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diff --git a/38307.txt b/38307.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca566df --- /dev/null +++ b/38307.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6318 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Great Hike, by Alan Douglas + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Great Hike + or, The Pride of the Khaki Troop + + +Author: Alan Douglas + + + +Release Date: December 14, 2011 [eBook #38307] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREAT HIKE*** + + +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 38307-h.htm or 38307-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38307/38307-h/38307-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38307/38307-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). + + Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + + + + + +The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts + +GREAT HIKE + + * * * * * + +THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS + +A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS + +By Capt. Alan Douglas, Scout-master + + +The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol + + Their first camping experience affords the scouts + splendid opportunities to use their recently acquired + knowledge in a practical way. Elmer Chenowith, a lad + from the northwest woods, astonishes everyone by his + familiarity with camp life. A clean, wholesome story + every boy should read. + + +Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good + + This tale presents many stirring situations in which + the boys are called upon to exercise ingenuity and + unselfishness. A story filled with healthful + excitement. + + +Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot + + Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected + way, greatly to the credit of our young friends. A + variety of incidents follow fast, one after the other. + + +Fast Nine; or, a Challenge from Fairfield + + They show the same team-work here as when in camp. The + description of the final game with the team of a rival + town, and the outcome thereof, form a stirring + narrative. One of the best baseball stories of recent + years. + + +Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop + + After weeks of preparation the scouts start out on + their greatest undertaking. Their march takes them far + from home, and the good-natured rivalry of the + different patrols furnishes many interesting and + amusing situations. + + +Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day + + Few stories "get" us more than illustrations of pluck + in the face of apparent failure. Our heroes show the + stuff they are made of and surprise their most ardent + admirers. One of the best stories Captain Douglas has + written. + + +Under Canvas; or, The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost + + It was hard to disbelieve the evidence of their eyes + but the boys by the exercise of common-sense solved a + mystery which had long puzzled older heads. + + +Storm-bound; or, a Vacation Among the Snow Drifts + + The boys start out on the wrong track, but their scout + training comes to the rescue and their experience + proves beneficial to all concerned. + + +Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge Boy Scout Series, +all illustrated:-- + + Wild Animals of the United States--Tracking--Trees and + Wild Flowers of the United States--Reptiles of the + United States--Fishes of the United States--Insects of + the United States and Birds of the United States. + + + _Cloth Binding_ _Cover Illustrations in Four Colors_ + _40c. Per Volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK + + * * * * * + + +GREAT HIKE + +Or + +The Pride of the Khaki Troop + + + * * * * * + + +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: . . . and presently they followed on their motor +cycles.] + + +The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts + +GREAT HIKE + +Or + +The Pride of the Khaki Troop + +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.--THE TALK IN AN APPLE TREE 17 + II.--JASPER'S IDEA TAKES ROOT 25 + III.--AS THE CLOCK IN THE TOWER BOOMED SIX 33 + IV.--SIGNS OF TROUBLE 41 + V.--THE MOTORCYCLE SQUAD 49 + VI.--GETTING IN A RUT 57 + VII.--IN HOT PURSUIT 65 + VIII.--TWENTY-SEVEN MILES FROM HICKORY RIDGE AND HOME 73 + IX.--NEARING THE CRISIS 81 + X.--FOUND AT LAST 89 + XI.--THE HOWL OF THE WOLF SIGNAL 97 + XII.--THE AMBUSH 105 + XIII.--FRIENDS IN TIME OF NEED 113 + XIV.--HOW THE PLOT FAILED 121 + XV.--VICTORY--SISS! BOOM! HURRAH! 129 + XVI.--"THE FINEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO FAIRFIELD!" 137 + + + + +GREAT HIKE + +OR + +THE PRIDE OF THE KHAKI TROOP + + + + +THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS + + + + +GREAT HIKE; + +OR, + +THE PRIDE OF THE KHAKI TROOP. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TALK IN AN APPLE TREE. + + +A NUMBER of active boys were perched high among the heavily laden +branches of a big fall pippin apple tree, back of the old Philander +Smith house, located just outside the limits of the thriving town of +Hickory Ridge. + +"Take care, Landy!" called out Chatz Maxfield, whose soft, mellow voice +told of his Southern birth; "that long ladder might chance to slip, suh, +and it would be a long ways to the ground!" + +"Oh, shucks! I've got the upper end wedged fast in the crotch along the +outside of this limb, Chatz. And believe me, I'm getting my basket full +of the biggest yellow pippins you ever saw. Who cares for expenses, +anyhow?" + +Landy, whose father owned the property, was very much inclined to be +fat; though he would never admit the fact; and was forever declaring he +had a new method of exercise that would reduce him to a "living +skeleton," sooner or later. + +Besides Chatz Maxfield, whose real name, of course, was Charles, the +busy bees in the tree who were assisting their chum pick the ripe apples +on this late August day consisted of three fellows, all members of the +Hickory Ridge troop of Boy Scouts; and well known to every lad who has +read the preceding volumes in this series. + +First there was Ty Collins. Every boy in town would know Ty as far away +as they could see him; for, when not going to school, winter and summer +he clung to an old red sweater that he seemed to love above all the +garments he possessed. + +Then came a small fellow, Jasper Merriweather by name, whose one +ambition it was to get out of the "runt" class. Jasper was never weary +of asking some one to take his measure, and compare it with past +records; but thus far he had not made much progress toward reaching the +ordinary height of a lad of fifteen. Still, he clung to hope and tried +to fill his position as Number Four in the Beaver Patrol, to the best of +his ability. + +Last of all, but by no means least, was Ted Burgoyne. Ted had the +misfortune to lisp when he grew the least bit excited; though no one +ever knew him to acknowledge the fact, and indeed, if accused, he would +grow very indignant, even while others could catch the fatal slip in his +warm denial. + +They called him "Dr. Ted," for the very good reason that he had his +heart set on medicine and surgery, and often found himself in great +demand to practice on his fellow scouts. Outside of a few rather wild +theories, and a boy-like desire to have a little fun out of things, Ted +was quite practical. He was held much in respect by the twenty odd boys +constituting the khaki troop. + +The Hickory Ridge troop had passed the experimental stage of progress, +and had become an established fact. Three patrols, of eight boys each, +were complete, and there were candidates to start a fourth, if they +could meet the requirements and feel capable of subscribing to the +twelve cardinal principles that every true scout has to try to live up +to. + +Lately a rival troop had sprung up in Fairfield, led by one Matt Tubbs. +Formerly Matt had only been known as a great bully, and those who +trained with him had served under his banner simply through fear, +without a grain of respect. + +But Matt had, strange to say, seen a great light. He had watched the +boys of the khaki troop in their open-air tests. Something in the +business seemed to appeal strongly to him; and then had come the +determination to start a troop in his town. + +Of course he ran up against a snag in the beginning, for no boy with the +loose principles Matt held at that time could ever be accepted as a +scout. He studied the matter, watched the Hickory Ridge lads some more, +and then came the great awakening. + +And now Matt Tubbs was on the right road. He controlled his followers +just as thoroughly as before, but generally in a different manner. They +respected him too. Still, once in a while the old spirit cropped out; +and it was told how, when one of his cronies, thinking to take advantage +of this new mantle of meekness, boldly challenged Matt to a fight, the +new leader of the Fairfield troop gave him the best kind of a whipping; +after which he helped bind up his scratches, and stop the flow of blood +from his nose. + +But the insurrection had been nipped in the bud: and they did say that +Matt tried to atone for his breaking of the rules of the organization by +being unusually patient with those under him who had difficulty in +keeping up with the reform pace he set. + +It was pretty generally understood all through the region that Matt +Tubbs might never have started to climb the ladder only for the boyish +sympathy which he received from Elmer Chenowith, the leader of the +Hickory Ridge troop, and assistant to the scout master, Mr. Garrabrant. + +And the reformation of the worst boy in Fairfield and Cramertown long +astonished the good people of those communities. When they awakened to +the truth that it was no myth, but apparently an accomplished fact, they +were quick to give most of the credit to the discipline of the new +organization. + +And the Fairfield troop from that time on had never lacked for backing +from the parents of those boys connected with the same. + +The fellows in the apple tree had been talking about these things as +they helped Landy pick the fruit, a task that had been set for him by +his father, and which must be fulfilled ere he could get off for play +that day. + +Of course they also discussed the great baseball game that had recently +been played between the rival troops, in which Hickory Ridge came out +victor, after a very strenuous afternoon's work. + +"The way Lil Artha circles the bases gets me," declared Ty Collins, as +he munched on a particularly fine specimen of fruit he had struck, and +which tempted him beyond his capacity to decline, though it was possibly +the seventh he had eaten within the hour. + +"Oh, I don't know," remarked Ted, swinging his legs from the limb he +straddled. "Most persons theem to think there's no one tho fatht as Lil +Artha. Now, I admit in the thtart that he can cover the ground at a +pretty rapid rate; but nobody knowth jutht how long he could hold out on +a long hike. I've got my own ideath on that thubject, fellows." + +"Sure you have, and so have a lot of others in the troop, suh," declared +Chatz. "Might I ask who you think would have the best chance in an +endurance hike that would last, say for twenty-four hours straight?" + +"Why, Elmer would, for a thtarter," replied the other, quickly; "and if +that ain't enough, what'th the matter with Ty Collinth himthelf? Theemth +to me you'd hold out, and give long-legged Lil Artha a run for hith +money." + +"Me for Matty Eggleston!" declared Jasper, eagerly; for the boy in +question was leader of the patrol to which Jasper belonged, and in his +eyes seemed a marvel second only to Elmer himself. + +"If Lil Artha fell down on the long run, I kind of think Red Huggins +might pull in a victor," Ty went on. "That fellow is just chock-full of +grit. When he shuts his teeth, and starts in, there's no telling where +he'll stop." + +"How about George Robbinth, your couthin, Matty?" asked Ted. "I've theen +him walk half a dozen fellowth until they admitted they weren't in the +thame clath? Perhaps now he might have a chance to win in a long tetht." + +"Oh, George is a good one, all right," declared Landy. "Our family is +noted for producing marvels. You just wait a little while longer, till I +trim my weight down a few more pounds, and I'll show you something worth +while. Huh, if there was a long-distance hike right now, d'ye know I'd +be strongly tempted to enter. You never can tell. Appearances are +sometimes mighty deceiving, boys." + +"There's another swift one in our bunch, fellows," called out little +Jasper, who never could hope to enter any of these competitions until +Nature was kinder to him, and began to add a few inches to his stature. + +"Who's that, Jasper?" demanded Ty, perched high up in the immense tree, +and lowering his basket when filled with an ingenious tackle he had +contrived so that he need not climb down with a bulky load; though twice +he had managed to upset the whole picking, to the disgust of Landy who +feared the apples would be too badly bruised to find a market, as his +father intended. + +"What d'ye say to Jack Armitage?" the small scout went on. "Ever seen +him get around and steal bases, no matter what the catcher was doing? +He's a screamer, that's what! But of course I ain't sure how Jack would +hold out on a twenty-four-hour walk. He's full of staying power though, +and might surprise some fellows who have been reckoned at the top of the +heap." + +"Well, you fellows have about put all the available candidates on the +list," declared Ty, laughing because he himself figured in the same. +"Elmer is out of the running because he got a thorn in his foot a day or +two ago, and is limping to beat the band. His best chum, Mark Cummings, +might enter, but it happens he's out of town and may not be back for a +week. But what's all this talk going to amount to, anyhow?" + +"We ought to have thith important question thettled, boyth!" declared +Ted. + +"There's been a heap of hot air circulating for a month past about who +is the best all-round walker in the troop," remarked Jasper; "and seems +to me that matter ought to be threshed out, once and for all!" + +"Hurrah, that's the talk, Jasper!" cried Chatz, throwing an apple at the +other. + +"Bully boy!" called Ty. "Go on and make a suggestion, Jasper. You've got +something in your noodle after all. Keep it up, my boy, and success to +you." + +"That's right, Jasper," said Landy, stretching around to pick several +tempting yellow beauties that seemed just beyond the reach of his rather +short arm. "Tell us what you've been thinking about. Is it a big hike +for the best walkers and runners of the celebrated Hickory Ridge +troop?" + +Jasper swelled with importance. It was not often he found himself in the +lime light, and his opinion in demand. The experience seemed delightful, +and he was not in too great a hurry to satisfy the demand for +information; since once they had his views the discussion must become +general, and he would only stand on an equal footing with the rest. + +"Well, to tell the truth I was thinking about suggesting a great hike, +with, say a limit of half a dozen fellows connected with the troop as +contestants. Perhaps you noticed that I mentioned a twenty-four-hour +consecutive tramp as the basis of the test. Each fellow could be bound +by a solemn promise not to accept a lift on the way, under penalty of +displacement. And several others, like Elmer for instance, might keep +tabs on the bunch by following them on their wheels." + +"Listen to him, will you? Hasn't Jasper got it down pat?" cried Landy, +again exerting himself to the utmost to gather in another lot of +unusually tempting pippins. + +"He's going to fill a long-felt want," declared Chatz. "We need an +organizer, some one who could take the responsibility of fixing up these +meets from the over-burdened shoulders of Elmer. And, suh, I suspect +Jasper is going to develop into a master of ceremonies." + +"Then you rather like the idea, fellows?" asked the small scout, pleased +beyond measure. + +"It's just the thing," declared Ty. + +"We'll take the thame up at wunth, and have the affair arranged in a +jiffy," Ted announced. + +"Hey, take care there, Landy, your ladder's slipping! Quick, grab hold +of something, or you're a goner!" shouted Ty, suddenly. + +Landy tried to wriggle himself back again, but his stretch had been +fatal to all chances for maintaining his position. The top of the long +ladder lost its grip in the swaying crotch and slid from under him. +There was a rattle of apples thudding down on the ground twenty feet +below; but Landy had, on the spur of the moment, seized hold of the +outer branches, so that there he hung, swinging back and forth; afraid +to let go, and yet incapable of long maintaining his frantic grip. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +JASPER'S IDEA TAKES ROOT. + + +"HOOP-LA, somebody grab me before I drop!" shouted Landy, as he kept +trying to get a grip with his fat legs on the foliage of the outer +branches which seemed to take particular delight in evading his +ambitious designs. + +"Get a feather bed under him!" shrieked Ty, although at the same time he +was changing his position in the tree with all possible haste, meaning +to assist the clinging boy, if it could possibly be done. + +"Oh, save me first, and joke about it afterward!" cried Landy, who was +really alarmed and under a tremendous strain, both bodily and mentally. + +"If I only had a rope with a loop in it, I could lasso him!" declared +Jasper. + +"But you haven't, you see," cried Landy. "Think up something else! Hurry +along, boys; I can't hold out much longer. I'm no Elmer as a gymnast. +I'm slipping right now, I tell you. Wow! Is that measly old ladder under +me, and will I come down with a splash on it?" + +He panted as he uttered this complaint, and the boys saw that his face +resembled the setting sun, as he looked up to them almost piteously. But +who could reach him there? On the very outer edge of the big tree, with +the ground fully twenty feet below, and nothing to break his fall, it +began to look like a serious business for poor Landy. + +Dr. Ted realized that there was real danger of the boy getting a broken +leg if he fell that distance. Landy was not like agile Lil Artha, or +some other members of the troop. His weight made him solid, and being +without any spring, he would likely come down with a dull, sickening +thud. + +"Hold on as long as you can, Landy!" yelled Ted, even neglecting to lisp +in his great excitement. + +He was slipping down the tree like a "greased pig," as Jasper termed it, +though what that sort of animal would be doing up in an apple tree he +never took the trouble to explain. + +Ty saw what the idea was. He had been about to try and reach Landy by +standing far out on a limb; but the prospect of success was very small. +And so he followed Ted down the tree, slipping from limb to limb with +the agility that some boys can only display when the owner of the +orchard is seen coming on the full run with a ferocious bulldog at his +heels. + +"Oh, hurry! hurry! I'm near gone, and can't hold out much longer! +What're you doing down there to help me, boys?" wailed the one whose +legs swung back and forth like a couple of pendulums, as they vainly +sought for a chance to grip something that would ease the strain on his +arms above. + +"The ladder! They've gone to set it up again, Landy! Just hold on half a +minute longer. And there's Elmer jumped off his bicycle; and he's +already raising it up. Set your teeth, Landy; take a fresh grip, and +it's going to be all right!" + +So the excited Jasper shouted as he sat there in the tree, unable to +lend a helping hand, but at least capable of offering good advice. + +A boy who had been coming toward the place on a wheel, seeing the state +of affairs, had instantly sized up the situation; and even while those +in the tree were shouting back and forth, and before they could get +started, Elmer Chenowith, jumping from his saddle, had limped forward to +where the unlucky ladder lay. + +By the time Ted, followed by Ty, landed on the ground, he had raised it +single-handed, and with a readiness that told of long familiarity with +ladders; for one not accustomed to such things would never know the +secret of bracing the bottom against some root and then lifting rapidly. + +So just in the nick of time the treacherous ladder was dropped against +the outer branches of the tree, alongside the hanging boy. Elmer himself +flew up the rounds, for he feared that Landy, always more or less +clumsy, might not be able to swing his form around, and take advantage +of the opening. + +But desperation gave Landy new abilities, and he managed by a violent +effort to roll around to the outer side of the leaning ladder. Utterly +exhausted by the strain he had been under, the fat boy must have slipped +helplessly down only that Elmer managed to clutch him. + +Step by step the gasping Landy was lowered until he reached the bottom +round. He was no longer furiously red, but had turned a sickly white. + +"Here, let him down on the ground," said Dr. Ted, taking command at that +point as though it were his acknowledged right. "He's only getting the +reaction now. I'll fix him up, boys, and he'll be picking apples again +before ten minutes, believe me." + +He was as good as his word, for Landy soon recovered; but it was noticed +that from that moment the fat boy showed great caution how he climbed up +that ladder, by which he had once been betrayed. + +"What was all that talk going on as I passed?" asked Elmer, a bright, +wide-awake young fellow, whose year out on a Canadian ranch belonging +to an uncle was proving of considerable value to him in his experience +as a scout. + +"What did you hear?" asked Jasper, assuming a little of his former +importance. + +"Seemed to me it smacked of a contest," Elmer replied, "and somebody was +telling how a few of us could keep tabs on the same, while using our +wheels. That struck me as interesting, and so, wanting to know more, I +just wheeled around, and was coming in through the back gate to the +garden when the ladder fell. Now tell me the rest, fellows, because you +all know that I'm head over ears interested in anything that touches on +contests of any sort." + +"Well," spoke up Ty, grinning; "somehow we got to talking about who the +best all-round walker and runner in the troop might be. A lot of names +were mentioned, including my own. Then there were Red, Lil Artha, Matty, +George Robbins and Jack Armitage. Even Landy here threatened to enter +for the big hike." + +"But what was the idea?" asked Elmer, his face aglow with interest. + +"To fix up a long-distance hike, say for twenty-four consecutive hours; +and a few fellows, mounted on their wheels, kind of superintend things +by keeping tabs along the line. The contestant coming in ahead at the +end of the walk to be declared the pride of the troop, and the greatest +ever." + +Jasper rattled all this off with a fluency that told how he had indeed +been deliberating over the scheme for some little time, and only sprang +it on his chums now because the talk had gotten around to the subject. + +"How's that strike you, Elmer?" asked Ty. + +"Yeth, give uth your opinion, Mr. Thcoutmaster!" echoed Ted. + +"Boys, it's just dandy, and that's a fact!" declared Elmer. "We can make +up the arrangements to-night, if you'll all come around to my house. +I'll get a lot of the other boys on the phone. I was thinking this +morning that we ought to have a meeting about now, anyway, for there are +a lot of matters that need attention." + +"Then if you say so, it will be a go," declared Jasper, highly pleased +because his little scheme had met with such instant approval at the +hands of one in whom he placed the utmost confidence. + +"Sure to be, Jasper," came the reply. "And it does you great credit too. +Some of us were wondering what we might do to stir things up a little. +With school opening just two weeks off, we want to make the most of the +few days left of our vacation. Now this big hike will be just the +thing." + +"Besides, you see, Elmer," the small scout continued, eagerly, "it's +going to settle a dispute between the lot of us here. Some think one +fellow is going to have a walkover, and others hold different opinions. +Of course we all know you're bound to be shut out, on account of that +sore foot of yours. And as Mark is out of town, he can't enter the game +either. But we think the six fellows we picked out ought to make things +lively enough to suit anybody." + +"They will, for a fact," replied Elmer. "Of course I pin my faith on Lil +Artha, but I may be mistaken just as well as any one of you. But I must +be going, fellows, as I was on an errand, and just ran around here to +see how you were getting on. Better not try those gymnastics again, +Landy. That was an ugly scrape for even an acrobat, let alone a fellow +as chunky as you are." + +"Elmer, never again," said the fat boy, solemnly, as he slowly shook his +head. "I'll be sore for a week after that job. My arms feel right now +like they'd been nearly pulled out of their sockets. Gee, but nobody +can understand just how it feels to be hanging twenty feet up, on the +outside branches of a tree, and slowly slipping, slipping! And I lost a +basket of the biggest pippins you ever saw; every one a prize winner, +but now all bruised and wasted!" + +"You'd have been the biggest squashed pippin of the lot if you went down +that time," sang out Ty from the top of the tree. + +"Now that's real cruel of you, Ty," complained Landy; but he did not +take the jibes of his comrades much to heart, for he was fond of a joke +himself. + +"Remember, every one of you drop around to-night," said Elmer, as he +picked up his wheel, which he had hastily thrown aside at the moment he +discovered how necessary prompt action was required in order to save +Landy. + +"Any chance of striking some of that delightful sponge cake your +housekeeper makes to beat the Dutch?" asked Landy, who had never +forgotten the treat set before the scouts the last time some of them +were invited around to Elmer's home. + +"Seems to me Mrs. Gregg was making a big batch this very morning when I +left home," called back Elmer; just as if he hadn't asked her to do the +same, since he intended having the boys in khaki there that night. + +"Then count me in," declared the fat boy, firmly; "even if my arms are +so sore I'll have to ask somebody to raise the cake to my mouth. Yum, +yum; that was the finest thing that ever came down the pike, barring +none! And you tell her that, Elmer, with my compliments." + +"All right, I will," sang out the departing one, as he passed out of the +rear gate, mounted on his wheel and riding as one to the manner born. + +The apple picking went on, with the heap at the base of the tree +growing in size as basket after basket was added to it. And the +conversation between the five lads covered a great variety of subjects +as they stripped the big tree of its golden freight. + +"What makes me sore," remarked Landy with a big sigh, "is the fact that +I upset the basket that held the finest apples going. You see, my dad +expected to show some of these at the fair next week, if they turned out +as well as they looked from the ground. And I was just saying to myself +that I had the beauts, when the silly old ladder went back on poor +little Philander." + +"Don't weep, old chap," called out Ty. "If you look over that last lot I +sent down on my little cable here, you'll find them the mates of the +ones you dropped. And for a wonder, too, I got that basket down safe +without an upset." + +"Thanks, you make me happy again, Ty," remarked Landy. "And for that +you'll be remembered in my last will." + +"Huh!" grunted Jasper; "he deserves a heap of credit for letting all +those fine pippins get past him; because he acted like he meant to +gobble every extra good one that came along. I've counted about a dozen +he's got away with up to now; and I think even at that he's just taken +the edge off his appetite." + +"Well, in that case I'll get down and pick out a basket from the pile to +take in the house, before Ty starts at full speed," and Landy did +actually head for the ground to put his threat into execution. + +So they kept up a crossfire of remarks, sometimes more or less witty, +until the last apple that could be reached was bagged. Then the game was +declared off, and Landy invited his chums in to help dispose of a quart +of peanuts he happened to have in his room. + +"We'll all be around to-night at Elmer's house, I suppose?" remarked Ty +as, with Ted, Jasper and Chatz, he started for the door. + +"Count on me, if I have to be carried on a stretcher," vowed Landy, +laughing at the speaker, as he recalled to mind the attractive lure that +had been held out for their attendance. + +"And I'm anxious to have this thing put through," declared Jasper; +"because, you see, it was partly my suggestion; and besides, I've got a +hunch that the Fairfield troop are figuring on a long hike, to try out +their best fellows. I'd like to see our Lil Artha or Matty Eggleston up +against the best they have. It'd be a hike worth hearing about, believe +me, fellows." + +"And perhaps we _can_ fix up a match; I'm going to mention the thing to +Elmer, anyhow," remarked Chatz, who really had no small nature, and +could see one of his comrades winning laurels without showing the +slightest envy. + +And talking it over earnestly, they left Landy, heading for their +various homes. