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diff --git a/38560-8.txt b/38560-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..012d26d --- /dev/null +++ b/38560-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6216 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bert Wilson at the Wheel, by J. W. Duffield + +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: Bert Wilson at the Wheel + +Author: J. W. Duffield + +Release Date: January 12, 2012 [EBook #38560] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERT WILSON AT THE WHEEL *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +BERT WILSON AT THE WHEEL + + + + +THE BERT WILSON SERIES + +BY J. W. DUFFIELD + + +An excellent series of stories for boys, full of outdoor life and +adventures, athletic sports, etc. Wholesome, clean and instructive. + + 1. BERT WILSON AT THE WHEEL. + 2. BERT WILSON'S FADEAWAY BALL. + 3. BERT WILSON WIRELESS OPERATOR. + 4. BERT WILSON MARATHON WINNER. + +_Others in preparation._ + +12mo. cloth with four illustrations in each, by H. G. Richards. + +Price each, 60 cents. + + + + +[Illustration: He wrenched the steering wheel around, and headed it +directly up the track.--(_See page 168_)] + + + + + BERT WILSON + at + the Wheel + + BY + J. W. DUFFIELD + + AUTHOR OF "BERT WILSON'S FADEAWAY BALL," + "BERT WILSON WIRELESS OPERATOR," + "BERT WILSON MARATHON WINNER." + + + [Illustration] + + + NEW YORK + SULLY AND KLEINTEICH + 1913 + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY + SULLY AND KLEINTEICH + + All rights reserved. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. THE "RED SCOUT" 1 + II. THE FLYING AUTO 8 + III. THE COPPERHEAD 19 + IV. THE CHALLENGE 30 + V. THE HOBOES AND THE BEES 39 + VI. SHORTY GOES TO THE ANT 50 + VII. THE ANTS GO MILKING 61 + VIII. THE GIPSY CARAVAN 76 + IX. HOW THE "RED SCOUT" CLIMBED DOBB'S HILL 94 + X. QUICK WORK 111 + XI. THE FOUR-LEGGED RECRUIT 118 + XII. THE YOUNGSTERS' GREAT DAY 127 + XIII. DAVE'S TIGER STORY 148 + XIV. WITH DEATH BEHIND 160 + XV. MOUNTAIN SCOUTING 176 + XVI. BY A HAIR'S-BREADTH 186 + XVII. BIDDY HARRIGAN REMEMBERS 199 + XVIII. THE RACE 206 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + He wrenched the steering wheel around and + headed it directly up the track, _see page + 168_ _Frontispiece_ + + PAGE + Three men of the roughest order were dancing + distractedly around 46 + + Then he swung the "Red Scout" squarely across + the road, _see page 89_ 90 + + Across the line it flew like a rocket, _see + page 217_ 218 + + + + +Bert Wilson at the Wheel + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE "RED SCOUT" + + +"What dandy luck." + +"It's too good to be true." + +"Who'd ever thought we'd have the luck to get it?" + +"It can't be true. I shan't believe it till it gets here." + +"Anyway, it _is_ true, and won't we have the niftiest time ever?" + +"Well, you might as well sit down, Bob. Running around like a hen with +her head cut off won't make it come any sooner." + +"Aw, how's a fellow to sit still when a thing like that's on the way? I +wonder how long we'll have to wait. What can be keeping him?" + +A score of voices, talking singly, two together, all together, woke the +woodland echoes, silent through the long winter and tardy spring, gone +at last. Summer had come and with it the annual encampment of a score or +more of manly, healthy youngsters, overflowing with animal spirits and +vitality. For several years past, substantially the same group under the +supervision of a Mr. Hollis, a gentleman of sterling character and +considerable means, had gone into camp together for two or three weeks +of the heated season. Brimming over with life, the boys always made the +camp a lively place; but this summer a new and enveloping excitement +seemed to have taken possession of everyone, and now all were plunged +into a discussion of the cause of the hullabaloo, the voices rising +higher and higher as each one sought to make himself heard above the +rest. + +Turning a bend in the road that brought the camp into view, Mr. Hollis, +as he witnessed the excited gestures of the boys, and heard the volume of +sound caused by every enthusiast trying to talk at once, instinctively +quickened his pace, for it almost seemed as though a serious altercation +were in progress; but as he came near enough to distinguish words and +heard--"Six cylinders," "Forty-eight horsepower," "Chrome nickel steel," +"Wheel base one hundred and twelve inches," "Diamond tires," "Autometer," +"Safety treads," "Grip treads"--he realized that nothing more serious was +going on than a discussion of the relative merits of automobiles and +their fittings. No wonder there was gesturing and loud talking. What boy +would not rise to the topmost heights of enthusiasm at the thought of an +automobile in which he was to have a personal interest? Such a delight +had come to the camp, and since the announcement in the morning that on +account of the long trips that the summer's plans would make necessary, +the boys would be allowed an automobile for their own exclusive use, +nothing else had been thought or talked about; and each eager boy was +impatiently awaiting the return of Mr. Hollis to learn the make and all +other details of that most wonderful car. + +Now, as he came into camp, the boys crowded around him and the wood rang +with cheers as he told them that the car would arrive the following +morning. A volley of questions overwhelmed him: "How large is it?" "What +speed?" "What color is it?" "How many of us can ride in it at a time?" +Question followed question in quick succession, until Mr. Hollis put his +hands over his ears, and, refusing to answer any more, proposed dinner +as a means of quelling the noise. + +The boys could scarcely have told of what their dinner consisted that +night, so great was their excitement. All were glad to turn in early as +the surest way to bring the morning and the longed-for car. A full hour +earlier than usual the lights were out and silence settled over the +camp, broken only by nature's mysterious night sounds. A belated rabbit +homeward bound, keeping ceaseless vigil with round bright eyes, +encouraged by the unusual quiet, crept close to the door of the mess +tent, and snatching a stray cracker from the grass, scurried joyfully +away. At the distant menacing "Tu-whit, tu-whoo" of the night owl, the +birds stirred uneasily and nestled closer under cover of the sheltering +leaves. The quiet hours crept on till at last morning dawned and gave +promise of a glorious day. + +Frank Edgewood was the first to open sleepy eyes, and seeing a few +clouds not yet dissipated by the early sun, woke the camp with the +dismal wail: "Fellows, it's going to rain." + +"Put him out," "Smother him," "Duck him in the brook," came in a chorus; +and Frank, taking to his heels, dropped the flap of his tent, with not a +moment to spare. + +"Run early and avoid the rush," sang out Tom Henderson. + + "To pass he had such scanty room, + The descending grazed his plume," + +chanted Dick Trent. + +"Let's forgive and forget," said Ben Cooper. + +"Be glad we let you live, Frank," Bob Ward chimed in; and so the +culprit, reassured, ventured out to breakfast. + +Again the all-absorbing topic was renewed, two vital questions claiming +them. What should they name their auto? Who would be able to run it? The +first was easy enough, for almost from the first they had decided, the +color permitting, to call it the "Red Scout." The second was not so easy, +for Mr. Hollis must be assured, for the sake of the general safety, that +the driver should be fully capable. If only Bert Wilson were there, the +question would be answered, for capable Bert in New York had studied the +mechanism of automobiles and grown very proficient in handling them; but +they were not sure that he would be able to be in camp with them this +year. Expressions of regret were heard on all sides, for Bert had a very +warm place in their hearts. His splendid qualities had easily made him +their natural leader and his absence was far more keenly felt than that +of any other fellow in the camp would have been. + +Still, Bert not being there, they must choose someone else, so Mr. Hollis +called for volunteers. Several answered, but their qualifications were +rather doubtful, until Bob Ward said that he had had a lot of experience +in driving his uncle's machine, and felt very sure he could handle it. So +it was decided that the next day Bob should take them on their first +trip, which would be in search of a new camp site, the old one proving +too small for this year's requirements. + +While the question as to who should be chosen to drive the automobile +was being decided, Sam Fielding and Philip Strong, two of the younger +boys, had placed a long plank over a big rock which rested under the +shade of a low-branched tree, and thus improvised a capital see-saw. +When the question was settled, there was a general movement among the +boys, and one of them, thoughtless of consequences, jumped upon Sam's +end of the board. This added weight gave the other end a sudden jerk +upward, and in a twinkling Philip was tossed into the boughs of the +tree, where, his foot catching in a forked branch, he hung suspended, +head downward, his jacket falling about and covering his head and face, +while he yelled like a Comanche Indian. + +In an instant the entire camp was aroused and Phil was quickly extricated +from his uncomfortable position. At the sight of his astonished face, the +whole camp went into paroxysms of mirth, while peal after peal of +laughter made the woods echo again. Even Phil, now "right side up with +care," could not resist the contagion and joined in the merriment. + +It was many minutes before a normal condition of things was re-established, +but at last the boys fell to discussing the proposed change of camp. + +"It's a shame that we have to change," said Charlie Adams; "I don't +believe we'll have such bully times in the new camp as we have had +here." + +"Oh, I don't know," said Tom cheerily; "we'll have the dandiest fun, +hunting new caves and things." + +"It will at least have the charm of novelty," joined in Dick Trent--Dick +was eighteen and sometimes used words and phrases so ponderous as to +give him added dignity in the eyes of the other fellows. "Things will be +altogether different this summer," he went on; "having the auto will +make a great change." + +"Well, we're going to have a great time to-day, anyway," said Bob Ward; +"Mr. Hollis says we are to make a flying trip in the new machine, and I +will have a chance, while the man who brings it is here, to study +handling the car." + +As Bob finished speaking, a distant but distinct "honk-honk" sent each +boy tearing down the road, where in due time a great, red, glistening +car came up the turnpike like a gleaming streak of light, and, with a +graceful curve to the side of the road, stopped. The car, _their_ car, +the "Red Scout" had come! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE FLYING AUTO + + +A group of the campers stood regarding the big red touring car rather +dubiously. + +"The fact is," Bob Ward was saying, as he meditatively chewed a long +piece of grass, "you never can tell when the fool thing is going to go +back on you. I used to drive my uncle's car a good deal, but I never +could go very far without some part of the machinery breaking down. +Uncle Jack said I was a Jonah and I guess I was, because he could run +the pesky thing all over the country if I wasn't with him, and it would +go like a bird. One day I ran it into a fence and nearly got killed, so +I took the hint and haven't fooled with one since." + +"But we ought to make a try at locating a site for the new camp," Frank +Edgewood objected. "We volunteered, and we'll be the laughing stock of +the whole camp if we don't succeed, besides breaking our word to Mr. +Hollis." + +"Yes, I don't see why you said you could do it, if you are going to get +cold feet at the last minute," said Jim. + +"I haven't got cold feet," Bob defended hotly, then virtuously, "it +isn't because of my own danger that I hesitate, but I don't like to drag +you fellows into it with me." + +"If you don't mind breaking your own neck, you needn't worry about +ours," said Dave Ferris; "we'll stay here while you take a little spin +across country," grinning wickedly. "Of course, if you should find a +good camp location in the meantime, you could claim all the glory"--this +last condescendingly. + +Before Bob had time to retort, a cry of "Bert, Bert Wilson!" caught the +boys' attention, and they turned in time to see a young fellow take a +flying leap over one of the fences and land in the midst of a group of +excited, welcoming friends. + +"Make believe we're not glad to see you, Bert. We thought you wouldn't +be able to get off this year." + +"Tom Henderson spread that report. Where is he?" + +"Wait till I get at him." + +"He ought to have a ducking," and other undeserved threats were hurled +at poor Tom's innocent head. + +"Hold on, fellows," said Bert, laughing; "Tom wasn't to blame. I didn't +know myself that I could make the camp till yesterday." + +At that moment the maligned Tom dashed up, nearly upsetting his friend +in an ecstasy of delight. + +"You're a brick with a capital B and the best kind of a sight for sore +eyes," gasped Tom, getting his breath back by degrees. "I never was so +glad to see anyone in my life. And you came just in the nick of time, +too, to help us out." + +Then, dragging his friend away unceremoniously, Tom explained the +situation in which he and the other volunteers found themselves. + +"You will help us out, won't you, Bert?" he asked appealingly. + +By this time the rest of the volunteers had come up and were eagerly +awaiting the decision. When they heard Bert's hearty "Surest thing you +know," they went wild, and after giving him "three cheers and a tiger," +marched him off to the mess tent, there to partake of corn bread and +maple syrup. This last had such a good effect on Bert as to lead him to +say that the fellow who had never known the gastronomic delight of corn +bread spread thick with maple syrup didn't know what it was to live. + +The dramatic arrival of Bert at the camp just when they most felt the +need of him had been almost as unexpected to him as to the other +campers. + +Through the recommendation of Mr. Hollis, he had secured a position +with a large manufacturing business in New York. There from the very +start he had made good and his industry and ability were soon noted by +his employer. It was not long before his salary was increased and larger +opportunities afforded him, and he soon found himself treading the path +that was bound to lead to success. + +Of course, like every other healthy boy, he felt the need of friends and +recreation. The first he found in Tom Henderson, with whom he struck up +a great friendship. Another crony was Frank Edgewood, who worked on the +same floor as himself. When the work of the day was done they were +usually found together, either in each other's rooms or at some of the +places of wholesome recreation of which the city offers so great a +variety. + +If Bert had one trait that stood out more prominently than any of the +others it was his love for mechanics. Anything in the way of a clever +mechanical toy, a puzzle, or a machine attracted him immensely. He +wanted to "see the wheels go 'round." Especially was this true in the +case of automobiles. The huge machine moving so swiftly, so noiselessly, +with such a sense of freedom and the sensation of flying, drew him like +a magnet. He scarcely dared to dream that one day he might be the actual +owner of a motor car, but he did hope that some day or other his hand +might be on the wheel, his foot upon the brake, while he steered the +flying monster as it sped like a flash across the country. + +His dream seemed perceptibly nearer being realized when Tom introduced +him to the owner of a garage in the vicinity of his home. There he +speedily became familiar with every joint and crank and lever of the +great machines. He saw them taken apart and put together, he saw them +brought in battered, broken, almost wrecked, and made as good as new. +From theory to practice was not far. Little by little he was permitted +to help in the minor repairs. After a while he was entrusted with short +trips, at first in the company of an experienced chauffeur and at last +on his own responsibility. It was not long before he felt capable to +handle, steer, drive, and repair, and, if he had cared to do so, he +would have had no difficulty in passing an examination and securing a +license to drive a car. + +His idea of recreation ran in the same direction. Whenever there was a +motor meet anywhere within reach, especially on Saturday afternoon, which +was a half holiday at the factory, Bert could be found, accompanied by +either Tom or Frank, or both, watching with intense delight the exciting +incidents of the race. The crowd--the start--the great machines flying by +like streaks of lightning--the roar of the partisans of each car as +their favorite took the lead, and above all the frantic excitement and +enthusiasm at the finish as the victor flew across the line--all these +things stirred his blood with inexpressible delight. + +On another occasion he and his chums had visited the "Greatest Show on +Earth." He had laughed at the clowns and had been thrilled by the +acrobats. Every pore of his body had drunk in with delight the +tremendous feats of skill and daring that appeal so strongly to a boy. +But the one supreme thrill, the one he never forgot, the one that +repeated itself over and over again in his dreams, was when the +automobile with its daring operator starting from the very top of the +immense building, amid the deathlike hush of the crowd, flew like a +flash down the steep incline, sprang into space, turned a complete +somersault, and, lighting on the further side of the gap, rushed across +the arena. This was the climax of everything. Little else appealed to +Bert; he talked of nothing else on the way home. There was no use +talking, the "auto fever" was in his blood. + +With this passionate delight in his favorite machine, Bert's feeling can +be understood when he learned that the chief feature of the boys' +encampment when the summer opened was to be an automobile "hike," the +car itself having been kindly loaned by Mr. Hollis. At first, owing to +conditions at the factory, he had feared that he would not be able to go +at the time set for the encampment, and his disappointment was crushing. +A quiet little talk of Mr. Hollis's with his employer, however, had +adjusted things so that he learned at the last moment he would be able +to go. We have already seen how uproariously he had been received by his +old companions when he came so unexpectedly into the howling mob of +enthusiasts at the summer camp. + +In less time after his arrival than it takes to tell, Bert was clad in +khaki and had obtained the ready permission of Mr. Hollis to take the +boys on their desired expedition. + +The fellows scrambled into their adored "Red Scout" with more haste than +grace, while Bert was busy cranking it. Then with a cry of "All right +back there?" and an answering shout of "You bet your life," the great +car started smoothly up the ascent. + +As it quickened its speed and disappeared around a bend of the road, +more than one of the boys at the camp wished he had been quicker to +offer his services. + +"If I'd only known that Bert would be here I'd been one of the first to +volunteer, but I must say I wasn't anxious to trust my neck to Bob's +safe-keeping. He doesn't know any more about running an automobile than +I do;" and when Jim said that he was saying a great deal. + +Meanwhile the "Red Scout's" passengers were having the time of their +lives. + +"Gee, it's like flying," said Frank joyfully. + +"It's a heap sight better," challenged Tom. "Can't you make it go +faster?" he asked of Bert. + +"I guess yes," Bert shouted, as he put on more speed. + +The automobile darted forward like a live thing and the boys were +enraptured by the rapidity of its motion. It almost seemed to them as +though the "Red Scout" were standing still and all the scenery were flying +past. Hardly did the farmhouses come in sight than they were passed and +lost in the distance. + +Scores of timid little woodland creatures scurried away to the shelter +of holes and empty logs, surprised and alarmed at the streak of red +lightning that flashed by. Mother birds hovered protectingly over their +fledglings, ready to defend them against the whole world if necessary, +while excited squirrels scolded noisily from the treetops long after +they had any excuse for it. + +On, on they rushed along roads over which giant trees met, past meadow +lands where cattle grazed lazily, over bridges, past sparkling brooks +that formed miniature waterfalls as they rushed over the stones--on, on! + +As they slowed up to take a sharp bend in the road they came face to +face with another automobile dashing along at a reckless speed. + +Fortunately both Bert and the driver of the other machine kept their +presence of mind. Before anyone had a chance to realize what was +happening, Bert had swerved the Scout way over to the right side of the +road. There happened to be a fairly deep depression on that side, so +Bert had the choice of two evils. He had either to crash squarely into +the other automobile or he had to run the risk of having his own machine +turn turtle. He chose the lesser danger and ran into the ditch. However, +it wasn't as bad as it easily might have been, for only the front and +rear wheels of one side of the car were in the depression. Even at that +they had come within a hair's-breadth of being upset. + +As soon as the boys could pull themselves together, they tumbled out of +the car. The occupants of the other car were four men, who sprang out at +once to see if they could be of service in any way. + +"I think we'd better improvise a lever," Bert suggested. + +"That may look all right in print," grumbled Bob, "but how are you going +to do it?" + +"I know how we can work it all right," said one of the men. "See those +big stones over there? Well, the first thing to do is to bring them over +here." + +"Oh, I see what you mean to do," Bert chimed in eagerly. "There are lots +of big tree branches lying around. Looks as if they had been blown down +in some storm. We can use them for levers." + +"Guess you've got the right idea, son," said the man who had first +spoken. "Now let's get down to business." + +It was a work of time to place the stones in the right position and to +pick out branches that would stand the strain. It proved a tremendous +task to lift the heavy car. At times they almost despaired of moving it. +However, it was that very desperation that gave them strength at last. +Inch by inch, slowly, carefully, they finally forced the great car +upward, until with a sigh of relief they realized that the task was +finished. + +The boys dropped to the ground, exhausted by the unusual exertion. It +doesn't take very long, though, for strong, healthy boys to recover from +any strain, however great; so in a few minutes they were again in the +car and ready to start for camp. It was too late to go further, and +after thanking the men for their help they started back--slowly this +time. + +It was after dark when they reached the camp, and Mr. Hollis, although +confident of Bert's resourcefulness, was beginning to be slightly +worried when the wanderers appeared at last upon the scene. + +In a very few moments the half-famished boys were seated at a most +appetizing meal, to which they did full justice. + +The rest of the fellows listened with the greatest interest, while Tom +related the adventure. Bert and Mr. Hollis at a little distance +discussed the events of the day and planned to renew the trip on the +following morning. + +It was only when everything was quiet in the camp and the boys were +supposed to be asleep, that Tom, rising on his elbow, called out softly: + +"Hello. Are you asleep over there?" + +"Just turning the corner," came a sleepy voice. + +"Well, stay on this side for a minute. I was just thinking that in that +wild ride we never even looked for a place to pitch camp." + +"Gee, that's so," came the voice, a little less sleepy this time. "Well, +of all the boneheads we're the limit. I always thought my head was hard, +but now I know it's solid. Oh, well," and again the voice grew sleepy, +"we'll have plenty of time to-morrow to think of that. I'm too tired +now. Good night. I've just got to--turn--the--corner." + +Where Tom promptly joined him. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE COPPERHEAD + + +Bright and early next morning Bert awoke to find the sunbeams playing +all over his tent. He noticed lazily what funny spots they made on Tom's +sleeping face. Then, with a start, he remembered that Tom had grumbled +the night before because they would have to get up early to catch a mess +of fish for breakfast. + +Thinking that he would wait a little while till Tom woke up, he rolled +off his cot on to the floor so that he could command a view of the brook +through the open tent flap. He had just made himself comfortable when an +irritable voice hailed him from the direction of Tom's cot: + +"That you, Bert? What are you doing awake at this unearthly hour?" + +"Same as yourself, I suppose," came the calm reply. + +"Humph! Well, you're not going to rout me out at five o'clock in the +morning." + +"Don't be a bear, Tom. We've got to help the fellows catch that fish and +you know it, so the sooner we start the better. A couple of the fellows +are down there now." + +"Oh, well, I suppose we've got to, then, worse luck. They probably will +guy us unmercifully, too, about yesterday. It's a wonder they didn't, +last night," which was all the credit the boys got for trying to save +the feelings of the reckless volunteers. + +As the two comrades ran swiftly down to the water's edge, they noticed +that Shorty--Philip Strong had been nicknamed Shorty because of his very +small figure--was tugging hard at his line. + +"Got a bite, Shorty?" they shouted, when they came within hailing +distance. + +"Bet your life, and it's pulling like a good fellow, too." + +"Better let me help; I'm stronger than you," offered Bob, who was +sitting a little distance down the bank and whose luck hadn't been of +the best up to that time. + +Now, a very sore point with Shorty was his lack of strength, and whenever +anybody referred to it, no matter with what good intentions, he always +bristled up as if at a personal insult. This morning that very touchiness +proved to be his undoing, for, as he got to his feet, intending to inform +Bob that he could do very well without any of his help, the fish gave a +sudden jerk to the line that made Shorty lose his balance and tumble +head-first into the water. + +The boys, convulsed with laughter, fished him up, dripping and sheepish. +Without thanking the boys for their help, Shorty zig-zagged up to the +tent, making, it must be confessed, a rather sorry figure. When they +finally had managed to get the line up they found that the cause of +Shorty's undoing had escaped. + +"Poor little Shorty, he's always getting into trouble," one of the boys +said when he had breath enough. + +Then, as the time was getting short, they all settled down in good +earnest to their task and, before the camp was awake at half-past six, +had caught a "corking mess," as they expressed it. + +As each tent poured forth its several occupants, the fishermen took +their mornings catch to the mess tent and went to report--some of them +with sinking hearts, it is to be feared--to Mr. Hollis. + +However, the leader was very lenient with the offenders, merely +reprimanding their carelessness and cautioning them not again to forget +that they had pledged their word of honor to render him the most +absolute obedience in every particular. + +Upon the boys eagerly promising that they wouldn't offend again and upon +Bert's asking to be allowed to have another chance to find the camp +site, permission was given and they sauntered away, filled with the +happy anticipation of laurels still to be won. + +Soon after breakfast the "Red Scout" was brought out and the original +volunteers, their ranks swelled by three new recruits, Shorty among +them, started off up the hill amid the cheers and good wishes of the +fellows. + +For an hour they rode steadily up hill and down dale until they saw far +off through the trees the faint gleam of water. Running the auto into +the woods for a short distance, they all jumped out and started to +investigate. + +The boys thought they had never seen the woods when they were as +beautiful as on that day. They had not gone very far before Bert, who +was in the lead, called back, "Come here, fellows and see this grove of +chestnut trees. Isn't it great?" + +The boys all hurried forward and there, sure enough, was a regular +colony of chestnut trees, their huge branches giving promise of abundant +harvest, when the frost came. + +"Say, fellows, its a shame not to be able to get any good out of these +nuts that are sure to be so plentiful in the fall. Don't you suppose we +might arrange to stay until the frost comes?" Shorty asked. + +"I should think we ought to be able to fix it up," said Frank. "We can +ask Mr. Hollis about it anyway." + +Then they started again, on the lookout for other finds. All the way +along they came across numbers of clear, cold springs and never failed +to test each one. More than once they had to cross brooks on stones that +were not over steady and, at one time, a very loose one nearly caused +Shorty another ducking. + +At last they reached the border of the woods and looked out upon a sight +that held them spellbound. There before them was a smooth, grassy stretch +of ground, dotted here and there with beautiful, spreading oak trees. +Sloping gently down, it stopped at the edge of a clear, transparent lake +that reflected the radiant brightness of the sun. On the other side the +ground was level for a short distance and then rose forming a small hill, +richly carpeted with low shrubs and gorgeously colored wild flowers. +Branches of trees drooped low over the lake, as if trying to catch their +own reflections in its clear depths. Birds twittered and sang in the +branches, joyously mingling their bubbling notes with the music of a +rippling brook near by. It seemed as if the soft voice of Nature spoke to +them in the murmuring of the trees, sang to them in the song of the +birds, joyously called to them in the babble of the brook, smiled a +welcome to them from the bright surface of the lake. + +"Gee!" said Tom, drawing a long breath. "It sure is wonderful!" + +"Wonderful!" Bert exclaimed. "It's by far the most beautiful place I've +ever had the luck to locate! Come on, fellows, let's take a look +around." + +So look around they did and found that every thing about this ideal spot +was all they could possibly ask for--and more. After examining everything +in sight they found that they were just about starved, so they sat down +under one of the trees near the lake and spread out the contents of the +lunch basket. After a feast of chicken, canned salmon, cornbread, maple +syrup, and sweetened lemon juice, which, when mixed with cold spring +water made a very tempting drink, they started off with the empty lunch +basket, the latter being, as one of the boys remarked, "a heap sight +lighter than it was when we started." + +"That's all right," said Frank, "but I feel a heap sight heavier." + +"You shouldn't have eaten so much," Shorty reproved him. + +"If I'd eaten as much as you have, Philip Strong," Frank retorted, "I +wouldn't be able to walk." + +"Speaking of eating," said Shorty, sniffing the air inquiringly, "do any +of you fellows smell cucumbers?" + +"What's the matter, Shorty? Has the little ducking you indulged in this +morning addled your brains? Whoever heard of cucumbers in the woods?" +said Frank contemptuously. + +"I know it sounds foolish but it's the truth just the same," and Shorty +stood his ground stoutly. + +"Shorty's right, boys: I noticed the cucumber smell quite a while ago +and it seems to grow stronger the farther we go," said Bert. + +"By George, that's so! I smell it myself, now." "I do, too." "So do I." +and various other exclamations of the same sort showed that Shorty was +right. + +The boys scattered all over trying to locate the odor, which was very +strong at this time. Tom was the first to discover the cause of it. At +his low, imperative, "Come here quick, fellows, but don't make a noise," +they all ran to see what was the matter. + +Excitedly he pointed to a long, copper-colored snake, that seemed to be +watching a bird's nest built low in one of the bushes. The mother bird +was hovering distractedly over her nest, uttering shrill, excited cries +that brought her mate to her side. Just then the snake coiled ready to +strike and the boys looked around desperately for stones but Bert had +gotten ahead of them. As soon as he had seen what was happening he had +slipped noiselessly away to a brook they had just passed and, snatching +up a heavy stone, had hurried back to the scene of the tragedy. So, as +soon as the snake had its head in a position to strike he hurled the +stone directly at it. Slowly and convulsively the snake untwined and +finally lay still. + +"It's strange I didn't think of that cucumber smell being caused by a +copperhead," said Bert; "I used to kill them every once in a while when +I was at my uncle's farm." + +Just then, Tom called their attention to the mother bird. "Doesn't it +almost seem as if she were thanking us?" And it really did seem so. The +little bird had settled back on her nest with her black eyes fixed +gratefully on her rescuers and making little, low, gurgling noises way +down in her throat. Nearby on a low branch the father bird was swaying +back and forth, pouring out his musical notes straight from a little +heart bursting with gratitude and joy. + +Leaving the happy family to its own devices, the boys took up the trail +again. In high spirits, they chased each other over fallen logs and +through the dense foliage, peered into squirrels' holes and rabbits' +burrows, commented upon the appearance and habits of the sly little +chipmunk and other interesting, woodland creatures. + +Before they realized it they had come upon the "Red Scout" standing just +as they had left it in its leafy garage. + +While they were on the way home they examined the snake skin. It was a +beauty of its kind. It was about a yard long and the sixteen copper-red, +moccasin-shaped stripes were very clearly defined. + +As soon as they reached camp they gave in their report to Mr. Hollis. +The boys all crowded around, eager to hear about the snake and camp +site. The heroes of the day were deluged with questions. "How did you +get it?" "Have you found a good place for camp?" "Where is it?" "What +does it look like?" "Tell us all about it." + +Finally, Mr. Hollis, seeing how tired and hungry they were, came to +their rescue, proposing that they eat their supper first and save the +tale of adventure until the camp council. At first they agreed rather +hesitatingly but, as an appetizing smell issued forth from the mess +tent, they found that they couldn't get there fast enough. + +After supper the boys made a roaring fire and squatted around it, +waiting for the roll-call. Then Mr. Hollis called the roll, beginning +with Adams and ending with Taylor. As everybody was there, the reports +were called for. Every boy reported his adventures and experiences +during the day; all of which would have been intensely interesting to +the boys as a rule, but they were so anxious to hear Bert's report that +they passed over the others rapidly. + +When at last Bert's turn came, they all crowded forward with eager +interest, and they were not disappointed. Bert told his story simply +and well, and was not once interrupted. + +When the tale was finished the boys fairly exploded. Cries of "Isn't it +great?" "Everything is sure going our way this year," mingled with "How +did you manage to get the stone without the snake hearing you?" "What +are you going to do with the skin now that you've got it?" And to all +Bert gave a satisfactory answer. + +It was a long time before the boys could quiet down and even then they +felt like hearing something exciting. + +"Who can tell a good ghost story?" Bob asked. + +"Dave's the boy. Come on, Dave, put on your thinking cap." + +Dave Ferris had been elected official story teller at the beginning, +because he always had a stock on hand, and they were generally thrilling +tales of adventure or weird ghost stories, the kind that boys always +revel in. + +Dave was silent, thinking for a little while. Then he said, "All right +boys, here goes. Are you ready?" + +To a chorus of "Sure thing, fire away, and break the speed limit," they +all gathered closer together around the fire and Dave began his story. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE CHALLENGE + + +Dave certainly could not complain of a bored or indifferent audience. +Even Mr. Hollis was absorbed and listened with a smile on his kindly +face. He was always intensely interested in anything the boys said or +did, and was never happier than when he saw that they were especially +enjoying themselves. + +Dave had just reached the most thrilling part of his story, and in their +imaginations the boys could hear the wailings of the ghost and the +clanking of his chains. He was describing the awful appearance of its +sunken fiery eyes, when Shorty happened to glance apprehensively around +and immediately emitted a blood-curdling yell. + +"The ghost! The ghost!" he stammered, pointing in the direction of the +road. All leaped to their feet and followed the direction of Shorty's +trembling finger, and for a moment even Bert Wilson felt a queer little +tightening sensation about the heart, for there, apparently coming +directly toward them, were the fiery eyes that Dave had just described +with such gusto. + +"Why, you simps," laughed Bert, "that's no ghost, or if it is, it is the +most solid spook I ever heard of. Those are the acetylene lamps of +another auto," and as he spoke he exchanged significant glances with Mr. +Hollis. + +Somewhat ashamed of having been so startled, the boys now fell to +guessing at the mission of the strange car. They had not long to wait. +In a few minutes they could hear the purring of its exhaust, and soon a +great gray automobile dashed into camp and drew up in front of the fire. + +From it descended a genial looking man, apparently of about the same age +as Mr. Hollis, followed by five clean cut young fellows. + +Mr. Hollis and Mr. Thompson, as the new comer's name proved to be, +evidently knew each other and shook hands heartily. Meanwhile the camp +boys mingled with their unexpected guests and with the freemasonry of +youth soon became chummy. + +The only fault perhaps that could be found with the new arrivals was +that they seemed to be a trifle overbearing, and evidently thought that +their car, which they called the "Gray Ghost," could beat any other +automobile ever made. + +It is needless to state that Bert's crowd felt the same way regarding the +"Red Scout," so that the boys were soon engaged in a heated argument +concerning the respective merits of their cars. + +"Why," maintained Tom, hotly, "you fellows have no idea what our 'Red +Scout' can do in the way of speed and hill climbing. Just to-day we were +out on a run and, though I didn't actually time it, I am dead sure there +were stretches where we did as well as a mile a minute. What do you +think of that?" he asked triumphantly. + +Indeed, this seemed to cool the visitors down somewhat and they +exchanged surprised glances. But they soon recovered their confidence +and went on to describe the speed qualities of their car with +ever-increasing enthusiasm. + +"It was just a short time ago," said one whose name turned out to be +Ralph Quinby, "that we took the 'Gray Ghost' around the old race track +just outside the town, and we averaged over fifty miles an hour. We +could have gone much faster too, only Mr. Thompson would not let us. +I'll just bet your auto couldn't go as fast as that." + +It was now the turn of their hosts to look doubtful. They were sure, +however, that the "Red Scout" could hold its own with any other car, and +as they thought of their idolized driver, Bert Wilson, their confidence +came back with a rush. + +"Well," replied Tom, drawing a long breath, "you fellows evidently +think you could win in a race and we just _know_ that we could, so I +guess the only way to settle the dispute is to run off a race somewhere +and prove which is the better machine. I know we'd be willing if you +would, wouldn't we, boys?" + +There was a chorus of approving shouts from his companions, but the +visitors only smiled in a superior fashion, and evidently thought there +could be but one conclusion to any race in which their car was entered. + +Meanwhile, Mr. Hollis and Mr. Thompson were holding an earnest +conversation in which the latter seemed to be urging some point about +which Mr. Hollis apparently hesitated. In fact, Mr. Thompson was trying +to get Mr. Hollis to give his consent to a race between the cars owned +by the two camps. But the latter thought that it would involve too much +risk for the boys who drove the machines. + +"You see, it's this way," he was saying, "you and I, Thompson, are +responsible for the safety of these boys. We both feel toward them as +though they belonged to us and if anything happened to them we would +never forgive ourselves. It seems to me too big a risk to take merely +for the sake of seeing who owns the faster car." + +"Yes, you're dead right there, of course," returned Mr. Thompson, "but +then I don't think the risk is so great as you imagine. I have seen the +track they would use, provided the race was run, and I think there would +be little, if any, danger. The track has not been used for several years +and most of the fence is missing, so that if they ran off the course +itself, it would only be a matter of running over the grass until they +stopped. You know me well enough to realize that I would not sanction +anything that contained too large an element of peril. As for the slight +risk that undoubtedly exists, it seems to me that it would not hurt the +boys to take it, and it would teach them self-reliance and confidence." + +"As far as that goes," said Mr. Hollis, smiling reluctantly, "my boys +have too much confidence in themselves and I have to be constantly +curbing their tendencies toward taking chances. However, I have every +confidence in your judgment, so I suppose I might as well consent this +once. I wish to have it understood, however, that this is the last as +well as the first race they ever run, win or lose." + +"That suits me all right, so I guess we can consider it settled," +answered Mr. Thompson, "what do you say to going over and having a look +at the machines? You haven't seen our car yet, have you?" + +"No, that's a pleasure still in store for me," replied Mr. Hollis; and +the two men rose and strolled over to where the cars stood, their brass +work glittering in the light of the dancing campfire. + +By this time most of the boys had gathered around the cars, but they +saluted and made way respectfully for their leaders as they came up. +They both smiled when they saw Bert and Ralph Quinby, for they were so +engrossed in the discussion of the respective merits and appliances of +their cars that they did not even notice the coming of their leaders. + +Such terms as "gear ratios," "revolutions per minute" and "three point +suspension" filled the air, and Mr. Hollis whispered to Mr. Thompson: +"I'll wager that those boys saturate their handkerchiefs with gasoline, +so that whenever they get a block away from a machine they can smell +gasoline and feel at home again." + +"Wouldn't be surprised if they did," laughed Mr. Thompson. + +"Here, you fellows come out of your trance," called Dick, and Bert and +Ralph turned quickly around and saluted. + +Their leaders returned the salute, and Mr. Thompson said: "Well, I +suppose both you boys think you have a pretty fast machine there. How +would you like to have a test of speed?" + +There was a chorus of excited cries and exclamations from the boys, and +their leaders smiled indulgently. + +Bert stepped forward and said: "I think, sir, that I speak for Mr. +Quinby as well as myself when I say that nothing would suit us better." +Ralph gave a nod of assent and Bert went on: "We will both promise to be +cautious, and I think if we take proper precautions we will be able to +run off a good race without an accident. How long do you think the race +ought to be?" + +"How long is the track that you propose using?" inquired Mr. Hollis. + +"Why, it's just one mile, isn't it Ralph?" asked Mr. Thompson. + +"Yes, sir," replied Ralph. + +"Well, it seems to me," said Mr. Thompson, "that ten miles, that is ten +full laps around the track, ought to be about right. Will that be +satisfactory to you, Mr. Hollis?" + +"Yes, I can see no objection to that," replied the latter, "what day +shall we have the race?" + +"How would a week from today suit you?" + +"Let me see, that will be Tuesday, won't it? I guess that will be +satisfactory to all concerned. How do you boys feel about it?" + +They voiced a unanimous assent to these arrangements, and both sides +started discussing the various chances and possibilities of the contest, +but with perfect good humor and friendly feeling. + +It was now getting late, however, and the discipline of the camps could +not be too much relaxed, even in the face of such an important event as +this. Accordingly, hearty farewells were exchanged, and the visitors +climbed into their big gray car. + +All the boys gathered around expectantly to note the behavior of the car +when it started, and it must be admitted that even Bert Wilson's expert +eye could find no defect in the handling or running of the rival machine. +Ralph started it smoothly and without a jerk, and soon all they could see +of it was the angry gleam of its red tail-light. + +As they turned away to prepare for sleep, Jim remarked: "Aw, I bet we'll +have a walkover in that race." + +Bert knew better, however, and was convinced that he would have to use +every ounce of power that the "Red Scout" possessed to beat the "Gray +Ghost." But one thing he was sure of, and that was that whoever won it +was going to be a mighty close race. He did not make the mistake of +underrating his rival, as so many boys in his position would have done, +but made up his mind to do the very best he could, right from the +start. + +For a long time he stood staring at the "Red Scout," and then raised its +shining hood and patted the spotless cylinders. + +"I guess we can do it, old boy, but you will have to stand by me and +work as you have never worked before," he said, and gently lowered the +hood and walked off toward his tent. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE HOBOES AND THE BEES + + +Early in the morning the boys began to break camp and start for the new +location. Groups of three or four were detailed by Mr. Hollis to +accomplish certain tasks and they started to carry out his directions +right merrily. Some were sent to store the provisions and cooking +utensils; others to take down the tents and gather together their +blankets and other bedding; still others got together the fishing tackle +and all was done to the accompaniment of songs and jests and laughter, +so that before they knew it everything was ready to dump into the old +farm wagons they had hired for the purpose. When everything was packed +in the wagon that would possibly go in, Mr. Hollis selected Tom to ride +beside the driver and show him where to go. + +After the wagon had started off, some of the boys' own personal +belongings that were left over were put in the "Red Scout" and seven of +the fellows scrambled in someway--trust boys to find room if there is +any to be found--and started away after the wagon. They soon passed it +and went on until they came to the turn in the road where the lake could +be dimly seen through the trees. There Bert stopped and the boys got +out, taking the packages with them. Shorty had been detailed to lead +them to the lake and then to come back and wait for the farm wagon. + +Then Bert went back to pick up Mr. Hollis and Dick Trent who had stayed +behind to see that nothing had been forgotten. + +On the way back he passed the wagon and hailed Tom with a "How are you +getting along, old man?" + +"Pretty badly, I thank you. I wish Mr. Hollis had picked out somebody +else for this job--someone who didn't care if he spent hours getting +nowhere," Tom replied sourly. + +"Cheer up, the worst is yet to come," laughed Bert. "Never mind, even +the worst trials have to end some time," he added consolingly and +started off again while Tom looked enviously after the red car, now fast +disappearing in the distance. + +When Bert reached the old camp site, now looking very bare and forlorn, +he found Mr. Hollis and the boys waiting impatiently for him. Mr. Hollis +and Dick got in, followed by six of the boys. Bert promised to come back +for the rest right away and the "Red Scout" started off with its second +load. In a little while, for Bert had found a second and much shorter +road to the lake, they came once more to "Campers' Crossing" as the boys +had named it. There they found that the wagon had just arrived with its +load, but the boys had delayed unloading it until Mr. Hollis should +reach the scene of action. In a minute the Camp Master had taken charge +and the boys were busy unloading and carrying everything to the camp. + +Once more Bert started back with the reliable "Red Scout" for his last +load. When he got to the old camp the boys greeted him with the news +that Jim Dawson had disappeared and couldn't be found anywhere. + +"He was here just a few minutes ago," said Steve Thomas. "But when I +went to ask him a question just now he was gone. We have hunted high and +low but we can't find a trace of him." + +Bert was troubled at first, but suddenly a thought struck him and his +face lighted up as he exclaimed: "I think I can explain the mystery. +Follow me, fellows." + +He led them through a dense thicket to the side of a hill, covered with +underbrush. Pulling a bush aside, he disclosed to the boys' astonished +gaze, a great, black hole which was evidently the mouth of a cave. + +"Come on out, Jim," Bert called. "We don't want to keep Mr. Hollis +waiting _too_ long, you know." + +Jim Dawson was one of those hungry boys who never can get enough to eat, +so, having discovered the cave one day, while chasing a butterfly, he +had secretly brought food there in a tin box, so that if he chanced to +get hungry, he always had something to eat at hand. + +Bert had discovered the cave and its secret long ago but he was not +given to tale-bearing and so had kept his own counsel. + +As Bert spoke, a sound was heard inside the cave, and, in a minute, +out came the culprit with an accusing piece of cornbread in his hand, +blinking like an owl brought suddenly into the glare of the sun. + +At the look of complete surprise and dismay on his face the boys burst +into a shout of laughter. + +"Oh, you lemon," gasped Steve. "You full-sized lemon! How did you ever +manage to get away with it?" + +"No wonder we have been short of grub, lately," Dave said, holding his +sides as if he were afraid he would burst. + +"Aw, I don't see why you can't leave a fellow alone," said Jim, sulkily. +"I only brought grub here that belonged to me." + +"Don't be sore, Jim," Bert said, good-naturedly. "I wouldn't have +disturbed you if we hadn't been in a hurry. That reminds me that we've +wasted a good deal of valuable time, already. I guess we had better be +getting along." + +At that they all started back on the run and soon had Jim in such a good +humor that he even told them how he had escaped being found out by a +narrow margin many a time, and that nobody but Bert had even suspected +the cave's existence. + +They all piled into the "Red Scout" in a hurry because they feared that +Mr. Hollis would worry on account of their prolonged absence. + +They arrived at "Campers' Crossing" just in time to carry the last +barrel of provisions. When they reached the new camp the boys were +surprised to see how much had been done in their absence. The tents had +been set up and from the mess tent came the clattering of utensils and +the savory odor of creamed salmon on toast. + +Soon, the call to dinner was heard, and the boys all gathered around the +table, chattering like magpies. + +"It seems as if we'd always camped here," said Shorty. "There's +something about the place that makes you feel at home right away." + +"It's the classiest place I've ever been in," Dave Ferris declared, +enthusiastically. "It makes you imagine that Nature might have had a +little time on her hands and devoted it to making this one spot a little +paradise." + +"Hear! Hear!" Tom cried, clapping his hands in mock praise. "Dave will +be a poet if he doesn't look out. Give us some more, old man, the +sample's good." + +"You'd better be careful how you + + "'Beard the lion in his den + The Ferris in his hall,'" + +said Dick Trent, warningly. "He won't favor us with any more stories if +you are not careful how you offend him." + +"I'd just as soon he'd spout all the poetry he wants to if it relieves +him any, as long as he doesn't forget how to tell stories," Shorty +remarked as he contentedly munched a piece of toast. + +"How very kind of you," said Dave, sarcastically. "I thank you with all +my heart for your liberality." + +"My which? Say, Dave, if that ever belonged to me, I call you all to +witness that I disown it from this time on. It's no friend of mine from +this time on." + +"You'd better hang on to it, Shorty. It's the best kind of thing to +have around at times," said Mr. Hollis, as he rose to leave the table. + +In the afternoon scouting parties were sent out in all directions to +find out the nature of the surrounding country. Steve Thomas, Bert, Tom, +Bob, Shorty, and Jim Dawson were sent off to scour the woods in an +easterly direction from the lake. + +For a considerable distance they tramped along, talking of the different +plants and shrubs they came across and naming the birds they saw in the +trees. They threw peanuts to the squirrels that peeped inquiringly at +them from branches over their heads or ventured shyly from the shelter +of their holes. They imitated the clear notes of the birds until the +little songsters paused to look wonderingly at these strange creatures +that could not fly and yet sang like themselves. Timid little rabbits +watched the boys with soft, brown eyes, not knowing whether or not to +sally forth from their security even for the tempting carrot that Bert +held out so coaxingly. When he threw it at a distance, however, one +little fellow, braver than the others, his appetite overcoming his +fears, ran forth quickly, snatched the carrot and scurried back in a +panic to his burrow, where, with his bright eyes fixed on these humans +who had been so kind to him, he ate contentedly. + +Suddenly the quiet woods rang with shouts and cries, the barking of a +dog and the noise of people running to and fro furiously. Alarmed, the +boys started on a run for the place from which the cries seemed to come. +They fairly gasped when they came upon the cause of all the commotion. +Three men, of the roughest order, were dancing distractedly around, +trying to beat off a swarm of bees that surrounded them, and yelling +like mad, while a big collie dog, wild with excitement, barked with all +his might. + +[Illustration: Three men of the roughest order were dancing distractedly +around.] + +"Say, this is better than a circus," Shorty shouted, "only I'm glad that +those hoboes and not I are the whole show now." + +"Shut up, Shorty. The question now, is, what we can do to help the poor +fellows out," said Tom; then, turning to the tramps, he yelled, "You'd +better make a dive for the brook and get under water. It's right through +the trees to your left," he added, as the men, now nearly crazy with +pain, started to follow his advice. + +Rushing frantically to the brook, they plunged in head first, while the +bees, deprived of their prey, flew off angrily into the woods to search +for new victims upon whom they might vent their spite. When the tramps +came up, dripping from the water, they were a sight to behold. Their +faces were swollen so that their eyes seemed to be mere slits and +their ears appeared to be twice their natural size. + +The boys at once ran to get mud to put on the red, angry wounds. The +tramps submitted with indifferent grace to the treatment, grumbling that +they "didn't see what good being all smeared up with mud was going to +do." + +As soon as the boys had done what they could to ease the pain, the +tramps declared that they would have to be moving on "because them pesky +critters might come back to finish up their business." + +So the boys watched the strange company of sullen, muttering men +disappear through the trees. As they were lost to view, the comical side +of the adventure struck Shorty and he began to laugh and the longer he +laughed, the harder he laughed. The others caught the infection and in a +second the woods were ringing with the unrestrained roars of the boys. +They laughed until they could laugh no more and then lay on the grass, +gasping for breath. + +"Oh, they did look _so_ funny!" said Shorty between gasps. "I never +shall forget that sight until my dying day." + +At that minute Bert sat up suddenly, exclaiming, "Fellows, look who's +here!" + +With one accord they turned and saw the collie which they had entirely +forgotten, sitting near and regarding them with inquiring, wistful eyes. + +"Come here, Beauty," Bert called, and the dog came unhesitatingly and +stuck his cold, black muzzle in Bert's hand. + +"Did they desert you, old fellow?" Bert asked, putting his arm around +the dog's neck. + +The collie waved his beautiful brush and, lifting his soft eyes to Bert's +face saw something there that made him his slave forevermore. For the +collie, with true dog instinct, had recognized that in Bert he had a +friend. + +"I wonder where those tramps got him." "Probably swiped him." "Doesn't +look as if he'd had very good treatment." "He doesn't and it's a shame, +too. Isn't he a beauty?" were some of the comments of the boys as they +gathered around the dog, patting his head gently. The collie waved his +tail and in his eyes was a great longing for sympathy and love. And you +may be sure the boys gave him what he asked for. + +Tired out, the boys finally went back to camp, followed by their new +friend who soon became a favorite with everyone. That night Don, as they +called the dog, sat with the rest around the camp fire and answered +whenever they spoke to him with a wave of his silver brush. Bert made +him a bed on the floor of his tent and Don gladly took possession of +it. Just before he got into bed Bert put his hand on the dog's head, +saying, "I guess we're going to be good friends aren't we, old fellow?" + +And Don, looking up in his master's face, with eyes that held a world of +gratitude and love, answered to Bert's entire satisfaction. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SHORTY GOES TO THE ANT + + +The next morning, when the boys drew aside the flaps of their tents, the +sky was dark and lowering. A good many anxious glances were thrown at +the clouds and open disapproval of the outlook was not slow in breaking +out. + +"Gee, what a fearful day," said Jim. + +"You bet it is," chimed in Shorty. + +"That's our luck," wailed Dave, "just when I wanted to go to town to get +a new blade for the jack-knife I broke yesterday." + +"Oh, come off, you pessimists," sang out Bert, who had just plunged his +head in a bucket of cold water and now was rubbing his face until it +shone, "somewhere the sun is shining." + +"Heap of good that does us," grumbled Shorty, "but say," as he turned to +Bert suspiciously, "what sort of thing was that you called us?" + +"I said you were pessimists." + +"Well, what does that jawbreaker mean?" + +"Why," said Bert, who could not resist his propensity to tease, "that +means that you are not optimists." + +"Worse and worse and more of it," complained Shorty. + +"That's just as clear as mud," echoed Jim. + +"Well," said Bert, tantalizingly, "listen my children----" + + "'Listen, my children and you shall hear + Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,'" + +chanted Frank, who had recited that identical poem in his elocution +class at the last term of school. + +A well-aimed pillow made him duck, and Bert resumed: + +"You see, Shorty, it's just like this: The optimist is the fellow that +sees the doughnut. The pessimist sees only the hole in the doughnut. +Now, for my part, there is no nourishment in the hole, but there's lots +of it in the doughnut." + +"Aw say, don't make a fellow's mouth water," said Shorty, before whose +practical vision rose up his mother's kitchen, fragrant with the smell +of the crisp, brown, sizzling beauties, as they were lifted from the +pan, "and me so far from home." + +If there were no doughnuts at the breakfast to which all hands came +running, their place was more than taken by the golden corn bread and the +savory bacon that formed the meal to which they sat down with all the +enthusiasm of hungry boys. The food disappeared as if by magic and the +table had been replenished more than once before the boys cried enough. +Many a sated millionaire would have willingly exchanged a substantial +part of his hoarded wealth for one of those unjaded appetites. But in +pure, undiluted satisfaction, the boys would have been the losers by the +exchange. + +That very thought struck Mr. Hollis as he watched the havoc made at +table by these valiant young trenchermen, and, turning to Dick, who sat +at his right, he spoke of the starving King Midas. Jim, who overheard +the name, which, as he said "was a new one on him," wanted to know who +Midas was, and how, if he were a king, he couldn't get grub enough to +keep him from starving. The boys, who had by this time taken the first +keen edge off their appetite, were equally eager to hear the story, and +Mr. Hollis went on to tell about the avaricious king of the olden time +who could never get enough, but was always asking the gods for more. +After a while they became wearied and disgusted and granted his request +that everything he touched should turn to gold. The king was delighted +at this beyond all measure. Now, at last, he was to have his heart's +desire. He put the gift to the test at once. He touched his sword and +it changed to gold. That was fine. He stroked his beard and every hair +became a glistening yellow spike. That wasn't so fine. He began to get a +little worried. Wasn't this too much of a good thing? Well, anyway there +was no use in fretting. He would go to dinner and get his mind off. But +when he touched the food, it too became gold. He lifted a goblet of +wine, only to find that it held molten metal. In the midst of plenty, he +was starving. Upon his knees, he begged the gods to take back their +fatal gift, and, thinking he had learned his lesson well, they did so. +His gold vanished, but, oh, how delicious was the first taste of food. +"And to-day," concluded Mr. Hollis, "there is many a millionaire whose +gold doesn't give him the pleasure that a square meal gives the ravenous +appetite of a healthy boy." + +"Well," said Tom, expressing the general sentiment, "I'd sure like the +money, but, oh, you corn bread." + +After breakfast, the boys broke up into separate groups. One went off +under the guidance of Mr. Hollis to gather some fossils that were to be +found in great abundance in the limestone that jutted out from a quarry +at a little distance from the camp. Another group of the fellows with +Dick in charge, who were especially interested in bird and insect +life--the "bug squad" as they were commonly and irreverently referred +to in camp--went to a little clearing about half a mile away that was +especially rich in specimens. The day before, Tom had secured an +uncommonly beautiful species of butterfly that topped anything in his +experience so far, and the other boys wanted to add one to their rapidly +growing collection. Whether the lowering day had anything to do or not +with the absence of these fluttering beauties who love the sunshine, +their search was without result, and after two hours spent in this way +they threw aside their butterfly nets and sat down in the shade of a +spreading beech to rest and as Shorty called it "to have a gabfest." + +Almost directly beneath the eastern branches was a large mound nearly +three feet above the surrounding level and perhaps twenty feet in +circumference. As Shorty flung himself down on the centre of the mound, +a curious expression came into the eyes of Dick. He glanced quickly at +Frank, who returned his look and added a wink that might have aroused +suspicion in Shorty's mind, had not that guileless youth been lying +stretched out at full length with his hat over his eyes. The warmth and +general mugginess of the air saturated almost to the raining point, +together with the constant activity of the last two hours, had tired him +out, and after a little badinage growing less and less spirited, he +began to doze. The other boys who had been given the tip by Frank and +Dick, let the conversation drag on purpose, and with a wicked glint of +mischief in their eyes watched the unsuspecting Shorty slip away into +the land of sleep. Soon his arms relaxed, his chest rose and fell with +his regular breathing and horrors! an undeniable snore told that Shorty +was not "faking," but was off for good. + +From being a spot of perfect peace and quiet, the mound suddenly burst +into life. From numberless gates a swarm of ants issued forth and rushed +about here and there to find out the cause of this invasion. The weight +of Shorty's body and his movements as he composed himself for sleep had +aroused them to a sense of danger and they poured out in thousands. Soon +the ground was covered with little patches of black and red ants, and as +though by common consent they began to surround the unconscious Shorty. +Some crept up his legs, others his arms, while others climbed over his +collar and slipped inside. + +First, an arm twitched violently. Then a sleepy hand stole down and +scratched his leg. The boys were bursting with laughter, and Tim grew +black in the face as he crowded his handkerchief into his mouth. Shorty +shook his head as a horse does when a fly lights on it. Again he +twitched and this time seemed to realize that there was something wrong. +Still half asleep, he snapped: + +"Aw, why don't you fellows quit your kidding? Stop tickling me with +that----" + +A yell ended the sentence as a nip more vicious than usual brought +Shorty to his feet, this time wide awake beyond all question. He cast +one glance at the boys, who now made no pretence of restraint but roared +with laughter. Then he saw the swarm of ants surrounding him and took in +the situation. He tore his hat from his head, his coat from his +shoulders, shook off his tormentors and spinning around like a dancing +dervish, dashed off toward the brook. A moment later there was a splash +and they heard Shorty blowing, spluttering, diving, rubbing, until +finally he had rid himself of the swarms that clung closer to him than a +brother. + +At last he succeeded and came up the bank. Before resuming his clothes, +he had to take each garment separately and search every seam and crease +to make sure that not a single ant remained. Then he came back into the +group like a raging lion. His temper never was any of the best, and the +sudden awakening from sleep, the stings and ticklings of the invaders, +and perhaps most of all, the unrestrained laughter of the boys had +filled his cup to the brim. He "saw red," as the saying is, and +regardless of age and size was rushing toward the rest with doubled up +fists and rage in his heart, when Dick caught him by the wrists and held +him in his strong grasp until his fury had spent itself somewhat and he +began to get control of himself. + +"Phil," said Dick--he never called him Shorty, and at this moment that +recollection helped to sober the struggling boy--"remember that the +first duty of boy or man is to control his temper. The boys didn't mean +any harm. It looked to them like a splendid joke, and perhaps we let it +go a little too far. I am really to blame more than any one else because +I am older and in charge of the squad. I'm awfully sorry, Phil, and I +beg your pardon." + +The kindly tone and sincere apology were not lost on Phil, who was not +without a sense of humor, which through all his anger began to struggle +to the surface. The other boys, too, thoughtless and impulsive though +they might be, were sound and kind at heart, and following Dick's +example crowded about Phil and joined in the apology. The most flaming +anger must melt before such expressions of regard and goodwill and Phil +was at last compelled to smile sheepishly and say that it was all right. + +"You're a sport, Phil, all right," called out Frank, and at this highest +of commendations from a boy's point of view, the last vestige of Phil's +resentment faded away. + +"Well, anyway, fellows," he said, "I don't bear any grudge against you, +but I am