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diff --git a/38558-h/38558-h.htm b/38558-h/38558-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a731eb0 --- /dev/null +++ b/38558-h/38558-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7727 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The White Crystals, by Howard R. Garis. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The White Crystals, by Howard R. Garis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The White Crystals + Being an Account of the Adventures of Two Boys + +Author: Howard R. Garis + +Release Date: January 12, 2012 [EBook #38558] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WHITE CRYSTALS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Jim Towey, Mary Meehan at The +Adventure Continues and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>THE WHITE CRYSTALS</h1> + +<h3>Being an Account of the Adventures of Two Boys</h3> + +<h2>BY HOWARD R. GARIS</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF "WITH FORCE AND ARMS," "THE KING OF UNADILLA," "THE WHETSTONE +OF SWORDS," ETC., ETC.</h3> + + +<p class="center">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY<br /> +BERTHA CORSON DAY</p> + +<p class="center">BOSTON<br /> +LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY<br /> +1904<br /></p> + +<p class="center"><i>Copyright, 1904</i>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By Little, Brown, and Company</span>.<br /></p> + +<p class="center"><i>All rights reserved</i><br /></p> + +<p class="center">Published October, 1904<br /></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center">TO<br /> +MY SON ROGER<br /> +THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED<br /></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"'No, sir,' replied Mrs. Kimball, firmly, 'I won't sign'"</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="contents"> +<tr><td align="right"><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td> </td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_I"> <span class="smcap">The Doctor's Advice</span> </a></td><td align="right">1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_II"> <span class="smcap">The Salt City</span> </a></td><td align="right">11</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_III"> <span class="smcap">A Test of Strength</span> </a></td><td align="right">20</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"> <span class="smcap">In Deep Water</span> </a></td><td align="right">31</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_V"> <span class="smcap">Gathering the Honey</span> </a></td><td align="right">41</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"> <span class="smcap">A Load of Grapes</span> </a></td><td align="right">51</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"> <span class="smcap">Lost on the Mountain</span> </a></td><td align="right">61</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"> <span class="smcap">Fighting a Wild-cat</span> </a></td><td align="right">69</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"> <span class="smcap">Out of the Woods</span> </a></td><td align="right">78</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">X.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_X"> <span class="smcap">Bad News</span> </a></td><td align="right">87</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XI.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"> <span class="smcap">Copper and Old Bones</span> </a></td><td align="right">99</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XII.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"> <span class="smcap">Jack Frost</span> </a></td><td align="right">110</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"> <span class="smcap">Lafayette Hill</span> </a></td><td align="right">121</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"> <span class="smcap">A Desperate Race</span> </a></td><td align="right">131</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XV.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"> <span class="smcap">Strangers in Town</span> </a></td><td align="right">141</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"> <span class="smcap">Queer Operations</span> </a></td><td align="right">151</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"> <span class="smcap">Roger Suspects</span> </a></td><td align="right">160</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVIII.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"> <span class="smcap">A Big Black Bear</span> </a></td><td align="right">169</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIX.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"> <span class="smcap">Roger makes Plans</span> </a></td><td align="right">177</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XX.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"> <span class="smcap">Underneath the Ground</span> </a></td><td align="right">187</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXI.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"> <span class="smcap">Roger takes a Journey</span> </a></td><td align="right">196</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXII.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"> <span class="smcap">A Question of Law</span> </a></td><td align="right">208</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIII.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"> <span class="smcap">The Plotters Foiled</span> </a></td><td align="right">220</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXIV.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"> <span class="smcap">Digging for Salt</span> </a></td><td align="right">229</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXV.</td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"> <span class="smcap">The Last Wrestling Match</span> </a></td><td align="right">237</td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<table summary="illustrations"> +<tr><td><a href="#illus1">"'No, sir,' replied Mrs. Kimball, firmly, 'I won't sign'" </a></td><td align="right"><i>Frontispiece</i></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#illus2">"Roger held up the fish pole so that Adrian could grasp it" </a></td><td align="right">38</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#illus3">"Its forepaws struck the boy on the shoulders" </a></td><td align="right">76</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#illus4">"The Cardiff sled left the beaten road, and plunged into the almost +unbroken snow of the fields" </a></td><td align="right">137</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#illus5">"His heart beat suddenly at the idea which came to him" </a></td><td align="right">188</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#illus6">"Then Roger began to raise the lead to the surface" </a></td><td align="right">191</td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE WHITE CRYSTALS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE DOCTOR'S ADVICE</h3> + + +<p>Dr. Glasby looked over the rims of his spectacles at the boy before him. +Then he glanced at Mr. Anderson, cleared his throat with a loud "ahem" +that made Roger start, and said, very ponderously:</p> + +<p>"Um!"</p> + +<p>"Well?" asked Mr. Anderson, a little anxious tone coming into his voice, +"what's the verdict, doctor?"</p> + +<p>"Um!" said the physician again. "Nothing very serious, Mr. Anderson. +Roger, here, is a little run down, that's all. He's been studying too +hard, his eyes are a trifle weak, muscles flabby, and his blood hasn't +enough of the good red stuff in it. In short, he must live out of doors +for a year or so, and then I'll guarantee he will come back with red +cheeks and a pair of arms that will make you proud of him. Eh, Roger?" +and Dr. Glasby pinched the rather small and soft biceps of the boy, +smiling the while, good naturedly.</p> + +<p>"No disease, then, doctor?" from Mr. Anderson.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, my dear sir, except a general poor condition of the system."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't he need medicine, a tonic, or something? His mother and I are +quite worried about him."</p> + +<p>"Not a drop of medicine for this patient," exclaimed Dr. Glasby. "Fresh +air, fresh country air, and more air. That's all."</p> + +<p>The physician turned aside to replace the apparatus he had used; the +stethoscope, with which he had listened to the beating of Roger's heart, +the eye-testing mirrors and lights, and the lung-cylinder, into which +the boy had blown more feebly than Dr. Glasby had liked to see.</p> + +<p>"Then your prescription is—?" began Mr. Anderson.</p> + +<p>"Have him drop his books and studies, stop school, at least for a year, +and get out into the country. You'll have to see for yourself that it is +put up, for no drug store could supply those ingredients. Can you +arrange it?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, doctor. I'll try, anyhow," and, with a hearty handshake, +while his face wore a more relieved look than when he entered the +office, Mr. Anderson left Dr. Glasby, taking Roger with him.</p> + +<p>The journey home was rather a quiet one between Roger and his father. +They boarded a surface car on Broadway, and, as it swung along through +the turmoil of this principal New York street, they were thinking of +what they had just heard. Moving now fast and now slow, according to the +obstructions of trucks on the tracks, the car clanged on its way. Once +it stopped short, suddenly, to allow a spark-emitting fire engine and a +swaying truck with long ladders to dash by to a blaze. Then Roger leaped +to his feet, watching, as long as possible, the exciting rush of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +red-helmeted and rubber-coated men, his eyes brightening as he noted the +plunging, rearing horses.</p> + +<p>"Let's get out and go to the fire!" he called to his father.</p> + +<p>"Not now, son," answered Mr. Anderson. "Your mother will be anxious to +hear what Dr. Glasby said, and we don't want to delay and cause her +worry, you know."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Roger, with just a little disappointment in his +tone, for he did want to see the fire. But he soon forgot that in +wondering what would happen if he didn't have to go to school for a +whole year. The suggestion contained such possibilities that he was lost +in a maze with plans of what he would do with his time.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the car continued along more rapidly, and it was not a great +while before father and son reached home. Then, as Roger helped his +five-year-old brother Edward to build a castle out of blocks, Mr. +Anderson told his wife the result of the visit to Dr. Glasby. She was +much relieved when she learned there was nothing serious the matter with +her son, and there was a happy look in her eyes as she glanced at her +two boys playing together on the floor.</p> + +<p>The Andersons lived in a large but pleasant apartment house on the "west +side," as it is called in New York. It was on Thirty-third Street, just +west of Ninth Avenue, along which thoroughfare the elevated railroad +passed. It was so near this, that in warm weather, when the windows were +open nights, Roger could hear the rattle of the trains and the clatter +and hum of the electric motor cars. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> fact it was quite a noisy place, +where Roger lived, but no one in the neighborhood seemed to mind it, or, +if they did, they had grown so used to it that they never spoke of it. +Of course there was no yard, and no place to play, except in the street, +for space is too valuable in New York to have yards to houses. But there +was the flat roof of the big apartment, where scores of families lived, +and Roger and his boy friends sometimes enjoyed their sports up there.</p> + +<p>Roger Anderson was just past his fifteenth year, rather small for his +age, and not nearly as strong and sturdy as his parents wished he was. +Lately his eyes had been troubling him, and he had complained of +frequent headaches. He was in his first season at high school, and what, +with taking up Latin and algebra, two new worlds of study for the boy, +he had been rather closely applied to his books at night. As he was +ambitious he threw himself into the vim of learning with an energy that +was pleasing to his parents and teachers, though it had a bad effect on +his health. For, after a few weeks of school, it was noticed that he was +failing in energy. There were many days when, in spite of his desire, he +felt disinclined to go to his classes, and he was troubled with +dizziness. In short he seemed in such poor shape that Mr. Anderson +determined on a visit to Dr. Glasby, the old family physician. That +night, after the consultation with the medical man, when Roger had gone +to bed, his father and mother sat up to talk the matter over.</p> + +<p>"I don't like to think of his losing a year's schooling,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> said Mr. +Anderson, as he thought how valuable education was.</p> + +<p>"Better that than to have him get really ill and have to stop +altogether," replied Mrs. Anderson.</p> + +<p>Both were silent a few minutes, turning the question over in their +minds.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we should follow Dr. Glasby's advice as soon as possible," +said Mrs. Anderson, at length. "I wonder what we ought to do. Where can +we send him? Oh dear! I don't at all like the idea of his going away +from us. I just know he'll sit about in damp shoes, and his buttons will +all come off, for they are always loose, and no one to sew them on."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Anderson, a little twinkle in his eyes, "losing buttons +isn't to be compared to having one's health break down, and, as for wet +shoes, he can take pairs enough along to change whenever he gets in the +water. Still I must confess I don't like to think of Roger being away +from us, but he'll have to leave home some day, I suppose, and there's +nothing like getting used to it. I went away from my home when I was +fourteen years old."</p> + +<p>"It was different when you were a boy," said Mrs. Anderson, and her +husband smiled, while he wondered how it was.</p> + +<p>"Where do you suppose we can send him?" went on Mr. Anderson. "Dr. +Glasby says a year in the country. Now we can't afford to pay heavy +expenses, yet I am determined the boy shall have a free run in the fresh +air, and live out doors for a change."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Anderson thought for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I have it!" she cried, suddenly. "He can go to his Uncle Bert's, at +Cardiff. It will be the very thing for him, and when you get your +vacation next summer we can all go up there and see him."</p> + +<p>Mr. Anderson hesitated a minute, for that idea had never come to him.</p> + +<p>"I believe it will be a good plan," he said heartily. "Yes, I'm sure it +will. I'm glad you thought of it. We'll send Roger to Cardiff."</p> + +<p>Thus it was settled that Roger was to give up his studies, which +announcement, when he heard it next morning, made him both glad and +sorry.</p> + +<p>It was a fine day in October, and school had been in session a little +more than a month of the fall term. The visit to the doctor had been +made on Saturday. Sunday was spent in talking over the subject more +fully in the Anderson household, and in writing a letter to "Albertus +Kimball, Esq., Cardiff, Onondaga County, N. Y." This man was Mrs. +Anderson's farmer brother. On Monday, instead of going to school, Roger +accompanied his father down town, where they did considerable shopping +in the way of buying some clothing and underwear for the boy's outfit. +Mr. Anderson also got a stout valise, and filled it with articles he +thought his son might need. Then, rather tired with tramping about, they +had dinner in a busy restaurant on Barclay Street, much to Roger's +delight, for he seldom ate in such places, and it was quite a treat to +order just what he liked best.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p>After lunch Mr. Anderson went to the high school where his son was +enrolled, to give notice to the principal of Roger's withdrawal.</p> + +<p>They arrived just before school assembled for the afternoon session, +and, while Mr. Anderson was talking with Mr. Blake, the principal, Roger +wandered into the familiar court-yard, where he met a number of +classmates.</p> + +<p>"Going to leave, eh?" they all questioned as the news got around. "Say, +Roger, you're a lucky chap. I wish my father would take me out of +school."</p> + +<p>"I believe I'd rather stay," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"Oh, cut that out! What you giving us!" called several, sincerely, if +not politely.</p> + +<p>"No, I would, really," insisted Roger, and he honestly meant it, though +he could not help feeling a little important over the small excitement +he was creating among his companions. Still he did like his studies very +much, for he was just beginning to appreciate the inspiration of Virgil, +the wonders of the science work, and the sturdy exactness of algebraic +equations.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Mr. Anderson came out of Mr. Blake's office, and the +two men walked over to where Roger stood. Mr. Blake shook hands with +him, gravely, and, while expressing regret that his pupil was leaving +school, agreed that it was best, under the circumstances. He hoped to +see Roger back again, he said, much improved in health, and, with cheery +good-byes from his companions, the boy walked out of the school-yard +with his father. There was just the trace of tears in Roger's eyes, +which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> hoped his father wouldn't see, for, after all, it was rather +hard to leave such a lot of fine chums as he had.</p> + +<p>For the next few days there were busy times in the Anderson home. Such +an overhauling of Roger's clothes, such a sewing on of buttons, double +strong, almost enough for a small army of boys, such a darning of +stockings, and a mending of rents in coats and trousers, and such +admonition and advice as his mother gave him, from never forgetting to +say his prayers, to not neglecting to clean his teeth. For he had never +been away from his parents before, in all his short life, and it was a +momentous occasion.</p> + +<p>The novelty of the affair, and the anticipation of adventures in store +for him, kept Roger from thoughts that he might possibly be lonesome or +homesick, after he had started away. Under the stimulus of preparation +he even began to feel better in health. His pale cheeks showed a little +color, and his head had not ached since he had been to the doctor's.</p> + +<p>On Thursday a letter came from Uncle Bert, telling Mrs. Anderson to send +Roger right along; that they would all try to make him comfortable and +happy. So it was arranged he was to start next Monday night, and, to +Mrs. Anderson, the time, until then, seemed altogether too short, +though, boylike, Roger thought the intervening days would never pass. +His ticket had been purchased, his valise packed, and by Sunday night +everything was in readiness. At church that day the boy felt his eyes +grow a little misty as the choir sang the solemn songs, but he made up +his mind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> that he must play the part of a man now, at least as far as +appearances went. So he gulped down the lump in his throat.</p> + +<p>The train was to leave the Grand Central Station of the New York Central +Railroad at nine o'clock Monday night. The last arrangements had been +made, and Mr. Anderson prepared to accompany his son to the depot.</p> + +<p>"Bwing me back suffin' nice, Roggy," called little Edward, sleepily, as +he put up his cheek to be kissed.</p> + +<p>"I will, Eddie, I will," said Roger, his voice trembling a bit, in spite +of his determination to be firm. He cuddled his baby brother close to +him.</p> + +<p>"Now be very careful, my boy," said Mrs. Anderson, for at least the +twentieth time. "Clean your teeth every day, and change your shoes as +soon as you get your feet wet."</p> + +<p>Her motherly eyes showed a suspicious brilliancy, and her voice was not +as steady as it usually sounded. She hugged Roger closely to her, and +gave him a kiss that he long remembered, and then, with a broken +good-bye, she turned and went into the house, while Roger and Mr. +Anderson started for the station.</p> + +<p>They stepped out briskly, boarded a surface car, and were soon rattling +toward Forty-second Street, where the depot was located. Roger was to +take a train for Syracuse, a city twelve miles from Cardiff, to which +village he would go by wagon or stage. There was plenty of time before +nine o'clock, but Mr. Anderson believed in being a little ahead of a +train, instead of behind it. He didn't give his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> son much advice, for he +knew Mrs. Anderson had said all there was to say, and he realized that +Roger was a boy who didn't need to be cautioned after what his mother +had told him.</p> + +<p>The train Roger was to go in had already been made up, and the porter +showed him to his place in the sleeping-car, where he had a lower berth.</p> + +<p>"Now, my boy," said Mr. Anderson, looking at his watch, "you have ten +minutes before starting time. I think I'll leave you, as you are in good +shape here, and I want to get back to your mother. I know you will get +along nicely, and I needn't say I know you'll do what's right, at all +times, for I'm sure you will. Your Uncle Bert will meet you in Syracuse, +when you arrive there in the morning, and you don't have to change cars. +The porter will look after you occasionally. Now, good-bye," and with a +hearty handshake Mr. Anderson left Roger alone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE SALT CITY</h3> + + +<p>With a toot of the whistle, a squeak of the wheels and a sharp hissing, +as the air brakes were released, the train started. The journey was +uneventful, no delays or accidents occurring to mar it. About eleven +o'clock the porter made up Roger's berth, and, though the boy wondered +at the novelty of a bed on what looked much like a shelf, he soon fell +asleep, and did not wake up until the sun was a half hour high, which +time found him within a few miles of Syracuse.</p> + +<p>The colored porter, grinning expansively and good naturedly, for he had +been well remembered by Mr. Anderson, brought Roger a steaming hot cup +of coffee, which was most agreeable.</p> + +<p>"What time do we get in?" asked the boy traveller as he sipped the +beverage.</p> + +<p>"We'd ought a' be in at 7.42," replied the colored man, "but we's a +leetle late this mornin', sah. Probably we'll arrive 'bout eight +o'clock. Feelin' purty peart this mornin', sah?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do feel pretty good," replied Roger, who really did seem better +than he had in some weeks. "I didn't think I'd sleep much, but I did."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, these here is great beds fo' sleepin'," commented the porter, +grinning once more, and causing Roger to wonder, if he smiled any +larger, whether the top of his head wouldn't come off.</p> + +<p>It was just ten minutes past eight when the train rolled along one of +the main streets of Syracuse, and into the dingy depot, near the centre +of the city. Roger was out on the vestibuled platform before the wheels +stopped screeching under the force of the brakes. He was watching among +the crowd under the shed for a tall man, with a big nose, a light sandy +moustache and bright blue eyes, for thus his mother had described his +Uncle Bert to him. He looked at several men.</p> + +<p>The first one had everything but the blue eyes. The second one all the +characteristics save the sandy moustache. But the third man, on whom he +fixed his attention, Roger knew was Mr. Kimball. He waved his hand, and +was glad to see the man wave back. The next minute the train stopped, +and the blue-eyed uncle was ready to reach up for his nephew.</p> + +<p>"Is this here Roger Anderson?" came from beneath the light sandy +moustache, in a pleasant though high-pitched voice.</p> + +<p>"I'm Roger; are you Uncle Bert?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I reckon thet's what! Guessed ye th' fust time, didn't I," and +this fact seemed to give Mr. Kimball so much pleasure that he laughed +with a heartiness which made several smile.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al now, but d'ye know, I'm glad t' see ye! Ye're<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> a leetle late, but +land love ye, comin' three hunderd miles is no joke. I calalate I'd be a +trifle behindhand myself. Now, let's hev yer satchel, 'n' we'll go 'n' +git some breakfust. I ain't eat yit. Ye see I come out from Cardiff +yist'day, hevin' t' do some tradin', 'n' I stayed over night at th' +Candee House, so's t' be on hand t' meet ye. I told th' waiter at my +table I'd hev a hungry boy back 'ith me soon. Ye be hungry, ain't ye?" +with rather an anxious look at Roger.</p> + +<p>"Well, not so very," admitted the boy, wondering a little at the strange +sounding talk of his uncle, who spoke the central New York farmers' +homely but comprehensive dialect.</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks now!" exclaimed Mr. Kimball. "I were calalatin' on seein' ye +race 'ith me eatin' ham 'n' eggs 'n' bread 'n' butter," and he seemed a +bit disappointed. "Howsomever we'll remedy thet when we git ye out t' +Cardiff. 'Fore ye've been thar a week I'll hev ye eatin' salt-risin' +bread, covered 'ith butter 'n' honey—say 'j ever tackle real fresh +salt-risin' bread, spread thick 'ith nice brown buckwheat honey, right +outen th' hives?"</p> + +<p>"I never did," confessed Roger.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, then, ye've got a lot a' pleasure ahead on ye," remarked Mr. +Kimball, "thet's all I've got t' say. But Land o' Goshen, here I be +talkin', 'stid a leadin' th' way t' th' hotel. Come 'long now, 't ain't +fer," and they started off in lively fashion, while Roger wondered what +sort of a man his uncle was.</p> + +<p>Though he did not eat a hearty meal, the boy, under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> eyes of Mr. +Kimball, made out quite a breakfast, while his companion put away a +hearty one, with evident relish. The waiter was kept busy, and Roger +wondered vaguely how a man could drink so many cups of coffee as his +uncle did; no less than four large ones being disposed of.</p> + +<p>"We don't start back 'til three o'clock," said Mr. Kimball, using his +napkin rapidly. "Porter Amidown's stage leaves then. I'd a druv out 'ith +th' Democrat wagin, but it needs a new wheel, so I calalated I'd better +come in 'n' go out by th' stage."</p> + +<p>"Is that Democratic too?" asked Roger, who, like nearly every New York +boy, was of the political faith of his father, who was a Republican.</p> + +<p>"Democrat? Th' stage Democrat? Land no, Porter's a rip-snortin' Prohib. +Oh, I see, ye thought my wagin was a Democrat one, 'stid a' bein' +Republican. Ha! ha! Why we call them vehicles thet name, not 'cause +they're in politics, but jist t' hev a way a' speakin' 'bout 'em, thet's +all, same's a phaeton er runabout. Th' stage a Democrat! Ho! ho! Don't +ye let Porter hear ye say thet," and Mr. Kimball seemed quite tickled +over Roger's natural mistake.</p> + +<p>"So's we don't start back 'til three o'clock," he went on, occasionally +chuckling over the joke, "we'll hev some time t' do a leetle tradin', +fer I didn't finish yist'day. Thet'll give ye a chanst t' look around +th' city. Ade, he's yer cousin, ye know, wanted me t' bring him 'long, +but I calalated there'd be trouble ef I did, so I left him hum. He'd +want ye t' rassal right here in th' street."</p> + +<p>"Rassal?" inquired Roger, wondering what was meant.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yep, rassal. Ketch 's ketch kin, collar 'n' elbow, ye know. Ade 's dead +set on rassalin'. Do ye do it much?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Roger, "I'm not much good at wrestling," and he began to be a +little apprehensive as to the character of his cousin Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, ye'll hev t' rassal 'ith him when ye git hum," remarked Mr. +Kimball, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "He's allers +a rassalin' all th' boys, th' hired men, 'n' so on."</p> + +<p>"Is he pretty strong?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Tol'able, jest tol'able," replied Mr. Kimball. "But ye needn't worry, +he'll let ye alone ef he finds out he kin throw ye. He never rassals th' +second time 'ith anybody he kin throw, lessen it's fer practice. He's +allers tryin' t' tackle some un a leetle better 'n' what he is. Wants t' +git a reputation, he says. His mother says he wants t' git a busted +neck, 'n' say, d' ye know," and Mr. Kimball whispered, "sometimes I +think she's more 'n' half right, I do, honest Injun, I do," and he shook +his head warningly.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I guess we might 's well be goin'," he remarked, after a pause, +and he led the way from the dining-room.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kimball had several places where he wanted to do some trading. He +had to buy some dress goods for his wife, a book for Adrian, some sewing +silk for his daughter Clara, and some tools for himself. He finished by +noon, and after dinner he asked Roger if he didn't want to pay a visit +to the salt works, for which Syracuse is noted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed, I'd like to go, first rate," said the boy.</p> + +<p>So they walked up to the northern part of the pretty town, where, +stretched out in the sun, were the big shallow wooden vats for the +evaporation of the brine which was pumped into them. On the way through +the works Mr. Kimball explained how the salt springs were underneath the +ground on which they were walking, and how the brine was brought to the +surface of the earth by machinery. Then it was left for the sun to draw +off the water, leaving behind the shining particles that formed the salt +of commerce.</p> + +<p>The place was filled with buildings, large and small, with pumps, +engines and vats, with sheds about which hurried scores of men, and +Roger took a great interest looking at everything. He never knew before +what a lot of salt came from Syracuse, nor what an important industry it +was in the trade of the world, and particularly of New York State.</p> + +<p>"My, but we'll hev t' hustle," remarked Mr. Kimball, suddenly, looking +at his big silver watch. "It's nigh two o'clock, 'n' Porter leaves at +three smack. I guess we'll postpone the rest a' th' salt investigation +'til another time."</p> + +<p>So Roger and his uncle made a hurried trip to the Candee House, from +which the stage started. They reached it with about five minutes to +spare, which Mr. Kimball used in getting together his packages and +Roger's baggage, and putting them all snugly in the lumbering vehicle. +As he finished, the stage driver came out to see to the hitching up of +the horses.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Porter, this is my nephew I were tellin' ye of," said Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>Mr. Amidown looked Roger over carefully.</p> + +<p>"Leetle spindlin', ain't he?" he suggested after a pause.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, he ain't's stout's he will be when we git through 'ith him," +replied Mr. Kimball with a hearty laugh, as he poked Porter playfully in +the ribs. Then he helped Roger up to the high seat, and followed nimbly +himself. There was a crack of the long whip, a rattle of the harness +chains, a rumble of the wheels and the stage started off.</p> + +<p>There were several other passengers making the trip from Syracuse by +stage that day, but Roger and his uncle were the only ones on the +outside. The big wagon rolled along, first on the asphalt streets, under +tall elm and maple trees that lined the thoroughfares, where the houses +were so close together that they reminded the boy of New York. Then the +residences became more scattered, and farther and farther apart, as the +suburbs were reached.</p> + +<p>During the early part of the journey Porter was too busy guiding his +team of horses in and out among other vehicles to do much talking. Mr. +Kimball was engaged in looking over an account book, and making notes of +his recent purchases, with the amounts they cost, and so was too much +occupied to talk. Thus Roger was left to himself for a while. He was +much interested in all that he saw, though of course the city sights +were almost like those of New York, except there was not the same bustle +and excitement, nor such big, towering buildings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<p>But when he came into the pretty suburbs it was different. The air was +pure and fresh, and the wind was just cool enough to be delightful that +October afternoon. Soon the horses were jogging along, the reins +flapping loose on their broad backs. Mr. Kimball, putting up his account +book, turned to Porter, and asked:</p> + +<p>"How's everything in Cardiff?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, so-so," replied Mr. Amidown. "Ain't changed much sence ye come out +yist'day."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't calalate it has hed much chanst," agreed Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>Then the two men began to talk of crops, of cows and horses, of the farm +of this one and the garden of that one, the grape and the honey outlook, +until Roger wondered how they could remember so many different names and +the kinds of things that grew.</p> + +<p>Finally Mr. Kimball bethought himself that his nephew might be lonesome, +with no one to talk to, so he turned his attention to the boy, and told +him of the country through which they were passing. He showed him where +Enos Jones had a good field of wheat, and where Nathan Parks was +expecting to gather in a fine yield of corn, and so on, until the city +boy felt some of the importance of farming, and how much the people of +this country depend on it.</p> + +<p>The stage rumbled on, up hill and down dale, along the twelve miles. +About five o'clock they came within sight of the white-spired church of +Cardiff, and it was not long before they reached the outskirts of the +village. The big<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> vehicle stopped at the post-office. Porter threw off a +bag of mail, called to the horses to resume their pulling again, and, +five minutes later he drew up in front of a comfortable farmhouse, in +the yard of which stood a pleasant-faced woman and a boy about Roger's +age.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A TEST OF STRENGTH</h3> + + +<p>"Hey, Pop! Have you brought him?" shouted the sturdy youngster whom +Roger looked down at from the top of the stage. It seemed to him as if +the boy was inquiring for some new kind of wild animal.</p> + +<p>"He's here all right, Ade," replied Mr. Kimball, as he assisted his +nephew down. "He's on time t' th' minute, 'n' I hope yer mother's got +suthin' good fer us both t' eat."</p> + +<p>"Land sakes! Allers thinkin' a' suthin' t' put in yer stomach," +exclaimed Mrs. Kimball, laughing as she came forward to meet Roger and +give him a hearty kiss.</p> + +<p>"Here! You two boys git acquainted," commanded Mr. Kimball, and he and +his wife stood aside until Roger could advance and meet his country +cousin. Adrian and Roger were about the same age, and, though they were +both nearly of equal height, Adrian was the more sturdy of the two, and +it was easily seen what an advantage he had because of his life in the +open air. He was tanned, and as brown as a butternut on his hands and +face, and there was a clearness to his skin and a brightness to his eyes +that Roger lacked, for the latter was pale, and his eyes showed the +effects of hard study. Perhaps for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> minute the two boys sized each +other up, almost like two dogs that meet for the first time, and when +each is uncertain as to the other's intention.</p> + +<p>Roger held out his hand, and Adrian took it in a firm grasp, shaking it +up and down, pump-handle fashion.</p> + +<p>"Can you wrestle?" asked the country boy suddenly. It was his first +greeting.</p> + +<p>"A little," admitted Roger, "but I haven't had much chance at it. I know +I'm not very good."</p> + +<p>"Come on, then; right here in the grass," said Adrian. He started +peeling off his coat.</p> + +<p>"Not now, wait until arter supper," commanded Mr. Kimball. "Why, Ade," +he went on, "I'm ashamed on ye. Don't ye know Roger's bin travellin' a +good while, 'n' he ain't hed much rest. I'm s'prised at ye. 'T ain't +fair t' rassal now."</p> + +<p>"I'd just as soon," broke in Roger. "I never claimed to be much of a +wrestler, but I'm not afraid to try."</p> + +<p>He made up his mind he was not going to be stumped by any boy of his own +age, in a test of strength, without an endeavor. So off came his coat in +a hurry.</p> + +<p>"Which way are you used to?" asked Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not particular."</p> + +<p>"Well, catch-as-catch-can then," said the country boy, advancing toward +Roger slowly.</p> + +<p>It would seem that the two were hardly a match for each other, since the +life Adrian led had made him much more sturdy than was his cousin. At +the same time, though Roger was not as strong and well set-up as a lad +of his age<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> should have been, he was of wiry frame and quick on his +feet. So, after all, the contest might not be so one-sided as it +appeared at first.</p> + +<p>For a minute the two boys circled about each other, looking for an +opening. They had their hands extended, seeking for good holds, and +ready to break any too dangerous grip on the part of the other. Their +faces were set, and their eyes brightened with excitement, but, as it +was all in fun, there was not a trace of anger.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Adrian reached out and caught Roger's left hand with his own +left. At the same moment he tried to get his right arm about the city +boy's neck. But Roger was too quick for him, and, instead of gaining +this advantage, Adrian found himself circled about by Roger's arm. Then +there was a straining of muscles; the two boys closed in a tight grip, +and the struggle was on.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kimball watched them with great delight, for he was fond of a +contest of this kind; but his wife, while used to the rough play of her +own boy with his comrades, was somewhat alarmed for the effects of the +wrestling on her nephew, whose frame was not trained to such rough +exercise, she thought. However, she said nothing, thinking there was not +much likelihood of any serious harm resulting from the tussle. The most +that might happen would be a good shaking up, and soreness.</p> + +<p>The boys were now wrestling away in earnest. To Roger it was no surprise +to feel the sturdy muscles of his opponent, but it was some small wonder +to Adrian to find Roger meeting his advance with a force he did not +expect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> was in his cousin's rather thin arms. At first Adrian tried to +duck his head out from the encircling hold of Roger. When he could not +succeed in this he endeavored to pull the city boy off his feet. That +was of little avail, for Roger was lighter than Adrian, and shuffled +quickly about on the grass.</p> + +<p>When a few minutes of this pulling and hauling had passed, the boys were +panting a little, and breathing rapidly. Feeling the need of wind, +Roger, for a short while, acted solely on the defensive. Then, seeing he +was not making out as poorly as he feared he would, he ventured to try +something on the offence. He put out his right leg, and planted it +firmly behind that of Adrian's, and then tried to push his cousin over +it backward, thinking to throw him in this fashion.</p> + +<p>If Roger could have seen the smile that came over Adrian's face as he +did this, perhaps he would not have been so ready to try the old trick. +The country boy let himself be shoved over, ever so slightly. He even +became limp in his opponent's hands, and Roger thought he saw victory +most unexpectedly before him.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, ef Roger ain't a goin' t' throw him!" exclaimed Mr. Kimball, +though not displeased because he was going to see his own son defeated. +"Go at him, Roger!" he cried. "You're th' stuff!"</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Adrian's body stiffened out. His arms that had been limp +became rigid. From tilting backward he straightened up. He twisted his +neck from the crook of Roger's arm, grabbed his cousin by the shoulders, +shifted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> rapidly on his feet, and, with a quick push, sent Roger over +backward, pinning him squarely upon his back on the sod.</p> + +<p>"A fair fall! A fair fall!" cried Mr. Kimball, dancing about like a +youngster himself. "I thought ye had him, Roger, but he fooled ye. Guess +ye'll hev t' eat a leetle mite more, 'fore ye kin throw him," and the +farmer chuckled in delight.</p> + +<p>Roger got up from the ground. He was smiling slightly, but there was a +determined look on his face that was good to see, for it showed he had +met defeat bravely, and was not daunted by it.</p> + +<p>"That's one," he said, breathing a trifle hard. "Maybe I'll do better +next time. Are you ready?" and he stood waiting for another trial.</p> + +<p>"What! Do you want to go at it again?" asked Adrian, somewhat surprised.</p> + +<p>"Of course," answered Roger. "And if you throw me this time I'll try +once more, and then to-morrow, and next day, and the next, until I've +thrown you!"</p> + +<p>"That's th' way t' talk!" exclaimed Mr. Kimball. "That's what I like t' +hear. Never say die!" and he capered about as wild as a boy.</p> + +<p>"Paw, how you talk!" said Mrs. Kimball. "Them boys sha'n't rassal any +more t'night. Adrian, I'm s'prised at ye, throwin' yer cousin that has +jest come out t' see ye."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's game, mother. He don't care," replied Adrian, smiling, and +much pleased at Roger's pluck. "But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> we won't try any more falls right +away," he added. "I'll give you another chance, though, Roger."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I guess thet's th' best view t' take," said Mr. Kimball. "Ye +know ye come out here t' Cardiff, Roger, t' git fattened up, 'n' ye +won't do thet ef ye keep on rassalin'. I guess I'll declare a flag a' +truce. Now mind," and his voice became stern, "no more rassalin' 'til I +give ye leave. Ef ye want t' rassal, Ade, ye'll hev t' take on some un +else."</p> + +<p>"All right, dad," replied Adrian, good naturedly.</p> + +<p>Roger said nothing, but he made up his mind that, though the contest was +postponed for a while, he would not rest until he had thrown his cousin +in a fair struggle. For the time, however, he was satisfied to wait.</p> + +<p>"Come on 'n' wash up fer supper!" cried Mr. Kimball, as the boys were +putting on their coats. "Land a' Goshen, I'm 's hungry 's th' b'ar what +sees his shadder on Candlemas Day. Come on, Roger, 'n' I'll interduce ye +t' yer cousin Clara, 'n' let ye set yer teeth in some a' th' finest +salt-risin' bread in Cardiff, 'n' th' best buckwheat honey growed in +Onondaga County," and he started for the house, followed by the two boys +and Mrs. Kimball, who began to ask Roger a score of questions about his +father and mother and the baby, which the boy answered as best he could.</p> + +<p>For the first time since he had alighted from the stage Roger had a +chance to look about him. The comfortable large farmhouse, painted white +with green shutters, stood on the east side of the road, which ran along +the edge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> the beautiful Onondaga valley. Behind the house rose a +gently sloping hill, on the sunny declivities of which was a large +vineyard, belonging to Mr. Kimball. In front of the house was a stretch +of fields, forming the bottom part of the valley, and some of these +broad acres belonged to Adrian's father. The valley was about three +miles wide, and, if one should walk across that space he would come to +the opposite hills that framed it in, towering up, with densely wooded +sides, broken here and there with little farm clearings. It was a most +pleasant place to live, Roger thought. He paused for a minute, and +turned to look at the view behind him.</p> + +<p>The sun was just sinking down behind the topmost trees of the western +hills, and the slanting beams, sifting through the red and yellow leaves +of the autumn forest, caused the woods to appear as if they were blazing +with golden fire. The beauty of the sunset made all pause to look at it, +and Roger was sure he had never before seen such a happy, calm, peaceful +valley as the one in the centre of which nestled the village of Cardiff.</p> + +<p>The Kimball house was of the large roomy kind the early farmers built, +with tall white pillars supporting the roof of the front porch, on top +of which was a balcony. A gravel driveway passed along the south side of +the building leading to the barn in the rear. Instead of going in the +front door, which was, as is usual in the country, seldom opened, Mr. +Kimball led the way around the side. Roger, following, heard the splash +of running water, and, turning the corner, he saw a pipe spouting a +sparkling stream which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> fell into a big basin, chiselled out of a single +solid stone. This was right at the side door of the house.