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AS THE CLOCK IN THE TOWER BOOMED SIX. + + +IT lacked but ten minutes of six. + +The sun had been up for about half an hour and there was every promise +of a fine August day. Possibly, before the shades of evening fell, the +heat of the dog days might prove more or less exhausting; but at that +early hour the outlook was all that could be asked. + +Around the old church with the belfry, fully half the young people of +Hickory Ridge seemed to have congregated. Girls were there as well as +boys; for what with the sisters of the scouts, as well as all the other +fellows' sisters, the starting of what promised to be the greatest hike +on record among the lads of the new organization was an event that could +not be missed. + +Of course, besides the six contestants, there were numerous other +khaki-clad members of the various patrols. Each fellow was, as a rule, +the center of a questioning group and felt compelled to supply all the +information in his power. + +Mr. Garrabrant, the young man who served so faithfully as scout master +to the troop, was talking to the boys who expected to participate in the +long tramp. He encouraged them, and at the same time laid down the law +in plain language. + +No one was to accept any kind of a ride while on the hike; even if only +for a short space, it would invalidate all his rights to be considered +in the contest. And of course each fellow gave his solemn word of honor +to abide faithfully by the rules, a copy of which had been given to him. + +The conditions were simple enough; Mr. Garrabrant had arranged with the +scout master of the troop of Boy Scouts in Little Falls, and each of the +rival contestants was supplied with a letter of greeting, which they +were to hand to that gentleman upon arriving at the headquarters in +Little Falls. This town being some forty-seven miles away from Hickory +Ridge, as the crow flies, it can be seen that a herculean task awaited +the boys, in order to cover this distance inside of the twenty-four +hours. + +What added spice to the game was the fact that it was known there were +to be several fellows who meant to leave Fairfield at exactly the same +hour, and under similar conditions. And the spirit of Hickory Ridge was +aroused in civic pride. They yearned to win out over all competitors, +just as they had done in that wonderful baseball game only a short time +before. + +Elsie Craig, one of the prettiest girls in the whole town, and who was +particularly fond of Elmer, waylaid Landy as he was changing his +position, meaning, to get closer to the group where the six who had +entered for the race were making ready for the start. + +"Oh, please wait a couple of minutes, Landy!" she exclaimed, with an +entreating smile on her winsome face. + +Landy, much as he wanted to get where he could hear the last +instructions given to the half dozen scouts before they started, could +not resist this plea. Truth to tell, Landy was a little "soft" himself +when it came to a certain girl, and Elsie happened to be her chum. + +"All right, Elsie," he remarked, as he came to a halt, though looking +longingly toward the excited group about Mr. Garrabrant. "What can I do +for you?" + +"I want to know, that's all. Elmer is so busy he just can't spend one +little minute talking to me," she replied with a pout. + +"Why, you see, he just has to do his duty as the assistant scout +master," declared Landy, actually wincing when the girl rested a hand on +one of his sore arms. "But I was at the meeting where all the +particulars were decided on, and perhaps I might be able to tell you +what you want to know, Elsie." + +"First of all, do the boys only walk and not run?" she asked, eagerly. + +"This is a hike, and that means a walk, not a Marathon race. So every +fellow is put on his honor not to run," replied Landy. + +"But I should think Arthur Stansbury had all the advantage, because he +can take such big steps," observed the girl, frowning a little, as +though Lil Artha had never been a very great favorite of hers. + +Landy laughed with the air of one who knows all the ins and outs of +walking matches. + +"Oh, that's nothing to go by, Elsie," he declared, with a shrug of his +shoulders that compelled him to make an immediate grimace, for the +muscles were sore. "Why, it often happens that some little runt can +outstrip a fellow nearly twice his height. It's endurance that tells in +the long run. The boy who can set his teeth together, and fight it out +to the bitter end. That's what Mr. Garrabrant says, and all of us +athletes understand it." + +Elsie smiled, and looked roguishly up and down Landy's plump form when +she heard him mention that word so proudly. But then, after that +experience when the ladder fell and left him dangling twenty feet from +the ground, Landy really believed he deserved to be classed among the +strenuous ones, even though it might be in an humble capacity. + +"And they have to walk all the way to Little Falls before to-morrow +morning; poor fellows, don't I pity them, though!" the girl went on. +"Elmer would have been in the game too, only for that ugly thorn in his +foot. And don't you think he would surely have won the prize, Landy, if +he had competed?" + +"Oh, nearly everyone believes that," replied the fat boy, readily; +"though to tell the truth, there never has been a hike like this around +here before, and we don't just know who's got the Injun sign on the rest +of the bunch. Between you and me, Elsie, I'm pinning some faith on +George Robbins. You know he's my cousin, and he's got some of the old +Philander Smith stock in him. The record of my family is a proud one"; +and he drew himself up as he inflated his chest with a pompous air that +would have well become the drum major of the town band. + +"To be sure, Landy," remarked the little miss, quickly; "and it covers a +lot of ground, too. Why, even in history we come across it every now and +then. But, Landy, how will it be known that the six contestants keep to +the route that has been laid out for them? Some one might look up a map +and find a road that would be a short cut. That would be an unfair +advantage." + +"Sure it would," remarked the boy; "and it was just to prevent knowledge +and craft from winning when this was to be a question of speed and +endurance, Mr. Garrabrant says, that made the committee insist on +stations along the way." + +"Stations? Whatever do you mean by that?" Elsie demanded. + +"Well, they picked out a number of taverns where one of the scouts who +goes on ahead with Mr. Garrabrant will establish a register. In that +book every fellow in the great hike is expected to enter his name in his +own handwriting, also the time of his arrival and departure." + +"Oh, now I understand; and Landy, that is a clever idea!" the girl +exclaimed. "But Elmer intends setting out on his wheel later on in the +day; will you please tell me what reason there is for that, Landy?" + +"Oh, it was arranged by the committee, that's all. Several of the +fellows will go from time to time. Sort of keep tabs on the contestants +and see how they are getting on. I expected to be chosen to be one of +these inspectors, but I had a little accident yesterday that knocked me +out. But all the fellows said that the game old Philander Smith spirit +cropped out, and that few boys could have held on up in that tree as +long as I did." + +But if sly Landy expected in this manner to lead the conversation into a +personal line, so that he could glorify his own prowess, he made a +mistake. Evidently the pretty little miss with the golden locks and the +blue eyes had no desire to hear about his wonderful escape. + +"How will the six contestants get anything to eat on the way?" she +asked. + +"Oh, that's left to them," answered the fat boy, frowning with +disappointment over the failure of his attempt to rivet her attention on +himself. "They can stop and have a meal at any old tavern; but I reckon +most of the fellows are wise to the fact that they must lose valuable +time that way. I know George has a snack stowed away in his haversack +right now. He's on to all the dodges, you know." + +"Why, of course he is, because he is your cousin, Landy. But suppose one +of the poor fellows breaks down? It's a terrible long trip, and all +sorts of things might happen, don't you think?" Elsie continued. + +"Not much danger of that, I guess," Landy answered. "You see every one +of them had to undergo a physical examination before Mr. Garrabrant +would allow them to enter; and they're all as fit as fiddles. Of course +we don't expect that after they've put, say twenty miles, behind them +they'll be as chipper as they are now. Their feet will drag more or +less; but that's where the grit must show." + +"They expect to start all at the same time, then?" asked the girl. + +"Sure, but after a mile or so they'll be likely to separate. One will +believe the pace too warm for the start, and drop back. You know they +say it's a bad thing to urge your horse early in a long race. All sorts +of ideas will prevail, so that long before the first ten miles have been +covered the six boys may be far apart, and each trudging along to suit +his ideas." + +"How much you know about all these things, Landy!" said Elsie, with a +twinkle in her sunny eyes that he failed to catch; for he again +stiffened up with that superior air that boys are apt to assume when +explaining the science of baseball or some other manly sport to a girl +who has never attended a game before. + +"Oh, well, we just have to, you see, if we ever expect to make good +scouts," he replied, thinking that after all Elsie was even a little +prettier than her chum, when she chose to smile on a fellow that way. +"And besides, we pick up a lot of information from our scout master, and +Elmer, who knows all about woodcraft, because he lived out on the big +plains. But it must be getting near time for the start, because they're +lining up now. Let's push ahead so we can see what happens." + +Despairing of getting away while the persistent little maid continued to +seek information, Landy was now hedging, and content to carry her along +with him as he pushed through the crowd of talking, laughing spectators. + +The clock in the church tower pointed to two minutes of six. And at the +first stroke of the hour they were expected to be off. + +Six boys stood in line, eager and expectant. Their particular friends +called out encouraging words, and there was a perfect babel of confusion +about this time. But Mr. Garrabrant anticipating such a happening, had +spoken the last words of caution. So that there was now nothing to be +done but wait for the loud boom of the big clock in the tower. + +"Good luck, Lil Artha!" + +"Keep that good left foot of yours going right along, George!" + +"Red, we're counting on you to win out, remember!" + +"That's Ty Collins on the extreme left; just you watch his smoke!" + +"Take it easy, Matty! You know the rules of the game, old fellow!" + +"Jack, don't you ever come around again unless you bring that prize with +you!" + +This last created a roar of laughter, as one of the scouts imitated the +voice of a girl whom everyone knew Jack Armitage was sweet on. + +One minute of six! + +Gradually this clamor died down as the critical minute drew closer and +closer. Many eyes were turned upon the big face of the clock on the side +of the square tower of the church. + +"Ready, all!" they heard Mr. Garrabrant call out. + +Then came a deathly silence. Everyone craned his or her neck, and the +figures of the six contestants who wore the khaki garments of the Boy +Scouts proved to be the hub of all glances. + +Some of the boys looked grim and determined; others, like tall Lil +Artha, wore confident smiles, as though they believed in their hearts +that it would be an easy snap. But all were evidently primed to do their +level best, no matter what the final result. + +Ah! There was a whirring sound up in the tower. Well did the boys know +that the big clock always emitted this seeming gasp just before the +striking of the hour. Then came a reverberating boom! + +It was time. + +"Hurrah!" yelled the crowd, as hats and handkerchiefs filled the air; +"they're off!" + +"And may the best man win!" said the smiling scout master, looking after +the fast walking line of contestants. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +SIGNS OF TROUBLE. + + +"LOOK at 'em all in a bunch!" cried one of the watchers; for the crowd +had been particularly requested not to follow the six walkers or annoy +them in the start. + +"But with Lil Artha at the head!" called another exultantly. + +"But they're all keeping up close with him, even if Red does have to +cover five steps to three by Lil Artha. It ain't the length of a +fellow's legs that counts for everything in a hike, let me tell you!" + +"Shucks! Why, Lil Artha is just playing with 'em," laughed another. + +"Sure he is; when he feels like it, he'll make a ring around the rest, +and then not be pushed!" + +"Oh, he will, eh? Shows how much you know about these things. Lil Artha +may be due to a little surprise before many hours go past; and it'll be +George Robbins who will do it," said Landy, proudly. + +"For he has the true Philander Smith grit," sang another; at which there +was a shout from the rapidly breaking-up crowd, for this little weakness +on the part of the fat boy was pretty generally known. + +Presently a turn in the road shut out the walkers. They were all going +strong when last seen, and Lil Artha even turned to wave a jaunty +farewell to those of his friends who had wished him success in the great +hike. + +Elmer and the balance of the scouts gathered together to talk over +matters connected with the affair. A plan of campaign had been mapped +out with almost as much care as if a battle were impending. Indeed, all +sorts of road maps had been consulted in laying out the course over +which the six contestants were expected to pass. And a copy of the same, +as well as the rules governing their actions, had been sent over to the +Fairfield troop at the earnest request of the scout master who had +lately taken charge there. + +The morning began to wear on. + +Some of those who had gathered to watch the start had come without +waiting for breakfast, though the scouts, as a rule, could not be +reckoned in that class, being early risers. And as the hours went by +there was always more or less excitement around headquarters. + +Several fellows had brought their wheels around. These were the chosen +inspectors whose duty it was to sally forth at certain hours when Elmer +gave the word, and pick up the several contestants along the way, +perhaps telephoning any interesting news connected with them from some +convenient inn where the registers were placed. + +Mr. Garrabrant and one of the scouts had gone off in an auto long ago. +They expected to establish the chosen stations and leave the registers +in which each fellow was to enter the time of his coming and going. + +At ten o'clock the first scout on a wheel was sent out. Another would +follow at twelve, and around four Elmer, as the last inspector, expected +to start. He chose to be last because a fellow who owned a motorcycle +had loaned it to him for the occasion, and thus he had a big advantage +over the others. + +When noon came there was a ripple of interest. A scout had come from the +store where the telephone station happened to be located, and he +brought the first news of the big hike. + +All the contestants had made the first station easily, passing within +five minutes of each other. And, strange to say, it was Lil Artha whose +time seemed to be just at the tail end of the procession. No one could +understand it, and all sorts of speculations began to pass current. + +"Got a stone in his shoe and bruised his heel!" one suggested. + +"More'n likely he's gone and strained a tendon again; remember he did +that two years ago when he made the home run that won the game!" another +exclaimed. + +"Rats!" called out a third, scornfully. "The sly old fox is only doing +that for fun. He's playing with the other fellows, believe me. When he +gets good and ready he'll pass the bunch, and leave 'em so far behind +they'll forget their names. Oh, I know Lil Artha! Why, he even took his +little camera along. Said he wanted to snap off a few pictures on the +way, just to pass time, when he got too lonesome." + +After a hasty lunch the boys again assembled at the church, and if +anything, in greater numbers than before; for every fellow in town +seemed to be on the spot, anxious to hear what news might come dribbling +in. + +Two o'clock came, and with it a running scout from the store, where +several were stationed in order to be ready to answer the phone. + +More news, and of a character to arouse great excitement. At the second +station there was a difference of just thirteen minutes between the +arrival of the leader and the last contestant. That leader was Lil +Artha; and sad to relate, the tail ender trailed the proud banner of the +Philander Smiths in the dust, for it was no other than George. + +"Told you so!" burst out the fellow who had been so positive about the +tall Lil Artha playing tricks. "He's starting now; and by night time +he'll be hull down in the distance. It's sure a walkover for Lil Artha." + +"Reckon you're right, and that it's all over but the shouting!" declared +another, who had been for Red Huggins, but proved rather weak-kneed in +his faith. + +Strange how the different natures of boys crop out under such +conditions. + +"Huh, it's too early in the game to throw up the sponge like that, Ben!" +declared another fellow, derisively. "All sorts of things might happen +to Lil Artha. You never can tell about them long-legged fellows. They're +apt to double up like a hinge with cramps or something. Wait and see. +Jack's holding his own with the rest, because he was only three minutes +behind the leader!" + +"Next time it'll be half an hour, because Lil Artha has unlimbered his +heavy artillery. Why, I bet you he's going along like a Weston, right +now, and just eating the miles up." + +"Yes, we'll get a message from Little Falls any minute now telling how +he blew in there with his seven-league boots, and has started back!" +mocked another, who apparently did not love the lanky one any too well. + +Meanwhile Elmer was trying to keep his finger on the pulse of things as +well as he could. It was while he was taking a look at the motorcycle +that had been placed at his disposal, to make sure the tank had a full +gallon and a half of oil aboard, and everything in order for a start, +that he heard the tooting of a horn up the road. + +A couple of the scouts chanced to possess motorcycles. True, they had +seen considerable of service, and were often in a condition far from +useful; but then Nat Scott, whose father was at the head of the schools +in Hickory Ridge, and Toby Jones, had had more or less sport in times +past with the second-hand machines purchased with their savings. + +It was now just five minutes of four, and Elmer expected to make his +start as the hour struck. He knew that he would have time enough to +overtake the leading walker long before night set in. + +Somewhat to his surprise, the boys who were coming began to shout as +soon as they drew near; and he noticed that both of them seemed very +much excited. + +Elmer's face paled a trifle. He wondered whether any accident could have +overtaken one of the contestants; though he could not imagine how such a +thing might be. + +"Hold on, Elmer, was afraid we wouldn't get here in time to catch you!" +called Nat, as they came along, both machines popping merrily; though it +might be noticed that they were erratic in their explosions, proving +that the spark could not be doing its full duty. + +Of course nothing could have tempted Elmer to hasten off now. He wanted +to hear what these scouts had to say. + +And he remembered something just then. Neither Nat nor Toby had been +present to witness the start of the six who had entered for the race. +The scout master had appointed them, at their earnest request, as a +committee to go over to Fairfield and watch the start of those scouts in +the rival organization, so as to bring back a detailed account. + +Perhaps Mr. Garrabrant, knowing boys as well as he did, may have +secretly suspected that it might pay to have a couple of wide-awake +fellows around Fairfield during the day to keep their eyes and ears +open. He happened to know that there had arisen a new bully in +Fairfield, who was doing all in his power to assume the reins laid down +by Matt Tubbs at the time he saw a great light and gave over his evil +ways when taking up the attractive scout movement. And it might be that +some of those turbulent Fairfield fellows would get together and hatch +up a scheme for keeping the Hickory Ridge scouts from winning the long +hike. + +All this flashed into the mind of Elmer as he saw Nat and Toby speeding +toward the church and waving their hands as they shouted. + +They came to a stop with something of a dramatic effect, and leaned +their motorcycles up against the wall of the church. Of course there was +a rush on the part of everyone within sight and hearing of the spot; and +already all sorts of wild theories were circulating, as they will at +such a time. + +"What's happened, d'ye think?" one gasped, looking frightened; for he +had a brother in the contest, and his first fear was that something had +happened to him. + +"One of the boys must have been badly hurt! Perhaps they've come for the +ambulance to fetch him home!" + +"Aw, get out! What's the use talkin' that way, Jim? However could they +get knocked out that way?" + +"Besides, ain't Nat and Toby been over at Fairfield all day under +orders? Must be news from that place. Perhaps Matt Tubbs has gone back +to his old ways again and plans to do our fellows up on the road!" + +"Matt Tubbs is all right, and don't you forget it. Here, quit your +pushin', and give a feller a chance to get in near Elmer!" + +Meanwhile Elmer had waited until the two scouts had saluted, as they had +been taught to do when meeting a superior officer; since respect to +authority is one of the cardinal principles to which the tenderfoot +subscribes when he first joins a patrol. + +"Have you just come from Fairfield, Number Four?" Elmer asked, turning +first to Toby, who belonged to the Wolf Patrol, which was under his own +particular care as patrol leader. + +"Yes, sir; been there all day," replied Toby, who was breathing rather +hard, as though he might have been having trouble with his machine on +the road, and had found it necessary to do considerable wrestling with +it in order to make the old tub behave. + +"You were dispatched there by our scout master, in order to watch the +start of the Fairfield scouts, and be able to give a detailed report of +the same?" Elmer continued. + +"Just what we were, sir; but that was not the whole extent of our +instructions," Toby went on. + +"I believe you were also told to stay around during the better part of +the day, mingling with the boys of the town all you could, and learning +if any underhand doings were being engineered among the tough element +outside of the scouts?" + +"That's what," replied Toby. "And just this afternoon we got on to +something by accident that we thought ought to be reported to +headquarters. Wanted to phone it, but they're repairing the wire between +here and Fairfield, and we had to try another way. So we hit up a hot +pace and came over direct on our machines; though of course we had +trouble on the road." + +"You did the right thing, Number Four," remarked Elmer. "And now, tell +us what you learned. Is there any sign of treachery afoot?" + +"Just that, as sure as you live!" cried Nat, unable to hold himself in +longer, when he had as much right to be heard as his mate. "They're +getting up a scheme to upset all our plans. We didn't hear a breath +about it till three, but the fellers in the game had started more'n an +hour before." + +"Meaning to waylay our boys, and put them out of the running?" asked +Elmer, showing signs of anger, as well as an eagerness to be moving. + +"Yes, but not exactly by what Mr. Garrabrant would call physical +violence," Toby spoke up, pushing his comrade back at the same time. +"Four fellows who don't belong to the scouts, I'm glad to say, started +out in a car, with the intention of finding whether it seemed likely a +Hickory Ridge scout was far in the lead, and if he was, then they meant +to tempt him to ride with them for a mile or more, knowing that if he +did this he would be disqualified in the race." + +"And if he refused, what then?" asked Elmer, knowing what the answer +would be. + +"They mean to take him along against his will!" shouted Nat, +triumphantly, before Toby could answer. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE MOTORCYCLE SQUAD. + + +NOBODY spoke for several seconds; but those of the scouts who were in +the crowd looked at each other with gathering frowns. They saw instantly +that, according to the rules of the game, if one of the contestants +accepted a chance to ride, or even was induced against his will to be +carried over a part of the course in an auto, a wagon, or any conveyance +whatever, he would invalidate his chances. + +"It's a rotten shame, that's what!" declared Larry Billings who belonged +to the Beaver Patrol, and pinned his faith on either Matty Eggleston or +Red Huggins carrying off the prize, for party faith was strong in the +troop. + +"Just what you might expect from Fairfield!" cried another disgusted +one. + +"Hold on, don't say that!" said Elmer, holding up his hand. "There are +decent fellows over there, just as there are in Hickory Ridge; and in +both places you can find some mean ones. Didn't you hear Toby and Nat +say that this contemptible game didn't crop up in the ranks of the +scouts of Fairfield, but some rank outsiders, who think they are doing +their mates a good turn, when in fact it's the worst thing they could +hatch up? Even if they win the prize it will always be tarnished; and +people will say it would have come to Hickory Ridge troop only for foul +play." + +A clamor of many tongues broke loose. Everybody seemed to want to air +his or her views; and the girls were just as indignant as any of the +boys in denouncing the outrage. + +"Here, you'll have to let up on that, friends, or else I'll take the +boys inside the church to talk with them," called Elmer, waving his +campaign hat with a show of authority. + +"Keep still, everybody!" + +"Give us a chance to think!" + +"Let Elmer run it; he knows what to do!" + +"Sure; and he'll do it, too, you bet. I'm sorry for them four Fairfield +bullies. They're going to be up against it good and hard, right quick +now!" + +Gradually the racket ceased, and Elmer could talk again. Those who were +close enough leaned forward to listen, eager to understand just what +plan the young assistant scout master would engineer in the absence of +Mr. Garrabrant, with the idea of frustrating the clever if unscrupulous +scheme of the enemy. + +It was a time that called for prompt action, as Elmer well understood. +If one of the Hickory Ridge scouts was well in the lead, doubtless those +four schemers in the automobile would, by the time night came on, start +operations. Whether the victim was Lil Artha, or any one of the others, +he could not successfully hold his own against four stout fellows. And +having once dragged him into the car, they meant to carry him many miles +along the route; dumping him out after they had "played hob," as Nat +expressed it, with all his chances. + +Elmer thought fast. He had his motorcycle ready, and knew that in all +probability he could readily head off the game, unless it was rushed +through without waiting for night to fall. + +The only thing that bothered him was the fact that he would be just one +against four; and in such a case he might suffer the same fate it was +intended to mete out to the leader in the race. + +If only the machines of Nat and Toby could be depended on now, there was +nothing to prevent his taking the boys along; and he felt confident that +both of them were in a humor to accept at the drop of the hat. Filled +with indignation at the mean nature of the trick which those Fairfield +fellows had up their sleeve, and which they doubtless considered smart, +Toby and his mate would be only too glad of the chance to accompany the +scout leader on his mission of rescue. + +"How about your gas?" he asked, turning to the boys; and it would seem +as if they understood just what the question implied, for a look of +delight took the place of the frown that had marked both faces. + +"Heaps!" cried Toby, grinning. + +"Filled mine just this morning, enough for seventy miles, and I haven't +gone more than thirteen!" declared Nat, also newly excited at the joyous +prospect. + +"Then let's get a start away from here," Elmer called, for the noise had +begun again, and it was difficult to carry on any sort of a conversation +with comfort. "Anyhow, we can drop out of town a few miles, and then +stop to consult." + +"Wow! That's the ticket, Elmer!" exclaimed Toby, making a rush for his +machine. + +"Bully! Bully all around! I'm on deck, Johnny on the spot. Won't we do +'em up brown though, if we only ketch 'em," cried Nat, rather forgetting +that as a scout fighting was only to be resorted to as a last thing, and +then in defense of another rather than himself. + +When the crowd saw the three getting ready to mount, they went fairly +wild; and every imaginable sort of exhortation was shouted. The news had +circulated like wild-fire, and everyone knew in some sort of hazy way +that the bullies of Fairfield were aiming to break up the great hike. + +"Get 'em, Elmer!" + +"Oh, you Fairfield crowd, we're sorry for you!" + +"Pinch 'em, Elmer! Knock the skunks into the middle of next week!" + +"You can do it, Elmer, we know you can! Give the rascals the best +licking they ever had! It's been a long time coming; hand 'em the +interest that's due!" + +Evidently these last remarks did not come from any fellow in khaki, +since they had been learning other things from the day they signed the +roster of the scouts. But even Elmer himself was thrilled with +indignation; it seemed so mean and contemptible in those Fairfield boys +to want to spoil the greatest hike contest that had ever been started. + +The machine that had been loaned to him was in good trim; and, moreover, +Elmer knew considerable about managing a motorcycle, though he had never +as yet owned one. + +He started his engine without the least difficulty, and then jumped into +the saddle with the grace of one who had long since mastered the art. +The crowd opened up before him, and Elmer sped along the road. + +"Oh, you Indian, I bank on you!" called one of the enthusiastic town +fellows. + +"Hi! Get a move on you, Toby and Nat!" + +"Give the old wrecks a poke in the slats, and make 'em be good!" + +"There goes Toby! Good boy, you!" + +"Now, Nat will you let that dare slip by? Hit her up, Nathan; that's the +ticket!" + +"Whoopla! We're all off!" + +In this fashion did they call out, with