sure going to get even with those pesky ants. I never did care +much for ants anyway. I've been told so often to 'go to the ant, thou +sluggard,' that now I'm going to them for fair, and what I do to them +will be a plenty." + +As he said this, he turned toward the ant hill as though to demolish it, +but Dick put up a friendly hand: + +"No, Phil," said he, "you wouldn't destroy a wonderful and beautiful +palace, would you?" + +"Palace," said Phil in amazement, thinking for a moment that Dick was +"stringing" him. "What do you mean by that?" + +"Just what I say," returned Dick; "a wonderful and beautiful palace. +There is a queen there and she walks about every day in state, surrounded +by a throng of courtiers. There are princesses there that are taken out +daily to get the air, accompanied by a governess, exactly as you have +seen a group of boarding-school girls walking out with their teachers. +Surrounding the palace is a city where there are hundreds of carpenters +and farmers and sentinels and soldiers. If you waited round a while, you +would see the farmers going out to milk their cows----" + +At that point, Dick was interrupted by a roar of laughter that burst +from every boy at once. They had listened in growing amazement that had +rapidly become stupefaction, but this was really too much. What was the +matter with Dick? Was it a joke, a parable, a fairy story? They might be +kids all right, but there was a limit to everything, and when Dick +talked of ants going out to milk the cows--well! It was up to him to +explain himself or prove his statement, and that they felt sure he could +never do. + +Dick waited good-naturedly while they pelted him with objections and +plied him with questions. Then he took from his kit a strong magnifying +glass and told them that he was going to prove to them all what he had +said. + +"He laughs best who laughs last," he said, "and I am going to show you +that all I said is true. That is," he modified, "I cannot _prove_ +everything just now, as I would have to destroy this wonderful palace if +I were to try to show you how marvelous it is and how perfect in all its +appointments. But what we don't see ourselves has been seen time and +time again by hundreds of wise and truthful men, and their testimony is +as strong as though it were given under oath in a court of law." + +"Well," said Frank, "I'm willing to take everything else on faith, but +I'm afraid I'd have to see the milking done myself in order to believe +it." + +"All right," said Dick, "as it happens that is just the thing I can show +you more easily than anything else." + +The boys crowded eagerly around him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE ANTS GO MILKING + + +"You know," said Dick, as the boys threw themselves down at the side of +the mound and looked at it with an entirely new interest, "if these were +African ants, you wouldn't be taking any such liberties with them. +Instead of hanging around this mound you would be running away like all +possessed. And if you didn't make tracks in a hurry the only thing left +here would be your skeleton picked as clean as the one you saw the other +day in old Dr. Sanford's office." + +"What?" cried Jim, "do you mean to say that I would run away from a +little thing like an ant. Not on your life, I wouldn't." + +"Let's see," said Dick, "you'd run away from a boa-constrictor, wouldn't +you?" + +"Who wouldn't," retorted Jim. + +"Well, if you'd run away from the boa-constrictor, and he'd run away +from the ants, where do _you_ get any license to face the ants." + +"Do you mean to say that those monster snakes are afraid of such tiny +things?" + +"I should say they were," replied Dick, "the ants go from place to +place through the great African forest in countless numbers, millions at +a time, a regular army of them. Nothing can stand before them. They +strip every shrub, eat every blade of grass. They swarm over every +living thing they find in their way. Sometimes they come across a snake +unawares, and climb all over him. He squirms and twists and rushes away, +trying to brush them off, against the bushes. At last he turns and bites +frantically, but they never let up. They actually eat him alive, and in +less than ten minutes they pass on leaving his bones picked clean as a +whistle. The natives take their wives and children and flee for their +lives whenever they see an army of ants approaching." + +"But that, of course, has nothing to do with these little American +neighbors of ours. They are perfectly harmless and though they are +fierce scrappers among themselves, inflict no injury on any one else. +And there is nothing in the whole animal or insect world, except perhaps +the bees, that have a society and government so much like that of men." + +"In one respect they are like their African brothers and that is in +their fondness for travel. Every once in a while they make up their +minds to emigrate and then they fly in swarms of millions----" + +"What?" interrupted Frank, "do you mean to say they fly? I never knew +that an ant had wings." + +"Of course they have," said Dick, "they often have to cross rivers to +get to their new home. How could they do that without wings?" + +"Oh, I don't know," hummed Shorty: + + "The bed bug has no wings at all + But he gets there just the same." + +A rather severe glance from Dick quenched Phil's exuberant spirits which +had all come back to him since his ducking. + +"Now," continued Dick, "these swarms are sometimes so vast that they +darken the sun in certain localities. Men working on high buildings have +been surrounded and almost blinded by them. While these emigrations last +they are a bother, if not a peril, and the only ones that are really +happy are the fish in the brooks and rivers over which they pass. +Sometimes the surface is fairly black with them and the trout and little +troutlings have the time of their lives. Once the flight is ended, +however, and the new locality chosen, the wings disappear. Nature has no +use for needless things and from that time on the air knows them no +more. The carpenter ants get busy right away. The place is marked off as +accurately as a surveyor marks out a plot in the suburbs of a city. The +queen ant is given a royal room apart from all the others. She is a good +mother and takes the best of care of her little ones. As they grow +older, they in turn help the queen to care for their little brothers and +sisters. They are excessively neat and clean in their personal habits. +They spend hours preening and combing and cleaning until they are +immaculate----" + +"Regular dudes," muttered Jim. + +"Well," said Tom, "that's something that will never be laid up against +you, Jim." + +Jim, who indeed had a hard time keeping up to a high ideal of +cleanliness, and whose hair was usually tumbled while his nails too +often were draped in mourning, looked a little confused, and while he +was thinking up something to hurl back at Tom, Dick went on. + +"There is one thing, however, about the ants that I don't admire. They +like to get somebody else to do their work. A certain number of their +own colony are 'hewers of wood and drawers of water' for the rest. +Indeed, the aristocrats among them get so lazy after a while that they +will not even feed themselves. The workers not only have to hustle for +the grub, but actually have to feed it to the lords and dukes. And +talking of hustling for grub, just look here." + +The boys followed the direction of Dick's finger, and there coming up a +little beaten path they saw a procession of ants dragging along a big +fat caterpillar. It had evidently put up a good fight, judging from the +numbers that had been necessary to capture it, but they had proved too +strong. A little convulsive movement showed that it was not yet quite +dead, but it no longer made any resistance. The formic acid that the +ants secrete had partly paralyzed it and made defence impossible. There +was an almost comical disproportion between its large helpless bulk and +the tiny size of its conquerors, but this was a case where numbers +counted. The victors all pulled like good fellows and passing through +one of the entrances of the mound finally dragged their booty into the +inner cave. + +"Another thing," said Dick, when the keenly interested boys had again +gathered about him, "the red ants are slaveholders. When their working +force has been weakened or diminished, they get a big army together and +raid some colony of black ants a few hundred feet or yards distant in +order to carry them away as slaves. There is nothing haphazard or +slouchy about the way they go about it. Everything is arranged as +carefully and precisely as in the case of an American or European power +getting ready to go to war. At a given signal the troops come out and +get in order of battle. There is perfect order and system everywhere. +When there is a very large army, a sort of hum or buzz arises from it +almost as though they were beating drums to inspire the soldiers for +battle. They march forward in perfect time and dash upon the enemy with +irresistible fury. The black ants through their scouts have been told of +the enemy's approach and have made all the preparation they can to beat +them off. The infant ants, together with their household goods, have +been tucked away in upper galleries where they can see the fight but not +be in it." + +"Reserved seats as it were," murmured Frank. + +"The ants have two weapons. One is the nipper, that can cut off their +enemy's head as neatly as a pair of shears. Then they have the formic +acid that, used against ants or other insects, has a poisonous quality. +With both of these weapons they fight with the greatest desperation +until victory declares for one side or the other. The red ants are +usually victorious, as they are larger and stronger and more aggressive. +In case they win, they carry away all the little ones of their black +opponents and bring them up as slaves. They are treated kindly, and +after a while seem to grow content and take their place as the humbler +members of the community. After the battle is over the wounded ants are +carried home by their companions and the dead are buried in a regular +ants' cemetery." + +The boys had listened with a fascinated interest to these marvelous +stories of life going on all around them and to which they had never +given more than a passing thought. + +"Well," said Jim, "it sure is the queerest thing I ever heard about. If +anyone else but Dick had told me this I wouldn't have believed it." + +"Yes," said Tom, "it certainly sounds like a fairy story." + +"What gets me," said Shorty, "is that the queen seems to be the most +important of the whole bunch. What about the king? It must be a regular +suffragette colony." + +"Yes," replied Dick, "in a certain sense it is. The males of the +community don't amount to much. One by one their privileges are taken +away from them. They even lose their wings before the females do. After +they have taken their flight and safely escorted the queen to her future +home they drop out of sight. Their wings fall off and in some cases are +pulled off by the more ill-tempered females of the family. They hang +around a little while and then drop out of sight altogether. Nobody +seems to care what becomes of them. They can't even get back to the +place from which they started. Their wings are gone and they can't +walk. They remind me of the cat--they are so different--the cat came +back--the male ants can't." + +"Gee," said Jim, "how do the rest get on without them?" + +"Oh," replied Dick, "they don't seem to mind the males at all. It takes +away some of the conceit of the male sex when they see how easily one +can get along without them." + +"Well," said Shorty, who was never partial to work, "they at least get +rid of a lot of trouble. How about the carpenter ants, the soldier ants, +the foraging ants? Are they all females?" + +"Every one of them," said Dick. "It is a regular colony of Amazons." + +"It seems to me," said Shorty, "that in all the bunch the queen is the +only one who has a snap." + +"Don't you believe it," returned Dick, "as a matter of fact, she is the +hardest worker of all, that is, at the start. She is the busiest kind of +a mother, brings up all the little ants, washing their faces, combing +their hair----" + +"Oh, say," interrupted Shorty, "aren't you putting it a little bit too +strong, Dick?" + +"Not at all," said Dick; "here, take up this ant and look at it through +the magnifying glass." + +Under the lens the boys, crowding around, saw that there, sure enough, +was a fine silky down resembling very much the hair upon the human head. + +"Of course," said Dick, "as in every other part of the animal or insect +world, this only lasts for a little while. Men and women are the only +creatures in the whole universe that stick by their children through +thick and thin. There is no better mother than a cat, for instance, +while the kittens are small and they need her help, but just as soon as +they are able to shift for themselves, nothing more doing for Mrs. Cat. +Out they go to hustle for their own living, and if some of the slower +and lazier ones still hang around, the mother's claws soon give them a +sharp reminder that it is time to be up and doing. The same is true of +the birds. See how the mother bird sits brooding over her eggs. With +what tender care she watches them while they are still unable to feed +themselves. How the father bird scratches from morning to night to find +worms to put down those scrawny little beaks. But after a while they, +too, go to the edge of the nest, and with many a timid flutter stretch +their wings and drop off the edge. And with the laggards, the parental +beak is ready to push them off into the new world where they hustle for +themselves. It is only a fellow's father and mother that stand by him to +the end. No matter how bad he is, how often he wrenches their hearts, +how many times he has sinned and been forgiven and sinned again, the +mother heart clings to him to the end. I tell you what, boys, you can't +make too much of that father and mother of yours." + +"You bet," came in a responsive murmur from the boys. + +"Now, going back to the queen," said Dick, "it sure does seem that after +the kids have grown up she'd have a dandy time. She is by far the biggest +figure in the colony. The worker ants can't do too much for her. She has +the finest room and the choicest food, and yet, after all, I suppose this +becomes tiresome. It is just as it is with human queens. So many things +are done for them, so much pomp and ceremony surrounds them, that no +doubt they often sigh for freedom and would exchange their places with +almost any of their subjects. They are something like a little girl that +was a rich man's daughter. Her milk was pasteurized, the water she drank +was sterilized, so that after a while her only thought was to grow big +enough to do as she chose and the very first thing she was going to do +was to eat a germ." + +The boys laughed and Dick resumed. + +"It is almost pathetic to see the poor old queen going out for a walk. +She moves in a perfect circle of courtiers. As long as she keeps in the +middle she is all right, but the minute she strays to one side or +attempts to go further, this surrounding group push her back. Sometimes +they thrust their shoulders against her and at other times simply mass +themselves in front of her, and even, at times, are undignified enough, +if these hints are not sufficient, to take her by one of her antennae +and lead her back into the center of the circle, for all the world like +a mother taking home a naughty child by the ear. No, you can bet it is +not all 'peaches and cream' where the queen is concerned." + +"Well," said Shorty, only partly convinced, "even if the queen has +troubles of her own, it must be nice to be the aristocrat. Think of +having nothing to do but just hang around and let the carpenter ants +build your house and the farmer ants store up the grain and the foraging +ants bring in the caterpillars and the soldier ants do the fighting." + +"No," said Dick, "you are wrong again, Shorty. They do so little and +become so dependent upon the work of others that after a while they seem +to lose their faculties. They wander around in a crazy and feeble way, +trying to kill time, I suppose, and after a while become so lazy and +helpless that they can't even eat without help." + +"Can't eat!" said Jim, whose appetite was a standing joke in camp; "then +no lords and dukes for me." + +"I really think," resumed Dick, "that just as it is in human life, the +workers are the lucky ones after all. There is something doing every +minute. Their lives are full of interest. They are too busy to be +unhappy. Don't make any mistake, fellows, work is the salvation of the +world. The happiest are the busiest; the drones and sluggards are +almost, without exception, the most miserable creatures on the face of +the earth. If I were----" + +But just at this moment a curious thing happened. The afternoon had worn +on while the boys were talking, and so keen was their interest in the +wonders that were being brought before their eyes that they had failed +to realize how late it was. The ants had been wandering around in an +aimless way--that is, it seemed aimless to the boys, but doubtless they +knew what they were about and had a definite object, even though the +boys couldn't understand it. But now a sudden stir and bustle seemed to +arouse the colony. From numerous gates the throng came forth with almost +military order and precision. + +"Ah," said Dick, "here's just the thing you want to see, boys. It is +milking time and the ants are going to herd their cows. Now we will +follow one of these lines and see just how they do it." + +At a few feet distant from the mound there was a little shrub about +three feet high, covered with foliage and with widely extended branches. +The column of ants reached the foot of this, climbed it, and scattered +among the branches. + +The boys at a signal from Dick followed him softly, so that the ants +might not be disturbed. + +"See," said Dick, gently taking hold of a branch that projected beyond +the others, "look through this magnifying glass." + +One by one the boys stole up, each eager for a sight that they had never +before seen or dreamed of. On the upper side of the branch which Dick +held between his thumb and finger were little groups of parasites, +almost too small to be seen by the naked eye. All day long they had been +feeding upon the sap that came from a branch until their bodies were +swollen with a transparent honey dew. An ant approached one of them, +placed its antennae over the throat and extracted a tiny drop of the +colorless liquid. Again and again this was repeated. It seemed like rank +robbery, but there was no resistance on the part of the herd. They +seemed just as glad that milking time had come as do the cows that stand +lowing at the bars of the fence and calling for the farmer. Drop after +drop of the honey dew was extracted, until finally the aphid, as the +little creature is called, grew lank and thin, while the ant became +correspondingly large. From time to time the antennae of the ant stroked +the tiny hair on the back, just as a farmer would stroke the cow in +order to soothe it and keep it perfectly still. + +Finally the milking was completed and the farmer ants retraced their way +along the branch and down the stem and, falling into line with their +comrades similarly laden, resumed their march to the colony. The boys +had watched with bated breath and almost awe-struck interest. + +"Well," said Jim, at last breaking the silence, "those ants are surely +not going hungry to bed." + +"Gee," said Shorty, "I bet they will suffer from indigestion." + +"Not a bit of it," said Dick. "You don't suppose they keep this all to +themselves, do you? Just look here." + +He lifted a stone about eighteen inches from the foot of the mound. Under +the magnifying glass they could see a number of tiny apertures that +evidently led in the direction of the colony, and on one side an ant +waiting for the return of the milking party. As Dick selected one and +placed his magnifying glass directly upon the opening, the boys could see +one of the ants laden with the honey dew stop and, placing its mouth +close to that of the waiting ant, exude a tiny drop of its burden. Moving +the glass around quickly in the arc of a circle, they saw this process +repeated until finally the round was finished and the farmer ants, more +lightly laden than before, went on toward the main entrance of the +colony. + +"Those," said Dick, "are the lords and dukes getting their supper." + +"Well," said Tom, "after this I am ready to believe anything. I tell you +what, Dick, I never learned so much in my life as I have to-day." + +"Yes," said Shorty, as the boys picked up their kits and prepared to +return to camp, "I am glad enough now that I didn't smash that ant nest +when I tried to. After all, they are good sports and I would hate to +spoil their fun." + +"Yes," replied Dick, "you know that one of the most important principles +in life is kindness to anything that breathes. Of course there are +certain pests that are harmful to human life and we are compelled to +kill in self-defense, but for anything that is harmless the one great +principle that should govern us always is found in those two lines that +Mr. Hollis repeated the other day: + + "'Never to blend our pleasure or our pride + With sorrow to the meanest thing that feels.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE GIPSY CARAVAN + + +"Hello, fellows. Look at this. Well, of all the----" + +The boys looked up at Bob's startled exclamation, and for a moment +everything else was forgotten, while they stared with wide-open eyes at +the grotesque procession that came into view. + +Down the road crawled a little caravan of ten or a dozen ramshackle +wagons, drawn by tired-looking horses. At their heads or alongside +walked a number of men of various ages, dressed in all sorts of +nondescript costumes. Their swarthy faces and dark eyes, together with +the large earrings that they wore, gave them a distinctly piratical +appearance, and to the boys they looked as though they might have been +taken bodily from one of the old romances of the Spanish Main. They +might easily have been the blood brothers of the rascals who sang in +thundering chorus: + + "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest, + Sing heigho, and a bottle of rum." + +But, alas! there were no murderous pistols thrust in their belts or +cutlasses held between their teeth to complete the illusion, and the +picturesque crowd resolved itself into a troop of gipsies going into +camp. + +The place they had pitched upon for their temporary stay was about three +miles distant from the boys' camp and had been chosen with a keen eye to +its advantages. Either through a scout sent ahead or simply by that +marvelous sixth sense so highly developed in wandering peoples, they had +elected to stop at a little ravine through which ran a brook of sparkling +water and surrounded by a wood that furnished ample supplies for their +campfires. It was fascinating to see the dexterity, born of long +experience, with which the camp was pitched. The horses were unhitched +in a twinkling and turned out to graze, while the wagons were ranged in +a single circle around the camp. Some brown, dirty canvas and a few +branches of trees were quickly transformed into tents. Wood was cut, a +rough fireplace built, a huge kettle suspended over the flames that +crackled merrily beneath, and the women and girls who had descended +from the wagons busied themselves in bringing water from the brook +and preparing supper for the tired and hungry crew. The men, after +the rougher work was done, sprawled around upon the grass, talking +in a language unintelligible to the boys, and occasionally casting an +indifferent look at the group in the automobile, who had watched the +scene with breathless interest. + +"Well," said Bert at last, as he roused himself with an effort, "they +haven't asked us to stay to supper, and I suppose it isn't good manners +to hang around while they are eating, even if this is a public place. So +here goes," and throwing in the clutch he started the "Red Scout" off +toward camp. + +The liveliest interest, not unmixed with envy, was shown by the other +boys at the recital by the auto squad of the afternoon's adventure. + +"Gee," said Jim Dawson, "you fellows certainly do have all the luck. If +I'd been with you there'd have been nothing more exciting than a rabbit +scurrying across the road. To-day I stayed behind and here you fellows +have watched the pitching of a gipsy camp." + +"Never mind, Jim," said Tom, "we'll all go over soon and take it in. I +suppose they'll be there for some time." + +"There's no telling," remarked Dick. "Sometimes they stay in one place +for two or three weeks, until the call of the road becomes so strong +that they can't resist it. Then again, after a day or two, they + + "'Fold their tents like the Arabs + And silently steal away.'" + +"'Steal' is a very good word to use in that connection, Dick," said Mr. +Hollis, as he joined the group, when after an abundant supper they sat +around the campfire; "for if what we hear of gipsies in general is true, +they spend most of their time in stealing." + +"Perhaps, though," he went on, "that is putting it a little too harshly. +There is a strong prejudice against them because of their vagrant mode +of life, and there is no doubt that the distinction between 'mine' +and 'thine' is very vague in their minds. Hen-roosts are apt to be +mysteriously thinned out when they are in the neighborhood, and many a +porker has uttered his last squeal when gripped by a gipsy hand. Horses, +too, occasionally vanish in a way that would mean a short shrift and a +rope in the Western country, if the thief were caught. But, on the other +hand, they seldom commit deeds of violence. You never hear of their +blowing open a safe, and, though they are passionate and hot tempered, +they are not often charged with murder. The Bowery thug and yeggman are +much more dangerous enemies to society than the average gipsy. Perhaps +the worst indictment to be brought against them is that in years past +they were frequently guilty of kidnapping. But that was in the earlier +days, when the country was sparsely settled and communication was +difficult. Then, if they got a good start, it was often impossible to +overtake them. But to-day, with the country thickly populated and the +telegraph and telephone everywhere, they would most certainly be caught. +No doubt the elders of the tribe shake their heads sadly as they reflect +that the kidnapping industry is no longer what it has been." + +"How do they make a living, anyway?" interjected Dave. "What they steal +isn't enough to keep them alive." + +"Well," returned Mr. Hollis, "the men are very keen traders in horses. +They know a horse from mane to hoof. They can take a poor old wreck +of a cart horse and doctor him up until he looks and acts like a +thoroughbred. Very few men can get ahead of them in a trade, as many +a farmer has found to his cost. The women are often very expert in +embroidery and find a ready sale for their really beautiful work. Then, +too, as fortune tellers they are proverbial the world over. Cross a +gipsy's palm with gold or silver and she'll predict for you a future +that kings and queens might envy. It is safe to say that during their +stay here they will reap quite a harvest--enough at least to suffice for +the simple needs of to-day. As for to-morrow, they don't care. That +can take care of itself. They are as irresponsible as crickets or +butterflies. They 'never trouble trouble till trouble troubles them.'" + +"Well," said Dave, "they get rid of a whole lot of needless worry, +anyway. They don't suffer as much as the old lady did who said that +she had had an awful lot of trouble in her life and most of it had +never happened." + +The boys laughed, and Tom asked: + +"Where do they get their name from? Why do they call them gipsies?" + +"Because," answered Mr. Hollis, "they were supposed to be descended +from the old Egyptians. They resemble them in features, and many +words in their language are derived from Egypt. Many scholars think, +however, that their original home was India. Europe has been familiar +with them for the last four hundred years. They have always been +Ishmaelites--their hand against every man and every man's hand against +them--and by some they have been believed to be the actual descendants +of Ishmael, the outcast son of Abraham. Everywhere they have been +despised and persecuted. In the old days they were accused of being +sorcerers and witches. They have been banished, burned at the stake, +broken on the wheel, hung, drawn and quartered. It is one of the +miracles of history that they have not been wiped out altogether. +But they have always clung closely together and persisted in their +strange, wandering way of life. They have a language of their own +and certain rude laws that all the tribes acknowledge. The restless +instinct is in their blood and probably will be there forever. They +are a living protest against civilization as we understand it. +Occasionally, one of them will join the ranks of ordinary men, but, far +more frequently, they gain recruits from those who want to throw off +the shackles and conventions of the settled life. More than one man and +woman have listened to the 'call of the wild' and followed the gipsies, +as the children in the fable followed the Pied Piper of Hamelin. But +now, boys," he said, rising, "it's time for 'taps.' To-morrow evening +we'll all go over and take a closer look at these gipsies of yours." + +All through the following day the boys, though attentive to what they +were doing, were keenly alive to the promised treat that night. There +was an early supper, to which, despite the under-current of excitement, +they did full justice, and then in the gathering dusk the boys set out +for the grove. Since not all could go in the automobile, it was decided +that all should go on foot, and with jest and laughter they covered the +three miles almost before they knew it. + +Quite different from that of the day before was the sight that burst +upon them as they rounded a curve in the road and came upon the +picturesque vagrants. Here and there were torches of pitch pine that +threw a smoky splendor over the scene and hid all the squalor and sordid +poverty that had been so evident in the broad light of day. By this time +it was fully dark, but a full moon cast its beauty over the trees and +flecked the ground with bright patches that added to the torches made +the whole grove like a fairyland. The news of the gipsies' coming had +reached the surrounding towns, and there was quite a gathering of pretty +girls and country swains, whose buggies stood under the trees at the +roadside, while youths and maidens wandered among the wagons of the +caravan. At the open door of one of the vans a young gipsy drew from a +violin the weird, heart-tugging strains that have made their music +famous throughout the world. Others sat around their fire and talked +together in a low tone, casting furtive glances at the visitors, whose +coming they seemed neither to welcome nor resent. With their instinctive +appreciation of the fine points in any animal, the eyes of some of them +brightened as Don threaded his way through the different groups, but, +apart from that, they gave no sign that they were conscious of the +newcomers. + +With the gipsy women, however, it was different. This was their hour and +they improved it to the utmost. Withered crones and handsome girls with +curious turbans wound about their heads went from group to group, +offering to tell their fortunes, provided their palms were crossed. +There was no difficulty about this, as most of the girls had come there +with that one desire and the gallant youths who escorted them urged them +to gratify it regardless of expense. If the recording angel put down +that night all the lies that were told, all the promises of wealth and +title and position that sent many a giddy head awhirl to its pillow, he +was kept exceedingly busy. Just for a lark, the boys themselves were +willing patrons of these priestesses of the future; but little of what +was promised them remained in their memory, except that Tom was to meet +a "dark lady" who was to have a great and happy influence upon his life. +The boys chaffed him a good deal about this mystical brunette, but he +maintained with mock gravity that "one never knows" and that perhaps the +swarthy soothsayer "knew what she was talking about after all." + +In view of the unusual circumstances, Mr. Hollis had not insisted upon +the ordinary rules, and it was nearly midnight when the boys, having +trudged back to camp, prepared to retire. + +"What time is it, anyway, Dick?" yawned Bert, as they started to +undress. + +"I'll see," said Dick, as he reached for his watch; "it's just----" + +He stopped aghast as the chain came out of his pocket with a jerk. His +watch was gone. + +At this instant a shout came from Bob Ward's tent: "Say, fellows, have +any of you seen my scarfpin? I can't find it anywhere. I'm sure I had it +on when I started." + +Bert looked at Dick and Dick stared back at Bert. The same thought came +into their minds at once. + +"Stung," groaned Dick, as he sank down heavily on his bed. + +At once the camp was in commotion. Everyone made a hasty inventory of +his belongings and the relief was general when it was found that nothing +else was missing. Their hearts were hot with indignation, however, at +the loss of their comrades. Dick's gold watch had been a graduation +present and Bob's scarfpin had held a handsome stone, so that the money +loss was considerable. But deeper yet was the sense of chagrin voiced by +Jim Dawson: + +"Well," said he, disgustedly, "if this isn't the limit. Here we are, +city fellows who think we are up to snuff. We are surrounded by +pickpockets every day and nothing happens. Then we come out in the +country and are roasted brown by a band of wandering gipsies." + +By this time Mr. Hollis, aroused by the unusual stir, had hastily dressed +and joined the excited group. The facts were quickly detailed to him, +and, as he listened, his face set in hard lines that boded ill for the +thieves. He first directed that a thorough search be made in order to be +perfectly sure that the missing articles were not somewhere about the +camp. When careful examination failed to reveal them, doubt became +certainty. If only one thing had been lost it might have been set down to +carelessness or accident, but that two should disappear at the same time +pointed to but one explanation--theft. And it was a foregone conclusion +that the thieves were to be found in the gipsy camp. + +The more hot-headed were for starting out at once to regain the watch +and pin at any cost. But this was vetoed by Mr. Hollis, who recognized +the futility of attempting anything at so late an hour. He promised that +early in the morning they should all go together, and with that promise +they were forced to be content. + +There was very little sleep for the boys that night, and at the first +streak of dawn the whole camp was astir. Breakfast was swallowed +hastily, and Bert whistled for Don as the boys made ready to start. + +"Here, Don, old fellow, good dog," he called when the whistle failed to +bring him; but no Don appeared. Then a thought suddenly struck Bert. +When had he last seen the collie? In the excitement last night he and +the other boys had given no thought to the dog. He recalled with a +sudden sick feeling that he had last seen him in the light of the gipsy +torches. His heart smote him for his forgetfulness. Was it possible that +the gipsies had stolen Don also? Why not? He never would have stayed +away of his own accord. The collie was a splendid animal of the purest +breed and would easily bring a large price if offered for sale anywhere. +A fierce rage flamed in Bert--a rage shared by all the others when he +hastily told them of the suspicion that every moment was becoming a +conviction--and it was lucky for the abductor of Don that he did not at +that moment meet Bert Wilson face to face. + +With Dick, Tom and Bob, he leaped into the "Red Scout", and taking up Mr. +Hollis as they came to the door of his tent, they swung into the broad +high road, leaving the others to follow as fast as they could. + +"Now, purr, old Scout," said Bert as he threw in the clutch; and the "Red +Scout" purred. It leaped forward like a living thing, as though it pulsed +with the indignation and determination of its riders. They fairly ate up +the three miles in as many minutes, turned the curve of the road just +this side of the gipsy camp and-- + +The camp was gone! + +Gone as though it had dropped into the earth. Gone as though it had +melted into the air. Utterly and completely gone. The ashes of last +night's fires, some litter scattered here and there, alone remained to +mark the spot that a few hours before had been so full of life and +animation. + +They leaped from the car and scattered everywhere looking for signs to +indicate the direction the caravan had taken. They had certainly not +come south by the boys' camp. It was equally certain that they had not +gone directly north, as this led straight to a large town that they +would instinctively avoid. This narrowed the search to east and west +roads, from which, however, many byroads diverged, so that it left them +utterly at sea. + +"The telephone," cried Bert; "let's try that first." + +They bundled into the car and a few minutes brought them to the nearest +town. Picking out half a dozen addresses along different roads, they +called them up. Had they seen a band of gipsies going by? The answer +"No" came with exasperating monotony, until suddenly Bert leaped to his +feet. + +"Here we are, boys," he cried. "Bartlett on the Ashby road, eight miles +from here, saw them go by two hours ago. Now let's get busy." + +They flew down the Ashby road and in a few minutes came to the Bartlett +farm. Yes, they had passed there and they certainly were traveling some. +A couple of miles further on the road forked. There was a negro cabin at +that place and they might get some information there. He hoped so, +anyway. Good luck, and with a word of thanks, the boys rushed on. + +A stout negress washing clothes under the tree at the fork of the road +wiped the suds from her hands with her apron as she came forward. + +"Dey sholy did go pass hyar, gemmun, and dey wuz drivin' as do de ole +Nick was affer dem. Dat's a pow'ful po' road up dataway and der hosses +wuz plum tired. Dey kain't be ve'y far ahaid, I specs." + +Exultingly Bert threw in the high speed. Their quarry had been run down +at last. The motor fairly sang as they plunged up the road. Turning a +curve to the right they came upon the procession of carts, now toiling +along painfully. Bert never hesitated a second, but rushed past the line +of wagons until he had reached the head of the caravan. Then he swung +the "Red Scout" squarely across the road and with Mr. Hollis, Dick, Tom +and Bob, sprang to the ground. + +[Illustration: Then he swung the "Red Scout" squarely across the +road.