</p> + +<p>"Thar!" exclaimed Mr. Kimball, "thar, Roger, you'll find thet th' best +water in th' State. Nothin' like it at Saratogy er New York City. It +comes from a spring right up thar on my hill, 'n' we're th' fust family +t' git it, jest 's it bubbles up from th' ground. Here!" taking down the +half of an empty cocoanut shell, which served as a dipper, "here, sample +it," and he let the spout fill the brown vessel with the babbling, +laughing water.</p> + +<p>Roger drank deep of the refreshing liquid, for he was thirsty from the +long drive, and, when he handed back the empty dipper, with a grateful +breath of contentment, his uncle needed no better evidence that the +water was good, as indeed any one who has been to Cardiff and tasted of +it will bear witness.</p> + +<p>Now there was the flutter of a red dress in the doorway, and Roger +looked up to meet the gaze of a pretty, brown-eyed girl, whose flushed +cheeks took on a deeper color as she smiled at the boy.</p> + +<p>"That's him, Clara," called out Adrian. "That's him, 'n' I threw him, +too."</p> + +<p>"Thet's your cousin Clara," put in Mr. Kimball. "I guess ye never seen +her before, 'cause th' last time yer mother were here, Clara wa'n't born +yit, 'n' I vum, ye was such' a leetle chap, thet it were hard work t' +locate ye, in yer long dresses," and he laughed heartily at the +remembrance.</p> + +<p>Clara held out her hand, which Roger shook warmly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> She was a girl of +fourteen, and was almost as large as Roger. He thought her one of the +prettiest girls he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad you got here safely," she said. "I suppose Ade made you +wrestle as soon as you got off the stage. I believe he would rather roll +in the dirt that way than eat," and she glanced at her brother, who was +turning a handspring nimbly.</p> + +<p>"Not much I wouldn't! Not when I know supper's so near ready," answered +Adrian, landing on his feet near Clara.</p> + +<p>Then Roger became aware of the nicest odor coming from the region of the +kitchen. He thought it was the best he had ever smelled, for he was +hungry, more hungry than he had been in several weeks, as his appetite +had not been good of late. Now it seemed as if he could not get to the +table quickly enough.</p> + +<p>Once in the house Mrs. Kimball lost no time. She led Roger to his room, +a pleasant chamber next to where Adrian slept, and, when she had seen +his valise and trunk brought up, and showed him where the washbowl and +pitcher of water could be found, she left him to prepare for supper.</p> + +<p>For a minute or two Roger felt a flood of lonesomeness come over him. It +was so very quiet, out there in the country, more quiet than he had ever +supposed it possible to be. Even though it was only six o'clock, it was +more silent than at midnight in New York, where, indeed, there is never +lack of noise. Through the open window of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> room came only the faint +rattle of a distant wagon down the dusty road, and the chirp of +crickets, that had begun their evening song early. For the first time +since Roger had started he wished himself home again. It wasn't half as +nice, this going away, as he had thought it would be. He felt a lump +coming into his throat and a trace of moisture into his eyes.</p> + +<p>Surely he couldn't be going to cry? What, cry? Of course not. Who ever +heard of such a thing, even though it did seem lonesome just at first, +you know, and even though he couldn't help feeling a trifle homesick. He +controlled his feelings, poured out the water, and dashed it into his +face vigorously. When he had finished using the towel he broke into a +cheery whistle that penetrated to the rooms below; and then he bethought +himself of his determination to wrestle and throw Adrian some day. He +was ready to go downstairs now.</p> + +<p>It was a very merry supper. Roger had his first taste of salt-rising +bread, which is made without yeast, and he voted it the best he ever +ate. He had fresh buckwheat honey, which had been taken from the hives +that same day, his uncle told him. Then there was crisp, brown ham, and +golden eggs, sugar-coated crullers, and rich creamy milk, and Roger +surprised himself by the manner in which he put away the victuals.</p> + +<p>The evening was spent in the "settin' room," as Mrs. Kimball called it, +where they had kerosene lamps, which seemed strange to the city boy, +used only to gas or electricity. About nine o'clock Roger's eyes began +to get heavy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> and to feel as if they had sticks in them. His head +nodded once or twice, even while his uncle was talking to him.</p> + +<p>"Bedtime," announced Mr. Kimball, suddenly, and Roger was glad to hear +him say so. With a small lamp his aunt lighted the way to his room.</p> + +<p>"I say!" called Adrian from his apartment, when Roger had settled snug +between the cool sheets,—"I say, Roger."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"We'll go fishing to-morrow. I know a deep hole where we can get some +dandy fat chubs."</p> + +<p>"Good," called Roger, through his open door. "That will be sport."</p> + +<p>He fell to listening to the dreamy chirp of the crickets and the +trilling of the tree-toads. Gradually these sounds became fainter and +fainter, and at last he could only hear them as if the insects were a +score of miles away. Roger was sound asleep.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>IN DEEP WATER</h3> + + +<p>The sun was well up over the eastern hills, shining down warm and mellow +on Cardiff valley when Roger awoke next morning. At first he could +scarcely remember where he was, so many changes of location had he gone +through lately. He looked at the old-fashioned wall paper, listened to +the rustling of the wind in the trees, and wondered if he was not +dreaming. Then he gradually recalled the events of the day before. He +got out of bed with a jump, and was dressing when Adrian came in.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Roger," was the greeting, "how'd you sleep?"</p> + +<p>"Fine," answered Roger.</p> + +<p>Then Adrian looked at the clothes his cousin was putting on. It was the +same suit Roger had worn when he arrived.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I say," exclaimed Adrian. "Don't tog out in these. We're going +fishing, you know, and you'll need your old duds to go through the woods +with. You'll spoil a good suit."</p> + +<p>Then for the first time Roger realized that he didn't have to dress for +school. He remembered that he was not going to study his lessons, and +had only to go out into the air and sunshine, to listen to the birds, +and to tramp through the fields. For the first time it came to him +that,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> even though he was not as well and strong as many other boys, +there was a good time ahead of him, and a chance for him to become as +sturdy as Adrian.</p> + +<p>"That's so, we are going fishing to-day," remarked Roger. "I'd forgotten +all about it, I slept so soundly. I thought I was back in New York."</p> + +<p>He made haste to replace his good suit with an older though serviceable +one, which would stand hard usage. Then the two boys went down to +breakfast, which meal, Roger was sure, tasted even better than the +supper of the night previous.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, what's th' schedule fer t'-day?" asked Mr. Kimball, as he gulped +down his second cup of coffee. "You boys goin' arter b'ar er mountain +lions?"</p> + +<p>"Are there bears in these woods?" inquired Roger, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Mussy sakes, no!" exclaimed Mrs. Kimball, "but 't wouldn't be yer Uncle +Bert ef he did n't fool some un. Skunks 'n' squirrels, 'n' onct in a +while a wild-cat, is th' biggest beasts in these parts."</p> + +<p>"Now, mother," began Mr. Kimball, his mouth half full of potato, "ye +know there is b'ars in th' woods. Didn't ye run away from one last fall, +when ye were pickin' blackberries? Now, own up, did n't ye?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, thet one," answered Mrs. Kimball, as she set a plate of buckwheat +cakes in front of Roger. "He was th' tame b'ar thet got away from th' +Italian organ grinder."</p> + +<p>"Scared ye most int' a spasm, though," commented Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> Kimball, laughing +so heartily that he nearly choked on a piece of bread.</p> + +<p>"Go along 'n' eat yer breakfust, 'n' git at th' chores," advised Mrs. +Kimball, smiling a bit at the recollection of the incident.</p> + +<p>"We're going over to Limestone creek, fishing," said Adrian. "George +Bennett was there yesterday and got fifteen chub."</p> + +<p>"Got any bait?" asked Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>"Going to dig some right away," replied Adrian, trying to make short +work of the meal. Roger, too, was busy with the victuals.</p> + +<p>"Now I don't know 'bout this," began Mr. Kimball with a grave air, in +contrast to his former jolly tone. "Roger didn't come out here t' start +right in 'n' tramp eight er ten miles, 'n' git all tired out. His mother +'n' father wants him t' rest up, 'n' git lots a' fresh air. Now, Ade, I +don't know's I ought t' let you two go. What d' ye say, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"I don't feel at all tired," answered the boy. "I am not sure I could +walk eight miles, but—"</p> + +<p>"It's less than two miles there, pop," broke in Adrian, "and, say, you +need n't worry, but I'll take care of Roger. We'll walk slow."</p> + +<p>"I guess I can tramp as far as the creek," put in Roger, feeling a +little nettled that his physical ability should so often come up for +discussion.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, all right," assented Mr. Kimball. "It's a nice day, 'n' I guess +it won't hurt ye none. Look out ye<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> don't fall in, that's all. It's deep +near th' hole where th' best fishin' is."</p> + +<p>"We'll be careful," promised Adrian.</p> + +<p>Breakfast over Adrian got out the fishing tackle and a spade with which +to dig the worms for bait. Roger was provided with a bamboo pole and the +necessary line, hooks, and sinkers. Then, when Adrian announced, after +spading a good-sized patch of the barnyard up, that they had bait enough +in the tin can, the two boys shouldered their poles and started off.</p> + +<p>The way to the creek was along the main street of Cardiff, which ran +through the centre of the village, up to the cross-road, that led +eastward to the town of Lafayette. At this point the path went west, +twisting and turning along the highway, over the hills to Onondaga Lake, +twenty miles away. This was the first glimpse Roger had of the hamlet of +Cardiff, except for the hasty glances as he had passed through on the +stage the evening before. There were not more than sixty houses in the +place, all comfortably close together, on the two sides of the main +street.</p> + +<p>Here and there, spread out along other roads, were scattered farms, with +big, roomy, white houses and weather-stained barns and corn-cribs.</p> + +<p>The boys passed over the little brook that ran across the road, just +beyond Adrian's home, the stream being spanned by a wooden bridge. Soon +they came to Hank Mack's general store, where you could buy a plow or a +yard of red calico, a stick of candy or some gunpowder, a loaf of bread +or a salt mackerel. Then there was the blacksmith shop,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> in the door of +which stood Sam Bennett, and, next, the grist mill, kept by Truem +Wright, as jolly a chap as one would care to meet in the course of a +day's travel. The last building, save some houses, before the boys came +to the turn of the road, was the public inn or tavern, which bore the +name "The Pine Tree. Abe Crownheart, Proprietor," in big faded blue +letters over the door.</p> + +<p>It was still early in the day, but nearly all the people in Cardiff +seemed to be up and about. The men and women whom Adrian met nodded or +spoke to him, and glanced rather curiously at Roger, for strangers were +not common in town. A walk of half a mile brought the boys to the +cross-road, and they went down that some distance before Adrian +indicated the place where they were to cut across lots to reach the +creek. Through the fields they went, most of the land they found +themselves travelling over having been given up to the raising of corn, +which was now gathered in shocks, ready to be husked, leaving the heavy +brown stubble sticking out of the earth.</p> + +<p>"Don't know's we'll have much luck to-day," said Adrian, rather +dubiously, as he wet his finger and held it up in the air to note which +side felt coolest, and so determine the direction of the breeze.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"South wind."</p> + +<p>"What's that got to do with fishing?"</p> + +<p>"Lots. Didn't you ever hear that? Why we never go fishing if the wind's +south. It wasn't there when we started, but I guess it shifted. There's +a verse that says:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> 'When the wind's in the west the fish bite best; +when the wind's in the south it blows the hook out their mouth.' But +maybe we'll get a few."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, after all our work," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"If I don't, it won't be the first time, for me," added Adrian, as +though to prepare for the worst.</p> + +<p>They tramped for half a mile more, and then, turning down a well-beaten +path, Adrian led the way to an opening amid a grove of willow trees, +along the edge of the creek. The stream, which was broad and deep here, +curved around from a point, and formed an eddy that had eaten quite a +distance into the bank. This eddy was used as a swimming hole by the +boys of the village, but now the water was a little too cool for that +sport, so the fish were not disturbed in what Adrian knew was one of +their favorite haunts.</p> + +<p>It did not take long to rig the lines on the poles, bait the hooks, and +cast in. Though Roger never had much chance to go fishing in the city, +the necessity of keeping quiet was apparent to him, and he moved about +as slowly and as easily as he could, standing in a place Adrian had +pointed out. Then he softly dropped the hook, with the wiggling, +dangling worm, into the water. Adrian did likewise, and then the boys +began to exercise that patience which all good fishermen are supposed to +be blessed with.</p> + +<p>Roger felt a little tired from the tramp, and, after he had stood for +several minutes, he ventured to sit down on a piece of drift-wood that +was on the edge of the bank. Adrian, not feeling the strain of walking, +preferred to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> stand. It was very quiet along the edge of the creek, +screened as it was by the fringe of willows. Now and then a late-staying +bird, that had not yet flown south, darted in and out among the trees. +The dried cornstalks rustled in the wind, and there was a pleasant smell +in the air. Altogether it was a most delightful place to fish.</p> + +<p>"I've got a bite," whispered Adrian, suddenly, and Roger noticed his +cousin's line trembling and shaking just where it entered the water. +"Watch me pull him out," went on Adrian softly.</p> + +<p>The next instant he yanked his pole high in the air, and, dangling on +the end of the line, twisting and flopping so that its silvery sides +reflected the sun, was a good-sized fish. Roger leaped to his feet to +see the catch, which his cousin landed on the ground with a thud. He +started back to where the prize lay on the grassy bank, and then he felt +something give way beneath him. He seemed to be falling down, and in +desperation he clutched wildly at the air. He heard Adrian shouting, as +though he was miles away, and the next he knew the waters of the creek +closed above his head. A part of the bank where he had been sitting had +broken off, and carried him into the stream with a splash of the deep +water.</p> + +<p>Roger thought he would never stop sinking down and down into the pool, +and, though at this point it was only about ten feet deep, the boy +imagined it must be three times that. He had kept hold of the pole when +he fell, and he dimly knew that his hands still grasped it as he tried +to strike out and spring to the surface. It was black<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> as night all +around him, and the waters roared and sang in his ears.</p> + +<p>For a half minute Adrian was so frightened by his cousin's disappearance +he did not know what to do. He felt sure Roger would be drowned, and, +already, he was charging himself with the responsibility for it.</p> + +<p>Then a determination to save him came into the boy's mind. With a quick +motion he peeled off his coat, cast aside his cap, and, with his knife, +rapidly slit the laces of his shoes, as the easiest and most expeditious +way of undoing them. He kicked the leathers from him, leaped to the edge +of the bank, and was about to dive into the water when he saw Roger's +head bob up.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid!" called Adrian. "I'll save you!"</p> + +<p>He poised for the spring, but, to his surprise, instead of seeing Roger +helplessly floundering in the creek, he noticed that his cousin was +calmly treading water to keep himself afloat, for it was hard to swim +weighed down by clothes and shoes.</p> + +<p>"Look out! Here I come!" cried Adrian.</p> + +<p>"D-don't d-don't," stuttered Roger, his teeth chattering. He was a +little out of breath. "I c-c-can get o-o-out a-all r-r-right! I was a +l-l-little s-s-surprised a-at first!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"Roger held up the fish pole so that Adrian could grasp it"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Adrian noticed that his cousin was making his way slowly toward more +shallow water. When he got to a point half way to the bank Roger held up +the fish pole, so that Adrian could grasp it. The latter saw the idea at +once, and, with a quick motion, he took hold of the bamboo rod, and +pulled his cousin along until it was an easy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> matter for the boy to +walk out. Roger stepped on the shelving bank, below the swimming hole, +dripping water like a big Newfoundland dog. His breathing was rather +uncertain, and his teeth chattered, for the water was cold.</p> + +<p>"I thought at first you were a goner," said Adrian, grasping Roger's +hand heartily. "I never imagined you could swim."</p> + +<p>"I learned how in the free baths down at the Battery, in New York, where +we fellows used to go Saturdays," explained Roger. "Only that's salt +water, and it's easier to keep afloat in than this. I wasn't scared +after the first few seconds. It took me by surprise, and knocked the +breath out of me, that's all. I didn't know where I was for a little +while."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you," agreed Adrian. "Well, I guess that'll be about all +the fishing to-day," he went on. "You'd better hurry home with me, and +get dry clothes on, so you won't catch cold. If it was July instead of +October it wouldn't matter so much. So come on; let's run for it."</p> + +<p>They started off across the fields at a smart trot, and soon reached the +road. They got there just as a man came along, driving a light wagon.</p> + +<p>"It's Enberry Took, who lives right below us," explained Adrian. "He'll +give us a lift. Hey, Enberry!"</p> + +<p>"Whoa!" exclaimed the man in the wagon, pulling the horse up. "Been +fishin', boys, or swimmin'?" he asked as he looked at Roger dripping +water, and at the solitary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> fish Adrian carried. Then Mr. Took smiled +grimly, perhaps suspecting what had happened.</p> + +<p>"We've been doing a little of both," explained Adrian. "Can we ride home +with you, Enberry? This is my cousin, Roger, from New York. He's here on +a visit."</p> + +<p>"Hop in," invited Mr. Took, shortly, and, when the two boys were settled +in the bottom of the wagon, he whipped up his horse, which trotted over +the ground in good shape. Almost before Roger and Adrian knew it they +were at the gate of their house, greatly surprising Mrs. Kimball and +amusing her husband, who laughed heartily when he learned there was no +harm done.</p> + +<p>"You'll make out all right," he said to Roger, as the boy went to change +his wet clothes for dry ones; "you've got a level head on your +shoulders, even if ye do live in New York. I'm proud on ye, thet's what +I am; I'm proud on ye, Roger."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>GATHERING THE HONEY</h3> + + +<p>Whether it was the country air, or the exercise Roger took after his +sudden bath, he did not know, but he felt no ill effects from the plunge +into the creek, nor did he catch cold. There was merry laughter over the +affair when he came downstairs dressed in a dry suit, and, on Mr. +Kimball's suggestion, the boys decided they had gone through enough +excitement for one day.</p> + +<p>"I would think Roger needed a rest," said Clara.</p> + +<p>"Ef ye ain't got nothin' else t' do this arternoon, Ade," said Mr. +Kimball, "ye might git off some a' th' clover honey. I'm goin' t' send a +load a' stuff t' Syracuse in th' mornin', 'n' I'll want some honey t' +take 'long."</p> + +<p>"Would you like to help at that?" asked Adrian of Roger. "It's easy +work."</p> + +<p>"I guess so," replied Roger, who thought it would be interesting to see +how the busy little bees worked and made the sweet stuff he had eaten +the first night he came. So the boys made their preparations after +dinner, which was soon served.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kimball had about two hundred swarms, or hives, of bees, the little +houses for the insects being arranged in rows in an orchard just south +of the farm dwelling. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> honey crop had been nearly all gathered in +when Roger came, but some of the later swarms were still busy filling up +the "caps" with the sweet juices of flowers. Adrian got out two big +straw hats, around the edges and coming down on all sides of which was +mosquito netting like a long veil. He put on one hat and gave the other +to Roger.</p> + +<p>"What's it for?" asked the city boy.</p> + +<p>"To keep you from getting stung."</p> + +<p>"But," began Roger, his ardor cooling as he thought for the first time +of the chances of being nipped by the bees, "isn't it dangerous to go +out among the hives, even with these veils on?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit," replied Adrian.</p> + +<p>But when he saw his cousin heading for the midst of the collection of +hives, Roger became somewhat apprehensive, in spite of the assurance. He +hung back a bit.</p> + +<p>"There won't be any danger for you," said Adrian, observing his +hesitation. "I'll put you in a safe place, but if a buzzer or two does +come singing around you once in a while just keep perfectly still and it +won't hurt you. In fact it can't get at you with the veil on. You can +have a pair of gloves, too, so every part of you will be protected. Come +on."</p> + +<p>Thus assured, though still a trifle doubtful, Roger advanced. As they +walked along the path to the orchard Roger noticed that Adrian carried +what looked like a big funnel, on the bottom or large part of which was +a leather bellows.</p> + +<p>"What's that for?" he asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To smoke the bees."</p> + +<p>"Smoke the bees?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; you'll see in a minute."</p> + +<p>On the edge of the apiary was a tool house and another building where +the honey and bee hives were stored in for winter, for here in the north +bees cannot exist through the cold weather out of doors. Entering the +tool house Adrian collected some small pieces of wood and some shavings, +and built a little fire in the tin funnel, to which the bellows was +attached, using the folded leather arrangement to make a good draught.</p> + +<p>Adjusting his hat so that the mosquito netting veil hung down all around +his head, Adrian started out with the smoke-machine trailing a fleecy +cloud behind him.</p> + +<p>"Come on," he called to Roger, handing him a pair of gloves. "Put these +on. They're rubber, you see, and the bees can't put their stingers +through them."</p> + +<p>"Where's yours?" asked Roger, as he drew the gauntlets well over his +wrists.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't take off honey in gloves. They'd be too clumsy. But I +seldom get stung barehanded, and if I do I don't mind one or two. Got +used to 'em. A little ammonia on the sting takes the pain out."</p> + +<p>He kept on toward the cluster of hives, and Roger could not help +noticing how much his cousin seemed like a diver, with the big head +piece on. He, himself, must look the same, he thought.</p> + +<p>"You see," explained Adrian, as he saw Roger glancing curiously at the +rows of bee houses, "each hive is divided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> into two parts, top and +bottom. In the lower part the bees live, raise their young, and store +honey in what we call the big sections. These are beeswax combs, set in +light wooden frames. In the top part of the hive are several smaller, +square, wooden frames, into which the bees build the comb and fill it +with honey. When they have these upper sections filled and capped up, or +sealed over, we lift them off and sell them."</p> + +<p>"It's rather rough on the bees," observed Roger.</p> + +<p>"We always leave them enough," explained Adrian.</p> + +<p>As he talked Adrian approached the bee colonies.</p> + +<p>"You'd better stay back, now, under that tree," he called to Roger, and +the latter was glad enough not to be asked to go any nearer the hives, +from which he could hear a busy, droning hum. He much preferred to watch +Adrian from this vantage point.</p> + +<p>He saw his cousin come up to one of the bee houses from the rear. First +the top cover was carefully lifted off, and this was set on the ground, +edge up. Next Adrian lifted up a piece of oilcloth that kept all +possible dampness from the honey. As soon as this was moved aside Roger +saw a black moving mass of bees crawling upward. Adrian quickly took the +smoker and puffed a gentle white cloud of vapor on the insects. In an +instant they melted away, scurrying downward. The smoke irritated them +and made them drowsy, and they wanted to get away from its smarting +vapor. This made it safe for any one to work about the hive, under the +protection of fumes from the burning wood.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>This left free the upper section of the hive, which was filled with caps +full of the clear white, or darker buckwheat honey, the bees being +below. Adrian then lifted off the whole top part of the little house, +and Roger could see that it contained a number of the full caps, in this +case there being only the white clover honey. Setting his load down on +top of the hive next to him, Adrian replaced the cover on the first +hive. Then he puffed several more clouds of smoke on the top section he +had just removed, to drive away the few remaining bees that were loath +to leave their property.</p> + +<p>Adrian carried the section, which contained twenty-four small caps, to +the bee house, and returned to repeat the operation on other hives. +Roger looked on with much interest as Adrian worked rapidly.</p> + +<p>"Got stung yet?" he called to his busy cousin.</p> + +<p>"One nipped me on the finger a bit, but I don't mind that. I'm used to +it. Are they bothering you?"</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Roger, moving his head from side to side, "some of 'em +seem anxious to make my acquaintance, but the veil keeps 'em away. All +the same they make me nervous."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon go inside," called back Adrian. "I'm only going to take off +a few more. Then we'll box it and be through."</p> + +<p>He removed half a dozen more hive-tops, with the honey-filled sections, +each one containing twenty-four pounds of the sweet stuff, a pound to a +cap. Then, when he had given the few bees that got in the storehouse a +chance to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> escape, Adrian prepared to pack the honey for market. To do +this it was first necessary to scrape from each wooden cap, or the +small, one-pound honey boxes, the beeswax that, here and there, marred +the clean white wood. Roger wanted to help at this, and, as he could do +it safely, Adrian got two dull knives, and he and his cousin began.</p> + +<p>"Be sure to keep the caps standing on the same end they are on now," +cautioned Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Why? What difference does it make?"</p> + +<p>"A good deal. If you change 'em around any, and there happens to be some +cells that aren't capped over, the honey will run out."</p> + +<p>Then Adrian showed Roger that the honey-comb, which is familiar to +almost every one, was composed of a number of openings or cells, shaped +like a hexagon. These cells were double, there being two sets of them, +back and front, in each cap, and they were divided down the middle by a +wall of wax. The wise bees gave to each cell a downward slant toward +this dividing wall, so that when they had filled them with honey the +sweet stuff would not run out. Then, as a further precaution, each tiny +opening was sealed over with wax. But sometimes the bees neglected to +seal up one or two cells in a cap, and unless these particular ones were +kept upright, with the openings slanting downward, there would be a fine +mess.</p> + +<p>"These caps are pretty well sealed," observed Adrian, "but you always +have to be careful," and he was on the lookout to see that no mistakes +were made.</p> + +<p>The two boys now busied themselves with scraping off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> the dried wax from +the outside of the caps, and, as each one was finished it was placed in +a pasteboard box, labelled with the contents "White clover honey," and +with Mr. Kimball's name and address.</p> + +<p>"Dad's got a good honey crop this year," commented Adrian. "Plenty of +white clover, which sells better than buckwheat, though I don't like it +so well as the dark honey."</p> + +<p>"What do they call it buckwheat for? Because it's made from buckwheat +flour?"</p> + +<p>"Land no. Because it's from the sweet juices of the buckwheat flowers. +Lots of people say buckwheat honey is too strong for 'em, but we all +like it better than clover, which is made from clover blossoms. +Buckwheat seems to have a sort of 'whang' to it, dad says."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, boys, how ye makin' out?" asked a deep voice from the doorway, +and Mr. Kimball entered the storeroom.</p> + +<p>"All right, I guess," answered Roger.</p> + +<p>"Glad t' hear it. We'll make a reg'lar bee-farmer out a' ye 'fore ye git +home."</p> + +<p>He carefully inspected the boys' work and seemed satisfied with it.</p> + +<p>"I guess that'll do fer this trip," he remarked to Adrian, counting the +caps. "Say, Ade," he went on, "how'd you 'n' Roger like t' take a load +a' grapes over t' Tully t'-morrow? Andrews wrote me he could use some."</p> + +<p>"I thought you were going to take the horses to the city with your +load," replied Adrian.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So I be, but I'll borrow Truem Wright's hoss 'n' wagon ef ye think ye +kin git over Tully hill 'ith th' rig. I'd send Jim, th' hired man, only +I want him t' pick grapes t'-morrow when I'm gone. What d' ye say? Want +t' go?"</p> + +<p>"Do you?" asked Adrian of Roger.</p> + +<p>"I think it would be lots of fun," replied the city boy. "I'll be glad +to go along."</p> + +<p>"All right, dad; you go and ask Truem for the horse, and to-night Roger +and I'll load up the wagon so's to start early in the morning," said +Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you boys hungry?" asked some one standing in the doorway, and +they all looked up to see Clara with a big plate of freshly baked +molasses cookies.</p> + +<p>"Hungry? Well, I just guess we are," exclaimed Adrian, as he held the +plate and passed it to Roger, who took a cake. Adrian helped himself to +two, and Mr. Kimball was not satisfied with less than three, which he +munched successively with every indication of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"No use talkin'," he said, looking at Roger with a twinkle in his blue +eyes, "your aunt does bake the best cookies in Onondaga County," and he +took a fourth one, while Clara laughed merrily to see her father's +enjoyment of the little lunch she had provided.</p> + +<p>"They are certainly fine," agreed Roger, finishing his second one.</p> + +<p>The plate was soon emptied, and Clara offered to go for more, but they +all voted they had enough for the present. Then Mr. Kimball cut open one +of the caps of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> honey, and he and the boys ate the sweet stuff, which, a +short time before had been in the hive.</p> + +<p>"Don't you want some?" asked Roger of Clara, offering her a thick slice +of the comb.</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," she replied. "I've eaten so much this last month I'm +afraid I'll turn into a bee," and she hurried back to the house with a +ringing laugh.</p> + +<p>It was only four o'clock when the honey had all been packed ready for +shipment, and Mr. Kimball left to make arrangements for the trip +to-morrow. Adrian, for whom there was no more work that afternoon, +proposed to Roger that they take a walk to Truem Wright's grist mill. So +they tramped up the street to where the mill stood on the edge of a +pond.</p> + +<p>They met quite a number of boys and girls carrying tin pails and books, +and most of the youngsters spoke to Adrian as he passed them.</p> + +<p>"Where are they from?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"School's out."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sure enough. I'd almost forgotten there was such a thing. But don't +you go?"</p> + +<p>"Not until winter sets in," said Adrian. "You see there's too much to do +about the farm, and then I'm pretty well along in what they teach here. +They're going to have a higher class for the older pupils in January, +and I'll start in then."</p> + +<p>The boys soon came to the mill.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Ade!" cried a man, who seemed to be covered from head to foot +with white dust. "Heard ye went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> fishin' yist'day," he went on. "Ketched +a whale, didn't ye?" and he laughed so heartily that he almost shook the +side of the building.</p> + +<p>"Well, we did have some such luck," admitted Adrian. "But, say, Truem, +can we come in? Are you running now? This is my cousin Roger, from New +York."</p> + +<p>"He were th' whale I were referrin' t'," said Mr. Wright, laughing +again.</p> + +<p>Roger smiled and bowed to the dusty miller, who held out a huge white +hand for him to shake.</p> + +<p>"Yep, come right in," said Mr. Wright, genially. "I'm grindin' a bit a' +flour fer George Bennett."</p> + +<p>The boys advanced into the dusty place, which shook and trembled with +the whirring vibrations of the two big millstones. They watched these +spinning around, grinding the wheat into a fine, light dust.</p> + +<p>"What power does he use?" asked Roger, who was somewhat surprised to see +no sign of an engine.</p> + +<p>"Turbine water wheel," said Adrian. "Come along and I'll show you." He +led the way to where, at the bottom of a deep pit, the turbine roared +around and around with the weight and force of the water that fell on it +from above, a dam giving the necessary head. This furnished the power +for the entire mill. It was all very interesting to Roger, who had never +seen anything of the kind. Before he realized how quickly time passed, +it was almost the hour for supper, so he and Adrian raced home, both +bearing good appetites.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>A LOAD OF GRAPES</h3> + + +<p>When the boys reached the house they found Mrs. Kimball just putting +supper on the table. There was a delicious smell, which Roger at first +did not recognize.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried Adrian. "That's what I like!"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Fried chicken and corn bread. Can't anybody beat mother at that."</p> + +<p>"Nor at anything else in the cooking line, I guess," agreed Roger.</p> + +<p>The two boys made short work of washing up and combing their hair, and +when they hurried down to the kitchen they had hungry looks that did +Mrs. Kimball good to see.</p> + +<p>"I can't abide a poor eater," she said, as she heaped Roger's plate with +the crisp brown chicken, fried in sweet butter, and handed him a plate +of smoking hot golden-yellow corn bread. "I do like t' see a body pitch +in 'n' eat th' victuals set afore 'em," she went on. "After a body goes +t' work 'n' gits up a good meal, it's mighty disparagin' t' see th' +things scorned down on. I'm glad t' see ye eat, Roger. Yer appetite's +improved wonderful already. Yer uncle 'n' cousin usually don't need +much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> urgin' in th' eatin' line," she added significantly, as she +glanced at her husband's and son's well-heaped plates.</p> + +<p>"I guess not," mumbled Mr. Kimball, picking up a nicely browned wing, +and munching it with every indication of enjoyment. "I guess not, Mrs. +Kimball."</p> + +<p>Clara and her mother now sat down, and the meal progressed merrily. +Roger almost forgot the homesickness that had twinged him once or twice +during the day. The supper was about over when some one knocked at the +kitchen door, opening it at the same time and calling out:</p> + +<p>"I brought your mail, neighbor Kimball."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Enberry," said the farmer, as he got up to take several letters +which Mr. Took had brought from the post-office. "Won't ye set down 'n' +hev a bite, Enberry?"</p> + +<p>"No, thanks; got t' do my chores yit. How's th' drowned boy?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm all right," called out Roger, "and I'm much obliged for getting +me home so quick."</p> + +<p>"Allers willin' t' do a neighborly turn," said Mr. Took, as he went out.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed Roger's uncle, looking at the addresses on the +envelopes by the light of the kerosene lamp, "Hello! Here's a letter for +you, Mr. Roger Anderson."</p> + +<p>"It's from mother," cried the boy, as he caught sight of the beloved +writing, and for a few minutes he paid no attention to what went on +around him, as he read the news from the dear ones at home. It told him +all were well, and how they missed him greatly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Take good care of yourself," Mrs. Anderson wrote, "and, though I shall +miss you very much, though we all miss you, we hope your visit to +Cardiff will do you good."</p> + +<p>There was a little mist in the boy's eyes as he saw, in memory, the +pleasant little circle about the table at home; his father reading, his +mother sewing, and the baby building a wonderful house of blocks.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, what's th' news?" asked Mr. Kimball, in his deep hearty voice, +and Roger told him what his mother had written.</p> + +<p>It was not long before supper was over, and, while Mrs. Kimball and +Clara were clearing away the dishes, Roger, with his uncle and cousin, +went out to the barn, where, by the light of a lantern, the two wagons +were loaded up, ready for an early start on the next day's trip. Mr. +Kimball was to take his own horses and wagon to Syracuse with a load of +produce, while Roger and Adrian would have Truem Wright's rig.</p> + +<p>The last basket of grapes, the last crate of honey, and the celery, +potatoes, and cabbage had been piled securely on the vehicles. Mr. +Kimball pulled out his big silver watch.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he cried. "Nine o'clock. Time to go t' bed, fer we'll hev t' be +up early in th' mornin'. Skedaddle, all on ye!"</p> + +<p>The boys hurried to the house, laughing and shouting in anticipation of +the pleasant trip next day.</p> + +<p>That night Roger dreamed he was swimming in a big green pond, while a +swarm of bees carrying bunches of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> grapes flew buzzing after him. He +thought a whole hive of the insects were about to settle down on him, +when he was caught by a big fish that shook him in its mouth as a dog +might a rat. Then he awoke suddenly to find that the shaking was being +done by his cousin Adrian, who stood bending over him, pulling him by +the arm. A lamp burned in the room.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter? Is the house afire?" asked Roger, as he jumped up in +alarm.</p> + +<p>"Land sakes, no," said Adrian, "but if we're going to Tully with the +grapes, we'll have to start pretty soon. Dad went some time ago. Dress, +and we'll have breakfast."</p> + +<p>Roger looked out of the window while putting his clothes on. It was just +getting faintly light, and some stars were still to be seen. From the +kitchen there came the good smell of hot coffee and buckwheat cakes with +fried sausage, and Roger knew his aunt was up.</p> + +<p>While the boys were eating the excellent breakfast Mrs. Kimball set on +the table, she put them up a good lunch in a basket, as they would not +be home to dinner. In a short time they were ready for the start, and +the wagon clattered out the side yard, Adrian driving the big white +horse.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant trip to Tully, a town about eight miles from Cardiff. +The first part of the journey was along the valley road, but at the +upper end of this there began an ascent, which led up a steep hill to a +sort of plateau on the small mountain top.</p> + +<p>Past the scattered farmhouses they drove in the early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> dawn, and they +had proceeded nearly a mile before the sun peeped up smiling from behind +the hills, to send the gray, misty fog swirling lazily upward. The white +horse pulled nobly up the incline, stopping now and then to rest at the +"thank-'e-ma'ams," as certain places in the road were called; being +mounds of earth dug across the highway, designed to prevent the too +sudden rush of water down the hill during a rain. These hummocks served +to divert the water to one side like a gutter, and also made good +resting places, for they held the rear wheels of the wagon. At length +the boys reached the top of the hill and started off on a level stretch +for Tully, where Andrews Brothers had a store, at which Mr. Kimball sold +considerable produce.</p> + +<p>James Andrews, one of the brothers, was arranging some barrels of apples +outside the place when Adrian drove up.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mr. Andrews," called Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Same to you," replied the store-keeper, heartily. "What brings you over +here so early?"</p> + +<p>"I've got that load of grapes you ordered of my father."</p> + +<p>"Load of grapes?" with a puzzled air.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Father got your letter, and he didn't have time to come over +himself to-day, so I made the trip."</p> + +<p>"But I didn't order any grapes—Oh, yes, I did, come to think of it; +but, Ade, I didn't want 'em until next week. I said so in my letter. +Let's see, to-day is the 18th. I ordered 'em for the 26th. Can't +possibly use 'em this week, for I've got all I need. Sorry," as he saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +the disappointed look on the boy's face. "Just tell your father if he +looks at my letter he'll see I asked him to send a load over next week. +Better try some of the other stores, they might need 'em."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Adrian, slowly, "I s'pose you're right, Mr. Andrews, and +father must have read your letter wrong. So I guess the only thing to do +is to try to get rid of this load over at Smith's or Brown's."</p> + +<p>"Don't forget I 'll want some a week from to-day," cautioned Mr. Andrews +as Adrian drove off. "Be sure and tell your father."</p> + +<p>"I will," called back Adrian.</p> + +<p>Two rather sober-faced boys watched the white horse slowly jog along the +Tully street. They had expected to unload the grapes, get the money and +have a nice drive back, taking their time. But the wrong date had upset +their plans. However there was a chance that Mr. Brown or Mr. Smith +might need grapes, and the prospect of selling their produce there +brightened matters for a little while. But their hopes were soon +shattered, for, at both places, the supply of this fruit was large +enough to last several days, though both proprietors said they would be +in the market next week.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Roger, slowly, as they turned about from a visit to the +last store, "I suppose the only thing to do is to go back home."</p> + +<p>"What? And with this load of grapes unsold?" exclaimed Adrian. "Not +much! I came to Tully to sell them, and I'm going to do it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"By peddling them from house to house. Dad expects me back with the +money for these, and I'm going to bring it if I can. You needn't help if +you don't want to. I suppose you're not used to peddling, but I've done +it before."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess I will help," replied Roger, a little hurt to think that +his cousin felt he wouldn't stand by him in an emergency. "Here, we'll +drive along, and I'll take one side of the street, and you can go on the +other."</p> + +<p>"That'll be just the thing," said Adrian.</p> + +<p>So the two boys started in to get rid of the fruit. They went from house +to house, carrying the baskets with the covers off to show the big red, +white, and purple clusters. They inquired politely of the villagers +whether they didn't need some freshly picked grapes, at ten or fifteen +cents a basket, and, before they had been in half a dozen places each +one had sold four. The bony old white horse jogged slowly along the +road, contentedly stopping now and then to nibble a sweet bunch of +grass.