"We will do it, boys, just make up your minds to that," gasped Elmer, as +he once more gripped a big stable bucket and started back to the window +through which he expected to hurl the contents. "We've got the grit to +stick to the job to the bitter end, and grit wins the day every time. +Hurry up there with that other pail; and tell them to find some more, if +they can. Anything will do that can hold water. We've just _got_ to put +this thing out! That's the way, Landy; you did a good job that time!" + +Those words of praise did more to inspire new faith and confidence in +the heart of the almost exhausted fat boy than anything else could have +done. He seemed to pluck up fresh courage, braced himself to his task, +and even grinned at Elmer, although it was a sickly attempt at a smile. + +Landy was, indeed, a sight just then. He was wet to the skin with +perspiration and spilled water from the creek. Besides, his usually +jolly face was streaked with a series of queer marks, where the black +smoke had found lodgment, and been ground in every time he drew his +sleeve across his smarting eyes. + +But then the others were little better off, though possibly they did not +feel the terrible heat quite so much as the stout youth. Regardless of +the damage to their clothes they labored faithfully on, determined that +the Hickory Ridge troop was bound to receive new honor because of what +they did at the Brady fire. + +Seconds had merged into minutes, and Elmer's anxiety grew to an alarming +extent. What if poor Ty had, indeed, fallen in the midst of that smoke +and was lying there now in the house helpless? + +It was a terrible thought, and made him shiver, even though at the time +he was also burning with the heat. Suffocation was just as bad as the +fire itself; and Elmer began to argue with himself that perhaps it was +his sacred duty to rush into the house in the endeavor to find Ty. + +He looked at Landy and Ted with almost pity in his eyes, and yet at that +moment the young patrol leader was proud of his chums. Never had there +been a test of endurance where the stake meant so much. If they could +save the Brady home surely that were far better than any prize which +might have fallen to their prowess because of a great hike, or a +swimming distance match! + +Suddenly he heard Landy give a shrill yell. + +"There he is, Elmer! Hurrah for Ty!" + +The fat boy was pointing a trembling finger upward; and following its +general direction Elmer saw a head thrust forth from a certain window in +the second story. + +Ty did not seem disposed to pay the slightest attention to his chums, +though the three of them stood there waving their hands and shouting. He +was beckoning wildly to the little girl who had been standing near by +all the while, with her eager eyes riveted on the window above, just as +though she expected a miracle to be wrought in her favor. + +When Ty's head poked into view as through a curtain, for eddies of smoke +were all around the scout, the child began to dance up and down, and +clap her hands. At that moment Ty Collins came nearer to being a real +hero in the eyes of a girl than ever before in all his life. + +"Come closer!" he shouted, and as she did so, he continued: "Where did +you say Bennie was, up here? Is this the room?" + +"Yes, yes," she replied, nodding her head at the same time, as if in +fear lest he might not hear her childish voice in the midst of so much +noise, with women calling, and newcomers asking questions as they +reached the scene. + +"Where did you leave him?" demanded the intrepid rescuer. + +"Over in the corner--the box on the floor--Bennie was naughty, and he +had to be punished!" she cried at the top of her shrill voice. + +Ty immediately disappeared, while his three chums below waited with +astonishment written on their faces, not knowing what it all meant. + +"Did you hear that, Elmer?" demanded Landy, plucking at the wet sleeve +of the other. "She said the baby was in a box! Don't that beat the +Dutch, though? Whatever could she have been thinking of to do such a +thing?" + +"It wath the thillieth ever!" declared Ted, "thtuffing a baby in a box +jutht like he wath a rag doll!" + +"Hold on and see," said Elmer, who must have had some sort of suspicion +as to the true state of affairs. + +All eyes were riveted on that window. Seconds passed as before, and the +boys began to get nervous again because Ty failed to appear. Had he +found the baby really smothered? Was he attempting to carry the poor +little darling down the stairs through all that dreadful smoke? + +"Oh, look! look!" cried Landy. + +There was no need of his saying this, because everyone near by had been +watching that window eagerly, and no doubt saw what was happening just +as quickly as the fat boy did; but then Landy was so worked up with +excitement that he could not restrain himself. + +Yes, Ty was there in full sight again. This time he was leaning from the +window, and seemed to be holding something in his arms. + +"Hold on there, Ty," shouted Ted, feeling a thrill of horror, as he +fancied his fellow scout must be about to heave the poor little innocent +darling from that second story window, in the hope of somebody catching +it before it could reach the ground. "Give uth a thanthe to get under +firtht." + +"Yes, hold your horses, old fellow!" panted Landy, as he started forward +with outstretched arms. + +But, singular to say, Ty seemed to pay little or no attention to their +demands; though Elmer was sure he could see a broad grin on the +blackened face of the one who leaned out of the window to get away from +the smoke. + +"Here, take your baby, little girl!" he shouted hoarsely, as he began to +lower away on a strange rope, which Elmer decided he must have made by +tearing a sheet into long strips, and tying these together. + +Something came down, foot by foot--something that struggled, and made +frantic attempts at getting free from the encircling rope. + +"Wow! it's a pup!" shrieked the astonished Landy. + +"Well, I do declare!" echoed Ted. + +Elmer laughed aloud, as he started once more at the task of emptying +several buckets that had meanwhile arrived at the end of the human +chain. For wise Elmer had guessed the truth before the moment when the +other two made their discovery. + +The little girl darted forward and snatched the small woolly dog up the +moment it touched the ground. She began to hug "Bennie" with all the +ardor of an indulgent little mistress; and, then freeing him from the +torn sheet, ran off toward the women as if to show her recovered prize +to her mother. + +"Now come down yourself, Ty!" shouted Elmer. "Don't you think of going +back by way of the stairs, d'ye hear?" + +Ty waved his hand. Perhaps his voice was utterly gone by this time, +thanks to the smoke and his exertions. They saw him swing out of the +window; and Elmer understood from this that at least the scout had +considerable power left in his arms and lower limbs. + +Now his feet were on a little ledge that ran along the face of the house +above the lower windows. Ty had noticed that a shutter was partly open +and meant to make use of this in his descent. It was a clever idea, and +did the boy great credit in the way of judgment. A veteran fireman, +accustomed to such things, could hardly have conceived a better plan of +campaign. + +Once his feet were planted on top of this, Ty gave a sudden move, and +they saw him slipping down until his ready hands caught the upper edge +of the heavy blind. After that he dropped to the ground in a heap, to +quickly stagger to his feet once more. + +"Hurrah for Ty!" shouted Landy, making the high sign of fellowship in +the direction of his chum; for he was too busily engaged just then to +think of abandoning his buckets in order to rush to Ty's side so as to +shake hands with the hero of the occasion. + +What if it was only a miserable little woolly pup that he had managed to +save from possible destruction; it would have been all the same had it +been the real baby that the child had given him to understand was in +peril. And Ty need never feel ashamed of his brave act. It shed new +luster on the name of the Hickory Ridge Boy Scout troop; and Elmer was +determined that when the account was written up, there should be no hint +of humor in the same that might reflect in any way on Ty's act. + +Immediately Ty got busy again, and proceeded to fight the fire with +renewed vigor, though the poor fellow did look as though he had almost +reached the end of his resources. Twice did Elmer tell him to drop out, +and try to recover; but for once Ty refused to obey orders, under the +plea that, as they were not really in uniform, it was not obligatory on +his part. + +"Now something is going to happen!" said Landy, as he brushed past Elmer +while warmly engaged; and at the same time he pointed across the open +space to where a party of stout farm hands had burst into view, running +as fast as they could toward the fire. + +"More bucketh coming, boyth!" called Ted, who had seen that each one of +the newcomers was armed with at least one big pail; which fact proved +that they must have suspected the cause of the wild alarm before they +left home, and had provided in this wise manner against a dearth of +vessels for fighting the flames. + +When those fellows got busy, hurrying up from the friendly creek, each +with a fresh supply of energy, and a pair of big buckets that were +filled to the brim with the liquid so needful in order to check the +spread of the flames, things began to look more cheerful. + +"Now we've got it on the run, fellows!" cried Landy, almost hysterical +through sheer weakness, and his grim determination not to give up so +long as he could put one foot before the other. + +"Thay, look at that giant bringing a wath boiler full of water at a +time!" exclaimed the delighted Ted, almost forgetting to lisp, so great +was his excitement. "When he geth thtarted, it'th good-by to the old +fire. Whoop! hear it thizzle, would you! Hit it again, mithter; it never +will be mithed! Now it'th your turn, Elmer. One, two, three, and thet +'em up again in the other alley! We win, boyth, we win!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +HOW THE SCOUTS WON OUT. + + +THE newcomers, whose coming the boys had noted with pleasure, certainly +showed signs of knowing how to fight a fire in the country. In the first +place, they had brought their tools of trade along with them, in the +shape of buckets. Doubtless they remembered that on former occasions the +fire had gained headway simply on account of a lack of receptacles for +water. + +Then they knew the brook, and that an abundance of water could be had +for the taking. Last of all every man was full of vim, judging from the +way they started in to whoop things up. + +Besides, their coming seemed to invigorate those already on the ground, +and who, by reason of long service, were nearly exhausted. + +"'Everybody's doin' it,' fellers!" gasped Landy, as he staggered forward +with his sixteenth bucket, and gave the contents a fling. + +"It'th a burning thame, what we're doing to that old fire, don't you +know?" laughed Ted, who followed close on the fat boy's heels. + +"Keep it going another round, boys," shouted Elmer; "and by that time, I +reckon, there won't be any more need of water. We've saved the house, +even if it is damaged a little with water and smoke and fire. That's the +ticket, Ty; you're making a record worth while to-day, old fellow! Once +more to the breach; then it's rest for yours." + +"All out!" cried Landy, in another minute, as he dropped his bucket and +sank in a limp heap on the ground, a sight that would have caused his +good mother to throw up her hands in horror. + +But Landy was proud of having had a chance to prove his right to the +name of a Hickory Ridge Boy Scout. He grinned, and looked particularly +happy; for he knew that when the history of the saving of the Brady home +was written, his name would surely have a place of honor among those who +participated in the good work. + +By this time there were fully forty people present. How the news got +abroad it would be hard to say. Some