--(_See page 89_)] + +Consternation plainly reigned in the halted carts. The men crowded +forward and hastily consulted. A moment later an old man, evidently the +chief, came forward. He was prepared to try diplomacy first, and with an +ingratiating smile held out his hand to Mr. Hollis. The latter, ignoring +the extended hand, came straight to the point. + +"I want three things," he said, "and unless you are looking for trouble, +you'll hand them over at once. I want the pin and watch and dog your +people stole from us last night." + +The leader's smile faded, to be replaced by an ominous scowl. + +"It's a lie," he said sullenly, "my people stole nothing. Get out of our +road," he snarled viciously, while his followers gathered threateningly +around him. + +The air was surcharged with danger and a fight seemed imminent, when +suddenly a familiar bark came from one of the vans. Bert dashed forward, +thrusting aside a young gipsy who sprang to intercept him. He threw open +the van door, and out rushed Don, mad with delight. He had chewed in +half the rope that held him and the frayed remnant hung about his neck +as he leaped on Bert and capered frantically about him. + +The game was up! Fear and chagrin were painted on the gipsies' faces. +They might have bluffed through as regards the stolen articles and it +would have been almost impossible to prove their guilt. But here was +the living proof of theft--proof strong enough to land their party +behind the bars. Moreover, the great dog was no mean addition to the +little force that faced them so undauntedly. It was plainly up to them +to temporize. As Bob with regrettable slanginess, but crisp brevity, +summed up the case: "They had thought to make a quick touch and getaway, +but fell down doing it." + +The chief held up his hand. "Wait," he said, "while I talk to my people. +Perhaps they have found something. I will see." + +A whispered conversation followed and then he came forward sheepishly, +holding out the watch and pin. "They found them on the grounds. I did +not know," he mumbled. + +Mr. Hollis took them without a word and motioned Bert to get the auto +ready. He had gained his point and did not care to press his advantage +further. After all, they were almost like irresponsible children, and, +despite his resentment, he felt a deep pity for these half-wild sons of +poverty and misfortune. Their code was not his code, nor their laws his +laws. They were the "under dogs" in the fight of life. Let them go. + +The motor began to hum. The party piled in, with Don between them, +barking joyfully, and they swept down the shabby line of carts with not +a glance behind them. They waved gaily to the old black mammy, who +beamed upon them as they went by. A thought struck Bert, and turning to +Tom, he shouted: + +"The dark lady, Tom. The dark lady that the gipsy prophesied would bring +you luck." + +"Sure thing," grinned Tom. "It certainly is luck enough to get old Don +back, to say nothing of the watch and pin. Isn't it, old fellow?" and he +patted the dog's head lovingly. + +So thought the rest of the boys, also, when the "Red Scout" reached camp. +Don was overwhelmed with caresses and strutted about as though he had +done it all. As Jim put it: "Napoleon on his return from Elba had +nothing on Don." It was late when the excitement subsided and the +campers went weary but happy to bed. + +Mr. Hollis, Bert and Dick lingered about the fire. Only these older ones +had realized how ticklish a situation they had faced that day. They +didn't like to think what might have happened if it had come to an open +fight. + +"The way you faced that crowd was the pluckiest thing I ever saw, Mr. +Hollis," said Bert; "but suppose it had come to a showdown?" + +"Well," laughed Mr. Hollis, "it was a case of touch and go for a minute. +But I counted on the fact that we were right and they were wrong. +'Conscience makes cowards of us all.' Behind us were law and order and +civilization. Behind them crowded nameless shapes of fear and dread that +robbed their arms of strength and turned their hearts to water. It was +simply a confirmation," he concluded, as he rose to say good night, "of +the eternal truth: + + "'Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just.'" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOW THE "RED SCOUT" CLIMBED DOBB'S HILL + + +The morning of the long anticipated day in the "Red Scout" dawned bright +and clear, and the campers who were to go were astir soon after dawn. +Most of them would willingly have dispensed with breakfast, but Mr. +Hollis insisted that they take their time and eat a hearty meal. +However, everything comes to him who waits, and at last they were ready +to start. It had been arranged that on their trip they were to stop in +town, and get supplies and some camp appliances that Mr. Hollis +required. Otherwise they were to do as they pleased, subject only to +Bert's authority. + +The car was ready to start, and Bert had received Mr. Hollis' last +instructions. + +"Well, fellows," said Bert, "pile in, and we'll start for town right +away. It rather looks now as though we might have a little rain before +the day is over. I don't like the looks of the sky over there any too +much, but we've got to have grub anyway, even if we have to go after it +in boats." + +"Yes, or we might swim, I suppose," suggested Shorty, sarcastically. + +"In that case, we'd let you try it, as its only a matter of twenty miles +or so each way, and see if you are as strong as your name," retorted +Bert, and Shorty subsided. + +Meanwhile the others had taken their appointed places in the auto, and, +after adjusting spark and throttle levers, Bert walked to the front of +the machine and cranked the motor. + +On the first turn, such was the beautiful condition in which he kept the +car, the engine started with a roar, and he quickly climbed into the +driver's seat and threw in the clutch. Without a tremor the big car +glided away as if moving on air, which indeed it was, in a way, if the +air in the tires could be counted. + +With the ease of a driver who thoroughly understands his car, Bert +steered the machine around and between the bumps in the road, and even +one who had never ridden in an automobile before would have appreciated +his masterly handling of this machine. + +Suddenly Tom, who, as usual, was riding in the seat beside Bert, leaned +over and said, "Say, Bert, do you suppose she would take Dobb's hill?" + +Now, the hill to which Tom referred was one notorious in the +neighborhood. More than one gray-haired farmer had shaken his head +dubiously while inspecting the "Red Scout," and said, "Yes, that there +contraption may be all right on the level, and there's no getting over +the fact that it can run circles around a streak of greased lightning, +but I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut that it could never get up Dobb's +hill." + +So Bert thought a moment before answering Tom's question, and then said, +"Well, that's an awfully steep hill, but the old 'Scout' has never +balked at anything yet, and I have a sneaking feeling that it wouldn't +even stop at Dobb's hill. However, there is only one way of finding out +about it, and that is to try it. What do you say, fellows, shall we try +it and show these people around here just what our machine can do?" + +There was a unanimous chorus of assent from the other occupants of the +car, so at the next crossing Bert turned off the main road in the +direction of the famous Dobb's hill. Soon the hill itself loomed up in +front of them, and Bert opened the throttle a trifle. The machine +immediately picked up speed, but to the occupants of the machine it +seemed almost impossible that anything but an elevator could get up that +hill. It looked to them almost like a high wall. Bert, however, was +thinking more of the machine than of the hill. He had been gradually +giving the engine more gas, and now, when they were almost at the foot +of the hill, he realized that the moment had come to call forth the +supreme effort of the motor. He opened the muffler so as to get rid of +all back pressure, and opened the throttle to its widest extent. With a +bound and a roar the powerful machine took the hill, and to the boys in +the car it seemed as though they had some powerful, willing animal +working for them. Up the great machine climbed, with scarcely diminished +speed, the engine emitting unbroken and exhilarating music, or at least +that is what it sounded like to the tense boys in the auto. At last with +a final roar of the motor, and rumble of the straining gears, the +machine topped the hill and started on its long downward coast. Bert +threw out the clutch, and giving the engine a well-earned rest after its +strenuous work, allowed the "Red Scout" to glide rapidly and smoothly +down the hill. + +Every boy in the car seemed half-crazy with delight over the performance +of their mechanical pet. Some even went so far as to pat the sides of +the car, and Bob expressed the general feeling when he said, "Well, I'd +rather be a camper and be able to say I held part ownership in a car +like this, than to be King of England." + +The boys also realized that a lot of credit was due Bert for the success +of their climb, as even such a car as the "Red Scout" could never have +gotten up that hill without expert handling. + +Down the long hill glided the "Red Scout" with constantly increasing +momentum, and long before they reached the bottom Bert had to apply the +powerful brakes with which the machine was equipped, and check its +speed. + +Gradually he slowed it down to a safer, but less exciting speed, and at +the bottom eased in the clutch and the willing motor took up the load. + +In the meantime the sky had taken on a more threatening appearance, and +while the happy-go-lucky boys in the tonneau gave it little thought, +Bert, to whom the care of the car and its occupants were intrusted, cast +more than one dubious and anxious glance in the direction in which the +storm might be expected to break. He hoped that they might at least make +the necessary trip to town and back before the rain could catch them, +however, and so held a steady pace, and they were soon rolling down the +main street. + +Bert got out his list of the things they would need, and detailed the +boys to different stores so that they could get started again as soon as +possible. + +Bert's last remark to them was, "Now, fellows, step just as lively as +you know how, and whatever else you do, don't come back drunk." This +raised a general laugh, as, it is needless to say, the boys had had no +such intentions. + +Bert and Tom remained with the car, and while Bert said less than the +other boys about his love for the machine, it was easy to see that he +had a real affection for it, and took pleasure in cleaning and adjusting +it. + +"Say, Tom," he called after a few minutes, "bring me grandfather, will +you?" Now, "grandfather" was not what that word usually means, but an +immense monkey-wrench, with jaws on it like a vise. It was called +grandfather for no particular reason that anybody knew of, but someone +had called it that once, and the name had stuck. The boys sometimes used +it to exercise and perform feats of strength with, so heavy was it. So +now, when Tom got it out of the tool box on the running board and +handled it with loving care, Bert took it from him, and for several +minutes was busy adjusting and tightening bolts and nuts around the +motor and transmission case. Finally he handed the wrench back to Tom +with a sigh of relief. + +"Well!" he exclaimed. "There's a good job well done. I'll bet we +could take that hill now even a little better than we did, if that's +possible." + +"I don't know about that," replied Tom, "this old Scout went up that +hill better than I thought it could, and I guess you ought to have as +much credit as the machine. After this I will back you and the 'Red +Scout' against all comers." + +From this it may be seen that there was more than a little hero worship +mingled with Tom's love for Bert, and no wonder. Bert was the sort of +fellow that everyone had to admire and like. + +By this time the boys had begun to return with their bundles and boxes, +and soon everything was safely stored in the tonneau, and the boys had +time to wonder how they were going to get themselves in too, as the +supplies seemed to take up about all the room. + +Finally it was arranged that Jim and Dave should stay in the tonneau to +see that nothing was shaken overboard, while Bob and Frank ranged +themselves on the running board. + +In this fashion they started, but it soon became evident to everybody +that they would never be able to get back to camp before the storm +broke, even with the help of the "Red Scout." + +Thunder could be heard coming nearer and nearer, and soon they felt the +first warm drops of rain. Bert wished then that they had a top to their +car, but unfortunately the leather covering ordered by Mr. Hollis had +not yet arrived at the camp. + +"What do you think we'd better do, Bert; make a run for camp or hunt +shelter around here?" asked Tom. + +"Why, this road is pretty rough, and we can't make much speed," replied +Bert. "I guess we'd better hunt cover right away," as a vivid streak of +lightning split the sky, followed by a crash of thunder. + +"We noticed an old barn over toward the right when we were on a botany +expedition the other day," said Frank, "and I think that if you swing +into that dirt road we're coming to, it will lead us right to it." + +"Well, here goes," said Bert, and swung the "Red Scout" into the old +road. Sure enough, before they had gone a quarter of a mile they sighted +the old barn, and were soon snugly established in it. To be sure, the +roof leaked in places, but it was fairly tight, and what did a bunch of +hardy campers, in the pink of condition, care for a few drops of rain? + +There was some hay left in the barn, and they lounged comfortably around +on this, talking and listening to the rain, which by this time had +increased to a downpour, and beat fiercely on the roof and sides of the +old barn. + +The boys started a discussion about the hill-climbing feat of the "Red +Scout," and while all agreed that it had been a splendid performance, +Bob seemed to be inclined to sneer at Bert's handling of the car. He +firmly believed that he knew more about automobiles than Bert, and was +sometimes a little jealous of the praise given him by the other boys. + +"Oh, I don't know," he finally remarked, when Tom remarked that some +people seemed able to coax more out of a car than others, "I don't see +that that makes much difference. I'll bet that if I had been running the +'Red Scout' this morning it would have gone up that hill just the same. +Why, when I used to run my uncle's car----" but here he was interrupted +by cries of derision, and Tom remarked: + +"I suppose that if Bob had been running the 'Red Scout' he would have +run it up the hill backwards so that it would think it was going +downhill, and so got to the top without any trouble." + +This sally caused a general laugh at Bob's expense and he subsided, but +was heard to mutter about "getting the right mixture," and "easing her +down to second speed," which nobody but Bert understood, but which +seemed to make him feel much better. + +In justice to Bob, it must be said, however, that he did know quite a +little about automobiles, but usually lacked nerve when it came to +putting his knowledge into practice. + +By this time the boys were all hungry, and as there seemed to be a +small chance of the rain letting up for a while, Bert proposed that they +have lunch. There was plenty of food in the automobile, and Bert started +the boys to fishing out crackers and jam. + +Suddenly a thought struck him. "Say, fellows," he called, "how about +making some cornbread and having a real bang-up meal? We've got bacon +and all the fixings here, and we all know how to cook, thanks to our +experience as campers. I'll make the corn bread, and Tom here will fry +the bacon." + +There was such a joyous and noisy consent to this plan that Bert could +not help laughing. "All right," he cried, "some of you fellows dive into +the car and bring out the new frying pan and the Dutch oven we bought +to-day. We'll build a fire on that slab of stone over there, and have +something to eat in next to no time." + +This was no sooner said than done, and as the odor of frying bacon and +hot "corn pone" filled the old barn, the boys thanked their lucky stars +for the thousandth time that they had come on this camping trip. + +In a short time everything was ready, and they seated themselves near +the fire. Tom dished out the sizzling bacon and steaming "corn pone." + +Under the cheering influence of this feast even Bob Ward forgot his +grudge of the morning, and when he shouted, "What's the matter with +Wilson?" the resulting "He's all right!" almost lifted the roof off the +old barn. + +Soon they had finished and cleared away the meal, and when they opened +the barn door were surprised and delighted to find that the sun had +struggled through the clouds and was now shining brightly. Quickly they +packed the tonneau, and were soon ready to start. + +"All right, fellows, get to your places," sang out Bert, and soon they +were chugging out of the old barn that had offered them such timely +shelter. + +Once outside and fairly on the disused road, however, it soon became +apparent that only with great difficulty could they make any progress at +all. The rain had converted the road into a quagmire, and although Bert +brought the "Red Scout" from third speed to second, and finally to +first, he saw that they must soon stop altogether, and indeed this soon +proved to be the case. + +The faithful motor apparently had plenty of power, but the car sank into +the mud up to its axles, and the rear wheels simply turned around +without propelling it. Bert finally threw out the clutch and the "Red +Scout" stopped as though he had applied the brakes, so great was the +opposition formed by the mud. + +"Well, this is a pretty fix, to be sure," exclaimed Bert. "We're going +to have the time of our lives getting this machine out. What you need +for this road is not so much an automobile as a boat. However, it +wouldn't speak well for us if we couldn't get our car out of this scrape +after all it has done for us, so let's get busy." + +"That's all very well," said Jim, "but the question is, how are you +going to do it? This isn't exactly a flying machine, although it can go +pretty fast, and it seems to me that we will need something like that to +get us out of here." + +"Say, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Jim Dawson," exclaimed Tom, +indignantly, "here you call yourself one of the crowd, and yet you are +willing to give up before you have fairly begun to try. That isn't the +right spirit." + +"Oh, it's easy enough to talk," answered Jim, sulkily, "but I'd just +like to know how you are going to do it, that's all." + +"Well, I can't say I have a plan right now, but I'm sure that our old +'Red Scout' isn't going to leave us in the lurch now after all it has +done so far," and here he patted the vibrating car lovingly. + +Meanwhile Bert had been thinking deeply, and had finally hit on a plan. +"Here, some of you fellows, run back and bring me all the hay you can +carry from that barn, will you? We want to get out of here as soon as +we can, because Mr. Hollis will be anxious about us. Lively's the word." + +Tom, Bob, and Frank ran back to the barn and soon reappeared, carrying +armfuls of hay. When they reached the car Bert took charge of it, and +placed it carefully under the rear wheels, and made a path in front of +each wheel for about six feet. + +"If we can only get over to the side of the road and up on that grass +there," he explained, "we will be on firmer ground and can get better +traction. I only wish we had tire chains." + +"What are tire chains, Bert, and what are they for?" inquired Frank. + +"Why, you see how it is," replied Bert, "we have plenty of power, but +the wheels can't get a grip on the ground, and just skid around. If we +had a network of chains over the tires they would bite through the mud +to solid ground and get the grip we need. Understand?" + +"Sure thing, and much obliged for the explanation," said Frank, +heartily. + +By this time Bert had arranged things to his satisfaction, and now +climbed into the driver's seat, while the boys looked on expectantly. + +Bert threw out the clutch, advanced the spark slightly, and opened +the throttle a few notches. Immediately the motor increased its +revolutions, and when it had reached a good speed Bert gently eased in +the clutch. There was a grinding sound of clutch and gears as the power +was transmitted to the rear wheels, and the "Red Scout" lunged forward. + +The front wheels were so firmly embedded by this time, however, that +even the "Red Scout" was helpless. Again and again Bert raced his engine +and let in the clutch, and each time the machine made a gallant attempt +to free itself, but could never quite make it. Finally he reversed, but +with no better result. At last he gave up the attempt, and leaving the +motor turning over slowly, descended to hold a consultation with the +other boys. + +"Have you any suggestions to make, fellows?" he asked, "I confess I'm up +a tree just at present. What do you say, Bob? Can you think of +anything?" + +"Why, I was thinking," answered Bob, flattered by this direct appeal to +his vaunted experience, "that if we could dig out a path in front of the +machine up onto the grass we might get it out that way." + +"Say! you've hit the nail on the head this time!" exclaimed Bert, +enthusiastically. "That's just what we'll do. Get that spade out of the +tonneau, will you Frank, and we'll get to work." + +Frank immediately complied, and in an incredibly short space of time the +boys had a path dug in front of the auto down to hard gravel, and were +ready for another attempt to extricate their beloved car. + +Bert climbed into his seat with a do-or-die expression on his handsome +young face, and repeated his former tactics, but this time with +greater success. The "Red Scout" surged forward with a roar, like some +imprisoned wild creature suddenly given its liberty. Bert took no +chances this time, but plugged steadily onward until he reached high, +firm ground. Here he stopped the panting machine, and waited for the +cheering boys to catch up. + +They soon reached the faithful car, and quickly jumped into their +places. Before starting again Bert turned around and said, "Fellows, I +think we owe Bob a vote of thanks. All who agree please say 'Aye'." + +There was a hearty chorus of "Ayes," and Bob flushed with pleasure at +this tribute from his comrades. He thought, and with reason, that he had +demonstrated his knowledge of automobiles to good advantage, as well as +his ability to meet emergencies. + +By this time it was getting near dusk, and Bert knew that Mr. Hollis +would be worried over their continued absence. Accordingly, when he got +on to the main road, he threw the gears into high speed, and soon they +were bowling along at a rapid, but safe, pace toward their camp. + +It would be hard to imagine a happier set of boys in the world than those +who sat in the big red automobile in the silence of good fellowship and +listened to the contented purring of the "Red Scout's" powerful motor. + +As they revolved in their minds the exciting occurrences of the day, and +thought of other equally happy days yet to come, it seemed to them that +there was indeed nothing more desirable in life than to be campers with +such leaders as Mr. Hollis, Bert Wilson, and Dick Trent. It is safe to +say that they would not have changed places with any other set of boys +on earth. + +"Say, Bert," said Jim Dawson, breaking the long silence, "that race is +as good as won already. I'm sure that with this machine and you driving +it, we couldn't lose if we tried. What do you think?" + +Bert did not answer for a moment, and when he did his eyes twinkled +merrily. "Well, Jim," he said, "I don't know whether we'll win or not +and that 'Gray Ghost' is certainly some racer. From what I have seen of +our old 'Red Scout' to-day, however,--but there, I'm not going to say +any more just now. There is no use raising your hopes, and then perhaps +have nothing come of that in the end." And with that they were forced +to be content. + +By this time they had almost reached the camp, and could see the smoke +of the fire. Soon they rolled smoothly into camp, and Mr. Hollis came to +meet them with a relieved look on his face. At first he seemed inclined +to blame them, but Bert soon explained matters to his entire +satisfaction. + +The boys mingled with their comrades, and many were the exclamations of +wonder over their day's experiences. After a short rest, supper was +prepared, and while they all voted it delicious, still they claimed that +nothing had ever tasted quite as good as their lunch in the old barn. + +As Tom and Bert were dropping off to sleep that night, Tom murmured +drowsily, "Say, Bert, did we or didn't we have a bully time to-day, eh?" + +"Just bet your hat we did." + +"Well, say, isn't the old 'Red Scout' about the greatest automobile that +ever turned a wheel?" + +"That's whatever it is," concurred Bert, and dropped off to sleep with a +smile on his face, and the image of a big red automobile enthroned in +his heart. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +QUICK WORK + + +"You fellows get it all," complained Steve Thomas, with as ugly a look +as such a round good-natured face as his could wear. + +"You sure do seem to move in a charmed circle," chimed in another +grumbler. + +"Don't they?" echoed a third. "They ought to be called the lucky three. +This is the fourth time in less than two weeks that they've had the +auto." + +The "lucky three," to whom these remarks were addressed, stood grinning +happily at the disgusted faces of the other fellows in camp. + +The question to be settled was as to what ones should take the auto into +town for some supplies that were unexpectedly but urgently needed. There +had been quite a lively dispute, waxing louder and louder until it +threatened to end in a genuine quarrel. + +Mr. Hollis, busily finishing some letters that he wanted to send into +town by the boys, was at first too absorbed in his writing to notice the +unusual disturbance, but as the recriminations grew hotter he saw that +immediate action was necessary. + +Rising hastily and taking in his hand a sheet of paper on which he had +been writing, he stepped from his tent into the group of heated boys. + +The clamor ceased at once and when he learned the cause of the +discussion, Mr. Hollis proposed to draw lots. The fellows who should +draw the numbers one, two and three were to be the autoists for the +trip. + +This seemed fair to all, and cutting the paper into equal strips Mr. +Hollis wrote a number on each and, shaking them well in a hat passed +them around. When they had all been drawn, each one turned over his slip +and looked eagerly for the sign that fate had been good to him. + +The lot had fallen to Bert, Tom, and Ben. There was no appeal and the +rest of the camp had to submit, some, however, with so poor a grace that +Mr. Hollis, smilingly genially remarked: + +"Come, boys, be sports. Any fellow can growl but it takes an all-around +manly one to bear defeat smilingly. There's always the chance of better +luck next time." + +His words and manner speedily dissipated what shreds of ill-temper +remained, so that the boys gave a rousing cheer for a send-off as the +car, gleaming like red gold in the brilliant morning sunshine, shot off +up the road and disappeared from their longing eyes. + +As for the fortunate three in the car, everything unpleasant was +forgotten in the twinkling of an eye. A great splendid flying auto is no +place for disagreeable memories, and the woods rang with song and jokes +and laughter as the car flew on. + +Out of the woods at last they swept into a wide well-kept turnpike, +where they could safely ride at greater speed. + +Bert opened up the throttle and the "Red Scout" fairly "burned up the +ground." They passed a number of lumbering ox carts and farm wagons +drawn by sedate old horses, whom nothing could dismay. Now just in front +of them they saw a runabout, drawn by two spirited bay horses evidently +of the thoroughbred type. + +As they came up behind the carriage, Tom noticed that one of the horses +began to prance and that the lady who held the reins glanced behind +nervously. + +"Wouldn't you better go rather slow," he cautioned Bert; "one of those +horses doesn't seem to have any love for automobiles." + +Accordingly, Bert was very careful as he attempted to pass the runabout; +but at the first glimpse of the car the prancing horse reared up on his +hind legs and lurched heavily against his mate. Startled, the other +horse plunged forward, jerking the reins from the driver's hands. The +feel of the loose reins on their backs completed their panic, and before +anyone realized what was happening, the horses had taken the bit between +their teeth and were dashing down the road, utterly beyond control. The +carriage swayed frightfully from side to side, and the two ladies, their +faces blanched with fear, clung desperately to the seats. + +The "lucky three," feeling not a bit lucky at that moment, were filled +with dismay. + +"I suppose that's our fault," groaned Tom, "although I don't for the +life of me see how we could have helped it." + +"That's not the question," said Bert, anxiously, "the only thing now is +how to help them." + +"It seems to me," said Tom, "that the thing to do is to overtake them, +range up alongside and then one of us jump into the carriage and get +hold of the reins." + +This seemed the only feasible thing and the speeding auto soon came +within a few feet of the runaways. Bert waited till the road widened and +then shot the auto over the intervening space and drew alongside. Tom +grasped the wheel and Bert, watching his chance, sprang into the +carriage. The double motion hurled him backward and almost out on the +road, but with a desperate effort, he succeeded in grasping the back of +the seat and held on. Then climbing over, he made his perilous way out +upon the shaft between the flying horses and snatched the reins. Upon +these he pulled and sawed with all his strength until he at last brought +the frightened beasts under control. + +Tom and Ben, seeing their opportunity, stopped the machine, and, running +to the horses' heads, brought them to a standstill. They helped the +trembling women to alight and with cushions and robes hastily brought +from the auto made them a comfortable seat at the foot of a tree by the +roadside. Ben, bethinking himself of the drinking cup that was part of +the auto's equipment, filled it with water from a nearby spring, and +under these attentions the ladies somewhat recovered from their +terrifying experience. The elder of the two turned to the boys and tried +to express her heartfelt gratitude, while, if the younger was to be +believed, they had proved themselves veritable heroes. This they +modestly disclaimed and declared they were only too delighted to have +been able to stop the team before any serious harm had been done. + +Meanwhile the horses stood panting and trembling at the side of the +road. Evidently it would not be safe to attempt to drive them again at +present, and they were greatly relieved when a young farmer, who had +seen the runaway, came up and offered to keep them overnight in his +barn. + +The horses thus disposed of, the "lucky three" offered gallantly to +drive the ladies home in their car. So, fastening the runabout to the +rear of the auto and seating their guests comfortably in the tonneau, +the boys crowded into the driver's seat and were soon gliding up a broad +avenue of elms that ended at the spacious and elegant home to which they +had been directed. Declining a pressing invitation to enter, the boys, +followed by their repeated thanks, started off with redoubled speed on +their original errand. + +Without further adventure they secured their supplies and turned +toward home. What was their surprise as they neared the camp to see +a procession of the fellows coming down the road, some beating on +imaginary drums, others blowing on horns, still others with harmonicas +and jewsharps, but managing in some unaccountable way to evolve the +well-known air of + + "Hark! The Conquering Hero Comes!" + +It was evident that the news of their adventure had preceded them. + +The "Gray Ghost," coming over to the camp to discuss some detail of the +forthcoming race, had overtaken the farmer leading the runaway horses +and had learned the particulars. Hence the impromptu band and the +nerve-racking rendition of the triumphal welcome. It was comical but +cordial, and the boys would not have been human had they failed to +appreciate it. And later on their hearts thrilled with still greater +pleasure at Mr. Hollis' earnest words of commendation. + +They were soon seated at the table with their guests from the rival +camp, and in the discussion of the anticipated race all else was +forgotten. They had not finished before a strange automobile rolled up +and the colored chauffeur lifting a large basket from the car and bowing +low, announced that it was for Mr. Bert Wilson and his friends from the +ladies whom they had rescued that day from deadly peril. + +Many and loud were the exclamations of delight when the basket was found +to be filled with the mostly costly and delicious fruit. Before the +onslaught of the crowd it vanished like magic and Jim urged the boys to +stop a team of runaways every day that summer. + +The fruit seemed to the boys the last souvenir of that memorable day, so +crowded with incident and accident. But it was not. The "lucky three" +were to be reminded of this day's adventure in a most unexpected manner +before the season ended. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE FOUR-LEGGED RECRUIT + + +"Don, boy, look here," cried Bert, coming out of the mess tent after +dinner with a plate of scraps. "Now how are you going to thank me for +it?" he asked as Don pranced up, barking and wig-wagging with his tail. + +Don's answer was to stick his cold muzzle into Bert's hand and to +wig-wag a little harder. + +"Now, old fellow," said Bert when Don had cleared the plate, "some of +the boys are hunting butterflies over there and I want you to get this +note to them right away. Do you understand, Beauty?" + +The dog looked up with full understanding in the eyes that said so much +and barked joyfully as Bert tied the note to his collar. He started off +in the direction pointed out to him perfectly happy in the thought that +he was serving his master. + +Bert looked fondly after the proudly lifted head and waving silver brush +of his favorite. The dog had been a mystery to the whole camp. He seemed +to know what was said to him and scarcely ever failed to carry out any +directions given him. He had learned a great many tricks in the few +days he had been in camp besides displaying some he had mastered +previously. With one accord they decided that he must have been stolen +by the tramps, who, in the discomfort and excitement of the other day, +had forgotten all about him. + +A squad of the boys had that morning been sent over to the hills on an +all-day hike to hunt for butterflies and to study ants--the last had +become a favorite amusement among them since Dick's talk of a few days +before. Bert had expected to go with them, but, as more supplies were +needed from the village, he had volunteered to go over for them in the +"Red Scout," although he would much rather have gone with the "bug +squad." The note that he had entrusted to Don contained a warning to the +boys to come home by the main road and not attempt to come over the +hills as they contained many dangerous holes and pitfalls. He was sure +that Don could find the boys because he had gone with them more than +once on their hikes among the hills. + +Meanwhile, up in the hills, one of the boys, Arthur Gray by name, had +wandered way off from his fellows before he realized it. A strikingly +beautiful butterfly had led him on and on, now lingering on one flower, +now on another, always flitting away at the very instant when Arthur +felt sure of success. Finally, with a lazily graceful motion of its +delicately marked wings, it flew away and was lost to sight, leaving +Arthur to "mop his fevered brow," as Dick would have said. + +Looking around him he discovered that the boys were nowhere to be found. +He reached for his pocket compass and found, to his great surprise and +dismay, that it wasn't there. + +By this time, really worried, he tried to remember where he was and +which way he had come, but all with no result. The butterfly had led him +there by such a roundabout path that he could not, for the life of him, +point out the direction from which he had come. What should he do? In a +moment he thought that he had brought his watch with him--more by luck +than anything else, for he often left it at the camp--and he remembered +that he could find in what direction the South lay by means of it. + +By that time it was exactly four o'clock, and, pointing the hour hand +toward the sun, he found that the number 2 on his watch-face pointed to +the South: that is, half the distance between four o'clock and twelve +when the other hand is pointed toward the sun, marks the southerly +direction. Of course, when he had one point of the compass it was very +simple for him to find the others--that being a necessary part of summer +camp training. Arthur knew that the camp lay somewhere to the East so +he started to get there as fast as his legs would carry him. + +But, alas. The time when we think fate has been most kind to us often +turns out to be the time when it is hardest. So it was in Arthur's case. +As he hurried along, congratulating himself on having thought of so easy +and quick a way to get out of his difficulty, he forgot that the passes +over the hills had been reported dangerous. + +Going happily along he had no warning of what was in store for him +until, with a groan, he sank to the ground and began to rub his ankle. +He had stepped into one of those treacherous holes that covered the +whole countryside and had sprained his ankle very badly. + +Painfully, he tried to get up, but when he attempted to bear his weight +on the injured ankle, it pained so cruelly that he winced. + +"Oh, I can't, I can't," he moaned aloud in his misery. "What shall I do, +what shall I do?" and, sinking to the ground, he covered his face with +his hands. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, the boys had missed him and had begun to search all over for +him. Not finding him, they became anxious and looked desperately for him +in every place they could think of. + +"I wonder if he could be hiding in a cave the way Jim was doing the +other day," Shorty suggested. + +"Don't be a fool, Shorty," said Tom, rather sharply. "Arthur isn't that +kind. Probably he's chased some butterfly way off somewhere and can't +find his way back." + +"He ought to be able to find his way easily enough with his pocket +compass. The thing I'm afraid of is that he may have met with some +accident," said Frank. + +Just then Don came trotting up to Tom, calling attention to the note +tied to his collar by a series of short, imperative barks. Tom patted +his head lovingly and called him a "good fellow" at which Don wig-wagged +vigorously. The boys all crowded around, eager to see what was in the +note. + +"It's from Bert," Tom announced, "and he says that Mr. Hollis wants +us to come home by the main road because of the dangerous holes and +pitfalls. Say, fellows," as the truth dawned upon him, "do you think +that Arthur can be hurt so that he can't get to us?" + +"Nobody knows. But I know one thing," said Shorty stoutly, "and that is, +that I won't leave these hills to-night until we have found him." + +"Good for you, Shorty," said Frank. "I know we all feel the same way so +we had better get down to business in a hurry." + +All the time the boys had been speaking Don had stood with his head +cocked knowingly on one side, watching their every action. When they +started to go he looked up into Tom's face, mutely asking to be allowed +to go too. And Tom answered heartily, "You just bet you can come along, +Don. We couldn't do without you." + +Then the boys began to scour the woods in good earnest. For half an hour +they worked hard with a dull, aching sensation at their hearts. They +looked behind rocks, pulled aside dense underbrush, gazed down deep +ravines with the awful fear that they might see their comrade lying at +the bottom. They were coming now into the most dangerous part of the +country and they were forced to work slowly and with the utmost care. + +When they paused, weary and discouraged, to consult on what course was +best to follow, Don's short bark reached their ears and in a minute the +dog himself rushed up to them. Then, running back and forth between them +and the direction from which he had come, he plainly showed them that he +wished them to follow him. + +"We'd better go," Tom said. "He may have found him, or at least some +trace of him." + +So, with Don in the lead the boys started once more. As they went they +called Arthur's name, but at first nothing but the echoes answered them. +They were so torn by thorns and briers and so wearied by the long search, +that nothing but the thought that their poor comrade was in a much worse +plight than they, could have kept them to their task. Finally, when they +were beginning to think that Don was leading them on a wrong scent, they +heard a faint cry. Joyfully, they called out again and again and each +time the answer came nearer. When they came upon the runaway at last they +were so happy that they didn't notice his condition at once. When they +did realize how badly he was hurt, they forgot how tired they were and +set about at once to relieve him. + +The poor boy had tried to drag himself along on his hands but had not +been able to get very far. The boys bandaged the ankle and then began +making a litter. It wasn't very long before they had Arthur fairly +comfortable on the improvised bed. With light hearts the procession +started for camp, Don proudly taking the lead. The boys thought it was +best not to question Arthur until he had had time to recover from the +shock. + +It was nearly dark, when, tired and hungry, the "bug squad" reached +camp. It is a well known fact that boys are not worth much when they +are hungry. Mr. Hollis, who was a good judge of human nature, hurried +the troop into supper, declaring that curiosity could be much better +satisfied on a full stomach than an empty one. + +After supper the boys made the usual camp fire and made the wounded hero +of the day comfortable before it. When the preliminaries were over the +boys called for the story of the "bug squad's" adventures. + +Tom told as much of the story as he knew and then, turning to Arthur, +asked, "Did Don really find you there? We weren't sure but that he might +just have struck the trail." + +"He did both," Arthur replied. "He struck my trail and followed it until +he found me. I don't think I was ever so glad in my life as I was to see +our Don come trotting up ready for some petting. He saw that I was hurt, +though, and started away like a streak of lightning to bring you to +my help. At first I thought that he was deserting me, but even as the +thought came to me I knew it was unjust. Think of our gallant Don +deserting anyone in distress. Then in a few minutes I heard you hail +and answered as well as I could. I will always carry a picture of you +fellows as you came into sight, with Don in the lead. Believe me, it was +the finest I ever saw or expect to see. And now, fellows, I want you to +give three cheers for the hero of the day and the finest dog that ever +lived. Come on, now---- + +"HOORAY-HOORAY-HOORAY--Now let 'er out fellows--HOORAY," and in spite of +his sprained ankle, Arthur led the cheers that echoed and re-echoed +through the trees for rods around. + +All the time the cause of all the enthusiasm was lying with his head on +Bert's knee, watching the boys contentedly. When they all crowded +around, he took the praises they showered on him as a true gentleman +should--with courtesy and dignity, only those speaking eyes of his +telling of the love in his heart for the boys that would have made him +die for any one of them. + +If ever a dog was glad and happy, his name was Don that night. Although +he didn't understand what it was all about, he knew that he was being +honored and showed that he appreciated it. + +The happiest moment in the whole day for Don came when Bert put both +arms lovingly around his neck and whispered, "You're a trump, old man." + +And so the four-legged recruit went happily to sleep to dream that he +was rescuing all the boys in camp. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE YOUNGSTERS' GREAT DAY + + +"Say, fellows," said Bert, as he lay stretched out lazily beneath the +limbs of a spreading beech, "isn't this the finest day ever?" + +"You bet it is," said Tom, "the mould was broken when this day was +made." + +It was, indeed, one of the perfect days that come sometimes to break the +heat of sweltering midsummer. A brisk wind stirred the branches through +which the sunlight, flecking lazily the ground beneath, played over the +group of boys, who lay in all sorts of abandoned attitudes on a bit of +rising ground a little removed from the camp. They had had a splendid +morning's sport. The coolness of the day and the fine condition of the +roads and meadows had suggested to them the game of Hare and Hounds. Up +hill and down dale they had raced with occasional intervals of rest. +When the hares had successfully shaken off their pursuers, still the +bewildered hounds had nosed about, so to speak, seeking to pick up the +lost trail. Bert and Tom had been the hares and their escape from +capture had added to the delight occasioned by the day and the game +itself. It was only after the rice that they had carried in their +pouches to make a trail had been almost exhausted, that they thought of +doubling on their tracks and making for camp. + +The hounds had trailed in a little later on, looking a bit discomfited +but not disheartened. As Pete Hart, one of the hounds, said "though +slightly disfigured they were still in the ring." And, oh, how that +dinner tasted and how impossible it was almost for the famished boys to +wait while the fish snatched from the brook that morning were frizzling +in the pan and came in tantalizing whiffs to the nostrils of the boys. +Something more substantial than whiffs, however, did quickly follow, and +now like gorged anacondas full to the brim, they lay stretched out upon +the grass and talked over the events of the morning. + +"I tell you what, boys," said Frank, "it sure was the luckiest day in my +life when I struck this camp." + +"Well," said Tom, "I reckon we all say amen to that. Think of being out +in these woods on such a day as this with a lot of jolly good fellows +and not a thing to do but be happy. When I think of the people in town +roasting under the summer heat while we are out here under the trees, +you bet I feel sorry for them." + +"Yes," said Jim, who, as usual, had eaten more even than the others and +hadn't before had energy enough to speak, "the town is all right in the +fall and spring, but when the summer comes, me for the long hike and the +camp in the woods." + +"It sure does us a lot of good," said Bert. "I know that when I go back +to the city after a summer like this I feel so strong that I could lift +a ton." + +"God made the country but man made the town," chimed in Dick who was +great on quotations. "I think it does everybody good to get away +somewhere where they can come in contact with the woods and the brooks +and the squirrels and the birds. Who was it we used to read about--that +fellow in the old Grecian stories--I think his name was Antaeus, who got +into a fight with one of the old heroes and every time he was knocked +down, refreshed by contact with mother earth, got up ten times stronger +than before. I guess that is the way we feel after a summer spent in the +woods." + +While they were speaking, Mr. Hollis had joined the group. The boys +quickly moved aside to make room for him. Although he was so much older +than they, his genial spirit and unfailing friendliness kept him in +touch with every one of the boys. At heart he was still a boy and +always would be one. He was a stickler for discipline, but not in the +slightest degree a martinet. With him it was always the "iron hand in +the velvet glove," and he was so just, so considerate, he understood boy +nature so thoroughly and in the case of each was able so accurately to +put himself in his place, that the boys regarded him as a father or +rather an older brother, instead of a commander. + +"I heard what you said, Tom," he said, smiling, "about not having a +thing to do but be happy. Are you quite sure you have nothing to do but +that?" + +Tom stared a moment, "why yes," he said slowly, "to make somebody else +happy." + +"That's the thing," said Mr. Hollis. "You hit the nail right on the head +that time, Tom. There is no higher aim in life than to make some one +else happy." + +A murmur of assent arose from the boys. + +"Now," said Mr. Hollis, "we ought to do some one a good turn every day. +It doesn't matter especially what that good turn is. It may be a thing +so slight as almost to escape notice. It is just in some way or other to +add to the sweetness of human life. It may be to give somebody a lift in +the automobile--it may be a word of appreciation to kindle a smile on +some tired face; it may be guiding a blind man across the street, or +giving your seat to a woman in the street car, or even so slight a thing +as to kick a banana peel off the sidewalk. The essence of the whole +thing is self-forgetfulness. To lend a hand, to give a lift, to make +life brighter and easier for someone even in the smallest degree. + +"But what I have in mind just now is a sort of wholesale lift. When I +was in town the other day I passed the orphan asylum. You know the one I +mean. That building just off the Court House Square with a stone wall +around it and a pretty lawn in front." + +The boys remembered perfectly. Every one of them at some time or other +had passed the place and seen the childish faces at the windows. + +"Now," said Mr. Hollis, "my idea is this. There are from forty to fifty +children in that building. It serves as the asylum for all the towns in +the county. I happen to know it is carried on in a splendid way. The +officials at the head are kind and humane and the matrons in charge +take the best possible care of the little ones, but after all they +need variety. They want individual attention. In a home of that kind +even with the best intentions there has to be a certain monotony and +uniformity. They have to rise at a certain hour, sit down at the table +at the same moment, go to the school room at a given time, and even +play under the direction of somebody else. Now, what a glorious thing it +would be if for one day those children could come out into the woods and +roll in the grass and chase the squirrels and kick up their heels like +young colts let loose in the pasture. What do you say boys, to giving up +one whole day of this vacation and make those little ones think they +have had a glimpse of heaven?" + +What they said was plenty. As Shorty said, "it hit them where they +lived." + +There was a chorus of excited exclamations, "Will we?" "You bet!" +"Just try us and see." "When's it going to be?" "Why can't we have it +to-morrow?" "How many kids are there in the asylum?" "What's the best +way to get them here?" At last Mr. Hollis, smiling, had to raise his +hand, in order to be heard. + +"Well," said he, "I haven't fixed upon the date. As a matter of fact, +I haven't spoken to the officers of the institution at all and am +not absolutely sure that they will see their way clear to make the +arrangement. Of course, they have a great responsibility upon them +in caring for so many little ones and they would have to look at the +question from every side. Still I don't think there will be much trouble +in arranging it. They are just as eager to see the children have a good +time as we are, and I think the idea will strike them as a capital one. +One or two of the people in charge will, of course, have to come with +them. Ordinarily they might feel a little timid about letting the +children spend a whole day in the woods in company with a lot of +high-spirited boys who might be reckless, and, even with the best +intentions, lead them into danger. Still, you boys have established such +a good reputation in this neighborhood," and here Mr. Hollis looked +about on the eager faces with an expression of pride, "that I don't +think there will be any real trouble in arranging the affair." + +"It is a capital idea," said Dick, warmly. "How did you come to think +about it?" + +"Well," said Mr. Hollis, "it wasn't original with me. It's a custom in +the city to set aside a day each year as 'Orphans' Day.' There are +thousands of well-to-do people, owners of automobiles, who have the +tenderest sympathy with these little ones deprived, by nature, of their +natural guardians, and on that one day of the year they give up all +thought of selfish enjoyment and try to give the children the time of +their lives. It's a splendid sight and warms the heart to see the long +line of automobiles coming down the avenues decked with flags and +overflowing with the little tots. Off they go to the beach where all +sorts of amusements have been prepared for them. They dig in the sand. +They paddle about with bare feet at the edge of the breakers. They take +in every innocent amusement from one end of the island to another. They +haven't any money to spend, but they couldn't spend it if they had. +Everything is free. The spirit of kindness and good feeling is shared +by all the owners of the different resorts, and the doors are flung +wide open the minute the children come in sight. They see the moving +pictures. They ride in the merry-go-round. They hold their breath as +they speed up and down the scenic railways. They watch, with awed +admiration, the wandering artist who moulds tigers and lions in the +sand. The life guards take them in their boats and row around the +different piers. They go to the great animal shows and see the big +brutes put through their wonderful tricks. They sit in the weighing +machines. They throw base-balls at the clay figures and the larger boys +are even permitted--supreme pleasure for a boy--to fire at the target in +the shooting galleries. They watch the great ocean steamers as they go +past at a distance, and the smaller vessels, like white-winged birds, +that hug the shore. And eat! How they do eat! They are like a flock of +ravenous locusts and the food disappears as if by magic. It's a day of +days for the poor little youngsters, to be talked over and dreamed over +for months to come, and when at the end of the day they pile into the +autos, tired, full, happy as larks, for the swift return journey to the +only place they know as home, it is a question who are the happier, the +little ones to whom this means so much or the owners of the machines +who, for that one day at least have spent themselves gladly for the +happiness of others." + +The boys listened with rapt attention, and when Mr. Hollis had finished +they were chock full of enthusiasm. + +"Well," said Tom, "we haven't any beach here, but I am willing to bet +that by the time we get through with those kids they will have had just +as good a time as any youngster in the big city ever had." + +The boys all chimed assent to this, and Shorty, who was always impulsive +and never could bear to wait for anything that he greatly desired, +suggested, "Why not fix it up right away?" + +"Well," said Mr. Hollis, "I don't see any objection to that. If Bert has +the automobile in shape we will go over at once." + +So many of the boys wanted to go with him that, to avoid any selection, +Mr. Hollis suggested that they draw lots. Of course it went without +saying that Bert would go to drive the machine, but in addition fate +decreed that Tom, Frank, Jim, and Shorty should pile in with them. Off +they went along the smooth country roads, their hearts leaping not only +with the delight of the glorious day and the thrilling swiftness with +which the great machine sped over the turnpike, but also from the +feeling that they were going to carry gladness and sunshine into a lot +of wistful little hearts to whom father and mother were only names. + +In what seemed only a few minutes from the time they left the camp, they +reached the asylum. Bert went in with Mr. Hollis while the rest of the +boys stayed outside in the machine of which they never tired, and where +they much preferred to stay rather than wander about the streets of the +town. The interview with the officers of the asylum was most cordial. +They knew Mr. Hollis as a courteous gentleman and a capable and careful +ruler of his little kingdom. The matron in charge was called in at the +conference and she also assented heartily and thankfully. + +It was arranged that on the second day thereafter, provided, of course, +the weather was suitable, the outing should take place. Then arose the +question of transportation. How were they to get there? The automobile +would only carry a few of the little ones even though they were packed +in like sardines. The superintendent suggested that no doubt they would +be able to find plenty of the townspeople who would be glad to furnish +teams to carry the rest. + +But just before this arrangement was concluded a thought occurred to +Bert. He knew how much the auto appealed to a youngster. They were used +to seeing horses and wagons and at times would be taken for a ride in +them, but automobiles were scarce in that locality and seemed almost +like a fairy vehicle to the little ones, as with faces pressed against +the panes they would see an occasional touring car glide swiftly along +the road in front. "Where were the horses?" "What made them go?" "Why do +they go so fast?" It seemed to Bert that half the delight of the little +ones would be in the automobile ride and as he pictured the little wave +of envy and discontent that would inevitably come over the youngsters +who were forced to take the more prosaic and common place wagons, he +said: + +"What's the matter with taking them all over in the machine? Of course +we would have to make a good many trips, but what of that? It only takes +a few minutes to get from here to the camp and turn our load loose in +the woods and then come back for another. The whole thing could be +managed in a couple of hours. Bob and I could take turns in driving the +machine. I am sure Bob would be glad to, and I know I would, and as for +the kids, there is no question of the way they would feel about it." + +"All right," said Mr. Hollis, while the superintendent and matron +greeted gratefully this further example of Bert's thoughtfulness and +kindness of heart. + +When the machine returned to camp and the boys who had been left behind +learned of the arrangement, everything was bustle and stir at once. +Although the camp was always kept in first-class order, this being one +of their cardinal principles, yet there were a good many little things +that needed doing in order that the youngsters should have the glorious +time that the boys had mapped out for them. Some of them took a long +rope and fixed up a great swing between two oaks at a little distance +from the camp. Others arranged an archery butt and prepared bows and +arrows for the larger boys to use. A number of fishing lines with +sinkers and hooks were prepared so that the children might have the rare +delight of trying to catch their own dinner. Then, too, it was necessary +to go to town on several different occasions to secure supplies. Their +own store had to be replenished, and besides, they wanted to get a lot +of extra dainties that would appeal especially to the appetites of their +little guests. + +There had been a heavy rain a day or two before and the prospects were +that nothing in the way of bad weather would mar the outing. This had +been a question of a little anxiety because their stay in camp was +rapidly nearing a close. Many of the boys had only a limited time to +stay and had to return to their employment in the city. And even those +who could extend the period had no desire to do so after their fellows +had gone. + +In all this rush of preparation the automobile race was not neglected. +Every boy in the camp felt as though his own personal reputation was +involved in winning. Rumors had filtered in from different quarters that +Ralph Quinby, the driver of the "Gray Ghost", was simply burning up the +roads in exercise. It was even said that for a short distance he had +attained the speed of a mile a minute. + +While there was no bitterness in the rivalry between the two camps, yet +their desire to win was extremely keen. + +"You have simply got to get there, old fellow," said Dick as he and Bert +were tinkering at the machine on the morning before that set for the +outing. "It would never do to have those fellows say that the 'Red Scout' +had to take the dust of the 'Gray Ghost.'" + +"Well," said Bert, who, as the driver of the car, naturally felt a +greater weight of responsibility than anybody else, "there are just +three things we need in order to come in first. Above everything else, +we've got to have the car in splendid condition. It must be stripped of +every single thing that might furnish wind resistance and make its work +that much harder. Every bolt and nut must be examined and tightened. The +lever, the clutch, the gear, has to be thoroughly examined. Many a race +is won in advance in this way, even before the machine leaves the post. +In the next place, we've got to have good judgment. By this I mean +judgment of pace. It isn't only what the speedometer says, but there is +a little something that tells the man who has his hand on the wheel just +when and just how hard he should hit it up. Sometimes it is wise to +trail the other fellow. At other times it may be well to set the pace, +but the ability to do either one or the other is the thing that, other +things being equal, is bound to tell in the long run. Then, greatest of +all, perhaps, is nerve. I don't know whether you have ever ridden, Dick, +in a machine that goes a mile a minute, but if you have, especially on a +circular track, you'll know something of what I mean. A fellow's nerves +must be like iron. The least hesitation, the least doubt, the least +shakiness even for the merest fraction of a second, may be fatal. This +is true even if one were riding without anything especially at stake, +but when we know that all the fellows will be yelling like Indians, +begging us to win, and know the bitter disappointment that will come to +them if the other fellow shows us the way over the line, I tell you it +is a sure enough test of a fellow's nerve." + +"Well," said Dick, "as to that last point I haven't any doubt about you +having plenty of nerve, Bert. If that were the only thing in question I +would call the race won just now, but how about the machines themselves? +Don't they enter into the calculation?" + +"Of course," said Bert, "that counts for an awful lot. You can't make a +cart horse beat a thoroughbred, no matter how well he is ridden. There's +got to be the speed there or everything else counts for nothing. But +take two machines of about equal power, and from all I hear the 'Red +Scout' hasn't much, if anything, on the 'Gray Ghost' in this particular, +it puts the matter right up to the drivers of the cars. Under those +conditions, nine times out of ten, it's the best man and not the best +machine that wins." + +While Tom and Bert discussed the thing in this way soberly, the rest of +the troop hadn't a doubt in the world that their hero would win. They +idolized Bert. They had seen him under a variety of circumstances and +never once had he shown the white feather. Never once had he failed to +measure up to an emergency. Never once had he failed to use every ounce +of energy and power that he possessed. If he _should lose_--and this +thought was instantly dismissed as traitorous--they knew that, although +beaten, he would not be disgraced, and so, with a vast amount of +excitement but with scarcely the slightest feeling of trepidation, they +awaited the momentous day when the "Gray Ghost" and the "Red Scout" +should battle for supremacy. + +"Orphans' Day" dawned clear and beautiful. There was just enough breeze +to temper the heat of the sun. The skies were cloudless. Many a tousled +little head up at the asylum had tossed restlessly on its pillow through +that night and almost all of the expectant youngsters