</p> + +<p>At first Roger was a little bashful about going to houses peddling, for +he had never done that sort of thing before. But he soon got the knack +of it, and, though at several places the old ladies said they thought +they wanted no fruit that day, he didn't mind the refusals. Adrian had +good luck on his side of the road, and sold many baskets. By noon they +had gone over all of the main and only street in Tully, and had disposed +of a little more than half the load.</p> + +<p>"I guess we can't sell any more here," said Adrian as he counted over +his money.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What'll we do? Go back home?"</p> + +<p>"No, I guess we'll push on to Dagman's Corners. That's only four miles +farther, and we can peddle some on the way. But, come to think of it, +I'm hungry. Ain't you?"</p> + +<p>"A little bit," admitted Roger with a laugh.</p> + +<p>So the boys drove a short way out of the village, and pulled the white +horse up along side of a grassy bank. After Adrian had fixed the oats, +which they had brought with them, so that the patient nag could eat, he +opened the lunch his mother had put up for him and Roger. There was a +clear spring of water near by, and from this the boys and the horse +drank. It was like a picnic instead of work, Roger thought, as he +breathed in the pure, cool air, and felt his cheeks glowing in the +October sun.</p> + +<p>The meal over they took a brief rest, and then resumed the trip. In the +next village they succeeded in disposing of all the remaining grapes, +the dusty miller of the town taking the last four baskets. Thus, with +about fifteen dollars snugly tucked away in his pocket, Adrian felt that +he and Roger had accomplished something worth while, for he had received +a little higher price for the fruit by peddling it around than if he had +sold it to Mr. Andrews, who would have paid wholesale rates, while the +boys had done business at retail.</p> + +<p>"I don't call this bad," commented Adrian as he turned the horse for the +journey home.</p> + +<p>"I should say not," agreed Roger, heartily.</p> + +<p>It was the first time he had ever taken an active part<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> in any real +business transactions, and it made him want to do more in that line when +he saw how self-reliant Adrian had been in the trading.</p> + +<p>When the boys reached Tully on the return trip it was five o'clock. They +had eight miles to drive, but, as Adrian knew the road, he didn't mind +the gathering darkness, though to Roger it seemed strange, for he had +never driven in the country after nightfall. In the city it was very +light after dark, but here in Cardiff it was almost as black as ink when +twilight had faded, for there were no street lamps to dispel the gloom.</p> + +<p>It was mostly down-hill going now, and the old white horse, knowing his +stable and a manger full of oats was ahead of him, jogged rapidly along. +It grew darker and darker, until, when they reached the top of the long +slope of Tully hill, the last vestige of the slanting rays of the sun +disappeared, and night had settled down. Calling cheerfully to the horse +Adrian whistled a merry tune, and Roger joined in. Then they talked of +various topics,—of the success of their trip, and what they would do +to-morrow and next day.</p> + +<p>"That's the last house in the village of Tully," said Adrian, suddenly, +indicating a lonely cabin. "Pete Hallenbeck lives there, but he can't be +home to-night, or there'd be a light in the window. He's lived all alone +since his wife died. After we pass this there's not a place where +anybody lives for three miles, until we get to the edge of Cardiff."</p> + +<p>They went along for a mile or so, whistling and singing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> Suddenly there +was a jolt of the wagon, and Roger, who was sitting well toward the +front of the seat, felt himself thrown forward with considerable force. +Instinctively he stuck out his hands, and he felt them strike the broad +haunches of the horse. Then, with a rattle and bang he kept on falling +down until he had rolled out completely on the animal's back, and thence +off to one side, into the soft grass along the road, where he lay +stunned.</p> + +<p>He could hear, as in a dream, Adrian faintly shouting to him, and then +something seemed to flash by him. There was a confused rattle and rumble +that grew fainter and fainter, and the blackness became more intense.</p> + +<p>As if he was falling fast asleep he heard a voice calling: "Roger! +Roger!"</p> + +<p>Then his eyes seemed to close tightly and he knew nothing more, as he +lay in a huddled heap on the ground.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>LOST ON THE MOUNTAIN</h3> + + +<p>Roger seemed to be sinking down into some dark pit, falling lower and +lower, until he appeared to strike against something and bound upward. A +myriad of stars danced before his eyes, and, as he thus floated upward, +he instinctively put up his hands to avoid contact with whatever might +be above him. Then, with a suddenness that startled him, he came to his +senses and found himself sitting at the side of the road, in the damp +grass, while all around was pitchy blackness.</p> + +<p>He rubbed his eyes and the back of his head, and he was somewhat alarmed +when his hand came away wet with blood from a slight wound. He tried to +stand, but found he was too tottery on his legs.</p> + +<p>"Well," he managed to say, "there must have been an accident. I fell off +the wagon, that's sure, and from the way my head feels I must have +struck on a stone. Guess I cut myself too, but not badly," as he failed +to find any serious wound on his scalp.</p> + +<p>He rubbed his hands in the damp grass and drew them out dripping with +dew. He dabbled this water on his forehead and felt better.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think the horse must have run away," he went on, "or else I'd see +something of Adrian by this time, though it's as dark as a pocket here, +and hard enough to locate your hand before your face, let alone somebody +away down the road."</p> + +<p>Roger listened intently, but could catch no sound of rattling wheels, +nor the beating of a horse's hoofs, which might have indicated that the +wagon was coming back. All about was silence and darkness. The boy tried +again to stand up, and found that his momentary weakness had passed.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'd better walk on until I meet Adrian," he said to himself. +"He'll be sure to be coming back soon," and he started off in the +direction he thought was toward Cardiff.</p> + +<p>Now if Roger had lived all his life in the country, or if he had been +more familiar with the road, he probably would have had no trouble in +starting on the right way back home. Very likely he would have done so +instinctively; or he might have gotten his bearings from the stars, +which shone overhead, though somewhat dimly. As it was, he became +confused in the darkness, and, owing to a slight dizziness caused by his +fall, instead of going toward Cardiff, he began walking back toward +Tully.</p> + +<p>He was a little sore and stiff at first, but, as he went on, this +disappeared, and he stepped out briskly enough. He thought he would not +have far to go before meeting his cousin, but, as he walked farther and +farther, he commenced to wonder what had become of Adrian. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> then, he +reassured himself, perhaps Adrian had had some trouble in bringing the +old white horse to a stop, though the animal had not seemed to be such a +mettlesome steed.</p> + +<p>"But I'll meet him soon, now," said Roger, trying to comfort himself.</p> + +<p>He could feel the soft dusty road under his feet, and its whiteness was +like a big indistinct chalk mark on a large blackboard, as it came +faintly through the darkness. But, somehow or other, in a little while +the white mark seemed to be fading away. It grew so dim that even by the +hardest squinting of the eyes, it could no longer be seen. It appeared +also that the character of the road was changing. It was no longer dusty +and soft, but hard, and firm, and, instead of going down hill, Roger +found himself ascending the grade.</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" exclaimed the boy, "this is queer. I must have turned +around."</p> + +<p>He came to a sudden stop. Was he off the road? Was he lost? He hurriedly +searched through his pockets and found a single match. Here was +something that would aid him, though ever so slightly. With unsteady +fingers he struck the little fire-stick. It flared up, sputtered and +flickered, and, a second later, blazed brightly. Holding it above his +head, so the glow might light all around him, he peered about in the +gloom which was but faintly illuminated by the tiny flame.</p> + +<p>What was his terror to see, on every side of him, a tall and thick +undergrowth of bushes and lofty trees. Beneath his feet was a narrow +path, while the forest appeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> to meet above his head in a black arch. +Then, with a start, he realized he was lost; lost on the mountain, lost +in the dense woods about Cardiff. He did not know which way to turn.</p> + +<p>Now if Roger had been an older boy or a sturdy country lad, he would +have laughed at the plight in which he found himself,—laughed a bit and +then tramped on and sat down, to wait until morning. But, as it was, +Roger was never more frightened in his life. Once he had been lost in +New York, when he was a little chap. But a big policeman had picked him +up and taken him to a precinct station-house, where he was kept until +his father, missing him, came after the lost boy.</p> + +<p>But out here in the country there were no blue-coated officers on the +lookout for lost people. There were no police stations, no street +lights, no lights at all, in fact, save the little flicker that had died +away when Roger's single match went out.</p> + +<p>When the last spark had become dim the boy's breath came with a gasp. He +wanted to run away from the blackness, but where could he flee to escape +it, for it was all about him. He felt like crying out; like shouting for +help. Then he suddenly recalled something his father had once said to +him.</p> + +<p>"Roger, if you ever find yourself in danger, in a fire, or in any +position where you feel you'll lose your presence of mind, just stop, +and count ten. Then you'll be able to think calmly, and be able to help +yourself, and perhaps others."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>This came back to the boy like a flash. He resolved to put it into +practice. Slowly he counted—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. He said each +number in a loud voice. Even hearing his own tones did him good, and, +before he had reached the "nine" he felt himself growing calmer. At the +end he was less frightened, and he could think more clearly. Then he +began to reason, and before he knew it, he was turning a plan over in +his mind.</p> + +<p>"I must have branched off the road into a path that goes through the +woods," he said, "and, at the same time, I must have got turned around, +and gone up hill, instead of down. Now let's see. If I turn back and +walk in just the opposite direction from which I'm facing now, and if I +am careful to keep going down hill, and stay in this path until I strike +the road again, I'll probably come out safely. So, then, right about +face! Forward, march!" He executed the command and started off bravely +in the other direction.</p> + +<p>Roger now went along more slowly. He was cautious about where he set his +feet, that he might not stray from the path, and occasionally he stooped +down, and with his hands he felt the dirt under foot, to be positive he +was on the hard, packed path and not travelling over the wood-carpet. He +was in better spirits now and was sure he was going back the right way. +He even began to whistle a little tune and already saw himself safe in +his uncle's house, laughing with Adrian over their adventure.</p> + +<p>But when he had gone on for some time in this way, there came over him a +nameless sense of disquietude.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> After all, was he really retracing his +steps, or was he advancing deeper into the woods? If he had a match or +two he could have easily seen his position. But he had not one. However, +he reflected, the nature of the ground he was travelling over might now +be of assistance to him. He leaned over again to feel of the way. As he +did so he brushed against some low-hanging branches of the trees, and +then, when his hand came in contact with the earth, Roger was startled +to find it met neither the hard packed clay of the path, nor the dust of +the road, but the dead leaves, the little twigs and broken limbs of +trees, and the soft moss of the forest.</p> + +<p>Now, indeed, he knew he was fairly lost, and, when he stopped, and +listened intently, he heard, all around him, the rustle of the foliage, +the creaking of the boughs and the rattle of the branches of the deep +woods. He had now absolutely no sense of direction, no knowledge of +which way to turn. He caught his breath with a gasp, and then, feeling +his legs giving way beneath him, he put out his hands, which came +sharply up against a tree trunk, as he sank down on a fallen log.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes Roger thought the fierce beating of his heart would +smother him. Then, realizing he must play the man now, he shut his lips +firmly, clenched his hands, and stared determinedly into the blackness +that was all around him.</p> + +<p>"What a baby I am," he said. "All I have to do is to sit here until it's +light. Then I can easily get back into the path, or some one will find +me. That's what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> I'll do. I'll not move from this spot until I can see +where I am going."</p> + +<p>So he made himself as comfortable as possible on the log, turned up his +coat collar, for it was cold, braced his back against the tree, and made +ready to sit out his vigil until morning. His first fear over, he now +looked upon the occurrence as a sort of queer little adventure.</p> + +<p>"It will be something to write to mother about," he said, as he pulled +his hat on tightly.</p> + +<p>For perhaps half an hour the boy sat there. He thought of all sorts of +things,—of his father, of his mother, and his little brother at +home—of how he had come to Cardiff. He went over all that he and Adrian +had done since he arrived.</p> + +<p>Then he began to nod; a little at first, then more and more, until he +caught himself falling forward, almost asleep.</p> + +<p>"My, my! I mustn't go off like this," he said, rubbing his eyes. "It +won't do to take a snooze here."</p> + +<p>For a time he fought off the drowsiness, only to find it coming over +him more and more strongly. Oh, how nice it was out here in the woods. +There was a gentle wind, the leaves seemed to rustle and whisper +to him. Ah! He was floating away—away—off—off—to the land—of +nod—to—the—land—of—nod—the—land—of—nod—nod—nod!</p> + +<p>Then! Roger was fast asleep!</p> + +<p>No! Not asleep! He was on the verge. Just going to tumble over into the +finest feather bed he ever knew,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> when there was a noise that sounded +like a clap of thunder.</p> + +<p>Crash!</p> + +<p>Roger sat up, clutching the tree, against which he leaned, with a grip +of terror. His heart was going like a trip-hammer. There was the echo of +a great roaring in his ears. For a second he could not tell where he +was. Then came another noise, less loud.</p> + +<p>Snap!</p> + +<p>Ah! It was only the breaking of a twig. He calmed down. But what did it +mean? Somebody must be coming to find him. Of course, that was it. +Adrian and his father were searching.</p> + +<p>Roger leaped to his feet. He peered into the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Here I am, Adrian!" he called. "Here I am! Hey! Here's Roger!"</p> + +<p>The echo of his own cry was the only answer. Then came another crackle +of the twigs, as if some one was approaching nearer. Roger strained his +eyes into the black depths of the forest. He could make out nothing.</p> + +<p>Then, as he kept his gaze fixed on one spot, he saw something which +seemed to chill his heart. It was two small balls of greenish-red fire, +and they looked right at him. At the same time there came to the boy's +ears the sound of an angry snarl.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>FIGHTING A WILD-CAT</h3> + + +<p>For one fearful moment Roger felt a cold chill go creeping down his +spine, and he shivered in dread at the nameless thing which stood +growling there before him. He knew it must be some kind of a wild beast, +but what he hardly dared think.</p> + +<p>"A bear!" he whispered, and he shrank closer against the tree. Then he +recalled what his aunt had said when Mr. Kimball had joked about the +denizens of the forest. She said there were no bears.</p> + +<p>"Nothing worse than wild-cats," he remembered she had told him, and, +though to the frightened boy this was terrible enough, he was glad to +know it was not a bear which he could dimly see the outline of.</p> + +<p>The thing, whatever it was, kept up its short, angry snarls, and Roger +could hear the sharp claws tearing at the bark of the fallen log. He +gazed at the two circles of greenish-red fire in a sort of fascination.</p> + +<p>Just then the whole forest seemed to be flooded with a soft light that +stole in among the trees and sifted down through the leaves. It was the +moon that had risen high enough above the hills to give its illumination +to the scene. By the glowing beams Roger could make out the animal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +about fifteen feet from him, crouching low on a fallen tree. It was a +beast perhaps two feet long, with a tail that swished from side to side, +and it had little short ears that seemed pointed toward him, to catch +the sound of any movement he might make. He could see the paws with +which the wild-cat, for such he knew it must be, held its position on +the log, by digging the knife-like claws into the soft bark. He could +see the little chips and slivers fly off, while the growls changed to a +half-whining cry.</p> + +<p>For a moment the boy looked about in desperation, seeking which way to +flee. Off to the left he seemed to observe a little larger opening +between the trees than anywhere else. He sprang toward it with a bound.</p> + +<p>Ere he had gone a dozen steps, stumbling in the half darkness over +sticks and stones, the wild-cat turned quickly, and with a light leap +was before him, waiting, waiting, waiting. The boy stopped short with a +shudder. He was very much afraid. Though the beast was not large, and +though it did not impress him half as much as did the tigers and lions +he had seen in Central Park, yet there was something terrifying in the +calm way it faced him.</p> + +<p>It appeared to know there was nothing between itself and the defenceless +boy, and that no help was at hand. Though the beast was not half as big +as Roger, he knew the sharp claws and sharper teeth would cause death, +if once the animal got up courage enough to attack him. That this was +its intention the boy had no doubt, though he was sure the wild-cats to +be found in the mountains about Cardiff were more a danger and menace to +chickens and lambs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> than to human beings. The brutes were usually too +cowardly to attack man. But perhaps the night, the smallness of the boy +and his apparent terror had made the cat devoid of fear. At any rate, it +seemed to Roger to be ugly and bold enough to spring at him any minute.</p> + +<p>Foiled in his plan to escape, the boy returned to the log where he had +been sitting. This was close against a big tree, and he felt that, with +his back to this, he was, in some measure, protected; at least from an +attack in the rear. As he retraced his steps the cat kept pace with him, +until both boy and beast were in the same relative positions they had +first occupied.</p> + +<p>Roger now saw that it was to be a battle between himself and the +wild-cat, and he nerved himself for the fight. Had he dared, he would +have turned and run, but he seemed to see the cat come bounding after +him, with big leaps and jumps, and crouching for a final spring upon his +back. Then he recalled, with a shudder, what he had read of the terrible +tearing power of the claws of these animals. So there was but one thing +to do with any hope of success. That was to stand and fight off the +beast as long as possible. But what weapons had he? He hurriedly felt in +his pockets and all he could find was a small knife, which he knew would +be of little use when it came to close quarters. A stick, a club, or a +stone would be of more service. Yes, that would be better; a club, so +Roger stooped down, and while he kept his eyes fastened on the cat he +groped about on the ground with his hands to see what was there. He felt +his fingers close over a stout cudgel, and he rose, grasping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> it firmly, +and stood with his feet braced for the shock. He was less frightened now +that he had some sort of a weapon, poor as it was, and he knew he could +meet the attack on more even terms.</p> + +<p>And it was high time he had thus prepared, for the cat now crouched +lower than before on the log and its claws worked more quickly, as Roger +could see by the light of the moon, which had risen higher.</p> + +<p>He noticed the short ears pointed forward on the ugly head and the +parted lips disclosed the sharp white teeth. There was a convulsive +tremor of the lithe body, and then, from the opened mouth came a cry so +dismal, so weird and terrifying to the boy that he shivered in fear, and +felt his heart go thumping away under his ribs. The next instant the +wild-cat launched itself forward with a spring, straight at the boyish +figure that stood ready to meet it.</p> + +<p>With a quick motion Roger lifted the short, heavy club, and then, as he +saw the beast directly in front of him, he gave a half turn, so that the +animal would sail past to the left. At the same time he brought the +stick down with all his force, aiming at the ugly head. He missed this +spot, but struck just behind it, as the brute passed him, and so close +was the cat that the claws in its nearest hind leg caught the lower part +of the boy's coat and tore it as if a sharp knife had cut it. The brute +landed some five feet beyond Roger, letting out a mingled howl of pain +and rage.</p> + +<p>But the fight had only begun, and Roger knew if the wild thing returned +to the attack with the energy it had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> displayed at first he could +scarcely hope to beat it off again. However, the animal seemed disposed +to practise a little caution now and to be a trifle wary about repeating +its jump. The boy turned partly around and saw the beast come to a +sudden stop. Then it swung about and, making a little circle, ran +quickly and leaped lightly upon the fallen log, where it crouched, ready +for another spring.</p> + +<p>But now Roger seemed to feel the deadly fear leaving him, and he almost +rejoiced in the thought of the battle that was to come, even though he +knew it was likely to result badly for himself. He had passed through +the first scrimmage and, like a soldier who has once been under fire, he +almost wished for another skirmish in the struggle.</p> + +<p>He watched the animal with sharp eyes and was glad to find the light +increasing, as the moon rose more above the trees, though the leaves +through which the beams came made uncertain shadows. Then the boy +detected some movement on the part of the beast and saw that the cat, +instead of crouching for another spring, had crawled out on the log +toward the end that was in deepest gloom.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what he's up to now?" said Roger, softly.</p> + +<p>He could hear the brute leap on the soft wood-carpet of moss and dried +leaves, and then the grayish body seemed to fade away. But Roger knew +the animal had not left him. It was trying to sneak up behind him, so as +to leap on his back, he felt, and the boy turned to face in that +direction. As he did so he heard a noise near the log where the cat had +just been crouching, and he turned quickly to catch a glimpse of the +long slender form passing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> rapidly by in the semi-darkness. For a moment +Roger was puzzled, and then it came to him like a flash. The beast was +racing about him in a circle!</p> + +<p>He did not know what to do, and while he hesitated sorely alarmed, with +the fear tugging at his heart again, the cat passed in front of him once +more.</p> + +<p>Only this time the animal was farther from the log and nearer to the +boy. Roger knew that the brute would narrow the circles until it was +close enough to spring at him, and, under these circumstances, it was +impossible to tell from which point the dangerous leap might come. +Surely the boy was in grave danger now, and he felt it keenly. He backed +up close against the tree, but this was scarcely any protection, as the +trunk was not large enough. Yet he dared not leave it to seek another.</p> + +<p>The cat continued to run about him in ever smaller curves. Roger raised +his club and waited in an agony of suspense—waited to see the tense +body come sailing toward him—waited to feel the sharp claws and cruel +teeth.</p> + +<p>Up to this moment he had held the club in one hand, but, thinking to use +it with greater force, he now took hold with both right and left. As he +did so, he noticed that in his left hand he still held his knife. He was +about to cast it from him, not wanting to risk putting it in his pocket, +when his fingers touched something that seemed to be caught in the +slot-like opening of the handle where the blades went. The knife was a +two-bladed one, but the smaller bit of steel had been broken off, and, +where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> this should have fitted Roger was conscious that something had +lodged in the handle. He hurriedly felt of it.</p> + +<p>It was a match!</p> + +<p>How his heart thrilled. Here was a means of safety. Wild animals fear a +blaze. With this match which he had found so unexpectedly he could +kindle a fire.</p> + +<p>Now he had a chance of holding the wild-cat at bay until morning. With +his feet he scraped together some dry leaves into a little heap. Then, +watching until the animal had once more passed between him and the log, +he stooped over.</p> + +<p>But, after all, there was only a slim chance in his favor. The match +might be a burned one, it might miss fire, or go out before he had an +opportunity to kindle the leaves, or the leaves themselves might be too +damp to burn. All these thoughts came to him on the instant. But there +was no time to lose. He struck the match on the leg of his trousers. It +sputtered, fused, and flared brightly. Then it almost died away, and +Roger's heart grew like lead. A little wind sprang up and threatened to +extinguish the tiny flame. But though it almost left the wood it did not +blow off altogether, and once again it burned strongly.</p> + +<p>Roger leaned over toward the pile of debris. He held the match to it. +Some of the dried foliage hissed and smoked, for it was damp. But a +little wisp of dried grass caught. This blazed up with a crackle. The +flames communicated to the leaves, which soon began to ignite, though +not brightly, and with more smoke than fire. How<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> anxiously did the boy +watch them, for it meant safety, if not life, to him. His heart seemed +almost to be suffocating him with its beating. Then the dried stuff +caught the flames well and burned with a spurt of fire and sparks.</p> + +<p>The next instant there was a rush from behind Roger. He half turned and +rose from his stooping position over the blaze. There came whizzing +through the air the body of the beast, as if shot from a catapult.</p> + +<p>Its forepaws struck the boy on the shoulders, and he could feel, for a +half second, the prick of the sharp claws through his coat. The force of +the leap threw him forward, and though he tried to save himself, though +he bravely endeavored to strike the beast with his club, he felt himself +sinking beneath the weight of the cat. He hit the ground with +considerable force, close to the fire, so near, indeed, that the flames, +which had increased, felt hot on his face.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"Its forepaws struck the boy on the shoulders"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Then there was a howl and a yelp of pain and surprise from the brute, +followed by a roar. Roger felt the cruel claws sinking deeper into his +flesh. He screamed in agony, and then to his great wonderment he noted a +sudden ceasing of the weight that was pressing him down. The claws no +longer stuck into him, and the cat leaped from his back. Like a flash +the boy rolled over, to get away from the fire which had spread and was +scorching him.</p> + +<p>Then he ventured to rise to his knees. He saw the wild-cat sneaking off +in the darkness. The burning leaves had served their purpose and +frightened the animal away.</p> + +<p>While the boy stood there, his heart palpitating with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> fright, he +suddenly saw a bright streak, like a sliver of flame, shoot through the +trees in front of him. Accompanying it there was the sharp report of a +rifle, followed by a wild howl of agony. By the combined light of the +fire and the moon Roger saw the cat leap high in the air.</p> + +<p>There was a crackle of broken tree limbs, as the beast fell back. Then +something else stirred in the woods, and into the circle of the blaze +stalked a tall dark man whose face exhibited the features of an Indian, +and who, after a glance at the boy, uttered one word:</p> + +<p>"Sagoola!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>OUT OF THE WOODS</h3> + + +<p>For nearly a minute Roger stood and stared at the Indian, who, despite +his modern clothes was yet sufficiently a redman to make the boy wonder +how in the world he ever came there. On his side the newcomer glanced at +Roger by the light of the flickering fire, and a smile came on his +bronzed face.</p> + +<p>"Sagoola! Sagoola!" he repeated. "How do!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Roger, faintly comprehending that his companion had only +greeted him in the Indian tongue. "Oh, how do you do yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Fine—good," answered the Indian.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you came along just when you did," went on Roger. "The +wild-cat had me down, and I thought I was a goner."</p> + +<p>"Hu!" grunted the redman. "Smart boy. Light fire. Wild-cat heap 'fraid +fire. Ole Johnny Green shoot 'um."</p> + +<p>"Johnny Green?" repeated Roger in an inquiring tone.</p> + +<p>"Yep. Me ole Johnny Green. My boy, he young Johnny Green."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, I thought Indians had different names from that," said the boy. +"Names like Yellow Tail, Eagle Eye, and Big Thunder."</p> + +<p>"Hu! Good names wild Injun. Me tame Injun. Have tame name. Live to +Reservation at Castle. Where yo' from?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Roger Anderson," and he spoke slowly, so his new friend +would have no trouble in understanding, "I am staying with my uncle, +Bert Kimball, at Cardiff, and got lost in the woods. I was riding with +my cousin, and the horse ran away."</p> + +<p>"Bert Kimball yo' say yo' uncle?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Over by Cardiff?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, do you know him?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, sartin. Bert an' me good frens. Yo' loss?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess that's what you'd call it; I'm lost," admitted Roger, +whose spirits had improved very much in the last few minutes. He was no +longer in fear of the wild-cat, and, as for the Indian, he thought, +rightly, that he need be in no worry as to his intentions, though it was +the first time he knew how near he was to an Indian encampment.</p> + +<p>He briefly explained how he had come to be in the woods, and then he +waited to see what Johnny Green would propose. The Indian stood his +rifle up against a tree, stalked off into the darkness, and returned +presently, lugging the body of the wild-cat, which he threw on the +ground near the smouldering fire. Seeing that the blaze was dying out +for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> lack of fuel, Roger cast on some twigs and branches, until the +flames leaped up brightly. Johnny Green squatted down on a log, and +Roger followed his example. For a moment there was silence between them. +Then the Indian spoke.</p> + +<p>"Not much good for eat," he said, indicating the carcass of the dead +animal he had shot. "Radder have coon. Fur of 'um good; that all."</p> + +<p>"Were you out hunting coons?" asked Roger, and Johnny Green nodded that +he was.</p> + +<p>"Will you show me the way back home, when you are through hunting?" +asked the boy, after a pause.</p> + +<p>The Indian nodded his head once more, to indicate that he would act as +guide. He looked to the loading of his rifle, and then proceeded to tie +the legs of his prize. He slung the body about his neck, picked up his +gun, and looking at Roger, said: "Come 'long. We go to Bert Kimball. I +show yo'."</p> + +<p>He paused to trample out the embers of the fire, that it might not +spread in the dry woods, and then he started off through the forest, +seeming to strike the path without even looking for it. Roger hesitated +a moment, then followed.</p> + +<p>The boy kept close behind his guide, who walked at rather a swift pace, +as though he was on a country road, instead of being in the depths of +the wood, with only a pale moon, now half obscured by clouds to light +him. The boy could not help admiring the unhesitating manner in which +the Indian picked his way through the maze of trees.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> It was what might +be expected of a wild Indian, Roger thought; of one who had lived all +his life in the open. But here was apparently a civilized redman, who +had not a chance to exercise his woodcraft in years, perhaps. Yet he +made no false steps and moved as swiftly through the dark woods as Roger +could have done on a brilliantly lighted street. It must be a sort of +animal instinct the boy concluded.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes after he started Roger could not help feeling a bit +distrustful. How could he be sure that the Indian was what he said he +was? How could he know that Johnny Green would guide him safely to his +uncle's house? Once he was almost on the point of turning back, but the +thought of the dark forest into which he would have to plunge, without +knowing where the path was, and the fear that there were hiding behind +the trees more and uglier wild animals than he had yet encountered, +deterred him.</p> + +<p>Besides, Johnny Green did not seem to care much whether the boy followed +him or not. He had promised to guide him out of the wood, and if Roger +didn't want to be taken home, what concern was it of Johnny Green's? +Reasoning thus, the boy concluded it must be all right, and then he +began to follow with swift steps, keeping up as well as he was able, +with his silent leader.</p> + +<p>In what seemed to Roger to be a very short time, he and Johnny Green +emerged from the deeper forest into a sort of clearing, where a number +of trees had been cut down. Traversing this was a rough wagon road, +used, it seemed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> by the wood choppers. Johnny Green struck into this +with a grunt of satisfaction at the easier going, and he increased his +pace so that Roger, exhausted and wearied as he was, found it difficult +to keep his guide in sight. Perhaps the Indian heard the boy breathing +rather heavy because of the exertions, or he might have recalled that +his legs were longer and tougher than his companion's. At any rate, +Johnny Green slackened his pace, and Roger was glad of it. Half a mile +of travel along the wood trail brought the two out into the main road, +and Roger, feeling the hard-packed dirt under his feet, saw that he was +on the same highway where he and Adrian had driven with the grapes. It +seemed almost a week ago, though it was but a few hours. There was +considerable light now, even though the clouds did darken the moon at +times, and Roger could distinguish dimly the fields, fenced in and +extending to right and left away from the road.</p> + +<p>"Tree mile now," grunted Johnny Green. It was the first time he had +spoken since they started.</p> + +<p>"To where?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Tree mile Bert Kimball," and the boy was glad to learn how near home he +was. It was slightly down hill going now, and the walking was good, so +both stepped out at a lively pace. The night was chilly, and the damp +wind made Roger shiver, so he was glad of the vigorous exercise that +kept his blood in circulation. It was lonesome too, even though Johnny +Green was just ahead of him, and the boy listened, with a sort of dread, +to the mournful hooting of the owls, the cheeping of the tree-toads and +the chirping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> of the crickets. For some time the two kept on in silence. +Then the Indian suddenly halted in the middle of the road. He bent his +head as if to catch some sound in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" he cautioned, and held up his hand warningly.</p> + +<p>Roger stopped. Yes, there was some noise quite a way in front, but at +first its character could not be distinguished. Then in a few moments it +resolved into a sort of confused shouting.</p> + +<p>"What yo' name?" asked Johnny Green, turning quickly to the boy at his +side.</p> + +<p>"Roger."</p> + +<p>"They callin' yo'," he announced. "Bert Kimball I tink"</p> + +<p>"Is it?" joyfully.</p> + +<p>"Yep. Listen."</p> + +<p>Faintly Roger heard a voice shouting. He could make out no words, +however. It increased his respect for Johnny Green's attainments that +the Indian could understand a name called from such a distance.</p> + +<p>Then Roger's companion raised his voice in a long, loud, shrill, +far-carrying halloo: "Hi! Bert Kimball! Here yo' boy Roger!"</p> + +<p>There came an answering shout, in which the boy could scarcely +distinguish his own name, and he, too, cried out: "Here I am, Uncle +Bert! I'm all right!"</p> + +<p>A few minutes later there flashed from behind a bend in the road the +gleam of a lantern, and soon another flickering light appeared. Roger +ran toward them, and Johnny Green hurried on also. Nearer and nearer +came the lights,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> and then in a few minutes the seekers and the lost +were together.</p> + +<p>While Adrian, who was with his father, was shaking hands with Roger and +telling him how glad he was to see him again, Mr. Kimball was exchanging +greetings with the Indian and looking at the wild-cat slung across his +shoulders. It didn't take long for Roger to tell his experience, and the +words of praise that came from his uncle and cousin, at his wise and +brave conduct in the fight with the beast, more than repaid him for the +fright and discomfort he had undergone. The cuts and scratches on his +back proved to be only slight ones, when Mr. Kimball insisted on looking +at them by the light of the lanterns.</p> + +<p>"Ye got off mighty lucky," commented the farmer, as Roger put on his +coat again.</p> + +<p>"What happened?" asked Roger of Adrian. "Did something scare the horse?"</p> + +<p>"The wagon struck a stone," explained Adrian, "and you were pitched out. +I suppose you must have lost your senses by hitting your head on the +hard ground. I tried to grab you when I saw you going, and I must have +frightened the horse, for he bolted as if a bear was after him. I guess +it was the first time he ever ran away and he rather liked it, for he +never stopped galloping until I got to Enberry Took's house, though I +sawed on the lines for all I was worth. When I found I was so near home +I thought I'd better go on, put the rig up, and get dad to come back +with me to find you, for I thought we'd meet you walking in. We figured +on seeing you within the first mile, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> you must have turned around +and gone back toward Tully. We went slow, for it was dark at first, and +we didn't want to miss you. It was lucky you happened to find that one +match in your knife, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It was luckier that Johnny Green came along just when he did," said +Roger, "or the fire might not have done me much good."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I reckon it's lucky all around," interposed Mr. Kimball. "Now, +ef it's all th' same t' ye two boys, we'll git 'long hum, 'n' relieve +th' women folks, fer they most hed a caniption fit when they heard what +happened."</p> + +<p>So the four started on toward Cardiff, the two boys walking behind Mr. +Kimball and Johnny Green.</p> + +<p>"Say," began Roger in a low tone, "is he a real Indian?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied Adrian. "He's one of the Onondaga tribe. There's a +reservation of them at a place they call the Castle, which is what they +name their Council House. It's about three miles from Cardiff. I meant +to tell you about them, but I forgot it. They're full-blooded Indians, +but they're not wild, though some of the older ones were once, I +suppose. We'll take a trip down and see 'em soon, and get 'em to make us +some bows and arrows. Most of 'em know dad, from buying honey from him."</p> + +<p>Without further incident the little party reached Cardiff. While Roger, +with his uncle and cousin turned in at the welcome farmhouse, Johnny +Green, with a grunted good night, kept on to his cabin. Roger found his +aunt and pretty cousin waiting for him in great anxiety, and very glad +indeed were they to see him again, and to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> learn that he had come to no +great harm, though he had been in grave danger. Mrs. Kimball insisted on +putting some home-made salve on the cuts and scratches in Roger's back, +which were now beginning to smart a little, though they were not deep.</p> + +<p>"That stuff'll draw the soreness out," said Mrs. Kimball.</p> + +<p>"It feels good, at any rate," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"Now I reckon you'll like some supper," went on his aunt, bustling +about.</p> + +<p>"Supper? Breakfust'd be nearer th' mark," spoke up Mr. Kimball, looking +at his big silver watch, which showed two o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Anything, as long as it's something to eat," said Roger. "I'm as hungry +as a bear."</p> + +<p>"Or a wild-cat," laughed Clara, as she set the coffee on to boil.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later they all drew up to the table with good appetites, +for when the others heard what happened to Roger they had been in no +mood for supper earlier in the evening.</p> + +<p>The whole story had to be gone over again by Roger, and when he had +finished Mr. Kimball packed them all off to bed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>BAD NEWS</h3> + + +<p>Roger slept late that morning, and his aunt would not let Adrian awaken +him, much as the country boy desired to hear more of his cousin's +adventures. It was almost ten o'clock when Roger came downstairs, +rubbing his eyes. He found no one about the house but Clara, who greeted +him with a smile and an invitation to sit down to a fresh hot breakfast +she had prepared.</p> + +<p>"Well, I must say I'm getting into lazy ways," was the boy's remark. +"I'm used to getting up earlier than this when I'm home. Where's +everybody except you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, father's picking some apples, Ade's gone up in the vineyard, +mother's gone over to Mrs. Took's to borrow some molasses, the hired +man's picking cucumbers, and I—"</p> + +<p>"You have to stay home to bother getting me some breakfast," finished +Roger. "I'm sorry to put you to so much trouble."</p> + +<p>"It isn't any trouble at all," protested Clara, earnestly. "Mother said +you must have a good sleep to make up for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> what you lost last night. My! +But you must have been frightened. How's your back? We're all so glad +you are safe that you can sleep until noon if you want to. Did you dream +of wild-cats and Indians?"</p> + +<p>"Answering your last question first, I will say I didn't dream at all," +said Roger, smiling. "As for my back, I'd hardly know I was scratched. +That's fine salve. I've had plenty of sleep, thank you, and I feel very +well. Quite ready for breakfast, too, for I'm hungry," he added, as he +sat down in front of the nicely browned cakes, the hot coffee, and the +meat. He ate heartily, and just as he finished his aunt came in from the +neighbor's. She was glad to see he had suffered no ill effects from his +exposure in the woods, and his encounter with the wild-cat. While he was +talking to Mrs. Kimball and Clara, Adrian came to the house.</p> + +<p>"Sagoola!" said the country boy, smiling at his cousin.</p> + +<p>"Sagoola!" replied Roger. "Say, Ade, what does that mean? Johnny Green +called it to me when he met me in the woods. I had to guess at it."</p> + +<p>"That's Onondaga Indian for 'How do you do?' or 'Hello!' just as it +happens."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Roger, comprehending. "Well, I sagoola pretty well. How are +you?"</p> + +<p>"Same."