other remarks which space would +not admit of our printing. Nat had had a little trouble in making the +start, since his engine must have cooled down more or less; but after a +little fussing he managed to coax his battered old machine into emitting +a few rattling volleys, and then suddenly launched forward. + +Passing a mile or so down the road, Elmer threw up his hand in the way +drivers have of telling that they mean to either turn aside or else +stop, and which is a warning for those who may be following to look +sharp. + +Then, picking out a place where they could stand the heavy machines up +against a rail fence, he came to a halt, stepped off, and awaited the +coming of the others. + +"What happened?" exclaimed Toby, as he, too, reached the spot and +dismounted. + +"Had a puncture, or spark gone back on you?" demanded Nat, when he, too, +came booming along, to make a sudden halt and straddle his balky machine +while he talked. + +"Nothing happened," returned Elmer; "but before we start off we want to +make sure it isn't going to be a wild-goose chase." + +"But we heard that talk, and we don't think they could have been +kidding; because you see none of 'em dreamed we were near by," Toby +declared, vehemently. + +"That may be all true enough," Elmer said, "and at the same time, unless +we know just what we aim to do, we may make a bad mess of it. Now, did +you learn anything that would tell just where they expected to hold our +fellow up, in case he was in the lead?" + +"Why, no, of course not, Elmer," replied Toby. "You see, that would have +to depend altogether on how far the race had gone. It might be thirty +miles away from the start, and it might be less." + +"Right. And we'll have to follow along the course in order to get ahead. +Here, we can put in a few minutes to good advantage studying my map. +I've got an idea that by taking the Glenville short-cut road we can save +five miles easy. Perhaps there may be some other ways of cutting the +distance down. We looked after that when we arranged the stations." + +"Look here, Elmer, don't you think it might be a good idea for us to go +right along to the first station, and see if there has been any late +news from the front?" asked Nat. + +"Gee, that sounds like we were in a regular battle!" declared Toby, his +face aglow with eagerness, as he awaited the scout leader's reply. + +"A fine suggestion, Nat, and we'll do it, just as soon as we've glimpsed +this map again," observed the one addressed, as he sat down by the +roadside and drew a folded package from his pocket. + +Elmer had made these road maps himself from one he found in the house. +They were rather cleverly done, and showed every road, with the +distances properly marked, all the way to Little Falls. Besides, they +had the various taverns, where stations had been established, carefully +marked in red ink, so that no one could complain that he lacked +information. + +Running a finger along the route, Elmer quickly showed where in two +places they could, if they wanted, leave the main road and take +advantage of short cuts that must save them quite a number of miles. + +"But after all," he said, shaking his head, as he glanced at the +motorcycles of his comrades, "it might be a case of saving at the spigot +and wasting at the bunghole." + +"How's that, Elmer?" asked Toby, perplexed. + +"Well, we don't know what shape these side roads may be in after that +heavy rain night before last," he answered, folding up the map. + +"That's a fact!" ejaculated Toby; "and neither of us thought about that +for even a minute. Say, Nat, those roads are only dirt ones, and not +macadamized a single bit. Perhaps we wouldn't have a warm old time +jolting along over 'em, eh? I can just imagine your old omnibus going +out of commission before you made a quarter of a mile." + +"Well, I admit that's so; but that would be about twice as far as your +rattlebox would carry you, Toby," the other remarked, with a sting in +his words. + +But, then, when together they usually occupied much of their time, when +not engaged in waiting to make repairs, in poking fun at each other's +motorcycle; so that there was little venom to the sting. It had all been +threshed out time and time again. + +"Do we tune up now, Elmer?" asked Toby, as he prepared for a flying +start, that would make his companion turn green with envy. + +For answer Elmer took hold of his machine, manipulated the lever, and as +the engine started to throb, jumped into the saddle, much to the envy of +both the others, who could never depend on doing anything as they +planned. + +However, they managed to get moving, though Elmer had to slow up at the +next bend in order to let them come along. He believed he would need +the assistance these two stout scouts were capable of affording; and but +for that must have been tempted to put on speed and leave them far in +the lurch to wrestle with their various troubles as best they might. + +So they sped along. Now and then something would happen to one of the +old machines and cause a delay. Thanks to the presence of Elmer, who +knew more about machinery than either of the others, even though they +had owned motorcycles for years, these troubles were adjusted in an +unusually short time. Had it been otherwise, Elmer must have felt +compelled to abandon his running mates, since minutes were valuable to +him just then. + +They presently came in sight of a road house, which Elmer understood was +the first on the list of stations. He also remembered that one of the +scouts had been detailed to remain at this place, to use the phone as a +sort of relay station, and transmit any message from farther up the +road. + +"We'll hold up here a little while, boys," he remarked, as he shut off +power and prepared to bring his machine to a full stop. "Perhaps the +news from up the road may be worth listening to. Pull in and jump off. +There's Hen Condit in the doorway right now, beckoning to us." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +GETTING IN A RUT. + + +"GREAT news, fellows!" called Hen Condit, as he gave the salute on +seeing that the assistant scout master was with the party on +motorcycles. + +"What's that you say, Hen?" shouted Toby, making a flying jump from his +saddle that caused him to land plump on hands and knees before the road +house. + +"Here, hold on, what d'ye think you're doing, Toby Jones?" called Nat, +who was showing a little more deliberation in dismounting. "Guess you're +dreaming about aeroplanes and all such tomfoolery. Think you can fly, +eh? Well, grow a pair of real wings first!" + +Toby's pet hobby lay in the line of aeronautics. He was forever studying +up the mysteries of bird motion, and had the records of all the leading +aeroplane drivers at his finger tips, so that he could tell instantly +what was the highest point as yet reached by a bird-man; the fastest +flight made singly and with a passenger; the longest distance traversed +without alighting, and lots of other similar facts in which the average +boy might not be greatly interested. + +He had several times made a gallant attempt to fly, but thus far the +machines he had constructed lacked some essential quality. At any rate +Toby had suffered pretty much as did the Darius Green of whom we older +fellows used to read in our earlier days; and perhaps can still +remember declaiming the story of a vaulting ambition that took a tumble +from the old barn roof. + +Elmer gained the doorway where Hen Condit, one of the later recruits in +the Hickory Ridge troop, awaited him. Hen had only received his new +uniform on the preceding day, and hence he felt as proud as a peacock. +His chest had never before been known to have anything like the fine +appearance that it now presented. And only that morning his doting +father had remarked that joining the scouts had done more for the Condit +son and heir than years of pleading and scolding had effected, in so far +as making him stand up, and throw his shoulders back. + +"Now, what's the news, Number Eight?" asked Elmer; for the boy in the +doorway belonged to the Wolf Patrol, though a real tenderfoot, in that +he had only qualified for the lowest rung in the ladder by learning how +to tie a number of knots, learning what the requirements of a scout +consist of, and similar things. + +"I just had news from up the road, sir," said Hen, eagerly. + +"Good news, or bad?" asked Elmer, just as if his eyes did not tell him +that. + +"Fine and dandy, sir," was the reply. + +"Of course connected with the advance member of our immortal six?" Elmer +continued. + +"Sure." Hen forgot to add the term of respect now, for he was burning +with impatience to disclose his knowledge. + +"Where from?" asked the scout leader. + +"Rockledge, which is, I find, about thirty-two miles from Hickory Ridge +by the route marked out," answered Hen. + +"That's right," muttered Toby, who had the map in his mind pretty +accurately, because he and Nat had often scoured the country when their +machines were newer and acted more decently. + +"What was the report, Number Eight?" Elmer asked. + +"One of our boys had just registered there. He was nearly half an hour +ahead of the next contestant; though that one appeared to be Felix +Wagner, the smart second baseman of the Fairfield nine!" + +Elmer looked sober. He realized that the conditions seemed to be +peculiarly fitted for the carrying out of the scheme which those four +Fairfield plotters had arranged, and started up the road some time +before to execute, if it was necessary, in order to help their man win. + +A Hickory Ridge scout half an hour ahead of the fleetest of the rival +organization! That would mean a Fairfield victory, providing the present +leader could in some way be disqualified. + +"Who was the first man?" he asked, feeling pretty confident as to what +the answer would be. + +"Lil Artha! He's doing the Hickory Ridge troop proud this day. We'll +forgive a heap in the way of practical jokes if he only comes in away +ahead of Felix," Hen observed, with the natural pride boys always take +in their home-town doings. + +"Hurrah for Lil Artha! Didn't I always say he would show them a clean +pair of heels? Oh, he's a wonder at hiking and running! A three-bagger +for most fellows lets Lil Artha score the circuit. Bully boy, Artha! +Yes, we'll forgive everything if only he keeps this up and puts the +Injun sign on Fairfield." + +Somehow or other it seemed as though most of their concern lay in the +possibility of the rival organization winning the laurels. No matter +which of the six home scouts came in ahead, if only he could have the +laugh on Fairfield! + +"Half an hour ahead, you said, Number Eight?" Elmer pursued, as he +turned the matter over in his mind and began to figure as to just how +they should act in order to play the game right. + +"That's what I got over the wire. If you want, you can call up Rockledge +now, and perhaps they'll be able to give more information," Hen Condit +answered. + +"No need, I reckon. What we want to do now is to get busy," said Elmer. + +His eye naturally turned toward the two old machines that were apt to +prove so unreliable. And no doubt Elmer was compelled to once more +debate within his mind whether it would be best for him to leave Nat and +Toby far in the lurch, depending on his single arm to protect Lil Artha +against the vandals who would ruin the great hike; or by suiting his +pace to their progress, accidents and all, and have comrades to depend +on in an emergency. + +He quickly made up his mind to stick to them, for a while at least. If +things grew to be too bad, he could say good-by and go whirling off at +the rate of forty miles an hour. + +Elmer was convinced that the fellows in the Fairfield car would hardly +be likely to start doing things until darkness came. They would not want +Lil Artha to see their faces, so that he could recognize them and later +on accuse them when openly denouncing the miserable game. + +"Send on the news to headquarters, Number Eight," he said, as he +prepared to mount again; a movement that sent both Toby and Nat hurrying +toward their machines, anxious to coax them into a fresh start. + +"Shall I tell them that you were along, sir?" asked Hen, making the +salute. + +"Why, of course," said Elmer; "because they'll be anxious; you see, +there's a nasty plot afoot to kidnap Lil Artha, and make him forfeit his +place in the race, which would go to the next in line." + +"And that happens to be Felix Wagner! Great governor! Now I know why you +fellows are hitting up the pace! Give 'em one for me, Toby, won't you?" +Hen bellowed after the three scouts; but they must have gone beyond +earshot, for at least no one seemed to pay the slightest attention to +his request. + +It had been Elmer's first intention to make this trip on his wheel, like +the other inspectors, even though his still sore foot would have +rendered this a rather painful undertaking. Perhaps it was the knowledge +of his disability that had caused the owner of the motorcycle to offer +it to Elmer. At any rate the patrol leader was very glad to have it, +since there was little labor needed in order to cover all the ground +necessary. + +Of course there was little chance for the trio of scouts to exchange +words while they were spinning along on their motorcycles. The road was +not all that could be desired, the heavy rain of the recent storm had +washed it badly in places, so that they had to keep a sharp lookout for +ruts. + +Possibly there is nothing more exasperating to anyone riding a +motorcycle than to find that he is in a deep rut. For a brief time he +may be able to keep his proper balance; but presently he leans a trifle +too much one way, the heavy machine strikes the side of the rut, and as +a consequence there is a sudden dismounting; so that he feels himself +lucky if he alights anywhere but on his head. + +Knowing this, and feeling that the wabbly machines of his comrades were +doubly dangerous under such conditions, Elmer always slowed down when he +struck a poor streak of road. + +Even then their advance was not free from thrills. Toby was the first to +take a little header, because of thinking he could push through a rut +that somehow seemed to have drawn him as with a magnet, even when he was +fully determined that he would give it a wide berth. + +He came down with quite a hard bang; and Nat, hearing the noise, and +being just a little in advance, tried to twist his head around in order +to discover what had happened to his companion in misfortune, when he, +too, turned a complete somersault and landed in the midst of a big clump +of thorny bushes that grew alongside the thoroughfare. + +Of course, Elmer immediately stopped, and leaving his motorcycle, ran +back to see whether either of them could be seriously hurt. First of all +he laid hold on Nat, who was kicking his legs vigorously in the air, and +bleating like a calf. After a little pulling, and working the prisoner +of the bush to and fro, he managed to set him free. + +"No bones broken, I hope, Nat?" asked Elmer, as the other started to +dance up and down, rubbing his elbows, his shins, and every part of his +anatomy he could possibly reach. + +"Oh, I guess not, Elmer; but ain't I just a sight though?" groaned the +other. "My face feels like it was marked with scratches like a map; and +here's a big tear in my trousers. Got a safety pin, Elmer? Oh, dear, +won't I look terrible!" + +"Don't worry over it so much, Nat. Be a scout and show your grit. Those +are only little scratches and will be gone in a few days. They're +bleeding some now, of course, and feel bad. Let me wash them with some +water from this brook, to take any poison out. How is it with you, +Toby?" and Elmer turned upon the other unfortunate who came limping +along just then, trundling his heavy motorcycle. + +"Nothing much, I reckon, Elmer; got a lump about as big as a pigeon's +egg on top of my coco; but this ain't the first time by a long shot. +I'll be satisfied if only the upset didn't put my old ice wagon here out +of commission." And Toby bent over to test the sparking of his machine +after dropping the rest to the road. + +It started off at a rattling pace, which fact seemed to tickle the owner +very much indeed. + +"Say, blest if I don't think that tumble must have just knocked it back +into its old shape again!" he exclaimed in glee. "Haven't heard her take +the spark like that for a year and more. Hoopla! Nat, give yours a try. +Hope the same good luck fell your way." + +However, such was not the case. Indeed, Nat's machine utterly balked, +and refused to do anything. Even after Elmer had spent as much as +fifteen minutes puttering over it he could not make it behave. + +"I'll give it just one more try, Nat," he declared finally, "and then if +it won't work, I'm afraid Toby and myself will have to leave you here. +We've just _got_ to get along now, or it'll all be too late." + +"That's right, Elmer," declared the scout, manfully. "I'm not the one to +kick on account of being sacrificed for the good of the troop. Lil Artha +must be protected against these Fairfield bullies. And if I have to hang +out here till after dark, why I'll just feel that I'm doing my little +part of the work. But I hope you make it this time, Elmer, because I'd +rather be along with you, and have an active share in the rush." + +Once more did Elmer bend down over the motorcycle as it leaned against a +tree. Two minutes later there suddenly broke forth a rattle of sharp +reports and the rear wheel flew around at a dizzy pace. + +"Good, good! You did it, Elmer! She's in the running again; and I won't +have to camp out here on the road till some wagon comes along to pick me +up." And filled with newborn pleasure, Nat proceeded to execute a +hornpipe right then and there. + +"Well, get along with you both, then; I'll overtake you in about three +shakes of a lamb's tail," laughed Elmer, as he stepped off along the +road to where he had left his motorcycle. + +Ten seconds later the others, just about to start out, heard him calling +aloud. + +"He says, hurry, Nat," cried Toby, for a little bend in the road hid +their chum from them; and not waiting to test their machines any further +they were off. + +They found Elmer running around, with his head bent low, as though he +might be interested in the make of the roadbed. + +"What is it, Elmer?" asked Toby, coming to a stop. + +"My motorcycle has gone!" was the startling reply the scout leader +made. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +IN HOT PURSUIT. + + +TOBY and Nat stared, first at Elmer, and then at each other. Plainly +they could not understand what he meant by these strange words. + +"Er--d'ye mean you forget just where you left it, Elmer?" asked Toby. + +"I tell you it's gone, vanished completely, disappeared!" said the scout +leader, with a show of anger in his usually steady voice. + +"Great goodness, Nat, he means somebody's swiped it!" ejaculated Toby, +his mouth opening in his astonishment. + +Nat looked all around him, and then, not seeing a single trace of the +fine motorcycle, he began "barking," as Toby called it, after his own +peculiar way. + +"Gee, whiz, now what d'ye think of that for a hummer! The old story over +again of the traveler on the highway falling among thieves. My stars, +Elmer, now who under the sun do you think would be so mean as to run off +with your machine!" + +"I don't know--yet; but I'm going to find out," replied Elmer, setting +his teeth in a way he had when greatly aroused. + +They saw him bend down again, and start to examine the ground near a +tree, against which he evidently had leaned the motorcycle at the time +he hurried to the rescue of his comrades in distress. + +"Get next to him, would you, Toby?" remarked Nat, as he watched the +mysterious actions of the one who had been robbed. + +"Why, sure, I can understand what he's doing easy enough," the other +declared. + +"Then for goodness' sake put me wise, won't you please?" cried Nat. + +"He's examining the tracks left by the chap who got away with his +machine while he was working with your old ice wagon!" observed Toby, +proudly. + +"Well, now, I guess that's just what he is doing, sure as you're born. +And don't I just hope he gets on to him! How is it, Elmer?" as the scout +leader started to move away. + +Toby and Nat followed as close to his heels as they could, considering +that he immediately moved into the woods; and they were compelled to +trundle their heavy machines along, no easy task under the best of +conditions. + +"He went this way, all right. I only hope he won't think to smash the +thing when he finds we're after him," said Elmer over his shoulder. + +He was keeping his head bent low, and following the trail with apparent +readiness. The lessons he had learned when on that ranch in the Canadian +Northwest were undoubtedly coming in "pat" just now; though really the +trail was so very plain that even a novice might have followed it. + +"Who d'ye thing could have done it, Toby?" asked Nat, as he pushed his +motorcycle through the scrub with a desperate intention not to be left +behind. + +"Well, Elmer hasn't said a thing yet; but all the same I can give a +pretty good guess," returned the other. + +"Go on and do it, then, for I'm all in the dark and up a stump. Put me +wise, Toby." + +"Huh, reckon you forget mighty soon!" grunted the other, who was +struggling manfully to rush his heavy wheel along and did not have any +spare breath, to tell the truth. + +"Oh, slush, now I'm on!" cried Toby. "You mean them Fairfield chaps that +came out here to break up Lil Artha's great winning streak?" + +"Sure!" Toby grunted again, beginning to conserve his breath when +possible. + +"They flagged us, and saw a chance to put us on the blink!" exclaimed +Nat who, like Lil Artha, was more or less addicted to present-day slang, +though otherwise he was known to be a clean fellow, with no serious +faults. + +"That's it!" snapped Toby, gritting his teeth as though even the thought +made him furious. + +"It's a punk deal, that's what," Nat went on. "They just believe that if +Elmer's out of the running the game is in their hands. But he can have +my machine, if he wants to go ahead. If anybody can make it behave, +Elmer can." + +"Or mine either," declared Toby. + +Now Elmer, of course, heard all this talk, even though he seemed to be +devoting himself wholly to the business in hand. And at this juncture he +beckoned to his comrades. + +"He wants us to pick up, and get even with him," declared Toby. + +"Sure thing. Guess Elmer is going to take us at our word, and borrow a +mount," observed Nat, cheerfully. + +Accordingly they put on an extra spurt, and managed to gain enough +ground so as to come alongside. + +"I heard what you were saying, boys," Elmer immediately remarked, as +soon as he saw that they were up with him; "but you're away off in your +calculations. It isn't one of those Fairfield fellows at all who's +jumped my claim with that borrowed motorcycle!" + +"W--w--what's that?" gasped Toby. + +"I said that it wasn't a Fairfield fellow who ran off with my machine," +repeated Elmer, more positively than before. + +"Well, you make me feel like thirty cents," observed Nat; "now, what +under the sun would one of _our_ boys want with a motorcycle when, if he +rides on it, for even a minute, he's disqualified in the race?" + +"It wasn't one of our scouts either," said Elmer. + +"Then for goodness' sake tell us who it could be, Elmer!" cried Toby. + +"I haven't even glimpsed him once yet, though he's only a little way +ahead of us right now," the scout leader said; "but judging from the +fact that his shoes are all broken out, I'm almost dead sure he's some +Wandering Willie." + +"He means a hobo, a common tramp!" exclaimed Toby in astonishment. + +"Tell me about that, will you!" cried Nat. "Just to think of a four +flusher like that making off with Elmer's motorcycle, when he needs it +the worst kind to block that nasty little game of the envious Fairfield +dubs! Oh, it's a cruel world!" + +"But we're goin' to get it back, don't you forget that!" Toby +insinuated. + +"You never spoke truer words, Toby," laughed Elmer; though there was +little of mirth in the sound; for the boy was tremendously aroused by +this new calamity that threatened to upset all his calculations. + +"Hurry, hurry! I can go a bit faster, now that I know what's on!" +declared Toby, although his manner of gasping belied his words. + +"Oh, there he is right now! Look, look, Elmer!" cried Nat. + +All of them caught a glimpse of some moving object that was pushing at +top speed through the scrub ahead. Undoubtedly it was the party who had +run away with Elmer's motorcycle. They had gained on him constantly, and +were now surely overtaking the rascal. + +"We're just bound to get him, fellows!" said Toby. + +"That's so, Toby; it looks good to me," remarked Nat, as he strained +every muscle to keep alongside the others. + +Elmer, being free to make a sprint, since he had no machine to trundle +along, suddenly left his chums in the lurch. They saw him leaping +through the low underbrush as might a deer. + +"Hurrah! He'll get him!" shouted Toby. + +"Twenty-three for yours, Mr. Wandering Willie!" added Nat. + +"Don't I wish Elmer would just hold him till we come up," added the +other, with a threat in his manner that hardly became a scout; but then +Toby had been a boy long before this scout movement was dreamed of, and +the natural instinct is very hard to repress. + +"Hey, do we drop our wheels, and make a spurt, so as to be in at the +finish?" demanded Nat. + +"You can, if you want to," replied his mate; "but something tells me a +machine may come in handy yet, even if it is an old huckleberry +makeshift like mine." + +"Gee, yes! I didn't think of that," Nat muttered, still clinging to his +motorcycle. "The hobo might strike the road again, you mean?" + +"Yep, that's what, Nat." + +"And go skeetering off on Elmer's wheel?" + +"Just what I meant," replied Toby. "He's been making a sorter curve all +along, like he wanted to strike the road; I noticed that, Nat." + +"So did I. Don't like the job of pushing that machine through the scrub +any too much, I reckon," Nat remarked, panting from his own exertions. + +"And say, do you blame him?" Toby asked. + +"Listen!" and Nat cocked his head as though he could hear better in that +position. + +"What was it? Did you catch a shout for help? Perhaps Elmer's caught up +with him, Nat!" + +"I thought I heard somebody call out, or laugh," Nat began, when he was +interrupted by a shout. + +"Toby--Nat, hurry along with your wheels!" + +"That's Elmer!" gasped Toby, as he tried to add a little more speed to +his forward progress. + +"Perhaps he's got him under his knee, and is holding him for us," +suggested Nat. + +"That's silly," returned the other, immediately. "It won't hold water, +Nat. Whatever would he tell us to bring our machines, if he had the +hobo? Tell you what, I reckon he's made off along the road with Elmer's +motorcycle, that's a fact!" + +"And he wants one of ours to chase him with! Oh, I wish I could fly +right now, so's to hurry!" Nat cried. + +"A fine mess _you'd_ make of it, if even a fellow like me, that's up to +snuff, don't seem able to get it down pat," sneered Toby. + +"I see Elmer, and he's waving his hand to us like fun!" exclaimed Nat, +without appearing to take any notice of the slur cast upon his abilities +in the line of aviation. + +Elmer came bounding toward them just then, as though meaning to lend all +the assistance in his power toward getting the machine he fancied, if +there was any choice in the matter, to the road near by. + +He clutched hold of Toby's motorcycle, possibly believing that its +recent regeneration might prove fairly lasting. + +So they came upon the edge of the road again, after making all that half +circle through the woods and scrub. + +Toby's first act was to stretch his neck, and stare along the road. A +moving object caught his eye, which he had no difficulty in making out +to be a motorcycle, upon which a ragged specimen of a tramp was seated, +and which he was working at a great rate _with his feet on the pedals_! + +"He don't know beans about how to run the engine!" Toby exclaimed, with +sudden delight, as he saw this plain fact. + +The road just there was as straight as a rule, for at least a couple of +miles; and the fellow had not gotten more than a quarter of a mile away. + +He happened to turn his head to look back just then, while the machine +"yawed" at an alarming rate, threatening to dispose of the tramp in the +bushes. To the indignation of Toby and Nat, the latter having also +managed to reach the spot by this time, the Wandering Willie jauntily +waved a hand toward them, as though bidding them a fond adieu. + +There was a sudden sputter, and a rattling volley. Then away sped Elmer, +mounted on Toby's old machine, which seemed about to redeem itself in +this momentous crisis. + +"Wow! Watch his smoke, will you!" shrieked Nat. + +"Now will you be good, Mr. Hobo!" cried Toby; hoping in his heart that +the pursuing machine might not take a notion to perform any of its +frequent tricks and betray its new master. + +The man on the stolen wheel must have heard that rattle as of artillery +behind him, for Elmer never bothered using the hush pedal, such was his +desire to speed up and overtake the thief who was running off with his +mount. + +They saw him look back over his shoulder as if in sudden alarm. Then his +legs began to work faster than they could possibly have done in ten +years, as he endeavored to pedal his stolen property at a rate of speed +that would take him beyond reach of the relentless pursuer. But like a +meteor shooting across the sky, Elmer bore down on the hobo motorcycle +thief. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +TWENTY-SEVEN MILES FROM HICKORY RIDGE AND HOME. + + +"LOOK at the silly guy, will you! Thinks he can run away from a +forty-mile-an-hour engine! I like his nerve, now!" exclaimed Nat. + +"But Elmer's eating up the distance like fun!" cried Toby, dancing up +and down in his great excitement. "Think of my old machine behaving so +decent, would you! Why, she runs as smooth as grease--better than when +she was new! There! He's closing in on him now like hot cakes. Watch +what happens, Nat!" + +They stood there in the road, with their eyes glued on the little comedy +that was happening not a great distance away. + +The tramp knew from the loudness of those rapid-fire explosions that the +speeding motorcycle must be rapidly overhauling him. No need to turn his +head any longer to size up the situation, which in his mind was becoming +acute. + +"He's going to skip out!" shrieked Nat, suddenly. + +"Sure thing!" echoed Toby. "Look at him dragging his big trilbies along +the road to slow up. Hope he don't run slap into a tree though, and bust +things higher'n a kite!" + +"There he goes! Hoopla!" shouted Nat. + +They saw the tattered thief suddenly bring the motorcycle to a stop, or +at least what looked like it from a distance. Then he fell over on the +ground, and rolled into the bushes, as if only too anxious to get out +of the reach of the owner, before he could lay hands on him. + +Elmer shut off power and applied the brake, for he quickly came to a +stop close by the spot where his machine lay. + +"Chase after him, Elmer! Get him!" yelled Nat, as he and his comrade +started to hasten along the road, Nat apparently forgetting that he +might as well make use of his machine, if so be it would answer his +demand. + +But it looked as though wise Elmer saw no reason why he should get mixed +up with a rough hobo, simply to satisfy his desire for revenge. He +seemed to be bending over the motorcycle, as though investigating the +extent of damages it might have sustained in being so hastily dropped on +the hard road. + +"Here, what's the reason we can't get along in style?" demanded Toby. +"Hit up your old ice wagon, and I'll hitch on behind that far." + +"Sure thing!" remarked Nat, as if the idea had never once occurred to +him, he was so busy thinking of how he would like to lay hands on the +thief. + +After several attempts the machine decided to be good; and as it +started, Toby managed to hang on in some fashion, until presently they +arrived on the scene. + +Elmer had raised his motorcycle and started the engine going, after +dropping the rest at the rear, so that the back wheel could spin in the +air. + +"Seems to work all right!" declared Toby. + +"Glad to say there's been no damage done, except a dent in the gas tank, +and that can be easily pounded out later on," Elmer declared, as he +heaved a sigh of relief. + +"Are we going to let that hobo get off so easy; or do we chase after +him?" asked Nat, glaring around at the neighboring woods, in the depths +of which no doubt the object of his anger was snugly ensconced, watching +to see what they would do. + +"No use trying to get hold of him," remarked Elmer. "Forget it, and +let's bump along the road. He just saw a chance to steal something that +he really had no use for, and couldn't hold back. It's all right now, +and no damage done. Get ready to start, fellows!" + +In another minute they were speeding away, possibly much to the relief +of the concealed tramp, who had begun to fear that he had stirred up a +hornet's nest, and was likely to get stung pretty badly. + +Ten minutes later, with all three machines humming merrily, they flitted +past a roadside tavern. + +"See that?" called Elmer over his shoulder to Toby, who was next in +line. + +"The road house, d'ye mean?" answered the other. + +"Second signing station, fourteen miles, about, from Hickory Ridge," +Elmer said. + +"But you didn't make any move to stop," remarked Toby. + +"No need," came the reply. "We wouldn't be apt to pick up any later news +than what Hen Condit gave us. And we want to make all the time we can. +Been enough delay already." + +"But perhaps there won't be any more, from my machine anyhow, Elmer. +She's going like a greased pig. That shake-up must have been just what +the old buster needed." Toby bawled, knowing to what the other referred +when he mentioned hold-ups. + +Nat was trailing along in the rear, but coming apparently with no sign +of another balk; although doubtless he lived in perpetual fear of +something new springing a surprise on him. A motorcycle, once it gets +to acting queer, can establish a reputation for opening up new avenues +of trouble second to none. + +"Hey, look ahead!" called Toby, presently, after they had covered +another long distance of quite a number of miles. + +Elmer, upon doing so, discovered that a couple of fellows occupied the +middle of the road, and seemed to act as though they meant to stay +there, no matter what came along. + +As the motorcycle squad rushed toward them, Elmer had no great +difficulty in recognizing Landy's cousin, George Robbins, and one of the +Fairfield crowd, Angus McDowd. + +They had their arms locked, and seemed on the best of terms with the +world in general, though their steps had a tottery look, as Nat +expressed it. + +Finding themselves left far in the rear, these two had apparently made +up their minds not to bother about who won the great hike; but to stick +to each other, and take things as easy as they could. + +Hearing the sputtering of the several machines, they looked back and +waved their hands, evidently recognizing Elmer in the lead. Then they +stepped to one side of the road so as to let the procession pass. + +Elmer threw out his hand so as to warn Toby to slow up, as he meant to +do that same, and did not wish to take the chances of being run down. + +"How far are we from home?" shouted both the walkers, as Elmer came +close. + +"About twenty miles," he replied, for he had anticipated such a +question, and prepared himself to meet it promptly. + +"Is that all?" called Angus McDowd, who looked pretty much "all in." + +"What's the news; who's ahead, Elmer?" called George, as the motorcycle +passed. + +"Lil Artha at last accounts, by a long lead!" + +"Bully for Lil Artha!" both trampers shouted; for Angus was so tired +himself that he really cared very little who won. + +"How far ahead of us, hey?" shouted George. + +"Only about thirteen miles, George," answered Toby as he flitted past +with a fresh start. + +"Oh, won't poor old Landy feel sore when he hears how the hope of the +Philander Smiths has gone aglimmering!" mocked Nat, as he, too, went by. + +George made a quick motion with his hand as though throwing something at +his tormentor; then his care-free laugh floated after them. + +About three miles farther along the road they discovered another sight. + +"What's going on there?" shouted Toby, who again hung rather dangerously +close in the rear of the leader, because he wanted a chance to exchange +remarks from time to time. + +"Looks like a breakdown, and that's a fact," Elmer replied. + +"That's right," called Toby immediately. "It's Tom Cropsey, and he's +trying to put a plug in his tire. He's got a puncture, and that ended +his run as inspector." + +The boy looked up as they drew near, and shook his head even as he +grinned. + +"All in, I reckon, Elmer, can't seem to fix her!" he called, as the +scout leader flashed past. + +Possibly he would have been glad if they had stopped in order to assist +him repair the obstinate break; but Elmer had other fish to fry just +then, and time was too valuable to waste in gaining a recruit who could +never keep up with them for even half a mile. + +So they presently saw the last of poor Tom, marooned so far away from +home, and with night coming on apace. + +Elmer knew that they might expect to overtake some of the others at any +minute now, and every time he turned a bend he looked closely to see if +there were not figures on the road ahead. + +Nor was he mistaken. + +A few more miles, and he saw a lone pedestrian manfully struggling +onward, with a stout stick, which he had stopped to cut, assisting him. +At first Elmer thought it was an old man hobbling along, until coming up +on the party, the other wheeled. + +"Hello, Jack, old fellow! making a game push for it, eh?" called Elmer, +who had slowed down considerably, so as to give the contestant a cheery +word to encourage him in persisting. + +"Wow, but I guess I'm pretty near the limit, Elmer," answered the other, +who turned out to be Jack Armitage. "How far have I come since morning, +hey?" + +"About twenty-four miles," answered Elmer, as he passed. + +"Gee, is that all? Thought it was near fifty!" lamented the scout, as he +waved his cane at both Toby and Nat as they went by and doubtless cast +an envious look at the machines that were carrying them over the ground +so easily, while he was completely done up, and ready to cry quits. + +"Next!" shouted Nat, who was really enjoying this thing of overhauling +the various used-up walkers more than anything that had come his way for +a long time; it is always so nice to spin along on a wheel, or a +motorcycle, or in a car, and _pity_ the poor fellows who have to walk! + +"Well, there he is, right beyond," said Toby over his shoulder. + +"Who under the sun is it?" demanded the rider in the rear, whose view +was somewhat obstructed by his companions. + +"Blest if I know; looks a little like our Ty Collins!" Toby shot back. + +"It is Ty; anybody ought to recognize that old red sweater of his," +Elmer announced; "and he's got a fine stone bruise on his foot, if that +limp means anything!" + +The contestant stepped out of the road as they drew near. He stiffened +up to salute, game to the last, and chasing away the look of pain that +had been on his boyish face. + +One of his shoes was held in his hand, and he had been walking along in +this way, determined not to give up until the last gasp. + +"Better throw up the sponge, Ty," called Elmer, who had the authority to +order anyone out of the race who in his judgment was unfit to continue +further. + +Ty's face told that he welcomed this command, as it released him from +all further responsibility, and he could retire with good grace. + +"What'd I better do, Elmer?" he called out. + +"Station four just ahead; stay there to-night. Some one come for you in +morning!" the scout leader shouted back. + +"All right, I will. Hello! Toby, and you ditto, Nat. Who's winning? That +fast Fairfield fellow, Wagner, passed me a long time ago, going strong." + +"Oh, Lil Artha is miles ahead of him!" replied Nat. + +"Hurrah for the pride of Hickory Ridge troop! Bully for Lil Artha!" they +heard Jack whoop as they sped onward. + +Thus one by one they were fast picking up the contestants who were +spread out along the road to Little Falls, covering many miles from the +leader to the fellow far in the rear, the Hope of the Philander Smiths. + +"There's the other bicycle boy, Phil Dale!" shouted Toby a little later, +after they had passed the tavern which had been selected as the fourth +station. + +"And he's near played out, too. Look at him wabble, would you! Wow, he +can't do many more miles at that rate!" Nat yelled. + +Elmer gave a salute to warn the rider they were coming and wanted half +the road. As he swept past Phil called out something, but Elmer failed +to catch what he said, the others also went whooping by, no one having +thought to slow down. + +And so both inspectors as well as a number of the played-out contestants +had been overhauled. They were now fast coming to the point where a +crisis would be waiting for them. Twenty-seven miles from Hickory Ridge +and evening close at hand, when the miserable plot of the Fairfield +schemers could be put into play! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +NEARING THE CRISIS. + + +A SUDDEN howl arose from Nat in the rear. + +Both Elmer and Toby knew what it meant. The tricky wheel of Nat had +given signs of balking again, and they must make a stop in order to coax +it to be good. Elmer seemed to have a "wheedling" way about him, both +the others had confessed, when it came to patching up the peace with a +mutinous motor. He seemed just naturally to know how to go about +smoothing out difficulties in a way that told of his being a born +mechanic, although as yet he had found but few chances to show his +skill. + +So Elmer, though not without considerable reluctance, threw up his hand +as a signal that he meant to stop. Perhaps he might even have thought of +leaving Nat, and taking only Toby with him; but after the other had +stuck it out so valiantly all this while, it hardly seemed fair to +abandon him on such a slight pretext. + +So they were soon busy over the refractory motor, Elmer looking into the +trouble with his customary skill. + +"How many other fellows are there ahead of us?" asked Nat, who was +hovering over the one who worked, eager to lend a hand if called upon. + +"Quite a bunch," replied Toby. "Let's see, there ought to be Red, Matty, +Lil Artha on our side, and from what we know about the Fairfield crowd +we've still got to reckon with Henry Cobb and Felix Wagner." + +"Just leave out Cobb, boys," remarked Elmer, as he worked rapidly. + +"Why?" demanded Toby. + +"Oh, he's all in, for a fact!" laughed the other. + +"But say, we didn't pass Cobb; unless he was lying in the bushes along +the side of the road. How d'ye know he's given up the fight, Elmer?" +questioned Toby, bent on finding out. + +"I saw him sitting in that number four station, with one of his feet on +a chair, and being bound up," replied the scout leader. + +"Shucks, you don't say so!" exclaimed Nat. "Whatever in the wide world +do you think can have happened to him?" + +"Perhaps he's been bit by a mad dog!" suggested Toby. + +"Might a' been a rattlesnake; I've heard tell about lots of the critters +being found up this way. One man used to hunt 'em just for the skins and +the rattlesnake oil he got. Some people say it's mighty fine for +rheumatism; and athletes use it a heap. Say, Elmer, what d'ye think?" +Nat went on. + +"Oh, nothing like all that stuff," chuckled the other. "Henry has just +sprained his ankle, I reckon, and is getting it bound up. That +eliminates all the Fairfield contestants but one--Felix Wagner." + +"And him the most dangerous of the bunch!" muttered Toby. + +"How does it come on, Elmer; think you can get it fixed? Gee, I hope so, +because I'd sure hate to drop out now!" said Nat. + +"It's going to be all right; just give me three minutes more, and I'll +have it in shape for a long run," came the reply. + +"Oh, that sounds good to me!" declared Nat; "because I do want to be in +at the finish"; and secretly behind Elmer's back he doubled up his fist, +showed it to Toby and the two conspirators grinned and nodded, as though +they had their minds fully made up as to what they meant to do if the +chance opened. + +Elmer knew what he was saying when he made that promise. By the time the +three minutes were up he handed the motorcycle over to its owner. + +"There you are, Nat; give the engine a tryout," he said. + +And as the other did so, with the result that the explosions started off +with a rush such as Nat had not been acquainted with of late, he gave a +shout. + +"Runs bully, Elmer, you're just a wiz, when it comes to tinkering with +things. I bet you the old hippo runs like a scared dog now. Here goes, +fellows!" + +He jumped for the saddle, almost missed it, and managing to climb on, +went along the road furiously, though quickly slackening his speed as +Elmer called out. + +"How is it?" asked the latter, as he overtook Nat. + +"Just oh be joyful, that's what!" answered Nat, who seemed tickled at +the way his rackety machine was now behaving. "Why, she answers to the +least touch, and is as spry as a young colt. I'm almost afraid she'll +take a sudden notion to run away with me yet, Elmer." + +"There's Red, boys! He's still hitting up the pace; but it's only grit +that carries him on now!" observed Elmer. + +Red had always been known as the possessor of a stubborn will. Although +he was dragging his feet after him when first the three on motorcycles +discovered him, no sooner did he know of their coming than he braced up +wonderfully and pretended to be as fresh as in the start. + +Again were a few sentences exchanged as they drew past. But Red did not +deign to ask how far he was from home. He gave a shout upon hearing that +the long-legged Hickory Ridge scout was said to be well in the lead; as +though his one thought was to have his troop win out. + +"Ambulance be along later, Red!" shouted Nat, who could not resist the +chance to get in another little dig; but Red put his hands up to his +mouth to serve as a megaphone as he yelled after them: + +"Not for me; I'm able to walk back home again, if I want to, +understand!" + +Now they kept a lookout for Matty, who could not be far beyond. They +discovered him bending down at a running stream where he had evidently +been slaking his thirst, and perhaps bathing his tired feet, for his +shoes were both off. + +Again did Elmer give the "high sign," and the others took heed. The +three riders jumped to the ground. That clear water looked mighty +enticing; and, besides, here was the last fellow whom they might expect +to overtake, save Felix and Lil Artha; and a wide gap was believed to +exist between them. + +"Come on in, fellows, the water's fine," laughed Matty, whose face +looked as if he had dipped it partly in the creek, for the dust was +washed in streaks; but his smile was just as genial as ever. + +The trio soon slaked their thirst. + +"Where are we at?" demanded the leader of the Beaver Patrol, who had +made a pretty good bid for the prize, considering that he was not gifted +with such long legs as the two fellows ahead. + +"I think about twenty-nine miles out," Elmer returned. + +"And with just two fellows ahead; but I've got a poor chance to overhaul +'em, though I don't give up yet awhile. That's all, ain't it, Elmer, +Lil Artha and that muscular Dutchman, Felix Wagner?" + +"That's all," nodded Elmer. "Glad to find you so filled with pluck, +Matty; though it looks as if Lil Artha would have to carry the colors of +Hickory Ridge troop to the scout master of Little Falls." + +"How does the game stand; is Felix overhauling our chum?" asked the +other, as he started to put on his shoes, making a wry face while doing +so, as if his feet might be more or less sore. + +"Not that we know of; for at last accounts Lil Artha had a lead of some +three miles, and was going strong," Elmer replied. + +"Then what in the mischief do you fellows look so serious about, that's +what I want to know?" demanded Matty, whose sharp eyes had read +something in their manner that told him everything was not as serene as +outward conditions would seem to imply. + +"Listen, then, and I'll try to tell you as quickly as I can." And saying +this, Elmer started to relate how word had come of the detestable scheme +engineered by some of the rougher element among the Fairfield boys, +looking to rendering Lil Artha ineligible as a contestant, by either +coaxing him to ride in their auto, or if he persistently declined, +forcing him into doing so. + +Matty's indignation was immediate. + +"What a lot of scoundrels they are!" he declared, between his set teeth. +"If I wasn't a scout right now, d'ye know what I'd say they deserved?" + +"Well, never mind," laughed Elmer; "don't commit yourself, Matty. And +now, boys, since we've refreshed ourselves, let's be moving. This is +probably the last stop we'll make up to the time we overhaul our chum +who is so gallantly carrying our colors to victory. Come along, both of +you." + +Elmer had thought they could spare the few minutes needed to get a +drink, and give Matty some hints as to how things stood. The leader of +the Beaver Patrol had made such a brave fight of it, in that he had +covered nearly thirty miles of territory since morning, that really he +deserved to be told. + +Fortunately both of the older machines started in decent order. +Doubtless Toby and Nat breathed sighs of relief when this fact became +evident; for they had been having so much trouble of late that they +distrusted the working capacity of the worn-out motors to rise to an +occasion. + +But everything seemed going along smoothly, and once more the three sped +along, passing the fifth station, which was the same Rockledge from +whence the news had come concerning Lil Artha some two hours and more +before. + +"How far d'ye think he could have gone in two hours, Elmer?" asked Toby, +who, as usual, was making the leader a pacer for his own progress, as he +hung dangerously close at the rear of Elmer's machine. + +"Well, if he was fairly fresh Lil Artha might make eight miles, and +think little of it," replied the other. + +"But he must be tired by now, and say he's made six, wouldn't that about +fill the bill, Elmer?" + +"We'll call it six, just for fun, and let it go at that. Look out for +Felix about this time. He ought to still be half an hour behind the +leader." + +"Unless the conditions have changed a whole lot, which I don't think has +happened," Toby called. + +Elmer had even considered dropping off while passing through Rockledge, +just to find out when Felix entered his name and time of arrival. But on +second thought he decided that it did not matter much anyway; since it +was not the persistent work of Felix that bothered them half so much as +what the plotters meant to do. + +Thirty-two miles' walk was something worth while for boys who had never +made any pretense of being skilled pedestrians; and even the slowest in +the bunch, George and Angus McDowd, need not be ashamed, after having +tramped over twenty miles since sunrise, without any previous experience +and no preparation, such as old walkers of the Weston and O'Leary type +practice before starting on a long hike. + +A short time after leaving Rockledge, they believed that they must have +reached the thirty-five-mile stage. + +Elmer gave his horn a little toot, that being his way of signaling to +his comrades that he had sighted something ahead. + +"Is it Felix?" asked Toby, fearful lest the reply might indicate that +Lil Artha had fallen back to second in the race, and the sturdy Dutchman +beat him out. + +"It isn't our chum, anyhow," Elmer answered; "because he lacks half a +foot of being as tall. Yes, it must be Felix Wagner." + +"He's walking strong, Elmer!" declared Toby, anxiously. + +"So is Lil Artha, you'll find," the other flung back. + +"Do you think he can be far ahead still?" Toby persisted, just as though +the boy in the lead could tell everything. + +"I reckon he's holding his own," answered Elmer. "When we last heard he +was half an hour to the good. Then we'll likely run across him a few +miles farther on." + +"Say, it ain't far from dusk now, Elmer!" sang out Nat from the rear. + +"Oh, we know that easy enough," called Toby. "Just you keep your machine +in good temper, Nat, and everything'll be lovely, with the goose hanging +high." + +So they flew past the Fairfield walker in rapid style. + +After that little exchange of opinions the trio relapsed into silence +for a brief time. The motors kept humming away as though out for +business, and the regular music that his machine was giving forth seemed +especially pleasing to Nat. Why, he was that delighted he could not bear +to hush matters in the least by using the muffler! Who cared for the +noise anyway; this was no crowded town for the police to interfere. + +And now Elmer began to grow anxious. Felix had waved his hand to them in +passing, and they had answered in a friendly way, Felix was not supposed +to know anything about the mean plan on foot to further his interests at +the expense of the one whose fine work entitled him thus far to the +lead. + +How would they find Lil Artha? Was the pride of the khaki troop holding +out all right, or would they discover that he showed signs of weakening +when that sturdy and persistent Dutchman in the rear would soon pass him +by? + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FOUND AT LAST. + + +ELMER was thinking about the car that had started from Fairfield an hour +before Toby and Nat learned about the scheme to waylay the leader in the +great hike, in case he proved to be a representative of Hickory Ridge, +and prevent him from carrying out his intentions not to ride a foot of +the way to Little Falls. + +It could have easily overtaken Lil Artha long before this. Possibly the +four reckless young fellows in the car may have gone on ahead, to pick +out a favorable place for the ambush, from which they meant to pounce on +the walking Lil Artha and play their mean game. + +He was looking on either side of the road as he went, as though the +thought had come to him that perhaps he might discover the car in +hiding; the plotters having decided to wait until dark before overtaking +the leader. + +Then another idea flashed across Elmer's mind, and he no longer bothered +looking either to the right or the left. Instead his eyes sought the +road in front of his motorcycle. + +It was now beginning to grow a trifle like twilight. The glowing sun had +sunk in the west, and left a legacy of red and gold to paint a few +fleecy clouds that hovered there in the heavens. + +So it was not as easy as one might wish, to discover signs on the road, +especially when going at the pace they held. But here and there the +conditions became a little more favorable. Perhaps it was because the +trees were farther back, allowing more of that glow from the west to +reach them; or else the shading branches had prevented the sun from +drying the mud entirely, so that such a broad mark as that made by a +poorly inflated automobile tire might be detected. + +And this was just what Elmer was looking for. He found it presently, +too; and was even able to tell that the car had been going at a pretty +good clip in the same direction in which they were even then headed. +This he did by noting that the mud had been splashed _forward_, so that +it struck trees ahead of where it had formerly rested on the roadbed. +And the distance it had been thrown was proof of considerable speed on +the part of the passing car. + +So Elmer constantly found his previous experience in following a trail +of considerable benefit when filling the position of a scout leader. +Little things that others would have neglected to notice, or which, if +seen, might be looked upon as mere nothings, assumed an importance in +his eyes just as they would to an Indian born to reading signs when +following a trail in forest or on the desert. + +There was no especial need of shouting all this out for the information +of the two fellows following after him. They were quite satisfied to +leave the arrangement of things in his hands. All Toby and Nat wanted +was a chance to have a say in the wind-up; and if the opportunity arose, +to put in a good lick for Hickory Ridge. + +All the while Elmer was trying to figure distances. He had taken note of +the cyclometer at the time he passed Felix Wagner. It stood at just +thirty-five miles then. And if, as they suspected, Lil Artha, the +gallant Hickory Ridge representative, was some three or four miles ahead +of his closest rival, it was now about time they were sighting the +long-legged boy pedestrian. + +Indeed, unless they soon came upon him, Elmer would begin to worry, lest +those reckless blades in the Fairfield car had declined to wait for +darkness to come in order to hide their actions, and had already carried +their plan into execution. + +It was therefore with a purpose that Elmer shaded his speed down until +they were not moving along much more than twice as fast as a walker +would go. + +"Keep tabs on the road to the left, boys, as we go," he called back. + +"What for?" demanded Toby, eager to do whatever the leader wished, and +yet not able to see for himself. + +"Notice any signs that might stand for a struggle," Elmer went on. + +"Good gracious! Elmer, do you think they've jumped Lil Artha already?" +demanded Toby; and from the rear Nat called out: + +"Didn't you say you thought they'd hold over till it got dark enough so +he couldn't recognize 'em, Elmer?" + +"That's right, I did; and I still believe so," replied the leader, +confidently. "When I ask you to help me look for any signs of a +free-for-all scrap, I don't believe we'll find such a thing; but I'm +just insuring the correctness of my ideas." + +"Oh, that's it, eh?" said Toby; though from the manner in which he +uttered the words it could be plainly seen that he failed to fully grasp +Elmer's true meaning. + +But with three pairs of young eyes on the watch, it was not very likely +that anything in the nature of marks indicating a scrimmage would +escape. A lot of boys engaged in a wrestling match would be apt to leave +many traces on the road; for knowing Lil Artha as they did, the three +chums felt sure he could not be hauled into that Fairfield auto without +a desperate resistance. + +Once Nat sang out something that sounded as though he had made a +discovery; and instantly Elmer gave the signal for a stop. With his +heart beating like a trip hammer he dropped his machine and hurried +back. + +"Where is it, Nat?" he asked, eagerly, ready to attempt the reading of +such signs as might be found on the dirt of the road. + +Nat's eyes opened wide. + +"Where's what?" he asked, as if astonished. + +"Didn't you sing out that you'd seen something that ought to be +investigated?" asked Elmer. + +"Why, not that I know of," replied Nat, seeming rather confused. + +"But you did call out something?" went on the other, hardly knowing +whether to feel provoked or to laugh. + +"Sure I did; but it was only to tell you I was feeling as empty as a +sugar barrel that's been scraped clean. When do we get a snack, I'd like +to know?" Nat replied, rubbing the pit of his stomach as if to indicate +its state of emptiness. + +"Well, if that ain't the worst cheek I ever struck," growled Toby; "to +stop us just when my machine had got into its best stride, and was +humming most beautifully!" + +"Oh, come off your perch!" cried Nat. "I didn't stop you--never dreamed +of such a thing. It was an accident, that's all." + +"Never mind," remarked Elmer, as he prepared to mount again. "Not much +time lost, and I've made sure that Lil Artha has gone along here, _with +the car in front of him_!" + +"What's that?" asked Toby, hardly understanding. + +"Why, I've seen a place where our chum's footprint is marked _in the +tread_ the automobile tire made in the half-hard mud. That tells as +plain as print the car must have passed him back here a little; for if +he was not coming _after_ it he could not have stepped in the trail left +by the tire," Elmer went on, calmly. + +"Oh, yes, I see now what you mean, Elmer; and as sure as you live it's a +mighty clever idea. Takes you to think up all those things. That's what +you learned when you were out there on the