needed no rising +bell to call them from their dreams. Even breakfast was dispatched more +quickly than usual, and the feverish impatience of the little tots made +it almost impossible to wait for the coming of that glorious automobile. + +As it was necessary to save all possible space in the auto for the +children themselves, Bert drove the car over alone. When he came in +sight he was hailed with a yell of delight by a little group of seven or +eight gathered on the lawn, who had been told off, to the envy of their +less fortunate companions, for the first ride. The matron in charge made +a pretense of keeping order, but she had been a child herself and the +attempt was only half-hearted. In they piled, one after the other, +tumbling over the sides, or tossed in by the strong arms of Bert, and +untangled themselves somehow, some on the seats, some on the bottom of +the car between the last and the driver's seat. Brown heads, black +heads, blond heads, yes, even one little red head--that of Teddy +Mulligan--made what Shorty said when he saw it was "a sure enough color +scheme." + +As soon as they were safely ensconced, Bert blew his horn, swung the car +around, and then made off for the camp. Oh, the delight of that swift +trip on that glorious morning. Oh, the chatter that rose from those +eager lips. Oh, the joy that bubbled in those little, motherless hearts. +It wasn't earth--it was heaven. On sped the machine, noiselessly, +softly, swiftly as a bird. If it had not been for the other groups who +were eagerly waiting their turn Bert would surely have turned off into a +side road and given the kids a good many extra miles; but the others had +to be considered, too, and time was passing, so into the camp they +glided, all alive with eagerness, delight and anticipation. The ready +hands of the other boys lifted the little ones from the machine, which +instantly turned about for its second trip. Again and again this was +repeated, until the last little group on the lawn of the asylum had +melted away, and the woods resounded with their childish prattle. + +The boys had surely spread themselves to give "the kids" a day that +they'd never forget. Frank took some of the larger boys to the little +glade where the archery practice was on, put the bows and arrows into +their hands that had been prepared and showed them how to shoot. The +girls were taken to a swing that the boys had rigged up and swung +to and fro to their hearts' content. Tom showed them how to make +jack-o'-lanterns and told them about the time when Bert had put one up +in a great cave and frightened him so badly when he caught a first +glimpse of it. A little group under the guidance of Dick went down to +the brook and watched the sunfish dart to and fro under the gleaming +surface and the great perch and catfish lying lazily under the reeds +that fringed the bank. Shorty, who was an expert fisherman, threw his +line while the boys looked on with bated breath, and in a few minutes +pulled up a plump catfish. + +"Why do they call them that?" said little Tony Darimo. + +"Well," said Shorty, "maybe it's because of the whiskers they have; +perhaps because the face looks something like a cat, or else because of +the noise they make when you take them off the hook." + +Little Billy Jackson seemed unconvinced. + +"It doesn't seem to me like a cat," he said. + +Just then Shorty, who had turned his head to put the fish in the basket, +uttered a loud "meow." Billy jumped. + +"I guess you are right after all," he said. "It surely does sound like a +pussy cat." + +In the shallow part of the brook some of the little ones under the +guidance of the matron were permitted to take off their shoes and +stockings and paddle about. The water was less than a foot deep. One of +the children slipped and fell. In a moment Don, who had been racing along +the bank, jumped in and grabbed him by the collar of his blouse. The +child was on his feet in a minute and had never been in the slightest +danger at all, but Don felt just as proud of his exploit as though he had +saved him from a raging torrent. The boys laughed and called him a "fake +hero," and yet every one of them knew in his heart that, however great +might have been the danger, Don would have jumped just the same. Don +outdid himself that day. He made the children scream with delight. Under +the guidance of Bert he played soldier, shouldered the stick and marched, +rolled over and played dead, and did it all with such a keen sense of +enjoyment in his tricks that the children stood about and watched him, +with endless wonder and delight. + +But the one whom the children remembered above all the others was +Bert. He was everywhere. He told them stories. He carried them on his +shoulders. He imitated the calls of the different birds. He summoned the +squirrels and the timid little creatures, who long since had lost all +fear of him, came readily forward, ate out of his hand and perched upon +his finger tips. The children looked on with wide-eyed amazement, +delight and admiration. + +Then came dinner, and such a dinner! The kids had never seen anything +like it before. Fish caught fresh from the brook, the golden corn bread +made by the boys themselves, the maple syrup, the cakes, the pies, the +countless goodies that melted away before those famished youngsters +would have filled a dyspeptic's heart with envy. + +But all things come to an end, and in the late afternoon, amid the +shouted good-byes and waving of hands from all the boys in the camp, the +"Red Scout" took up its burden--and it had never borne a happier one--and +carried the kids away, their little hearts full of unspeakable content, +at the end of the best day's outing they had ever known. + +The boys were tired that night. Even Tom, who prided himself on never +owning up to weariness, admitted fairly and squarely that he was "clean +tuckered out." But it was a delightful weariness. They had forgotten +themselves. They had worked and planned for others. They had not looked +for their own happiness, and just because they had not, they found it. +They had learned the one supreme lesson of life, "that to give is better +than to receive," "that he who seeks pleasure as an end in itself never +finds it," and that he who bestows happiness upon another has his own +heart flooded with peace. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +DAVE'S TIGER STORY + + +The next night, while Dave, who had promised to tell them a tiger yarn, +was pulling his "thinking cap" on tight, and trying to select his most +fetching story, the boys gathered closer about him, and with hearts +beating a little faster at the very mention of the word "tiger," +prepared to listen. + +At last Dave looked up, and in order to make his story a trifle more +thrilling, gave a little talk on the bloodthirstiness of his majesty, +the tiger. When he concluded by the tense look on his hearers' faces +that the right moment had arrived, he plunged into + + THE STORY OF THE TIGER + +"One calm evening in the summertime, somewhat later than usual, a +gentleman stepped from the train at a railroad station in a suburban +town and walked up the street toward his home. Deep in thoughts of +business, he did not notice at first that a most unusual silence +pervaded the town. In a short time the deadly stillness roused him, and +he noticed, wonderingly, that he was the only person to be seen on the +streets. Not a man, woman, or child could he see, a most unusual thing, +as at that time, in the early evening, the town was always a very lively +place indeed. He noticed, too, with amazement, that the doors and +windows of the houses were all closed. Not a face appeared at any of +them. All the windows that had blinds or shutters attached had them +drawn tightly, and fastened securely. Not a sign of life anywhere. What +had happened? Had everybody gone crazy? + +"Amazed and frightened, he hurried on, up one street and down another, +until his own house came into view. That, too, was closed and shuttered. +The welcoming face that had never failed to greet him was not at door or +window. Now, thoroughly alarmed, he ran up the steps of the porch and +wildly rang the bell. The door was opened cautiously, just a little +crack, and to his great relief the face of his wife appeared at the tiny +opening. + +"At the sight of him the door opened wider. He was clutched by the +sleeve and hurried into the house with scant ceremony. Before he could +get his breath after this amazing treatment the door was closed and +locked and double-locked on the instant, and the white face of his wife +confronted the dazed man. + +"His dinner was ready, but without waiting for him to be seated at the +table his wife commenced to tell him the cause of the unusual state of +affairs. 'Did he remember that the wild animal show was to have arrived +in the town that day?' 'No,' he had not remembered, 'but go on.' + +"Well, it did come, and while the show was in progress one of the +animals, a tiger, had escaped from the tent and raced up Main Street, +while everyone on the street hurried to the nearest refuge. At the +end of Main Street he dashed into the woods, and though the crowd of +pursuing men and boys did their best to recapture him, he was still at +large. The manager of the show told the people, while they ran madly in +pursuit, that the tiger was a new one, scarcely at all trained, and by +far the fiercest and most savage of all the animals in the show. He +warned everyone to stay closely within doors that night, and assured +them that as soon as daylight appeared every possible effort would be +made to capture and cage him. That is why everybody is barricaded within +doors. + +"Of course, being a man, he laughed at his wife's fears, said there +was no danger, and that it was extremely foolish for everyone to be +so scared, and that, as for him, he would not lose a wink of sleep +worrying about it. His wife noticed, however, that although he talked so +bravely, he kept closely within doors all the evening, and that when +they were ready to go upstairs for the night he looked with unusual care +at the fastenings of all the doors and windows, both upstairs and down. +Once, as he fastened the bolt of a window, he had stopped and grown a +little white at a slight scratching noise just outside the window." + +Here a decided shiver ran around the camp, furtive looks were cast over +hiked shoulders, and Sam, who for some minutes had been watching a +moving shadow just outside the line of camp firelight, decided that the +shadow was decidedly tigerlike, and wanted to know if they did not think +the fire needed some more logs. "All right, old man," said Bob, and the +logs went on. They blazed up brightly, and gave every man Jack, even the +bravest of them, a more comfortable feeling of security, and Dave went +on with the story: + +"In the middle of that night the man found himself suddenly awake, with +an intense feeling that someone or something was in the room. Raising +himself upon one elbow, he gazed searchingly about the dim room, and was +just about to give himself a lecture for imagining things, when, in +the farthest and darkest corner, he saw what appeared to be two great +balls of green fire glaring straight at him. At once the thought of the +escaped tiger leaped into his mind, and he knew that the fierce and +savage beast was within his room. For a moment his heart fairly stopped +beating, but, gaining control of himself with an effort, he tried to +think what he should do. He reached over and laid his hand softly over +his wife's lips and whispered in her ear. Then together they watched the +two glowing points of fire, wondering with sick hearts how soon the +tiger would be upon them. + +"They had not long to wait, for now the tiger began crawling toward +them, inch by inch, inch by inch----" + +At this point in the story the boys, utterly forgetful of the world +and everything in it, had crowded close about the story teller, and +with flesh creeping and hair rising on their heads were listening, +open-mouthed, to the story. Dave had paused to take breath, when every +heart stood still as a fierce scratching on the bark of a nearby tree +and a deep, savage growling were heard. + +All sprang to their feet. Dick Trent was the only one who remained cool. +Having seen Bert Wilson (who never lost an opportunity for a little fun +and mischief) steal quietly away under cover of the darkness, he more +than suspected that something was going to happen, and so was prepared. + +Suddenly a burst of ringing laughter made itself heard, and there +on the grass lay Bert, rolling over and over, holding his sides and +saying between gasps, "Oh, my! Oh, my! you did look so funny! Hold me, +somebody, or I _will_ go to pieces. Oh, my! Oh, my!" + +At first the boys were inclined to be angry, but they were good fellows +and always ready to laugh at a joke, even when it was on themselves, and +so with many a laughing threat to "get even with Bert, and that mighty +soon," they came, a little sheepishly, back to the fire and with one +accord begged Dave to go on with the story. + +"Well," resumed Dave, "we left the tiger creeping inch by inch, inch by +inch, toward his two victims, and feeling very sure of his capture; but +the man was not the one to give up his life or that of his wife without +a brave effort to save them. He whispered hastily to his wife, 'Be +prepared'"--here a voice interrupted to exclaim, "They ought to have +been campers"--"'to jump out and roll way back under the bed the instant +I say Now!' + +"By this time the tiger had come to within a few feet of them, and they +could see him in the dim light, every muscle quivering, crouched for a +spring. The man had slipped his feet over the side of the bed to the +floor, and his hands clutched the bedclothes from underneath. + +"As the beast sprang the man shouted, 'Now!' and at the same time flung +the bedclothes over the head and body of the tiger. The two terrified +people used the few minutes the angry, snarling beast took to get out +from the tangle of bedclothes to roll as far under the bed as they +could. The bed was a very low one, and the man knew that the tiger, who +was very large, could not creep under without raising the bed with his +shoulders. So the two resolved that when he tried to get under, as they +knew he would, they would grip the steel springs above them and hold on +like grim death, and try to hold the bed down. + +"All too soon they found themselves holding on to those springs with all +the combined strength of their muscles. The tiger tried again and again +to lift the bed, but could not get enough of his shoulders under to get +a purchase, and finding himself baffled, crept away to his far corner to +consider what to do. + +"The man knew that they could not keep the tiger at bay in this way very +long, for their strength was nearly gone. Groping about desperately, his +hand touched his son's tool box, pushed carelessly under the bed. How +thankful he was that their boy was visiting relatives at a distance. He, +at least, was safe. He grasped the box as a drowning man grasps a straw, +and lifting a lid searched for and found a screw driver, and, oh, joy! +a few large screws. + +"Working desperately, and more rapidly than ever in his life before, +he drove a couple of the screws through the two top legs of the bed, +securing them to the floor. Another two minutes and he had one of the +bottom legs in the same condition. Before he could touch the fourth leg +the tiger, angered by the noise of the screw driving, bounded forward +and again tried to lift the bed. Finding he could not get at them, the +tiger suddenly sprang upon the bed and began tearing at the mattress. +Very soon there was nothing between him and the now almost despairing +couple but the woven wire springs. These springs were of extra strong, +fine quality, but even these could not hold out long against the +onslaught of those terrible, powerful claws. + +"Almost mechanically the man again thrust his hand into the box, and +drew out a small saw. The idea came to him to cut a hole through the +floor into the ceiling of the room below, slip through, and rush for +help. He spoke to his wife, and found she had fainted. He worked +desperately, faster and faster, while all the time the tiger tore more +and more fiercely at the tough springs. His hot, terrible breath swept +across their faces, so close to that snarling one above them, while the +saliva dropped from his savage jaws. + +"Almost fainting with disgust and terror, the man worked on still more +desperately, for dear life now. At last one side was finished, then +another, now the third, and a little hope came back to the man's heart. +If he could only finish that other side he would have at least a slight +chance of escape. But now the tough woven wire links began to give way +under the tearing of the tiger's savage claws. In one place a small hole +is broken in the wire. In mad haste the man tears the saw through the +wood. It seems as if it would never give way. Once the saw slips and +bends. What if it should break! One more desperate, despairing effort. +Only two more inches now, only one, only a half inch. At last it is +over, and the saw drops from his nerveless hand. He makes a last effort +to arouse his wife, but without avail. He cannot bear to leave her, for +he fears that before he can get help and return the tiger will be upon +her. What can he do? It is his only chance to save her. He _must_ take +it. + +"The tiger, as if he knew a crisis had come, ceased his tearing and lay +above them, watching with angry fire flashing from his eyes, and keeping +up a low, savage snarling. + +"With a muttered prayer for protection for his poor wife and help for +himself, the man lowered himself through the opening until he found +himself suspended from the ceiling of the lower room. In desperate haste +to go for help, he is about to drop to the floor, but pauses to hear if +there is any sound or movement in the room above. Not a sound. There is +comfort in that, for his poor wife must be safe as yet, but what is the +tiger doing? Why is everything so deadly quiet? Incensed at the escape +of one of his victims, one would suppose him to be all the more eager to +secure the other; but there is no sound. What can he be doing? + +"At this moment an awful thought comes to him. What if the cunning tiger +had crept silently down the stairs into the room below? He remembers +that the door into that room was open when they passed it on their way +upstairs. How safe they had felt then! How little had they dreamed that +this awful thing would come upon them! Could it be only a few hours +since they had gone upstairs, chatting cheerfully together? It seemed +days and days ago. Perhaps the tiger was at that moment crouched below +him there in the darkness, ready to spring upon him the moment, yes, +even before, his feet touched the ground. + +"The awful thought made him pause, and he hung there with fiercely +throbbing heart, undecided what to do. If he could hear one sound of +the tiger moving in the room above him he could drop, quickly close +the door, and rush away for help. Still no sound from his wife's room. +What should he do? Perhaps it would be better to try to hold on until +morning, when he could at least have the blessed light to aid him. It +could not be long now before daybreak. Surely out of doors there must be +daylight now. Soon it would come into the room and enable him to look +about him. Yes, that would be the best and only thing to do. + +"But no; he cannot! His strength is failing. Already his numbed fingers +are slipping--slipping--another moment and the tiger will be upon him and +all will be over. He can hold on no longer. He is falling--falling---- + +"'John! Oh, John!' comes a cheerful voice from below. 'Aren't you coming +down? It is almost train time, and breakfast is ready.' + +"John sits up in bed, looking with dazed eyes all around the bright +room, flooded with morning sunshine, and it is minutes before he +realizes that it is _all a dream_!" + +If anyone could have taken a photograph of the boys' faces just before +the conclusion of the story and another just after it, the two pictures +would have been a comic study; but they could not have given the +transition from faces filled with rapt, motionless, breathless interest +to the astonished, somewhat disgusted look as the totally unexpected +ending of the story filtered in upon them. + +Mr. Hollis, who had listened to the last part of the story with as much +interest as the boys, thanked Dave for the pleasure he had given them, +but could not keep back a smile as Shorty voiced the general sentiment, +"You ought to be ashamed, Dave Ferris, for handing us such a lemon." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +WITH DEATH BEHIND + + +Pop! Pop! Bang! The "Red Scout's" motor gave a few preliminary +explosions, and then started off with a sound like a whole battery of +field guns going off at once. A cloud of black smoke issued from the +exhaust, and in a few seconds had enveloped the car so that it could +hardly be seen. Some of the boys came running up with consternation +written in their faces, evidently thinking that the automobile was about +to explode, or run away, or do some equally disastrous thing. They were +reassured by Bert's broad grin, however, and Bob Ward gave a relieved +laugh. + +"Gee!" he exclaimed, "what's the matter with the old machine, anyway, +Bert? You had us scared stiff there for a few minutes. I thought that +after this when we wanted to get anywhere we'd have to walk, sure. It +looked as though the old 'Scout' were on fire." + +"It sure did," confirmed Frank. "What _was_ the matter, Bert?" + +"Oh, nothing to speak of," replied Bert airily. "I had just washed the +engine out with a little kerosene oil, and, when I started it, why, of +course that burned, and gave out the smoke you saw. I don't wonder that +you thought something was up, though," he continued, laughing. "It +certainly did look like the 'last days of Pompeii' for a few seconds, +didn't it?" + +"That's what it did," broke in Shorty, "and seeing all that smoke +reminded me of a riddle I heard a little while ago." + +"Go on, Shorty, tell us the riddle and get it out of your system," +laughed Bert. "If you don't it might grow inward and kill you. Some +brands of humor are apt to work that way, you know." + +"Well, the riddle is this," said Shorty. "Why is it that an automobile +smokes?" + +Many were the answers to this, but at each one Shorty shook his head. +Finally he said, "Well, do you give it up?" + +"I guess we'll have to, fellows," grinned Bert. "Go on and tell us, +Shorty; why _is_ it that an automobile smokes?" + +"Because it can't chew," crowed Shorty triumphantly, and dodged just in +time to avoid a piece of greasy waste that Bert threw with unerring aim +at his head. Amid cries of "Lynch him!" and "This way out!" and "Don't +let him escape alive, fellows," Shorty took nimbly to his heels and +skipped behind a tree. After the excitement had subsided Bert returned +to his grooming of the "Red Scout," and soon had matters fixed to his +entire satisfaction. + +It was a hot, sticky afternoon, and the boys had nothing particular to +do outside of the routine duties of the camp. They had been lying around +on the grass, lazily talking and listening to the drowsy hum of an +occasional locust, when one had said: + +"Gee, I wish to goodness there was a little wind stirring. I feel as +though in about five minutes I would become a mere grease spot on the +landscape." + +"Well," Bert had replied, "if you feel that way about it, why not +manufacture a little wind of our own?" + +"Manufacture it," had come a chorus of surprised protest, "how in time +can you manufacture wind?" + +"Oh, it's very simple when you know how," Bert replied, in an offhand +manner. "What's to prevent us from piling into the auto and taking a +spin? When we get out on the road I think I can promise you all the +breeze you want. What do you say, fellows? Want to try it?" + +The answer was an uproarious shout of approval, and accordingly Bert had +been getting the machine in shape. + +In a short time they were ready to start, and as they were getting in +they discerned Shorty's stocky form emerging from the trees. He signaled +frantically for them to wait, and soon came up panting. + +"Say, you weren't going without me, were you?" he asked reproachfully. + +"Well," laughed Bert, "you deserve almost anything after springing a +thing like that on us, but I guess we can forgive you, if we try real +hard. Shall we take him along, fellows?" + +"I don't see what Shorty needs to come for, anyway," said Ben, slyly. +"It seems to me that a fellow that can run as fast as Shorty did a +little while ago can make all the wind he needs himself. He doesn't have +to get in an automobile to get swift motion." + +"That's so," agreed Bert, with a serious face, "still, probably Philip +has other views, and so we might as well give him the benefit of the +doubt. Jump in, old scout." + +This was easier said than done, however, as the big red auto was already +literally overflowing with perspiring boys, but they managed to squeeze +in, and started off, singing three or four different songs all at the +same time, and each one in a different key. + +Nobody seemed to be bothered much by this, however, and they soon +reached the hard, level, macadam high road. Bert "opened her up" a few +notches, as he expressed it, and they were soon bowling along at an +exhilarating pace. The breeze that Bert had promised them soon made +itself felt, and you may be sure it felt very grateful to the overheated +boys. + +"This beats lying around on the grass and whistling for a wind, doesn't +it?" asked Frank, and, needless to say, all the rest of the boys were +emphatically of his opinion. + +They had been going along at a brisk pace for several miles when they +heard the purr of another motor car in back of them, and glancing back +saw a handsome-looking blue auto creeping up to them. A flashily dressed +young man, smoking a cigarette, was driving it, and three girls were +sitting in the tonneau. The blue machine overtook them steadily, and +soon was abreast of them. + +"Gee, Bert," exclaimed Frank, excitedly, but in a low voice, "you're not +going to let them pass us, are you?" + +"Oh, let them, if they want to," replied Bert; "we didn't come out for a +race, and I feel just like loafing along and taking things easy. What's +the use of getting excited about things on a hot day like this? Besides, +I don't think those people are looking for trouble, anyway." + +At this point the blue car passed them, however, and as it did so one +of the girls in the tonneau looked back and called, "How does the dust +taste, boys? Like it?" The fellow driving it laughed at this sally, and +shouted, "Hey, youse, why don't you get a horse?" + +All the boys looked at Bert to see how he would take this. He said never +a word, but his grip tightened on the steering wheel, and the "Red +Scout" gave a lunge forward that almost jerked some of the boys out of +their seats. Faster and faster the powerful car flew, and it was evident +that they would soon overtake the blue car. The latter was also a first +rate machine, however, and the boys could see one of the girls in the +tonneau lean over and speak to the driver. The blue car started to draw +slowly away, and Bert opened the throttle a few more notches. The motor +took on a deep, vibrating note, and the hum of the gears rose to a +higher pitch. Soon they began to overtake the car in front, and now it +became evident that the latter was doing its best. The "Red Scout" +fairly "ate up" the intervening space, and in a few moments had come up +to within a few yards of the laboring blue car. The driver looked back, +and seeing that the big red car in back of him would surely pass him in +another few seconds, swerved his own car over so that it was squarely in +the middle of the narrow country road. There was a shallow ditch on +each side of the road, and the only way Bert could pass him was to take +a chance of overturning and run two wheels in this ditch. Usually he +would not have thought of exposing the boys to such a risk, but now he +threw caution to the winds. Amid hoarse and excited cries from the boys +he "gave her the limit," to use his own expression, and the "Red Scout" +seemed fairly to leap ahead. + +He swerved the big machine into the ditch, and the wheels bumped and +pounded over the uneven surface. The big car fairly shot by the blue +machine, however, and amid a triumphant shout from the frenzied boys +regained the smooth road and hid the defeated challenger in a cloud of +dust. + +Then Bert slowed it down a little, but kept well in the lead. The blue +machine had evidently given up in despair, however, and gradually +dropped back until a turn in the road hid it from their view. The boys +broke into an excited discussion of the recent "brush," and all were +enthusiastic in their praise of the staunch old "Red Scout." They also +had many flattering things to say in regard to Bert's driving, until he +was forced to protest that he would have to buy a hat about five sizes +larger, as he could fairly feel his head swelling. + +Finally the excitement subsided somewhat, and the boys had time to look +around them and get their bearings. It did not take them long to find +that they were in unfamiliar surroundings. They had gone at such a fast +pace that they had covered more ground than they would have believed +possible. Bert consulted the odometer, or distance recording instrument, +and announced that they had covered almost thirty-five miles! + +"Say!" he exclaimed, "we'll have to do some tall hustling to get back to +the camp in time for lunch. We'll keep on a little way, until we get to +a place where the road is wide enough to turn around in, and then we'll +beat it back as fast as possible." + +As he finished speaking, they rounded a sudden turn in the road and a +gasp arose from every boy in the car. Not fifteen feet ahead of them was +a railroad crossing, and giving a lightning-like glance up and down the +track Bert saw that there was a train approaching from both directions. +It was obvious that the automobile would not be able to get across in +time, and at the brisk rate at which they were traveling, it was equally +impossible to stop the machine. It seemed inevitable that the auto would +be struck by one or both of the ponderous locomotives, and it and its +occupants be crushed to atoms. + +The boys turned sick with horror, and gripped the sides of the +automobile without being able to say a word. Their eyes gazed without +winking at the two rushing locomotives, and they were unable to move. + +But Bert saw that they had one, and only one, bare chance of life. He +did not try to apply the brakes, which would have been useless and +fatal, but as the big auto reached the railroad tracks he wrenched the +steering wheel around and headed it directly up the track in front of +the northbound train. As he did this he opened the throttle, and bent +over the wheel in a desperate and almost hopeless attempt to beat the +flying locomotive until the engineer, who of course was using every +means in his power to stop his train, could check its momentum and give +them a chance to escape. + +The "Red Scout" bumped and swayed wildly over the uneven ballasting +and ties, and the boys breathed heartfelt prayers that nothing on the +staunch car would break. In spite of all Bert could do, the fast express +train gained on them, although sparks were streaming from the wheels +where the brakes were clamped against them. The engineer had reversed +the locomotive, and the great driving wheels were revolving backward. + +The momentum of a fast and heavy express train is not a thing to +be checked in a moment, however, and the boys in the rear of the +automobile could feel the heat from the locomotive boiler. + +But the powerful automobile had gotten "into its stride" by this time, +and was fairly flying over the uneven roadbed, and to the boys it felt +as though it were only hitting the high places, as Frank afterward +expressed it. For a hundred or two hundred feet the train failed to gain +an inch, and then the brakes began to tell and it gradually fell to the +rear. + +Shorty leaned over and thumped Bert on the back and yelled: "Slow up, +Bert, slow up! We're out of danger now, I guess." + +Bert glanced back, and saw that Shorty was right. They were drawing +rapidly away from the locomotive, so he reduced speed, and the automobile +gradually attained a safer pace, and at the first opportunity Bert swung +it up off the tracks and onto a country road. This done, he stopped the +machine, and leaning on the steering wheel, buried his face in his hands. +He said not a word, and the boys could see that he was trembling like a +leaf. In a few moments he recovered himself, however, and the boys began +to overwhelm him with questions: + +"How did you ever think of going up the track instead of trying to get +across, Bert?" inquired Frank. "If you had tried to cross that would +have been the last of us, because we could never have made it." + +"I did it because it was the only thing to be done, I guess," replied +Bert, in a shaky voice. "I'm no end of a fool to go at that speed on a +road that I don't know, anyway. I don't know what I could have been +thinking of to take such chances. Mr. Hollis will never have any +confidence in me again, I guess." + +"Nonsense!" retorted Bob, indignantly. "Why, if Mr. Hollis could have +seen the presence of mind you showed, I think he would trust you all the +more, if that is possible. Not one person in a hundred would have +thought of doing what you did." + +"Yes, but that's not all of it, by any means," said Bert, in a mournful +voice. "I'll bet that we've broken something on the old car, as well as +almost getting ourselves converted into sausage meat. Here goes to look +things over, anyway." + +A thorough inspection failed to reveal any break in the mechanism or +frame, however, and even the tires were intact. Finally Bert straightened +up with a relieved expression on his face, and said: "Well, I can't seem +to find anything at present, that's one comfort. However, I wouldn't have +believed that any car could stand such punishment and hold together. We +won't kick against fate, though, for not smashing our car for us, will +we?" + +"I guess not," agreed Shorty, heartily, "I think we ought to thank our +lucky stars that any of us are left to talk about it, even. It's more +than we had a right to expect fifteen minutes ago." + +"I guess you're right, Shorty, at that," agreed Bert, "but now, we'd +better make a quick sneak back to camp. Mr. Hollis will have given us up +for lost." + +Accordingly the boys all climbed into the car, and they were soon +humming along on their homeward journey. You may be sure that Bert +slowed down almost to a walking pace at every turn they came to, +however, and once, just for fun, he said, "Say, Shorty, I don't like the +looks of that curve ahead of us. Perhaps you had better get out and go +on ahead to make sure that the coast is clear. I intend to be on the +safe side this time." + +Shorty immediately entered into the spirit of the joke, and vaulted out +over the side of the tonneau while the auto was yet in motion, and +disappeared around the curve. As the auto crept around the bend its +occupants could see Shorty waving his handkerchief and signaling for +them to come on. Bert laughingly complied, and, as they passed Shorty, +stopped a moment to give him a chance to climb aboard. Shorty was soon +in his place, and Frank laughed. + +"Gee, Bert, that's being careful for fair. If Mr. Hollis could have seen +that I think it would have made up for our going too fast and almost +getting smashed up. What do _you_ say, fellows?" + +There was a unanimous chorus of assent to this proposition, but Bert +did not join in the laughter. He felt in his heart that he had been +careless, and he knew that even his subsequent presence of mind in +getting them out of a tight scrape did not wholly atone. His mind was +filled with these thoughts, when Bob said, "Say, fellows, I don't see +why we have to say anything to Mr. Hollis about our near accident, at +all. It will just make him angry at us, and maybe he will not want to +let us use the car again. Besides, now that it's all over, it won't do +him any good to know what a narrow escape we've had." + +"No, no, Bob, that would never do in the wide world," replied Bert, +quickly, and in a reproving voice. "The last thing we ought to think of +is to deceive Mr. Hollis, and you know it. I'm surprised that you should +even have mentioned such a thing." + +"Well, there's no harm done, is there?" replied Bob, but in a rather +shame-faced manner. "We won't do it if you don't think we ought to, +so there's no use getting mad about it. I just offered that as a +suggestion, that's all." + +"Well," replied Bert, "the chief blame for this thing lies on me, +anyway, and as soon as we get back to camp I intend to make a clean +breast of the whole matter to Mr. Hollis, and he can do as he thinks +best." + +"Oh, all right, have it your own way," growled Bob, sullenly, and they +relapsed into silence. By this time it was almost dark, and Bert was +forced to drive very slowly, as he had never been over that particular +road before. He had a well-developed sense of location, however, and was +pretty sure that he was going in the right direction. + +As it proved he was not deceived in this, and they shortly struck a road +with which they were all familiar. Bert ventured to accelerate their +pace somewhat, and it was not long before they came in sight of the +cheery camp fire, around which Mr. Hollis and the boys who had not gone +on the automobile trip were seated. As they heard the sound of the +machine the group around the fire leaped to their feet, and Mr. Hollis +walked slowly toward them. When the auto swung into the circle of fire +light and came to an abrupt halt, he said: + +"What has been detaining you, boys? It seems to me that you are not +treating me quite right by going off in this manner and returning at +such an hour as this. Why, you should have been back two hours ago." + +A chorus of excited exclamations rose from the boys, but Mr. Hollis +raised his hand for silence. When this had been restored, he said, "One +at a time, boys, one at a time. Here, Bert, let's hear your +explanation." + +This Bert proceeded to give in a very straightforward manner, and did +not attempt to gloss over any of the details of his recklessness, as he +was pleased to call it. + +Mr. Hollis listened with a serious face, and when Bert had finished, +said, "Well, Bert, you were certainly to blame for taking chances in the +manner that you did, but, on the other hand, you deserve credit for the +presence of mind and courage you showed in extricating your companions +and yourself from what might very easily have been a fatal accident. +Still, you were right to tell me all about it, and I think that to-day's +experiences may have the effect of making you more careful in the +future." + +"You may be sure, sir, that I will never be so careless again," promised +Bert, and by the tone of his voice, Mr. Hollis knew that he meant it. + +It was a hungry lot that sat down to supper that evening, and little was +spoken of except their thrilling experiences of the day. After supper, +however, they began to feel the effects of the exciting day, and all +expressed themselves "tuckered out." As Frank said, "He felt too tired +to take the trouble of going to sleep." + +They all managed to overcome this very important objection, however, and +soon there was no sound to be heard in the camp except the rustling of +the embers in the camp fire as they slowly burnt themselves out and +settled into ashes. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +MOUNTAIN SCOUTING + + +Sunshine! glorious, golden sunshine! Was ever sunshine more bright? Was +ever sky more blue? Was ever day more beautiful? So questioned our +campers as, fresh and glowing from a cold plunge in the lake, a hearty +breakfast despatched, bedding aired and cots freshly made up, camp +cleared up and morning duties all attended to in tip-top fashion, they +mustered about Mr. Hollis to receive the day's commissions. + +It mattered little what might be the commission allotted to each squad. +Anything, everything that might come to them in the way of camp duty, +could not but be a pleasure on such a glorious day as this. With young +bodies aglow with health, young minds, awake and alert for all new +impressions, young hearts filled with desire to live right, to do right, +to be kind and helpful to all with whom they came in contact, how could +they help being happy? + +The camp was full of merriment, but perhaps the happiest squad of all +was the auto squad. In fact this was always the case, but today the +autoists had a special expedition. They were to play the mountain +scouting game, and as the nearest mountains were at a distance from +camp the squad had been detailed for the automobile. + +Gaily the fellows piled in and away they flew. As the roads which they +must travel today were rough, their progress was much less rapid than +usual; but, despite this they reached their destination in about half an +hour. + +"Hurrah for the 'Red Scout,'" cried Bob, as they tumbled out of the car. +"If she can travel like that over these roads, what'll she do on the +race track? Oh, say, fellows, the 'Gray Ghost' won't be in it. She'll +fade away like a real ghost." + +"Don't I wish the day of the race was here," said Tom. "Seems as if it +would never come, doesn't it, fellows?" and "It sure does," they all +chorused. + +The "mountains" were really very high, rocky hills, but, as they were +known to embrace many very steep and dangerous ravines, some of them +nearly as perilous as mountain precipices, many and earnest had been +the warnings given by Mr. Hollis as the boys had started on their +expedition, and each boy carried in the pockets of his jacket some part +of the equipment for first aid to the injured that was a part of the +camp outfit. Thus safe-guarded, they felt no fear. + +As soon as they had arrived the three "hares," who had been coached in +the game, went to hide themselves in the mountain, and, after sufficient +time had been given them for this purpose, the "hounds" followed them; +while Bert and Dave Ferris remained in the auto to watch for any signal +that might be given them from the mountain. + +The game of mountain-scouting consists in the "hounds," who must stay +within certain limits of ground, finding or "spotting" the "hares" +within a given time. If they find or spot them even with field glasses, +it counts, provided that the finder can tell who it is he has spotted. +The hounds write down the names of any of the hares that they may see. +If at the end of the allotted time no hare has been spotted, the hares +win. + +To-day two hours had been the given time and the boys in the mountains +were to signal to Bert the news as each hare was found. + +Time was nearly up. Three hares had been found. The chase had been a +merry one and now hares and hounds together, no longer pursuers and +pursued, but just happy-hearted campers were hiking down to the two in +the automobile. + +The return signal had been given, and Bert and Dave, relieved of the +slight anxiety they had felt while the game was going on, expected each +moment to see the boys come into view. + +Suddenly Dave sprang to his feet. "Look, Bert," said he, "another +signal." + +Breathlessly the boys read the signal wig-wagged to them from a point +high up on the side of the hill. "Come quick! Fred hurt. Bring splints +and kit and ropes." + +It took only a very short time for the boys to reach the scene of the +accident, and one glance took in the situation. Turning a corner the +boys had come, all unknowing, upon a spot where the rocks shelved +suddenly down into a deep ravine. The edge of the descent was hidden by +a fringe of breast-high bushes, and Fred Morse, all unconscious of his +danger, had stepped upon a piece of rock which gave under his foot, and, +before the boys could even put out a hand to save him, had slipped +through the bushes, and the horrified boys had heard their comrade go +crashing through the bushes on the side of the ravine. His frightened +cry, "Help, fellows, I'm falling!" still echoed in their ears. While two +of the boys were signalling, the others had called to Fred but no reply +had come back to them. When Bert reached them, Bob was running along the +edge of the cliff, in great danger of going over himself, in a vain +effort to find a place to climb down. + +Now, not waiting for the call for volunteers, he ran to Bert and begging +him to hurry and help him, began fastening the ropes about himself. In a +twinkling, the rope was adjusted, the knots securely tied, and the rope +firmly held by four boys, Bob was lowered slowly and carefully over the +side of the cliff. + +Down, down he went till, just as the boys began to fear that the rope +would not be long enough, it lay slack in their hands, and they knew +that Fred was found. Presently came the signal, three distinct pulls on +the rope, and soon poor Fred was lifted tenderly over the edge and laid +gently down. A few minutes more and good old Bob was back with them. + +Now, all attention was turned to Fred. After a careful examination from +head to toe, Bert relieved the anxious fears of his comrades by the +announcement that he was sure that Fred's life was not in danger. A +faint cheer went up, which faded when Bert said Fred's leg was broken. + +Consternation filled their hearts, for the nearest doctor was miles +away, and though Bert felt sure there was no more serious injury than +the broken limb, it was hard to tell what internal injury might have +been sustained, and a long ride in the motor with the leg in the present +condition might prove a serious matter. There was no doubt about it, +the leg must be set at once. + +Not one of the boys had anything but the simplest knowledge of +first-aid-to-the-injured, but, though at first hearts feared and hands +trembled, they conquered fear and each boy went steadily to work to do +his part. Whether it was to hand the cotton batting or to pull with full +strength upon the poor broken limb, or hold the splints while Bert wound +yards of bandage around them, not a boy flinched, and at last the work +was done, and well done. + +Then with faces scarcely less white than Fred's own, they turned to the +task of making a litter on which to carry him down to the motor. + +After a long search, for the hill was almost barren of trees, being +covered mostly with scrubby bushes, two short and two long saplings were +found and, laying two of the boys' jackets on the ground and running +each of the long poles through the sleeves of a jacket, the two jackets +were buttoned together with buttons down. Then the short poles were +lashed on and a comfortable stretcher was ready to their hand. + +In the auto on smooth roads, carried tenderly by his fellows over the +rougher places, they at last reached the office of the crusty old +village doctor and laid Fred on the couch for the doctor's examination. +But though the doctor was crabbed, he was skilful, and in a very short +time the temporary splints were replaced by permanent ones and the party +turned toward camp. + +Homeward-bound in the auto at last, the boys drew a great sigh of relief +and weariness. What an eventful day it had been! Begun so brightly, it +had nearly ended in a tragedy, and at the thought their hearts swelled +with gratitude that they were taking dear old Fred home with them alive, +and, if not well, at least only the worse for a broken leg and some +severe bruises. They could not be thankful enough. + +"Who's that going along the road ahead?" asked one of the boys, and all +saw, walking in the middle of the road and directly in the path of the +motor, a little bent old woman's figure, the most conspicuous article of +whose dress was a bright red, very draggled looking feather which +drooped from the brim of a very ancient hat. + +Very tired and pathetic, the old figure looked to the boys as they +brought the machine to a stop beside her, and the old wrinkled face, wet +with tears that was turned to them when they spoke to her, made every +warm boy's heart ache with pity. + +"Why it's Kitty Harrigan's old mother, who has just come over from +Ireland," said Dick, in a low voice. "Don't you remember, fellows, how +we laughed when Mr. Hollis told us about her the other night? He said, +you know, that the poor old lady had been quite a village belle in her +young days, and now, in her age, she imagines herself back in her +girlhood. Look at her now." + +Indeed, the old lady was a study, for no sooner did her old eyes fall on +Bert's handsome face as he spoke to her, than tears were brushed hastily +aside, and with a coquettish glance from her brown eyes that, despite +the years, were still bright, she made him so deep a curtsey that her +long black coat swept the ground. + +She had eluded all watchful eyes, and slipped off by herself for a walk, +and when she wished to return, had taken the wrong direction, and was +walking away from home instead of toward it. She had enjoyed herself +immensely at first, making the most of her seldom-obtained freedom, but +now her old feet were very tired and the old limbs that had carried her +sturdily for nearly ninety years were growing weak at last, and, after +such unusual exertion, were trembling beneath her. + +At the boys' proposal to take her into the car and give her an automobile +ride, the tired old face broke into a smile, and, as the boys settled her +in the most comfortable seat in the tonneau, she leaned back luxuriously, +and, clasping her old hands, said in ecstasy, "Did annybody iver see the +loike of Biddy Harrigan ridin' in an artymobile, no less." She beamed +upon the boys, she patted the hands and shoulders of all of them within +her reach, and in her rich Irish brogue showered compliments upon them; +for a very demonstrative creature was old Biddy Harrigan. She did +not notice that mischievous Bert, whom she had called a "rale foine +gintleman," took advantage of her flow of talk to sing in a very low +tone, "'H-a-double r-i-g-a-n spells Harrigan'," but the boys found it +very hard to keep their faces straight. + +On Fred's account, poor Fred, who had, perhaps, shown more courage than +anyone else in that day's ordeal, for not one word of complaint had he +uttered through all his pain, the boys felt that they must go on to the +camp where he could get the rest and attention he so sadly needed. They +did not know that what was causing him keener anguish than the physical +pain was the fear that he would be unable to be on hand on that day of +days which he, like every other fellow in camp, had thought of every +waking moment, dreamed of every night and looked forward to with +daily-increasing impatience--the day of the race between their adored +"Red Scout" and the challenged "Gray Ghost." To miss seeing the "Red +Scout" come in gloriously victorious (not a single doubt of her victory +entered any boy's mind), what was the pain of a broken leg to the +misery of that possibility! But they did know that he needed care, so +they carried Biddy Harrigan with them. As supper was ready when they +reached camp, they placed Biddy in the seat of honor and regaled her +with the best of the camp fare. + +Never had an old women enjoyed herself so much. She could not get over +the fact that the delicious supper had been cooked by boys. "If Oi hadnt +of seen it and tashted it, Oi niver, niver would have belaved," she said +over and over again. + +After supper they hurried the old woman, gesturing and exclaiming at the +delight of another "artymobile" ride, into the auto and soon had her +home. + +Irish Kitty, who washed for the camp, was overjoyed at her old mother's +safe return and overwhelmed them with gratitude. + +The boys last view of Biddy was a grateful, curtseying, waving, delighted +old woman who repeated over and over again, "O'll not forgit yez, B'ys, +O'll not forgit yez. Yez'll hear from old Biddy agin," and they did. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BY A HAIR'S-BREADTH + + +Tap, tap, tap, tap--tap, tap--tap, tap, tap--sounded in Ben's ears +before he was fully awake and conscious. He sat up in bed and listened, +and asked himself what that sound was. Was it rain? At the thought his +heart grew heavy with apprehension. Rain on _this_ day, when he and Bert +and Tom were going to auto ten miles over to the Red River for a day of +trout fishing. The other fellows, who did not care so much for fishing, +were going on a tramp with Mr. Hollis, and he and his chums were to have +the auto all to themselves the whole day. + +Slipping noiselessly from his cot, he lifted the tent flap and stepped +outside. The first rays of morning sunshine beamed full in his face, and +the insistent noise that had aroused him proved to be the tap-tapping of +an energetic woodpecker out for the proverbial "early worm." + +Delighted at the prospect of such a glorious day, he rushed back into +the tent with a hop, skip and a jump, at sight of which Don, always +ready for a frolic, began frisking about and barking joyfully. + +Of course, there was no sleep after that for the other fellows, and, +bath and dressing and breakfast dispatched as soon as possible, the +three boys, seated in their beloved auto, and bidding a noisy good by to +the rest of the camp, sped away on their quest for trout enough for a +rousing fish dinner that evening. + +You would have had to go a long way to find a merrier or more care-free +set of boys than our three adventurers. Used as they were, by this time, +to the automobile, it never became an old story to them, and now, as the +swift motion of the car sent the cool air rushing against their young +faces, with the sunshine turning everything to gold, and with the +prospect of a day of rare sport before them, they gave full vent to +their overflowing spirits. They shouted and laughed, and chaffed each +other until many a staid farmer or farm hand, starting early work in the +fields, or doing chores about the barns, found themselves smiling in +sympathy. They recalled the time when they were boys, and the whole +world just a place to be happy and jolly in. + +The boys had enjoyed the ride so much, that all three were almost sorry +when Tom pointed out the gleam of water through the trees, and they knew +that Red River was at hand; but in a moment nothing was thought of but +the fun of getting ready for their day's sport. + +Tumbling out of the "Red Scout," laden with fishing baskets and tackle +and rods, they raced down to the river bank, selected each a shady, +grassy, comfortable spot, and, line and reel and hook adjusted, were +obliged at last to curb their wild spirits, still their noisy chatter, +and settle down to fisherman's quiet, although irrepressible Tom, unable +to subside at once, sang softly: + + "Hush, hush, not a breath, not a breath, + I've a nibble, still as death, still as death." + +The others could not resist joining in the chorus of the old song, and +regardless of consequences sang lustily: + + "Oh, the joys of angling! + Oh, the joys of angling! + Oh, the joys, oh, the joys, + The joys, the joys of angling." + +Then a Sabbath stillness descended on the party, until Ben shouted, +"first bite," and giving his line a sudden jerk and swing, landed a +beautiful speckled trout upon the grass a few feet away. + +For a few moments excitement reigned, and cries of "Hurrah for Ben," +"good for us," "isn't he a beauty?" "let's keep it up," were heard, +until Bert's "We certainly won't keep it up unless we keep quiet," sent +them back to their places and again quiet reigned. + +Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes went by, and there were no more nibbles. +The boys were beginning to get restless, when Bert landed the second +fish, and, a couple of minutes after re-baiting his hook, added a third +beauty to their collection. + +Tom, seeing the success of his comrades, began to feel as though he +were being left on the outside of things, but Bert encouraged him by +reminding him, "First the worst, second the same, last the best of all +the game," and sure enough, after nearly half an hour of most trying +waiting, he suddenly felt his line twitch, and had the joy of landing +the largest and finest fish yet caught. + +When the excitement had a little subsided, Ben said, "I think we ought +to celebrate that dandy catch, and the very finest way would be to have +a feast." + +As, what with the stirring ride and the excitement of the sport, each +fellow felt, with Bert, that he was hungry enough to "eat nails," the +hamper was brought from the "Red Scout" and unpacked with scant +ceremony. + +Every boy who has spent a day in the open will know exactly how _good_ +those cold chicken and ham sandwiches tasted; and the way the doughnuts +vanished was something to see. Washed down with a drink of cool water +from a nearby spring, it was a luncheon to be remembered. + +Again settling themselves in their chosen places, they continued to try +"the heedless finny tribe to catch"; for four trout, even though they +were fine, large ones, would, Tom said, regardless of the aptness of his +simile, be no more than "a drop in the bucket for all those hungry +fellows"; but their luck seemed to have changed. + +For more than two hours not a nibble disturbed the quiet of those +exasperating lines, and, as the ground, although covered with springy +grass, is not the softest seat in the world, the boys' patience was +tested to the utmost. They lay outstretched, resting on both elbows, and +Tom, tempted by the heat and the absolute quiet, was just falling into a +doze, when he was aroused to immediate action by the violent twitching +of his line. A moment more, and another speckled victim was added to +their store. + +For the next hour and a half the fish bit almost as fast as they could +bait their hooks, and they were kept busy hauling in one after another, +until, in the joy and excitement of the sport, they lost all count of +time. Fortunately for the camp, Bert suddenly made the double discovery +that they had more than enough fish, and that if there was to be a fish +dinner at camp that night, they would have to stop at once. + +"We'll have to make a quick sneak," said Ben, who, in moments of +excitement, sometimes forgot his most polished English. + +Hastily packing their catch in the fishing baskets they had brought, +they tossed them and the tackle into the auto, scrambled in themselves, +and were off and away. + +"The 'Red Scout' goes fine," said Tom, as the great car gathered +headway. From the beginning, the auto race, which even the wonderful +day's sport could not completely banish from their minds, had been the +almost exclusive topic of conversation among the campers, and now that +the day was rapidly drawing near, they could think of little else. "Is +she in first-class condition, Bert?" asked Ben. + +"Yes," Bert replied, "except that I noticed on the way out this morning +that the brake did not work as well as usual. As soon as we reach home I +will find and remedy the trouble, whatever it is. If worst comes to +worst I can send to the factory for a new part, which would reach us +inside of twenty-four hours." + +By this time about half the ten mile stretch had been covered, and now +they had begun to descend a very steep hill. Suddenly Bert's face went +white. Tom, chancing to look at him, exclaimed, "What's the matter, +Bert?" and Bert replied, "The brake won't work, fellows. Something's +stuck. I can't control the car." + +Then for a moment all yielded to a panic of fear. "Oh, Bert," said Ben, +"you _must_ stop her." "There must be _something_ you can do," begged +Tom. + +Looking into the frightened faces of his two companions, Bert recovered +his self-control, and resolved to do his best to avert an accident. +"Don't be frightened, fellows," he said. "The steering gear is all +right. Just sit tight and keep a stiff upper lip, and we'll come +through." + +"But, Bert, the bridge!" gasped Tom, and at the same moment a vision of +the narrow bridge, scarcely wide enough for two autos to pass, which +crossed the river at the foot of the steep hill, and just where the +stream was deepest, flashed before their eyes. All realized that should +the automobile fail to pass over the center of the bridge, and should +strike the frail railing on either side--Well, they didn't dare to think +of that. + +Calling up all their courage, the brave boys resolved to face, without +flinching, whatever awaited them. Once past the bridge and onto the +broad roadway beyond, they knew that they would be safe. On level +ground, with the power shut off, they would come to a standstill. + +But "would they ever reach that level roadway?" each boy asked himself, +with sinking heart. + +Bert renewed his efforts to use the worthless brake, but without avail. +Down, down, they flew, gaining speed with every passing moment, and now +the bridge was in sight. Another moment, and they would be upon it. + +"Courage, fellows," said Bert, in low, tense tones, and bracing himself, +he concentrated all his mind and energy in guiding the car to the center +of the bridge. + +When a few hundred feet away the forward wheel struck a large stone, and +the machine, which had been headed directly for the bridge, swerved to +one side, and now sped onward toward the river. + +With lightning-like rapidity Bert wrenched the steering wheel around, +and once more, with only a few feet of space to spare, the "Red +Scout"--good old "Red Scout," was headed _almost_ for the middle of the +bridge--not quite--the space had been too small. To the boys, looking +ahead with straining, despairing eyes, it seemed that they _must_ crash +into the railing, and that nothing could save them. + +Instinctively they closed their eyes, as the car dashed upon the bridge, +expecting each minute to hear the crash of breaking timbers, and to +feel themselves falling into the engulfing waters of the rushing river. + +But the expected did not happen. Like a bird the "Red Scout" skimmed +over the bridge, missing the railing by a hair's breadth, and was out +upon the broad roadway. Almost before the boys could realize their +escape from the awful danger that had threatened them, it was over, and +the "Red Scout" gradually losing its speed, at last stood still. + +Breathless, speechless, dazed, almost overcome, the boys sat looking at +each other for a few moments, until, the full realization of their +wonderful escape coming upon them, they grasped each other's hands +convulsively. Each knew that in the other's heart, none the less earnest +for being unexpressed, was a fervent prayer of thankfulness for their +deliverance; but as speech returned to them, the first words uttered by +Tom, were, "What do you think of that for classy driving, fellows?" at +which they all laughed nervously. + +Their laugh did not last long, however, for in the midst of it, out from +among the trees and shrubbery that skirted the roadway emerged two rural +constables. As if one overwhelming experience were not enough, the +constables informed them that they were arrested for exceeding the speed +limit. + +Bert was the first to recover from the shock, and giving his companions +a comical, but reassuring look, he stepped forward and said, "We have +been speeding some, officers, but we simply couldn't help it," and he +proceeded to explain. But the boys' faces expressed their consternation +when they found that their explanation was not credited. + +"We only have your word for that," said one of the men, "and you will +have to convince the judge that you are telling the truth." + +"Why, you certainly won't arrest us for an accident to our brake, for +which we are not at all to blame!" cried Tom, indignantly. + +"Well," said one constable, giving his fellow a knowing wink, "perhaps +if you have a 'tenner' that you have no use for, we might forget all +about it." + +Bert, flushed and indignant, refused, and without further protest, the +three boys, followed by the two constables, took their places in the +car. As they were only a short distance from town, they soon arrived at +the court house, and were left in an ante room to await their turn for a +hearing. + +Once alone, the three comrades stood for the second time within an hour, +looking into each other's faces. As Tom afterwards said, "too full for +utterance." + +Suddenly Ben began strutting around the room in a most pompous manner, +remarking, "I guess you don't know who we are. You know," said he, "that +one is not a howling swell until he has been pinched for speeding, so +behold us three aristocrats!" with another strut across the room. + +The boys could not help laughing, but Bert said, "Well, if this is being +an aristocrat, I'd rather be excused. It won't be quite such a laughing +matter if we find ourselves fined fifty or a hundred dollars." + +"But," began Tom, and said no more, for at that moment they were called +before the judge. + +They were obliged to stand by and hear the constable's charge against +them, given in detail. Then the judge turned to them---- + +"What are your names?" was the first question. + +Bert replied for the three. Upon hearing the names the magistrate +started, and looked keenly at them, but said nothing further than to ask +what they had to say to the charge brought against them. Bert gave a +clear and connected account of the accident to the auto brake, and its +consequences, and ended by saying, that if any proof were needed, an +examination of the brake would show the truth of their account. + +The judge accepted the boy's statement, dismissed the charge against +them, and turned to them a face from which all sternness had vanished, +and been replaced by such a genial, friendly smile, that the three +comrades were filled with wonderment. This was not lessened when the +magistrate asked them if they were the three brave fellows who had +stopped the two runaways a few days before, and saved the lives of the +ladies who were driving. + +With amazement that the judge should know of the runaway, plainly +written on their faces, the boys acknowledged that they had stopped +the horses, but added that it was their auto that had frightened the +animals, and so it had plainly been up to them to help. + +The magistrate smiled more broadly at this, but repeated that they were +brave boys, and that he was glad to meet them. + +Looking quizzically at them, he said: "I have a special interest in +those two ladies. One of them is my wife, and the other my daughter, and +I can never repay you for what you have done for me. You have made me +your debtor for life. If I can ever do anything for you, be sure and let +me know." + +Another handshake all around, and the boys found themselves free once +more. Were they happy?