of the farmers in that neighborhood +had telephones, and in this way it may have been passed along the line; +but there were many other methods in which the fire could have made +itself manifest. + +New people kept arriving every few minutes; while a few went away again +to attend to the urgent business of getting in their late crops. + +The four scouts remained in a bunch, talking matters over, and trying to +recover a little from their tremendous exertions before returning to the +camp. + +"Thay, how d'ye thuppothe the old thing got thtarted?" Ted asked, with +the natural curiosity of a boy. + +"That's so," echoed Landy. "It must have been an accident don't you +think, Elmer?" for even in such a matter as this they seemed to turn to +the patrol leader for information. + +"I'm sure I can't say, fellows," replied Elmer. "At this time in the +morning the hands on a farm are out in the fields, and the women washing +up the breakfast things. Perhaps they've got a gasoline stove here, and +somebody was careless. It happens now and then." + +"But here comes Mr. Brady over this way; he may know what started the +old blaze," remarked Ty. + +"Looks kind of smiling," ventured Landy; "which I take it is some +singular for a gentleman whose house has pretty near gone up in smoke. +Tell you what, I know why he's heading this way, fellows." + +"Then thay it right out, Landy," remarked Ted, who had noted how the fat +boy looked toward Ty and grinned. + +"He's coming with a handful of thanks for our brave chum here, on +account of how he saved the little Brady girl's darling baby, Bennie," +said Landy. + +"Huh!" snorted Ty, "I did my best, anyhow, and that's all any fellow c'n +do. How was I to know it was only a silly little purp, and not a real +human being? Didn't she call it the baby? Laugh all you want, Landy; but +all I c'n say is that I reckon anyone of you fellers would have done +just as bad." + +"And that's as fine a compliment as you could pay us, Ty!" declared +Elmer, heartily. "As for me, I want to say right here and now that I'm +proud of the way you went into that burning house, thinking that a poor +little baby was in danger. In my mind it's just as if you had done what +you meant to; and I'm glad to own you as a chum. Never mind if some +fellows try to have a little fun out of it; they don't mean anything by +it. But here's Mr. Brady." + +The farmer was a heavy-set man in the prime of life. He, too, had worked +hard in the effort to save his house; but despite his anxiety and +fatigue, he approached the four scouts with kindling eyes and an +outstretched hand. + +"I want to shake hands with every one of you boys," he said, earnestly. +"Only for you coming when you did, and takin' hold with such a vim, I +guess the old Brady farmhouse would have gone up that time. I see you +all wear trousers and leggings that say you belong to the Hickory Ridge +Boy Scouts; and make sure that I don't mean to forget this. I want the +name of every one of you, and I'm going to make it a point to see your +folks, to tell them what reason they've got to be proud of having such +boys in the family." + +The way that horny hand of the farmer squeezed those of the boys told +that he meant every word he uttered. Landy winced under the pressure, +and came very near crying out for mercy; only he remembered that this +would not seem just right, when they were at the time being complimented +on their manly qualities. + +"We're only too glad that we happened to be coming over to your place at +just the right time, Mr. Brady," remarked Elmer. "If we'd been at our +camp, perhaps we might not have known of the fire until it was too late +to do much good." + +"Coming to see me, the four of you, were you?" said the other, looking a +trifle curious. "What could I do for you, boys? All you have to do is to +mention it: after your noble work this morning I guess it'd be hard for +me to refuse any favor." + +"But you see, sir," Landy exclaimed, "we didn't want to ask a favor. +Fact is, we wanted to do you one, perhaps." + +"I have been looking around, Mr. Brady," observed Elmer, "and I failed +to see your two new hands working to save the house--the short man and +his tall mate." + +Immediately the face of the farmer darkened, and they saw his hands +close with a movement that seemed to speak of anger. + +"No, you didn't, my lad, and for a very good reason," he said, +breathing hard. "They turned out to be a pair of rascals. My daughter +caught them in the act of robbing the house this very morning. I had +sent them out into a field back of the barns, and they knew that with my +son and the horses I expected to go to another part of the farm. So they +waited till the coast was clear, and then sneaked back to the house, +entering through a window when the women folks were busy in the kitchen +and dairy." + +"Oh!" gasped Landy, who had not dreamed that this could be the +explanation of the fire; "then they must have been caught in the act, +and did it for revenge?" + +"Just what they did," replied Mr. Brady, with his teeth gritting in +anger. "My oldest daughter just happened to go upstairs, and ran across +them turning things upside down in the search for valuables. She +screamed, and knowing that the rest of the women folks must have heard +the row, the scoundrels deliberately put matches to things, and then, +jumping from the windows, made off, laughing." + +"Did they steal much from you, Mr. Brady?" asked Ty. + +"That I don't know yet, because the fire took up all my attention as +soon as I got on the ground. And I don't bother much about what they +took, I'm that thankful about saving my house, and that nobody was +hurt," the farmer went on. + +"Not even little Bennie," murmured Landy; though Elmer gave him a +reproachful look. + +"Well, sir," the patrol leader went on, "it happens that we were just on +our way here to warn you about your new hands. One of our troop arrived +in camp last night, and told us a story about two tramps trying to wreck +the express train; and that the officers of several towns were looking +for them. When he described the fellows some of us thought the two new +hands might be the ones who were wanted." + +"Yes," Ty spoke up, "and if Elmer had had his way we'd have come to see +you last night; but the rest of the bunch, being lazy or tired, voted to +wait till morning. Elmer knew best; he nearly always does." + +"Well," the farmer went on, "it was nice of you to think of giving me +warning any time; and mighty lucky that you were on your way here when +the fire started. Only for that there would be a heap of ruins here, +instead of my old house, which has been in the family many generations." + +"You say the two men ran away, Mr. Brady?" remarked Elmer, who felt more +or less curiosity concerning their movements. + +"So the women folks say," came the reply. "Connie, my girl, the one who +came on them while they were turning things upside down, looking under +the mattresses of the beds for money, and even under the edges of the +carpets. She says they ran toward the barns. But I had the horses with +me, so they didn't find a mount." + +"Thay, perhapth they're hiding right now over there in the haymow, or +thomewhere!" suggested Ted. + +"Oh, my goodness! That would be too good a thing, wouldn't it?" cried +Landy, scrambling to his feet, part of his weariness seeming to leave +him at the prospect of new excitement. + +"I never thought of that, now," said the farmer. "The rascals might have +made up their minds that, after all the excitement was over, another +chance would crop up to do some clever robbery. Perhaps I'd be wise to +get some of the men together, and take a look through the barns." + +"Wait a minute, Mr. Brady," said Elmer. "Because, unless I miss my +guess, yonder comes a car that holds some men in uniforms, and they may +turn out to be officers from Hickory Ridge, Fairfield, or some other +place, looking for information about these very two men." + +"Bully! Wouldn't that just be the best thing ever, to think of their +happening here when we need them so much," remarked Landy, staring at +the coming ear. + +"They must have been passing by when they met some of the neighbors +going home, and learned of the fire," ventured Mr. Brady, who made a +motion with his arm to attract the attention of the big, pompous-looking +officer who was getting out of the automobile. + +"I know who he is," remarked Ty. "That's the head of the police over at +Fairfield. His name is Benchley. I've talked with him more'n once. Why, +he used to run some sort of auction shop before they made him the chief +over there. And here he comes to interview us. My! Just get on to his +strut, will you, fellows?" + +"Everybody look out how you talk when he's around!" exclaimed Landy. "He +looks as if he'd like to pinch everybody around, and slap 'em into the +cooler, just to beep his hand in." + +But Mr. Brady had stepped out to meet the man in uniform. + +"What's been going on here, mister?" asked the officer, with a heavy +frown in the direction of the four boys; as though he might be so +accustomed to having his share of trouble with the untamed youths of +Fairfield and Cramertown, that he naturally came to the conclusion, when +anything went wrong, in most cases, it could be traced back to the +depravity of the rising generation. + +Evidently Mr. Benchley was always at war with the boys of his town, +which was one of the greatest mistakes the head of the police force +could make. In Hickory Ridge they managed things better, for the chief +there had long since won the respect of most of the lads, who knew they +had a good friend in the head of the force. + +"Been having a fire; but we were fortunate enough to get it under +control before much damage had been done," replied Mr. Brady. + +"Did these chaps have anything to do with it?" demanded the pompous man +in uniform, again frowning at Elmer and his chums. + +"Sure they did, a whole lot," replied the farmer. + +"Then you want them taken in, I reckon," interrupted the officer, +bracing himself, as though he might be ready to sweep the four scouts +into his car without further ceremony. + +"Taken in?" repeated Mr. Brady. "Well, I should say not. When I agreed +with you that these lads had had considerable to do with the fire I +meant that only for the grand work they did, my house would have burned +to the ground!" + +"Then they didn't set the blaze going?" growled the big man. "Who did, +then?" + +"Two men I engaged yesterday as farm hands; and from what I hear I +believe they are the very scoundrels you are looking for this minute," +the farmer replied. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SEARCHING THE HAY BARN. + + +"SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the +farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears. + +"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday +must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. +Brady. + +"Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a +bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place. + +"One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong. +When I saw what he could lift I thought I'd run across a good hand, +though I own that I didn't just like his face; but at this time of year +farmers can't be choosers, 'cause help is mighty scarce." + +"Did he have a scar on his right cheek?" asked the pompous chief of +police, as he kept his eyes on his notebook. + +"That's just what he did have; told me he had been caught once by a +reaper, and just escaped with his life!" answered Mr. Brady promptly. + +"So. And did you happen to notice his left hand, was the upper joint of +his little finger missing?" the officer continued, in a sing-song tone. + +"It certainly was," replied the farmer, nodding; "he explained that in +the same way; and I agreed with him that he was lucky to lose only so +small a piece, when he had the mower catch him, as the horses ran +away." + +"Settled then; that was Shorty McCabe beyond all doubt," remarked the +official. "Now how about his companion? Was he tall?" + +"Half again as big a man as the other," replied Mr. Brady. + +"Squint with one of his eyes; and talk as if he had his mouth filled +with hot mush?" continued Chief Benchley. + +"You have described him to a dot," answered the other, quickly. + +"Then I have the honor to inform you, sir, that the men who were lately +in your employ are the identical criminals we happen to be looking for +at this very minute." + +"I guessed as much," dryly remarked Mr. Brady; who, it seemed to Elmer, +had sized the important official at his true value, which, as Landy +afterwards declared, was very much along the line of a "bag of wind." + +"Please produce them, and we will see to it that they give you no +further worry," remarked the officer. + +"I only wish I could, sir; but the fact is, that after being caught +robbing the house by one of my family, while my grown son and myself +were in the fields, they set fire to things, and then ran off," the +farmer replied. + +"That is bad," remarked the policeman, sadly. "I had thought you might +have tied the rascals up, and that we could relieve you of their care. +Can you tell me in what direction they fled, sir?" + +"Toward the barns, my daughter says," Mr. Brady replied. + +"Evidently with the design of securing horses, and continuing their +flight," said the big man in blue, as though these things were only for +the practical mind of a man of long experience. + +"Hardly that, sir," the farmer observed. + +"How do you know?" asked Chief Benchley, frowning at the idea of a mere +countryman venturing to differ with him. + +"Because they knew in the first place that I only have two horses just +now, and both of them were being used by my son and myself out in +another field, some distance away from the house. But one of these +wide-awake lads has suggested that perhaps they meant to conceal +themselves in the haymow, or about the barns somewhere, in the hope that +after all the excitement blew over, another chance might open up to +search my house for the money they need to make a get-away." + +The big man in blue wagged his head as he considered this piece of +information. + +"Well, now, that might be worth looking into; it isn't such a bad idea +for a boy to think up. Perhaps we'd better take a look through the barn, +and make sure. Whether we find them there or not, make up your mind the +game's nearly up for the rascals. When they get Benchley hot on the +trail, they're going to cash in and start for the pen in short order. +Lead the way to the barn, then, mister. What did you say your name was?" + +"I didn't mention it, but I'm Silas Brady. I was just going to get some +of the neighbors, and make the search myself when you hove in sight, Mr. +Benchley. But of course I'd be only too glad to have you take entire +charge, for your long experience in such things will be of great +advantage to us," and catching the eye of Elmer just then, Mr. Brady +gave him a sly wink. + +But the pompous man in blue did not see this. He swelled out a little +more, until Landy privately informed Ty that he made him think of a +proud pouter pigeon he had at home, which threatened to burst every +time it strutted around, with its lungs filled with air. + +As they started off toward the barn the officer made a sweeping motion +with his arm that was apparently understood by the three who had come +with him in the car, for they immediately headed as if to join him. + +The farmer also spoke to quite a number of husky fellows whom he knew as +neighbors; so that there was a general exodus from the vicinity of the +house toward the out-buildings of the place. + +As the word was passed from mouth to mouth the brawny farmers began to +show some signs of excitement. One of them picked up a stout cudgel, +which he gripped in a way to indicate that he anticipated using the same +in case of necessity; seeing which the others started to also arm +themselves. + +It was quite a formidable force that began to surround the barn and +cowsheds. + +"Wow!" exclaimed Landy, who had also snatched up a wagon spoke upon +which his eye had alighted, and seemed eager for the fray; "countin' the +four Fairfield cops, we're just sixteen good and true men. My eye! won't +Shorty and Lanky Jim throw up their hands when they see what they're up +against!" + +"If they get just one look at that Benchley," said Ty in a low tone, +"they'll nearly drop dead. Say, just see him strut around, would you? He +couldn't put on more frills if he was a major-general, directing the +Battle of Gettysburg. This is as good as a circus, fellows, and I +wouldn't have missed it for a heap." + +"Thame here," chuckled Ted. "And I wath jutht wondering how he'd act if +that hard faced little fighter, Thorty, would pop out of a hole and jump +him. Thix to one you'd hear that big gath-bag holler for help like a +calf. I know hith breed, boyth." + +Elmer did not make any remark; but if that little smile on his face +stood for anything it meant that the others voiced his sentiments pretty +clearly. + +The surrounding of the out-buildings was now complete. Chief Benchley +made the round, stationing every man afresh as though he did not want to +lose the slightest bit of credit for managing the affair. He was in his +glory, and looked as though the chance of a lifetime were now within his +grasp. + +He had reserved several men to assist him in making the search. Among +these, two of his officers and the farmer himself were to be seen. And +as the official had scorned to place boys on guard, because of the poor +opinion he had of them in general, Elmer and his chums were enabled to +trail into the barn after the searching party, an opportunity they did +not neglect to avail themselves of. + +Twice did the pompous official turn a questioning eye toward them, as +though he might be inclined to order them out; but on second thought he +changed his mind, and said nothing. As the scouts would have declined to +pay any attention to his orders, perhaps after all the Fairfield head of +police was wise not to attempt anything of the kind. + +The Brady barns were unusually large, even for a big farm. As quite a +quantity of hay was stored here, waiting until the market price rose in +the winter, extensive space was needed; though there were also three or +four immense haystacks in the rear of the buildings, as well as one of +straw, left when the threshing machine had passed through, and the oat +crop had been attended to during the summer. + +"If anybody comes across any sign of the culprits, call out, and the +rest of us will hurry to the spot. Just shout out the words, 'Here they +are,' and we will understand," the officer had said, as the party +entered the big barn. + +Then began a scene of bustle, as men went this way and that, poking +about for signs of those who were supposed to be in hiding. + +Of course all this could not be done without causing more or less +racket; and if the two tramps were close by they must have discovered +what was taking place early in the hunt. + +Elmer kept his three scout chums with him. + +"We'll hunt in a bunch, fellows," he had declared. "The Chief doesn't +want us around him, so we'll look in other places. Perhaps we can get +trace of the ones we're looking for." + +"I just bet on you to figure it out, Elmer," remarked the confident +Landy. + +"Shucks; Elmer could give that big bluffer all the handicap going, and +then beat him out. He don't know beans, that's what," snorted Ty, +looking scornfully over to where the important party in uniform was +walking about, giving orders in a loud and consequential tone. + +"Tell uth what to do, Elmer," said Ted; "and we'll poke into every rat +hole in th' old plathe." + +"One thing's sure," the patrol leader went on, as he looked thoughtfully +about him, "if they made up their minds to hide here, then they must +have tunneled under the hay, because that is the best of places for +staying concealed." + +"I second that motion," declared Ty, nodding his head. + +"And so we must keep on the watch for any signs of a hole under the +hay," Elmer continued, as he ran his eye along the base of the mow close +by. + +"Huh! looks to me like hunting for a needle in a haystack!" declared Ty, +after they had been industriously at work for several minutes, without +any success. + +"Only one needle this time; the other's a blunt-headed pin," chuckled +Landy. + +Ted began to sniff the air. + +"Thought I thmelled thmoke," he announced as Elmer looked at him +suspiciously. + +"Well, considering what has happened here lately," remarked Ty, "seems +to me that wouldn't be so very queer. I'm just soaked with it, and +expect to smell smoke for a month of Sundays." + +"But I thmell new thmoke!" Ted continued, positively. + +"He's right, fellows; and I'm of the same opinion," Elmer went on to +say. + +Landy gave a short whistle. + +"Smoke, did you say, Elmer?" he exclaimed. "My stars, boys! what if the +hoboes have set fire now to the old barn? Say, what a blaze she would +make, with all this hay stored here. Me to let them pigs out of the sty +if it happens. It would be a shame to have roast pork when they're only +part grown." + +"Do you really mean it, Elmer?" asked Ty, apparently appalled by the +thought of the terrible consequences that must follow, should the pair +of desperate rascals go to extremes. + +"It seems to be getting stronger all the while," observed the patrol +leader, "and look at Mr. Brady; he is sniffing the air right now, as if +he didn't like it any too well. I reckon he's got the same idea I have; +which is that the men are in hiding here, and being afraid that they +will be found have started a fire to cover their escape. See, Mr. Brady +is telling the Fairfield policemen his suspicions now, and you can see +that he's given him a start too." + +"What a shame it will be if the barn goes, with all this hay," said +Landy. + +"Oh, Mr. Brady's got it all insured, I reckon," ventured Ty. "Farmers +are smart enough these days to look out for that. But it'll make a high +old blaze if it gets started, I tell you, fellows." + +"But won't the thilly foolth be thetting the match to their own funeral +pyre?" demanded Ted. + +"Not by a jugful," chuckled Landy. "Ten to one they fixed all that +before; and even made their old tunnel under the hay. But that smoke is +sure getting heavier all the time, boys; and look there, ain't that the +fire yonder? It is, as sure as you live! Good-by to the old barn, and +this fine crop of hay. Say, look at it jump, will you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE CAPTURE OF THE TRAMPS. + + +ELMER saw at a glance that what his comrade had declared was really +true. And a loud shout from one of the searching men announced that he +too had discovered the fire. + +Tremendous excitement seized upon the whole party, for they could +readily surmise that this new conflagration was not the result of a +smoldering spark, but that it had a meaning all its own. The two +desperate hoboes must have started the second blaze with the same idea +in view that had urged them to put the match to the farmhouse--to divert +attention while they slipped away. + +That was what Elmer thought. And when most of the men rushed toward the +place where the fire was already burning fiercely amidst the hay, he +thought it good policy to turn his attention to another quarter. + +It had flashed across his mind just then that as they passed around the +barn he had noticed a board off, with the hay sticking out of the hole. +And now it came to him what a splendid way of escape that same hole +would prove, did a tunnel under the hay lead to it. + +The watchers outside had been summoned by the loud cries of those +within, and as they came rushing through the wide open doors with the +intention of trying to put down the spreading fire, Elmer saw that the +very condition which those hunted hoboes must have wanted had been +brought about. + +Outside, the way to escape was clear, so far as brawny men went. If +Lanky Jim and Shorty could only wriggle along under the hay until they +arrived at that place where the board was missing, they had an open +field before them, and flight meant a chance to reach the shelter of the +woods beyond the fields. + +"Come with me, and