plains, didn't you?" Toby +remarked. + +"Of course," was all the scout leader replied; but he could not help +thinking that in the case of some fellows it would be necessary for them +to have about fifty years' experience out West before they could grasp +the true meaning of clews and trails and such things. + +"Is there any need now for us to look out, and try to find traces of a +scrap?" asked Nat, as he balanced his machine and prepared to start. + +"You might as well keep it up," came the answer. + +"But if those chaps have gone ahead, what's the use?" demanded Nat. + +"Because, don't you see," put in Toby, anxious to air his knowledge, +"what's going to hinder them lying in wait, and jumping out on Lil +Artha. Shall we keep tabs of the left side as before, Elmer?" + +"The left--yes; but I imagine we're going to come upon our chum mighty +soon now. That track was fresh, and I've an idea it wasn't made more +than ten minutes ago, at the most fifteen." + +Both the other lads looked admiringly at the one who was able so +confidently to say such a positive thing. They could not imagine how it +was done; and as their glances met they shook their heads, as though +condoling with each other on their mutual ignorance. + +Then pop-pop-pop, and they were all off in a line, with Nat, as usual +bringing up the rear, and Elmer in the van. + +Ahead of them, about half a mile away, there seemed to be some sort of a +bend; although the shadows played around the spot so densely that even +the sharp eyesight of Elmer failed to make sure just what sort of a +curve the road took there. + +He had what he called a "hunch" that once around this they would be apt +to sight the one in whose fortunes they were so vitally interested. So +away they tore, letting the engines out for all they were worth; and +Nat, as before, utterly ignoring the fact that he had a muffler +connected with his metal steed. + +And as Elmer whirled around the curve he looked eagerly ahead. At first +he saw nothing save a long stretch of road that seemed to mellow as it +dropped a little in the distance. Was it possible that Lil Artha could +have passed beyond the extreme limit of observation? If so, then the +deduction he had made as to the length of time elapsing since that +footprint was made could not have been the true one. + +Ah, what was that moving there under the trees about half a mile ahead, +and just before the road took its slight downward pitch? Surely he had +seen something rise and fall with regularity; and it could hardly be a +branch. + +The object caught his eye again. It was red, and Elmer suddenly +remembered that Lil Artha always made it a point to carry a couple of +big red bandana handkerchiefs along with him when about to indulge in +any game, whether baseball, football or a fishing excursion that +entailed a long walk. + +Yes, surely that must be their comrade, who, hearing the familiar +explosion of the motorcycle engines, and possibly guessing that some of +the Hickory Ridge boys were following on his trail, had stepped aside to +let them pass. And that waving of the red flag was not intended as a +signal of warning, but simply Lil Artha's method of greeting his mates +as they flew by. + +He could see the tall figure plainly now, and even note how he carried +his khaki jacket over his left arm, as the evening was anything but +cool. + +And Elmer felt a thrill of satisfaction as he realized that after all +their troubles on the way they had finally come to the point where they +were about to join forces with the gallant fellow who was on his +thirty-sixth mile and still set upon arriving at Little Falls long +before dawn closed the contest. + +Lil Artha stood at attention. He had recognized in the leading figure +the assistant scout master of the troop, and, like a good scout, +believed in paying him the respect due his office. Under ordinary +circumstances they were chums and ready to indulge in any sort of +rough-and-tumble boyish wrestle, but when on duty it must always be a +different thing. + +So, as his hand came up in the regular scout salute, Lil Artha was +surprised to see that the other was bringing his motorcycle to a slow +down, as were also those in the rear, whom he now recognized as Toby and +Nat. + +Apparently, then, they intended to stop and speak with him, perhaps with +the idea of giving him fresh courage to plod along over the ten miles or +so that still remained between himself and his destination. + +Nothing averse to having a little chat with his chums as he walked +along, the tall scout stepped out from under the overshadowing branches +of the tree. + +"Hello, fellows!" he remarked. "Say, this is mighty nice in you, hunting +me up just to say howdy and wish me luck. What's the news back along the +line?" + +"All pins down in this alley but one other besides you, Lil Artha," said +Toby, quickly. + +"And I bet you I know who that chap is--he comes from Fairfield and his +name is Felix Wagner. How'd I get on to that? Why, what's the use of +telephones if you don't use 'em? I called up and found out, you see. But +don't you worry one minute. Why, I ain't near played out. Fact is, +fellows, I'm getting my second wind, and right now I'm good for another +thirty without stopping." + +"Gee, you are a wonder, all right!" exclaimed Nat, admiringly. + +"But listen, Lil Artha," said Elmer as they walked on in company, those +who had motorcycles trundling them along; "we've followed you all the +way from Hickory Ridge, which we left at four to-day, just to warn you +that you're in danger of being kidnaped!" + +"What!" exclaimed the tall scout, evidently astounded. "Say that again, +won't you, Elmer? Me kidnaped! Say, are you joshing me now or what? Open +up and tell me." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE HOWL OF THE WOLF SIGNAL. + + +"WELL, I like that, now!" burst out Toby. "He thinks we've run all the +way from good old Hickory Ridge, thirty-five miles away and more, just +to hand him a string." + +"And me taking all the dreadful chances of breaking my neck with this +cranky machine that's got into its second childhood!" echoed Nat, +indignantly. + +Elmer paid no attention to these side remarks. He could easily +understand just how Lil Artha looked at things. Not having the slightest +suspicion concerning any crooked work in connection with the great hike, +he could not comprehend what was meant by "kidnaping" him. + +"Just what we're here for, old fellow," he remarked. "In the first +place, perhaps you know it, and again you may not; but Mr. Garrabrant +sent these two good scouts over to Fairfield on their motorcycles to +take notes of the start made by the three fellows who meant to compete +with us in this event." + +"Yes, I knew about that," muttered Lil Artha. + +"All right," Elmer continued. "They performed their duties, and then, +according to orders, hung around to find out whether there might be any +talk about some of those famous tricks that used to be played when Matt +Tubbs was running things with a high hand over there." + +"But hasn't Matt turned over a new leaf; did Mr. Garrabrant expect that +it was all a make believe with him?" asked the other, quickly. + +"No," said the scout leader; "so far as we can tell, Matt is in dead +earnest about doing the right thing from now on. I reckon he'd be as mad +as hops if he heard what some of his old mates have arranged." + +"Well, hurry on and tell me, please, Elmer; I'm as curious as any old +woman you ever ran across," and Lil Artha laughed as he said this. + +"Late in the afternoon they happened to overhear a talk between two +Fairfield boys, and then and there learned about the scheme. It seems +that four fellows in a car had already been gone an hour. They were to +run up to the head of the line, and find out just how things lay. If a +Fairfield competitor was running in the lead, of course nothing would +happen; but in case it proved to be a Hickory Ridge scout _they had +their orders_." + +"But see here, Elmer, wouldn't that knock them out of the organization. +The rules of the scouts wouldn't stand for such an outrage," protested +Lil Artha. + +"Hold on, Lil Artha," interrupted Elmer. "You don't seem to get on to +the real facts. Nobody said a word about any scouts being connected with +this thing." + +"Outsiders, then, you mean, Elmer?" + +"Yes, some of the crowd that used to run with Matt Tubbs when he was the +terror of the county. You know they broke with him at the time he saw a +great light. Some of the best in the bunch followed him into the +Fairfield troop. Others laughed at the idea of turning over a new leaf. +And they say there's a new bully cropped up in Fairfield, a fellow who +used to sneeze in the old days every time Matt took snuff." + +"Yes," said Lil Artha, "I know--Eddie Johnston; and a bad egg he is, +too." + +"Well," went on Elmer; "he's engineering this deal. The idea is that +these four fellows will try to coax you to enter their ear for a lift, +promising that nobody will ever hear about it, you see." + +"But they ought to know I'd laugh at 'em. I'm good for the rest of the +hike, and could put on fresh speed if I sighted any feller coming along +to bother me," the tall scout declared. + +"Well, in that case they had orders to jump you, get you in the car by +force, and carry you off, to drop you ten miles away, perhaps at Little +Falls. In that way, you see, Lil Artha, you would be eliminated from the +game, because you had _entered a vehicle_, which is against the rules. +And the second one in the race would win. That must be Felix Wagner." + +"Does he know about this?" demanded the excited scout, frowning. + +"Of course," answered Elmer, "we don't feel sure about it; but the +chances are he doesn't. No fellow who has his heart in the true +principles the scout movement stands for, could take a hand in such a +nasty game. And I'm hoping that if Felix learned what has been done he'd +be the very first to declare that he wouldn't accept a tainted title!" + +"Good for you, Elmer! I don't know Felix very well myself, but I want to +think of him in that way, because he's a fellow scout. But look here. I +guess I saw the bunch you speak of pass me by only a little while back." + +"Yes, I knew they had gone on ahead, because I saw that in several +places your footprint was plainly marked in the tread of the auto tire +in the mud," said the scout leader, quietly. + +"Well, I declare now, if you don't beat anything in finding out them +tricks!" remarked Lil Artha, who frequently forgot there was such a +thing as grammar in the wide world. "Nobody else'd think of that way. +The rest of us have got heaps to learn. But I only saw two fellers in +the car, Elmer." + +"Oh, well, perhaps the others were hiding low down for a purpose," +returned the one who observed things closely and figured out results. +"If they all showed themselves you would be apt to know them later when +they started in with their rough-house business." + +"Then what d'ye think they mean to do?" asked the tall scout, anxiously; +at the same time Toby and Nat noticed that his hands were doubling up +into fists, as if the old spirit of self-defense had begun to run riot +within him. + +"They've gone down the road a few miles to some place that looks good to +them. Then, I reckon, the bunch will pile out and hide till you come +along. And while they're about it, they may disguise their faces in some +way with handkerchiefs. When fellows are in for something that won't +bear the light of day, they nearly always do that, don't you know, Lil +Artha?" + +"Sure I do," nodded the tall scout, promptly. "More'n a few times I've +done the same myself, and so has Toby here. But all the same it's a mean +dodge to try and cheat me out of my honest dues. What're we goin' to do +about it, Elmer?" + +"It stands to reason that we don't mean to let the game go through," +replied the one addressed, frowning. "I'm as much opposed to violence as +any fellow could be; but there may come times when even the scout is +justified in using his fists. Mr. Garrabrant says so; and if he was +here, even if he is a man of peace, he'd say the same." + +"That's right Elmer; I've heard him say that myself, and he'd laugh +right out when he declared that he was a man of peace, and that he was +bound to have peace even if he had to fight to get it," chuckled Toby. + +"All right," snapped Elmer. "We must remember that we're up against a +condition that can only be met by standing up for our rights. If those +four rascals from Fairfield tried to push Lil Artha into their car +against his will, he'd be justified in kicking and striking out in +defense of his liberty, wouldn't he, scout law or not? And on the same +ground, we, as his comrades, have the right to defend him." + +"And by ginger we will!" burst out Toby, triumphantly. + +"Make your mind easy on that, Lil Artha," declared Nat; "we haven't run +all the way from Hickory Ridge to see our chum badly treated without +putting in a few good licks for him. Gee, it will seem like old times! +My style is getting rusty, and will need some sandpapering, I guess." + +"Of course, talk won't amount to a row of pins," said Elmer. + +"Not with that kind of skunks it won't," observed Lil Artha. + +"As Mr. Garrabrant isn't here, and I stand in his place, I'll have to +try and do what I think he'd commend," Elmer went on. + +"About that peace racket, even if you have to fight to get it, eh?" +laughed Nat. + +"Wait and see," replied the scout leader, nodding his head, and giving +the other a significant, look that made Nat's heart glad; for, like Red +Huggins, Nat had always had something of a reputation as a fighter, and +found it most difficult to repress this pugnacious spirit after he +joined the scouts. + +"Lay out the programme, Elmer, won't you, please?" begged Lil Artha. + +"Yes, tell us just what each fellow must do," added Toby. + +"Well, I've been thinking it over as we came along," remarked the one to +whom these appeals were addressed; "and this is the plan I settled on as +promising the best results. In the first place, as these chaps want +darkness before they show their hand, so that Lil Artha won't be apt to +recognize them, the chances are they've gone several miles farther on +before running the car in among the trees at a likely spot. Do you agree +on that, boys?" + +"Sounds good to me, Elmer; please go on and roll your hoop," said Nat. + +"Beats all how you can hit things so close," remarked Toby; "because, +now that you've mentioned it, I c'n see how they'd be apt to do just +that very thing." + +"I'm agreein' with the rest, so keep moving, Elmer," Lil Artha observed, +deeply interested in the results, as he had a right to be. + +"Well, then, suppose now we ride on behind Lil Artha for another mile. +Then he can hold up when I give a little whistle, or he hears the faint +howl of a wolf in the distance. The three of us will then proceed to +hide our motorcycles somewhere in the woods, marking the place at the +roadside so we can find 'em again easy later on to-night. After that +we'll haul upon our chum, and keep a little distance behind him as he +tramps on toward Little Falls." + +"Bully idea!" declared the object of all this attention, shaking the +hand of the one who had suggested it. "And a feller don't have to have +more'n two eyes, with a mite of common sense back of 'em, to know +what's goin' to happen when the Fairfield bullies jump out on me." + +"Whack! whack! that's two down; one with the right, and t'other with the +left duke, leaving only two for you three boys," declared Nat, making a +violent lunge in either direction, as though getting in trim after these +months of idleness, when following the mild paths of peace. + +Toby laughed. + +"Say, what d'ye suppose we'll be doing all that while?" he demanded. +"Don't be so greedy, Nathan. It's one apiece all around. Nothin' could +be fairer than that, and I put it up to Elmer here. Who wants to get +cheated out of his share, tell me that!" + +"I reckon that ought to be understood in the beginning," remarked Elmer, +dryly. "Get this notion out of your heads, fellows. All we want is to +protect Lil Artha. If talking would do it I'd say leave it to me +entirely; but we all know it needs something stronger. So let each +fellow try to capture one of the bunch in ambush and hold him. Perhaps +they'll skedaddle as soon as they see us coming, and the job will be +done without one blow." + +"But if they do resist when we're trying to defend our chum, what then?" +asked Nat, with the most agonizing appeal in his voice, as though he saw +his dearest hopes fading, fading gradually away. + +"Oh, that goes without saying," chuckled Elmer. "I don't think there's +any real need of my giving you fellows orders along that line, because +you know what the only remedy is. Only, please don't forget for one +minute that you are scouts, and as such should hold your hand the +instant the white flag goes up." + +"Sure we will, Elmer, if we see it!" chuckled Nat. "You make me happy +again. Gee! I was afraid you might say that under no circumstances was +a poor fellow allowed to defend himself--that, like a lot of old women, +all we could do was to grab an enemy and hold on, no matter how he +scratched and bit and gouged. It's all right. We've got our orders, +fellows. Nuff said." + +All this time they had been walking at a rather stiff pace along the +road that led in the direction of Little Falls, distant something like +nine miles. When Lil Artha had said that he believed he was in +possession of his second wind, he evidently knew what he was talking +about. At least the others were hard pushed to keep up with the +long-legged contestant, hampered as they were by their heavy machines, +which had to be trundled along with considerable effort. + +"Fall back and mount, fellows," said Elmer; "and you, Lil Artha, keep +listening for the signal to wait for us. Only a mile do we dare keep +going; to get closer to the place of ambush might betray us, as they +would hear the explosions from one of these machines, the muffler of +which never works decently. Get that?" + +"It's as plain as the nose on my face, and nobody can miss that," +replied the other, as he started off along the road. + +Elmer cautioned his comrades to make as little racket as possible, and +presently they followed on their motorcycles. + +About ten minutes later a low, weird sound floated through the air. To +most persons it would have meant that some farmer's watchdog was uneasy, +and baying at the stars; but Lil Artha knew better. + +It was intended for the howl of the wolf, the sign of his patrol! + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE AMBUSH. + + +"I SEE him, Elmer," whispered Toby. + +"Couldn't be anybody else," chuckled Nat, "because Lil Artha is as tall +as a house, you know." + +The contestant representing the Hickory Ridge scouts was standing there +in the middle of the road, waiting for them to come up. + +"Is it time, Elmer?" he asked, anxiously, as the other three joined him. + +The gloaming was about them; indeed, since the heavens were beginning to +be overshadowed by clouds, the dusk had already commenced to settle, +earlier than usual in the end of August. + +It had been a pretty fair day, but there was no telling what the night +might bring forth; and Lil Artha, wisely looking ahead to a possible +thunder-storm about midnight, was determined to complete his long hike +as early as possible. + +"Yes," replied the leader of the Wolf Patrol, quietly. "We're going to +hide our machines somewhere about here, where we can find them when we +need them a little later." + +"And you want me to hold up till you're ready?" asked Lil Artha. + +"That's the programme," came the reply. "You see, we expect that the +four hold-up fellows must be hidden only a little farther along; and we +want to have our part of the game fixed. Just sit down here, Lil Artha, +and we'll be back again in a jiffy." + +"Well, if it's all the same to you, Elmer, I think I'll keep on +standing," replied the tall boy, with a chuckle. + +"Oh, all right," replied Elmer; "you're the doctor, and ought to know +what's best for your own case. Just wait for us here. Come along, +fellows, and bring your motorcycles with you." + +Of course there was no mystery about the refusal of Lil Artha to sit +down. He knew from past experiences how difficult it is to get in +working order again at such a stage in a long hike should he give way to +the temptation and drop upon the ground. It was better to keep moving, +and not allow any of his muscles to get stiffened. + +Following Elmer, the others pushed into the woods on the right, where +the scout leader seemed to think the conditions looked best for the +hiding of the three machines. + +It was not a hard task to secrete them in the bushes. + +"Hope it don't rain before we come back again," remarked Toby, as he +came out from the thicket where he had placed his motorcycle as +carefully as though it were a brand-new one; for on account of its +recent fairly decent performances the boy began to feel a return of his +former affection for the wheel. + +"We'll have to take the chances on that," replied Elmer. "These clouds +may not stand for anything, after all." + +"Often tries a big bluff like that," remarked Nat; "so we ain't going to +worry about it. Besides, if the little circus is soon over, we can come +here to get the bunch before long." + +"Back to the road then, fellows," Toby observed, leading off with +confidence. + +A minute later Nat broke out again: + +"Say, what d'ye know about this?" he remarked. "Don't seem a bit +familiar to me along here. What're you laughing at, Elmer? Has Toby led +us the wrong way?" + +"Rats!" exclaimed that worthy, bristling up in indignation. "Don't you +suppose I know what I'm about? Of course this is the right way to the +road, ain't it, Elmer?" + +"You might get there, if you kept on long enough!" admitted the other. + +"But how far would we have to go?" demanded the incredulous Nat. + +"Oh, about twenty-five thousand miles, more or less," chuckled Elmer. + +"Gee, he's turned right around and is heading _away_ from the road, +that's what," declared Nat, laughing softly. "A nice guide you'd be, +Toby, old chum. Think of us floundering deeper and deeper into these +blessed old woods, when every minute is worth a heap to us right now!" + +"But what did you let me do it for, Elmer?" complained the culprit. + +"Well, you started off as if you wanted to show us what you know about +woodcraft; and I thought the chance to open your eyes a little too good +to be lost," Elmer replied. + +"But we've wasted time by it," declared Toby, feeling disheartened. + +"Only a minute or two, and that doesn't count much beside the lesson it +may be to a couple of scouts I know," said Elmer. + +"Tell us just how you know which way the road lies," said Nat. + +"Oh, that is as easy as falling off a log," came the crushing reply. "I +just kept my eyes about me when we were coming in, and noted that we +were moving due east at the time, with the breeze exactly on our right, +and you remember it was coming out of the south a bit ago. If it had +been daylight I'd have known the points of the compass from the +direction of the sun; or, that failing, by the moss that nearly always +grows on the north side of the trunks of forest trees. There are many +ways for a wide-awake boy to find out these things; but only when he +keeps his wits about him _all_ the time, and his eyes and ears open." + +"I guess you're right, Elmer," grunted Toby. "Time I woke up and began +to do some tall thinking, if ever I'm going to get out of the greenhorn +class." + +While the three were talking after this fashion, in low, cautious tones, +Elmer had been leading the way in a confident fashion through the gloomy +woods. + +Both the others were now more than a little curious to ascertain just +how near the point where they had left Lil Artha their guide would fetch +up. So far as they themselves were concerned it was by this time all a +confused jumble. If asked to point out the proper direction neither +could have done better than shut his eyes and thrust out a hand at +random; for they were very much turned around, now that the clouds had +rendered it impossible for them to even decide which direction was west. + +"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Toby, presently, "here's the bally old +road, as sure as you're born, Nat!" + +"Elmer!" said a low voice, as some object moved near by. + +"And better still, here's Lil Artha!" declared Nat, lost in wonder as to +how Elmer could have done such a remarkable stunt, and with hardly an +effort, too. + +"Sure," came in the same low tone. "Where else should he be but here +just where you left him? But say, Elmer, you were gone a long time." + +"Not a bit over five or six minutes," replied the leader, immediately; +"and even then, we've had quite a lesson in woodcraft. Besides, Felix is +half an hour behind, and there's little danger of his catching up, yet +awhile." + +"Do we start on again now?" asked Nat, who was opening and shutting his +hands nervously in a way that might have excited the scout leader's +suspicions had he been able to notice the movement. + +"Yes, we're going to set the stage now for the last little scene in this +act of the drama entitled the Great Hike Conspiracy," chuckled Elmer. + +"That sounds good to me," murmured Nat. + +"Go on, Elmer, and tell us just what you want us all to do," urged Lil +Artha. + +"First of all, you are to start on again, just as before, Lil Artha." + +"Yes, I get that all right," replied the tall lad. + +"And the rest of us will shadow you," Elmer continued. + +"I don't quite understand what you mean, Elmer; will you keep a certain +distance behind me all the time?" Lil Artha asked. + +"You can make up your mind that we'll be close enough every minute to +hear you whistle steadily as you trudge along," came the reassuring +reply. + +"And that means you'll get on to what they say to me when they show +their hand: eh, Elmer?" + +"Just what it does, Lil Artha," the leader answered. + +"Fact is, I want to hear that little dialogue or conversation the worst +way. Because, you see, we may have to repeat this story a few times +later on, and we'd like to be able to have it all down pat." + +"Well, what happens then after they show their teeth?" questioned the +tall boy. + +"You make up your mind which one of the lot you like best, and hang on +to him with tooth and nail, as if you thought he was your long-lost +brother. Get that, Lil Artha?" Elmer continued. + +"I understand," came the reply. "You want me to count for one hold-up, +so as to leave the other three to you fellows?" + +"Well, you wouldn't be greedy, would you, and cheat us out of all the +fun, after we've come all this long way, and risked breaking out necks +time and time again?" remarked Nat, reproachfully. + +"He understands, Nat," remarked Elmer, pouring oil on the troubled +waters as he frequently did when little frictions arose in the khaki +troop. "And there's no need of wasting any more time. Be off, Lil Artha, +and success to you." + +"Same here, fellows," came the merry reply; "and more power to your +elbow, Nat"; from which last remark it was very evident that Lil Artha +knew full well the impulsive character of the Scott boy, and how his +desire to engage in "scraps" had not as yet been wholly tamed down by +his becoming a scout in good standing. + +Nat's father was the principal of the public schools in Hickory Ridge; +and from the time that Nat started to attend he had possibly given the +professor as much trouble as any lad in the whole town. Not that Nat was +naturally bad, but his quick temper, and readiness to use his fists to +settle argument, had drawn him into innumerable scrapes. + +Accordingly, Lil Artha once more started along the darkening road, +swinging out with those long strides which his length made possible. + +Elmer calculated to a nicety just how far they ought to allow their chum +to get before starting to follow. It was important that they should be +concealed from the eyes of the four in ambush; and yet, on the other +hand, he did not want to drop back to such a distance that they might be +cheated out of hearing what happened when the surprise came. + +In order to maintain a certain distance in the rear he had instructed +the one ahead to keep up a steady whistle. Lil Artha was known to be a +whistler, and often amused his chums by his accomplishment in this line. +It was a gift, such as an occasional boy finds himself in possession of. +And more than once had Elmer told his friend that he would make a good +woodsman if only he turned his talent toward imitating the various clear +sweet notes of wild birds. + +They could hear him easily now, and Elmer fixed the sound in his mind. +As he had cautioned Lil Artha to keep up a steady flow, it would become +apparent that they were either diminishing the distance or adding to it, +if that whistle became louder or softer in volume. + +Five minutes passed. + +Elmer caught a big sigh close beside him, which he knew must proceed +from the impetuous Nat. Doubtless every sixty seconds that dragged by +seemed like an age to the Scott boy; who fancied that after all their +trouble perhaps they were going to be cheated out of their fun, and that +the plotters had weakened at the last round. + +Not so Elmer, who estimated things at their true value, and not by the +rapid pulsations of an excited heart. + +"Cheer up, Nat," he whispered in the ear of the other; "it's going to +come pretty soon now." + +"Oh, I hope so!" sighed the one who loved action above all things. + +"He's stopped whistling, Elmer!" whispered Toby, excitedly. + +"No, there he starts again," replied the leader, who in truth suspected +what the little break in Lil Artha's melody might signify. + +Possibly he had caught some suspicious rustling sound, and unconsciously +held his breath for just five seconds in order to listen better. + +Was it a false alarm, or would the music begin immediately? Warned by +this suggestive hint, Elmer waited, fully expecting to hear a loud voice +suddenly break forth from some point ahead. Since this was not "Out +West" where lawless desperadoes held sway, it would hardly come in a +hoarse demand to "throw up your hands," but in some milder fashion. + +And presently Elmer realized that his guess had hit the mark. The +whistle suddenly