</p> + +<p>"Say," broke in Mr. Kimball, who had come in unperceived, "I want t' say +you boys was purty smart t' pitch in 'n' sell them grapes th' way ye did +arter ye found Andrews didn't want 'em. Mighty smart 'n' good I call<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +it. Too bad ye hed t' hev a accident jest when ye was gittin' back, but +then it come out all right. Each a' ye is entitled t' a dollar fer th' +day's work."</p> + +<p>"We didn't do it for money," spoke up Roger, "and besides, I only helped +a little bit."</p> + +<p>"I know all 'bout thet," said Mr. Kimball, "but ye got a leetle better +price 'n Andrews would 'a' paid, 'n' I'm used t' givin' commissions on +sales, so it's a matter a' business 'ith me."</p> + +<p>He pulled out a canvas bag from deep in his trousers pocket, extracted +from it two big shining silver dollars, and gave one to each of the +boys.</p> + +<p>"Thar's yer pay," he said. "Mind, I ain't givin' it t' ye. Ye airned it +fair 'n' square, 'n' ye kin do jest's ye like 'ith it."</p> + +<p>The money was more than either of the boys were in the habit of +receiving except, perhaps, around Christmas, and they hardly knew what +to do with the coin. Roger held his in an undecided manner.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Adrian. "This will do to buy some +ammunition with, and we can go squirrel hunting. I was just wishing for +some cash to get the cartridges, and now we have it. Did you ever go +after squirrels, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"I never had a chance."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll go some day next week. I've got a gun, and I can borrow +Porter Amidown's for you. It'll be lots of sport, and besides, we can +get a mess of squirrels for dinner, and that'll save buying meat."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll wait 'til I see yer squirrels 'fore I let th' butcher go by," +remarked Mrs. Kimball, dryly.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I've got t' git back t' th' orchard," said Mr. Kimball, after a +pause, and he left to resume his work.</p> + +<p>"Want to come up in the vineyard and watch me pick grapes?" asked Adrian +of his cousin.</p> + +<p>"I'll come up if you'll let me help a little," agreed the city boy. "I +don't want to simply look on."</p> + +<p>"Now ye must be careful, Roger," cautioned Mrs. Kimball. "Land, a body'd +never think ye'd spent all night in th' woods, keepin' company 'ith a +wild-cat thet most took yer skin off. Don't ye go t' pickin' grapes 'n' +openin' th' sores agin. Ef ye go Ade'll hev t' make ye keep still."</p> + +<p>"All right, mother," agreed Roger's cousin, and the two boys started +off.</p> + +<p>The place where the grapes grew was on the side of a gently sloping +hill, about a quarter of a mile back of the house. The vines were twined +over wires strung between posts, and were planted in rows about ten feet +apart, so there was plenty of chance for the sun to get at the fruit, +Old Sol's rays being needed to ripen the big purple, red, and white +clusters. The boys walked up a little path back of the farmhouse, +through the barnyard, up past the corn-crib, and the melon patch, past +the yard where a flock of white Wyandotte chickens were cackling, and so +on, up to where the air was fragrant with the bloom of the grapes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm picking Wordens," said Adrian, referring to the variety of the +fruit he was gathering.</p> + +<p>"How many kinds have you?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've got Concords, Isabellas, Niagaras, Delawares, Wordens, and +Catawbas."</p> + +<p>"I thought all grapes were alike."</p> + +<p>"They're as different as people," said Adrian. "Some folks won't eat +anything but Concords. Others want Wordens, and I like them best myself, +but dad, he won't eat any but the white Niagaras."</p> + +<p>Adrian reached over, cut off a big bunch of purple beauties, and ate +them, while Roger did likewise, and it seemed that he had never before +tasted such sweet grapes. The ones he occasionally had in New York were +not nearly as fresh and good as these, right off the vines.</p> + +<p>"Well," announced Adrian finally, throwing down the cleaned-off stem, "I +must get to work. I've only got to fill forty more baskets, and then I +can have the rest of the day to myself."</p> + +<p>In between the rows of vines he had scattered small unfilled grape +baskets. These were to be packed with the ripe bunches and loaded on a +wheelbarrow, to be taken to the barn, and then the next day they would +be sent to Syracuse. Adrian began to work, and Roger insisted that at +least he be allowed to scatter the empty receptacles where they would be +handy for his cousin. He also took the filled ones out to the end of the +rows as Adrian finished with each.</p> + +<p>Snip-snap went the scissors Adrian used to cut off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> the finest bunches. +Before laying them in the baskets he removed any spoiled or imperfect +fruit, so that the clusters would present a uniformly fine appearance, +and bring a better price than if sent to market carelessly. Adrian +worked rapidly, now that he did not have to stop to distribute the empty +baskets or carry the full ones to the end of the row, and in much +shorter time than Roger expected the forty were filled. As he placed the +last one on the wheelbarrow Adrian remarked:</p> + +<p>"Well, that's done. Want to go to Cardiff now?" for that was the way +every one spoke of going up to the centre of the village.</p> + +<p>"Would we have time to go to the Indian Reservation?" asked Roger, +eagerly, for he had been thinking with anticipation all the morning of +the news he had heard concerning the near location of the redmen.</p> + +<p>"Well, hardly before dinner," replied Adrian. "It's three miles there. +But we can go this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Then let's go."</p> + +<p>"All right. We'll take a rest until the dinner horn blows."</p> + +<p>So the boys went down to the barn with the last of the grapes. As they +approached they were greeted by the barking of a dog, and a brown setter +ran out to gambol about Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Whose dog?" asked Roger, looking at the beautiful animal.</p> + +<p>"Mine," replied Adrian. "He ran off to the woods Saturday, and he must +have just come back. He does it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> every once in a while. Gets sort of +wild and likes to strike out for himself. But he's always glad to come +back. Hi! Jack, old fellow!" and Adrian, setting the wheelbarrow down, +ran along swiftly, to be followed by the joyfully barking dog.</p> + +<p>The two had a regular romp on the grass.</p> + +<p>"Here, old chap!" called Adrian, suddenly, and Jack stopped short in his +running to look at his young master with bright eyes and cocked-up ears. +"Come here, sir! I'll introduce you to my cousin Roger."</p> + +<p>Adrian led the dog by one ear up to Roger. The intelligent animal +sniffed the boy a bit, and then the tail which had dropped began to wag +quickly to and fro.</p> + +<p>"He likes you all right," announced Adrian. "Shake hands with him, +Jack."</p> + +<p>The animal lifted his right paw up to Roger, who took it in his hand.</p> + +<p>"He's a fine bird dog," commented Adrian, the introduction over. "We'll +take him along when we go hunting."</p> + +<p>Then Jack decided he was hungry, so he raced to the house, barking +loudly. The boys took the grapes into the barn, and after they had been +stowed away, Adrian lifted from a basket two large fine muskmelons. Next +he produced a knife and a small bag of salt, when he and Roger proceeded +to eat the fruit.</p> + +<p>"This is the way dad and I like our melons," he announced to his cousin, +as he cut off a luscious slice. It didn't take long to finish the fruit, +and about an hour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> later, after they had amused themselves by jumping +around in the hay, they were quite ready for dinner, when they heard +Mrs. Kimball blow the horn vigorously. They announced at the table their +intention of going to the Indian Castle, and after the meal was over and +they had rested up a bit they started, Jack the dog barking joyously on +ahead of them.</p> + +<p>The way to the Reservation, or the Castle, as every one in Cardiff +called it, was up the main road to the north, a long level stretch of +highway, lying between pleasant farm lands. The three miles seemed +rather short to Roger, and after a little more than an hour's tramp, +they came to a group of log cabins.</p> + +<p>"What are those?" asked the city boy.</p> + +<p>"Indian houses."</p> + +<p>"Is that where they live? I thought they had tents," and Roger's voice +showed his disappointment.</p> + +<p>"These aren't wild Indians," said Adrian. "They have to live here all +the year. The government gives them this land and they raise crops on +it, or rather their squaws do; for the Indians let the women do most of +the work, same as they did when Columbus discovered this country, as we +read in our history books."</p> + +<p>Just then, at the door of one of the cabins, appeared a man who seemed +to be a negro, and Roger could see several dark-skinned children peeping +out from behind the man.</p> + +<p>"What are colored folks doing on the Reservation, Adrian?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They're not colored; that's an Indian. He's Pete Smith. You see lots of +the Indians are very dark, and they look a little like negroes at a +distance."</p> + +<p>"Well, he certainly don't look like the Indians you see in pictures," +commented Roger.</p> + +<p>The boys kept on. The little log cabins became more numerous now, and in +the fields about them could be observed many Indian squaws at work, +husking corn or gathering pumpkins and tomatoes. Once in a while a male +Indian would be seen at work, probably because he had no squaw.</p> + +<p>The boys now approached a cabin larger than any of the others near it. +Adrian, coming opposite it, pointed to something fastened on the front +wall.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what that is?" he asked his cousin.</p> + +<p>"What? Where?"</p> + +<p>"Tacked up on the side of the cabin."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that? Why, it looks like a piece of fur."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know what it is?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"That's the varmint which tried to eat you up last night."</p> + +<p>"Not the wild-cat?"</p> + +<p>"The very same. This is where Johnny Green lives. He's skinned the +animal. That's its hide."</p> + +<p>Roger stared with much interest at the fur, stretched out to tan. A few +hours before it had been a wild-cat bent on doing him mischief. Just +then Johnny Green stalked out of his cabin.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sagoola!" he exclaimed, pleasantly, grinning expansively in recognition +of Roger and Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Sagoola!" replied Adrian. "Glad to see you, Johnny. Get home all right +last night?"</p> + +<p>"Sartin, sure. Got coon, too."</p> + +<p>"You did? Where?"</p> + +<p>"Down back Bill Eaton's place. Here um hide," and he held up the pelt of +a raccoon he had shot and skinned.</p> + +<p>"Have you got any bows and arrows you don't want?" asked Adrian, with +the freedom of an old acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"Mebby so," grinned Johnny, and he went back into his cabin to return +with two small but well-made hickory bows and several arrows, feather +tipped, but with blunt ends. He gave the weapons to the boys, who +thanked him heartily.</p> + +<p>"Stop and get some honey when you're up our way," said Adrian, giving +the invitation as a sort of payment for the gift. Then the boys kept on.</p> + +<p>They walked to nearly the centre of the Reservation, where the Castle, +as the long white Council House was called, stood. It was the most +substantial building in the Indian village, being constructed of boards.</p> + +<p>"The braves have their green corn and succotash dance here every year," +explained Adrian. "They had one about two months ago. I wish you'd been +here. They give a regular performance like a war dance, only it's to +make the Great Spirit, so they think, give a good corn harvest. The +Indians rattle dried corn in bladders and circle about the middle of the +room, howling and shouting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> as if they were crazy. It's great, I tell +you. Dad took me once."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to have seen it," said Roger. "Maybe I'll stay until next +year; then I can."</p> + +<p>From the Castle the boys went to the bridge which spanned a little +stream that flowed through the Indian village.</p> + +<p>"They say a terrible battle was once fought along this creek," said +Adrian, as they cast pebbles into the brook. "The early white settlers +in this part of the country and the old Onondaga Indians pitched into +each other right on the bank of this stream, and lots were killed on +both sides. The story goes that the waters ran red with blood that day, +and even to the present time the Indians here have a name for this creek +which means 'bloody water.'"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Roger, after they had been walking about for some time +looking at the different sights, "I guess we'd better be getting back. +Hadn't we? It'll be pretty near dark when we reach Cardiff."</p> + +<p>Adrian agreed with him. The sun was already dipping well over toward the +western hills, and whistling to Jack, who was romping about with some +Indian dogs, Adrian and Roger started homeward. They tried shooting with +their bows, sending the arrows far on ahead of them and then picking +them up, to give them another flight into the air. They moved on +briskly, and just as the sun was sinking out of sight, they arrived at +Hank Mack's store. A few minutes later the boys were at their home. +They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> stopped at the spouting spring for a drink of cool, sparkling +water, and then entered the house.</p> + +<p>They had no sooner reached the kitchen than they were aware that +something had occurred. Mr. Kimball was standing in the middle of the +floor, holding a letter in his hand. Mrs. Kimball sat in a chair, and it +could be seen that she had been crying. Clara stood near her mother.</p> + +<p>"Wh—what's the matter?" asked Adrian, in great alarm. "Has something +happened?"</p> + +<p>For a moment no one answered him.</p> + +<p>"What is it, dad," he persisted, "bad news?"</p> + +<p>"Yep, son, it's bad news," replied his father, brokenly.</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Th' money your father invested in railroad sheers is all lost," burst +out Mrs. Kimball, "'n' Nate Jackson has wrote t' say he's goin' t' +foreclose th' mortgage."</p> + +<p>This was bad news indeed, and Adrian sank limply in a chair, while Roger +looked helplessly on.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>COPPER AND OLD BONES</h3> + + +<p>Though Roger and Adrian knew little of the business connected with +mortgages and railroad shares, they realized nevertheless, that +something serious had occurred. Adrian never recalled seeing his father +look so helpless and worried but once before, and that had been when his +mother was dangerously ill. Mr. Kimball's face was pale, and his blue +eyes, usually so bright and snapping, were dull, and seemed to be gazing +at something far away.</p> + +<p>For a moment after Mrs. Kimball's announcement no one spoke. Then, as a +man recovering from some heavy blow, the farmer straightened up, shook +himself like a big dog emerging from the water, and said:</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, boys, it's true, jest's mother here says. It's bad news, sure +'nuff, 'n' I don't know when I've bin so knocked out. It's so suddint, +jest like one a' them heavy thunder claps thet comes on ye 'fore ye know +there's a storm brewin'."</p> + +<p>"Is it very bad?" asked Adrian, softly. "Is all the money gone? Can't +you get any of it back?"</p> + +<p>"Seems not, son. Leastwise ef I kin, it won't be soon 'nuff fer me, +'cause th' mortgage is agoin' t' be foreclosed, 'n' t' stave thet off +I've got t' hev ready cash. Ef either<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> a' th' calamaties hed happened +one at a time, I could a' stood it, but havin' 'em both together kinder +flambusts me, thet's what it does. I'm reg'lar flambusted, thet's what I +be; flambusted, thet's it," and he sank down in a chair, muttering this +one word over and over.</p> + +<p>Then, by degrees, Roger and Adrian gathered enough of the matter to +understand it somewhat. When Mr. Kimball purchased his farm, some years +ago, he did not have enough money to pay all of the price, and he gave a +mortgage for the balance, that being a paper, by the terms of which he +agreed, after a certain number of years, to pay the rest of the money +due or forfeit the farm.</p> + +<p>As time went on he prospered with his crops and paid off some of the +mortgage. Then his father died and left him a neat sum of money. But +instead of using this to cancel the mortgage, Mr. Kimball was induced by +his brother Seth to invest it in the stock of a certain railroad. Seth +told him that there the money would earn good interest, and when the +time came to pay off the mortgage, Mr. Kimball could sell his railroad +stock and with the money settle the debt on his farm, with something +left.</p> + +<p>This would have been a good plan if matters in the financial world +hadn't gone wrong just before Mr. Kimball was to draw his money from the +investment in the railroad shares. The mortgage was nearly due, and he +expected to pay it off. But there came a panic in the stock market, and +the shares the honest farmer had put his money in dropped below par, so +far, in fact, that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> seemed hopeless ever to expect them to rise +again. And then, with all his money gone, to be informed that unless he +paid off the balance of the mortgage the farm would be taken from him +was blow enough to discourage any one.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al," said Mr. Kimball, after a long silence, and with more +cheerfulness in his tones than his family had heard since he got the bad +news, "wa'al, there's no use cryin' over spilt milk, 'n' what can't be +cured must be endured. Th' money's gone, thet's sure. Now I'll hev t' +pitch in 'n' airn some more. I'm young yit. I guess I kin do it. Never +say die, 'n' don't guv up th' ship. Them's my mottoes," and he blew his +nose with a vigor that seemed to be uncalled for.</p> + +<p>"It's turrible," spoke up Mrs. Kimball, "jest 's ye were gittin' ready +t' take things a leetle easier, Bert. It's a shame, thet's what 't is, +'n' ef I could see some a' them railroad directors I'd tell 'em so, +thet's what I would."</p> + +<p>"Easy, easy," said Mr. Kimball. "It's tough luck, t' be sure, but from +what th' newspapers says, I ain't th' only one. There's lots went down +in the Wall Street crash. Plenty a' others lost their money. Th' thing +fer me 'n' you t' do now, is t' consider what's t' be done. No use +settin' down 'n' foldin' our hands. Cryin' never mended matters yit. I +must go t' th' city t' see Jackson 'bout th' mortgage. Ef he'll hold off +a bit mebby I kin straighten things out. Ef he won't—"</p> + +<p>He didn't finish the sentence, but they all knew what he meant.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm hungry," announced Mr. Kimball, suddenly. "Why," looking at the +clock, "here 't is near seven, 'n' th' chores ain't done yit, 'n' no +table set."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think any 'bout eatin'," said Mrs. Kimball, "but I'll git +supper right away."</p> + +<p>She and Clara started to put the meal on, and in bustling about they +forgot for a time the bad news. Roger and Adrian went out to help lock +up the barn and various out-houses, to bed down the horses, and see that +everything was in good shape for the night.</p> + +<p>"It's too bad, isn't it?" ventured Roger, noting his cousin's unusual +silence and guessing the cause.</p> + +<p>"Well, as dad says, it might be worse," answered Adrian. "I'm going to +pitch in and help all I can."</p> + +<p>"And I will too, as long as I'm here," said Roger heartily, and by +reason of this trouble the two boys felt more like brothers than +cousins.</p> + +<p>"I don't s'pose there's much we can do though, Ade."</p> + +<p>"I know how I can make considerable loose change," replied the country +boy. "If it wasn't so near winter I could clear twenty-five dollars +easy, and that'd pay some of the interest."</p> + +<p>"How could you make twenty-five dollars?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you to-morrow. There goes the supper horn," and the two boys +hurried into the house.</p> + +<p>If Roger expected the bad news to have any immediate effect on life at +his uncle's house, he was agreeably disappointed. He looked at the table +closely to see if there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> had been any change made in the quality or +quantity of the food, but the board seemed more bountifully spread than +ever. There were meat and potatoes, a big plate of salt-rising bread, a +large pat of sweet golden butter, cakes, cookies, preserves, cheese, and +some dark brown buckwheat honey, enough for a dozen hungry boys. Then +Roger felt his heart a little lighter when he saw there was no need to +put the household on short rations. Adrian too, appeared relieved when +he saw the well-spread table, and he gazed on it with a feeling of +thankfulness that things were not as bad as they might have been.</p> + +<p>Under other circumstances there might have been a more cheerful party +gathered around the board, but then it is hard to be light-hearted when +trouble is in the air and when there are worries to be met. However, Mr. +Kimball did his best to shake off the feeling of gloom, and he really +succeeded so well that, before the meal was over, he had Roger laughing +at his recital of some of the queer doings of the people of Cardiff.</p> + +<p>After supper, which was not finished until rather later than usual, Mr. +Kimball busied himself with various papers and account books. Roger and +Adrian feeling tired from their day's tramp went to bed, where, in spite +of the memory of the trouble hanging over the house, they slept soundly. +In the morning Mr. Kimball went to Syracuse by the early stage, and as +the hired man had to take a load of grapes to the city, the two boys +were left with the farm to themselves. There were a few chores to do, +which they made short work of, and then Adrian,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> taking a large bag from +the barn, started off across the fields.</p> + +<p>"Where to now?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"I told you I'd show you how to make a little money, didn't I?" said +Adrian. "This is one of the ways. I used to do it when I was a small +chap, but lately I haven't had much chance, so now I'm going to start in +again."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?"</p> + +<p>"Gather bones."</p> + +<p>"Bones?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, bones."</p> + +<p>Roger thought his cousin was joking, but a look at the face of the +country lad convinced the city boy there was a serious purpose back of +the words.</p> + +<p>"You see it's this way," explained Adrian. "Bones are good to make +fertilizer of, and there's a factory over to Tully where they buy 'em. +They pay half a cent a pound, and farmers that have lots of bones around +send 'em to the factory. But there's plenty of bones lying around loose +in the fields, and at the back doors of houses. When I was about ten +years old, me and Chot Ramsey used to make a half dollar, easy, +gathering up the old bones and selling 'em when the collecting wagon +came from Tully. That's what I'm going to do now. But I'm going to do it +different. I know a number of women folks that'll save their meat bones +for me if I ask 'em, and I'm going to. Besides collecting all I can +lying around loose, you see I'll have a sort of private<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> supply to +collect from. But maybe you don't want to come along. It's not much fun, +but it's not dirty, for the bones are all clean ones."</p> + +<p>"Of course I'll come along and help," said Roger. "Didn't I say I +would?"</p> + +<p>It was rather a novel idea, this one of Adrian's, so Roger thought. But +plenty of country boys know the value of bones, though they may never +have taken the trouble to collect and sell them. Roger and Adrian +started off over the fields. The country lad seemed to know just where +to go, and, before proceeding far, he had come across several big beef +bones, clean and white.</p> + +<p>They were tossed into the bag which the boys carried between them, slung +on a long pole. They visited several back-yards of houses, where Adrian +knew the people, and, when he had collected all the bones in sight, he +asked the women if they wouldn't save any more they might have, as he +would be around again in a week. Most of them promised, for they liked +the boy, who had often done favors for them.</p> + +<p>"Just throw 'em in one place always, and I can gather 'em up every +week," said Adrian, at house after house.</p> + +<p>Good luck seemed to be with the boys, for they found more bones than +ever Adrian had hoped for. The bag got so heavy they could hardly carry +it, and so were forced to make a trip back to the house, to get rid of +the load.</p> + +<p>"We must have fifty pounds there," reckoned Adrian, proudly, as he piled +the contents of the bag in a heap back of the barn, "and there's fifty +more we can get to-day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> Not bad for a start, eh, Roger? One hundred +pounds of fertilizer. That's fifty cents."</p> + +<p>"I call it fine," said Roger. "But of course we can't expect to do as +well as this every day."</p> + +<p>"No, we'll have to tramp farther for our next hundred pounds," agreed +Adrian, as they started off on their second trip.</p> + +<p>They went over the fields and roads. The bag was almost full a second +time when Adrian, who had picked up a smooth, round stone to throw, +stopped short as it fell in the midst of some corn stubble, with a +resounding clang.</p> + +<p>"That hit something," he declared, as he set off on a run, much to the +surprise of Roger. "Hurrah! I thought so," shouted Adrian a second +later, as he stooped over where he had seen the stone fall. He held up +to view a battered old wash-boiler.</p> + +<p>"What good is that?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Good? Why, can't you see it has a copper bottom. Copper brings fifteen +cents a pound from the junk man, and there's three pounds here."</p> + +<p>He caught up a heavy sharp rock and soon had cut and hammered the bottom +off the boiler, the upper part of which was of tin. The copper he beat +up into a compact mass and placed it in the bag with the bones. Then +having a pretty good load, the boys started home. On the way Adrian came +across a large bottle, which he picked up.</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew where there were a lot of these," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Roger.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Cause George Bennett gives three cents apiece for large ones like +this. We must keep our eyes peeled for 'em as we go along."</p> + +<p>And they did, but they found no more that day.</p> + +<p>"Let's see," said Adrian, as they were washing up for dinner. "A hundred +pounds of bones is fifty cents, and we'll reckon forty cents for the +copper. With three cents for the bottle, that makes ninety-three cents +for the morning. My half is forty-six and a half cents; not bad for a +starter, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess you're a little wrong in the figuring," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"How so?"</p> + +<p>"Why, it's all yours. I won't take half. I'm only helping you in this. I +don't want any share."</p> + +<p>"But you've got to take it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I won't. It's all going into a general fund to help pay that +mortgage," said Roger, stoutly. "Probably we'll not get an awful lot, +but every little helps, and your father is going to have all my share."</p> + +<p>"Well—well," began Adrian, somewhat affected by his cousin's offer, but +what he would have said was never known, for the dinner horn blew just +then, and the boys were so hungry they forgot everything else save their +appetites.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon they picked more grapes, and neither of them suggested +stopping to rest or play. The fascination of business was on them, and +they seemed to have taken the responsibility of wanting to do all they +could.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Might as well get a lot picked," suggested Adrian, as he and Roger +snipped away at the big bunches, "then dad can hurry to the city with +them while the price is high;" and they gathered the fruit as long as +they could see.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Kimball returned home from the city that night he seemed to +feel a little easier than when he left. He told his wife, and the boys +overheard him, that he had succeeded in getting a delay of the mortgage +foreclosure until May first, and that would give him several months to +try to get the money together. True, it seemed but a respite, for there +was not much chance of his securing the cash, he said, since later news +of the failure of the railroad shares only confirmed the first report, +that they were gone beyond hope of ever getting anything from them. But +for all that, Mr. Kimball was hopeful. There was not much chance of +using the money he would get from the present crops, as that would be +needed for ordinary household expenses. Nevertheless the farmer found a +chance to laugh a little, and he was greatly pleased and touched when he +learned what the boys had done.</p> + +<p>"We must hurry 'n' git th' rest a' th' grapes picked to-morrow," he +said. "Cold spell's a-comin', 'n' a frost'll nip 'em so they won't sell. +My! But I'm hungry, though, mother. Hungry's a b'ar. So we'll hev +supper, 'n' talk arterwards."</p> + +<p>The meal progressed more pleasantly than the one of the night before, +and when it was over and the dishes and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> chores were done, they all took +their chairs in the "settin' room," as Mrs. Kimball called it. There +Clara played the organ, and the boys sang songs and hymns until it was +time to go to bed. Roger was tired with the day's experience, and he was +anxious, too, about his uncle. But this did not prevent him from +sleeping, and he dropped off, feeling that busy and exciting as his life +in the country had been, it had already done him good. But there were +more lively times ahead of him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>JACK FROST</h3> + + +<p>Roger had been at his uncle's a week when he received a second letter +from home. It told him all the folks were well and were hoping he was +improving in health. He answered it as soon as he had read it, for +beyond the short note he had sent off telling of his safe arrival, he +had not yet written much to his mother. So in this second letter he +related all of his experiences since coming to Cardiff, from the +wrestling match to the adventure with the wild-cat and his partnership +with his cousin in the old bone and copper business.</p> + +<p>For the next few days the two boys were busy about the farm and garden, +Roger helping Adrian as much as he could in the various tasks the +country boy had to look after, or which he undertook of his own accord. +When there was nothing else to do they gathered old bones, until they +had quite a heap back of the barn. One day the collector came from the +fertilizer factory and paid Adrian two dollars for what there was, and +the boys were as much pleased as older persons would have been over a +larger sum.</p> + +<p>Thus the time passed for several weeks, during which the remainder of +the crops were gathered in. The potatoes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> were stored in bins in the +cellar, and along side of them were the beets, the turnips, the carrots, +the cabbages and onions; enough vegetables, Roger thought, to feed a +regiment. Barrels of apples were stowed away in dark corners, with the +promise of many pies and dishes of sauce. The swing shelves of the +cellar groaned and squeaked under the weight of canned fruit,—peaches, +pears, quinces, plum-sauce, apple-butter, and grape jelly,—and it was +quite a treat for the boys to go down and gaze at the rows of glass jars +which held the sweets in reserve.</p> + +<p>The barn was well filled with hay, the oat-bin bulged with fodder, and +the silo, where the cornstalks were kept as feed for the cows, seemed +like to split apart with its rich contents. The corn-crib, through the +openings on the sides, showed a wealth of golden grains, which indicated +not only johnny-cake for the house, but plenty of eating for the +chickens. In short, there was every indication that whatever else +happened there would be no lack of meals in the Kimball home that +winter.</p> + +<p>While grim care was not altogether absent from Mr. Kimball, owing to the +fear that his money matters were hopelessly involved, he seemed to have +lost some of his outward signs of worry. He became more cheerful, and as +the days went by and the others tried to imitate his example, the +household was a more happy place. At any rate, nothing was likely to +happen until spring, and by that time something might turn up. At least +that is what they all hoped.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>The weather was getting colder now, the mornings being rather raw and +chill, though there was an invigorating feeling in the air which was +noticeably absent from the atmosphere of the city. The nights, too, had +grown frosty, though so far only a thin white coating on the ground had +greeted the boys as they crawled, shivering, out of bed. But winter was +at hand and its coming was anticipated by the animals who, in the woods +and fields, were busy laying up their food supplies.</p> + +<p>One evening, when Roger and Adrian were returning from Hank Mack's +store, they noticed the clear brightness of the stars overhead.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Adrian, as he turned his coat collar up, "there's going +to be a black frost to-night," and he ran on a few steps, with hops and +jumps, to warm up his blood.</p> + +<p>"What's a black frost?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, only that's what they call it when it freezes real hard +and there ain't any white frost on the ground. A white frost is a white +frost, and a black frost is a black frost, that's all I know."</p> + +<p>"And you think there'll be a black frost to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I bet there will. Then we can go chestnutting to-morrow. The burs will +be down by the wagonload, and I know where we can get bushels of nuts."</p> + +<p>"Bushels of chestnuts?" questioned Roger, who had only seen as many of +the shiny brown fellows at one time as could be heaped on some street +vendor's stand.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, bushels," maintained Adrian, "and, do you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> know, they'll sell +for about five dollars a bushel this year."</p> + +<p>"I should think they might, judging by the few you get from the Italians +for a dime," said Roger, thinking of how often he had bought the roasted +or boiled nuts from the stand at the corner near his home.</p> + +<p>The boys now set off, racing towards the house. They spent the evening +reading and talking. About nine o'clock, when Adrian stepped to the +spout at the side door to get a fresh drink of water, he came back with +red cheeks and announced that it was growing much colder.</p> + +<p>That night Jack Frost descended on Cardiff valley with all his forces. +It got colder and colder, a tingling, vigorous cold that snapped the +nails in the clapboards on the house. The morning dawned clear, and a +breath of the fresh bracing air made the blood race through the veins.</p> + +<p>"This is suthin' like weather," observed Mr. Kimball, rubbing his hands +briskly, as he went out to the barn before breakfast to feed and water +the cows and horses. "I'm glad it didn't catch us nappin', 'ith th' +grapes not picked."</p> + +<p>He broke a thin sheet of ice on the horse trough.</p> + +<p>"Thar'll be skatin' ef this keeps on," he added with a twinkle in his +blue eyes, as he saw Roger and Adrian racing out after him. They leaped +and bounded, for the bracing air made them feel like young colts running +in a big field. Roger seemed to have improved very much in his health in +a short time, and he was now a good second to his cousin, a most sturdy +youth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Reckon it's goin' t' snow," said Mr. Kimball, as he carried a pail of +water into the barn.</p> + +<p>"To-day, dad?" asked Adrian, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Not afore night, I guess," said the farmer, "but I kin smell snow," and +he sniffed hard.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad you can't smell it until night," laughed Adrian. "Roger +'n' I are going after chestnuts to-day."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I haint no objections," remarked Mr. Kimball, holding the pail +of water where Ned, the horse, could reach it. "Guess a trip +chestnuttin' 'll be good fer both on ye. I'm goin' t' kill hogs +t'-morrow, snow er no snow."</p> + +<p>"That'll be lots of fun," said Adrian to Roger. "Come on, let's eat, 'n' +then we'll go."</p> + +<p>The boys made a hurried breakfast and then, warmly clad, they started +for the woods, carrying bags in which to gather the nuts. They had about +two miles to walk, and when they reached the chestnut grove, Adrian saw +he had not been wrong in his surmise that there would be a heavy fall. +They found the ground covered with the burs, which had burst open, +showing the shining brown nuts inside.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted Adrian. "Get to work! Here they are! Don't let the +squirrels and chipmunks beat us."</p> + +<p>Indeed, it was high time the boys started in, for there were scores of +red and gray squirrels and the prettily striped chipmunks scampering +about on the ground and in the trees, filling their pouch-like cheeks +with the nuts, and then leaping and bounding away to their nests with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +the store of winter provender. The boys began to hustle, threshing the +burs from the nuts, and then scooping the latter into the bags they had +brought. It wasn't long before they had gathered several pecks, and they +didn't have to cover much ground to get them either.</p> + +<p>Adrian packed nearly a bushel into his sack before he was satisfied, but +Roger was content to lug home a little more than two pecks, as he was +hardly strong enough to bear the weight of more. They tramped slowly +back, stopping frequently to rest. Emptying the nuts into baskets they +went again to the woods for more, for as Adrian said, the squirrels +would soon make short work of the harvest unless the boys were lively. +On their second trip the hired man went with them, trundling' a +wheelbarrow, and this time they brought away over three bushels, leaving +as many more piled in a heap, the hired man going after them alone +later.</p> + +<p>"Got about seven bushels," announced Adrian, proudly, at the supper +table. "Not bad, eh, pop?"</p> + +<p>"I should say not," replied Mr. Kimball. "'N Porter Amidown were tellin' +me yist'day they'd gone t' six dollars a bushel."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll send out six bushels in the morning, when Porter goes to the +city," said Adrian. "One bushel'll be more than we can eat. That'll be +thirty-six dollars toward the mortgage, dad."</p> + +<p>"Bless yer heart," exclaimed Mr. Kimball, pretending that he suddenly +had a very bad cold. "Bless yer hearts, boys, I—I—don't want yer +money."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But you've got to take it," decided Adrian and Roger in one breath, +immensely pleased with their day's work, which had only been a pleasure, +and feeling proud that it would amount to so much in money.</p> + +<p>There was a light flurry of snow that night, and when the boys awoke +next morning they found the ground hidden under a white, fleecy blanket. +They were not up early enough to see their chestnuts put on the stage to +be sent to Syracuse, but Mrs. Kimball told them at the breakfast table +that they went all right.</p> + +<p>"Where's dad?" asked Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Gittin' ready t' kill pigs," answered Mrs. Kimball.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! Roger! That'll be sport! Hurry up. Who's going to help him, +mother?"</p> + +<p>"I guess old man Hounson's comin' over. I heard yer father say suthin' +'bout him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon we can lend a hand at starting the fire, or something," +said Adrian.</p> + +<p>The boys went out to the barnyard as soon as possible, where they found +Mr. Kimball getting ready to start a fire under a big caldron of water +that was to be used at a later stage in the proceedings.</p> + +<p>"Let us make the fire, dad," begged Adrian, and getting permission, he +and Roger soon had a fine blaze going.</p> + +<p>The snow was soon trampled down and melting near the fire of hickory +logs, which crackled, sputtered, and sparked, filling the cold, bracing +air with a pleasant nutty smell. The boys as well as Mr. Kimball and his +hired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> man had heavy boots on, and they wore their oldest clothing, +since preparing pigs for sausage and pork chops is not exactly clean +work.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I see yer gettin' ready fer me," spoke a high-pitched voice +suddenly, and a tall, spare man, with a much wrinkled face and a little +bunch of gray beard on his chin, walked up the driveway to where Mr. +Kimball and the boys were gathered about the heat. He too wore boots and +an old overcoat. His arms were long and his hands bony and knotted.</p> + +<p>"Yep, we're prepared fer ye, Hounson," said Mr. Kimball. "I see ye've +got yer instruments a' death 'n' destruction 'ith ye," noting some hooks +and a number of long, shining, sharp knives which the old man laid on +the rough plank bench near the boiling water.</p> + +<p>"Good nippin' weather fer th' middle a' November," observed Hounson, +warming his hands at the crackling blaze and nodding to the boys.</p> + +<p>"'T is thet," replied Mr. Kimball, while he tried the temperature of the +water with his finger. "Hot 'nuff," he said, as he drew his hand +hurriedly away from the boiling fluid. "Might's well start in," and he +motioned to the hired man. Hounson took up a long sharp knife, and the +three men started for the pig-sty, which contained half a dozen +squealing porkers, all unconscious of the fate in store for them.</p> + +<p>Then came a busy period. While Mr. Kimball and his hired man held the +hog down on its back, old man Hounson skilfully and quickly killed it by +cutting its throat. Cruel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> as it seemed to Roger, the animals really +suffered very little pain, so rapidly was the knife thrust into a vital +part. Then the carcass was dragged over to the incline, made of planks, +which led down into a barrel of hot water filled from the steaming +caldron, and soused up and down in this until the bristles were +softened, so they could easily be removed by the three-sided iron +scraper. Next the pig was cleaned and made ready for the market, or for +storing away for winter. The boys got the bladders, which they carefully +preserved, as Adrian said he could sell them to the Indians at the +Reservation, who put dried corn in them and rattled them at their +dances.</p> + +<p>It was hard work for the three men, this business of pig killing and +cutting up and preparing the meat for winter use, and it took the most +of the day. The next two were spent in separating the various portions +of the hogs, while preparations were made for smoking the hams, with a +fire started in the smoke-house, the smouldering blaze being fed with +hickory chips, sawdust, and corncobs.</p> + +<p>Next Mrs. Kimball, Clara, and Mrs. Hounson, who had been called in to +help, got ready to make sausage into links. This work was kept up late +one night, when several neighbors dropped in to give assistance. Roger +and Adrian took spells at turning the crank of the machine which ground +the meat up, and then they worked the lever which forced the plunger +down and shoved the sausage into the links. Mrs. Kimball stood near as +the long slender skin was filled. About every four inches she gave the +skin a twist, which separated the sausage into the familiar lengths.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +Clara held a big needle, and whenever an air bubble appeared on the +surface of the skin, she skilfully pricked it, that the sausage might +last better, the admission of air to the meat hindering it from keeping +well. It was a new and interesting experience to the city boy, and he +enjoyed it very much.</p> + +<p>When the work was finished there was a lunch of doughnuts, cheese, +cookies, apples, cider, and nuts, and the boys listened while the +womenfolks talked of the doings in Cardiff.</p> + +<p>Thus was the long, cold, severe winter provided against in the Kimball +homestead, which now held a bountiful supply of the various meats that +pigs are noted for,—sausage, hams, bacon, salt pork, and spare-ribs. +Never was there such sweet cured hams, never such clean, cunning, +appetizing links of sausage, never such evenly streaked bacon, and never +such lean pork chops, with just enough fat on. There might come great +blizzards, but in the big farmhouse none would be hungry.