be quick about it, fellows," said Elmer, in his most +thrilling tone; at which Landy's big eyes opened wider than customary, +ditto his mouth. + +The other three trailed along at his heels, wondering what he could have +in his mind. When all the men were gathering in the barn, with the idea +of trying to fight the fire, it seemed strange that Elmer should lead +them outside, and away from the excitement. + +But then by this time those fellows understood that the patrol leader +never did anything without having some good and substantial reason for +it. And they were, as a rule, ready to follow blindly wherever he chose +to lead, leaving the asking of questions until a better chance opened +up. + +Had Doubting George been present, possibly he might have tried to quiz +Elmer ere he yielded full obedience; but then even George must learn +that one of the first duties of a true scout is to exhibit implicit +subjection to authority. + +In this fashion then did Elmer lead his three chums around the outside +of the big barn. They could hear the shouts of those who were fighting +the flames within; but Elmer knew only too well that the chances of the +new fire being subdued were small indeed. Hay burns with frightful +rapidity; and no buckets were handy at the moment. + +Turning, as he drew near the place where the board had been torn from +the back of the barn, he made a motion with his finger that seemed to +call for silence. The other fellows almost held their breath with +suspense, still in doubt as to what Elmer meant to do; although they +began to suspect that he must have conceived an idea looking to the +confusion of the incendiaries. + +When he pointed straight at the place where some of the new hay was +sticking out, Landy's blackened face lighted up with intelligence. + +"He means they're expecting to crawl out right here," he whispered in +the ear of Ty, who was close beside him. + +The other made a suggestive movement with the club he had picked up, and +by which action he meant that it would please him very much if only he +had the opportunity to bring it down upon the head of Shorty, or his +long-legged mate. + +Then they all turned their eyes again on Elmer, expecting him to tell +just what he wanted them to do. They saw the patrol leader pick up a +piece of rope that happened to be lying handy, and fashion a slip-noose +with it. During his life up in that big country of the Canadian +Northwest, Elmer had seen many things which he would never be apt to +forget as long as he lived. And, among others, he had once watched the +mounted police capture a half-breed fugitive from justice, fastening his +hands together behind his back in a clever way, which possibly he might +now have a chance to imitate. + +"Here, take this, Ty," he said, in a low tone, as he handed the noosed +rope over to the one nearest to him. "When I whip the fellow's arms +behind his back, make sure that you get that loop around them, and pull +tight! Understand?" + +Ty nodded his head vigorously, not daring to trust himself to speech. +Things were happening so fast and furious that really he hardly knew +whether he might be awake, or else asleep and dreaming them. + +Of course both Landy and Ted had also caught the significance of the +movement, and were ready to do whatever they were told. Elmer made +motions to give them to understand that he wanted them to range up on +the other side of the hole in the side of the barn, and await +developments, while he and Ty crouched as close to the boards across the +way as possible. + +Landy was heard to chuckle while this was going on. Perhaps something +about the situation reminded the fat boy of other occasions, when he and +some of his mates had endeavored to clutch some rabbit as it came +darting out of its burrow, after a ferret had alarmed it, or a little +dog been let loose in the tunnel. But just now the game was of an +entirely different order, and Elmer frowned at Landy's merriment. + +Inside the barn the noise was redoubled. Evidently the fire-fighters +were having their hands full, with the rapid spread of the blaze. If in +the end they managed to control the conflagration, Elmer felt that he +would be surprised. According to his mind there was not one chance in +ten of such good luck coming to Mr. Brady. He had saved his house, but +his barn would very likely have to go. + +Elmer had his eyes glued on the projecting wisps of hay now. He fancied +that he had detected some little movement to them, though this might be +caused by a passing breeze; or some action on the part of the energetic +fire-fighters within. + +No, as he looked, he distinctly saw the hay move! Then there must be a +reason for this. Elmer instantly placed his hand upon the hay, and the +sense of feeling telegraphed the truth to his brain. Some object was +making a way through the mow, and evidently pushing along a tunnel that +had been previously prepared! + +He turned and put his finger to his lips, seeing which every one of the +wide-awake scouts understood what was meant. + +Imagine the strain on their nerves while they waited for the appearance +of the first tramp. Would he come along head-first, or might they expect +to see a pair of feet thrust out of the opening? + +More violently did the hay move. Whatever made the stir, it was +certainly drawing closer and closer to the spot. All eyes were glued on +the agitated dried grass, and Ty got his loop in readiness for quick +work. + +Then something was seen pushing out through the hay, which gave way +before the energetic attack. Two extra large feet, encased in brogans +that looked as though they might have covered many weary miles in their +day, came into view; proving that the man must be making a crab-like +retreat, keeping his face toward the fire. + +Perhaps fortune favored the boys, for had the man projected his head +first he might have detected their presence in time to duck in again; +though for that matter, with the fire burning briskly beyond, he would +find himself between two evils, and must sooner or later issue forth, or +be cremated in the hay barn. + +Waiting until the main part of the long-legged tramp had wriggled into +view, Elmer made a sudden gesture. The others had been waiting for this, +and instantly pounced upon the figure that lay upon the ground. + +While Ted and Landy deposited their combined weight on the fellow's +back, Elmer on his part hastened to snatch hold of his arms, and whip +them behind him almost before the tramp understood what was happening. + +Ty was waiting, and the way he slipped that loop over both hands, and +tightened it, was worth seeing. + +Having made all secure so far as things had gone, the patrol leader now +seized hold of the kicking legs, and began to pull. As the others came +to his assistance they were hardly two seconds in dragging the tramp out +of the hay mow; and thus far at least not the slightest sound had been +made calculated to betray the facts to the other rascal. + +It was not Elmer's intention to let the fellow see, just yet, at least, +that he owed his capture to a parcel of scouts. He might burst out into +a tirade, which, while it could do him no particular good, might serve +to warn the other fellow, and cause him to change his plans. + +Accordingly he motioned to Landy to sit down on him again; and then +bending low himself he pressed the end of his pocketknife against the +man's neck as he grunted into his ear: + +"Keep still, now, unless you want me to press the trigger!" + +Satisfied that Landy and Ted could manage the tied tramp, even if he +started to kick up a row, which was hardly likely, Elmer once more +turned his attention to that opening under the mow. Once again the +projecting hay was being violently agitated, and he believed the shorter +man must be following close upon his mate. + +The programme would have to be repeated, and Elmer only hoped as good +success might attend his second effort as had his first. + +It would be a big feather in the caps of the scouts could they say that +they had effected the capture of the two would-be train wreckers, alone +and unaided. But at the moment he was not thinking of such a thing as +glory; when it was a stern duty that had been suddenly thrust upon them, +and which they must not attempt to evade under any circumstances, if +they wished to be true to the principles of the organization to which +they belonged. + +Shorty, however, must have managed to change his position in some +manner, if so be he had started along the tunnel in the same crab-like +method of procedure which his comrade had employed. For the first thing +they knew a frowsy head had been thrust out of the hay, and a pair of +eyes were blinking up at them. + +Elmer was afraid lest the fellow draw back upon seeing what awaited him, +just as a tortoise will pull in its head at signs of danger. +Accordingly, he was determined not to allow such a thing to happen. +True, with the advancing fire Shorty would speedily have to decide which +fate he must choose; but that might mean he would yield himself a +prisoner to the Fairfield police; and Elmer wanted the Boy Scouts to get +all the credit possible. + +On this account, then, he pounced on the man, and gripped him by the +shoulders. Elmer was himself far from a weakling, and the man happened +to be taken very much by surprise; so that before he could collect his +wits sufficiently to make any show of defense, he found himself out on +the ground, with a couple of energetic young fellows hovering over him. + +Ty, not having a second rope handy, had snatched up his club again. When +he saw that the shorter rascal was starting to make a move, as though +intending to get to his feet, when trouble must have followed, Ty waved +the wagon spoke threateningly over his head, as he yelled excitedly: + +"Lie down, you, 'less you want me to let her fall! Stretch out and roll +over on your face, d'ye hear? Quick, now, keep amovin'! 'Everybody's +doin' it,' you know. Now, Elmer, if you only had another piece of +string handy, there's a good chance to snug him up good and tight." + +Elmer did not have the cord or the rope; but all the same he was equal +to the demands of the occasion. He snatched his big red bandana +handkerchief from around his neck. He had seen such useful articles +serve strange purposes before; and why should this one not take the +place of a rope? + +So he whipped it quickly around the thick wrists of the man, almost +before the fellow could get it through his head what had happened. + +"Now, let's pull them farther away from here, because the barn's going +to be a hot place pretty soon," Elmer remarked. + +Seizing hold, two to each prisoner, the boys succeeded in dragging them +some little distance off. Meanwhile some one had noticed what they were +doing, and presently the Fairfield Police head came running out of the +barn, rubbing his smarting eyes, and, coming upon the little party, +stopped to stare in astonishment. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +GOOD-BY TO THE SWEETWATER. + + +"WHAT are you doing to those fellows, boys?" demanded the champion of +law and order; from which remark it was plain to be seen that the smoke +had affected the eyes of the police officer to such an extent that he +had failed to recognize the culprits, and possibly believed the boys +were only carrying on high among themselves, as boys over in his town +frequently did, to the unhappiness of the constables. + +"We just took a notion to prevent them from escaping, sir," remarked +Elmer. "And if you think you can hold them, we're willing to turn them +over into your charge, in the presence of Mr. Brady here and the +others." + +A group began to cluster around them, most of the men rubbing their +smarting eyes. Already did they realize the uselessness of trying to put +up a fight against the flames that were spreading resistlessly amid the +hay. + +"Well, I declare if it ain't the two hands that worked for me, and then +tried to rob my house, setting it on fire as they ran away!" declared +Mr. Brady, as he got a good look at the prostrate men. + +"Do you mean to say these are the fugitives I have been chasing, the +desperate yeggmen named Shorty McCabe and Lanky Jim Smith?" cried the +police head. + +"That's just who they are, sir," replied Elmer. + +"But where did you find them?" demanded the other, hardly willing to +believe the plain evidence of his eyes and ears. + +"As soon as I knew they had set fire to the hay I guessed it was only +meant to draw attention to that quarter while they slipped away. I've +seen that game played more than once out West, sir," Elmer remarked, +modestly. + +"And it was a fact, was it; they did try to steal off?" questioned the +other. + +"We found a place where there was a board off the barn, and Elmer, he +expected that was the way they'd come out," said Ty, breaking in; for he +just wanted this consequential personage to understand that he did not +know so very much after all, in spite of his splendid uniform and that +wonderful strut. + +"Which same they did, all right," spoke up Landy, "and then, you see, we +just sat on 'em. Reckon the long feller must 'a' thought a mountain had +caved in when I dropped on his back." + +"Will you take charge of the prisoners, Mr. Benchley?" asked Elmer. + +"That's what we're here for, young fellow; though, as a rule we don't +much fancy boys interfering with the pursuit of justice," answered the +other, who did not look any too happy over the way things had turned +out. + +Elmer, on his part, was fully satisfied Mr. Brady and a number of the +others had crowded around, astonished at the turn matters had taken, and +staring at the two prisoners. They would be in a position to prove, +should it be necessary at any time in the future, that the scouts had +indeed effected the capture of the hunted train wreckers, without any +assistance from the police. + +And as for Shorty and Lanky Jim, it would not be polite to tell what +they thought and said when they discovered that their captors were +merely four half-grown boys. Perhaps on first seeing the khaki trousers +and leggings of the scouts they may have labored under the impression +that the militia had been called out to ran them down; and this would +account for the meekness shown all along. + +The barn was now in the grasp of the fire. They could see the billows of +flame leaping upward; and a dense black smoke began to rise. + +"This is tough luck, Mr. Brady," said Landy, after the officers had +fastened some shining steel ornaments to the wrists of their prisoners, +and led them over to the waiting car. "After saving your house by a +close shave, it's hard to have your barn and hay go up in smoke." + +But the farmer did not seem to be very deeply concerned. + +"Barn's insured; and it's an old one at that," he remarked, with a half +smile; "and as luck would have it, I sold all the hay in there just last +week, for cash! The man who bought it took out insurance, I believe. But +you boys have certainly covered yourselves with a lot of glory this +morning. First, saving my house, and then capturing those tough +characters. I consider that I'm getting off mighty cheap. Hope some of +you fellows will take a notion to camp up this way more times than a +few. It pays to have Boy Scouts around. That's been my experience, +anyhow." + +"Well, how about milk, Mr. Brady?" asked Elmer. + +"We brought that tin bucket along, but it's mixed up with all the rest +now. Suppose we could get one of your women folks to go to the milk +house with all this excitement on?" + +"Why, any one of 'em would be only too proud to do such a little thing +for the brave boys who worked so hard to save a roof over their heads. +And don't think, young fellow," the farmer added, turning on the +confused Ty, suddenly, "that we don't appreciate what you did, just +because it turned out to be a pup instead of a baby. That was as bold a +thing as ever I saw done. If I had any boys about your age, I'd make +sure that they joined the scout movement before they were a week older. +Seems like it cultivates the best there is in a lad." + +All of the boys glowed with pleasure at hearing these hearty words. + +"Thank you, Mr. Brady," said Elmer. "It sure is a satisfaction to know +that you look at things that way. And we feel repaid for all we've done, +don't we, boys?" + +"It's only been a pleasure to play coon for you, Mr. Brady," grinned +Landy. + +"And I'm glad it was only a dog instead of a real baby," declared Ty, +stoutly; "'cause, you see, something might have happened to hitch my +plans, and think what a terrible thing would have happened then." + +"Come with me, boys, and I'll see that you get milk; yes, cream if you'd +prefer it. It's lucky that those haystacks happen to be as far off as +they are, and the wind is blowing away from them; because, you see, I +kept that part of the crop. Intended making a lot of repairs to the barn +after it was empty. Now I'll take the insurance money, add some more to +it, and build me a better place three times over." + +"There go Shorty and Jim," announced Landy, as the car started off for +the near-by public road. + +"And they look at us as if they could eat us alive," commented Ty. + +"I gueth thome of uth would rather thtick in their throath," remarked +Ted, gloomily. + +"What ails you, Ted?" asked Elmer, as they trailed along after Mr. +Brady. "You don't look like you were altogether happy." + +"I know," announced Landy, a little maliciously. "He just wanted to get +a chance to cut off a few arms and legs, and such things as go with a +battle. I could see it in his eyes when it looked like we were going to +have a real rumpus with them train wreckers. And it all turned out so +easy, Ted is disgusted. Ain't it so, Ted?" + +The budding surgeon of the troop shrugged his shoulders and grunted the +one word: "Rotten!" + +And those boys, who knew Ted so well, could understand something of the +wild ambition that must have fired his soul when he figured that one or +more persons must surely be seriously hurt, when the police came in +contact with the two house burners. But it had passed off, and now the +car containing prisoners and captors had gone, without even one little +blow having been struck on either side. + +"What's the sense of knowing how to bind up wounds, and do all that sort +of stunts, when nothing ever happens; that's what Ted is saying to +himself," Landy remarked, chuckling as he spoke, for he did dearly love +to poke fun at others. + +"If you keep on," said Ted, with a dark look, "there'll be a subject +forthcoming in double-quick order. But somebody'll have to sweep you up +with a broom first before I can do anything with you." + +So Landy subsided, even though of course he knew that Ted was only +"talking through his hat," as he expressed it, and for effect. + +Having procured the needed milk, the four boys returned to camp. Loud +were the lamentations of George and Adam when they learned what a great +event they had missed by not accompanying the others to the Brady home. +At first George, true to his nature, declined to believe a word of it; +but when he and Adam, urged on by curiosity to forget whatever cause +they had had for remaining in camp, hurried over to the scene of +excitement, they heard the story from numerous lips; so that the last +doubt was laid. + +The balance of the day was spent in resting up, for all of them were +sore from their unusual exertions, however much they might try to hide +the fact. Of course a plunge in the river had soon removed all the smoke +stains, and refreshed them at the same time. + +"It's lucky we had on our oldest trousers and leggings," remarked Elmer, +when they came to examine into the condition of things. "What with water +slopping over the pails, and the smoke and cinders, these are a sight +right now. But it'll wash out, fellows, and that's something our record +made this day will never do." + +"Only one thing I'm sorry about," remarked Landy. + +"What'th that! Anything to do with the way Ty here thailed into that +burning crib, and thnatched out the poor little innothent lamb, Bennie?" +asked Ted. + +"No. What I meant was that I forgot to take Lil Artha's camera along +when we started for the farmhouse, because I never thought we'd have +anything happen to us worth remembering. Just think, boys, if I had +snapped off half a dozen views of that business, wouldn't they deserve a +frame in our meeting room?" + +"Just what they would," affirmed Landy. "I'd give anything if I had one +to show my folks what a hero their son and heir had grown to be. But +then," he added, sighing, "they wouldn't have known me with all that +black on my face." + +"Come off!" cried George. "Anybody'd know you by your elegant figure; I +could tell you a mile away, with one eye shut." + +"Oh, thank you, George!" said Landy effusively, just as though he really +believed his cousin meant it. "I always knew you were a good chap, and +could appreciate true merit, no matter where found. It's worth something +to hear such splendid words of praise from one of your own family. I'll +treasure them for a long while, sure." + +"Don't believe a word of it," remarked George, true to his colors, and a +doubter from the word "go." + +Nothing more out of the way happened to the scouts while they were in +that snug camp on the Sweetwater. We saw them first on that same stream, +and it seems only right that we should take our last glimpse of some of +our friends while they are still in camp. + +When on the morrow they would start to wend their way homeward, it would +doubtless be with many regrets, for they had certainly had a great time +of it, all told. As school duties began, the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy +Scouts would not find so many opportunities for outings; but the ties +that had bound them together all summer still held good; and no matter +what the sport that engaged their attention, these lads who had signed +the roster under Roderic Garrabrant's guidance were bound to be drawn +together with the strong affection of those who have the same goal in +sight, and look upon one another as "comrades tried and true." + +We shall hope to again meet with Elmer and his chums ere long, and in +new fields follow the fortunes of those good fellows who formed the +several patrols of the Hickory Ridge troop. + + + THE END. + + + + +ADDENDA + +BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE + + + + +BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES. + + + Wild Animals of the United States } in Number I. + Tracking } + +THE CAMPFIRES OF THE WOLF PATROL. + + +Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II. + +WOODCRAFT, OR HOW A PATROL LEADER MADE GOOD. + + +Reptiles of the United States in Number III. + +PATHFINDER, OR THE MISSING TENDERFOOT. + + +Fishes of the United States in Number IV. + +FAST NINE, OR A CHALLENGE FROM FAIRFIELD. + + +Insects of the United States in Number V. + +GREAT HIKE, OR THE PRIDE OF THE KHAKI TROOP. + + +Birds of the United States in Number VI. + +ENDURANCE TEST, OR HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY. + + + + +THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES + + +THE birds constitute a large group of the animal kingdom. Their chief +distinguishing feature is their covering of feathers. Another +characteristic is the production of their young enclosed in eggs. + + +THE VULTURES. + +[Illustration: TURKEY BUZZARD.] + +The name "vulture" is applied to a family of birds of prey. The bill of +the vulture is large and very strong; the head and neck are almost +naked, being very lightly sprinkled with down. It is a carrion-devouring +bird and does not attack living animals. It displays marvelous quickness +in discovering a dead body. Vultures are generally protected in the +countries where they are found because of their value in clearing away +the putrid animal matter which would otherwise be injurious as well as +disagreeable. The American vultures sometimes reach a large size and are +very powerful in flight. + +The Turkey Buzzard and Carrion Crow, both of which are vultures, are +common in the temperate parts of America. The Carrion Crow is found as +far North as Carolina. The Turkey Buzzard is not a true buzzard and is +wrongly so called. + + +THE