ceased. Then they heard a voice call out in the most +familiar way possible: + +"Hello, there, Lil Artha! Hold up a bit, won't you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +FRIENDS IN TIME OF NEED. + + +A NERVOUS hand gripped the sleeve of Elmer's jacket. + +Nat was trembling with suspense; and doubtless Toby, on the other hand, +was almost as badly off. Elmer had come to a halt as the sound of that +voice reached them; but it was for only a fraction of a minute. He knew +that it was policy on their part to creep up, foot by foot; because, +when Lil Artha wanted help he would need it in a hurry. If they were too +far away perhaps those energetic Fairfield plotters might be able to +throw the tall lad into the car, and start going; when, as Nat might +have expressed it, "the fat would be in the fire." + +"Why, hello! Who's that?" they heard Lil Artha reply, in the most +natural tone any fellow could display. + +Of course he ought to show surprise at being suddenly hailed from the +bushes so far away from home, and by some one familiar with his name. + +Evidently the quartette at that came out of hiding and surrounded the +tall lad; for his next exclamation seemed to announce this fact. + +"Four of you, hey? Well, this is nice of you, boys, to come all this way +just to give me a good word of cheer!" he remarked. + +"Hold up, don't be in such a hurry to get along, Lil Artha," said one +who seemed to be the leader of the lot. + +"But how do I know how close some other fellow may be on my heels!" +remarked the tall lad; although he evidently did not make any further +attempt to brush past them. + +"Say, that's just it!" declared the unknown, who, no doubt, had his hat +pulled down over his face, and depended on this, as well as the +gathering gloom of approaching night, to conceal his identity. "There is +a Fairfield fellow hot on your trail, and he's bound to beat you out, +because he's got his second wind." + +"Yes," spoke up another, quickly, chuckling at the same time; "that's +what we're bothered about, Lil Artha. We just can't bear the idea of you +being beat to a frazzle by Felix Wagner." + +"But I don't mean to be, you know, boys," expostulated the tall boy. +"Little Falls ain't mor'n nine miles ahead; and if Felix has got his +second wind, I'm in the same boat myself. Count on me to get there ahead +of him, fellows!" + +"But you might have an accident, stub your toe or something like that," +declared the leader of the opposition. + +"So might Felix," remarked Lil Artha, cheerfully. + +"Yes, that's so," came the reply; "but you don't know the luck of that +Dutchman. Everything comes his way, Lil Artha." + +"Well, this hike won't, bet you a cookey!" remarked the other, +stubbornly. + +"He's right behind you, and coming like a house afire." + +"Then what in the dickens are you keeping me waiting here for?" demanded +Lil Artha, indignantly. + +"I'll tell you," replied the leader of the four, mysteriously. + +"Hurry up, then, and let me go ahead," ordered the tall lad. + +"We've been talking it over, you see," began the other. + +"It's plain enough that talking is something in your trade," commented +Lil Artha, bitterly; and Elmer heard Toby alongside him chuckle softly, +as though he might be enjoying these caustic remarks of their tall chum +mightily. + +"And we've come to a conclusion, Lil Artha," went on the other, as +though he was not to be moved by any thrusts from the tongue of the +contestant. + +"All right. Glad you've come to something. Hurry up and spit it out, and +then give me a clear road, won't you?" the one who was being held up +remarked, sharply. + +"The honor of good old Hickory Ridge is at stake," continued the +unknown, in a solemn tone that suggested graveyards and all that sort of +thing, Chatz Maxfield would have declared. + +"Sure it is, and if you don't let up on this business it'll go +aglimmering. I want to walk, I tell you," declared Lil Artha. + +"Hold on, now. Easy, Lil Artha. We represent a committee of the Hickory +Ridge boys, and have been sent out to make dead sure that you win this +big hike; d'ye get on to that, now?" + +"Well, it sounds all right, but for the life of me I can't place you +among all the fellows I know," returned Lil Artha, suspiciously. + +"Never mind about that; it don't cut any figure in the matter at all. +Fact is, none of us want you to know us. Then you won't be able to give +the game away." + +"Game? What's that mean?" demanded the other. "Open up here, and show +your hand, won't you?" + +"We want to help you on your weary way, Lil Artha." + +"With cheery words and all that?" queried the one addressed, with +something of a sneer showing in his tone. + +"Shucks! Something that counts better than cheery words. We've got a +bully old car right here, Lil Artha. You can see it if you look." + +"Well, I see it all right," returned the Hickory Ridge scout; "but +what's that got to do with a fellow that's on a long walk, and anxious +to get to the end of his journey, tell me that?" + +"Huh, a heap, Lil Artha; and you must be silly not to see through a +grindstone that's got such a big hole in it. What's a car made for, +anyway?" demanded the leader of the ambushing party, while his comrades +laughed harshly. + +"Look here, what're you hinting at?" asked Lil Artha. "You don't want me +to get in there with you, I hope?" + +"Plenty of room for six, and there's only four along, Lil Artha." + +"But I don't need any help that way," protested the tall boy, angrily. +"I tell you I'm good for hours of hard grind yet. Not one chance in +sixty of me losing out to that Felix Wagner. I don't care what sort of a +hustle he's got on him. Just you clear the track, and watch my smoke, +that's all." + +"But we fellows of Hickory Ridge don't want to take the chances. Here's +a bully opening for you to be carried along five miles in as many +minutes. Then we'll set you down, and you can finish the hike into +Little Falls as fresh as a daisy. You'll do it, Lil Artha, of course you +will?" + +"Of course I won't, and you hear me warble at that!" roared the tall +boy, furiously. "What's more, I don't believe a single one of you live +in Hickory Ridge. Just let me strike a match and have a look at your +faces. Then perhaps I'll believe you mean honest, even if I can't take +up your offer." + +There was a slight scuffle at this. Evidently Lil Artha had attempted +to put his suggestion into practice; but a ready hand had knocked the +match out of his grasp just as he struck it. There was a sudden gleam of +light, and then darkness again. + +"No, you don't, old fellow," said a voice that was now tinged with +anger. "None of that funny business goes with us, does it, boys?" + +"Nixey, not this time," replied one. + +"Quit kidding, and make him be good," growled another, who plainly had +tired of the game as far as it had gone and wanted to be on the move. + +"What's this mean?" demanded Lil Artha, just as though he could not as +yet get the true facts through his fuddled brain. + +"The bird that can sing and won't, must be made to sing, they say," +growled the fellow who seemed to take the lead in the abduction game. + +"Grab him, boys, and jam him in the car; that's the only way!" burst out +a second of the quartette. + +"Hold on here, do you know what this means?" asked the one who was being +threatened in this fashion. "It's an outrage to stop me like this. And +when you say you're from Hickory Ridge, you lie, that's what! You're a +bunch of Fairfield cowards, and you're only trying to make me break the +rules of the game so that I can't win! I'm on to your dodge, and don't +you forget it!" + +A series of scornful laughs greeted these words. Evidently the hold-up +fellows felt so very sure that they had things in their hands that they +could afford to delay a little; just as the cat, not feeling +particularly hungry, will play with the mouse that has been maimed. + +"Listen to him, will you?" jeered one. + +"He's on, all right, fellows," exclaimed another; "he sees through the +dodge, does Lil Artha. Oh, ain't it a great thing to be a scout, and use +your brains! But all the same, we don't expect to let our big friend +have his way, do we, boys?" + +Of course they were clustered around the Hickory Ridge scout, cutting +off all avenues of escape, even if Lil Artha should conceive the idea of +running away. + +"Not much, we don't," echoed another. + +"Keep your hands off me now, I warn you all!" shouted the tall boy, +aggressively; but in reality his words were intended to inform Elmer, +Toby and Nat just how far events had progressed, so that they might +arrange their movements accordingly. + +"Are you going to get aboard?" demanded the leader, harshly. + +"You mean of my own free will?" asked Lil Artha, fighting for a little +time, so that he could make sure of having his chums come up for the +crisis. + +"Yes, climb in, Lil Artha!" + +"I refuse; and defy the whole bunch of you. I'm going to stick to the +rules of the game; and you can't make me change my mind. Bah!" the tall +scout shouted. + +"Tackle him, and if he fights back, don't be too gentle with the big +cub. He's going to be carried five miles and more, whether he wants to +go or not!" + +As the leader snapped this out there were heard sounds of a scuffle. No +need of daylight to tell those who were crouching so close at hand what +was taking place. + +Grunts and low exclamations told that Lil Artha was doing his level best +to resist the onslaught of the four Fairfield rowdies. + +Still, the tall scout from the Ridge was only a boy after all; and if +those opposed to him were less lengthy, that was no reason they lacked +in physical powers. And left to himself, there could have been no doubt +in the world but that after a gallant resistance Lil Artha would have +found himself bundled into the car, possibly bearing numerous cuts and +contusions on his body as mute witnesses to the fight he had put up. + +And once they had him in the tonneau, three could hold him tight while +the other fellow started the machine. After that it would have been +"one, two, three," in the language of Lil Artha himself, so far as his +right to claim the prize of the great hike was concerned. + +There could be no doubt but that the boy who was thus attacked was +following out the suggestions given by his patrol leader. This was made +evident by the loud cries of the fellow whose voice proclaimed him as +being the leader of the attacking squad. + +"Pull him off, there, can't you?" he yelled. "He's hugging me like fun, +and got his long arms twisted around my neck. Hi, there! somebody give +him a jerk before he chokes me! Knock him in the ribs, and make him let +go, fellows!" + +Nothing could hold Nat Scott back after that. The sound of battle acted +on him just as the smoke of burnt powder is said to affect a horse that +is accustomed to the roar of mighty conflict. + +Nor did Elmer have the slightest idea of trying to keep either of his +chums in restraint longer. The crisis had arrived, and Lil Artha needed +their help, lest he be bodily kidnaped and carried away in that car. + +So they swiftly bore down upon the scene of the fracas. In the gathering +darkness they could just manage to distinguish a group of wildly +struggling figures; for Lil Artha had one of the ambushing party in his +embrace, and the other three were vainly endeavoring to make him break +his hold. + +"Remember, one apiece!" Elmer said, as they arrived on the spot. + +Up to that second none of the Fairfield fellows had the slightest +suspicion that their miserable game had reached a snag. One happened to +discover the coming of a single figure, and apparently the only thought +that flashed through his mind was that the next nearest contestant had +somehow managed to arrive on the spot ahead of scheduled time; for he +immediately began to shout aloud: + +"Keep your hands off, Felix; this is our job, and you don't want to know +anything about it. Go right along the road now, and close your eyes and +ears. You've got a snap, and a soft one at that. Here, let go of me, you +fool! We're your friends, d'ye hear! Quit it, I tell you! Wow! What's +this mean, fellows?" And the one who was making all this outcry suddenly +changed his tune from indignation to fright, as he noticed other +vigorous forms attacking his companions. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HOW THE PLOT FAILED. + + +"HELP, help! he's choking me! Pull him off, you fools, can't you?" +shouted the valiant leader of the four, who had planned to have all this +fun with Lil Artha, and now found that the shoe was on the other foot, +since it seemed to be the tall scout who was enjoying a monopoly of the +sport. + +But instead of his mates obeying, he found that they had suddenly ceased +in what efforts they were putting forth. The mystery was not difficult +to solve, because every fellow had enough to do defending himself +against an assailant who had apparently sprung from the darkness. + +It was a lively scene for a short time. The Fairfield fellows understood +that in some miserable way their scheme must have become known to the +Hickory Ridge scouts. Perhaps they heard Toby call out the name of Elmer +when asking what he was to do with the fellow on whose back he had +lodged with the tenacity that the Old Man of the Sea exhibited when he +refused to let Sinbad the Sailor put him down. + +They struggled hard, but it was no longer with the idea of completing +their cowardly plan. All thought of carrying Lil Artha off in the car +was now abandoned, and each and every Fairfield fellow only considered +his individual chances for making what Nat called a "get-away." + +Speaking of Nat, that worthy was really and truly happy. Old times had +come back again, and once more were his muscles being allowed to play +their part in a struggle for the mastery. + +He had early picked out the victim whom he felt called upon to punish. +If pugnacious Nat could only have had his sweet way about the matter, +that party would undoubtedly have been the leader of the four Fairfield +schemers; but since Lil Artha already had that worthy "in chancery," as +it is called when one gets his opponent's head under his arm and in a +position of abject helplessness, Nat had to content himself with +selecting a less prominent foeman. + +What happened just then and there it would be hardly fair to state, +because of the fact that Nat was a scout in good standing. But there +were several loud thumps heard, and somebody seemed to pick himself up +from the road twice, only to suddenly sit down again, with more grunts +and finally decline to get up at all. Upon which Nat danced around him, +making threatening gestures, and actually daring the alarmed plotter to +try and get on his feet again. + +Elmer, on his part, had happened to lay hold of a very slippery +customer. The Hickory Ridge scout did not want to hurt the fellow any +more than he could help; but at the same time he was bound to do all in +his power to hold him; for he meant to take a look at every one of their +faces, so that he could tell them again. + +Twice the other had come close to slipping out of his clutches, despite +the grip Elmer had upon him. The second occasion was when with some sort +of movement, which he had possibly practiced until he had it down fine, +the boy suddenly drew his arms out of the sleeves of his coat, and was +in the act of darting away when Elmer threw out a foot and tripped him. + +Again he pounced on the other, and this time managed to get a good grip, +so as to be able to exert himself. The consequence was that he spun the +Fairfield chap around on his back and was able to place a knee on his +chest. + +"Now, lie still, you, unless you want to get hurt!" Elmer exclaimed; and +being by this time of the opinion that he had run up against a buzz-saw +in action, the panting and defeated plotter gave in. + +The clamor had for the most part ceased. Only Nat seemed to be doing an +Indian war dance around his prostrate foeman and shaking his fist every +little while in the fellow's face. + +"Don't hit me!" yelled the alarmed one. "I'm all in, don't you see? I +cave! I'm a prisoner, and scouts don't dare hit a defenseless fellow, do +they?" + +"Aw, you make me think of a coward that would hide behind a woman's +skirts!" declared Nat, in disgust, because his enjoyment had been so +suddenly cut short by the collapse of his opponent. "Why don't you stand +up and take your medicine like a little man? Just because I belong to +the scouts I ain't allowed to hand you what you'd give me if you had the +upper hand. It's tough, that's what." + +Possibly Nat might have been tempted beyond his powers of resistance but +for the fact of the patrol leader's presence. + +"Hold up there, Nat, Toby, Lil Artha!" called out Elmer just then. "How +is the world treating you, fellows?" + +"All to the good here," chuckled Toby, who was still clinging to the +back of his capture and showed no inclination to let go. + +"My pig looks like thirty cents!" said the tall scout who, left to +himself, had speedily reduced his opponent. + +"And mine is on the blink, too," declared Nat. + +"Shucks, I ain't had hardly a mite of fun out of it all! He laid down on +me, that's what he did, Elmer." + +"'Taint so," bawled the fellow, indignantly. "He just went and knocked +me down two times, and here he goes now waving his old fist under my +nose like he wanted to do it some more. Call him off, Elmer, the game's +all up and we cave!" + +"All right, boys, glad to hear it," sang out the patrol leader; "but +before we let you go we're bound to have a look at every one of your +faces, so we can know you again." + +There was more or less muttering at this, for the Fairfield boys began +to see that they were doubtless in for considerable unenviable publicity +on account of the affair. But beggars can seldom be choosers. They found +themselves helpless in the hands of their enemies, and must do exactly +what they were told. + +So Elmer took out his match-safe and prepared to strike a light. + +"See if you know the fellow you've got hold of, boys," he called. + +Then the little illumination flared up. + +"I know this duck all right!" called out Toby. "He's Dick Rawlings who +used to play center field on the Fairfield nine." + +"And I've got Eddie Johnston, just as I expected!" announced Lil Artha +who, it will be remembered, had seized upon the leader of the quartette +by whom he had been stopped on the road with the demand that he ride, +whether he wanted to do so or not. + +"I don't seem to know this cowardly cub," declared Nat, who had lighted +a match on his own account, and bent low over his prisoner. "He makes +the worst faces you ever saw, just to keep me from knowing him again. +Here, stop your throwing your head around that way, or else you'll get +burned! Hey! what did I tell you? Got a little dose of it then, did you? +And one of your eyebrows singed right off! Well, you _will_ be a beaut +for a while now, and I reckon I can put my finger on you any time I +want." + +"You did that apurpose!" shouted the fellow on the ground, glaring at +the grinning Nat. "You just wanted to mark me, that's what!" + +"Oh, rats! Close your trap now and see how you can run," laughed Nat, as +he took a firm grip on the collar of the other, and started to drag him +up off the ground, the fellow whimpering all the while as though he +really expected that he was going to be badly treated. + +"Who's your bug, Elmer?" cried Lil Artha. + +"I think his name is Sandy Coons; anyhow he's got cross-eyes and that +ought to mark him, if ever we want to prove that he was here," replied +the patrol leader, as he assisted the fellow to get up. + +"That's O. K., Elmer," declared Lil Artha. "Sandy Coons has got a pair +of the crookedest eyes ever; and if you look close you'll see he's got a +notch in his right ear. I remember when he got that, too; a fellow he +was with pinned his ear to a tree with an arrow he fired, when they were +playing Buffalo Bill's Wild West, and when Sandy tore loose it left a +dent. Is it there, Elmer?" + +"Sure as you live," laughed the other, as he looked. + +"Then we know the whole cahoot of 'em," declared Lil Artha, "And now, +please hurry up and get 'em on the jump, Elmer, because it's time I was +hiking out again, you understand." + +"What're you going to do with us, fellows?" asked the leader, as they +were being ranged in line. + +"We're going to start you down the road to meet Felix and tell him the +game's all up," said Toby, who seemed to believe the Fairfield +competitor must be aware of the scheme by means of which he was to be +benefited; though Elmer on his part thought better of the rival scout. + +"But--our car is here," expostulated one of the prisoners. + +"Then come back and get it later on; we don't mean to run away with it. +But if you take my advice, you'll cut for home right away, because this +thing has gone to the limit. And anyone trying to hamper Lil Artha any +further is liable to get himself seriously hurt. Understand that, all?" +and Elmer allowed his voice to express the indignation that surged +through his soul. + +"Aw, let us loose! You know we've thrown up the sponge, and it's to the +tall timber for the lot," grumbled the leader. + +Nat suddenly made a rapid movement. There was a cry, and then a fellow +started at a rapid pace along the road. Nat, unable to hold in any +longer, had given his prisoner the start he promised, which, of course, +meant a hearty kick. + +Elmer let his captive go scot-free, which fact so aroused the +indignation of Nat that he darted after the fleeing Sandy Coons, and by +rapid work succeeded in placing his number seven in the place where it +would do the most good. At least the others judged this from the +agonized shriek that floated back to their ears. + +Lil Artha was quick to see a good thing and show his appreciation. In +his mind imitation was the sincerest flattery; and accordingly the +successor in the bully line to Matt Tubbs was heard to loudly declare +that he would never, never cease to remember the long-legged scout; but +upon hearing the aggressive Nat making in his direction he, too, faded +away. + +That left only one to be treated, and this the chap whom Toby had been +riding as he might a horse. This fellow, understanding that he was in +for a good dose of the same kind of medicine, began struggling again, +hoping to upset his captor and in some way make off without submitting +to that humiliating experience. + +It was of no use, however. Lil Artha took hold of him, and then told +Toby to let go. There was some little confusion, and then the fellow +galloped madly up the road, bellowing as though in pain. + +"Did you get him?" asked Toby, eagerly. + +"Well, I nearly broke my toe, because you see I'm wearing light walking +shoes on this hike. And how about you, Toby?" laughed the tall one. + +"Dick Rawlings won't play ball for a little while; till he gets over his +limp, anyway," answered the other. + +"Field's clear now, Elmer, ain't it?" asked Lil Artha, turning to the +patrol leader for further orders. + +"Yes, and the sooner you're off again the better, Lil Artha," replied +Elmer. "You see, that Felix has been coming along all this while, and +perhaps he may be nearer than we think. How is it with you now; ready to +put in your best licks on the home stretch?" + +"I'm just feeling as fresh as a daisy, Elmer," replied the other. "This +little business seems to have given me a new appetite. You watch me just +eat up the miles. Nine of 'em, do you say? Shucks, I'll be in Little +Falls before two hours!" + +"Bully for Lil Artha!" exclaimed Nat, clapping his hands. + +"Well, we'll put it out of the power of these fellows to pursue you any +farther, by taking their spark plug along. Ten to one they haven't got +an extra plug with them. And, Toby, Nat, we mustn't forget that we've +got machines a ways back here." + +"That's right, Elmer. Do we get a move on us, and go for 'em now?" asked +Nat. + +Lil Artha had already waved his hand at them, and started off along the +road at a stiff pace, which seemed to emphasize the truth of what he had +just said about feeling as "fresh as a daisy." + +"That's just what we're going to do," replied the other; "so come along +boys." + +"Gee! I hope we happen to run foul of one of them fellers again," +laughed Nat. + +"Don't be a hog, Nat," admonished Toby. "You had ought to remember that +now you belong to the scouts you've got to be merciful." + +"Ain't I?" protested the pugnacious one. "Didn't I just kick that feller +with the singed eyebrow, when I might have punched his head? Guess I +know my duty, Toby Jones!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +VICTORY--SISS! BOOM! HURRAH! + + +ELMER was as good as his word. He knew how to cripple the car, and in +almost no time he had secured the vital plug without which the machine +was valueless for following after Lil Artha, and making him any more +trouble. + +Then he and his two chums hurried back along the road, meaning to look +up their motorcycles; and once mounted upon these they could speedily +overtake Lil Artha; to form a guard of honor about him while he covered +the last few miles of his long and adventurous hike, that was to bring +new glory to the khaki troop of Hickory Ridge. + +Nat ran on ahead. They knew full well that it was not any eagerness to +be the first to discover the marked spot near which the machines had +been secreted that influenced him to do this, but some other motive, +possibly not quite so worthy of commendation. + +But even Elmer did not say a word. In the first place he did not think +Nat would be successful in overtaking one of the Fairfield schemers; and +then again, Elmer was not feeling any too kindly toward fellows who +could try to put through such a mean plot for defeating the ambitions of +the leader in the great hike. + +"Hold on, there; come back, Nat!" called Toby, presently. "You've gone +and overrun the place. It's lucky Elmer here took note of this big oak +tree; or a pretty time we'd have finding our wheels again." + +Nat did return, but with a bad grace. He was mumbling something about +"hard lines when everything goes against a fellow," and all that sort of +stuff; but no one appeared to pay any attention to his complaint. + +They quickly found the three motorcycles, just as they had left them; +and again Toby started out to lead the way, only to make a mess of it. + +"What's wrong this time, Elmer?" he asked, when the patrol leader gave +him to understand that they would be a long time getting out of the +woods if they kept on the route he, Toby, had started to follow. "I made +sure to notice that the wind was on the same side as when you led us out +before." + +"Yes, but since then the wind's taken a sudden shift. You should have +paid attention to that just when we left the road," remarked the other. +"A woodsman never goes by what it was a while ago. He knows changes are +liable to come around most any old time; and that's what happened here. +Wind whipped around about ten degrees, and is heading from the southwest +quarter now. That may mean rain before long, boys." + +"Let her come if she wants," declared Toby, who was something of a +philosopher at times. "Can't do any more than soak us through, and at +this time of year that's nothing. I've fallen into a pond more times +than I've got fingers on both hands. They just can't drown me, and that +goes, boys." + +"So long as Lil Artha comes in well to the front, and the Hickory Ridge +scouts win the big hike, what do we care?" Nat spoke up. "Besides, we've +had a little mite of fun, you know, fellows." + +"Fun for the boys, but how about the frogs?" laughed Elmer, as he +pushed his machine through the low brush, heading for the road again. + +"Let the bullfrogs look out for themselves, that's all," declared Nat. +"Any silly gump who will duck his head about, when a feller's holdin' a +lighted match close to his nose, just ought to get burnt. Say, think of +that guy minus one of his eyebrows; and he's got big ones too, at that! +Won't he be the sight, though!" + +So, joking and laughing, they pushed on. Presently the road being +reached, they proceeded to get a start. Fortunately the incline was +downhill, if anything, which promised to make it easier for a mount. Had +the opposite been the case one or more of the boys might have had some +difficulty in getting started. + +Elmer was away first, with a merry splutter of explosive sounds; but he +quickly shut off most of his power in order to wait for the others. Toby +came along after two efforts at mounting; but Nat seemed to be having +one of his old troubles. This time, however, the fault apparently lay in +Nat, and not in his motor, for they could hear the racket the engine +kept up. + +"Here he comes like a skyrocket!" announced Toby, as the character of +the sounds from the rear changed; and sure enough they quickly heard Nat +whooping it up. + +"Clear the track, there! Get out of the road everybody, and give me +room. Hi! My old ice wagon's taken the bitt in her mouth; she's running +away with me, Elmer! Look out there!" + +Luckily Elmer had insisted that each of them light the acetylene gas +lamps belonging to their motorcycles before attempting to make a start. +Hence they were able to see Nat bearing down upon them with a rush, and +get to one side of the road in a hurry. + +He went whizzing past amid a rattle and confusion, for, as usual, Nat +had paid no attention to his muffler. + +"Somebody head me off!" came floating back, as the runaway machine went +whirling along the road leading to Little Falls. + +"Good gracious! What can we do?" gasped Toby. + +"You stick by Lil Artha!" + +Even as he shouted these words Elmer was giving his machine its head, +and quickly he vanished from the view of the other around a bend. + +It was no easy task that now presented itself to the young patrol +leader. Had it been a runaway horse there might have been some hope of +the rider controlling it; but with a motorcycle that took what seemed to +be a fiendish pleasure in doing just the things its owner did not want +done, the case was a different matter. + +Something had become jammed, so that poor Nat, having opened his engine +up wide on starting, was unable to shut off power. And there he was, +rushing along at a reckless speed, headed for Little Falls by the most +direct route. + +Somebody shouted out something as