</p> + +<p>The days passed swiftly now, and the weather grew more severe. +Preparations for enduring the winter went on in all the Cardiff homes, +and Roger began to anticipate the delights of this season in the +country, where the snow comes down to stay for months at a time.</p> + +<p>It was the end of November, and a cold, blustery night, with banks of +big gray clouds blowing up from the west.</p> + +<p>"Thar's snow in 'em," prophesied Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>And so it proved, for the next morning when the boys peered from the +frost-encrusted window, they saw the air<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> full of swirling, feathery +flakes which covered the ground to a depth of two feet.</p> + +<p>"This is fine!" shouted Adrian. "This means coasting on Lafayette hill."</p> + +<p>The boys hurried into their clothes, for there was no fire in their +bedrooms, and the only heat upstairs came from the stove-pipe, which +passed up through the chambers. From the kitchen came the smell of +hickory wood burning in the range. It mingled with the odor of buckwheat +cakes, fried sausage, and hot coffee.</p> + +<p>"My! But that smells good!" cried Roger.</p> + +<p>"You bet!" agreed Adrian, earnestly. "I can eat a dozen cakes this +morning, with the maple syrup and the sausage gravy mother makes."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>LAFAYETTE HILL</h3> + + +<p>It was, indeed, good coasting down Lafayette hill. This was a long and, +at certain places, a steep slope, which led from Cardiff village, over +the mountain, to the town of Lafayette. A few miles beyond Lafayette was +another settlement called Onativia. The long hill wound in and out, with +queer twists and turns and an abundance of thank-'e-ma'ams, which made +the sleds leap up in the air as the runners struck those spots.</p> + +<p>The snow storm ceased in the afternoon, when Roger and Adrian, donning +their boots, mufflers, and short jackets, trudged off to the hill, +dragging clipper sleds with them. They found the coasting-place black +and swarming with boys and girls,—hearty, sturdy youngsters, who +laughed and shouted as they pelted each other with snowballs. The white +flakes had not become packed down hard enough yet to make the going +good, but beneath the hundreds of tramping feet and the scores of sled +runners, that process would not take long. The really swift and exciting +coasting, however, would not begin until the bill was worn smooth and +icy.</p> + +<p>Roger and Adrian joined the happy throng of young people. Like the +others they dragged their sleds part way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> up the hill, and then, leaping +skilfully upon the narrow board, they slid down, going faster and faster +as they gathered momentum. The hill was two miles in extent, but none of +the youngsters cared to go to the top to get the benefit of the long +slide. It took too much time to walk up, and they preferred the more +rapid, though shorter skimming over the snowy surface.</p> + +<p>"It isn't very good yet," said Adrian, as they reached the bottom of the +slope, after an invigorating ride. "Wait two or three days, though, +until the sun thaws it a bit, and it freezes some more, and then you'll +see coasting that is coasting. You'll see a race that I bet you never +saw one like before."</p> + +<p>"What kind of a race?"</p> + +<p>"A two-mile coasting race down this hill, for the championship of the +valley, among the boys of Cardiff, Lafayette, and Onativia."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say they race down this hill?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. On big bob sleds. I'm captain of our bob, and you can go 'long +this year. We'll have the race in about a week."</p> + +<p>Just then Adrian saw some boy acquaintances.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Ed," he called to one of them, "come here. And you, too, Jim."</p> + +<p>Two boys joined Adrian, big, sturdy, red-cheeked lads, panting with +their exercise in the crisp air. Roger was introduced to the newcomers, +Edward Johnson and James Smather.</p> + +<p>"I was just telling my cousin about our yearly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> championship race," +explained Adrian, "when I happened to see you two. I suppose we'll have +the contest, as usual?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Ed, and Jim agreed with him.</p> + +<p>"Looks as if we could have it by Saturday," said Jim, carefully noting +the condition of the hill.</p> + +<p>"I guess it'll be packed hard enough by then," assented Ed. "I s'pose +you fellers are ready for another lickin'," he added, grinning a bit at +Adrian.</p> + +<p>"If you can beat this time you're welcome to," was the reply, and Adrian +seemed a little nettled.</p> + +<p>"I reckon you won't walk away from the Lafayette boys as easily as you +did last winter," said Jim to Ed. "We beat you the year before, and we +can do it again, and Cardiff too."</p> + +<p>"Don't holler 'til you're out of the woods," advised Adrian. "I've put +new runners on our bob."</p> + +<p>"You'll need 'em, from the way she hung back last winter," laughed +Edward, who had been captain of the victorious Onativia team the +previous year.</p> + +<p>The three-cornered race had been won by Lafayette two years in +succession, and, as in the contests over which Adrian had been +commander, his crew had lost in the struggle, their hearts were not +exactly happy, though neither captain nor crew was discouraged.</p> + +<p>"Shall we say Saturday for the race?" asked Adrian at length.</p> + +<p>"Suits me," came from James.</p> + +<p>"I'm agreeable," assented Edward, and thus the three captains arranged.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was Tuesday when the date for the contest was set. After making up +the details with his opponents, Adrian proposed a few more coasts down +the hill, and then he and Roger trudged off home.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you'll win?" asked Roger anxiously as he plodded along the +scarcely broken road. He was almost as interested as Adrian, for, though +he had so recently come to Cardiff, he already felt himself one of the +boys there.</p> + +<p>"It's hard telling," answered Adrian, after a pause. "The Onativia boys +have a very swift bob, and they usually manage to get off a little +quicker than we do. We'd have won last year, if they hadn't got to the +narrow part of the road before we did."</p> + +<p>"What happened?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Why, we couldn't pass 'em, as there was only room for one sled there. +So they came in first. But I've got a plan for this race, though, that +ought to bring us in ahead, if I can only work it out. You just wait, +that's all."</p> + +<p>Roger thought Saturday would never come. There was little to do about +the farm now, so he and Adrian overhauled the big Cardiff bob, which was +stored in Mr. Kimball's barn. In this work they were assisted by such of +the crew as could spare time from their duties.</p> + +<p>The runners of the sled were filed, and polished bright and smooth. +Several extra braces were put in to stiffen the long board. The carpet, +on top of this, was stuffed again, so as to afford a softer seat going +over the bumps,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> and the foot-rests were altered a bit. Adrian also put +on a louder sounding gong.</p> + +<p>Then he made a change which most of the boys declared was a foolish one. +This was to make the rear as well as the front small sled movable, so +that either and both could be steered separately. The front bob was +turned from side to side, by means of an iron wheel on an upright rod, +just as the regular coasting bob is. But it was rather an innovation to +have the rear sled steerable also. This was Adrian's idea, worked out +from something he had seen on a recent visit to Syracuse. This was the +sight of a long fire ladder truck turning short and sharp around corners +because of both front and rear trucks being movable. He reasoned if a +long wagon could be handled to advantage this way a long bob-sled might +also.</p> + +<p>There was a particular reason why Adrian wanted to steer quickly and +turn short, as developed later. At first some of the boys who formed the +crew of the bob were inclined to protest at the use of the second +steering-wheel. But Adrian silenced them.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said, "I'm captain of this shebang and as long as I am +I'm going to steer it the way I think best. If anybody don't like it, +they needn't ride. I can get plenty to take those fellows' places. And +if you don't want me for captain, just sing out," and Adrian paused for +an answer.</p> + +<p>"Of course we want you for captain," cried several.</p> + +<p>"All right, then, just let me manage it. I'm going to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> have two +steering-wheels, and we're going to win the race this time."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," commented Thomas Archer, and the others joined him in the +wish.</p> + +<p>Finally the day of the triple contest came. On Friday the snow melted +and thawed on Lafayette hill; but that night it grew colder and froze, +until the surface of the slope was one long stretch of ice and snow, +making a perfect covering for coasting. Saturday dawned clear and cold, +but with no biting wind—a rare day for the sport.</p> + +<p>All Cardiff seemed to be astir early that morning, though the contest +would not begin until two o'clock. An hour before that time, however, +crowds began to gather along the hill, a number of the men and boys +tramping up the steep slope to the top, that they might witness the +start.</p> + +<p>The majority of the spectators, however, preferred to remain where they +could see the finish, and that was near Hank Mack's store, in the centre +of Cardiff, where the road from Lafayette joined with the main +thoroughfare leading to Syracuse. This was a vantage point where might +be observed the ending of the struggle, which meant so much to the boys, +and in a measure to their elders. On the far side of the main road, +opposite the end of the hill, was a big bank of snow into which the +racers might steer, if, perchance, they found themselves, at the swift +completion of the journey, unable to turn to left or right. Thus the +chance of accidents was lessened.</p> + +<p>The boys of Lafayette and Onativia had one advantage, for they did not +have to drag their heavy bob up the hill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> for the start, as the Cardiff +crew did. But for this race, at least, that labor was saved Adrian and +his chums, for Mr. Kimball got out his team of horses, hitched them to +the big sled, and the animals, which were sharp-shod, easily dragged the +racer up the two-mile incline, for which aid the boys were very +thankful.</p> + +<p>The Cardiff crew, at the head of which marched Adrian and Roger, +followed the team, walking leisurely along and keeping a sharp watch +that the bob came to no mishap. All but two of the boys would be merely +passengers, for to manage the affair only a pair of steersmen were +needed, the others being there simply to give weight and to make the +contest more interesting and exciting.</p> + +<p>With the Cardiff crew marched a crowd of youngsters from the village. +They knew they must miss the thrilling finish of the race if they went +to the top of the hill, but they wanted to lend the fellowship of their +presence to the tail-enders of the series of contests, much the same as +a crowd of "rooters" accompany their favorite nine or eleven. Besides, +the Cardiff crew was going into a sort of hostile country and would need +some support.</p> + +<p>When the delegation marching with Adrian reached the top of the hill +they found themselves the centre of a throng of perhaps two hundred +people, mostly boys, though there were a goodly number of young men, and +even some graybeards who still felt the joys of youth in their blood. +The Onativia crew was surrounded by their friends, and the Lafayette +contenders by theirs, and though the Cardiff organization was greatly +outnumbered, they did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> feel at all disheartened when they saw how +confident their captain was.</p> + +<p>Scores of spectators and several members of the rival crews crowded +about Adrian's bob, and the two steering-wheels at once attracted +attention. There were dozens of questions about the second wheel, to all +of which Adrian, as well as his followers, returned polite but evasive +answers.</p> + +<p>"Mebby th' Cardiff boys calalate on slidin' back'ards 's well 's +for'ards," commented a Lafayette supporter. "Thet seems t' be their +fav'rite mode a' locomotion, jedgin' from th' last two trys."</p> + +<p>A hot reply for this taunt was on Adrian's lips, but he checked himself. +It would not do to boast of his plan, for it was yet untried, and he +could not say what would be the outcome. So he merely motioned for his +crew to keep near him, and answered nothing to the laugh that went up at +the attempted wit of the Lafayette young man. Adrian took his cousin to +one side.</p> + +<p>"I haven't said much to you, Roger, about making this trip," he said, +"but I want you to go along with me. You're not afraid, are you?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit," replied Roger, stoutly, though in his heart he was a little +apprehensive, as he saw the big white stretch sloping steeply before him +and thought of the twists, the turns, and bumps in it. "I'll go if +you'll let me, but maybe some of the crew won't like it. Besides, it +will make thirteen on the sled, and you know—"</p> + +<p>"Can't make me believe in bad luck signs of any sort,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> laughed Adrian. +"As for the crew not wanting you, I've spoken to them about it, and +they're all agreeable. There are no regular rules to this race, anyhow. +You can take as many as the bob will carry."</p> + +<p>So it was arranged Roger was to go. The preparations were nearly +completed, the judges of the start had been selected, and those for the +finish named. The latter set off on their ride down the incline ahead of +the three big sleds, so as to be at the foot of the hill on time.</p> + +<p>There was no danger of any teams coming up the incline, as the custom of +the race was well known in the valley, and farmers gave Lafayette hill a +wide berth on that day. As Roger watched the sleds of the judges for the +finish whizz down the slope, he felt less and less inclined to make the +racing trip. But he did not like to back out now, so he nerved himself +for the ordeal.</p> + +<p>The three captains held a short conversation and drew straws to see +which should have the choice of position at the start. This fell to +Adrian for the first time in the last three years, and he felt it was +the beginning of success.</p> + +<p>The preliminaries were soon arranged, and the starters, who were to +shove the sleds to the edge of the hill and over the brow, were +selected. There was the last look at the bobs on the part of the +captains to see that these were in good shape and nothing loose or +dangling, and a final trying of the steering-wheels to ascertain if they +worked easily. The boys who formed the three crews began to fasten up +stray ends of scarfs and clothing, buttoning their coats tightly, for it +would be a fierce and swift journey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>Adrian wore an anxious air, which he tried to shake off, for though he +did not need to depend much on his crew, he wanted them to feel there +was a good chance for victory, as he honestly believed there was. He +tested the two wheels on his bob, made sure that his assistant helmsman +understood his duties, and he was ready. As his aid in guiding the big +sled Adrian had selected Thomas Baker, a lad of considerable muscle, +quick, and reliable.</p> + +<p>"I guess we're in shape," announced Adrian in a low voice to his crew, +as he saw the starters coming toward him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>A DESPERATE RACE</h3> + + +<p>"Well, boys, take your places," called the starting-judge to the three +crews.</p> + +<p>The lads all scrambled to their seats on the rival bobs, to which they +had been assigned. Roger found himself placed second from Adrian, and +though this gave him a fine view of the road stretching before him, he +would gladly have changed his position for one farther back. It looked a +little too much like taking a ride on the front end of a comet.</p> + +<p>It did not take long for the three cargoes of human freight to be +loaded. Adrian braced his feet against the cleats he had nailed on the +first bob and grasped the steering-wheel firmly. Tom Baker did the same +at his rear end, and, between them, came the eleven sturdy youngsters, +all from Cardiff, save Roger, though he considered himself at least a +temporary resident of that village now.</p> + +<p>On the other two bobs the arrangements were just the same, save that +there was only one steersman on each, and twelve boys in all instead of +thirteen. The significance of the so-called unlucky number was noted by +some of the Lafayette crew.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ain't you fellers Jonah enough without goin' out of your way to look +for a hoodoo?" asked Jim Smather as he glanced at Adrian and laughed.</p> + +<p>"This will be the luckiest thirteen you ever saw," rejoined the Cardiff +captain, and that was the only prediction of victory he allowed himself.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose ye all know th' conditions of th' race well 'nuff by this +time," remarked the chief starter, Abe Crownheart. "Ye'll all git shoved +at th' same time, 'n' th' bob that gits t' th' bottom a' th' hill fust +wins, no matter how it gits thar, pervided it ain't upside down or +downside up."</p> + +<p>There were nods of assent from the captains, and those detailed for the +purpose pulled the three big sleds to within a short distance of the top +of the hill. Adrian, having had the choice, had selected the position +farthest to the right. Next to him was Lafayette, and at the extreme +left the Onativia bob.</p> + +<p>"You starters are t' begin t' shove when ye hear th' pistol crack, 'n' +not afore," cautioned Mr. Crownheart. "Anybody that tries t' git a false +start so 's t' go ahead'll be fined half a minute headway. So be +careful. Are ye all ready, captains?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Adrian, shortly, the light of battle coming into his +eyes. He meant to win!</p> + +<p>"All ready," announced Jim Smather.</p> + +<p>"Shove away!" called Ed Johnson.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence and hesitation.</p> + +<p>"One!" counted Mr. Crownheart, raising the revolver slowly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Two!" and he extended his hand, holding the weapon high in the air.</p> + +<p>"Three! Crack!"</p> + +<p>The word and the report of the blank cartridge came together. There was +a straining of backs and legs, a bending forward, and a mighty shove +from the starters. They were as eager as colts tugging at the harness, +for on the first shove or impetus depended much of the early speed of +the bobs.</p> + +<p>The steel runners squeaked on the snow, the big sleds moved forward, +slowly at first, but then more easily and quickly. Now they had reached +the very brow of the hill and poised for an instant.</p> + +<p>The next second they started down the slope, with a whizz and plunge, +amid a roar of cheers.</p> + +<p>It was a perfect beginning, and the sharp points of the runners of the +three foremost sleds of the bobs were almost in a line. It was to be a +fair race. From one single cheer at the successful start the shouts +broke up into cries for the different village crews, each one doing +honor to his native town. Anxiously did the crowd watch the sleds +shooting down the hill. In a few minutes those who had sleighs would +coast down also, to find out how the race ended.</p> + +<p>The rival bobs were skimming along like birds. At first Roger could +distinguish nothing, for a mist came into his eyes, caused by the +rushing wind that surged past him. Then he began to see more clearly. He +glanced across to the left and was surprised to see no sign of the other +sleds. Could they have passed the Cardiff boys?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> His heart gave a mighty +thump at this fear. Then he was reassured, as he heard a bumping and +scraping behind him and saw the other two bobs plunge into the line of +his vision. They had hung back a little, owing to an unevenness in the +road.</p> + +<p>The three racers were once more in line and were gathering speed with +every foot they swayed forward. That the Cardiff boys had a good chance +was early seen as they noted their sled fairly lift itself from the +ground under the momentum which increased each second. Roger held on +tightly for fear of being pitched off. The wind was whistling loudly in +his ears, and his face was bitten by the cold. He had never ridden so +fast in his life before.</p> + +<p>Lafayette hill consisted of a series of little slopes and ascents, with +small level stretches in between. The road curved in and out, now to the +left, now to the right, and every once in a while would come a +"thank-ye-ma'am." Over these bumps the bob flew, and when it came down, +after taking the leap, it jolted every member of the Cardiff crew.</p> + +<p>The pace was comparatively slow for the first quarter of a mile. Then +the hill, which had not curved yet, became steeper. When the bobs +reached this point the speed really became very swift, and the heavy +sleds seemed to merely glide over the frozen ice and snow.</p> + +<p>It was now a race in earnest, with the three contesting crews on even +terms. They were about ten feet apart from side to side. The captains, +with tense muscles, were guiding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> their easily swerved bobs, their eyes +fastened on the slope before them.</p> + +<p>Up to this time there had been no use for the stern wheel on the Cardiff +sled, Tom Baker merely holding the rear bob rigid with it and keeping it +straight in place, while Adrian did all the guiding necessary, which so +far had been little, as the hill was without a turn. The wind was so +strong, as the bobs skimmed through it, that talking was hardly +possible. If a boy opened his mouth, not thinking, he was liable to find +himself gasping for breath.</p> + +<p>From somewhere behind him Roger heard an exclamation coming from a +member of the Cardiff crew. He turned his head and was startled to see +that instead of the Lafayette and Onativia sleds being in line with him, +both bobs were now ahead of Cardiff, the Lafayette boys being half a +length in advance and the other a quarter. It began to look as though +the happenings of past years were to be repeated and Cardiff beaten. But +Adrian showed no evidence of fear that he might be defeated again. +Indeed he smiled a bit as he noted the two other bobs leaving him +behind. He kept on smiling as they drew ahead, urged on by greater +weight, better runners, or a smoother condition of the snowy roadbed.</p> + +<p>The first turn of the hill was now reached and the three bobs took it at +a speed that caused them to careen to one side and skim along on single +runners for a time, while the boys momentarily feared an upset.</p> + +<p>The big sleds righted, however, and whizzed along,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> covering a half mile +in about two minutes, and thus being about a quarter way over the +course.</p> + +<p>After the first turn of the road the Cardiff sled caught up somewhat on +its competitors, so that when the second curve in the hill came the +three bobs were almost in line again. Thus seesawing, one losing and +another gaining a slight advantage, a fourth quarter mile was passed in +quicker speed, leaving about half the two-mile journey to finish.</p> + +<p>The contestants were now approaching the biggest turn in the hill, a +long swing to the left, around a very steep part, the most dangerous +place in the race, and one that all the captains dreaded. They gripped +the steering-wheels more strongly, and every member of the crews clung +to their seats and braced their feet.</p> + +<p>Once again did the Cardiff sled seem to lag behind, and its crew noted +with dismay that the two other coasters had passed them. As they were +about to round the turn Adrian's bob was two lengths in the rear, and +his comrades feared the race was lost to them, as there was little +chance of catching up, once the Lafayette and Onativia sleds began to +whizz down the steep incline.</p> + +<p>Then something unexpected happened,—something that made Roger and the +other members of the Cardiff crew catch their breaths—something that +Adrian had planned and had been waiting anxiously for.</p> + +<p>Just for one brief instant Roger noted that the turn of the road now hid +the other two sleds. Had the road kept straight on, instead of curving +to the left as it did, it would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> have crossed a wide field, and then +joined itself, so to speak, farther on. It was as if the curve was a big +bent bow, and the road, if continued straight, would be represented by +the bowstring. Though there was a path which cut off the curve and +shortened the road for pedestrians, it was considered too steep and +risky for teams, hence the curve. And it was down this incline, this +cut-off, that Adrian proposed to guide his sled.</p> + +<p>By so doing he would save a quarter of a mile, and if all went well he +would come out into the main road again ahead of his rivals. But the way +was dangerous, inasmuch as at the end it was necessary to make a sudden +turn to the left to avoid a huge rock and to get back into the main +thoroughfare.</p> + +<p>With a whizz and a scraping of snow and ice the Cardiff sled left the +beaten road and plunged into the almost unbroken snow of the fields. A +fence lined the highway, but when Adrian steered the bob toward it the +bars were down. The captain had seen to that. Before Roger and the other +boys knew what was happening, they found themselves skimming across the +field that stretched white and untrampled before them. Some thought it +was an accident and cried out in alarm, but a shout from Adrian +reassured every one.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"The Cardiff sled left the beaten road, and plunged into +the almost unbroken snow of the fields"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>The way was full of perils, for the field through which the straight +path lay was not as level as the road. Fortunately the snow had melted +and frozen again very hard, so that the surface was almost like a sheet +of ice.</p> + +<p>My, but how that sled did glide along! The runners<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> rang in the cold air +as they rubbed along the snow and ice, which flew up on both sides of +the boys like a miniature storm of white flakes. On and on went the +Cardiff bob, like a big bird skimming along. In less than a minute it +had approached the dangerous turn, around which it was necessary to +swing to get back into the road. Could Adrian make it?</p> + +<p>"All ready, Tom!" sung out Adrian. "Look out for the turn!" and Tom +Baker tightened his grip on the rear steering-wheel.</p> + +<p>"I'm ready," he called back.</p> + +<p>The next instant they were at the curve. If the bob, heavy with the load +of boys, kept straight on, it would hit the huge rock with a terrible +crash. Could Adrian pass it safely?</p> + +<p>It was a second of intense expectation on the part of the crew. Then +they felt a sudden swerve, and instinctively leaned to the left, to +bring all the weight possible on the runners on that side, to keep them +from skidding. There was a shrill screeching and squeaking of the snow +and a shower of white flakes. Adrian tugged with all his might at his +wheel. And then the wisdom and the great necessity of having the rear +sled movable and steerable was apparent. For, had it not been, the +sudden and short sweep could never have been made.</p> + +<p>A second after Adrian twisted his wheel Tom Baker did likewise. The rear +end of the bob swung as if a giant hand had sent it around. It almost +grazed the big boulder, missing it by a few inches. The sled hung and +quivered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> for an instant on the very edge of the turn, and suddenly, +with a motion that almost upset it, the bob righted and swept into the +main road.</p> + +<p>The great feat had been accomplished safely, and Adrian felt his heart +thrill.</p> + +<p>Once fairly in the road, every one looked for a sign of the other sleds. +Was the Cardiff bob too late? Was their racer ahead or behind the +others? These were questions that tugged anxiously at the hearts of the +boys. But there was little time for Adrian to think of this, for the +control of the bob, moving like a locomotive, needed all his attention, +and Tom Baker's as well. There was another sharp turn to make, and it +took all of the two steersmen's strength to twist the wheels. Then the +sled shot into a straight incline, the last quarter mile of the course.</p> + +<p>As the Cardiff sled was speeding on there came a shout of dismay from +behind it, for the Lafayette racer, and that of Onativia, on a line with +it, whizzed around the curve. Well might they shout, for they were +distanced, and with no chance to regain the intervening ground which +Adrian had so daringly and so skilfully covered.</p> + +<p>In another minute the race was over. The Cardiff sled glided down the +last declivity, and into the main street of the town, through the crowd +of admiring people who had gathered. Adrian steered to a patch of ashes +that had been sprinkled to retard the speed of the bobs at the end. As +the Cardiff boys leaped from their still slowly moving racer, to be +greeted with hearty hand clasps and shouts of victory, the Lafayette +sled came along, with that of Onativia<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> behind it. It was a clean-cut, +decisive victory for Cardiff, and even the vanquished ones had to admit +it. Adrian's plan had worked out exactly as he hoped, and had saved the +day; and to him the credit of the race was due, as all Cardiff joyfully +admitted.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes Adrian, Roger, and the other members of the crew could +not break away from the admiring crowd.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for the Cardiff boys!" called some one, and they were +given with a will.</p> + +<p>"And three cheers for Adrian Kimball!" shouted Captain Smather of the +Lafayette bob.</p> + +<p>The shouts rang out louder than before, and Adrian got even redder in +the face than the biting wind had made him.</p> + +<p>It was a great day for Cardiff.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>STRANGERS IN TOWN</h3> + + +<p>It was several days before the people of Cardiff were done talking about +the bob sled race, and it was much longer ere the boys of the crew and +Roger and Adrian got beyond telling each other their feelings at the +various stages of the perilous journey. Mr. Kimball was proud of his +son's achievement, and Mrs. Kimball was thankful no one had been hurt. +So the memorable contest passed into local history, and no doubt if you +should go to Cardiff now, you would learn all about it much better than +it is told here.</p> + +<p>Winter now settled down over the valley, and it was a severe season, as +Roger found. Yet, though it was much colder than ever he had known it to +be in New York, the lower temperature did not affect him so much as the +frosty weather at home, since the atmosphere was a dry one, differing in +this respect from the penetrating damp cold of the region near the +Atlantic.</p> + +<p>Thanksgiving came, with its feasting, its gathering of old friends and +relatives about the fireside, and all its happiness, and Roger thought +it was the jolliest holiday of the year. Never was there such a big, +crisp-brown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> roasted turkey, never so much cranberry sauce, never such +stacks of white celery, never such good gravy, such sweet hickory nuts, +such white popcorn, such rosy-cheeked apples, nor such fine cider. The +meal lasted all day, and at night every one voted they had enough to +last them a week.</p> + +<p>December saw Cardiff snowbound, and for a week the village was cut off +from communication with the other towns because of the big drifts that +filled the valley. Christmas brought the usual joys, and Roger was well +remembered by the folks at home. There was a welcome letter, also, from +his father, in which Mr. Anderson said how glad he was that his son's +health was improving so rapidly. Then there was a box that contained +some books that he had long wished for and a bright five-dollar +gold-piece.</p> + +<p>The new year came, and winter, with all its old-fashioned severity, held +Cardiff tight and fast. It snowed, and snowed, and snowed again.</p> + +<p>Then there was nothing to do but stay in the house, or after a trip to +the barn and the finishing of the chores to journey to the village +store. Adrian began to attend school, and occasionally Roger went with +him, to sit in the classroom, and listen to the recitations. But there +was plenty of time before and after school, for fun. The two boys went +coasting and skating, and it was at these sports Roger found he had much +to learn from his cousin and the other country boys, who could glide +along over the frozen mill pond, from morning until night, and never +seem to tire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wa'al," remarked Mr. Kimball, as he came home from Hank Mack's store, +one cold night, stamping the snow from his boots in the wood-shed, +"wa'al, I hope it's cloudy t'-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Roger, who thought the more sun there was in winter the +better it must be.</p> + +<p>"Why? So's thi' b'ar won't see his shadder."</p> + +<p>"What if he does see his shadow?"</p> + +<p>"Land a' Goshen, th' boy never hearn tell a' Candlemas Day," ejaculated +Mr. Kimball. "You see," he explained, "there's an ole sayin' 'n' I got +it from my granddad, thet goes suthin' like this: Candlemas Day, half +yer pork, 'n' half yer hay.' Thet means, 'cordin' t' my way a' thinkin' +thet t'-morrow's 'bout th' middle a' winter, 'n' a keerful farmer'll +only hev half his produce eat up. Ye know b'ars go inter holler logs t' +sleep all winter. Come February second, which is Candlemas Day, there's +a theory they come out t' see how th' weather is.</p> + +<p>"Ef th' sun shines so's t' throw a shadder on th' ground, it skeers th' +b'ar so, he skedaddles back inter his holler log, 'n' sleeps fer six +weeks more, durin' which time we hev winter. But, ef th' sun don't +shine, 'n' thar ain't no shadder, th' b'ar's satisfied. He don't git +skeered, 'n' only goes back in his log fer four weeks more sleep, which +means an early spring. So ye see why I don't want th' sun t' shine +t'-morrow."</p> + +<p>"I see," laughed Roger, as Mr. Kimball finished his explanation. "Will +you have half your pork and half your hay left by to-morrow?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I calalate so," responded Mr. Kimball, "I calalate so."</p> + +<p>The sun didn't shine next day, and Mr. Kimball was happy. For the +following few days it snowed, and Roger began to feel that there would +be several months more of winter, instead of the proverbial four weeks, +but his uncle didn't seem to worry.</p> + +<p>Whether it was due to the bear's action or not, there was an early +spring that year. The bluebirds came about the middle of March, and +farmers began their plowing several weeks ahead of the usual time. Every +one was glad that winter was over, though Roger and the other boys in +Cardiff had enjoyed it very much, and many of them wished for a second +contest with the bobs down Lafayette hill. Gradually the days got +warmer, and the damp earth gave out a pleasant odor that promised a +ready sprouting of the seeds.</p> + +<p>One pleasant evening toward the end of April, when the sun peeped out, +just before setting, after a smart little shower, Roger went to the +post-office, to wait for the stage to come in with the mail. Adrian was +not with him, for he had some chores to do, and of late Roger had fallen +into the habit of going to the village alone occasionally.</p> + +<p>He sat on the steps of Hank Mack's general store, which also contained +the post-office, talking with several boys, whose acquaintance he had +made since he arrived in Cardiff.</p> + +<p>"There she comes," cried Frank Dobbs, as he pointed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> to a moving object +half a mile away. Roger looked and saw the stage, which advanced rapidly +and in a few minutes drew up at the steps with a flourish. Porter +Amidown jumped off, lugging the heavy mail bag into the little room +partitioned off from the main store, where the letters and papers would +be sorted and put in the different boxes.</p> + +<p>Most of the boys followed Porter inside, but Roger lingered on the steps +to see if the stage brought any passengers. He saw Enberry Took alight +from the driver's high seat, and the boy nodded to him. Then from inside +the vehicle two men got out. One was an elderly gentleman, bearing a +valise of which he seemed to take great care. His companion was younger, +and, when he had stepped out he lifted after him a long, three-legged +instrument, of the kind Roger had often seen surveyors use. The younger +man also carried a small satchel, which he handled as if it contained +something of value.</p> + +<p>"Where's the hotel; that is, Crownheart's hotel?" asked the younger man +of Roger, who just then was the only person at hand.</p> + +<p>"Right over there, sir," pointing to the single inn of which the village +boasted, and which stood a little way up the hill, beyond the +post-office.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, my boy," said the inquirer. Then to his companion, "This way, +Mr. Dudley. It doesn't look very promising, to be sure, but then, you +know, you never can tell by the looks of a toad how far it can jump. I +guess we can stand it for a night or two, until we find out whether<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +there is any truth in this report or not," and the two men started +toward the Pine Tree Inn, as Abe Crownheart called his hotel.</p> + +<p>Roger stood looking at the strangers for a minute, wondering what their +object might be in coming to Cardiff with their instrument and the +valises, and he puzzled over the younger man's last words. Then +dismissing the matter from his mind, he went in for the mail. When he +found a letter for him from home, he was so delighted that he forgot all +about the two new arrivals.</p> + +<p>Abe Crownheart was considerably surprised when Mr. Dudley and Mr. +Ranquist, as the men introduced themselves, appeared at his hotel and +asked for accommodations.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we can have a bed," suggested Mr. Dudley.</p> + +<p>"And something to eat, don't forget that," put in Mr. Ranquist. "That +twelve-mile stage journey has given me a tremendous appetite."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al," began Mr. Crownheart, slowly, as if trying to think of +something to say,—"wa'al, t' be honest 'ith ye, we don't hev much call +fer lodgins fer man 'n' beast here. Cou'se I kin guv ye suthin' t' eat, +but th' bed—um—d' ye mind both sleepin' in th' same room?"</p> + +<p>"We would prefer it, if there are separate beds," said Mr. Dudley.</p> + +<p>"I guess Mrs. Crownheart kin fix ye up then. Ye see we ain't very strong +on sleepin' quarters, 'ceptin' fer our own family. Last time we hed +boarders were quite a number a' years ago, in fact when th' Cardiff +giant were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> first diskivered. I s'pose ye hearn tell a' thet," and he +paused for an answer.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dudley nodded.</p> + +<p>"Yep," went on Abe, "th' figger were diskivered right acrost th' valley +here, 'n' I boarded some a' th' men what were exhibitin' it. I recollect +how—"</p> + +<p>"I dare say," broke in Mr. Dudley, shortly, "I have heard considerable +about that giant fraud, and some future day I will be glad to discuss +the various features of it with you, but now, my dear Mr. Crowhead—"</p> + +<p>"Crownheart, sir, that's my name,—Crownheart, not Crowhead," said Abe, +a little nettled. "It's right on the sign."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, to be sure, Crownheart, I beg your pardon, exceedingly stupid +of me. No offence, I assure you, my eyesight is not as good as it once +was."</p> + +<p>"Least said soonest mended," answered Mr. Crownheart, smiling +good-naturedly. "Thet giant—"</p> + +<p>"I was about to suggest," broke in Mr. Dudley once more, "that if it was +all the same to you, Mr. Crownheart, Mr. Ranquist and I would go to our +room, and get ready for supper, which at the present time is something I +would rather discuss than any number of stone giants."</p> + +<p>"If you'll kindly allow us to register, we'll go upstairs, I think," +said Mr. Ranquist.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, 's I were sayin'," went on Mr. Crownheart, apparently not +heeding the suggestions, "we ain't been called on t' lodge anybody sence +th' giant were dug up. Howsomever, I guess I kin accommodate ye. +Supper's a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> leetle easier t' figger out than th' beddin' question. A +meal is suthin' we kin rassal 'ith t' some advantage."</p> + +<p>"Shall we register?" asked Mr. Dudley, getting a little impatient. "We +don't know how long we may stay. Probably a week."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, we ain't in th' habit a' havin' folks register," said the +inn-keeper. "To be honest 'ith ye, I don't know's we got any convenience +fer it. Uster be a book 'round here sommers, but I swan I don't know +what's become of it. Prob'ly th' boys hev used it t' keep th' score a' +their cribbage games in. Here, scribble yer names down on thet, 'n' ef I +come acrost th' book some day, I'll fill 'em in. 'T ain't no ways +particular, anyhow," and he shoved over a bit of rough brown +wrapping-paper, on which his guests wrote their names, adding after +them, "New York City."</p> + +<p>"From N' York, eh?" said Mr. Crownheart, looking at what the two men had +put down. "Wa'al, we've got another N' Yorker here."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so," began Mr. Dudley, eagerly, "who is he, an engin—" +and he stopped suddenly, as his companion nudged him warningly.</p> + +<p>"Why, he's Bert Kimball's nephew," said Mr. Crownheart. "Mebby ye seen +th' lad. He were 'ith a lot a' others on th' steps a' th' post-office, +waitin' fer th' stage t' come in."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, that must have been the boy who showed us your hotel," said +Mr. Ranquist, quickly, and Mr. Dudley appeared much relieved.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He's up here fer his health," went on Abe. "Cardiff's healthy 'nuff fer +anybody. Be you two out here fer thet, or be ye surveyin' fer a +railroad?" and the inn-keeper looked significantly at the instrument Mr. +Ranquist had.</p> + +<p>"Well, we heard this village was a healthy place," put in Mr. Dudley, +the older man, "and so we thought we'd come and see for ourselves. We +might do a little surveying also, but whether for a railroad or not +isn't for us to say. Suppose you show us to our room now."</p> + +<p>"All right," answered Mr. Crownheart, a little miffed that his guests +had not declared their business in response to his gentle hint. "Jest +come along. 'T ain't fixed up yet, but I'll hev it 'tended t' right +away," and he led the men to the upper floor.</p> + +<p>At the supper table that evening Roger recalled the arrival of the two +strangers in the stage, and remarked casually to his uncle that Mr. +Crownheart had some one at his hotel at last.</p> + +<p>"I saw them come in and showed them where to go," said Roger, detailing +the circumstances.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what they want?" remarked Mr. Kimball, in a musing tone. +"Don't seem 's ef any railroad 'd run out here, yet ye say they hed a +surveyor's three-legged contraption with 'em, Roger. Wa'al, I don't +know's it concerns me any, 'less they want t' buy some a' my land, so's +I could git money t' meet thet ole mortgage 'ith. I've got a hard +scrabble ahead a' me," and the farmer's face took on a worried look, +just as on the night when he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> received the letter containing the bad +news about the loss of his savings.</p> + +<p>Yet, though Mr. Kimball did not know it, the arrival of the two +strangers was destined to be of considerable concern and importance to +him, and that not very far distant.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>QUEER OPERATIONS</h3> + + +<p>It was a few days after the arrival of the two strangers in town that +Roger and Adrian were walking along the road that led to the village of +Tully. There was nothing for them to do about the farm just then, and +Adrian thought it would be a good plan to "prospect" a bit, as he called +it, to see if he might come upon a deposit of old bones anywhere. For he +had not forgotten his plan of selling them, or anything else he might +happen upon, to raise all the money he could.</p> + +<p>It was a fine, warm spring day, with the air full of sweet smells from +the damp earth, with the tender green grass just showing above the brown +soil and tiny leaves bursting from the trees. The two boys hurried on, +for they too felt the sap running up in their veins, and they wanted to +hop and skip and shout aloud in the very enjoyment of being alive. As +for Roger, he never felt better in his life, and he knew that even his +short stay in the country, though it had been during a severe and cold +winter, had been of great benefit to him.