EAGLE. + +Eagles are large and powerful birds. The flight of this magnificent bird +is very beautiful and imposing, but its gait when on land is rather +awkward. Its food is usually smaller birds and quadrupeds such as hares, +rabbits, etc., but it does not hesitate to carry off young lambs or +sometimes to destroy sickly sheep. It generally hunts in pairs, one +eagle watching at some height while the other courses along the +ground and scares the game from the bushes. It lays two eggs of a +yellowish-white color with brownish spots on a nest composed of a great +mass of sticks, brush and grass. The young are fledged about the end of +July. While the young are in the nest it is very dangerous to approach +it as the eagles are then extremely fierce and daring. Some instances +have been related of children that have been carried off by an eagle, +but these stories are very doubtful. Eagles have certainly been known to +pounce upon children and carry them a little way, but there are no true +accounts of children having been actually taken to the eagles' nest, +although there are many stories founded on such a supposition. The beak +of the eagle is curved from the face, having a sharp point. Its wings +are long and large. They catch and kill their own prey, but unlike the +vultures will not eat carrion. The eagle which is found in North America +is usually the golden eagle, and inhabits the Western States. The +Indians called it "the War Eagle." Its feathers are dark brown. + +[Illustration: AMERICAN BALD EAGLE.] + + +THE BUZZARDS. + +The family of Buzzards are distinguished by their short beaks, large +rounded wings and squared tails. They live on small animals, reptiles +and various insects. + +[Illustration: COMMON BUZZARD.] + +The Common Buzzard, when searching for food, rests upon some high +branch, keeping a keen watch on the ground, and waiting patiently until +some small animal makes its appearance or some bit of carrion is +scented. Its length is from twenty to twenty-two inches. In flight it is +rather slow and heavy. The bird popularly known as a Hen Hawk is a +buzzard. + + +THE FALCONS. + +The falcons are also birds of prey. Hawks are members of this family. +The Peregrine Falcon is an inhabitant of most parts of Europe, Asia, +South America and North America. It builds its nest on cliffs and lays +from two to four eggs which are spotted with dark red. It preys on other +birds; its strength and swiftness are very great, enabling it to strike +down its prey with great ease; indeed, it has been known to disable five +partridges in succession. It changes the color of its plumage several +times before it arrives at full maturity. Its length is from fifteen to +eighteen inches. + +The Sparrow Hawk feeds on mice, ground squirrels, insects, small birds. +It displays great pertinacity in pursuit of its prey which it will chase +for a long while, skimming along a few feet above the ground. When taken +young it is easily tamed and will then associate with the most +incongruous companions. Its length is from twelve to fifteen feet. It +builds upon lofty trees. + + +THE OWLS. + +The owls are nocturnal birds, pursuing their prey by night and sleeping +by day. They have a large round head with enormous eyes looking forward. +Many species possess two feathery tufts placed on the head greatly +resembling horns. In order to enable them to see their prey their eyes +are enormously large, capable of taking in every ray of light. To +protect them from the cold they are furnished with a dense covering of +downy feathers which also prevents the movements of the wing from being +heard. The beak is short and horny, but very strong. They prey on small +animals, fish, insects, reptiles. The cry of the owl is very peculiar +and weird. This, coupled with their strange appearance, has made them +objects of superstition. The ancients adopted them as symbols of wisdom. +The owls of North America that are the best known are the Horned Owl, +the Grayish-barred Owl and the Mottled Owl. + +[Illustration: AN OWL.] + +The Snowy Owl also is found in North America; it is a good fisher, +snatching its prey from the water by a sudden grasp of the foot; it also +preys on small animals, chasing and striking at them with its foot. It +makes its nest on the ground and lays three or four white eggs. Its +length is from twenty-two to twenty-seven inches. It extends its wings +four feet. There are some species of owl found in America that burrow, +living in the same hole with prairie dogs, making their nest in the +mouth of the prairie dog's burrow. + +Cousins to the owls are the Nightjars, for example, the night hawk and +whip-poor-will. They feed on moths and insects which they catch as they +fly. Their eggs are laid on the ground without a nest. + + +THE SWALLOWS. + +Swallows are remarkable for their great power of wing, their wide +mouths, their short legs and weak feet. Their wing feathers are long, +stiff and pointed, and their tails are long and forked. Nine species of +swallow are found north of Mexico. They spend most of their time on the +wing and live almost entirely upon insects which they capture as they +fly; their large mouths particularly adapt them for this manner of +feeding. They nest frequently in colonies; they migrate in large flocks +and can often be seen in great quantities at roosting places. They show +skill in the construction of their nests. The purple martin belongs to +this family; it is common in the South but rare in the Northern States. +The tree swallow builds its nest, of grasses and feathers in the hollow +of a tree. The bank swallow nests in a sand-bank. + + +THE SWIFTS. + +The swifts are often confused with swallows owing to the similarity of +their flight and the manner in which they feed. A Chimney Swift, +commonly but erroneously called the Chimney Swallow, in construction is +more like the humming-bird than the swallow; they nest in chimneys about +ten feet from the top. + + +THE KINGFISHER. + +These birds are chiefly tropical, the Belted Kingfisher being the only +one of the family that is found north of Texas. They feed on fishes and +frequent the land near the water and nest in holes which they make in a +bank. They perch on some limb overhanging the water and watchfully wait +for their dinner. + +[Illustration: KINGFISHER.] + + +THE HUMMING-BIRD. + +[Illustration: HUMMING-BIRD.] + +Eighteen species of these have been found in the United States, but only +one of these is found east of the Mississippi. They feed on insects and +also on the juices of flowers. The humming-bird has no song, but the +beauty of its plumage makes up for this deficiency. It darts through the +air almost as quickly as thought; now it is within a yard of your +path--in an instant gone--now it flutters from flower to flower to sip +the dew--it is now a ruby--now a topaz--now an emerald--now burnished +gold. Its tongue is almost like that of the woodpecker, being curled +around the head under the skin, and is thus capable of being darted to a +considerable distance; like many other little creatures, it is +remarkable for its assurance and impudence; it is easily tamed for that +very reason and has been known to domesticate itself in an hour from the +time it is captured, and often when released has returned again to +partake of the dainties which it has tasted during its captivity. It +seems to have no fear and will attack any bird, irrespective of size. +The nest of the humming-bird is as dainty as the bird itself. + + +THE WRENS. + +The American House Wren is larger than the European wren, being about +five inches long. It is of a reddish-brown color. The nest of the wren +is built in any convenient cranny: an ivy-covered tree, the thatch of a +barn or a warm scarecrow are all used by this featherless little bird. +It is a good fighter and will attack bluebirds and swallows. The nest is +usually of an oval shape, always covered on the outside with some +material resembling the color of the objects around it, such as green +moss, if built among ivy, or brown lichen, if built on a rock or in the +fork of a withered branch. The eggs are six or eight in number--white, +specked with reddish-brown. + +The Carolina Wren frequents the undergrowth in thickets; he is the most +nervously active of all the wrens. + +The Bewick's Wren is often found in the barnyard. + +The Winter Wren builds its nest usually in the tree-roots and heaps of +brush. + +The Marsh Wrens build their nests of a globular shape with the entrance +at the side, either attached to weeds or tall grass, near or on the +ground. + + +THE WARBLERS. + +This is a very large family; they feed almost entirely upon insects. +They are the first to leave upon the approach of winter and the last to +come in the spring. They migrate at night and thousands are killed +annually by dashing against lighthouses. + +The black and white warbler is streaked with black and white and can be +readily identified; it can be often seen creeping under branches in +search of its insect food. + +The yellow warbler. What boy has not seen a "wild canary"? It likes to +inspect the gardens and shrubbery around our houses, and consequently +may be frequently noticed. There are a great many more in this numerous +family. + + +THE THRUSHES. + +This is another large bird family. In it are the bluebird and the +friendly robin; their song is very sweet. + +The wood thrush is less shy than the veery or hermit thrush. It can be +distinguished from the others by its larger size and its ruddy color and +the large black spots covering its underparts. The veery's upper parts +are cinnamon color; its dress is finely marked and its sides almost +white; it inhabits the dense woods and does not frequent the habitation +of man as does the wood thrush. + +The Hermit Thrush is distinguished by its red tail, which is much +brighter in color than its back; it comes early in the spring and +lingers long in the autumn. + +There are probably few boys who do not know a robin when they see one, +nor does the bluebird need to be introduced. + + +THE BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES. + +The Red-winged Blackbird has bright scarlet shoulders; the rest of the +feathers are mainly black; they frequent marshes. + +Orchard Orioles are to be found in the orchards, the elms, the maples, +and other trees of our lawns. This bird is remarkable for the complete +change he makes in his plumage, from a dull yellow to a deep orange and +black, the bird in the summer presenting an entirely different aspect +from that in the winter. He builds his nest very near the end of a tall +limb where it will swing in the wind like a hammock. + +The Bobolink is another one of this family that changes its clothes each +year. It goes North as the bobolink and goes South as the reedbird or +ricebird. + +The Purple Grackle comes to us early in the spring; its plumage is an +iridescent purplish and greenish black. + +The Cowbirds build no nests; they deposit their eggs in the nests of +smaller birds. These eggs are hatched with the others in the nest and +the young birds clamor constantly for food and often starve or crowd out +the rightful bird babies. + + +THE THRASHERS, MOCKING-BIRDS, ETC., + +frequent the borders or the edges of the woods and have considerable +singing ability; possibly the best known of this family is the catbird, +so called because his most familiar cry is similar to the plaintive +"meow" of the cat. Although very few seem to know it, the catbird is +also a fine songster. + +The mocking-bird is a great singer, sometimes singing throughout a +particularly bright moonlight night as well as all day long. While +sitting on its eggs it is an exceedingly courageous bird, attacking +without discrimination men, dogs, or any animal that may approach too +near the nest. The black snake is the special object of its vengeance. +The snake, which has perhaps just arrived at the vicinity of the nest, +and is contemplating a pleasant breakfast on the young or eggs, is +violently attacked by the enraged mocking-bird, which, by repeated blows +on the head, generally destroys its enemy, and then, mounting on a bush, +pours forth