Elmer sped along. He guessed it must +be Lil Artha, who had discreetly sought the side of the road upon seeing +that fierce light bearing down upon him. But Elmer could not find time +to reply. Besides, there was Toby, who would be along presently, and in +a condition to tell the tall scout just what was taking place. + +Elmer was keeping a bright lookout ahead. He knew that, given a fair +field, he could easily overtake the runaway motorcycle; but this thing +of rushing along in the darkness was no child's play. At any second he +might bang into some obstacle that would give him a nasty tumble. + +Besides, he had to keep watch over the leading machine, so that he might +not run into Nat; which would be the worst sort of calamity that could +happen to them both. + +At least he was gaining fast now; he could tell that by the glow from +the other lamp which lighted up the road ahead. + +Presently he found himself within speaking distance. He could just +barely see Nat humped there in his saddle, giving his entire attention +to keeping his runaway machine in the road. + +"Hello, Nat ahoy!" he called aloud, so that the sound of his voice might +reach the other above the clattering of his "cantankerous" motor, as Nat +himself was fond of calling his engine, which was now on such a wild +plunge. + +"Hey, that you, Elmer?" came back to him; and the patrol leader imagined +there was a trace of alarm as well as vexation in the voice. + +"Yes, can't you keep over on the left side of the road? I want to come +closer to you so we can talk," Elmer called. + +"All right. Half is good enough for me; so come right along, Elmer." + +In another minute they were nearly abreast, each striving to keep to his +side of the thoroughfare as best he could. + +"Steady, now, Nat," said Elmer. "Be careful how you let her yaw this +way, for I'm only a length behind you; and a mix-up wouldn't be the +nicest thing going." + +"I'm holding her steady, Elmer. Now, tell me how I'm going to get the +curb on her, won't you?" + +So Elmer began by asking questions concerning what seemed to have become +jammed; and in this way he quickly understood the situation. A few +suggestions followed, which, upon being put into practice, brought +forth a loud cheer from the relieved owner of the runaway motorcycle. + +"It's all right now, Elmer! That last move did the business for her! She +minds her head now; see, I can slow down just as I please. But, wow, +that was a lively dash as long as it lasted. I sure began to think I'd +bump into Little Falls like a falling comet, and run up against a stone +wall; when good-by to my neck." + +"Well, suppose then we turn around, and see if we can pick up the +others. Try it first, and see if things work smooth," and Elmer jumped +from his saddle as he said this, assisting Nat make the test. + +Having made sure of this they returned along the road, though at a much +less rapid pace than they had recently shown in covering it. The light +from Toby's lamp told them when they were nearing the walking Lil Artha; +and presently the four Hickory Ridge scouts were together. + +"I tell you what," remarked Toby, heaving a sigh, "I'll be awful glad to +get you safe back home again, Nat Scott. What you haven't tried the last +few hours ain't worth telling. And now that your old huckleberry of a +machine has taken to cutting up monkey shines a feller's life ain't safe +nohow." + +Lil Artha seemed to be in the best of humor. Things were, as he himself +remarked, "breaking all right for a fellow of his size," and he had no +cause for complaint. + +"Just a few little incidents to liven up the last quarter of a pokey +hike, boys," he observed, as he strode along, with those lengthy legs +covering a yard at each and every step. "Why, I'll be entering Little +Falls like a conquering hero, with a guard of honor around me. Shouldn't +wonder but what we'll run across Mr. Garrabrant there, keeping company +with the other scout master." + +"That's just what you'll do," remarked Elmer over his shoulder as he +rode slowly along in the van of the procession; "because he went ahead +with that idea in view, to be on hand to receive the first contestant +who showed up." + +They enlivened the journey with all sorts of conversation and jokes. +Wearied as Lil Artha must certainly be, after coming all these long +miles since sunup, his chums sought to make him forget the fact by +keeping him in high spirits. + +Nothing happened to interfere with their plans. Those who were inclined +to act ugly toward the possible winner were a long way in the rear, and +only concerned about getting home again with the car that belonged to +the father of one of the quartette. + +It was not a great while after nine o'clock when the lights ahead told +that they were approaching a town. + +"That's Little Falls, brother!" called Elmer, cheerily. + +"Well, honest now, I ain't sorry to know it," declared Lil Artha; +"though, if I had to do it, I reckon I could crawl along a little +farther, p'raps a dozen or two miles. If anything's won this walk for +me, fellows, it's just been pluck. You can tell me all you want to about +athletes and such, but in my opinion that's what counts above condition +and everything else. As long as you keep up heart you've got a look-in; +but when the sinking spell comes, good-by." + +Ten minutes later they entered among the houses. Immediately some boys +in khaki who were posted along the road as a sort of vedette corps, +began to call out to one another, uttering cries like the fox and the +bear, which doubtless denoted the nature of their patrols. + +Presently there was quite a crowd accompanying Lil Artha as he headed +for the church where the local troop of Boy Scouts had their +headquarters. + +Here there were many lights, and a lot of people assembled. When Lil +Artha passed through the open doorway a tremendous outburst of applause +greeted his appearance. He doubtless felt something of the thrill of +victory that used to come to the Grecian victor in those old days of the +Marathon races. + +Mr. Garrabrant beamed with pleasure when he saw that it was a Hickory +Ridge boy who had come in first. Heartily did he shake hands with Lil +Artha and congratulate him on his pluck in making the entire distance +with hours to spare. + +And when a little later on, while waiting to see if Felix came in before +the storm broke, the scout master listened with the greatest possible +interest while Elmer related what was known about the evil intentions of +those four scheming lads from Fairfield; and also laughed when he heard +how their designs had been signally defeated by the bravery and +intelligence of Lil Artha's faithful chums. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +"THE FINEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO FAIRFIELD!" + + +AFTER the second in the race, Felix Wagner, had come in, one of the +first things the boy from Fairfield did was to hunt out Lil Artha, shake +hands with him heartily, and congratulate him. + +"I'd like to have beat you, all right," he said with a whimsical +grimace; "but I take it no fellow had need of feeling ashamed about +playing second fiddle to such a giant on a hike as you, Lil Artha. And +that goes." + +Elmer had watched this meeting with eagerness; and he immediately turned +to Mr. Garrabrant. + +"That settles one thing I've been worrying about," he declared, +emphatically. + +"Meaning that this Fairfield lad has had no knowledge of the miserable +game that some of his misguided friends were engineering in his behalf; +is that it, Elmer?" remarked the gentleman, understanding what he had in +mind. + +"Yes, sir," came the reply. "You see, from all accounts, in the old days +this same Felix Wagner was one of the right bowers of Matt Tubbs. And +somehow I seemed to be making up my mind that if _he_ had a hand in this +ugly deal, there was a screw loose somewhere in this reformation +business over there." + +"But now?" asked Mr. Garrabrant, smiling. + +"It looks good to me, as Lil Artha would say," replied Elmer. "If ever a +fellow seemed in earnest, Felix was when he said those words just now. +And I feel positive that when he hears the story of how some of his +friends tried to make Lil Artha ride, so as to knock him out of the +race, Felix will be furious." + +Which prediction proved to be the case a little later; but we cannot +afford either the time or space to go into particulars with regard to +this. + +"Now we have another job before us," remarked Mr. Garrabrant, when ten +o'clock had arrived. + +"You mean looking up the cripples--those who are ready to admit that +their hope of reaching Little Falls within the required time has died +out; and who will be only too willing to get a lift back home?" Elmer +suggested. + +"Why, yes, some of them must be in a pretty bad way; and as it still +threatens rain we must look them all up. I have three cars here that can +be used for the job. Would you care to run ahead, and try to hunt them +up, Elmer?" + +"Yes, on one condition," came the reply. + +"Oh, you can consider that it is granted before you ask; but what is its +nature?" Mr. Garrabrant inquired, laughingly. + +"That I ride alone," answered the boy. + +"Oh, I see," the scout master went on, nodding his head wisely; "you +dread having Toby and Nat along with their decrepit wheels to add to +your troubles." + +"Yes," said Elmer, seriously; "because I can make much better time +alone, rain or not. Besides, I think the boys ought to have a rest; and +it would really be better if they put up here in Little Falls with some +Boy Scout friends until to-morrow, when they can come home." + +"All right; I shall so advise them; though if they choose to leave their +motorcycles here until some future day, they can just as well ride back +in a car." + +Both Toby and Nat, however, had friends in the town, and concluded to +stay over. Their machines had taken on a new life apparently, since +their association with Elmer and they were much encouraged. + +Accordingly, the leader of the Wolf Patrol started out. Fifty miles or +so does not amount to a great deal when mounted on a good motorcycle; +and if that threatened storm would only hold off a few hours, Elmer felt +that he would have little cause for complaint. + +As he rode along the thoroughfare he frequently sounded his horn in such +a way that any stragglers would know it was meant for a signal to show +themselves. It was to be Elmer's duty to warn them that the cars would +soon be along, and that they could get back to Hickory Ridge in that way +if they preferred. + +About five miles out he heard a shout, and some one who was standing +alongside the road waved his hat. It was Matty, the leader of the Beaver +Patrol. + +Elmer immediately jumped off his machine and put the question up to his +fellow scout. But he really knew what the answer would be before the +other opened his mouth. + +"What, me give up, when I'm within smelling distance of my goal?" +declared the determined Matty. "Not for Joseph! I'm going on and report +to the headquarters of the Little Falls troop; and get back home +to-morrow someway or other. But I'm glad Lil Artha got the prize. He's +a dandy on a hike, I tell you; and Hickory Ridge is proud of him, sure +as you're born! So long, Elmer; get word to my folks, if you can; though +I warned 'em not to look for me to-night." + +Then Matty strode off bravely, though Elmer detected a slight limp which +even his game qualities could not entirely conceal. + +A little later on he picked up Red Huggins and Phil Dale, the latter +having given up, as he was utterly worn out. They had started a fire +alongside the road and were preparing to pass the remainder of the night +after the fashion of true scouts. In view of the possibility of rain the +boys were even then starting to make some sort of shelter from branches +and such stuff as they could find. + +Of course they received the good news with tremendous satisfaction; and +declared that they would be only too delighted to get a chance of a lift +back home. + +"Hope they'll let me fasten my old wheel behind, somehow?" remarked +Phil; and Elmer assured him that that had all been arranged for. + +So leaving them, with an exchange of cheers, Elmer rode on. + +One by one he came across Jack, Ty, George, and the Fairfield fellow, +Angus McDowd, the latter still in company with young Robbins. And every +one of them expressed the greatest satisfaction when they heard how Mr. +Garrabrant did not mean that they should spend the night away from home +but would speedily be along with a number of cars calculated to carry +them back to Hickory Ridge. + +Even Tom Cropsey was located, he having taken refuge in the branches of +a tree, because of a farmer's vicious dog that kept barking savagely +not far away; and Tom happened to be particularly timid about strange +dogs. His wheel being useless, and himself too cramped for walking, he +had "camped" after his own fashion. + +Thus all were restored to their homes that night save the other +Fairfield boy who had sprained his ankle and was in bed at the tavern; +Matty, who declined to be brought back until he had finished his task; +and Elmer's two companions, Toby and Nat, with their unreliable +motorcycles. + +Of course it was well along into the morning before the last automobile +reached Hickory Ridge with the balance of the contestants; and as nearly +everybody had long before gone to bed, the victor was not received with +any great acclaim; at least the factory whistles were not blown, nor the +church bells rung. But a few of the faithful scouts, who were bound to +make a night of it, had waited up at headquarters; and these fellows +gave three hearty cheers when they saw the long-legged Lil Artha step +stiffly from the leading car. + +When, on the following night, a regular meeting of the troop was held, +every fellow made sure to be in attendance; for it had been announced +that the several contestants in the great hike, as well as the five who +had gone forth on bicycles and motorcycles, intended giving a detailed +report of what adventures had happened on the way; and it was expected +that there would be some stories worth listening to. + +The indignation of the boys was intense when they heard how those +Fairfield four had tried to block Lil Artha's game and, by forcing him +to ride, render his claim to be a contestant under the rules null and +void. + +"But listen, fellows," said Elmer, who presided in place of the scout +master, called out of town on sudden business; "don't be too quick to +blame the Boy Scouts of Fairfield for that rascally piece of business. +Matt Tubbs called me up on the phone this afternoon and wanted me to +express the indignation of himself and his comrades over the matter. He +declared that they had not the faintest indication of the affair; and +that it was engineered entirely by some 'outcasts,' who, having declined +to subscribe to the twelve cardinal principles of the new movement, were +doing everything in their power to wreck the troop over there." + +"Well, they won't succeed, that's all," declared Lil Artha, confidently; +"because my father says he knows that the best people of both Fairfield +and Cramertown are just daft over the change that has taken place among +the boys there ever since the scouts were organized, and that they mean +to stand back of the movement through thick and thin. They say the +organization of the scouts was the finest thing that ever happened to +Fairfield." + +"And, fellows," continued Elmer, "I think that on the strength of this, +not to speak of Felix saying he would have refused to accept a tainted +title if he had won after Lil Artha was kidnaped, we ought to give our +fellow scouts over there a cheer. Yes, and send them a letter +congratulating them on the new spirit of fairness that has sprung up +among them." + +It was put in the form of a motion, and carried unanimously. So three +cheers and a tiger were given with a will; and later on the letter was +written, which Elmer himself promised to deliver to Matt Tubbs, the loan +of that fine motorcycle still holding good. + +And this, then, was the way the great hike went through. Lil Artha, of +course, was the pride of the troop for his fine work; but the other +fellows who had done the best they knew how were not forgotten in the +chronicles of the event, as written in the log book of the secretary. + +The only serious accident of the affair was the sprain which Henry Cobb +had been unfortunate enough to receive, and which was likely to make him +limp for many weeks. But it had afforded a tremendous amount of fun, and +at the same time proved that the fact of a boy belonging to the scouts +need not detract in the least from his manly qualities. + +Vacation was now nearly at an end, and presently the scouts would be +taking up their school duties for the new year. The summer that had +passed had really been the most delightful one in all their experience; +and they looked forward hopefully to other good times ahead, when, as +scouts, they might be given the privilege of learning many of the +secrets of Nature and of building up sturdy and manly characters under +the influence of the splendid rules governing the organization. + +But there was one grumbler out of the number starting out for Little +Falls, and this was Nat. He never could get entirely over the cruel fate +that had allowed those trapped plotters to get off "so easy" and was +often heard to mutter that if Elmer had not happened to be along there +might have been a different story to tell. But like a lot of fellows, +Nat's "bark was more savage than his bite," and perhaps, after all, had +he been allowed his own sweet way, he might have remembered how he had +faithfully promised not to harbor the spirit of revenge when he signed +the roster of the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts' troop. + + +_THE END._ + + +_The next story of this Series (Number Six), which can be found on sale +everywhere, is called "The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts' Endurance Test; or, +How Clear Grit Won the Day."_ + + + + +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 } + Tracking } in Number I. + + 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 INSECTS OF THE UNITED STATES. + + +Insects are the most abundant of the animal kingdom. They are classified +principally by the nature of their wings. Dr. Sharp, an authority on +Entomology, recognizes but nine orders: + + 1. Aptera. + 2. Orthoptera. + 3. Neuroptera. + 4. Hymenoptera. + 5. Coleoptera. + 6. Lepidoptera. + 7. Diptera. + 8. Thysanoptera. + 9. Hemiptera. + +Many useful products are obtained from insects. From them we get our +silk, honey and cochineal, and they help to fertilize our flowers. On +the other hand, many are detrimental to agriculture and health. + + + + +APTERA. + + +These are primitive insects without wings. The Campodea, a small insect, +belongs to this order. Another example is the "Silverfish," which is +found in receptacles holding sugar, starch, etc., in and about unclean +bakeshops and kitchens. They are known principally in houses of the +Southern States, especially in damp places. + + + + +ORTHOPTERA. + + +These are the straight-winged insects. They have four wings, the front +pair being usually leathery and smaller than the hind pair. + +Here belong the Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets. Cockroaches, +Walking-sticks, Leaf insects, Praying Mantis also belong to this order. + + +THE COCKROACH. + +Most of the Cockroaches are nocturnal. It is said that their food is +dead animal matter. The kinds of Cockroaches found in the house are the +American Cockroach, Croton-bug and the Black Beetle. Apparently they eat +anything, animal or vegetable, and are great pests in ill-kept houses, +especially where moisture is plentiful. The name "Croton-bug" is applied +to the smaller sort, it having made its appearance about the time when +Croton water was first used in New York City. They show a strong +distaste to light and are fond of warmth. The eggs are laid in capsules. + + +THE LOCUST. + +This family are insects most destructive to crops. The antennas are +short, the hind legs large and strong, giving them their jumping power. +The most injurious of these is the migratory locust. During the years +1874 to 1876 this insect, it is said, did more than $200,000,000 damage +to crops in four States of the Union. Every country boy knows the +crackling sound made by these grasshoppers in their flight. Their "song" +is made by the scraping of the legs against their wings. Locusts swarm +and are not particular as to the kind of vegetable matter which they +eat; anything green which they chance upon is devoured. The red-legged +grasshopper is the one most common in the Eastern States in late summer. + +The true or green grasshoppers have long horns, are much softer in body +and "sing" more than their cousins of the locust family. The "Katydids" +belong here. + + +CRICKETS. + +[Illustration: PRAYING MANTIS.] + +Crickets are closely related to the green grasshoppers. They have long +antennae. The Mole Cricket burrows in the earth, as its name implies, +digging with its powerful forelegs. The black Field Cricket lives in +small burrows in fields and pastures. The Crickets are musical and +together with their cousins of this family swell the insect chorus of +our summer nights. + +A peculiar insect belonging to this family is popularly known as the +Walking-stick; in motion it does not look unlike a twig moving about. +Its body is long and slender. In the tropics this family has many forms +which so closely resemble the leaves, and even flowers of plants and +trees, as to fool not only the casual but the close observer. + +Another peculiar insect is the Praying Mantis; this name has been given +them because of the position which they take, the legs being held as +though in prayer. They are found in the Southern States and are regarded +with superstitious awe by the ignorant. + + + + +THE NEUROPTERA. + + +These are the net-veined winged insects; the Dragon flies, Mayflies, +Caddis-flies belong in this order. + + +THE DOBSON. + +The Dobson is one of the most curious insects in this order. It is +generally known as the hellgrammite, although it has probably more +popular names than any other insect and some are very peculiar, for +instance, Conniption-bugs, Goggle-goy, Flip-flaps, Ho Jacks, +Snake-doctor. It is a large insect with strong-biting mouth, living in +its larval form in water. + + +THE SNAKE FLIES. + +These are found in the Western States and prey vigorously upon other +insects and render themselves especially important to the farmer of the +far West because of their ravages upon the Coddling Moth, which is the +special enemy of apple trees. + +[Illustration: WALKING-STICKS.] + + +THE ANT LION. + +The Ant Lion digs a little pit in loose sand and buries itself therein +with the exception of its head. Into this trap fall small insects on +which it feeds. After the victim is sucked dry the remains are thrown +out of the pit. + + +THE DRAGONFLIES. + +These insects are also known as "Horse-stingers" and "Devil's +Darning-needles," and many superstitious beliefs are held in regard to +them, although they are perfectly harmless. Many ignorant people still +hold them capable of sewing up bad boys' ears. The early part of their +existence is spent in the water. They prey upon flies, mosquitoes and +small insects. In the wings of these flies are often beautiful colors. +They frequent stagnant water. The Kingbird favors them as a diet. + + +THE MAYFLIES. + +The Mayflies or Shadflies, like the Dragonflies, spend their infancy +under water feeding upon vegetables and primitive forms of animal life. +Their scientific name is Ephemerida, coined from the Greek word meaning +a day. They were given this name because of their short life. Great +quantities of the larvae are eaten by fish. + + +CADDIS FLIES. + +What observing country boy has not seen the queer-looking Caddis worms +in the brooks and their curious larva cases. Put them in your aquarium, +for they are interesting to watch and study. Their wings are more or +less covered with hair and this gives them a moth-like appearance. They +frequent the shady margins of streams. The larvae cases are made of +leaves, bits of sticks, sand, shells, etc., fastened by silk which the +caddis worm spins. These cases protect them from fishes and preying +insects. + +[Illustration: DRAGON FLIES.] + + + + +THE HYMENOPTERA. + + +The Hymenoptera is an order of insects of high rank containing the Bees, +Ants, Wasps and Gallflies. Dr. Leland O. Howard, Chief of the Division +of Entomology in the United States Department of Agriculture, says that +this order "comprises nearly 30,000 described species; but the enormous +number of undescribed species, particularly of the smaller parasitic +forms inhabiting tropical regions and other out-of-the-way localities, +would probably swell this number to more than 300,000. To indicate the +work still to be done in this order, it is safe to say that a day's +collecting in Central Park, New York, almost under the windows of the +great American Museum of Natural History, or in Logan Square, +Philadelphia, within 200 yards of the Academy of Natural Sciences, would +result in the capture of a number of species new to science." Most +remarkable are the insects of this order for their seeming intelligence +and the wonderful habits and methods in their interesting colony lives. + +[Illustration: MODERN BEE-HIVE] + +[Illustration: QUEEN BEE] + + +BEES. + +Bees are distinguished from Wasps and Ants by their hairy bodies. The +common hive bee is an insect most important to mankind, and bee-keeping, +properly conducted, is a profitable occupation. Here is a chance for boy +scouts to win money and laurels. In early summer the bees "swarm." The +bee-keeper watches for signs of this and knows that when there is an +unusual restlessness among them and the workers become less attentive to +their regular duties, "swarming" may be expected. Suddenly more than +half the workers, with the queen of the hive, leave the old home and fly +to a new place where they "swarm." A second or third swarm sometimes +leave the hive, each with their respective queen. The first, however, +is always the most important. When hived they climb to the roof and hang +in a mass for often a day. The wax taken from the old hive is kneaded +and the foundation of the new honeycomb started. As soon as the workers +finish cells, the queen lays eggs in them. These hatch into maggot-like +baby bees which have to be fed and taken care of. The worker must now +forage for pollen or "beebread" and nectar from flowers. The nectar they +carry in their "honey-bags" and change it into honey. The inside workers +feed the youngsters, build the comb and clean house, even ventilating it +by fanning the air with their wings. In the hives in the swarming are +drones who do no work. They are permitted to live and feed on the stores +until this season is over, then they are relentlessly killed by the +workers. Bees were kept for their product by the Egyptians. + +The Honey Bee was imported from Europe and is not a native of this +country. The Cuckoo Bees are so called because of their habits of living +in the nests of other bees. They apparently live there in friendly +relations with the rightful occupants of the hives. + +The Carpenter Bees; these insects are so called because of their habit +of boring into the stems of plants. They line their cells with silky +membrane and build mud partitions. The larger forms of these bees bore +into tree trunks and lumber, and even the timber of buildings. + +Mason Bees build earthen cells of sand, earth, etc., glued together. +Another group of these cut pieces from leaves with which to form their +cells. + +[Illustration: SECTION OF CELLS] + +[Illustration: STRAW-HIVE] + +The Bumble Bees; Western farm boys have invented a method or robbing +bumble bees' nests. They take a gallon or two-gallon jug partly filled +with water and place it near the nest. They then beat the nest and +retire to a distance. The bees swarm out of the nest in their attempt +to find the guilty disturber. The jug attracts their attention; they fly +to it and the beating of their wings over the mouth of the jug causes a +roar which attracts the bees and causes them to fly at the mouth and +drop into it. The noise of those inside increases the attraction and +finally all the bees are inside. After all the bees are thus disposed of +the robbing of the nest is then a safe matter. + + +WASPS. + +The wasps' bodies are less hairy than the bees'. Some of the wasps live +solitary lives and other groups colonize. The former build their nests +in a burrow or attach them to trees. These nests are supplied by the +mother wasp with animal food. The social wasp includes the paper-making +varieties and the hornets. The habits of both are similar. The nest is +never used more than one season. In India it is said that there is a +variety that builds a nest reaching a length of several feet. The +hornets suspend large, round nests often a foot in diameter from tree +branches. + +The Mason Wasps build their nests of mud under outhouses, roofs, on +rocks and trees. The sting of these insects, especially that of the +hornet, is severe, but they do not sting unless disturbed; then they +display great anger and will follow the disturber for a long distance. +Although they do considerable damage to fruit they are also helpful as +destroyers of insect life. + +[Illustration: NEST OF COMMON WASP SEEN FROM BELOW.] + +They capture and store in their cells a great variety of insects, +spiders, flies and plant-lice. Certain members of this group of insects +burrow into the earth and conceal their nests by inserting a stone over +which they scrape earth. When the prey is taken the insect is carried +into the burrow and the entrance to it is again closed. Dr. S. W. +Williston, writing of this insect, states that the wasp has been +observed to "use a stone as a tamping-iron to pack the earth into the +mouth of the burrow." He feared, he says, to publish this observation +because he thought he would not be believed. It is also said by +observers of these wasps that each insect seems to have distinct +individuality, for instance, some are careless, some are industrious, +some scrupulously painstaking. One entomologist tells of