</p> + +<p>"I'll beat you down to the old button-ball tree," cried Adrian suddenly, +pointing to a big sycamore about six hundred feet ahead of them on the +road.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll go you."</p> + +<p>"One, two, three," counted Adrian, "Ready!" and the boys were off at the +word.</p> + +<p>For nearly three quarters of the distance Roger held his own with his +cousin. Then the more sturdy legs of the country boy and his better wind +told, and he drew gradually away, though Roger did not give up until the +very end, when Adrian finished five feet in advance.</p> + +<p>"You—did—better—than—I thought—you would," panted Adrian, as he +flopped down on the grass under the tree to rest.</p> + +<p>"I'm picking up," admitted Roger, modestly. "I didn't think I could keep +up at all. I never could run as far as this without getting a pain in my +side. But it don't seem to bother me a bit now."</p> + +<p>"Keep at it, and when you get back home, you'll be able to challenge the +best of 'em," said Adrian, as he jumped up to throw a stone at a tin can +in the road, hitting the object with a resounding clang.</p> + +<p>The boys resumed their walk, talking on topics of interest to them and +keeping their eyes "peeled," as Adrian expressed it, for old bones, that +they might know where to locate them when they came another day. They +had gone about two miles, rambling slowly along, when, as they turned a +bend in the road, they caught sight of two men carrying valises, +hurrying on, just ahead of them.</p> + +<p>"They look like book agents," ventured Adrian.</p> + +<p>Roger glanced sharply at the receding figures.</p> + +<p>"Why," he exclaimed, "they are the two men who are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> boarding at +Crownheart's hotel, the ones who came in on the stage the other night. I +guess they must be looking over the ground for the new railroad."</p> + +<p>"Let's chase after them and see what they do," suggested Adrian, and +then the boys, having some object in their walk, quickened their pace to +catch up to Mr. Dudley and Mr. Ranquist. In a few minutes the men +reached an open field on the left side of the road,—a pasture filled +with big stones and bowlders that had fallen from a great ledge of rock +two hundred feet high or more, which cropped out about seven hundred +feet from the highway, and rose, almost abruptly, from the level of the +field.</p> + +<p>"Hold on a minute," cautioned Adrian, as he saw the men stop. "Don't let +them catch us playing 'I spy'; they might not want us to follow them, +even though we have a right to go where we please. We'll just wait by +the tree until we see which way they turn."</p> + +<p>The boys sat down in the shade of a big maple.</p> + +<p>"What's that queer smell," asked Roger suddenly, sniffing the air.</p> + +<p>"Sulphur spring," explained Adrian. "This is what they call 'Stony +Farm.' Belongs to Jim Eaton, and about all it's good for is to pasture +sheep. The sulphur spring comes out of that rocky ledge and runs across +under the road. Some folks say the water's healthy, but it tastes too +much like rotten eggs for me. The cattle won't drink it. But say, those +men are going in," and he rose to peer at them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Dudley could be seen pointing toward the big rocky hill, and he +appeared to be urging his companion to advance toward it. The younger +man seemed to be in favor of going farther on before turning off the +road, and he indicated a place about half a mile distant. But in the end +the older man prevailed, and the two, after a cautious glance on all +sides, struck into the field and made their way to a path that led up on +top of the out-cropping rock. After waiting until the men had well +advanced, Roger and Adrian took after them.</p> + +<p>Proceeding slowly along, the boys saw the men ascend to the top of the +big ledge, and then turn to the left, going back in the direction they +had come from. On top of the rocks was a sort of path, made by the sheep +and cows that used it to pass into the woods during hot days. The men +walked along this, for perhaps a mile, stopping every now and then to +examine the ground closely. Once in a while the younger man would chip +off a bit of rock, which he and his companion would look at carefully.</p> + +<p>"I guess they're geologists getting specimens," ventured Roger.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," admitted Adrian, who was beginning to lose interest in the men +since they seemed to be doing nothing out of the ordinary. The boys +followed along in silence, taking care to keep from observation.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the two men stopped. The older one set his valise down and took +something from it. This he seemed to be fitting together, and when he +had finished he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> a long, slender steel rod, which Mr. Ranquist, +after carefully selecting a place on the surface, shoved into the soil. +He twisted it about and then drew it up, after which he and Mr. Dudley +carefully examined the end that had gone down into the earth.</p> + +<p>"I have it!" exclaimed Roger. "They're prospecting for oil, that's what +they are. They're not railroad surveyors at all."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they're after gold," suggested Adrian, all excited at the very +thought. "Cracky! If there should be gold in Cardiff, wouldn't it be +great? If there was only a little on dad's land, he wouldn't have to +worry about that mortgage."</p> + +<p>Adrian had started forward, forgetting the caution he previously used to +prevent the men from observing him, and as he did so he dislodged a big +stone, which crashed down the hillside with a clatter and bang. At the +sound both men looked up suddenly and saw the startled and surprised +boys. Mr. Dudley made a quick motion of closing the valise and seemed +about to hurry on. But with a hasty gesture Mr. Ranquist detained him +and spoke a few hurried words to his companion. Then, turning, the young +engineer came slowly toward the boys, who did not know whether to go or +stay.</p> + +<p>"Live around here?" asked Mr. Ranquist, as he drew near Roger and +Adrian.</p> + +<p>"'Bout two miles—over to Cardiff," answered Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. Um. Nice day, isn't it? Are you hunting?" the man asked, +suddenly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nope," from Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Fishing?"</p> + +<p>"Nope."</p> + +<p>"What, then?"</p> + +<p>"Prospecting."</p> + +<p>"Prospecting?"</p> + +<p>"Yep."</p> + +<p>"What after?"</p> + +<p>"Old bones."</p> + +<p>"Old bones? Are you joking, my lad?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, not a bit. We're looking for old bones. They'll bring half a +cent a pound, you know," and there was not the trace of a smile on +Adrian's face.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see. Of course. Old bones. Humph! Well," and Mr. Ranquist did not +seem to know whether to smile or frown. "Well, my friend and I were not +exactly looking for old bones. Old stones are more in our line. You see +we came out here on a visit and thought we'd take a walk out this way. +We've found a fine lot of old stones," and Mr. Ranquist motioned rather +vaguely toward his companion. "What are you boys after, anyhow?" he +finished, suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Nothing in particular," put in Roger, and at the sound of his voice, +Mr. Ranquist turned quickly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's our friend of the post-office," he exclaimed. "I remember you +now. How are you?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty well," replied Roger.</p> + +<p>"Hum. Glad to hear it," responded Mr. Ranquist. "You're from New York, +aren't you? Well, so are we,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> Mr. Dudley and I. Came here to sort of +rest up and look around. Nice place, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," from Roger.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Um. Well, Mr. Dudley and I had nothing to do so we sauntered out +here."</p> + +<p>"Is the railroad going through this place?" asked Adrian. "We heard you +were railroad surveyors," he went on.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ranquist glanced quickly at the two boys and seemed to be weighing +something in his mind. Advancing toward Adrian, he said:</p> + +<p>"Now you two young men appear to be smart and bright. If I tell you +something can you keep it secret?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," chorused the two boys.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, we are getting ready to lay out a line through here. But we +don't want people to know it yet, because if they did they'd ask a good +deal more for their land, which we might need, than it would be worth to +us. We're willing, or that is the men who are putting the line through, +are ready to pay a good price for the property, but not too much. So we +came out here, without letting any one know, to look the ground over and +see how it lays. Then if we like it we'll make an offer. But we don't +want it talked about until we're ready to have it, that a railroad is +likely to come through the valley. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>The boys nodded gravely.</p> + +<p>"Now," went on Mr. Ranquist, "I like your looks, and as we need two +bright, smart boys who know this part of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> the country well, we might +like to engage you. How would you consider such a proposition?"</p> + +<p>Adrian and Roger were silent a moment, thinking. They were wondering if +they could properly accept the offer.</p> + +<p>"It won't interfere with anything else you have to do," continued Mr. +Ranquist. "We shall want you only once in a while to guide us around +these parts. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"How much?" asked Adrian, always practical.</p> + +<p>"Five dollars each," said Mr. Ranquist, quickly.</p> + +<p>"For which we're to show you around when you want us and say nothing +about a railroad line coming through," stipulated the boy.</p> + +<p>"Exactly. I don't mind you telling your folks, but no one else."</p> + +<p>"It's a go, if Roger agrees."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll agree fast enough," put in Roger.</p> + +<p>"Then here's your money," said Mr. Ranquist, as if he feared the boys +might change their minds. He drew some bills from his pocket, stripped +off two crisp bank notes, and passed five dollars each to Roger and +Adrian. The boys took the cash as if they had been used to that sort of +thing all their lives.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mr. Ranquist, "I guess we won't need you to-day, for as a +matter of fact we're going back to the hotel. But can you come with us +the day after to-morrow? We want to travel along this ridge, back into +the hills, and we don't want to run the chance of getting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> lost. So can +you meet us at the Cardiff Inn right after dinner?"</p> + +<p>"I guess so," answered Adrian. "Yes, sir, we'll be there," and he slyly +nudged Roger, warning him to make no answer.</p> + +<p>Then the boys turned to go back down the hill, leaving Mr. Dudley and +Mr. Ranquist to follow when they pleased. As Roger was about to go away +he fancied he heard the older man remonstrating with Mr. Ranquist.</p> + +<p>"We need those boys," he thought he heard the younger man say. "They'll +come in handy, and I had to hire them. They were altogether too +suspicious and knowing, and now I have thrown them off the track."</p> + +<p>At which expression Roger wondered somewhat, and all the way home he was +busy thinking of the mysterious operations of the new arrivals in +Cardiff.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>ROGER SUSPECTS</h3> + + +<p>So quickly had it all happened that Roger and Adrian hardly realized +they had just received what was, to them, quite a sum of money. They +entered the house all excitement, after a brisk walk, and Adrian told +his father how he and his cousin had been engaged as guides.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I must say ye airned th' money easy," said Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we can get more," Adrian exclaimed. "We're to go with the men +day after to-morrow, to show them the way. Say, dad, what do you s'pose +they want of a railroad out here?"</p> + +<p>"It's hard t' say what them railroad fellers is up t'," answered Mr. +Kimball. "Ye can't even tell whether they're goin' t' put a railroad +through er not."</p> + +<p>"But they said they were," asserted Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" was all his father answered, with a little snort. He was too +concerned with his own matters to think about the possibility of a +railroad, especially at this time.</p> + +<p>But the news soon spread around Cardiff, in spite of the fact that the +boys maintained a strict silence, that a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> railroad or a trolley line was +to go through the valley, and the residents were all talking about the +possibility of it the next day after Roger and Adrian had met the two +engineers. For the secret of the cousins having been hired as guides got +out somehow, though the boys did not tell, and they were the envy of +their companions. The less fortunate lads of Cardiff determined to take +the first opportunities of offering their services to Mr. Dudley and Mr. +Ranquist.</p> + +<p>The day after the boys' engagement Mr. Kimball announced that a lot of +brush in the vineyard needed burning, so that the ground might be +cultivated. Adrian and Roger thought the task so much like play they +asked to be allowed to build the fires.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kimball was glad enough to have them undertake the task. Armed with +long rakes the boys started up the hill and soon had heaped up several +big piles of brush, dry leaves and twigs, which Adrian set fire to, +taking care that none of the vines were scorched. A little wearied by +his labors, Roger laid aside his rake, and while the flames were eating +their way well into the debris, he strolled farther up the hill. It was +rather a warm, pleasant day, and the woods, which stretched out before +him, seemed to invite him to come in and see how the trees were putting +on their full summer outfits of green leaves.</p> + +<p>Before he realized it Roger had gone some distance from the vineyard, +and only occasionally could he catch a glimpse of the smoke from the +brush-wood fires. There was scarcely a sound to break the silence, save +the piping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> of some early birds, and the boy sat down on a rock under a +big chestnut tree to rest. On a fallen log near him a bright green +lizard crawled out to bask in the sunshine. Then a rustling in the dried +leaves on the ground caught his ear. He looked in that direction to see +a snake wriggle into view. He tossed a bit of bark toward the reptile +and in an instant it had disappeared in alarm. The lad drew a long, deep +breath, filling his lungs with the sweet, balmy spring odor of the +woods,—a smell that seemed laden with health.</p> + +<p>"My! But that's fine!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>The next minute he was startled by a sound, as if some one had stepped +on and broken a tree branch. Glancing up the hill he saw, rather +indistinctly, some moving body.</p> + +<p>"I guess it's a cow," he remarked.</p> + +<p>Then he looked more closely.</p> + +<p>"Two cows," he added, as he noted a second form. "No, it isn't either," +he corrected himself a moment later, "it's two men," and he rose to get +a better view. "It's Mr. Dudley and Mr. Ranquist. I guess they didn't +want to wait until to-morrow to go prospecting. I wonder what they're +doing on Uncle Bert's hill. I guess it won't do any harm to watch and +find out. If they strike gold, or decide to run a railroad here, I might +as well know it. I suspect those men are after something, and they're +not telling what it is either," he concluded, rather wisely. "Well, here +goes for a little detective work."</p> + +<p>Using as much caution as if he was trailing some wild and timid animal, +Roger slowly made his way up the hill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> and through the woods in the +direction the two men had taken. He trod lightly, being careful not to +step on any twigs or branches, which might snap and betray his presence. +For he did not want the men to discover him. Not that he was doing +anything wrong, or anything he had not a right to do, for the men were +on his uncle's land, and Roger felt he should be interested in whatever +they did. For a quarter of a mile he trailed after Mr. Dudley and Mr. +Ranquist, easily keeping them in sight, yet remaining hidden himself, +since they seemed to have no suspicion they were being followed.</p> + +<p>In a little hollow, about three hundred feet away from the spring which +burst out of the side hill, and which served to furnish drinking water +for Mr. Kimball's house, the two men came to a halt. Roger hid himself +behind a big stone, somewhat above them, to watch. Mr. Ranquist drew +from his valise a number of pieces of metal, which he screwed together +until he had a rod about a yard long. Then, with a hammer, he proceeded +to drive this downward into the earth. When it had been forced almost +out of sight he screwed another section on from above and drove this +down, and so on, until he had sent the slender steel rod to a depth of +twenty feet into the earth. Roger noticed that the blows of the hammer, +as they struck, produced no sound beyond a dull thud, which, close as he +was, he could scarcely hear.</p> + +<p>"He must have rubber on the hammer," said the boy, "or something to +deaden the blows. He's afraid some one will hear him. I wonder what in +the world they can be up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> to? I must get a little nearer, so I can +listen to what they are saying."</p> + +<p>He was a little fearful about advancing any farther as he could not tell +but that the sound of his movements might come to the ears of the men, +now they had stopped walking and could hear better. He looked to see if +he could approach under cover, and then he spied a fallen log, extending +down hill, toward the centre of the little glade, in which the men were +at work on their mysterious errand.</p> + +<p>The farther end of the tree trunk was up against a large bowlder, behind +which Roger might lie hidden, as secure as he was in the position he had +first selected, if he could but reach it unobserved, and he thought he +might by crawling along under the protecting shadow of the log. So with +this end in view, he proceeded to act. He stretched out on his stomach, +regardless of his clothes, like a big snake, and then he began to slowly +wriggle toward the men.</p> + +<p>It was not easy work, as he dared not raise himself more than a few +inches from the ground without the danger of being seen above the log. +Along the dried leaves and grass he went, pausing every few minutes to +peep cautiously over his screen to see if the men were aware of his +presence. They seemed all unsuspicious that they were being watched by a +sharp-eyed lad, and continued to drive the rod deeper into the earth. At +length, after about five minutes of cautious crawling, Roger reached the +rock, and he curled himself up behind it with a sigh of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>He was now within sixty feet of the men and could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> easily hear all they +said, unless they spoke in whispers, which they were not likely to do. +But the boy seemed to have had his trouble for his pains, for Mr. Dudley +and Mr. Ranquist were not saying a word to each other. They were intent +on the work, and Roger was keenly disappointed as, just before he +started to crawl nearer, he had heard the murmur of their voices in +earnest conversation.</p> + +<p>But now Mr. Ranquist appeared to have used up all the sections of the +steel rod. However, his valise had more tools in it, for he drew out a +short iron handle, from which dangled a length of stout chain links. +This chain he wound about the top part of the rod, which projected about +a foot from the ground. The loose end of the links he fastened to the +handle again. Then he and Mr. Dudley, taking a firm hold of the short +bar, proceeded to twist the rod around in the earth. Roger watched them +wonderingly. They spent five minutes in this operation, and then ceased, +to sit down on the grass and rest.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we'll strike it?" Roger heard Mr. Dudley ask his +companion.</p> + +<p>"Can't say for sure, but it looks very promising," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Is it gold, or is it oil?" Roger asked himself, softly.</p> + +<p>Next, as he watched, he saw Mr. Ranquist take another tool from his +valise, which seemed to contain the outfit of a small machine shop. This +last instrument was like a lifting jack, very small and light, but +exceedingly powerful. With it the two men easily pulled the rod up from +where they had driven it in the ground, lifting it section by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> section +and unscrewing each one. They seemed to be eager and anxious as they +came toward the end, and as the last piece of steel emerged from the +small hole, they both bent forward and looked at it closely. They +appeared much excited at what they saw, and Mr. Ranquist threw his hat +in the air and capered about like a boy.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" Roger heard him shout, softly, to be sure, for even in his +excitement the engineer did not forget his caution. "Hurrah! We've +struck it all right. Now to get hold of the land before any of the +people about here suspect. I'll tell you, Dudley, our fortunes are +made."</p> + +<p>The older man seemed scarcely less excited than Mr. Ranquist. He wet his +forefinger, touched the end of the rod with it, and then brought his +finger to his tongue. He appeared to be tasting some substance. In a +moment Mr. Ranquist followed his example, and then the look of triumph +came on Mr. Dudley's face, as it had on the countenance of the younger +engineer. Roger, forgetting his role of detective, raised himself up, +trying to get a sight of the mysterious substance. In the gleam of the +sun, on the point of the rod which Mr. Ranquist held, the boy beheld, +rather faintly, however, the glitter of something white and sparkling, +something that looked like the white crystals of snow.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ranquist quickly whittled out a little stake from a tree branch and +drove it into the small hole in the earth, whence he had drawn the rod. +This done the men carefully packed their tools in the valise and started +away. Roger watched them until they were out of sight. Then he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> hurried +to the spot. He pulled up the stake, expecting to see something to +disclose the mystery and reward him for his investigation. But there was +nothing to indicate what the men had found that pleased them so.</p> + +<p>Roger was greatly disappointed. But he comforted himself with the +reflection that, at least, he was on the track of the mystery. He +thought quickly and realized that some older head than his must take up +the problem now. Yet whom could he tell? Mr. Kimball, he reasoned, would +hardly be in a position to give an expert opinion as to what was under +the earth. Then, too, he did not want to raise false hopes for his uncle +that might be shattered after investigation. He could not imagine what +it was the men had found, that they regarded as of such value. They +evidently expected to find it, which added to the complications. How did +they know at about that spot something was hidden under the surface? +Clearly it must be some mineral substance Roger thought, but what? It +didn't seem to be gold, unless it was in some peculiar form. Whatever it +was, would it be worth the trouble that might be necessary before it +could be come upon and dug out, unless some one, who knew just what they +were searching after, did the work? And it was evident that the two men +did possess this knowledge, which was so needful.</p> + +<p>Roger was in a dilemma, but he resolved to discover a way out, if +possible. Carefully marking the location of the stake, that he might +find it again, he started home. He came into the vineyard just as his +cousin was clearing up the last of the brush.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," said Adrian, "I thought maybe you had gone to the house."</p> + +<p>"No," answered Roger, "I was just walking in the woods for my health," +and he smiled a little.</p> + +<p>For certain reasons he did not want even Adrian to know what he had +seen.</p> + +<p>"We'll take a long walk to-morrow," said Adrian, breaking into a merry +whistle. "But something tells me it is nearly supper-time. I'm as hungry +as a bear. Hi, Jack!" he called to the dog, and all three started for +home, Roger in a sort of day-dream over what he had discovered.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>A BIG BLACK BEAR</h3> + + +<p>Roger said nothing to the folks at the house of what he had observed. He +had a plan, partly worked out in his mind, and he wanted to see whether +or not he could accomplish anything before he told his uncle or cousin. +He resolved to wait until after the next day and observe what happened +when he and Adrian went to guide Mr. Dudley and Mr. Ranquist over the +hills, for Roger shrewdly suspected that the men required no piloting to +find what they sought. However, he thought it was not necessary to +mention that to any one.</p> + +<p>At the time appointed he and Adrian presented themselves at the Pine +Tree Inn and asked for the two engineers. Mr. Ranquist came down.</p> + +<p>"Ah," he said, looking at his watch and smiling, "you are prompt, I see. +Mr. Dudley and I will be with you in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>In a little while the two men appeared, both dressed in rough clothes +suitable for a tramp through the woods.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys," began Mr. Ranquist, pleasantly, "my friend and I are very +anxious to take a little trip about the valley, and we would like +particularly to visit the place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> where the Cardiff giant was found. Can +you show that spot to us?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I can," said Adrian. "It's right over there," and he pointed +to a broad stretch of meadows across the valley flats about three miles +off.</p> + +<p>"Over there, eh?" remarked Mr. Ranquist, "I had an idea it was back up +this way," and he pointed in the opposite direction. "However, as long +as it is not where I thought it was, we will defer our trip to see the +resting-place of the big stone man until some other time. Mr. Dudley and +I would like to get the lay of the land on this side of the hills that +slope down into this part of the country," and he waved his hands toward +the place where Roger had seen the two engineers at their mysterious +operations. "Is there a good path up along there, and could you show us +the way? We don't mind roughing it, but we dislike getting lost," +finished Mr. Ranquist.</p> + +<p>"I guess we can show you all right," said Adrian. "Do you want to start +now?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," Mr. Ranquist answered, so all four began their walk. +Instead of going down the road toward the sulphur spring, which was the +way the two engineers had taken first, Adrian suggested a shorter path. +This, he said, would be to go up the Lafayette hill about a mile and +then bear off to the right, where he knew of a fairly good trail. So it +was decided to take this route. During the climb up the hill Roger +recalled the thrilling ride down it a few months before. The boys kept +slightly in advance of the men, who walked more slowly than their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +younger companions, for the lads, in the excess of their muscular +energy, wandered from side to side in the road, going over about twice +as much ground as was really necessary. But they never noticed such a +little thing as that.</p> + +<p>Roger glanced back to see if the men were within earshot, and when he +found they were not, he spoke to Adrian in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Say, Adrian, is there any way of getting near the spring on your +father's place from the path we are to take?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but what do you want to do that for?"</p> + +<p>"Why, if these men are looking for a location for a railroad it might +not be a bad plan to show 'em some of your father's land. They might +want a bit of it, and if they gave him a good price, as I've heard +railroads do, he could pay off that mortgage. No harm in trying."</p> + +<p>"Say! That's a good idea," exclaimed Adrian. "I'll do it."</p> + +<p>"Don't say anything," cautioned Roger. "Just kind of edge off in the +right direction, and when we get to a certain place, I'll say something. +You leave it to me."</p> + +<p>"But what's up? What do you mean?" asked Adrian, with sudden interest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing in particular," answered Roger. "Look at that fox!" he +shouted, quickly, as he picked up a stone and threw it at the animal.</p> + +<p>"Where? Where is it?" yelled Adrian, all excitement.</p> + +<p>"He's gone now," said Roger, "but he was right there by that old +stump."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll have to come up here with a trap and a gun if there's foxes," +decided Adrian. "Their skins bring good money."</p> + +<p>The boys kept on up the hill and soon came to the place where they were +to leave the main road and strike into the woods. They waited a few +minutes for their older companions to catch up, and then took up the +lead again. All four kept closely together now, so there was little +chance for the boys to converse without being overheard. Accordingly +they confined their talk to comment on what they saw along the path. +Both listened intently to what the two men were saying, but Mr. Dudley +and Mr. Ranquist were apparently exchanging opinions on past +occurrences.</p> + +<p>They talked of something which had taken place in New York. Not once did +they refer to a railroad or anything like it. They seemed content to +tramp along, paying no attention to the beauties of nature on every side +of them. The trees, that bore more than half their summer suits of +green, the soft moss under foot, the flitting of the birds from branch +to branch—all these had no attractions for them. But to Roger such +sights were a constant enjoyment, and he took in deep breaths of the +balmy air, laden, as it was, with health.</p> + +<p>They had gone about a mile along the path on the side of the hill, +during which time the men had seemed content to follow the boys' lead. +At length Adrian nudged Roger and pointed to a path that branched off +from the main one.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That will take you to our spring," he said, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead down it then," replied Roger. "Maybe you'll see something +happen soon."</p> + +<p>Wondering what his cousin could mean, Adrian advanced, and Roger +glancing back noticed with satisfaction that the two men had followed +them without question.</p> + +<p>For ten minutes the boys led the way with never a word of protest from +Mr. Dudley or Mr. Ranquist, who did not seem to notice they were going +in a different direction from that which they desired. Suddenly a big +rabbit darted across the path, almost at Mr. Dudley's feet. He started, +looked at the animal, as if wondering how it came there, and then he +glanced up, seeming to realize that he was at a spot he had not intended +to reach.</p> + +<p>"Why! Why! Boys!" he exclaimed, turning to the younger engineer.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" broke in Mr. Ranquist.</p> + +<p>"What are we coming this way for?" asked Mr. Dudley. "I thought we were +going straight along the side of the hill. Instead, we are going down."</p> + +<p>At this Mr. Ranquist looked alarmed as he glanced at the two boys.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Roger, coming forward a few steps, "you see this path goes +to a spring down in a little glade. We thought you might like to see it. +If you're going to build a railroad the spring would furnish water for +the locomotives. There's a good place for a depot down in the little +glade, too."</p> + +<p>"Why, why—," stammered Mr. Dudley.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It looks as if there was coal there, too,—coal or—or something," he +finished, looking narrowly at the men, "and coal and water might be good +things for a railroad, it seems to me."</p> + +<p>For a brief instant there came a dangerous look into Mr. Ranquist's +eyes. His face grew pale, and he seemed to control himself with a great +effort. Mr. Dudley also appeared very much surprised. Mr. Ranquist +forced himself to burst into a laugh that had no mirth in it.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha! Ha!" he shouted. "Not bad, eh, Mr. Dudley? Water for the +engine. Well! Well! Well!"</p> + +<p>He laughed again.</p> + +<p>"Coal upon this hill! Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Well, my boy," he went on, +clapping Roger on the back good-naturedly, "it's very nice of you to +think of these things for our railroad, but, bless you, we wouldn't want +to stop in a place like this for coal or water. If the line goes through +here," with a significant look at Mr. Dudley, "it will make only flying +stops. I suppose this land, where the coal and water is, belongs to some +friend of yours, eh?" and he looked at the boys narrowly.</p> + +<p>"It's my father's," broke in Adrian. "But I never knew there was coal on +it. There's a spring, and a good one, but nobody ever thought of looking +for coal. I wish there was some."</p> + +<p>"Why?" from Mr. Dudley, suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Because," answered Adrian, "my father might get a good enough price for +it, so's he could sell some and pay off the mortgage on the rest."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, then the farm is mortgaged?"</p> + +<p>"Yes." And then the boy seemed to realize that he was talking too freely +to strangers, and he stopped.</p> + +<p>"Well," went on Mr. Dudley, "I'm sorry to say as far as I can see +there's not the least chance of any coal ever being found in this +section of the country. It is not the kind of land where coal is +located."</p> + +<p>Adrian looked the disappointment he felt. He had really hoped there +might be coal on his father's farm.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to go down by the spring?" persisted Roger, starting off in +that direction.</p> + +<p>"Um, ah—yes. I think we might as well as not," said Mr. Ranquist, in +spite of the obvious efforts Mr. Dudley made to have him say something +different.</p> + +<p>All four started off, but at that instant there came a sudden sound to +the left. It was a crashing of the under-brush and bushes, as if some +heavy, lumbering body was being forced through them. Then a black shape +burst into view, and the next second a big, ungainly animal, tall and +covered with dark fur, thrust itself into the open, while the +wide-stretched mouth showed the lolling red tongue and glistening white +fangs of an immense black bear.</p> + +<p>For a moment neither men nor boys knew which way to turn. The beast, +however, was not at all undecided in his movements. With a savage growl +he came lurching clumsily forward, and the sight of his fierce anger +filled the members of the little party with terror. Adrian was the first +to appreciate the danger.</p> + +<p>"Every one to a tree!" he shouted, "and take the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> smallest and thinest +that will hold you, or he'll climb up after!"</p> + +<p>He made for a slender sapling and scrambled quickly up it, while the +others lost no time in following his example. Mr. Dudley, in spite of +his years, sprinted like a college chap getting down on a kick in the +football field when he wants to nail the other man in his tracks. But +though the engineer was quick, the brute was almost as nimble.</p> + +<p>Just as Mr. Dudley got safely above the ground, in a tree that +fortunately was directly in his path and not far away, the bear made a +dangerous lunge for him with its front paws. The sharp claws caught the +cloth of the man's trousers and held on for an instant. The bear pulled +savagely, but, with a rip, the garments gave way and the claws slipped +from the rent, leaving Mr. Dudley free.</p> + +<p>The men and boys were now secure in trees above the ground, while below +them, going from one sapling to another, the bear growled and foamed in +his rage at seeing his enemies escape him. After making a tour of the +place, and trying in vain to climb the tree where Mr. Dudley was +perched, the beast squatted down on his haunches, in the centre of the +group, and sat thus, awaiting developments.</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Mr. Ranquist, after a pause, "this is a pretty kettle +of fish, I must admit."</p> + +<p>"I would say it was four kettles," said Mr. Dudley, with an attempt at +cheerfulness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>ROGER MAKES PLANS</h3> + + +<p>For a few minutes after the exciting scrabble for trees, there was a +deep silence among the four. They were all interested in the movements +of the bear. Having squatted on his haunches for a little while, the +beast dropped to a walking position, and strolled about, sniffing deeply +at the foot of each sapling which held a human occupant. He uttered loud +"woofs" of disgust, and then, standing under the tree where Mr. Dudley +was, the animal acted as if he was going to climb up.</p> + +<p>The brute's sharp claws tore showers of bark and wood from the slender +trunk, and his efforts caused the sapling to shake considerable, making +Mr. Dudley's perch somewhat insecure.</p> + +<p>"Hold on there! Hold on!" exclaimed the engineer in a protesting tone. +Then, as he saw the uselessness of ordering a bear he added more gently, +"Oh, say, Bruin. Ho! ho! Easy now, that's a good fellow!" It seemed as +though Mr. Dudley was talking to a restive horse.</p> + +<p>The man's voice apparently angered the bear, which redoubled its efforts +to get up the tree, though the slender trunk proved an effective +barrier.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I say now!" cried Mr. Dudley, looking helplessly at his companions, +"call him off, some of you. This won't do at all. He'll shake me down +and eat me. Call him off, can't you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he doesn't care to be called," said Mr. Ranquist, with just +the suspicion of a smile on his face. "He seems an obstinate sort of +brute."</p> + +<p>"But what's to be done, what's to be done?" inquired Mr. Dudley, +testily. "We can't stay here all day, Ranquist, like ripe apples, +waiting to be shaken down by this beast. Something must be done; I +insist on it. I'll—I'll—What did you boys want to lead us into a +bear's den for?" he asked, turning toward Roger and Adrian.</p> + +<p>"We didn't know there were bears about," answered Adrian, a little +crestfallen at the mishap. "There hasn't been any bears near Cardiff +before in ten years."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense! Stuff and nonsense!" interrupted Mr. Dudley +shortly. "I believe you boys did this for a joke. If you did—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw!" came from Mr. Ranquist, "of course it isn't the boys' +fault. How could they help it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps they couldn't," admitted Mr. Dudley, "but it's very +unpleasant, to say the least."</p> + +<p>Then the bear began another attack on the tree where Mr. Dudley was, +with such savage energy that it needed all the engineer's strength to +prevent himself from being shaken down.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" cried Mr. Dudley, desperately. "Something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> will have to be +done at once. Help! Help!" he yelled.</p> + +<p>"Haven't either of you men a revolver?" called Roger.</p> + +<p>"By Jove! I never thought of it!" said Mr. Ranquist, suddenly. "Of +course I have. But I'm not a very good shot, and, if I was, I'm afraid +the small bullets in my gun wouldn't cause his bearship much annoyance. +It's only a .22 calibre," he added.</p> + +<p>Carefully balancing himself, the young engineer drew the weapon from his +pocket. His movement seemed to interest bruin, who left his position +under Mr. Dudley's tree, and ambled over to the sapling where Mr. +Ranquist was perched, much to the relief of the older prospector.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to shoot," said Mr. Ranquist. "I don't know what will happen +after it, so look out, every one."</p> + +<p>Taking as good aim as he could, Mr. Ranquist fired at the brute. There +was no evidence that the bullet hit, so he blazed away again. This was +another miss, but the third attempt was more effective, for, with an +angry roar, the animal dropped on all fours, and began clawing his snout +with his left paw. A few spots of blood showed on the ground.</p> + +<p>"You hit him! You hit him!" exclaimed Mr. Dudley, and, in his delight, +he tried to caper about on his slender perch, with the result that he +nearly tumbled off.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I hit him," admitted Mr. Ranquist, showing just a little pride +in the achievement. "I winged him, but I'll have to do better than that, +if I want to persuade him to go away. These bullets are only flea-bites +to him."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>The little leaden pellet did not seem to cause the bear much suffering, +but the pain angered him, and, with savage growls, he made fierce +efforts to get at the man he apparently knew had fired the shot. In +rapid succession Mr. Ranquist pulled the trigger four times more, but +none of these balls touched a vital spot, though two of them struck the +beast in the head. He was now wild with rage.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ranquist began to reload his revolver.</p> + +<p>"I've only one more round—seven shots," he called.</p> + +<p>"Hold on then!" shouted Adrian. "You can't kill him with those. If +you'll hold his attention long enough, by firing at him, I'll shin down, +and go for help. We'll need somebody with a gun for this bear."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can do it?" asked Mr. Ranquist, anxiously. "I wouldn't +want you to get hurt."</p> + +<p>"Sure I can do it," replied Adrian, with all a boy's ability in his +power to do something he has never tried before.</p> + +<p>"I rather dislike the idea, for I'm afraid he'll get away from me, even +if I keep firing at him, and take after you," objected Mr. Ranquist.</p> + +<p>"I'll chance it," was Adrian's answer. "Go ahead with loading up, and, +when you're ready I'll scramble down. His back is toward me, when he's +under your tree."</p> + +<p>"All right," called Mr. Ranquist, slipping in the last cartridge.</p> + +<p>He took as careful aim as he could, and fired a shot. This time he had +the luck to hit the beast on its tender snout, which so enraged and +pained the bear that he did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> not notice Adrian's quick movement. In +order to fully cover the retreat Mr. Ranquist kept blazing away, and hit +bruin twice more, though the wounds were slight. However, they served to +keep the bear's attention on the man with the revolver, and Adrian +slipped to the ground, edging away cautiously through the trees. When at +a safe distance to prevent the noise being heard, he broke into a run.</p> + +<p>With his last bullet gone, Mr. Ranquist settled back in the crotch of +his tree. He, Mr. Dudley, and Roger made themselves as comfortable as +possible, to wait until help arrived.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the bear went sniffing from tree to tree, getting more fierce +in his rage every minute. Only the small diameter of the saplings +prevented him from climbing up them. For perhaps half an hour the three +were thus held prisoners, though it seemed much longer to them, all +cramped as they were. Suddenly they noticed that the brute was acting +strangely. He sniffed the air, and growled yet more savagely, and the +hair on his back bristled up.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet some one is coming," said Mr. Ranquist. "I only hope they have +a gun. I wouldn't care to meet his bearship on the ground without one, +in his present frame of mind."</p> + +<p>The next instant there was a sharp crack. The bear gave a convulsive +jump, and staggered back, clawing the air with his forepaws, and +growling. Then he fell over backward in a heap.</p> + +<p>"Good!" shouted Mr. Dudley.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> + +<p>A little cloud of smoke floated out from behind a big chestnut tree. +Next there came another rifle shot. The body of the beast shivered in a +spasm, and then was very still.</p> + +<p>"Him very much dead now. Yo' all kin come down," called a guttural +voice, and Indian Johnny Green came into view, followed by Adrian.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dudley, Mr. Ranquist and Roger lost no time in descending. They were +somewhat stiff from standing in a cramped position in the tree so long, +but, otherwise, and aside from the scare, no worse for the adventure.</p> + +<p>"Well, it didn't take you long to bring help," observed Mr. Dudley, +grateful to the boy, though a little while before he had been inclined +to blame him.