a triumphant song of victory. The nest is made generally in +a bush or fruit tree, frequently close to houses, as the bird is +protected by the inhabitants. The mocking-bird is often kept tame, in +which case, so far from its imitative powers showing any decrease, the +variety of domestic sounds heard about the house is often very +perplexing. + +[Illustration: MOCKING-BIRD.] + +The thrasher is also a vocalist of some quality; he likes to sit where +he can be seen when he is singing, generally high up in the tree. + + +THE FLYCATCHERS. + +The flycatchers are songless; they are found all over the United States. +They remain on their perch, waiting for a passing insect; when their +prey is within sight they dart after it and then return to their +station. + +The kingbird is grayish in color and bears a crest which, when raised, +reveals reddish feathers. He perches quietly at his station, but is +alert to every movement near him, and rarely does a passing insect +escape his keen eye. + +The phoebe is very fond of building its nest under an old bridge. His +call is a monotonous, plaintive reiteration. It sounds as though he were +saying, "phoebe"; hence his name. + +Very common flycatchers are the Arcadian Flycatcher, the Wood Peewee and +the Least Flycatcher: the latter being called the Least Flycatcher on +account of its being the smallest in size. + + +THE SHRIKES. + +The color of this bird is gray, black and white. It causes fright at +once among sparrows, on which it preys as well as upon mice and insects. +He has a characteristic flight, flying steadily and in a straight line +close to the ground, flapping his wings. When he gets near his +destination he reaches it by a sudden upward movement. The shrikes are +often called "butcher birds"; they well deserve their name; they +transfix their prey upon a thorn preparatory to devouring it, having +darted on it from some place of concealment after the same manner as the +flycatchers. + + +THE CROWS AND JAYS. + +It will probably surprise you to know that the gaily colored blue jay +belongs to the same family as the dusky crow. All of this family are +great feeders, taking fruits, seeds, insects, eggs and refuse; all of +them possess great intelligence. The blue jay seems to take positive +pleasure in teasing other birds; he is noisy and reckless; he nests +usually in the crotch of a tree from ten to twenty feet high. + +The crow's harsh voice, large size and black plumage make this bird well +known. Every boy who lives in the country knows how fond the crow is of +corn, and who has not seen the scarecrows flapping their empty sleeves +in the winds of the cornfield. + + +THE FINCHES AND SPARROWS. + +[Illustration: BLUE JAY.] + +This is the largest bird family. They possess stout bills fitted to +crush the seeds on which they feed. The House, or English sparrow, was +first introduced into the United States in 1851. The Crossbill derives +its name from having the tips of its bill crossed. They frequent pine +forests and the structure of their bills helps them in forcing the +cones open to get at the seeds within. + +The Goldfinches are canary-yellow and black; they travel usually in +small flocks; in song they become at times so ecstatic that it seems as +if they would burst their little bodies. + +The Junco is a small, plump bird. When the summer birds have left for +the South the Junco comes from the North. + +The Cardinal is one of the gayest of our feathered friends; its plumage +is a rosy-red with a little black patch at the throat and the crest; it +nests in bushes, the nest being composed of twigs, rootlets and lined +with grasses. + +The Indigo Bunting is blue as his name. You will find him in old +pastures among bushes and clearings. The female of this bird is like a +sparrow in marking, except for the tinge of blue which you may discover +in her plumage. + + +THE TANAGERS + +are closely related to the finches; all of them have pretty clothes, +especially the Scarlet Tanager, who is bright scarlet with black wings +and tail. It is well worth a day's tramp to see one. + + +THE WAXWINGS. + +The Cedar Waxwings arrive late in the spring. They have a black line +which runs through the eye; their upper parts are brown, their head is +greenish, their tails gray. You will often find them among fruit and +shady trees; they like old orchards where they hunt for cankerworms. +They have red spots on their wings that look like drops of sealing-wax. + + +THE VIREOS. + +Small insect-eating birds; they do not catch their prey on the wing as +do the flycatchers, but search for their food on bark and leaves; they +are pleasant songsters and their nests are neat and well-rounded, +suspended from the fork of a branch. + + +THE WOODPECKERS. + +[Illustration: WOODPECKERS.] + +The claw of the woodpecker is constructed of two toes forward and two +toes backward, which assist them in climbing the tree-trunks; their tail +feathers are pointed and stiff and serve as a prop; the bill is adapted +for chiseling out the homes of grubs, insects, etc., in the bark. + +The Downy Woodpecker. Its upper parts are black, scarlet band on the +neck, the middle of the back is white, while the wing feathers are +specked with white. You can often see him in an orchard or in the trees +on the lawn, picking out the grubs as he climbs the tree-trunks and +branches. + +The Sapsucker has a scarlet cap; its back is black and yellow, tail +black; it feeds largely on tree juices. + +Red-headed Woodpecker. Head, neck, throat and principal parts red; back +black and white; nests generally in a dead tree. + +The Flicker. The top of the head gray; red band across back of the neck; +back brownish with black bars; they are frequently called "high-holes." + + +THE PIGEONS AND DOVES. + +The passenger pigeon is now practically extinct. Captain Bendire, +writing twenty years ago, says: "It looks now as if their total +extermination might be accomplished within the present century. The only +thing which retards their complete extinction is that it no longer pays +to net these birds, they being too scarce for this now, at least in the +more settled portions of the country, and also, perhaps, that from +constant and unremitting prosecution on their breeding-grounds they have +changed their habits somewhat, the majority no longer breeding in +colonies, but scattering all over the country and breeding in isolated +pairs." They used to be seen in enormous flocks, which, as they +migrated, really hid the sun, destroyed forests miles wide, breaking +down branches with their weight and wasting the crops far and wide. This +bird moves with extraordinary speed and goes enormous distances. Many +have been killed in New York State with their crops full of rice that +they must have eaten in Georgia. That means that they flew three hundred +miles in six hours. In 1813, Audubon says the air was literally filled +with pigeons, and the midday sun darkened as in an eclipse, and the +flocks flew over him in countless numbers for three whole days. + +The Mourning Dove is similar to the Passenger Pigeon, but not as large. + + +GROUSE. + +The Grouse are as a rule ground birds and trust to their ability to hide +to escape detection, their color being such as to make them difficult to +detect against a background of dead leaves. The Ruffed Grouse can easily +be detected by the drumming sound which it makes. This drumming begins +gradually and gradually dies away. The sound is made by the male bird +beating its wings in the air. The young birds run about like small +chickens. They feed on insects, berries and seeds. + + +QUAIL. + +Who has not heard the quail call across the fields "bobwhite, poor +bobwhite"? They like the fields of corn in the fall; in the winter they +journey to the deep woods; like the grouse, they rely upon their +coloration for protection and will only take flight as a last resort. + + +THE PLOVERS. + +In habit they are like the snipes; but their tails are shorter and +thicker. The Golden Plover may be found in marshes and sand-flats; they +can run very rapidly; they may be seen as the tide goes out feeding on +sand-flats or sand-bars. After running a few yards they stop suddenly +and seem to take their bearings. It is well known by its plaintive cry +and the stratagems it employs to decoy intruders away from its nest, or +rather eggs. + +The Killdeer is so called on account of the cry which it utters; it +resembles "kill-dee, kill-dee." It is found usually in flocks and nests +on the ground in a hollow. + + +THE CRANES + +frequent marshes and are fond of frogs, field mice, snakes, etc. They +have a loud cry. When in flight the neck is not bent like the Heron's. +They nest on the ground. + + +THE HERONS AND BITTERNS. + +[Illustration: HERON.] + +The Herons nest in flocks; the bitterns are not as sociable. The latter +inhabit grassy marshes, while Herons like the shores of lakes and +rivers. The Herons fly with their neck bent in between their shoulders. +The American Bittern lives in large grassy meadows; it makes a peculiar +booming sound which can be heard for a long distance. The Great White +Heron is found along the Gulf of Mexico and in Florida. The Great Blue +Heron is found further north; its nest is usually in tall trees and is +made up of sticks and twigs. The Egrets belong to this family. + + +THE SPOONBILLS. + +The Roseate Spoonbill is found only in the very Southern parts of the +United States and in small quantities; their bill is large and flat, +shaped at the end like a large spoon. + +[Illustration: THE SPOONBILLS.] + + +THE IBISES. + +The Ibises find their food on mud-flats along the shores of lakes and +rivers. It consists of frogs, small fish, etc. + + +THE SNIPES AND SANDPIPERS. + +The birds are also found near the water; they have long bills which they +force into the mud in search of their food. + +The Wilson Snipe nests in meadows and swamps. It builds its nest on the +ground and is a game bird popular with the sportsman. The Snipe in its +habits much resembles the Woodcock; its flight is very singular, +rendering it a difficult mark. + + +THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. + +The presence of Woodcock can always be determined by the holes which +they make in the earth in search of worms; these are known as woodcock +borings. When the bird is found near its nest or young birds it will +feign an injury and will endeavor in this way to lead you away from +them. The Woodcock frequents dense thickets during the day and at night +it leaves for swamps and meadows in search of worms and insects. + + +AVOCETS AND STILTS. + +Called "The Wading Snipe"; they wade in shallow water and can swim when +necessary. The bill of this bird is curved like that of the Curlew, but +the curve is upward instead of downward. + + +THE RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS. + +The Rails live in marshes. The Gallinules live on marshy banks of +rivers, lakes, etc. The Coots are still more aquatic, and are very +noisy; all of this family lay their eggs on the ground. + +[Illustration: FLAMINGOES.] + + +THE FLAMINGOES. + +The Flamingoes formerly visited Southern Florida every winter. Now their +appearance is rare. The singularly shaped beak of this splendid bird is +peculiarly adapted to its long and flexible neck. When the bird wishes +to feed it merely stoops its head into the water; the upper mandible is +then lowest and is well fitted to receive the nutritive substances which +are entangled in a filter placed on the edges of the beak. + +The color of its plumage is a deep brilliant scarlet, except the quill +feathers, which are black. When a number of these birds stand ranged in +a line, according to their custom, they present the appearance of a +small and well-drilled body of soldiers. + + +THE SWANS. + +Wild Swans are now rare birds in the United States. They feed as they +swim by putting their long necks and heads under the water. They swim +with great rapidity. + +[Illustration: SWAN.] + + +GEESE. + +Watch the skies in the spring and when you see a V-shaped flock of birds +flying northward, the wild geese are flying. It is said that the apex of +the V is always an old