a method used +by a wasp in capturing a certain spider: the wasp would entangle itself +in the spider's web and the latter would dart out from her hiding place; +the wasp would then easily disengage herself from the web and follow the +spider to its hiding place. The Cicada often becomes prey of the wasp +and its song suddenly ceases as it is quickly stung into insensibility. +If in a struggle the two fall to the ground, the wasp drags the Cicada +up a tree until she reaches a height from which she can fly downward to +her storehouse. The colony wasps are the paper-making insects, their +nests being made from woodpulp and woodfiber secured from old fences and +unpainted woodwork which they mix with saliva and form into a pulp with +which they build their nests. + +[Illustration: CICADA.] + +[Illustration: COLONY NEST OF BLACK ANTS] + +[Illustration: FEEDING LARVAE] + +[Illustration: CELLS OF BLACK ANTS. ENLARGED.] + + +ANTS. + +The third group in this important order are the ants. They always live +in communities and build nests which are especially devoted to the +purpose of raising their young. The young are fed from the mouth of +the worker ants. A remarkable peculiarity of these insects is their +practice of making slaves. The large red ant often makes raids on other +ants, carrying off their young to their own nests where they are brought +up to perform the work of their masters. They also domesticate +plant-lice, which have on that account been nicknamed "Ant-Cows." +Instances are related where beetles have been found in ant nests; they +are fed by the ants and in case of migration are carried away by them to +their new home. While some of these guests are tolerated because, +perhaps, the ants cannot rid themselves of them and others are +parasites, some seem to be of the nature of pets. The black ants build +mountain-like nests, sometimes reaching three feet in height; in these +nests sometimes forty or fifty species of ants have been found. + + +GALL FLIES. + +All the members of this family produce galls. In the spring the insect +breaks the vegetable tissue by means of her sting and deposits the eggs. +When hatched the young seem to exercise a peculiar influence on the +growing tissue, shaping it into a swelling or gall containing a series +of chambers. Certain of the galls formed on the oak trees were formerly +used in the manufacture of ink and tannin. + + +ICHNEUMON FLIES. + +These flies attack caterpillars especially and lay their eggs in their +bodies. The young, when hatched, feed upon the unfortunate victim. + + +THE HORN-TAILS. + +The wood-eaters or horn-tails are wood-boring insects living in the +trunks of trees and stems of plants. They are called "horn-tails" +because of the spine at the end of the body. They lay their eggs in +these borings and the young, when hatched, continue to bore their way +through the pith. + + +THE SAW-FLIES. + +The saw-flies saw their way into plant tissue and lay their eggs in the +openings thus made. Many of these flies are very injurious to vegetation +because of this habit. The currant-worm, rose-slug and pear-slug are all +members of this family, and farmers are not on friendly terms with these +insects. + + + + +THE COLEOPTERA. + + +This is the order of insects which includes beetles, glowworms, +lady-birds, weevils, cock-chafers, etc. Their chief characteristic is +the hard wing covers. The wings proper are below these. Most of this +order have strong mandibles. The diet of beetles is much varied, but +they are all voracious. + +The little lady-birds, about whom the nursery rhyme sings, warning them +to "fly away home," feed upon the scale insects. + +The glow-worm derives the first part of its name from its luminosity, +and the second from its worm-like appearance. To this same family belong +a number of other luminous beetles, the name "firefly" being usually +given. + +The weevil is a general name for plant-eating beetles, and they not +infrequently cause great destruction to vegetable matter. Certain +weevils are interesting because of their habit of rolling up leaves in +order to construct a shelter for their young. The nut-weevil lays her +eggs in the young nut while it is still soft and its grub bores its way +out in the fall. The cotton-boll weevil has caused great injury to the +cotton crops in the Southern States. It pierces the leaves of the plant +and lays its eggs. The young feed upon the plant. There are also corn +weevils and rice weevils, and still others that attack peas and beans. + +The cock-chafers belong to a large group of dark-colored beetles known +as June bugs. They frequently enter light rooms at night, making a loud +buzzing noise. The insect comes out of the ground in the spring and is +very destructive to the foliage of fruit and other trees. Its grubs live +under ground and feed on roots. The chief enemies of the grub are moles +and birds; of the beetles, bats and birds. + + + + +LEPIDOPTERA. + + +The order of Lepidoptera includes the butterflies and moths. Their wings +and body are covered with scales, frequently bright-colored. There are +several stages in the life history of these insects just as there are in +the life history of other insects, but these stages are so pronounced +and the changes so remarkable in this order that it is well here for us +to consider the different steps which nature takes in transforming the +repulsive caterpillar into the beautiful butterfly or moth. The first +stage is the egg, from which is hatched the caterpillar. The +caterpillar, after living its life, spins its cocoon, is transformed +into the chrysalis. The chrysalis in turn eventually becomes the +butterfly. + +The milkweed butterflies are large-sized butterflies; the upper surface +of the wings is bright and reddish bordered with black, and the whole +wing is veined heavily with black. The wings are spotted with white; the +caterpillar is bright yellow with black bands. This insect often appears +in large numbers in New Jersey late in the autumn. This particular one +of the milkweed butterflies is called "The Monarch"; a smaller one of +this genus is called "The Queen." + +[Illustration: BUTTERFLIES.] + +The California long-winged butterfly. The fore wings are brownish-black +blotched with yellow; the hind wings are a dingy orange. + +The Dircenna. The fore wings of this butterfly are grayish-brown with +transparent spots; the hind wings are more yellowish in color. + +The Cliff Fritillary. The upper side of this butterfly is bright +tawny-brown spotted with black; the hind wings have a black border +spotted with the same color as the wings. The under side of the fore +wings is orange. The caterpillar feeds upon the passion flower of the +Southern states. It is found from southern Virginia westward to Arizona +and California. + +The Regal Fritillary. The upper side of the fore wings is a bright +brown, spotted and blotched with cream color and black; the upper side +of the hind wings is black with cream-colored spots. The caterpillar is +large, nearly two inches long; black with stripes and bands of +reddish-orange. There are six rows of spines. The caterpillar feeds on +violets and does not appear in the daytime. This is a beautiful +butterfly and is found from Maine to Nebraska, frequenting the borders +of woodlands. + +The Diana. Both wings are a dark brown with wide border of dark orange +spotted with brown spots. It is found in the Virginias, Carolinas, +Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. + +The Silver-bordered Fritillary. This is a small butterfly ranging over +most of the northern part of the United States. The fore wings on the +under side are spotted at the margin with silver spots. + +The Baltimore. Upper side black bordered with a row of red spots +followed by three rows of yellow spots on the fore wings and two rows on +the hind wings. It is found in colonies in swamps, in the northern +parts of the United States and Canada. + +The Question Sign. This butterfly is easily determined by its large +size; the wings are peculiarly shaped; it is bright brown on the upper +side, spotted but edged with darker brown and pale blue. This is a +common butterfly of the Middle States and is often found in the early +spring. + +The Red Admiral. This is a common butterfly found throughout North +America. It derives its name from the red on its fore wings and the red +border on its hind wings. + +The Thistle Butterfly. Wherever thistles grow may be found "The Painted +Lady," and Dr. V. J. Holland in his Butterfly Books says, "This is +undoubtedly the most widely distributed of well-known butterflies. It is +found in almost all regions of the earth and in many tropical lands in +both hemispheres." The food plants of the caterpillar are thistles. + +The Buckeye. On both the upper and lower sides of the fore and hind +wings are eye-like spots. It is a common butterfly in the South, but is +occasionally found as far North as New England. These butterflies will +fight other passing butterflies. + +The Painted Purple Butterfly is easily distinguished because of its +broad white bands across both wings. + +The Blue Butterflies, the Copper Butterflies and the Hair-streaked +Butterflies are small insects, many of which are characterized by the +bright blue of the upper side of the wings; in other forms the copper +color prevails. Hair-streaked Butterflies often have small tails on +their horned wings. + +The Sulphur Butterflies and Whites are medium-sized or small +butterflies, white or yellow in color, having dark edgings. The common +white butterfly is easily classified by its pure-white color of the +under-side white wings. + +The Cabbage Butterfly is a common insect familiar to all. Much good +sauerkraut material is spoiled by its ravages. + +Orange Tipped Butterflies. This is a large species of pretty +butterflies. + +The Swallow-tail Butterflies are generally large butterflies with the +hind wings tailed. + +The Ajax is one of the most beautiful of the butterflies. Its wings are +streaked with brown and white, with red and blue spots near the tail on +the hind wings. + +The Tiger Swallow Tail seems to be fond of the woodlands of +Pennsylvania, Virginia, Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. The common +Eastern swallow-tail is bright yellow and black, and found all over the +Atlantic States. + +The Wood Nymphs are butterflies of moderate size with eye-like spots on +their wings, the wings being tawny brown or gray. + +We have endeavored to give our boy readers a brief description of some +of the most beautiful and some of the most common butterflies of the +United States. There are thousands more. + + +MOTHS. + +The moths are popularly distinguished from butterflies by the belief +that they fly at night; there are, however, numerous exceptions to this +distinction. The antennae of butterflies are blunt; in moths they vary +in form, being rarely shaped like those of the butterfly. Moths are more +numerous than butterflies, and vary as to size and color. Some moths +have been known to reach a size of six or seven inches in width and +attain the most brilliant coloring of all insects. + +[Illustration: MOTHS.] + +Hawk Moth. This is a large, dull-colored, powerful moth. The +caterpillars are smooth and striped, horned at the rear end. The Death's +Head Moth belongs to the same family, as do also the Oleander Hawk +Moth and the Humming-bird Hawk Moth. The last mentioned is often +mistaken for a humming bird. Caterpillars of this family are destructive +to potato, tomato and tobacco plants. The moths of this family are known +as the Sphinx Moths. The markings on the body of the Death's Head Moth +resemble a skull and crossbone--hence its name. The body is covered with +hair. The fore wings are brown, the hind wings yellow, banded with +black. It makes a squeaking noise and is often found in beehives where +it is attracted by the honey. + +The Egger Moths get their name from the peculiar egg-shell-like surface +of their cocoons. + +The Lima Moths are among the largest and most beautiful of our moths. +The hind wings have a tail-like appendage. It is pale green in color +with a purple band along the front of the fore wings. + + + + +THE ORDER DIPTERA. + + +This order includes all the true flies or insects having but two wings. +There is probably no other order of insects that are more injurious to +the health of human beings. The housefly, because of its habits, is a +virulent pest in the spreading of disease and it has been discovered +that certain mosquitoes carry the germs of malarial and yellow fevers. + + +MOSQUITOES. + +Up to the year 1900 little had been known about these insects. Since +then it has been discovered that one genus is responsible for the +transfer of malarial fever and another variety is the sole means of the +spreading of yellow fever. Mosquitoes are found in any locality where +stagnant standing water allows them the opportunity to breed. Their +eggs are laid in a flat mass on the surface of the water, and each of +these masses contains from 200 to 400 eggs. The young mosquitoes issue +from the under side of the eggs, coming to the surface frequently to +breathe, which they do by means of a long tube at the end of the body +which is thrust up above the surface of the water. In many localities +boy scouts have been interested in exterminating mosquitoes, the most +successful methods being either the abolition of their breeding places, +the flooding of surfaces of stagnant water with kerosene, or the +introduction of fish into fishless ponds. In a mosquito crusade every +receptacle for standing water must be found and either destroyed or +treated with kerosene. + + +MIDGES. + +Midges are small or minute flies; swarms of them are commonly seen in +damp localities in the summer. + + +FLIES. + +Horseflies are unusually abundant in the neighborhood of ponds and +streams. + +The Robber Flies, or bee-killers, are the hawks of the insect world, +preying upon their victims on the wing. In flying an insect is likely to +become the victim to their sharp little dagger, which they carry in +their beak. It is said that they will frequent a favorite position near +a beehive and make frequent trips back and forth, and hundreds of empty +bodies of bees are found beneath this perch. + +The Dancefly is so called because of the up-and-down movement which they +make in their swarms. + +The Housefly. These insects are highly injurious to human beings because +of their agency in spreading germs of such diseases as typhoid fever and +Asiatic cholera. It has been discovered recently that germs of +infantile paralysis are conveyed by the housefly. + + + + +THYSANOPTERA. + + +To this order belong very small insects known as "thrips." They are +found in large numbers in flowers and in the heads of grain, +chrysanthemum, hydrangea, orange-blossom, cabbage leaf, cauliflower, +squash, turnips and other plants. + + + + +HEMIPTERA + + +includes plant-lice, scale insects and bugs proper. One entomologist +says: "If anything were to exterminate the destroyers of hemiptera, we, +ourselves, would probably be starved in the course of a few months," so +harmful are they to vegetation. One of the best-known insects of this +order is the cicada or harvestfly, popularly but wrongly called the +"locust," the term "locust" belonging rightfully to the long-horned +grasshoppers. The body of the cicada is large with a blunt head. At the +end of July and early in August its song may be heard in the treetops. + +The queer-shaped treehoppers also belong to this order. When they are +resting upon a twig, it is difficult, except upon close examination, to +distinguish them from a thorn or a natural protuberance of the wood. + +The Spittle Insects. After hatching from the egg the young insects live +in little frothy masses like spittle on the stems of plants and grasses. + +Scale Insects. Many of the members of this family are very injurious to +fruit trees and other trees. They feed upon the sap. + +The Oyster-shell Bark Louse is found particularly upon apple and pear +trees. + +[Illustration: SCALE INSECTS.] + +Plant Lice. These insects prey upon cultivated plants. Huxley computed +that the uninterrupted breeding of ten generations of plant lice from +the single insect would produce a bulk equal to the population of the +Chinese Empire, 500,000,000 of human beings. We have already spoken of +the relations between ants and plant lice; they are often called "Ant +Cows" because of the ant's habit of milking them for the juices which +they exhume. + + +THE TRUE BUGS. + +The "Water Boatmen" may be found swimming on the surface of water. They +often go below the surface, carrying with them a bubble of air which is +held by the hairs of their body. They hibernate in the mud at the bottom +of the water. The eggs of these insects are made into cakes and are +eaten by the Indians. + +Another family of water bugs are properly called the "back swimmers" +because of their habit of swimming on their backs. They prey upon other +water insects and even fish. They can sting with their beak. + + +TOAD BUGS. + +They have a short, wide body, protruding eyes and toad-like color. They +are found in damp places under the banks of ponds and streams. + +The Water Striders are the long-legged insects which run over the +surface of the water with such speed that it is difficult to catch them. + +The Cannibal Bugs, the Pirate Bugs, are preying insects which feed upon +other insects whose blood they suck. A species of this insect was +especially abundant in the Eastern States in 1898. Their bites and +blood-sucking habits gave cause to the "kissing-bug" scare to which the +newspapers gave great publicity. + + +THE AMBUSH BUGS + +is the name which Professor Comstock has given to insects frequenting +yellow flowers, with which its color agrees and hides it from other +insects visiting the flowers. + + +THE SQUASH BUG + +is the enemy of vegetables of the pumpkin family and has a distinctly +disagreeable odor. + + +THE STINK BUGS + +are small flat bugs which, like the Squash Bug, have a bad odor. One of +this family is still called, in Georgia, "The Abe Lincoln" bug, and in +Texas, "The Third Party" bug. + + +THE CINCH BUGS. + +This is a bug that makes a specialty of corn and grasses as a diet. + + + + +INDEX + + + PAGE + + Abe Lincoln Bugs, 175 + + Ajax Butterflies, 168 + + Ambush Bugs, 175 + + Ants, 154, 160, 162 + + Ant Lion, 152 + + Aptera, 147 + + + Back Swimmers, 174 + + Baltimore Butterfly, 166 + + Bee Killers, 171 + + Bees, 154-158 + Bumble, 156 + Carpenter, 156 + Cuckoo, 156 + Honey, 156 + Mason, 156 + + Beetle, Black, 148 + + Blue Butterflies, 167 + + Buckeye, 167 + + Bugs, 174 + Abe Lincoln, 175 + Ambush, 175 + Cannibal, 174 + Cinch, 175 + June, 164 + Kissing, 175 + Pirate, 174 + Squash, 175 + Stink, 175 + Third Party, 175 + Toad, 174 + + Bumblebees, 156 + + Butterflies, 164 + Ajax, 168 + Blue, 167 + Cabbage, 168 + California Long-winged, 166 + Copper, 167 + Hair-streaked, 164 + Milkweed, 164 + Orange-tipped, 168 + Painted Purple, 167 + Sulphur, 167 + Swallow-tail, 168 + Thistle, 167 + White, 167 + + + Cabbage Butterflies, 168 + + Caddis Flies, 150, 152 + + California Long-winged Butterflies, 166 + + Campodea, 147 + + Cannibal Bugs, 174 + + Carpenter Bees, 156 + + Cicada, 160, 172 + + Cinch Bugs, 175 + + Cliff Fritillary, 166 + + Cockchafers, 163 + + Cockroaches, 148 + + Coddling Moth, 150 + + Coleoptera, 147, 163 + + Conniption Bugs, 150 + + Copper Butterflies, 167 + + Corn Weevils, 164 + + Cotton-boll Weevils, 163 + + Crickets, 148, 149 + + Cricket Field, 149 + Mole, 149 + + Croton Bugs, 148 + + Cuckoo Bees, 156 + + Currant Worms, 163 + + + Dance Flies, 171 + + Death's Head Moths, 168 + + Devil's Darning-needles, 152 + + Diana, 166 + + Diptera, 147, 170 + + Dircenna, 166 + + Dobson, 150 + + Dragon Flies, 150, 152, 153 + + + Egger Moths, 168 + + Ephemerida, 152 + + + Field Cricket, 149 + + Fire-flies, 163 + + Flies, Caddis, 150, 152 + Dance, 171 + Dragon, 150, 152, 153 + Fire, 163 + Gall, 154, 162 + Harvest, 172 + Horse, 171 + House, 171 + Ichneumon, 162 + May, 150, 152 + Robber, 171 + Saw, 163 + Shad, 152 + Snake, 150 + + Flip-flaps, 150 + + Fritillary, Cliff, 166 + Regal, 166 + Silver-bordered, 166 + + + Gall Flies, 154, 162 + + Glow Worms, 163 + + Goggle-goy, 150 + + Grasshoppers, 148 + Red-legged, 149 + + + Hair-streaked Butterflies, 164 + + Harvest Flies, 172 + + Hawk Moth, 168 + + Hellgrammite, 150 + + Hemiptera, 147, 172 + + Ho-Jack, 150 + + Honey Bee, 156 + + Horn Tails, 162 + + Hornet, 158 + + Horse Flies, 171 + + Horse Stingers, 152 + + House Flies, 171 + + Hymenoptera, 147, 154 + + + Ichneumon Flies, 162 + + + June Bugs, 164 + + + Katydids, 148 + + Kissing Bugs, 175 + + + Lady Birds, 163 + + Leaf Insects, 148 + + Lepidoptera, 147, 164 + + Lice, Plant, 174 + + Locusts, 148 + + Louse, Oyster Shell Bark, 172 + + Luna Moth, 170 + + + Mason Bees, 156 + Wasps, 158 + + May Flies, 150, 152 + + Midges, 171 + + Milkweed Butterflies, 164 + + Mole Cricket, 149 + + Monarch Butterflies, 164 + + Mosquitoes, 170 + + Moths, 168-170 + Coddling, 150 + Death's Head, 168 + Egger, 168 + Hawk, 168 + Luna, 170 + Sphinx, 170 + + + Neuroptera, 147, 150 + + Nut Weevils, 163 + + + Orthoptera, 147, 148 + + Oyster Shell Bark Louse, 172 + + + Painted Purple Butterflies, 167 + + Pear Slugs, 163 + + Pirate Bugs, 174 + + Plant Lice, 174 + + Praying Mantis, 148, 149, 150 + + + Queen Butterflies, 164 + + Question Sign Butterflies, 167 + + + Red Admiral Butterflies, 167 + + Red-legged Grasshoppers, 149 + + Regal Fritillary, 166 + + Rice Weevils, 164 + + Robber Flies, 171 + + Rose-slugs, 163 + + + Saw Flies, 163 + + Scale Insects, 171, 173 + + Shad Flies, 152 + + Silver-bordered Fritillary, 166 + + Sulphur Butterflies, 167 + + Silverfish, 147 + + Slugs, Pear, 163 + + Slugs, Rose, 163 + + Snake-doctor, 150 + + Snake Flies, 150 + + Sphinx Moth, 170 + + Spittle Insects, 172 + + Squash Bugs, 175 + + Stink Bugs, 175 + + Swallow-tail Butterflies, 168 + Tiger, 168 + + + Third Party Bugs, 175 + + Thistle Butterflies, 167 + + Thysanoptera, 147, 171 + + Tiger Swallow-tail, 168 + + Toad Bugs, 174 + + Treehoppers, 172 + + + Walking Sticks, 148, 150, 151 + + Wasps, 154, 158, 159 + Mason, 158 + + Water Boatmen, 174 + Striders, 174 + + Weevils, 163 + Corn, 163 + Cotton Boll, 163 + Nut, 163 + Rice, 164 + + White Butterflies, 167 + + + + +The Campfire and Trail Series + + + 1. IN CAMP ON THE BIG SUNFLOWER. + 2. THE RIVALS OF THE TRAIL. + 3. THE STRANGE CABIN ON CATAMOUNT ISLAND. + 4. LOST IN THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP. + 5. WITH TRAPPER JIM IN THE NORTH WOODS. + 6. CAUGHT IN A FOREST FIRE. + 7. CHUMS OF THE CAMPFIRE. + 8. AFLOAT ON THE FLOOD. + +By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE. + +A series of wholesome stories for boys told in an interesting way and +appealing to their love of the open. + + _Each, 12mo._ _Cloth._ _40 cents per volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12th STREET :: :: NEW YORK + + + + +THE "HOW-TO-DO-IT" BOOKS + +BY J. S. ZERBE + + +CARPENTRY FOR BOYS + +A book which treats, in a most practical and fascinating manner all +subjects pertaining to the "King of Trades"; showing the care and use of +tools; drawing; designing, and the laying out of work; the principles +involved in the building of various kinds of structures, and the +rudiments of architecture. It contains over two hundred and fifty +illustrations made especially for this work, and includes also a +complete glossary of the technical terms used in the art. The most +comprehensive volume on this subject ever published for boys. + + +ELECTRICITY FOR BOYS + +The author has adopted the unique plan of setting forth the fundamental +principles in each phase of the science, and practically applying the +work in the successive stages. It shows how the knowledge has been +developed, and the reasons for the various phenomena, without using +technical words so as to bring it within the compass of every boy. It +has a complete glossary of terms, and is illustrated with two hundred +original drawings. + + +PRACTICAL MECHANICS FOR BOYS + +This book takes the beginner through a comprehensive series of practical +shop work, in which the uses of tools, and the structure and handling of +shop machinery are set forth; how they are utilized to perform the work, +and the manner in which all dimensional work is carried out. Every +subject is illustrated, and model building explained. It contains a +glossary which comprises a new system of cross references, a feature +that will prove a welcome departure in explaining subjects. Fully +illustrated. + + _12mo, cloth._ _Price 60 cents per volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12TH STREET NEW YORK + + + + +The Wonder Island Boys + +BY ROGER T. FINLAY + + +A new series of books, each complete in itself, relating the remarkable +experiences of two boys and a man, who are cast upon an island in the +South Seas with absolutely nothing but the clothing they wore. By the +exercise of their ingenuity they succeed in fashioning clothing, tools +and weapons and not only do they train nature's forces to work for them +but they subdue and finally civilize neighboring savage tribes. The +books contain two thousand items of interest that every boy ought to +know. + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Castaways + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + Exploring the Island + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Mysteries of the Caverns + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Tribesmen + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Capture and Pursuit + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Conquest of the Savages + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + Adventures on Strange Islands + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + Treasures of the Islands + + _Large 12mo, cloth._ _Many illustrations._ + _60 cents per vol., postpaid._ + +PUBLISHED BY + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12TH STREET NEW YORK + + + + +THE BOY GLOBE TROTTERS + +By ELBERT FISHER + + _12mo, Cloth._ _Many Illustrations._ _60c. per Volume_ + + +This is a series of four books relating the adventures of two boys, who +make a trip around the world, working their way as they go. They meet +with various peoples having strange habits and customs, and their +adventures form a medium for the introduction of much instructive matter +relative to the character and industries of the cities and countries +through which they pass. A description is given of the native sports of +boys in each of the foreign countries through which they travel. The +books are illustrated by decorative head and end pieces for each +chapter, there being 36 original drawings in each book, all by the +author, and four striking halftones. + +=1. From New York to the Golden Gate=, takes in many of the principal +points between New York and California, and contains a highly +entertaining narrative of the boys' experiences overland and not a +little useful information. + +=2. From San Francisco to Japan=, relates the experiences of the two +boys at the Panama Exposition, and subsequently their journeyings to +Hawaii, Samoa and Japan. The greater portion of their time is spent at +sea, and a large amount of interesting information appears throughout +the text. + +=3. From Tokio to Bombay.= This book covers their interesting +experiences in Japan, followed by sea voyages to the Philippines, +Hong-kong and finally to India. Their experiences with the natives cover +a field seldom touched upon in juvenile publications, as it relates to +the great Hyderabad region of South India. + +=4. From India to the War Zone=, describes their trip toward the Persian +Gulf. They go by way of the River Euphrates and pass the supposed site +of the Garden of Eden, and manage to connect themselves with a caravan +through the Great Syrian Desert. After traversing the Holy Land, where +they visit the Dead Sea, they arrive at the Mediterranean port of Joppa, +and their experiences thereafter within the war zone are fully +described. + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK + + + + +Mrs. Meade's Books for Girls + +Primrose Edition + +Printed on fine quality book paper. Separate cover designs in color. + + 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 + 201 EAST 12th STREET + NEW YORK + + + + +_ECONOMICAL COOKING_ + +_Primrose Edition_ + +_Planned for Two or More Persons_ + +By + +MISS WINIFRED S. GIBBS + +Dietitian and Teacher of Cooking of the New York Association for +Improving the Condition of the Poor + +_Printed on Fine Quality Book Paper._ _Cover Design in Colors_ + + +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. + +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. + +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. + + _Cloth Binding_ _Illustrated_ _40c. per volume, postpaid_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK + + + + +CUT-OUT AND PAINT BOOKS + + +[Illustration: SCISSORS BOOK + +_Dolls of All Nations_] + +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. + + =Post Cards= _Painting Book_ + =Dolls of all Nations= _Scissors Book_ + =Our Army= _Scissors Book_ + =Children's Pets= _Puzzle Book_ + + _Size 8-1/4 x 10-1/4 inches_ + Price 15c. per copy + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Obvious punctuation errors were corrected. Archaic spelling was retained +in words such as "kidnaped" and "pease." + +First advertising page, "Chenoweth" changed to "Chenowith" to match +actual book usage (Elmer Chenowith, a lad from) + +Page 29, "me" changed to "we" (what we might do) + +Page 30, "every" changed to "very" (very morning when) + +Page 78, "cherry" changed to "cheery" (a cheery word) + +Page 78, "completly" changed to "completely" (he was completely) + +Page 110, "undertsand" changed to "Understand" ("I understand," came +the) + +Page 127, "comfusion" changed to "confusion" (was some little confusion) + +Page 140, "spent" changed to "spend" (should spend the night) + +Page 142, "thing" changed to "think" (I think that on) + +Page 159, word "a" added to text (tells of a method) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREAT HIKE*** + + +******* This file should be named 38307.txt or 38307.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/8/3/0/38307 + + + +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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