</p> + +<p>"I happened to meet Johnny Green when I'd gone about a mile," said +Adrian. "It's lucky he had his gun."</p> + +<p>"It's rather a lucky affair all around," said Mr. Ranquist.</p> + +<p>The Indian paid no more attention to the party, but proceeded to examine +his prize, for the bear rightfully belonged to him. The animal was fat +and of good size, and Johnny Green was well pleased.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'll call this exploring expedition off for the rest of the +day," suggested Mr. Ranquist. "I'm sure we are much obliged to you boys +for coming along, and especially to you, Adrian, for being brave enough +to go for help when you did."</p> + +<p>"That was nothing," answered the boy, a little abashed at the praise.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We shall expect you to go with us some other day this week," went on +the engineer. "Now, if you'll lead the way we will go back to the +hotel."</p> + +<p>The two boys talked of nothing but the bear on the road home, but the +men maintained a silence. The Indian had remained behind to look after +his game. The party soon reached the inn, and, while the men went to +their room Roger and Adrian hurried home to tell the news.</p> + +<p>"Say, Roger," asked Adrian, "what made you so anxious to lead 'em on to +our land by the spring?"</p> + +<p>"Because," answered Roger, as if the matter was of no importance, "I +thought they might like to get a drink. I know I did, and that's very +good water you see."</p> + +<p>"You're right about that," agreed Adrian, and by this time the two boys +were at the house, where, in the excitement of telling his father and +mother about the bear, Adrian forgot all else.</p> + +<p>As soon as Roger could slip off without attracting notice from the +folks, he made his way up the village street. Pausing before a pretty +vine-covered cottage, he looked back to see that Adrian was not in +sight, and then entered the gate.</p> + +<p>"Is Professor Bailey in?" he asked, when Mrs. Bailey opened the door.</p> + +<p>"He is," she answered.</p> + +<p>"Tell him, please, that Adrian Kimball's cousin, Roger, would like to +see him."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come right in," invited Mrs. Bailey. "You'll find him in the front +room."</p> + +<p>And there, surrounded by heaps of books, Roger found the professor, Guy +Bailey, principal of the Cardiff school. The boy knew him from having +occasionally gone to the institution with Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Well, Roger," began the professor, "I'm glad to see you. Come in and +sit down. Can I do anything for you?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," answered the boy. "I've come for a little information." +Then he plunged at once into the object of his visit.</p> + +<p>"Professor," he asked, "do you think anybody would dig for gold in the +hills around Cardiff?"</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul, no! What do you mean? This is not a gold country, like +California or the Klondike. What put that idea into your head?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you a little later. Do you s'pose they would dig for coal?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly that, either. There isn't the kind of land black diamonds grow +in around here, that is, as far as I know."</p> + +<p>"Or iron?"</p> + +<p>"Scarcely iron," answered Professor Bailey, with a puzzled look at the +boy. "But why do you ask me these questions? Are you thinking of turning +miner instead of farmer?" with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said Roger, and his serious air convinced the professor that +the boy had some motive in his inquiries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> "You see I can't tell you all +about it just now, nor why I want to know this, Professor, but I will +some day. I want, most of all, to find out what, if anything, of value +could be in the Cardiff hills, that would make men, or a company of +capitalists, want to get possession of certain land. It might be, I +suppose, coal, or iron, or gold, or something else. The question is, +what is it?"</p> + +<p>"You are asking me to go ahead pretty much in the dark," objected +Professor Bailey.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid those are all the clues I can give you now," +said Roger.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll do my best to answer your puzzle," went on the teacher. +"From what I've read and know of the geological formation about here, I +cannot think of any mineral or other deposit that would naturally be +expected in this section. But of course it might be that, unknown to any +one, except a certain person, there would be a valuable mine of +something beneath the surface. Some mineral or quartz, but hardly coal, +nor iron, nor gold."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it might be oil," suggested Roger.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not," was the reply, "though, as I said, almost anything is +possible, but in this instance, not very probable. If you were to show +me a certain spot, I might be able to say, with more certainty than I +can now, whether or not a particular mineral would be apt to be +present."</p> + +<p>"I can't take you to the place," said Roger, who was determined to guard +his secret well, "because I want to keep this quiet as long as I can. +But, Professor, if I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> brought you a sample of rocks, or minerals, +or—or—something—could you tell me then?"</p> + +<p>"Possibly I could."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll see if I can't get some samples for you. But, please don't +tell any one I was in to see you about this. Not that there's anything +wrong," quickly added Roger, "but," and he advanced closer, "this may +mean a good deal to some people, and I don't want to raise hopes and +have them disappointed."</p> + +<p>"Very well," answered the Professor, a little puzzled about it all, but +knowing, from Roger's frank and honest face that there could be nothing +but what was right. "Very well. I'll keep quiet, you may depend on it. +And, when you bring me something more definite to work on, I'll help you +all I can," and, with a hearty handshake, Professor Bailey showed Roger +to the door.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the boy to himself, as he walked slowly toward his uncle's +house, "now to find out what they were digging for. I must get some of +that stuff they brought up on the end of the drill. And I'll have to +work quickly, for I think Mr. Ranquist suspects that I know."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>UNDERNEATH THE GROUND</h3> + + +<p>For several days after the adventure with the bear Roger had no +opportunity of going to the glade where the spring bubbled up, in order +to find, if possible, what object the two engineers had in drilling +there. Adrian was obliged to busy himself with various duties about the +farm and garden, in order to get ready for the advanced spring planting, +and Roger felt that he ought to help his cousin. But, all this time, +Roger was busy thinking how he might accomplish his object, and get some +of that mysterious substance which Mr. Dudley and Mr. Ranquist examined +so eagerly.</p> + +<p>He thought of a number of plans, but rejected them all as impracticable. +Most of them would have necessitated the bringing in of some one to help +him, and this he did not want to do. Even when busiest at his tasks with +Adrian, his mind was continually on this one subject, and, after a few +days, it seemed it would be impossible for him, with his own unaided +efforts, to dig down into the earth and find what was beneath the +surface. But Roger was not a boy who gave a thing up because it was +difficult.</p> + +<p>One night, after a somewhat hard day in the garden, during which the +boys had set out a lot of cabbage plants,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> and hoed the early beans, +they were sitting in the parlor, Adrian showing Roger some books. One +was a sea story, and there was a picture of a sailor heaving the log, in +the old-fashioned way. Roger glanced at the reading matter, which told +how, on board ship, the lead was sounded, and how the speed of the ship, +as well as the depth of the water through which she was sailing, was +ascertained.</p> + +<p>The tale went on to relate how sometimes, the sailors used a piece of +lead, with a hollow scooped in the lower end, into which space they +would place some tallow. Then they would throw the weighted line +overboard, and when the lead struck bottom, some of the mud and shells, +of which the ocean bed is composed, would adhere to the grease in the +hollow, scooped-out place. When the sinker was hauled to the surface and +examined, experienced seamen could tell what sort of an anchorage they +might find.</p> + +<p>Roger started when he read this. He glanced over it again, carefully, +and his heart beat suddenly, at the idea which came to him. His cheeks +burned red with the happy thought, and he was almost afraid that Adrian +would see his excitement, and question him. He made an excuse to go to +his room, and busied himself there some time before he blew out his +light and went to bed.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus5" id="illus5"></a> +<img src="images/illus5.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"His heart beat suddenly at the idea which came to him"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>He dreamed, that night, of climbing down into a deep, dark mine, which +sparkled and glittered with the gold and diamonds lining the steep +sides.</p> + +<p>The next day Roger made a hasty breakfast. To his relief Adrian did not +ask him to help with the farm work, nor did the country lad suggest, as +he often did, a tramp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> through the woods; and Roger was very glad, for +he had a plan to put in operation.</p> + +<p>So, as soon as Adrian had left the house, having to go on an errand to a +neighbor's, Roger stepped out of the back door, and made his way slowly +to the path that led up through the vineyard, and, so on, to the spring +glade. His pocket bulged with a number of objects, and, though he tried +not to show it, he was considerably excited. It did not take him long to +reach the spot where he had hidden himself from sight the day he watched +Mr. Ranquist and Mr. Dudley drill down into the earth. He was almost +afraid something might have happened to the place, but a careful look, +showed him nothing had been disturbed.</p> + +<p>There was the stone, behind which he first took his position, and the +log, in the protecting shadow of which he had worked his way to a spot +whence he might hear better. There was the second stone, and, after a +little searching about he was able to discover the stick that the men +had driven into the hole in the ground. He remembered pulling this up, +after they had gone, and his disappointment at not finding anything +there. Now he was resolved to be more careful in his method.</p> + +<p>He looked warily about, to see that he was unobserved, and then he +slowly took up the small stake, so as not to disturb the dirt around the +edges of the opening. In this he was successful, and, after a few +seconds he was able to lift out the stick, and was rewarded by seeing a +small circular shaft, about two inches in diameter, extending<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> down into +the unfathomable blackness. Now Roger was soon to know whether his plan +would succeed.</p> + +<p>From his pocket he drew a long, stout fishline, at one end of which was +fastened a lead weight, slightly smaller around than the hole, and +having a saucer-shaped depression in one end. He made sure that the +sinker was tight on the string. From a small bottle he took a little +rosin and beeswax, which he had decided to use instead of the tallow +that served the sailors. He could get the wax more easily, and he +thought that by stiffening it with rosin, it would answer just as well. +Now he was all ready to put his scheme into execution.</p> + +<p>Lying down flat on his face, he carefully lowered the weight into the +hole, keeping a strong hold of the string, so it would not pay out too +fast. How anxiously did he watch the slender cord slipping down and down +into the depths, the leaden messenger pulling it with a gentle force. +Farther and farther it went into the black hole. What would it come to +rest on? Would it fulfil its mission, and get to the bottom of the +opening? Or would the line be cut by sharp rocks? Once, when it had gone +a quarter of the length of the string, the lead caught on some +projection. How Roger's heart beat, fearing it would go no farther. He +cautiously pulled the weight up a little and let it fall gently. This +served to pass it beyond the stone that probably jutted out and stopped +the progress momentarily. Then it kept on going down. The boy was +straining every nerve in his eagerness to see what was down there, at +the bottom of that little hole.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p>At length, after a few minutes, during which time the line had slid +through his fingers, it suddenly slackened. Was this the end of the tiny +shaft, or only another catch and temporary stopping on the downward +journey? The boy pressed himself closer to the ground. He raised the +string and from slackness it became taut with the heft of lead. Then +Roger let it fall again, and it seemed to strike solid earth, or +something. The cord no longer payed out. Once, twice, three times, he +tried this, raising the weight and letting it fall suddenly, so that the +wax and rosin in the saucer-shaped end might catch whatever there was at +the bottom of the hole, and retain it.</p> + +<p>Then Roger began to raise the lead to the surface. He worked slowly, and +more cautiously than he had in lowering it, as, if the string caught on +a projection now, it would be almost impossible to pull it up without +tearing off the weight, and that would mean the failure of the whole +plan. It was necessary to be careful, also, in order that whatever was +imbedded in the wax might not be shaken off. Hand over hand he drew the +cord up, and, with a fiercely beating heart, he saw the sinker come into +view. He reached for it with trembling hands. Then, in the glow of the +sunlight which streamed down on him, he turned the lead so that he might +behold what the wax contained.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus6" id="illus6"></a> +<img src="images/illus6.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"Then Roger began to raise the lead to the surface"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>If he expected to see glittering specks of yellow gold, he was sorely +disappointed. Nor was there anything he could think represented wealth, +not even pieces of some mineral which would account for the great +interest Mr. Dudley and Mr. Ranquist showed in their discovery.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>With eyes that were a trifle dim from a sense that he had failed, Roger +gazed at the waxed end of the weight. Imbedded in the sticky surface the +boy saw some white crystals, which glinted and sparkled in the sun. Only +some white crystals, that might have been chipped off a light-colored +rock. To Roger they meant nothing. Almost idly he brushed them into the +palm of his hand and rose to his feet. This, then, was the end of his +hopes. The hole in the earth meant nothing, or else had been drilled for +some object he could not discover. His golden dream of hidden wealth +beneath his uncle's farm, by which the mortgage could be paid, was over +now.</p> + +<p>He turned away, and was about to throw the white crystals aside, when a +sound behind caused him to start. He saw, emerging from the woods, Mr. +Ranquist. The engineer appeared much disturbed at the sight of the boy. +He stood still a moment, and then came forward rapidly. In his hand he +carried a valise, which, as he dropped it on the ground, gave forth a +metallic, clanking sound. Mr. Ranquist came close to Roger, who scarcely +knew what to do.</p> + +<p>"Well," began the man, and his voice was so strange that the boy felt +vaguely alarmed, "well—" and he stopped.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Mr. Ranquist?" said the lad, as politely as he knew how.</p> + +<p>"Humph! What right—I mean, what are you doing here? Spying on me? If +you are, I warn you, boy, you'll be sorry for it. I have been suspicious +of you, since the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> other day when you offered to lead us here. Now," and +the engineer spoke sternly, "what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Ranquist—I—er—I—"</p> + +<p>"No nonsense, now!"</p> + +<p>For a moment Roger was somewhat frightened. Then his natural courage +came back to him, and he felt a just resentment at the tone and manner +of the man.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ranquist," he said. "I have as much right, and more, than you have, +on this property. I—"</p> + +<p>"What have you in your hand?" interrupted the engineer, looking at the +fist which Roger unconsciously had closed over the white crystals. "And +what are you doing with that string and weight," as he caught sight of +the fishline and sinker. "Answer me!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Ranquist darted suddenly at Roger, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"You have been trying to discover the secret of the hole we drilled! +Well I'll spoil that game for you, my young friend!"</p> + +<p>With a violent spring the engineer was almost upon the boy, but Roger +was too quick for him. He leaped to one side, his fist tightly clenched +over the crystals, which now seemed of considerable value to him, when +he saw what importance Mr. Ranquist attached to the matter. With a cry +of astonishment and anger at the threatened attack, but showing no sign +of fear, Roger bounded out of the glade and ran through the woods, and +down the hill, with Mr. Ranquist crashing through the brush after him. +The chase was on.</p> + +<p>After the first rush and surprise Roger collected his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> thoughts, and +determined that Mr. Ranquist should not catch him. Or if the man outran +him, he resolved he would not give up what he had without a fierce +struggle. The excitement of the desperate race urged him on, and he felt +he could run a mile or more. He knew he was in a better condition for +sprinting than he had been in many months. So when he heard the engineer +coming after him, he was almost pleased at the idea of the running +contest. He believed he could win.</p> + +<p>So he kept on, now stumbling over a low stump or a projecting root, now +tripping on a fallen log, or sinking into a soft spot, but never +slacking pace. The sounds made by his pursuer came more faintly to him. +Presently they died away altogether, and the boy felt he could safely +stop. He listened intently, but there came not a noise from the woods +behind him. Mr. Ranquist had given up.</p> + +<p>"Well," thought Roger, defiantly, "he didn't make me give him these +crystals, and he didn't catch me. Now I wonder what I had better do?"</p> + +<p>He thought over the situation for a few minutes, while he rested from +the chase, and then he decided on a plan.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet Mr. Ranquist and Mr. Dudley will do something very soon now," +he said to himself. "He thinks I have discovered his secret, and so I +have, though I don't know exactly what it is. But as long as he thinks I +have found him out, he'll be likely to get possession of Uncle Bert's +land. And Uncle Bert will sell it to him because he needs the money so +much, and he'll never know there's something valuable hidden under the +surface until it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> too late. I must hurry to Professor Bailey and see +what he says. He ought to be able to tell what these crystals are."</p> + +<p>With a heart that beat very hopefully Roger went down the path, and by a +roundabout way to the professor's house. He did not want Mr. Kimball to +see him. The boy knocked on the door, which was answered by Mrs. Bailey.</p> + +<p>"Sorry," she said, in response to Roger's question, "but Professor +Bailey is not home. He went away this morning, to be gone several weeks. +Can I do anything for you?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Roger, and his heart sank. It would be too late, unless he +could soon find out what the white crystals were, for his uncle was not +likely to delay in the sale of the land on merely a boy's suspicion. +What was he to do? Pondering on this problem, he left the front gate of +the professor's house just as a wagon rattled up.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>ROGER TAKES A JOURNEY</h3> + + +<p>Roger was uncertain for a few minutes what to do. He heard the wagon +rumbling past him, but gave no notice to the driver until the latter +called out:</p> + +<p>"Hello, young man! Want a ride?"</p> + +<p>Then the boy saw that the man was his uncle's neighbor, Enberry Took. Up +to that minute Roger had not the remotest idea of taking a ride, but for +some reason he could not explain, he resolved to get into the wagon. He +wanted time to think of some new plan. So he nodded in answer to Mr. +Took's invitation.</p> + +<p>"Whoa, Kate!" called Enberry to his mare, and pulled up opposite +Professor Bailey's gate. Roger climbed to the seat, having first wrapped +his precious crystals in a piece of paper before placing them in an +inside pocket.</p> + +<p>"G'lang!" shouted Mr. Took to Kate in a loud voice. "She's a little +deef," the driver explained, indicating his mare. "Gittin' wuss, too. +Hev t' git her a ear trumpet soon, ef it keeps on. Look kinder queer, +wouldn't it, a mare 'ith a ear trumpet?"</p> + +<p>"I think it would," replied Roger, smiling at the idea.</p> + +<p>"G'lang!" shouted Mr. Took again, and this time the mare started off at +a slow pace.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>The two rode for a few minutes in silence.</p> + +<p>"Nice day," ventured Enberry at length.</p> + +<p>"Fine," assented Roger.</p> + +<p>"Goin' fer?" went on Mr. Took, flicking a fly from the mare's back.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes—er—that is—I don't know. I mean I can't say."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, we'll git at it arter a while," laughed Enberry. "Which is it?"</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" asked Roger, a sudden thought coming to him.</p> + +<p>"Syracuse. Why?"</p> + +<p>"That's where I'm going then."</p> + +<p>"Humph! Made up yer mind rather suddint," commented Enberry, with a +grin. "But ye're welcome, all th' same. I won't be comin' back 'til +rather late though, 'long about nine o'clock," he added.</p> + +<p>"That will suit me good enough," said Roger. "I'll tell you what it is," +growing confidential, and knowing he could trust Mr. Took. "I want to go +to Syracuse to find a chemist. I have something, and I want to find out +what it is. I was going to ask Professor Bailey, but he has gone away, +and I'm in a hurry. I don't s'pose you know of a man out to the city who +could tell all about minerals and such things, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Ye say ye've got suthin' 'n' don't know what it is?" asked Mr. Took, +with rather a puzzled look on his face.</p> + +<p>Roger nodded.</p> + +<p>"Then I know th' very place fer ye," said Enberry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> suddenly. "Perfessor +Bootsky 's th' man fer ye. He's a fortune teller. That's what ye want. +He'll reveal th' past, present, 'n' future. I went t' him onct. Told me +I'd hev bad luck inside of a month, 'n' I'll be gol-swizzled ef one a' +my cows didn't up 'n' die on me. He's th' chap fer ye. Tell ye anythin' +'bout nothin' 'n' nothin' 'bout everythin', jest's ye like. I'll take ye +t' him. G'lang, Kate!" and fired with sudden energy and enthusiasm, Mr. +Took sent the mare along at a flying pace.</p> + +<p>"No! No!" exclaimed Roger, trying not to laugh.</p> + +<p>"No?" with a puzzled air, from Enberry.</p> + +<p>"I have something I want analyzed, to find out what sort of stuff it +is," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"Hain't nobody been tryin' t' pizen ye, hev they?" asked Enberry, with a +startled look. "I read 'bout a case like thet in th' papers onct. Feller +most died from drinkin' well water. Had a green scum on it. Took it t' a +perfessor, 'n' what d' he s'pose he said?"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Paris Green! G'lang, Kate!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is nothing like that," said Roger. "At least I do not believe +what I have is poison."</p> + +<p>"And you want jest a ordinary chemist 'n' not a fortune teller, eh?"</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al," said Mr. Took, at length, "ye come t' th' right place fere +information fer onct in yer life, Roger. I know jest th' feller ye want. +He used t' live out here 'fore he growed up, got a eddercation, 'n' +become one a'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> them chaps what looks through a glass, 'n' tells ye 'bout +bugs in th' drinkin' water, 'n' wigglers turnin inter musquiters. 'N' he +looks through a thing like a telescope, 'n' tells ye 'bout lines, 'n' +angles, 'n' feet, 'n' chains, 'n' links, 'n' so on. What d' ye call them +fellers?"</p> + +<p>"Surveyors," ventured Roger.</p> + +<p>"That's it. He's a surveyor. Addison Vanter is his name. He's one of 'em +employed by the city, 'n' his office is in th' town hall. I'll take ye +right t' him; I know him, 'n' he'll fix ye up. G'lang, Kate!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't tell the folks I was coming away," said Roger, "so I hope +we'll be back before very late. I wouldn't like them to be worried on my +account."</p> + +<p>"We'll git back all right," answered Mr. Took. "'Long 'bout haf-past +eight er nine o'clock. Bert's folks won't miss ye 'til then, 'specially +as boys is allers traipsin' off sommers er other."</p> + +<p>"I guess nine o'clock will not be too late," said Roger. "Would you +mind, Mr. Took," the boy went on, "not speaking about this trip to +people in Cardiff? You see I want to surprise my uncle, and I don't want +him to know anything about what I am doing. There's nothing wrong in it, +though."</p> + +<p>Mr. Took promised readily enough, as he knew he could trust the boy, and +he did not ask any questions, for which Roger was grateful. They were +well on their journey now, driving along the pleasant valley road in the +sunshine. It yet lacked considerable of noon, but Roger began to feel +hungry, for, in the excitement, he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> not eaten much breakfast. Mr. +Took seemed to know this, and with a good-natured smile, he reached +under the seat and pulled out a pail.</p> + +<p>"My wife allers puts this snack up for me when I go t' th' city," he +said. "Here, help yerself," and he extended the pail filled with crisp, +brown doughnuts and some cream cheese. Roger did full justice to Mrs. +Took's excellent cooking, and, when he had finished the fifth cake he +felt much better. Nor had Mr. Took been a whit behind him in disposing +of the toothsome fried cakes.</p> + +<p>"They're fine," was Roger's verdict.</p> + +<p>"Allers make me thirsty," commented Mr. Took, "but I know where I kin +git a drink."</p> + +<p>He shook the reins, and Kate trotted on.</p> + +<p>"Whoa up!" shouted Enberry, suddenly pulling the mare in. "Here we be."</p> + +<p>Beside the road was a hollowed-out tree trunk, moss lined, filled to the +edges and running over with clear, cool, sparkling water, that flowed +and bubbled into the trough from a wooden pipe, made from a hollow log, +which extended back to the spring. There was a dried yellow gourd for a +dipper, and Mr. Took and Roger drank their fill, while Kate stuck her +nose deep into the liquid, and sucked it up with queer little noises.</p> + +<p>"Finest water in th' state," said Mr. Took, wiping his mouth dry on the +back of his hand, "finest water in th' state."</p> + +<p>And Roger agreed with him.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, we'll git along I guess," said Enberry, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> a pause, and they +made no other stop until they reached Syracuse. Mr. Took drove under the +sheds back of the Candee House, where the Cardiff stage put up. This +lumbering vehicle had arrived a few minutes before them.</p> + +<p>"Not so bad," said Mr. Took, glancing at his big silver watch. "It's one +o'clock. Now we'll git some dinner. Hello, Porter!" he called to the +stage driver, who just then emerged from the barn. "How be ye? Most got +in ahead on ye, didn't I?"</p> + +<p>"Had t' make a few extra stops," explained Mr. Amidown. "Made me a +leetle late," and, with a nod, he passed on.</p> + +<p>Now Roger was almost as hungry as if he had not eaten the doughnuts, and +he wanted his dinner very much. But he knew hotels charged for food, +even if it was for a small boy, and he realized, for the first time, +that, in his hurry he had come away without any money. So he began to +wonder how he could pay for a meal, or even a half of one, providing +they had that kind. He did not like to go in with Mr. Took, under the +circumstances, so he rather hung back, when his friend followed the +stage driver into the public parlor of the Candee House. But Enberry was +quick to notice the boy's diffidence, and, rightly guessing the cause, +he said:</p> + +<p>"I'm standin' treat t'-day, Porter. You 'n' Roger here, is invited t' +dine at my expense. 'T ain't often I git a chanst t' hev company at my +hotel, 'n' when I do I make th' most on it. Now, now," as he saw Roger<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +hesitating, "no excuses, jest come right along. I've got lots t' do, 'n' +no time t' stand on ceremony. 'Sides, I'm 's hungry's a b'ar 'n' her +four cubs."</p> + +<p>So there was nothing to do but accept the invitation, and soon all three +were sitting down to a plain, but bountifully spread table.</p> + +<p>"I'll take ye t' thet feller I spoke about, Roger," said Mr. Took, as he +began on his second piece of pie. "Then I'll hev t' leave ye. Be back +here by six o'clock, 's I'll start then. Can't do my tradin' much afore +thet. That'll give us a chanst t' git a bite a' supper, 'n' we kin be in +Cardiff by nine o'clock. Th' moon's full, 'n' it'll be good drivin'."</p> + +<p>"He kin go back 'ith me, 'bout three o'clock," spoke up Mr. Amidown. +"I'd like t' hev him on th' stage."</p> + +<p>Roger thanked his friend for the offer, but said he was not sure he +could be through with what he had to do in that short time, and so he +decided to stick to his original plan and go back with Mr. Took. It +would be more fun, too, he thought, driving home by moonlight. The +dinner was soon over, and, when Mr. Took had paid the bill, he and Roger +walked up the main street of Syracuse.</p> + +<p>They made their way to the city hall, and Enberry soon located his +acquaintance. Mr. Vanter was glad to see some one from Cardiff, +especially Mr. Took, with whom he was quite friendly. Roger was +introduced.</p> + +<p>"He's a N' York city boy, out on a visit to his uncle, a neighbor a' +mine," explained Enberry. "He has a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> notion he wants t' see ye 'bout +suthin', jest what, I don't know, but he'll tell ye. Now I've got t' go. +Remember, Roger, be at th' Candee House by six o'clock."</p> + +<p>"I will," replied the boy, as Mr. Took left.</p> + +<p>"Now, my young friend, what can I do for you?" asked Mr. Vanter, +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>Roger pulled from his pocket the paper containing the mysterious white +crystals. He held them toward the surveyor.</p> + +<p>"What are they?" the boy asked.</p> + +<p>Mr. Vanter took them in his hand. He smelled of them, once, twice. Then, +taking a tiny piece of one of the particles he touched it on the tip of +his tongue. He made a wry face.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" he remarked, and tasted again. "It must be," he muttered to +himself, as Roger looked anxiously on. Then the chemist got a test tube, +put some of the crystals in it, and poured a little water on them. He +shook the glass violently, until the white particles had all dissolved. +Then he brought out several bottles of chemicals, and began his tests. +Roger was much interested, and, at the conclusion of the experimenting, +when Mr. Vanter put his materials aside, the boy leaned forward, and +asked breathlessly:</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"You have here," said Mr. Vanter, smiling a little, "a very fine sample +of—pure rock salt."</p> + +<p>"Salt?"</p> + +<p>Roger's heart went away down into his shoes. Why,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> he thought, should +Mr. Ranquist and Mr. Dudley have been so elated over a little salt.</p> + +<p>"Just ordinary salt, though a very fine grade," repeated the surveyor.</p> + +<p>"Only salt," and there was a world of disappointment in Roger's tone.</p> + +<p>"But salt is not to be despised, by any means," went on Mr. Vanter. "If +it wasn't for the salt wells, Syracuse would not be such a fine city as +it is. Besides, if there was no salt, the people of the whole world +would be very badly off. Is there something behind all this, Roger? +Perhaps if you tell me I may be able to help you more than I can now. As +it is I am working in the dark."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll tell you everything," said Roger, and he did so, from the +arrival of the two strangers in Cardiff, and his suspicions of them, the +manner in which he had discovered them drilling the hole, how they +sought to keep him away from the spring glade, and, finally, his escape +from Mr. Ranquist that morning, ending with his journey to Syracuse.</p> + +<p>"Hum," remarked Mr. Vanter at length. "Hum." He pursed up his lips, and +wrinkled his forehead in deep thought as he paced rapidly back and forth +in his office. Then he clapped his hands together with a resounding +whack, and cried aloud:</p> + +<p>"That's it! By the Great Horn Spoon, but that's it! No wonder they want +to keep it secret."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Roger, Mr. Vanter's excitement infecting him. "What is +it?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," began the surveyor, cautiously, "I wouldn't want to raise any +false hopes, but, Roger, my boy, I think you have stumbled across a big +discovery, or, rather, you have probably done so at the same time these +two men did. And it's a mighty good thing for you and your uncle. You +say he is greatly in need of money to pay off this mortgage. Does Mr. +Ranquist or Mr. Dudley know about that?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid they do," said Roger, thinking of how Adrian had +incautiously told something of his father's affairs to the engineers +that day.</p> + +<p>"That's bad, that's bad," went on Mr. Vanter, half to himself. "Now, +since they know you are on the track of their secret, they'll act +promptly. Every minute is valuable. They may get your uncle to sign an +agreement to-day promising to sell his land to them, and if he does so, +it's as binding as if he deeded it away, if they choose to make him +fulfil the contract, as, no doubt, they would do. If I had only known of +this yesterday. But perhaps we can catch them yet." He looked quickly at +his watch.</p> + +<p>"But what's it all about?" asked Roger, who did not yet understand what +made Mr. Vanter so excited, all over a little salt.</p> + +<p>"It's this," replied the surveyor. "Unless I 'm very much mistaken, +those men have discovered on your uncle's farm a valuable deposit of +rock salt. Of its extent and worth I can only guess, but, from the +actions of Mr. Ranquist, the mine must be a rich one. His object will be +to secure Mr. Kimball's land, or that part of it in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> the spring-glade, +before the fact becomes known that there is salt under the surface. Thus +he can obtain, for the price of ordinary farming real estate, property +that may be worth thousands and thousands of dollars."</p> + +<p>Roger felt his breath come with a gasp.</p> + +<p>"And it's our business to prevent this," said Mr. Vanter. "Now," he went +on, "I'll tell you what we'll do."</p> + +<p>He seemed to be thinking out a plan, and Roger waited, all impatience.</p> + +<p>"You take the stage back to Cardiff," continued the surveyor. "I'll come +on after you with Mr. Took, and that will give me time to make some +arrangements here. Now be careful what you do. Don't tell any one you +have seen me, and, when I arrive in Cardiff, don't recognize me if you +meet me in the road. Above all, hurry. You have only just time to catch +the stage. When you get home, say to your uncle the first thing: 'Don't +sign any papers to sell the spring-glade land for at least a week.' If +he wants to know why, tell him, and say you have seen me. But, if he +hasn't signed, don't let him. Now hurry, and good luck go with you."</p> + +<p>With wildly beating heart, thinking of what might happen in the next few +hours, Roger made his way to the Candee House, where he found the stage +just pulling out.</p> + +<p>"Hi there! Mr. Amidown! Please take me along!" shouted the boy.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Eh! Changed yer mind, did ye?" said Porter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> as he pulled up his +team and helped Roger to climb on the high seat. "Wa'al, I'm glad t' hev +ye come along. I didn't hev no one t' ride 'ith me. Nothin' but a lot a' +weemin passengers this trip. G'lang, Pete 'n' Jim," and he nicked the +horses lightly.</p> + +<p>Roger thought the ride to Cardiff would never come to an end. But, at +last, he came in sight of the white church. He jumped off the stage at +the post-office, and ran all the way to his uncle's house. He burst into +the kitchen, where he saw Mr. Kimball looking at a paper.</p> + +<p>"Fer th' land sakes," burst out Mrs. Kimball, "we thought a b'ar had +carried ye off, Roger."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Bert!" cried the boy, earnestly, "don't sign any papers, agreeing +to sell the land near the spring!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Kimball gazed slowly over the rims of his spectacles at his nephew.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al," he began slowly, "I didn't know 's ye knew anythin' 'bout this +transaction, but ye're a leetle too late. I signed an hour ago. Mr. +Ranquist brought th' agreement t' me, 'n' I must say I think I got a +good price. Enough t' pay off th' mortgage, 'n' a leetle over."</p> + +<p>"Then you have signed?" spoke the boy, waiting in fear for the answer.</p> + +<p>"I hev."</p> + +<p>"I'm too late," exclaimed Roger, bitterly. "They got ahead of me, after +all."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>A QUESTION OF LAW</h3> + + +<p>The sudden entrance of Roger, his words and manner, and his earnestness, +created no small excitement in the Kimball household. Adrian and Clara, +who had been in the sitting-room, discussing the situation, and +rejoicing over the sale of the land, by means of which the mortgage +could be paid, came hurrying into the kitchen as they heard their cousin +speak.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Roger!" exclaimed Adrian. "I was just going out to hunt you up. +Where were you?"</p> + +<p>"Out to Syracuse," answered Roger, briefly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kimball folded up the agreement of sale he had been reading, and +came over to where his nephew stood.</p> + +<p>"Roger, my boy," he began, "what do ye mean? What is all this about, +anyhow? Ain't I got a right t' sell my land ef I want t'? 'N' ain't two +thousand dollars a good price fer th' spring-glade?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir! It is not!" burst out the boy. "That's just it. You've gone +and bargained away land worth probably twenty times what you have agreed +to sell it for."</p> + +<p>"What's that? I guess ye don't know what ye're talkin' about, Roger."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I guess I do," said Roger, stoutly, but not forgetting the deference +due his uncle. "Look here!" and he held out a few of the white crystals.</p> + +<p>"What's them?" asked Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>"Rock salt."</p> + +<p>"Rock salt. Wa'al, what of it? There's lots of it, out t' Syracuse."</p> + +<p>"And there's lots of it on that land you've agreed to sell," exclaimed +Roger. "That's what I went to the city for. That's what I've been +following Mr. Ranquist and Mr. Dudley for. Uncle Bert, your farm, or +part of it, anyhow, is right over a salt mine. I know this, though I +can't say how big the mine is. But a man who knows something about such +things believes it will be worth lots of money. That's why I tried to +hurry home, to prevent you from signing the property away."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Why didn't ye wait, Bert?" said Mrs. Kimball, in a sorrowful voice.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al," spoke Mr. Kimball, in rather a husky tone, "I s'pose I ought t' +hev, but how'd I know there was salt on my land? There ain't never been +no evidences of it. How d'ye know there is?" turning suddenly to Roger.</p> + +<p>"Because," answered the boy, earnestly, "I saw Mr. Ranquist and Mr. +Dudley drilling a hole near the spring. I saw them pull up something on +the end of a rod, from deep down under the earth. This morning I lowered +a weight on a string down the hole, and these white crystals stuck to +the wax on the end of the lead. Mr. Ranquist saw me, and he chased me, +but I beat him running. Then I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> went to a man in Syracuse. Enberry Took +gave me a ride out. The man told me what this stuff was, and wanted me +to warn you not to agree to sell."</p> + +<p>Then Roger related the whole story to his uncle and the rest of the +family, just as he had told Mr. Vanter. When he had finished a silence +fell on the little group in the farmhouse kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" ejaculated Mr. Kimball, at length. "I guess th' boy's right. I +wonder I didn't smell a rat when this feller Ranquist come so hot arter +my land, when there's plenty other t' be hed in Cardiff. I never +suspicioned nothin'. He offered me one thousand dollars, 'n' I says make +it two thousand, so's I could pay off th' mortgage."</p> + +<p>"Did he do it?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Never hesitated a minute," went on Mr. Kimball. "Agreed to it right +away. 'N' then he hed me go up t' Squire Bimmer's office, 'n' sign th' +agreement. Paid me five hundred dollars down," and Mr. Kimball drew out +a crisp bank-note, and gazed rather sorrowfully at it. "He said he'd pay +th' balance 's soon 's we could draw th' deed, t'-morrow er next day, +but he said th' agreement were's bindin' 's ef he hed a deed."</p> + +<p>"I guess it is," said Roger, remembering what Mr. Vanter had told him.</p> + +<p>"Plowshares 'n' hoe handles, but why didn't I wait!" lamented Mr. +Kimball. "Though how in th' name a' th' sacred cat was I t' know there +were salt on th' land. My! My! But I guess I've made a bad mistake."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>So, instead of being glad because the land was sold, Mr. Kimball, and +all the family, were greatly downcast after they had listened to Roger's +story. And he, too, took very much to heart the disappointment of his +uncle. If he had only acted a day sooner, all this trouble would have +been avoided. But it was too late for regrets now, and the only thing to +do, was to make the best of it, the boy thought. Yet it was very hard to +see valuable land sold for such a small sum, particularly when his uncle +needed money so badly. There was just a faint hope in Roger's heart, +that perhaps Mr. Vanter might be able to suggest a way out of the +difficulty. But the hope was so faint that he hardly dared speak of it. +He could only wait until the promised arrival of the surveyor, and see +what would come of it.</p> + +<p>Troubled dreams disturbed the usually quiet slumbers of more than one +member of the Kimball home that night. Roger's uncle was so restless, +tossing to and fro on the bed, and thinking of his lost opportunity, +that he was glad when morning came, so he could get up and go to work. +The others, also, thought too much of what had happened to sleep well.</p> + +<p>After the chores were done up Mr. Kimball paid a visit to the spring +glade. To his eyes, not experienced in looking for signs of mineral +wealth, there were no indications of a salt mine beneath the surface, +and he felt himself almost wishing such a thing could not be true. But +he could scarcely doubt it, after what had occurred. With a heavy heart +he took up the duties of the day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come on, Roger," called Adrian, as soon as he had done his part of the +morning's work about the farm, "let's go up by the spring, and see where +the salt mine is. Cracky! I wish I'd been along when you went fishing on +dry land. I'll bet I'd fired a stone at Ranquist."</p> + +<p>"I wish you had been along," said Roger. "Your father would not have +signed then. But I thought I was acting for the best."</p> + +<p>"Of course you did. It isn't your fault," replied Adrian.</p> + +<p>The two boys walked up the hill, and were soon at the place. On the way +Roger was wondering whether Mr. Vanter had come out. He remembered his +instructions, to pretend not to recognize the surveyor. As the lads +approached the spring they could hear through the trees, the noise of +men digging, and voices in conversation. The click of spades and shovels +was plainly audible.</p> + +<p>"They're at it already!" exclaimed Adrian. "Hurry up, and let's see 'em +get the salt out."