gander. They feed on vegetable matter, both in +the water and on shore. + +The White-fronted Goose is common in the Mississippi Valley and on the +Pacific Coast. + +The Canada Goose travels many thousand miles each year in its +migrations. + +Geese nest on the ground, the nest being made of grasses and twigs and +thickly lined with down. + + +DUCKS. + +The Mallard is the origin of our domestic bird, and is widely spread +over the northern parts of Europe, Asia and America. In the winter it +migrates in countless flocks to the warmer States. + +[Illustration: WILD DUCK.] + +The Black Duck is sometimes called the Black Mallard. The Red-head Duck +along the Atlantic Coast feeds in salt water. The Canvasback is in great +demand on account of the superior quality of its flesh as food. Both the +Red-head and Canvasback are fond of feeding on wild celery, and it is +said that it is this that gives their flesh the fine flavor. + + +THE PELICANS. + +These birds nest in colonies. Their flight is strong. The White Pelican +and the Brown Pelican are found in Florida. It is a very conspicuous +bird, its singular membranous pouch offering a distinction perfectly +unmistakable. The pouch, when distended, holds two gallons of water, but +the bird has the power of contracting it so that it can scarcely be +discerned. + +[Illustration: PELICAN.] + +The pouch serves as a net in which to scoop up the fish on which the +Pelican feeds. + +Another most important use of the pouch is to convey food to the young. +The parent Pelican presses the pouch against its breast, in order to +enable the young to obtain the fish, which action in all probability +gave rise to the fable of the Pelican feeding its own blood. Although +web-footed, it can perch on trees, although it prefers sitting on rocks. + + +THE CORMORANTS. + +Cormorants like the sea, but sometimes may be seen inland. They, too, +are colony birds. Their nests are made of sticks and seaweed. + +[Illustration: CORMORANT.] + +The Cormorant is exceedingly voracious, and devours an almost incredible +amount of fish. It is an excellent diver, and chases the fish actually +under the water, seldom if ever returning without having secured its +prey. Like the otter, when engaged in chase, it occasionally rises to +take breath, and then resumes the pursuit with renewed vigor. It has the +power of perching on trees, an accomplishment which we should hardly +suspect a web-footed bird of possessing. + +The Cormorant is easily tamed, and its fishing propensities can be +turned to good account. The Chinese, at the present day, employ a kind +of Cormorant for that purpose, having previously placed a ring round the +bird's neck to prevent it from swallowing the fish. Its length is about +three feet. + + +THE PETRELS. + +The Stormy Petrel is, under the name of Mother Carey's Chicken, the +terror of the sailor, who always considers the bird as the precursor of +a storm. It is the smallest of the web-footed birds. Few storms are +violent enough to keep this curious little bird from wandering over the +waves in search of the food that the disturbed water casts to the +surface. + + +THE ALBATROSSES. + +The Albatrosses are relatives of the Petrels, but much larger birds. + +The Wandering Albatross, the largest of the genus, is a well-known bird +in the southern seas, following ships for many miles. The flight of this +bird is peculiarly majestic. Its extreme length of wing prevents it from +rising at once from the ground, but when once launched into the air it +seems to float and direct its course without effort. + +[Illustration: ALBATROSS.] + + +THE TERNS. + +The Terns, or Sea Swallows, are possessed of great power and endurance +of flight, their long forked tails and pointed wings indicating strength +and swiftness. + +It preys on fish, which it snatches from the surface with unerring aim +as it skims over the waves with astonishing velocity. + +They inhabit the seashore and, unlike gulls, make distant journeys from +the coast. + + +THE GULLS. + +The Gulls are larger birds than the Terns. As the vultures are the +scavengers of the land, these birds are the scavengers of the sea. They +are frequently seen at great distance from land, resting on the water. +Their nests are found in colonies. + +[Illustration: GULL.] + + +PUFFINS. + +The Puffin is an excellent diver, plunging fearlessly from a lofty cliff +into the sea, and speedily returning with its beak full of fish, which +are secured by their heads, and lie in a row along the bill of the +Puffin, forming a kind of piscatorial fringe. Its enormous and +sharp-edged bill renders it a formidable antagonist to intruders. It is +often called the "Sea Parrot." + + +LOONS. + +Inhabit fresh water lakes during the summer and the sea during the +winter. They can swim considerable distances under water. Their nest is +near the shore. + + +GREBES. + +The foot of the Grebes is not webbed like that of most water birds, but +each toe is separated and flattened, so as to serve as a separate +paddle. + + +COMMON RED BIRDS. + + Scarlet Tanager. + Cardinal. + Rose-breasted Grossbeak. + Redstart. + + +COMMON BLUE BIRDS. + + Blue Jay. + Bluebird. + + +COMMON YELLOW AND ORANGE BIRDS. + + Yellow Warbler. + Flicker. + Baltimore Oriole. + + +COMMON BLACK BIRDS. + + Crow. + Purple Grackle. + Red-winged Blackbird. + Cowbird. + + +COMMON BLACK AND WHITE BIRDS. + + Black and White Warbler. + Bobolink. + Downy Woodpecker. + + +COMMON BROWN BIRDS. + + Thrushes. + Sparrows. + + + + +INDEX. + + + PAGE + + Albatross, 174, 175 + Wandering, 174 + + American Bald Eagle, 149 + + American House Wren, 156 + + Arcadian Flycatcher, 160 + + Avocet, 168 + + + Baltimore Oriole, 177 + + Bank Swallow, 153 + + Belted Kingfisher, 153 + + Bewick's Wren, 156 + + Bittern, 166 + + Black and White Warbler, 157, 177 + + Blackbirds, 157 + Red-winged, 157, 177 + + Black Duck, 172 + + Bluebird, 157, 177 + + Blue Jay, 160, 161, 177 + + Bobolink, 158, 177 + + Bobwhite, 165 + + Brown Pelican, 172 + + Butcher Bird, 160 + + Buzzards, 150 + Common, 150 + Turkey, 147, 148 + + + Canada Goose, 171 + + Canvasback Duck, 172 + + Cardinal, 162, 177 + + Carolina Wren, 156 + + Carrion Crow, 148 + + Catbird, 158 + + Cedar Waxwing, 162 + + Chimney Swift, 153 + + Common Buzzard, 150 + + Coot, 168 + + Cormorant, 173, 174 + + Cowbird, 158, 177 + + Crane, 166 + + Crossbill, 161 + + Crow, 160, 177 + Carrion, 148 + + Curlew, 168 + + + Doves, 164 + Mourning, 165 + + Downy Woodpecker, 164, 177 + + Ducks, 171, 172 + Black, 172 + Canvasback, 172 + Mallard, 171 + Red-head, 172 + + + Eagles, 148, 149 + American Bald, 149 + Golden, 148 + + Egrets, 167 + + English Sparrows, 161 + + European Wren, 156 + + + Falcons, 151 + Peregrine, 161 + + Finches, 161 + Gold, 162 + + Flamingoes, 168, 169, 170 + + Flicker, 164, 177 + + Flycatchers, 159 + Arcadian, 160 + Least, 160 + + + Gallinules, 168 + + Geese, 171 + Canadian, 171 + White-fronted, 171 + + Golden Eagle, 148 + Plover, 165 + + Goldfinch, 162 + + Grackle, Purple, 158, 177 + + Grayish-barred Owl, 152 + + Great Blue Heron, 167 + White Heron, 167 + + Grebes, 177 + + Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, 177 + + Grouse, 165 + Ruffed, 165 + + Gulls, 175, 176 + + + Hawks, 151 + Hen, 150 + Sparrow, 151 + + Hermit Thrush, 157 + + Herons, 166, 167 + Great Blue, 167 + White, 167 + + High Hole, 164 + + Horned Owl, 152 + + House Sparrows, 161 + + House Wren, 156 + + Humming-birds, 155 + + + Ibis, 167 + + Indigo Bunting, 162 + + + Jay, 160, 161 + + Junco, 162 + + + Killdeer, 165 + + Kingbird, 159 + + Kingfisher, 153, 154 + Belted, 153 + + + Least Flycatcher, 160 + + Loon, 176 + + + Mallard Ducks, 171 + + Marsh Wren, 156 + + Martin, Purple, 153 + + Mocking-bird, 158,159 + + Mother Carey's Chickens, 174 + + Mottled Owl, 152 + + Mourning Doves, 165 + + + Night Hawk, 153 + + Nightjar, 153 + + + Oriole, 157 + Baltimore, 177 + Orchard, 157 + + Owls, 151 + Grayish-barred, 152 + Horned, 152 + Mottled, 152 + Snowy, 152 + + + Passenger Pigeon, 164 + + Pewee, Wood, 160 + + Pelican, 172 + Brown, 172 + White, 172 + + Peregrine Falcon, 151 + + Petrel, Stormy, 174 + + Phoebe, 159 + + Pigeon, 164 + Passenger, 164 + + Plover, 165 + Golden, 165 + + Puffin, 176 + + Purple Grackle, 158, 177 + Martin, 153 + + + Quail, 165 + + + Rails, 168 + + Red-head Duck, 172 + Headed Woodpecker, 164 + Winged Blackbird, 157, 177 + + Redstart, 177 + + Reedbird, 158 + + Ricebird, 158 + + Robin, 157 + + Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 177 + + Roseate Spoonbill, 167 + + Ruffed Grouse, 165 + + + Sandpipers, 168 + + Sapsucker, 164 + + Scarlet Tanager, 162 + + Sea Parrot, 176 + + Shrike, 160 + + Snipe, 168 + Wading, 168 + Wilson's, 168 + + Snowy Owl, 152 + + Sparrow Hawk, 151 + + Sparrows, 161, 177 + English, 161 + House, 161 + + Spoonbill, 167 + Roseate, 167 + + Stormy Petrel, 174 + + Swallows, 153 + Bank, 153 + Tree, 153 + + Swans, 170 + + Swifts, 153 + Chimney, 153 + + + Tanagers, 162, 177 + Scarlet, 162, 177 + + Terns, 175 + + Thrasher, 158, 159 + + Thrush, 157, 177 + Hermit, 157 + Veery, 157 + Wood, 157 + + Tree Swallow, 153 + + Turkey Buzzard, 147, 148 + + + Veery Thrush, 157 + + Vireo, 162 + + Vulture, 147, 148 + + + Wading Snipe, 168 + + Wandering Albatross, 174 + + Warblers, 156, 157 + Black and White, 157, 177 + Yellow, 157, 177 + + Waxwing, 162 + Cedar, 162 + + Whip-poor-will, 153 + + White-fronted Goose, 171 + Pelican, 172 + + Wilson's Snipe, 168 + + Winter Wren, 156 + + Woodcock, 168 + + Woodpecker, 163 + Downy, 164, 177 + Red-headed, 164 + + Wood Thrush, 157 + + Wood Pewee, 160 + + Wrens, 156 + American House, 156 + Bewick's, 156 + Carolina, 156 + European, 156 + House, 156 + Marsh, 156 + Winter, 156 + + + Yellow Warbler, 157, 177 + + + + +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. + + 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 + 147 FOURTH AVENUE + NEW YORK + + + + +Christy Mathewson's Book + + +[Illustration: WON IN THE NINTH] + + _A Ripping Good Baseball Story by One Who Knows the + Game_ + +This book has attained a larger sale than any baseball story ever +published. + +The narrative deals with the students of a large university and their +baseball team, the members of which have names which enable the reader +to recognize them as some of the foremost baseball stars of the day +before their entrance into the major leagues. + +One gains a very clear idea of "inside baseball" stripped of wearisome +technicalities. The book is profusely illustrated throughout and +contains also a number of plates showing the manner in which Mathewson +throws his deceptive curves, together with brief description of each. + + _Cloth bound 5-1/2 x 7-5/8_ _Price 50c. per volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK + + + + +Mrs. Meade's Books for Girls + +Primrose Edition + +Printed on fine quality book paper. Separate cover designs in colors. + + + Daddy's Girl. + A Girl from America. + Sue, a Little Heroine. + The School Queens. + Wild Kitty. + A Sweet Girl Graduate. + A World of Girls. + Polly--A New-Fashioned Girl. + + _Each, 12mo._ _Cloth._ _40 cents per volume_ + + Mrs. Meade's girls' books never lose their popularity. + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE + NEW YORK + + + + +_ECONOMICAL COOKING_ + +_Primrose Edition_ + +_Planned for Two or More Persons_ + +By + +MISS WINIFRED S. 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Y. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Obvious punctuation errors were corrected. + +First advertising page, "Chenoweth" changed to "Chenowith" to match +actual book usage (Elmer Chenowith, a lad from) + +Page 27, "ith" changed to "it" (stand it) + +Page 65, "suite" changed to "suit" (Ty's long suit is) + +Page 85, "galivanting" changed to "gallivanting" (he was just +gallivanting) + +Page 129, "beween" changed to "between" (find himself beween) + +Page 151, "iself" changed to "itself" (bird itself) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENDURANCE TEST*** + + +******* This file should be named 38305.txt or 38305.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/8/3/0/38305 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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