</p> + +<p>"I guess they won't reach it very soon," said Roger. "It's about +twenty-five feet under the surface."</p> + +<p>The boys quickened their steps, and soon came to the open glade. Three +men were busy at work, two of them laborers, while the third was a +familiar figure to Roger, who gave a start of surprise as he recognized +Mr. Vanter directing operations. But even in the intense excitement of +the moment, Roger did not forget his promise, and he was prepared to +show by no sign that he had ever seen the surveyor before.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, there's a new man," said Adrian, as he caught sight of Mr. Vanter. +"I thought, at first, it was Mr. Dudley or Mr. Ranquist, but it isn't. I +wonder who he is. Anyhow, let's see what they are doing."</p> + +<p>The cousins watched the laborers with great interest. Mr. Vanter glanced +up and saw Roger, but, though he gave just the faintest smile, to show +he knew his young friend, he made no motion to indicate that the order +of last night was not to be obeyed, so Roger kept silent.</p> + +<p>The two laborers were digging a sort of inclined shaft, sinking it about +the place where Mr. Ranquist had drilled the small hole. Their picks and +shovels made the brown dirt fly, and Mr. Vanter urged them on, as though +they were working against time. The boys watched for perhaps ten +minutes, when there came a sound, as if some one was approaching. The +next instant Mr. Dudley and Mr. Ranquist appeared on the scene. Roger +started in surprise, wondering what would happen now, but Mr. Vanter +gave no indication that he saw the engineers, and the laborers kept on +digging.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Ranquist, at length, "I must say I consider this a +rather high-handed proceeding. By what right, sir, are you working on my +property? Do you know," addressing Mr. Vanter, "that you and your men +are trespassing, and are liable to arrest?"</p> + +<p>"Since when have you owned this land?" asked the surveyor, coolly. "This +belongs to Bert Kimball, a friend of mine, and—"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It doesn't belong to him any more," broke in Mr. Ranquist.</p> + +<p>"Since when has he ceased to own it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know as that is any of your affair, but I'll tell you. +Since yesterday afternoon Mr. Kimball ceased to be the owner, when he +signed an agreement to sell this piece to the Universal Salt Company."</p> + +<p>Mr. Vanter started, and looked at Roger, who sorrowfully nodded in +confirmation of what the engineer had said.</p> + +<p>"There's his son; ask him," went on Mr. Ranquist, pointing to Adrian.</p> + +<p>"I guess it's true," said the boy, in response to Mr. Vanter's look. +"But," he added, "my father would never have agreed to sell it if he had +known there was salt on it."</p> + +<p>"I would imagine not," said Mr. Vanter, softly, to himself.</p> + +<p>"That was his lookout, not mine," came from Mr. Ranquist. Turning to Mr. +Vanter, he added: "I advise you to leave here, my friend. I'll overlook +the trespass for once, but don't let it happen again," and he frowned in +a significant manner.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I refuse to go until you prove to me that you own this land, or +have a legal right, by virtue of an agreement, to order me off," asked +Mr. Vanter.</p> + +<p>"Then I'm afraid there'll be an unpleasant scene," exclaimed Mr. +Ranquist, in a harsh voice, and with a sudden motion he drew a revolver, +and aimed it full at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> the surveyor. "I don't want to resort to forceful +measures," he went on, "but I'll have no hesitation in using this if you +remain here three minutes longer." He drew out his watch.</p> + +<p>"You needn't worry," spoke up Mr. Vanter, calmly. "I'm not afraid of +that popgun, for I've faced bigger ones than that, but at present you +seem to have the law on your side. However, Mr. Ranquist, we may meet +again, when perhaps the shoe will be on the other foot. I'll bid you +good-morning," and, bowing politely, with not a trace of anger in his +face, Mr. Vanter walked slowly down the hill, followed by the two +laborers. Roger and Adrian remained behind for a minute or so.</p> + +<p>"I guess I can get along without you two boys," remarked Mr. Ranquist, +in strange contrast to his pleasant tones of a few days before. "And as +for you, Master Roger, if I catch you on this land after to-day, it +won't be well for you. Mind what I say, and keep off. I'll see your +father, Adrian, and have him keep you away also."</p> + +<p>"You needn't trouble yourself," said Adrian, quickly. He was as angry as +ever a boy could be. "We don't have any great hankering to get on your +land, which you had to cheat to get control of," and with this parting +shot Adrian and Roger made their way in the direction taken by Mr. +Vanter. They caught up to him before he had gone very far, and though +Roger, in obedience to his instructions, was not going to speak, the +surveyor addressed him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, Roger," he said, "I see you were too late. Your uncle must have +signed before you got home last night."</p> + +<p>"He had," answered the boy. "He was reading the agreement when I got in. +I think he said he is to sign the deed to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Too bad," remarked Mr. Vanter, sympathetically, "but I suppose it +couldn't be helped. I think I'll go down and see Mr. Kimball, anyhow. He +used to know me when I was a Cardiff boy. I suppose," turning to Adrian, +"this is his son?"</p> + +<p>Adrian nodded pleasantly, and while the party advanced Roger told his +cousin in a low tone who Mr. Vanter was, and how he had met him. At the +foot of the hill the surveyor dismissed his laborers and went on with +the boys.</p> + +<p>"I didn't have a chance to do much in the way of examining the land," +said Mr. Vanter to Roger. "I would have dug deeper if I hadn't been +interrupted. But from what I saw, and the way Ranquist acted, I am +pretty sure the salt deposit is a large one, and valuable. I wish, for +Mr. Kimball's sake, I had known this two days ago."</p> + +<p>When the three reached the house, they found Mr. Kimball reading a +letter. Roger introduced Mr. Vanter, and the farmer at once recalled the +man who, as a youngster, used to play about the village streets.</p> + +<p>"I ain't forgot ye," he said, clapping Mr. Vanter heartily on the back. +"I remember onct when I ketched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> ye in my melon patch," and he laughed +at the recollection, Mr. Vanter joining in.</p> + +<p>"I have even better cause than you have not to forget that little +incident," responded the surveyor, as he rubbed the back of his legs +reflectively.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I switched ye good 'n' proper," commented Mr. Kimball, a smile +playing about the corners of his mouth.</p> + +<p>"I hear you have been selling a salt mine just as if it was ordinary +pasture land," said Mr. Vanter, to change the subject.</p> + +<p>"Why, how'd ye know thet?" asked Mr. Kimball, in a wondering tone. "I +calalated nobody—Oh! You're th' feller Roger went to see in Syracuse," +he cried suddenly. "I understand now. Wa'al, it ain't th' boy's fault. +He made a noble try. I took up Ranquist's offer too quick, thet's th' +hull trouble. But I needed th' money bad. In fact, here's a letter now, +tellin' me thet onless I raise th' cash by th' end a' th' week, th' +mortgage'll be foreclosed, 'n' I'll lose th' farm. By sellin' th' +spring-glade when I did, I've got nuff t' make th' payment. Ha'f a +loaf's better'n' no bread, ye know. But I s'pose I ought t' hev waited."</p> + +<p>"When do you sign the deed?" asked Mr. Vanter. "I understand you have +given a binding agreement to sell, so it's no use trying to get out of +that."</p> + +<p>"Why, me 'n' Mrs. Kimball are t' put our signatures on th' deed +t'-morrow," replied the farmer, "'n' I git th' balance a' th' two +thousand dollars then. Handy 'nuff<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> it'll be, too, but I wish now it +were more. I'll be pretty heavily in debt, even arter I pay off th' +mortgage. Yes, sir, me 'n' mother here signs t'-morrow," and he motioned +to his wife who had come to the door.</p> + +<p>At the mention of Mrs. Kimball's name in connection with signing the +deed, Mr. Vanter gave a start of surprise. He seemed to have an idea +that proved a pleasant thought, for he rubbed his hands together, and +began pacing up and down the room, as he had done when Roger saw him the +first time, in the Syracuse office.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," said Mr. Vanter, coming toward Mr. Kimball, and speaking very +earnestly, "did Mrs. Kimball sign the agreement?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, she didn't, come t' think on 't," replied the farmer, +scratching his head. "She were out when Mr. Ranquist brought th' paper. +I guess she'd gone over t' Mrs. Took's. It were only a matter a' form, +havin' her sign, Ranquist said, 'n' he mentioned she could sign th' +deed. 'N' so, he bein' in a hurry, he left 'fore she got back. So th' +agreement's got only my name on 't."</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind, I'd like to take a look at that agreement," said Mr. +Vanter, smiling as though something pleased him.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I guess ye kin hev it," remarked Mr. Kimball. "'Tain't much use +t' me, seein' 's how Ranquist has a copy. But what in th' name a' th' +Cardiff giant d'ye want it fer?"</p> + +<p>"To keep Mrs. Kimball from signing it by mistake," replied Mr. Vanter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How's thet? Is there any hope thet I won't hev t' deed away thet land?" +asked Mr. Kimball, in great excitement.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; I guess you'll have t' sign the deed, as you have agreed to," +was the answer.</p> + +<p>"What then?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said the surveyor slowly, "I may think of a plan to outwit Mr. +Ranquist yet. Put on your hat and coat, and we'll go to Squire Bimmer's +office."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted Roger, gaily, as he saw his uncle and Mr. Vanter leave +the house. "Hurrah! Maybe it will come out right after all!"</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Kimball, who had heard the talk, did not see how, and she was +in no happy frame of mind, over the prospect of selling the valuable +land for such a small sum.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE PLOTTERS FOILED</h3> + + +<p>The news of salt being discovered on Mr. Kimball's farm soon became +known all over Cardiff. People rubbed their eyes, and wondered if +something of the kind wouldn't happen on their land. Several began to +dig in their gardens and back-yards, others on their hillsides, while a +number hurried to the spring-glade to see what a salt mine looked like. +These persons were much disappointed, however, as the only thing they +saw was what digging Mr. Vanter's men had done. Mr. Ranquist was on +guard, also, and warned all curious ones away.</p> + +<p>The deed was to be signed at ten o'clock the next day, and, from the +time Mr. Vanter took Mr. Kimball off with him, until that night, the two +spent many busy hours. There was much looking over of legal books and +records, and a number of consultations in Squire Bimmer's office. Toward +the close of the day, that had been so full of exciting incidents, Mr. +Kimball seemed a little more cheerful.</p> + +<p>"I think," said Mr. Vanter, as he and the farmer left the squire's +house, "that we'll have a little surprise for Mr. Ranquist to-morrow."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm sure I hope it'll come out right," remarked Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>Mr. Vanter started off toward the Pine Tree Inn.</p> + +<p>"Whar ye goin'?" demanded Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>"Why I thought I'd put up at the tavern, just as I did last night," +rejoined Mr. Vanter.</p> + +<p>"Not much, ye won't," interposed Mr. Kimball. "I ain't goin' t' hev a +friend a' mine eatin' th' kind a fodder ye'll find up at th' Pine Tree. +Ye're comin' home 'ith me. I guess we'll be able t' give ye suthin' t' +eat, 'n' a place t' sleep."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you insist," agreed Mr. Vanter, to whom the prospect of +another night in the tavern, under the same roof with Mr. Ranquist and +Mr. Dudley, was not a pleasant one. So he and Mr. Kimball went back to +the big, comfortable farmhouse, where a smoking-hot supper was waiting +for them. And Mr. Vanter did full justice to the tender chicken, fried +crisp in sweet butter, the salt-rising bread, the buckwheat honey, the +preserved plums, the generously frosted fruit and chocolate cakes, and a +lot besides.</p> + +<p>"It's the best meal I've had in a year," he told the delighted Mrs. +Kimball, while Clara blushed at the praise bestowed on her cakes.</p> + +<p>Every one was up early next morning, and, soon after breakfast, Squire +Bimmer came along, bearing his seal as Commissioner of Deeds, his law +books, and various legal papers.</p> + +<p>"I don't calalate I'll hev much need a' this," said the squire, +indicating his seal.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope not," replied Mr. Vanter. "But we can't tell. It all depends on +Mrs. Kimball," and he smiled a little as he said this.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al I guess I kin make out t' act jest 's ye told me to," remarked +that lady. "Ye needn't be afraid a' me goin' back on ye."</p> + +<p>"No danger," chuckled Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>It was about ten o'clock, when Mr. Ranquist, accompanied by Mr. Dudley +and a lawyer, appeared at the farmhouse. They were led into the parlor, +a table was cleared, and Mr. Vanter, Mr. Kimball, and Squire Bimmer drew +up close to it. Mr. Ranquist glared at Mr. Vanter, and smiled in an easy +sort of fashion, as though he already had the property in his +possession. He slowly drew from his valise a bundle of bank-bills.</p> + +<p>"There's fifteen hundred dollars in that package," he said, addressing +no one in particular.</p> + +<p>"I suppose everything is in readiness," said Mr. Dudley to his lawyer. +"Here is the agreement Mr. Kimball has signed. All that is necessary now +is for him to put his name on the deed."</p> + +<p>"'N' I'm ready to do thet," spoke up the farmer. Roger and Adrian, who +had entered the room, wondered at his easy compliance. They had expected +him to refuse, and looked to see Mr. Ranquist compel him, by means of +the agreement. Pens and ink were ready, and, in a few seconds Mr. +Kimball had affixed his signature to the deed, by the terms of which he +conveyed a certain tract of land, described very carefully, to the +Universal Salt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> Company, to have and to hold, and so on, with a lot of +legal terms.</p> + +<p>"Now," remarked the lawyer for the two engineers, when he had blotted +Mr. Kimball's name, "as soon as Mrs. Kimball has signed you will get the +fifteen hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, ye want Mrs. Kimball now," said her husband, smiling a bit, +and not at all like a man who has been cheated into selling a valuable +salt mine for a small sum. "Oh, yes, Mrs. Kimball. Wait; I'll call her. +Here, mother," he said, going to the door, "come in. We need ye fer a +minute."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Kimball entered as her husband went out. She was a little excited +over the part she was to play.</p> + +<p>"Sign right there, please," said the lawyer, pointing to the space below +Mr. Kimball's name, and seeing to it, as the law requires, that the +husband was not present when the wife signed the deed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Kimball did not seem to understand. She made no motion to pick up +the pen. The lawyer waited expectantly, and then said:</p> + +<p>"Just sign your name, will you, please?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied Mrs. Kimball, firmly, "I won't sign. I've made up my +mind not to put my name to this deed, 'n' I ain't agoin' to."</p> + +<p>"What?" exclaimed the lawyer.</p> + +<p>"What?" cried Mr. Ranquist.</p> + +<p>"What?" almost shouted Mr. Dudley.</p> + +<p>Then all three said, "What!" in a chorus.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, sir!" repeated Mrs. Kimball, "I'm not agoin' t' sign, 'n' thet's +th' end on 't," and she shut her lips firmly.</p> + +<p>"Why this is ridiculous. I never heard of such a thing," began the +lawyer. "Why, my dear Mrs. Kimball, your husband can't convey this +property unless you sign the deed also. That is the law. Husband and +wife must both sign the deed. This puts us in a pretty predicament!"</p> + +<p>"I thought it would," said Mr. Vanter, softly; and at the words, Mr. +Ranquist turned angrily toward him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so you've been meddling," the engineer remarked, with a sneer.</p> + +<p>"If you call it that," rejoined Mr. Vanter coolly.</p> + +<p>"Can't you induce your wife to sign?" asked the lawyer of Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>The grizzled farmer, who had returned, smiled good naturedly.</p> + +<p>"I don't like t' be disobligin'," he said, slowly, "but from long +experience I know thet whenever Mrs. Kimball makes up her mind not t' do +a thing, she won't do it. I've tried her before, 'n' I know. Ef she says +she won't sign, there's no use a' me, er any one else tryin' t' make +her," and Mr. Kimball sat down.</p> + +<p>"And I suppose I hardly need point out," interposed Mr. Vanter, "that, +without the consent of Mrs. Kimball her husband cannot legally sell that +property. I rather guess the Universal Salt Company will have to get +along without the spring-glade, Mr. Ranquist. What do you think of the +situation now?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Ranquist, without replying, turned angrily to his lawyer.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he's right," assented the legal representative of the foiled +plotters. "The law requires the unenforced consent of the wife if the +husband sells any of his property. This is a woman's dower right, and +amounts to a third interest in her husband's real estate. We can't get +this land unless Mrs. Kimball signs the deed, and she—"</p> + +<p>"She's not goin' t' sign, 'n' ye needn't try t' make her," interrupted +that lady. "I guess that'll put a spoke in yer wheel," she added as she +swept out of the room.</p> + +<p>"I rather think th' deal's off, gentlemen," said Mr. Kimball as he laid +a five hundred dollar bill with the other money. "I'm sorry, but it +can't be helped. Curi's how obstinate some womenfolks be," and he +chuckled loudly. "That's yer money back."</p> + +<p>For a little while Mr. Ranquist looked very angry and disappointed.</p> + +<p>"I think you are all making a mistake," he said. "We made a fair bargain +for the land, and gave you just what you asked. There may be salt on it, +and, then, there may not be. If there is, it may not be that there will +be enough to make it pay. But we are willing to take the risk. However, +if you think you should have more money, why perhaps five hundred +dollars additional—"</p> + +<p>Mr. Kimball made a gesture of dissent.</p> + +<p>"Or say one thousand more," said Mr. Ranquist, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I reckon we won't do any tradin' t'-day," broke in Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> Kimball. "I +calalate I'll farm thet salt mine myself. I guess I kin make out t' dig +'nuff t' make it pay."</p> + +<p>"All right, suit yourself," came from Mr. Ranquist, as if he was ready +to give up. He turned to the lawyer, who handed him a paper.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," said the engineer, and his lips showed a cruel smile, that +indicated just the opposite feeling, "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll be +obliged to ask Mr. Kimball to pay off this mortgage. It is some time +overdue, and has been assigned to us. I presume you have the money +handy, Mr. Kimball, otherwise we shall at once begin action to +foreclose, and take the farm from you. In the meantime we shall, as a +matter of precaution, retain control of that part of the land known as +the spring-glade."</p> + +<p>"Wh—What?" stammered poor Mr. Kimball, for the demand of Mr. Ranquist +came like a stab in the back. "Why-why, I thought—"</p> + +<p>"Never mind what you thought," interrupted Mr. Ranquist. "The question +is, have you the cash to pay off this mortgage with?" and his tone held +a threat.</p> + +<p>"N-no, sir—I can't say—wa'al, I ain't got it, 'n' thet's th'—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, he has it all right," broke in Mr. Vanter. "Here is the +money!"</p> + +<p>He threw a roll of crisp bills on the table.</p> + +<p>"I think you'll find the amount correct," he went on, turning to Mr. +Ranquist, who showed every sign of deep chagrin. "I rather guess I've +beaten you at your own game," proceeded the surveyor. "I was prepared +for this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> little move on your part. Now, if you will kindly cancel the +mortgage I guess that will be about all to-day."</p> + +<p>There was nothing for Mr. Ranquist to do, but accept the offer, and take +the money. He would much have preferred foreclosing the mortgage, since +then he would be in possession of the farm and the valuable salt mine.</p> + +<p>"How—how's this?" began Mr. Kimball brokenly. "I didn't know—"</p> + +<p>"That's enough, now," said Mr. Vanter kindly. "I'm attending to this for +you. The mine on your land will be worked by the Pipe Line Salt Company, +and not by the Universal," he said to Mr. Ranquist. "Still, if you care +to make us an offer, we may be willing to consider it. And, now, let me +bid you good day."</p> + +<p>Silently receipting for the money, and cancelling the mortgage, Mr. +Ranquist, followed by Mr. Dudley and the lawyer, left the room, neither +one speaking.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried Adrian, as the door closed on the plotters, "we beat +'em, Roger. Hurrah!"</p> + +<p>"And it's all due to Roger, here," said Mr. Vanter as he shook hands +heartily with the boy. "If he hadn't discovered the white crystals, and +called to see me, these men would now be in possession of the salt mine. +As it is, Mr. Kimball still owns it."</p> + +<p>"But ye paid th' mortgage," insisted the farmer, to whom the whole +transaction was still much of a mystery. "That entitles ye t' th' farm, +don't it?"</p> + +<p>"You may look upon that as a loan from me," said Mr. Vanter. "A sort of +investment. But we are all still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> pretty much in the dark. Suppose there +is salt in such a small quantity that it will not pay to mine it?"</p> + +<p>This idea made every one feel quite anxious.</p> + +<p>"We'll soon find out, however," went on the surveyor, "for I'm going to +sink a shaft to-morrow. Until then we shall have to be patient."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>DIGGING FOR SALT</h3> + + +<p>Early the next morning Mr. Vanter went to the spring-glade, and started +the two men at work, sinking the shaft, which they had to abandon so +suddenly the day before. The surveyor decided on going straight down, +instead of in at a slant, which he had at first believed best. Roger and +Adrian watched the operations with interest, as did a throng of people, +who were not disturbed as they gathered about the spot. The good news +had gone all over Cardiff, and there was not a person, excepting the +plotters, but what rejoiced at Mr. Kimball's fortune in saving his land.</p> + +<p>The digging progressed slowly, as only a small shaft was to be sunk, and +but one man could work in it at a time. For three anxious days the labor +went on, the hole in the ground becoming deeper and deeper. The man +whose turn it was to go into the excavation was below the level of the +surface now. Mr. Kimball, and all his family, as well as the neighbors, +were wondering whether or not salt would be struck in sufficient +quantities to make the venture pay. If not, it would have been better +had Mr. Kimball accepted the offer of Mr. Ranquist. Two days more of +digging would tell the story. And those two days were filled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> with +anxious uneasiness on the part of all in the farmhouse. The work went on +early and late, and Mr. Kimball neglected all but the most necessary of +his duties to watch the progress.</p> + +<p>The sinking of the shaft was done in rather a primitive fashion. A hole, +almost like that dug for a well, was started, and, when the bottom got +so far below the surface that the earth could no longer be tossed out, +the men rigged up a windlass and rope, on the end of which was a large +bucket, into which the dirt was placed to be hauled up and dumped.</p> + +<p>It happened on Wednesday, just a week after the day when the farm was +saved, that the men had dug down about thirty feet. Toward the close of +the afternoon Roger and Adrian, who were constantly at the mine, had +strolled away, and were up in the woods, looking for signs of foxes, +which were plentiful that year. They were sitting on a log, idly tossing +stones at an old stump, when Adrian suddenly called: "Hark!"</p> + +<p>They both listened intently. A faint cry came to them.</p> + +<p>"Sounds like some one hollering," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"It is!" exclaimed Adrian. "And it's down by the salt mine. Maybe +they've struck the white crystals. Let's hurry up and see."</p> + +<p>Together they started off. As they came nearer the sounds were louder, +and then, they seemed to be, not shouts of delight at the discovery of +something long wished for, but, rather, cries of distress.</p> + +<p>"Some one's hurt!" said Roger, increasing his pace.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<p>The boys had reached the edge of the spring-glade now, and could see the +mouth of the shaft. But there was no one near it, not even the usual +crowd of curious people, Mr. Vanter and Mr. Kimball had, for the time +being, gone away, so the scene was deserted. Neither of the two workmen, +one of whom should have been at the windlass, was to be noticed.</p> + +<p>"There's been an accident!" exclaimed Adrian.</p> + +<p>"I guess the man's fallen down the shaft," said Roger, referring to the +missing laborer. "That's it," he added excitedly. "They're both down +there! Hear 'em calling?"</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, that was where the cries for help came from. The boys +ran and peered down into the depths of the hole. For a moment, because +of the darkness, they could make out nothing. Then, as their eyes became +used to the blackness, they observed, dimly, two figures, at the bottom +of the deep excavation. And the figures were those of the two workmen, +who seemed to be struggling in desperation. Every now and then would +come a terrified cry from one of them:</p> + +<p>"Help! Help! Help!"</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" shouted Adrian, almost trembling in the excitement.</p> + +<p>"We must get them out!" exclaimed Roger. "Let's call to them, to let 'em +know we're on hand."</p> + +<p>"Hello! Hello!" yelled Adrian down the shaft. "Hello! What's the matter? +What shall we do to help you?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wind up—the—rope! Turn the—windlass!" came faintly from below.</p> + +<p>"That's it!" cried Roger, as he seized the crank. "Turn, Ade! Turn!"</p> + +<p>The two boys worked the windlass, straining in desperation. It taxed +their strength to the utmost, for the weight at the other end of the +rope was very heavy. Roger was the first to realize that, in their fear, +both men were clinging to the cable, and trying to be brought to the +surface at the same time.</p> + +<p>"Stop turning," said Roger to Adrian. Then the boys fastened the +windlass by the catch at the side of the cog wheel, put there for the +purpose. Next, Roger leaned over and shouted down:</p> + +<p>"One on the rope at a time! We can't haul you both up together!"</p> + +<p>"All right!" came the answer from the black depths. "Jim'll try it +first."</p> + +<p>There was a perceptible slacking of the rope, and then Roger and Adrian +began winding up the windlass again. This time it was much easier to +turn the handle. As the strands of the cable coiled over the drum, foot +by foot, they brought up, into the light of day, first the head, then +the body of one of the laborers. His face showed the terror he felt, and +the boys noticed, with great surprise, that he was dripping wet.</p> + +<p>"Hurry!" called Jim. "Tom's down there yet. Lower the rope."</p> + +<p>He unfastened it, from where he had looped it beneath<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> his arms, and +tossed it dangling into the hole. It ran out quickly over the drum. +There came a cry from below to indicate that Tom had the end. Then, +giving him time to adjust it, Jim began to turn quickly, replacing the +boys, and soon the other workman was brought up. He too was soaking wet.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, that was a narrow squeak!" exclaimed Tom, removing the +rope.</p> + +<p>"You're right," chimed in Jim. "As close as I ever want."</p> + +<p>"Did you fall in a well?" asked Roger, wondering why the men were so +damp.</p> + +<p>"Indeed we did, my boy," answered Tom. "And it was a salt well, of the +saltiest water I ever tasted. Pah! My mouth is full of it yet."</p> + +<p>"Then there isn't any salt mine down there," went on Roger in a +disappointed tone, his interest in that matter overshadowing, for a +moment, his joy at having helped save the men.</p> + +<p>"Nary a bit of a salt mine," said Tom. "But I'll back the salt lake down +there, against most anything outside of Utah. Hey, Jim?"</p> + +<p>"That's right," assented his companion, wiping the salt water from his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?" asked Adrian.</p> + +<p>"Now you're talkin'," said Tom. "We were diggin' away, or rather I was, +and Jim was up above. I'd got about as deep as where Mr. Vanter said we +ought to strike rock salt, and I was givin' some hearty blows with my +pick,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> when, all on a sudden, the pick goes through with a pop, jest +like when you stick a pin in one of them red balloons you buy at the +circus. First thing I knew I was up to my neck in water saltier 'n' any +ever tasted. Wow! But I didn't know what I'd struck, the Atlantic Ocean +or the Dead Sea."</p> + +<p>"I guess it was a little of both," interposed Jim.</p> + +<p>"Right you are, Jim. Well, as it happened I landed right on a ledge of +rock, or I might have gone on clean through to China," resumed Tom. "As +soon as I got my wind I sung out to Jim. All the while I was holdin' on +to a projectin' stone in the side of the shaft. When I yelled to Jim I +wanted him to lower the rope to me. But he got excited, or something +and, after he had unwound it, and lowered it, he shinned down it +himself, hand over hand. Then before he could stop himself he was in the +water with me, both of us as wet as drowned rats, at the bottom of a +shaft thirty feet deep. We could just make out to find room on the +narrow ledge, or we'd both been in the bottomless pit. We tried to climb +up the rope, but, not bein' sailors or circus fellows, we didn't make +out worth a cent. So we both began to yell as hard as we could, +and—well, you know the rest. My! Oh! But it's glad we are that you boys +came along when you did, or we'd both be fairly pickled away in brine +for the winter. How about it, Jim?"</p> + +<p>"That's what," said Jim, heartily, wringing about a quart of salt water +from his coat.</p> + +<p>"But I can't understand how the brine got down there,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> said Roger. "Mr. +Vanter expected to strike rock salt, and the white crystals I brought up +were certainly solid enough. I can't see why there should be salt water, +unless there's a spring of fresh water that has become brine from +dissolving the rock salt. I must hurry to tell Mr. Vanter."</p> + +<p>The boys and men went toward the farmhouse together. On the way they met +Mr. Vanter, who was much surprised when he heard what had happened. He +hurried to the mine to make sure of it. The men went back with him, not +minding the wetting, for the day was warm. Though they tried to deter +him, Mr. Vanter insisted on being lowered down the shaft. The boys, who +had also come back, were a little apprehensive, when they saw their +friend the surveyor disappear down the black hole, but they were soon +reassured when they heard his cheery voice shouting from the depths that +he was all right, and that he had found a place to stand. In a few +minutes he signalled to be drawn up, and, when he reached the surface he +looked delighted, instead of disappointed, as the boys had expected.</p> + +<p>"Is the salt mine a failure?" asked Roger, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"The salt mine is," said Mr. Vanter.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Roger and Adrian together.</p> + +<p>"But the salt spring is the biggest kind of a success," added Mr. +Vanter, smiling. "In fact, we've struck the same conditions that exist +beneath the city of Syracuse. Instead of mining for salt we shall have +to pump for it, which is cheaper and better. Boys, I can see big things +in this for you. A pipe line can be run out to Syracuse, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +transportation charges will be saved. Tom, that last pick stroke of +yours was a mighty lucky one."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think so at the time," remarked Tom, as he saw the white salt +crystals appearing on his clothes, now that the sun was evaporating the +water.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the Kimball Salt Spring!" cried Adrian, throwing his hat +high in the air, and Roger joined in heartily, turning a summersault to +show how glad he felt.</p> + +<p>"Now to test the brine," said Mr. Vanter, as he sent the men for a pump +and the necessary pipes. "But I have no doubt, from the fact that the +general character of this valley is the same from here to Syracuse, that +we have a fine quality of solution. You have struck it rich, Mr. +Kimball," he went on, as the farmer approached, all excitement over the +news. "We haven't a mine for you, but we have something better," and he +told him what had taken place.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I knowed suthin' good 'd come outen what seemed dark prospects +at fust," said the old farmer, calling to mind the bad news of the loss +of his money in the railroad shares, and the mortgage foreclosure. "I +knowed suthin' good 'd come, 'n' it's all along a' Roger here. I sha'n't +forgit it, nuther," he added, and Roger, fearing some one was going to +praise him in public, hurried to the house.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>THE LAST WRESTLING MATCH</h3> + + +<p>The Cardiff stage, next day, took to Syracuse three very much chagrined +and disappointed men,—Mr. Ranquist, Mr. Dudley, and their lawyer. They +maintained a silence as they climbed aboard the lumbering vehicle, early +in the morning, and the usual crowd that gathered to see the stage +depart had no words of farewell for the men who had sought to take such +an unfair advantage of Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>"G'lang!" cried Porter Amidown, cracking his whip, and the horses leaped +forward with a jingle of harness. It was the last Cardiff saw of the +conspirators.</p> + +<p>As for the salt well on Mr. Kimball's farm, it turned out better than +even Mr. Vanter dared to hope. The brine was of a heavy and saturated +quality, and, when evaporated, gave a residue of excellent salt. It +compared favorably with the condiment manufactured in Syracuse, which is +considered about the best in the world. One day, when Roger and Adrian +were at the well, Mr. Vanter told how, in his opinion, the salt springs +beneath the surface of the earth came there.</p> + +<p>Geologists were agreed, he said, that, thousands of years ago, the whole +Onondaga valley was part of an immense sea. This was evidenced by the +fossils found in the hills.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> As the ages passed, there were eruptions +and upheavals of the earth's surface. Then the salt water from the sea +might have been condensed into solid rocks of salt, or the rock salt +away down deep in the earth might have been brought nearer the surface. +At any rate, in time, the white crystals were formed in great masses. +Then, beneath the surface of the ground, there welled up springs of +fresh water, which dissolved, and held in solution, the salt. When the +shaft had been sunk on Mr. Kimball's land, Mr. Vanter said, meaning the +small hole Mr. Ranquist had bored with his sectional drill, the steel +had probably only gone into the thin crust of salt, formed over one of +the immense and deep underground springs. He was thus deluded, as was +Mr. Vanter himself, into the belief that a mine of rock salt had been +discovered.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ranquist must have studied the matter up," said Mr. Vanter, "and he +reasoned that there ought to be salt in this section of the country. He +found it, but not as he expected. I have no doubt that other farmers in +this vicinity will be just as lucky as Mr. Kimball has been, and will +strike salt springs on their land."</p> + +<p>And so it proved. Urged by the example of their neighbor, many farmers +had shafts sunk on their hillsides and, in several cases, especially on +land near Mr. Kimball's, valuable springs were come upon. The news soon +spread to all parts of the county, and, shortly, Cardiff was overrun +with prospectors, and men who wished to buy up all the property and +develop the salt wells. The owners, under the advice of Mr. Kimball, +consulted with Mr. Vanter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> who told them all to be cautious about +signing away their rights. Under the guidance of the surveyor, a +corporation, called the Pipe Line Salt Company, was formed to work the +springs, and pump the brine through big black pipes, into Syracuse, +twelve miles away, where the salt water was evaporated, and the +resulting crystals purified and sold. For his spring-glade Mr. Kimball +received thirty-five thousand dollars and some shares in the new +company, which proved very valuable in a short time.</p> + +<p>Of all the persons made glad by the discovery of salt in Cardiff, there +were none more happy than the two boys, Roger and Adrian. Their part in +the transactions was well known, and they were praised on every side.</p> + +<p>One day, not long after these events, Roger received a letter by mail +that made him want to stand on his head in delight. He raced home from +the post-office with the missive half read, and burst into the kitchen, +where Mrs. Kimball and Clara were baking bread.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" he cried. "Father, mother, and baby Edward are coming! They'll +be here day after to-morrow. Oh! But won't I be glad to see them!"</p> + +<p>"Land sakes!" cried Mrs. Kimball. "Wa'al, now I'm real glad t' hear it. +Mussy sakes, Clara! We'll hev t' double this bakin'," and she began to +bustle about harder than ever with the salt-rising bread, while Roger +ran to tell Adrian the good news.</p> + +<p>How the time did drag until Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and the baby arrived +on the stage! Roger and Adrian were at the gate to meet them, and Roger +hugged his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> mother so tightly that she said he nearly took her breath, +and was as bad as the bear he wrote about, which treed them all in the +woods that day.</p> + +<p>How good it was to grasp his father's hand again! And to bounce baby +Edward high into the air, and hear him crow and shout in delight! Roger +didn't know whether he was on his head or his feet in the gladness at +seeing his parents after more than six months' absence from them. Mr. +and Mrs. Kimball, Adrian, and Clara gave no less enthusiastic greeting +to the newcomers, and, altogether, it was a jolly time.</p> + +<p>"My, but how brown you are, and how you've grown!" said Roger's mother +to him.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I calalate he does look a leetle mite more like a boy should +than when I fust see him," admitted Mr. Kimball. "He were kinder +white-livered 'n' spindlin' then. But come inter th' house er supper'll +spile, 'n' I know ye don't want anythin' like thet t' happen, 'specially +ef yer appetites is anythin' like mine."</p> + +<p>Such a happy meal as it was. Mr. Anderson told how he had, unexpectedly, +received a vacation, and had determined to use it in coming to see how +his son was getting along. Of course Mrs. Anderson and the baby must +come too.</p> + +<p>"'N' I hope ye kin all stay a year," said Mr. Kimball, heartily.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Kimball was so "flustrated," as she put it, that she hardly knew +whether she was passing the bread or the cake. But every one agreed that +she did most excellently, and there was so much talking and laughing +that nobody<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> seemed to care much whether they ate or not. The day was +dying off into a perfect evening. The June sun was sinking down behind +the wooded hills. Farmers were returning from their fields, tired but +happy. The crickets and tree-toads were beginning their night songs. +Darkness was settling down over peaceful Cardiff valley.</p> + +<p>"How does it agree with you out here, Roger?" asked Mr. Anderson. "Do +you think you would like to stay?"</p> + +<p>"Would I?" began Roger. Then he glanced lovingly at his father, mother, +and the baby. "I would, if all of you could stay too," he finished.</p> + +<p>They had come out on the broad stone porch to sit in the cool twilight.</p> + +<p>"We won't know how t' git along 'ithout him," said Mr. Kimball, and then +he told all about the salt well, to the secret delight of Mr. Anderson, +who felt very proud of his son.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we'll have to have Roger back soon, however," said the boy's +father. "His school principal came to see me the other day, and wanted +to know when he was coming home to take up his lessons."</p> + +<p>Books and studies, save such as beautiful Mother Nature provided, had +been almost forgotten by Roger.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al," began Mr. Kimball, "when it comes t' school, I've a sort a' +proposition t' make. Ye see, ef it hadn't bin fer Roger, I wouldn't 'a' +had any salt spring, 'n' 't ain't no more 'n' common justice thet he +should hev a part on it."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Bert!" cried Roger.</p> + +<p>"Now, young man," interposed Mr. Kimball, good-naturedly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> "young folks +should be seen 'n' not heard, ye know. 'S I were sayin'," turning to Mr. +Anderson, "Roger's got t' hev some sheers in my salt spring. Now I hed +thought a' puttin' a certain sum t' his credit in th' bank."</p> + +<p>Mr. Anderson made a gesture of dissent.</p> + +<p>"Jest wait 'til I git through," said Mr. Kimball. "I ain't give up th' +notion yet, but what I want t' say is, I think Roger ought t' use part +of it t' go t' college 'ith. That's what I've planned t' do fer Adrian, +here, 'cause there ain't nothin' like eddercation fer a boy, er a man +either fer thet matter. I didn't hev no chanst when I were young. Hed t' +git out 'n' hustle on th' farm when I were ten year old, so I know th' +value a' larnin'. 'N' t' college my boy goes, now I'm well enough off t' +send him," and Mr. Kimball clapped his hand down on his leg with a +report like a small gun.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know how to thank you," began Mr. Anderson. "I—"</p> + +<p>"Then jest don't try," broke in Mr. Kimball, very practically. "We'll +consider it all settled."</p> + +<p>The women folks started to go in the house, while Mr. Kimball and Mr. +Anderson walked a little way toward the road. Presently they heard a +great shouting.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Mr. Anderson.</p> + +<p>"Reckon it's th' boys, skylarkin'," replied Mr. Kimball. "They're allers +up t' suthin' er other."</p> + +<p>The men walked over toward the sounds, which were evidently of mirth. +There, under the two big cherry trees<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> that stood at the gate, rolling +in the sweet grass, were the two cousins; and Roger was sitting astride +of Adrian, shouting at the top of his voice:</p> + +<p>"I threw him! I threw him! It was a fair fall! Now who's the best +wrestler?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you can't do it again," panted Adrian, as he struggled +unsuccessfully to rise.</p> + +<p>"Roger throwed him!" cried Mr. Kimball, capering about, almost as much +pleased over his nephew's victory as Roger himself was. "So ye throwed +him fair, eh? Wa'al, I told ye we'd make a Cardiff boy outen ye, ef ye +stayed long 'nuff. By Gum! Throwed him good 'n' proper! Now mebby he'll +think some un 'sides him kin rassal."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, but that's a big improvement in Roger," said Mr. Anderson, +coming up as the boys resumed their feet. "He's twice as strong as when +I sent him up here. The air and sunshine of the country have made him +what he ought to be—a healthy, sturdy boy."</p> + +<p>The lads clenched again, rolling over and over in the long grass. The +last vestige of daylight disappeared, the chirping of the crickets +became louder, the tree-toads croaked with stronger voices, and it was +night in the valley of Cardiff.</p> + + +<h4>THE END</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The White Crystals, by Howard R. 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