--well, you should have seen them as they climbed +into the car and headed toward camp. + +Events had so crowded upon each other that for the first mile or so the +three speeders sat silently reviewing the occurrences of this most +amazing day. And Tom, recalling their court room experience, broke out +with: + + "Gee whiz, I'm glad I'm free + No prison cell for me." + +This provoked a laugh and broke the tension, and a moment afterward a +scouting party from the camp hailed them boisterously: "Where are those +fish?" "How long do you think we can live without eating?" "Stand and +deliver or take the consequences"--and as the auto came to a standstill, +the basket was snatched and hurried off to the mess tent. Soon a +delicious odor made every hungry boy's mouth water, and when at last +they gathered around the table it was with wolfish appetites that they +paid their respects to that belated fish dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +BIDDY HARRIGAN REMEMBERS + + + "Cast thy bread--cast thy bread upon the waters, + +"And it shall return--it shall return unto thee after many days," +chanted a clear, high voice, truly a wonderful voice, which Bert claimed +as his own discovery. + +It was almost bed-time in the camp. The day had been a most fatiguing +one, and all had returned so weary that no one cared for the usual +lively evening entertainment. Even Mr. Hollis had said that he was +"dog-tired," and he felt with the boys that the very finest thing in the +world was just stretching out on the grass, resting weary feet, and +saying to one's self: "Nothing to do till tomorrow." + +It was a perfect evening, cool and quiet. There was no moon, but the +stars twinkled brightly, and the boys had been looking up at them and +trying to make out some of the six constellations that everyone should +be familiar with. But even that, in their present state of laziness, was +too much like work, and now they lay doing and almost thinking nothing. + +Even Don, the big collie, that the tramps had deserted, was not inclined +to romp with the boys as usual, but lay quietly with his great head +resting upon his paws. He had become the pet and plaything of the whole +camp and treated them all impartially except Bert whom he had chosen as +his one particular master. He wanted no other heaven than this--to lie, +as now, close to Bert, whose hand caressed his head while he said now +and again: "Good dog"; "Good old fellow!" Don, like the boys, was at +peace with all the world. + +Suddenly, someone started a popular air in which all joined. This put +them in a musical humor, and song followed song, changing after a while +from popular music and rollicking college songs to those of a more +sentimental nature. Most of the boys had good voices. With the soprano +of some, the tenors of the older fellows and Mr. Hollis' fine bass, the +camp singing would have delighted any lover of music. + +Whenever the boys had sung together, they had noticed that Phil's voice +had never joined in with the others. They had guyed him about it but as +he would never answer them, they had come to the conclusion that he +could not sing and was sensitive about it, so they had stopped teasing +him. + +To-night, as the notes of "The Soldier's Farewell" floated over the +camp, Bert noticed that Shorty was singing for the first time, and +though his voice was low as though he were purposely holding it back, +for fear the attention of the boys might be drawn to it, the notes were +remarkably clear and pure. + +When the song ended, Bert turned to Phil and asked him if he liked +music. Phil answered that he loved it and added more as if he were +thinking aloud than talking, that it was "the finest thing on earth." + +The boys sat up and stared. There was a moment of surprised silence and +then a chorus of voices: + +"Then you can sing?" + +"We never dreamed you could." + +"Why didn't you tell us?" + +"Why wouldn't you sing for us?" + +"Because," said Phil, who had decided to tell them the real reason at +last, "because all you big fellows thought that just because I was +small, I couldn't do anything worth while, and I was sore." + +The fellows expressed their regret and then in responses to a few kindly +questions put by Mr. Hollis, they learned that Shorty's ambition was to +obtain a thorough musical education. They learned too that for two years +past he had been the soloist in the boy choir of one of the prominent +churches in New York. He had joined the boy choir because there he could +gain, without cost, a knowledge of sight reading and voice control. + +Bert's "Won't you sing something for us, Phil?" was not to be resisted +and after a moment's thought his clear notes rose in a burst of melody: + + "Cast thy bread upon the waters"---- + +The boys fairly held their breath as the flutelike notes of one of the +finest voices they had ever heard, floated off into the woodland spaces. + +When he had finished, every one sat spellbound, paying the highest +tribute of a moment of perfect silence. Even when the silence was broken +by hearty hand clapping, the spell of the music still brooded over them. +It had been too fine for noisy applause. + +The boys' appreciation of his singing was very grateful to Phil, and not +the least tribute was Tom's: "Gee, Phil, I hope the birds didn't wake up +to hear that. They would have been green with envy." + +The tension was broken by Sam's asking: "What does that mean, 'Cast thy +bread upon the waters'--and how can it return?" Mr. Hollis was glad to +explain that no kind deed or word is ever wasted, but is sure to return +blessings on the one who gave it, if only in the glow that a kind action +always brings. + +But, uplifted as the boys had been, it is not in boy nature to stay long +upon the heights and they soon came down to earth again. + +Jim showed how fully he had come back to earth by remarking as he +suddenly remembered that owing to a miscalculation as to the elastic +nature of a boy's capacity, both flour and corn meal had given out, and +that in consequence, nothing in the shape of bread had come their way +that night: "I wish some real bread were coming tomorrow. I am not +particular about its coming by water. It can get here any old way, as +long as it comes." + +The sound of someone approaching the camp aroused them. Irish Kitty +appeared, with a big basket on one arm and a great bunch of red roses in +her apron. + +As soon as the boys saw the flowers, a shout went up: "Roses! roses! +What beauties!" and on Kitty saying that she had counted them and there +was one for each, they were seized upon and distributed in a twinkling. + +Now, Kitty stated that she had a "prisint for the young gintlemin" from +her mother, Mrs. Harrigan, "to thank thim for the foine illigant ride in +the artymobile." + +The big basket was uncovered and there lay revealed to the eyes of the +delighted boys a number of large loaves of delicious homemade bread. +One did not need to taste that bread to know its value. The firm white +loaves spoke for themselves. Corn bread they had in plenty every day, +but white wheat flour bread was not included in their regular camp +rations, so that this was indeed a treat. They were all devouring it +already in imagination, and each wished it were morning so that they +might begin in reality. + +Kitty departed amid "Good nights" and hearty thanks to her mother, and, +camp bed time having arrived, all drifted toward their tents, Tom gaily +singing: + + "'Tis a name + That no shame + Has iver been connected with + Harrigan! That's me." + +All at once some one shouted: "Look at Ben Cooper." They turned to see +Ben standing like a statue, eyes fixed on nothing, staring straight +ahead of him. + +"Say, fellows," said he, "that bread that we cast on the waters on our +way home from the doctor's the other day sure did come back, didn't +it?" + +"It certainly did and it didn't take 'many days' either to get here," +said Tom. + +"And," chimed in Shorty, "a big bunch of red roses thrown in, too." + +"Yes, Caruso," added Bert, throwing his arm affectionately over Phil's +shoulder, "you must be a prophet as well as a singer." + +Very soon the tired boys were off to dreamland, where visions of loaves +of fluffy white bread, each loaf with a red rose growing out of it, +floated about, and imaginative Dave dreamed that old Biddy made a +"prisint" of a loaf to each one, singing in a high cracked voice as she +handed them around: "Harrigan! That's me!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE RACE + + +"Well," exclaimed Bert, drawing a long breath as he rose from his +cramped position beside the "Red Scout," "this machine is in as good +condition as I know how to put it, and if nothing happens I guess we can +show you fellows some speed this afternoon." + +It was the morning of the long wished-for race and Bert was addressing +an excited group of boys, who were holding wrenches, oil cans, and such +other appliances as he might need in putting the finishing touches on +the pampered machine. The whole camp was in a ferment of excitement and +expectancy, and many were the heartfelt wishes for Bert's success. + +To these boys it seemed the most important thing on earth that their +machine should win, and it is safe to say that if Bert had wanted to +remove a piece of black grease from the car and had not a cloth handy, +any one of them would have sacrificed his best handkerchief without a +moment's hesitation, and been glad to do it. + +Fortunately, such a contingency did not arise, however, and finally the +last nut had been tightened and the last fine adjustment made, and +everything was ready for the start. + +The race was scheduled to start at two o'clock, but as the boys had to +walk to the track, and this necessitated a long detour around the lake, +they started almost immediately after breakfast, so as to get there in +plenty of time. + +The boys in the two rival camps were not the only persons interested in +the race by any means. News of it had leaked out over the surrounding +countryside during the week between the completion of arrangements and +the actual race, and now there promised to be a goodly attendance of +farmers and their families. + +Considerable interest was taken in the camp by the kindly country folk, +and now the boys were surprised at the number of carriages and farm +wagons, full of jolly youngsters, that they met on their march. + +Every one they met shouted cheery greetings to them, which they returned +with interest. It made them very happy to see the interest taken in them +by the farmers, and the very evident good will expressed by them. They +didn't take the trouble to figure out the reason for this, but it +was not very hard to find. The fact is, the boys were so manly and +well-behaved that they won their way into all hearts. + +Many a time they had seen the boys stop their machine rather than +frighten a skittish horse, and more than one weary farmer had been +given a lift on his way home from some distant field. + +So, as has been said, the boys were greeted with expressions of good +will on every side as they marched along, and it made them realize, +perhaps more than anything else could, that it paid to live a manly, +upright life. + +Meanwhile, back in camp Mr. Hollis, Bert, and Dick, were having a final +discussion before leaving for the rival camp in the "Red Scout." It had +been decided that Dick was to ride with Bert in the race, and give him +any help that he might need. + +The other boys had been bitterly disappointed, especially Tom, who had +counted right along on going. + +"It only seems fair that I should go," he had contended. "Bert and I +have always been special pals, and I wanted to share any risk he is +going to take." + +But Mr. Hollis was firm as a rock, as he well knew how to be when he +thought circumstances required it of him. + +"I'm a little bit uneasy about the race, anyway," he explained, "and as +long as somebody has to take chances I want it to be some boy who is old +enough to be responsible for his own actions. I know nobody could fill +the place better than you, my boy, but I am sure that when you think +over what I have said you will agree with me in my decision," and Tom +had to admit to himself that, as usual, Mr. Hollis was right. + +But now the time had come to leave for the rival camp, and Mr. Hollis +and Tom climbed into the tonneau, while Bert and Dick occupied the two +front seats. + +Soon they had started, and as they went along Bert gave Dick his last +instruction. "Remember," said he, "that when we take the turns you must +lean as far toward the inside of the track as you can. This may not seem +to help much in keeping those inside wheels on the ground, but every +little thing like that does help, and I think that we will have to do +everything we know how to beat that 'Gray Ghost' of theirs. That car is no +slouch, as the saying goes, and Ralph Quinby knows his business." + +"All right, Bert," replied Dick, "I'll try to remember all the things +you have told me. I really believe," he continued, laughing, "that I +have forgotten more about automobiles in the last week than I ever knew +before. I never had any idea that there was so much to know about a car, +and you certainly have got it down to perfection." + +Bert was pleased at this evidently sincere tribute from Dick, and could +not prevent a slight flush of pleasure from mounting to his face. + +"Well, Dick," he remarked after a moment, "all I've got to say is that +if such a trio as you and I and the old 'Red Scout' can't win that race, +there must be something the matter with the universe, that's all." + +The rival camp all felt as confident as did Mr. Hollis' troop, however, +and to the impartial observer it would certainly have seemed as though +there was little to choose between the autos and their crews. + +By this time they had come in sight of the old race track, and were +astonished, and, it must be confessed, somewhat confused at the sight +that met their eyes. There was an old rickety grand stand along one side +of the course, and this was literally packed with a bright-colored mass +of humanity. Even scattered around the infield there were quite a few +farm wagons, with their complement of folks out for a holiday. + +"Say," said Dick to Bert in a low tone, "I didn't count on having an +audience like this. They'll guy the life out of us if we lose." + +"Well," said Bert, who by this time had recovered from his first +astonishment, "that's all the more reason why we should win. We simply +can't let ourselves be beaten now, that's all there is about it." + +But there was no time for further speculation, as Mr. Hollis was seen +approaching them, and it was evident the race must soon begin. + +Bert ran the "Red Scout" around to a small shed in back of the grandstand, +and he and Dick made their final preparations. These consisted in taking +off the hood, or bonnet, altogether, and removing the exhaust pipes from +the motor. As Bert had already explained to Dick, this was done to +eliminate any back pressure from the exhaust gases. Under ordinary +conditions, this makes such a small difference in the power of a car +that it can hardly be said to count, but in a race every ounce of power +is required. This is done on every racing car, and that is why the +explosions make such loud, sharp reports when the car is in action. + +It need hardly be said that every boy in Mr. Hollis's troop, except poor +Fred, was present, and many were the anxious looks cast at Bert and Dick +to see, if possible, how they felt about the outcome of the race. Both +had been trained to have control of their feelings, however, and so +outwardly they appeared to be very calm. + +This was far from being the real state of their feelings, and both felt +as though their hearts had suddenly become too large and were trying to +get out between their ribs. They realized that it was not only their own +reputation that would suffer if they were defeated, but the whole camp +was involved. What would Mr. Hollis think of them if the other boys were +victorious? What would the boys who had such blind confidence in them +and the "Red Scout" do or say if the "Gray Ghost" won? + +Such thoughts were demoralizing, however, and neither Bert nor Dick +entertained them any longer than they could help. Into both their faces +came that stern, resolved look that all the boys had seen at times and +come to love, and in the minds of Tom and the others all doubts as to +the final result vanished. + +Meanwhile, Mr. Thompson's troop had been giving the "Gray Ghost" its +final touches, and now, at the sound of a mellow whistle, both Bert and +Ralph cranked their motors. + +None of the boys had ever heard the unmuffled exhaust of a racing car +before, and at the savage roar that now issued from both cars all the +boys fell back several steps with scared faces. As soon as they realized +that the gasoline tank had not exploded, nor any other equally awful +thing occurred, they came forward and tried to ask questions, but in the +confined shed they could hardly hear the sound of their own voices. + +Slowly the fire-spitting monsters were backed out of the shed, and their +respective drivers swung them around and on to the track. They were +greeted by a wave of cheering both from the boys and from the assembled +farmers, and more than one burly countryman who had come to the "kids' +racket" under protest was seen to sit up straight and open his eyes +wide. + +No doubt many of them had expected to see a rather tame affair, and +in fact few of them had ever seen an automobile race, or knew the +tremendous speed of which a good car was capable, or realized the cool +head and steady nerves required to control the condensed power of forty +horses traveling at a speed of close to a mile a minute. + +However, they were soon to experience a few of the thrills attendant on +such an occasion. The two leaders had been holding a consultation, and +now they approached the vibrating, eager cars. + +Mr. Hollis was forced to shout to make himself heard above the din of +the exhausts. "It is understood," he said, "that this race is to be run +from a standing start, and is to be for a distance of ten miles, or ten +laps around the track. The cars must line up on the tape that we have +stretched in front of the grandstand, and at the report of my pistol +they are to start, each driver getting away as best he can. We have +drawn lots for the choice of position, and the 'Gray Ghost' won, and is +to have the inside position. Mr. Thompson and I will act as judges. Is +that perfectly clear?" to Bert and Ralph. + +"Yes, sir," they both responded, and proceeded to manoeuvre their cars +into the appointed positions. + +Mr. Hollis and Mr. Thompson took their places in the grandstand, part of +which the boys had been directed to reserve for them. + +By this time the cars were in position, each one with its front wheels +resting on the strip of white tape. The "Gray Ghost" had a decided +advantage to start with, as it is evident that in any race the car that +has the inside position, that is, the part of the track nearest to the +center of the field, has a slightly lesser distance to travel than the +car on the outside, and in a close race every few feet count. + +But now there was a breathless hush over the grandstand, and all eyes +were on Mr. Hollis's hand, holding the pistol aloft. Bert and Ralph were +bent over their levers, every muscle tense, and nerves stretched to the +breaking point. + +Crack! went the pistol. With a mighty roar, and the blue flames spitting +from the exhaust ports, the two great machines bounded forward, and +almost with one movement Bert changed the gears from first to second, +from second to high. At every change the willing car leaped ahead with +ever-increasing momentum, and Bert felt a wild thrill run through his +body as he realized the vast force beneath him, subject only to his +control. + +The "Gray Ghost" had made almost as good a start, however, and now, +although the "Red Scout" had a slight lead, the inside position began to +tell, and the "Gray Ghost" gained a trifle. + +Dick, who had been looking back over his shoulder, now turned to Bert +and yelled excitedly in his ear, "Sock it to her, Bert! Give her the +gas! They're gaining on us!" + +They had now covered the first lap, and the speedometer hand on the "Red +Scout's" dashboard registered a speed of fifty miles an hour. Bert knew +he could do better than that, but remembered Mr. Hollis's instructions +not to take any unnecessary chances. The machine was working beautifully, +and a wave of pride surged over him as he thought that this was largely +due to the care and work he had bestowed upon it. + +But now the "Gray Ghost" was ranging alongside--ahead-- + +"Give her a pump full of oil, Dick," yelled Bert to his friend, and +opened the throttle a trifle wider. + +The machine answered like a thing of life. The wind whistled in their +ears, the track seemed a mere gray blur racing away behind them, and +the mighty speed song of the ravening motor was like music in their +ears. + +Faster and faster they flew, the two cars keeping pace side by side, and +the speedometer hand creeping up--up. + +Fifty-two, fifty-three, fifty-six! it registered, and the flying cars +seemed barely to touch the ground. On the straight stretch in front of +the grandstand they gathered such speed that at the turns the rear +wheels skidded, throwing up showers of dirt, and the drivers were forced +to slow down a little or the machines would surely have collided. + +Up to that time neither car had a decided advantage, but now they had +covered the eighth lap, and both crews realized that the time had +arrived to call on the racing engines for their final and greatest +effort. + +The crowds in the stands were yelling like maniacs, as each car in turn +pushed its nose ahead of the other. But Bert and Dick heard nothing +but the terrific roar of the racing cars. Their pulses beat like +trip-hammers; their eyes were starting from their heads. They felt +rather than saw that the "Gray Ghost" was gaining--gaining only a +little, inch by inch, but gaining. Now it had come abreast; now it was +slowly but surely forging ahead. It looked as though the "Red Scout" had +"shot its bolt," and its partisans in the grandstand groaned in an +agony of apprehension that was fast becoming despair, while their rivals +danced up and down and shrieked encouragement to their gray champion. + +Now they were on the last lap, and suddenly Bert leaned forward and +advanced his spark to the limit. It was do or die. His heart exulted as +he felt the splendid car leap forward. He took a firmer grip on the +wheel and threw the throttle wide open. His mysterious "sixth sense" had +told him that he had something in reserve, and now the "Red Scout" +justified his judgment. It leaped, it flew. It collared the "Ghost" +just as they turned into the stretch, and tore down the course, the +explosions of its motor blending together in one deafening volley of +defiance as it drew away from its rival. Across the line it flew like a +rocket, the pistol cracked, and--_the race was won_! + +[Illustration: Across the line it flew like a rocket.--(_See page 217_)] + +Both cars made another circuit of the track before they were able to +stop, and then drew up in front of the grandstand. + +Immediately the crowd surged down, and in a moment the two contestants +were surrounded by a frenzied mob of shouting and hat-throwing boys, and +almost equally excited, if less demonstrative, country people. + +Mr. Hollis pressed forward and grasped the hands of Bert and Dick, one +in each of his. "You did nobly, boys," he exclaimed, but there was a +catch in his voice, and his face looked gray and drawn, "you did great +work, but I would not consent to your racing again for all the money in +the world. It is altogether too dangerous." + +But by this time the defeated boys belonging to Mr. Thompson's troop had +recovered a little from their chagrin, and now elbowed their way through +the crowd, headed by their leader and Ralph Quinby. + +Like the clean-cut and manly fellow that he was, Ralph walked up and +shook hands with Bert and Dick in turn. + +"Well," he said, "you fellows certainly put up a great race, and we have +nothing more to say. It was simply a case of the best car winning, +that's all." + +Bert appreciated his manly spirit, and replied, "It was simply a matter +of the 'Red Scout' having a little more speed. If we exchanged cars, you +would win and we would lose. You gave us a hard tussle up to the last +second." + +All the other boys showed the same feeling as had Ralph, and both +parties separated with mutual expressions of esteem and good will. + +All the members of Mr. Hollis's troop that could do so crowded into the +"Red Scout," and various good-natured farmers volunteered to make room +in their capacious wagons and take the rest home. Room was even found +for Don, who had been an excited spectator of the race and was now +regarded by the jubilant boys as their mascot. + +"It's little enough to do at that," remarked one husky agriculturist. +"I'd be willing to cart the whole outfit over and back a dozen times for +the sake of seeing another race like that. I wish old Dobbin could hike +along like them things." + +And in this he expressed the general sentiment of the crowd. + +As they traveled campward through the cool twilight the boys shouted and +sang, and in a thousand other noisy but harmless ways found a vent for +their overflowing enthusiasm. + +Bert and Dick were the heroes of the day, as they well deserved to be. +The race was run again at least a hundred times, and by the time they +struck camp they had quieted down to some extent. Their beloved car had, +of course, reached camp ahead of them, and now, as they alighted and +caught sight of Bert and Dick, their enthusiasm flamed up again, and +cheer after cheer resounded through the silent woods. + +At last they cooled down sufficiently to go to bed, but it was a long +time before they finally got to sleep. Bert and Dick shook hands before +parting to go to their different tents. For a few seconds they looked +into each other's eyes, and the grip of their hands tightened before +they finally separated and said good night. For when two good comrades +meet danger face to face and win out, a new and never-to-be-forgotten +bond is riveted between them that lasts through life. + + * * * * * + +It was a wildly hilarious group of campers who sat down to a piping hot +breakfast the next morning. Some, indeed, had hardly slept at all, so +great was their rejoicing at the "Red Scout's" glorious victory. They +had won and the much-vaunted "Gray Ghost" had had to "take their dust." +What if it were their last day in camp? As Jim, who was famous for +mixing his figures of speech, said, "The camp, anyway, was breaking up +in a blaze of glory." Every exciting detail of the great struggle was +rehearsed and enlarged upon, times without number. They crowded round +the splendid car and praised it and patted it as though it were alive +and could understand how proud they were of its victory. + +And Bert! If he had been anything but the fine, manly fellow he was, he +would have been utterly spoiled by the plaudits heaped upon him. He had +been their hero before; now he was their idol. His skill, his judgment, +his nerve, were dwelt upon to the exclusion of everything else; but he +modestly disclaimed any credit and put it all up to the car. "This is +the fellow that did it all," he said, patting the great machine +affectionately. + +"Yes," quoted Dick, + + "'This is the steed that saved the day, + By carrying Sheridan into the fight + From Winchester, twenty miles away,' + +but all the same," he went on, "the steed saved the day because Sheridan +was on his back, and the 'Red Scout' saved the day because Bert Wilson +was at the wheel." And to this the whole camp gave a thundering chorus +of assent. + +And Bert was at the wheel that afternoon, when, after "three times +three" given for the "Red Scout" and its driver, the noble car stood +panting, crowded to the guards with as many as could tumble in, ready to +lead the way to the station where they were to take the train to the +city. + +"I tell you, Tom," he said, as he grasped the wheel and the great car +sprang forward, "I never expect to have so much pleasure and excitement +in my life as I have had this summer." + +But Bert was mistaken. A broader field and greater triumphs lay before +him--exploits that would tax every ounce of brain and muscle; victory +snatched from defeat amid the applause of excited thousands. How he met +the test and won his fight will be told in the next volume, "Bert +Wilson's Fadeaway Ball." + +THE END + + + + +THE BERT WILSON SERIES + +By J. W. DUFFIELD + +An excellent series of stories for boys, full of outdoor life and +adventures, athletic sports, etc. Wholesome, clean and instructive. + + +=BERT WILSON AT THE WHEEL= + +An absorbing story of automobile exploits, abounding in stirring +experiences and exciting adventures. + +=BERT WILSON'S FADEAWAY BALL= + +How a baseball pennant was won by the masterly pitching of the young +Freshman recruit is told in crisp, snappy fashion, with a wealth of +thrilling detail that will delight the lovers of the great national +game. + +=BERT WILSON, WIRELESS OPERATOR= + +Perils of storm and shipwreck, head-hunters and pirates, are woven into +a romance of compelling power that chains the attention at once and +holds it to the end. + +=BERT WILSON, MARATHON WINNER= + +How the pick of the world's athletes struggled for supremacy and how the +representative of the Stars and Stripes carried off the crowning victory +at the great Olympic games. + +_Others in preparation_ + +12mo, cloth, with four illustrations in each, by H. G. Richards. + +Price each, 60 cents. + +=SULLY AND KLEINTEICH--NEW YORK= + + + + +THE BERT WILSON SERIES + +By J. W. DUFFIELD + +_THE FOLLOWING TITLES ARE IN PREPARATION_ + + +=BERT WILSON AT PANAMA= + +A host of thrilling adventures is woven into this stirring story of the +young American who thwarts by his quick wit and determined courage a +plot to destroy the great canal. Brimming with interest from cover to +cover. + +=BERT WILSON'S TWIN-CYLINDER RACER= + +A motor-cycle romance of speed and daring that will stir the blood and +make the heart beat faster. How sheer pluck that refused to be downed +won out against foul play and tremendous odds. + +=BERT WILSON ON THE GRIDIRON= + +The "never-say-die" spirit of college football that makes it such a +glorious game sparkles on every page. A gripping story of "bucking the +line" and "going round the ends," culminating in the great run down the +field in the last minute of play that snatched victory from defeat. + +=BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES= + +Full of life and spirit, dash and danger in the wild regions of the +West. The picturesque figures of the frontier--greasers and grizzlies, +rustlers and road agents--appear in adventures that make one throb and +tingle with excitement. + +12mo, cloth, with four illustrations in each, by H. G. Richards. + +Price each, 60 cents. + +=SULLY AND KLEINTEICH--NEW YORK= + + + + +Publications of Sully and Kleinteich + + +THE "HOW" BOOKS + + + =HOW TO MAKE THINGS= + + By Archibald Williams + + Author of "How It is Done," "How It is Made," "How It Works." + +This is just the book for the active youth who has got beyond the period +when he asks, "How is it done?" and now wishes to do it himself. The +book is very fully illustrated with useful diagrams drawn exactly to +scale. + +12mo. Cloth, 450 pages, with numerous illustrations and diagrams. + +Price $1.20 net + + + =HOW IT IS DONE= + _OR, VICTORIES OF THE ENGINEER_ + + By Archibald Williams + + Author of "How It is Made," "How It Works," "How To Make Things." + +Describing in simple language how the great engineering achievements in +all parts of the world have been accomplished. It is a book brimful of +interest for everybody, and especially to the younger generation with a +turn for engineering in any of its many branches. + +12 mo. Cloth. 450 pages, with 268 illustrations and diagrams. + +Price $1.20 net + + + =HOW IT IS MADE= + + By Archibald Williams + + Author of "How It Works," "How It is Done," "How To Make Things." + +Describing in simple language how various machines and many articles in +common use are manufactured from the raw material. + +12mo. Cloth. 474 pages, with numerous illustrations and diagrams. + +Price $1.20 net + + + =HOW IT WORKS= + + By Archibald Williams + + Author of "How It is Done," "How To Make Things," "How It is Made." + +It deals in simple language with Steam, Electricity, Light, Heat, Sound, +Hydraulics, Optics, etc., and with their application to apparatus in +common use. + +12mo. Cloth. 461 pages, with illustrations and diagrams. + +Price $1.20 net + + + =HOW IT FLIES= + _OR, THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR_ + + By Richard Ferris, B. S., C. E. + +The story of man's endeavors to fly and of the inventions by which he +has succeeded. + +12mo. Cloth. 476 pages, with numerous illustrations and diagrams. + +Price $1.20 net + + + + +THE GATEWAY SERIES + + +=GATEWAY TO CHAUCER= + +Stories told by EMILY UNDERDOWN, from the Canterbury Tales of GEOFFREY +CHAUCER. With 16 colored plates and numerous marginal illustrations +after drawings by Anne Anderson. + + 8vo. Cloth. Net $2.00 + + +=THE GATEWAY TO SPENSER= + +Tales, retold by EMILY UNDERDOWN, from "The Faerie Queene" of EDMUND +SPENSER. With 16 colored plates and numerous marginal illustrations from +drawings by F. G. PAPÉ. + + 8vo. Cloth. Net $2.00 + + +=THE GATEWAY TO ROMANCE= + +Tales retold by EMILY UNDERDOWN, from "The Earthly Paradise," by WILLIAM +MORRIS. With 16 colored plates and many other illustrations. + + 8vo. Cloth. Net $2.00 + + +=THE GATEWAY TO TENNYSON= + +Tales and extracts from the poet's works, with an introduction by MRS. +ANDREW LANG. With 16 colored illustrations from drawings by NORMAN +LITTLE. + + 8vo. Cloth. Net $2.00 + + +=THE GATEWAY TO SHAKESPEARE= + +Containing a life of Shakespeare, by MRS. ANDREW LANG, a selection from +the plays, and from "Lamb's Tales." With 16 colored plates and many +other illustrations. + + 8vo. Cloth. Net $2.00 + + + + +THE SUNSHINE AND SHADOW SERIES + + +=IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING, and Other Stories= + +=IN THE HEART OF THE FOREST= + +=AFTER LONG YEARS, and Other Stories= + +These books translated from the German by Sophia A. Miller and Anes M. +Dunne. + + 16mo. Illustrated. Each $.75 + +The ethical stories in the Sunshine and Shadow Series have been +translated from the German with the view of instilling into the minds +of youthful readers such truths as will help materially toward building +a character that will withstand the trials and temptations of life. + +It is conceded by educators that ethics presented in the lecture form +fails of its purpose; therefore the writers have presented this subject +in the form most appealing to children--the story. + + + + +=THE BOOK OF GOLDEN DEEDS.= + +By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. With 16 full page colored illustrations, 12 +full-page illustrations in black and white (photo engravings) and +marginal illustrations all through the book. + + 8vo. Cloth. Net $2.50 + + +=TALES OF THE GODS AND HEROES.= + +By SIR G. W. COX, M. A. With sixteen colored plates from drawings by +JAMES FRIPP. + + 8vo. Cloth. Net $2.00 + +CONTENTS + +The Sorrow of Demeter -- The Sleep of Endymion -- Niobe and Leto -- +Orpheus and Eurydice -- Phryxus and Helle -- Cadmus and Europa -- +Odysseus and Polyphemus -- Odysseus and Circe -- Odysseus and the +Seirens -- Odysseus and Nausicaa -- The Story of Arion -- The Treasures +of Rhampsnitus -- Cephalos and Procris -- Daphne -- The Delian Apollo -- +The Pythian Apolli -- The Vengeance of Apollo -- The Toils of +Heracles -- Althaea and the Burning Brand -- Phaethon -- Io and +Prometheus -- Briareos -- Arethusa -- Tyro -- Poseidon and Athene -- +Ariadne -- Narcissus -- Medeia -- Cyrene -- Bellerophon -- Iphigeneia -- +Hector and Andromache -- Sarpedon -- Memnon -- Oenone -- The +Lotos-Eaters -- The Cattle of Helios -- Odysseus and Calypso -- Atys +and Adrastos. + + + =LIVES OF GREAT MEN, + TOLD BY GREAT MEN= + +Edited by RICHARD WILSON. With 31 full-page illustrations in color. + + Quarto. Cloth. 448 pp. Net $2.00 + +CONTENTS + +Alexander the Great -- Alfred the Great -- The Black Prince -- The Story +of William Wallace -- Sir Thomas More -- Francisco Pizarro -- Sir +Richard Grenville -- Sir Francis Drake -- Sir Phillip Sidney -- John +Hampden -- Oliver Cromwell -- John Bunyan -- Benjamin Franklin's Boyhood +-- Dr. Johnson -- Oliver Goldsmith -- Flora Macdonald -- The Boyhood of +James Watt -- Robert Burns -- Charles Lamb -- William Wordsworth -- The +Boyhood of Turner -- George Borrow -- The Boyhood of George Stephenson. + + + =THE STORY OF HEATHER= + + By MAY WYNNE + +12mo. Cloth, 6 colored illustrations. _Price_, net $1.00 + +This is the autobiography of a pony, simply told for young children, and +full of action and interest. The volume is excellently illustrated in +color by Dorothy Pope, and attractively presented in cloth cover. + + + =EXMOOR STAR= + The Autobiography of a Pony + + By A. E. BONSER + +12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. _Price_, net 50c; postpaid 55c. + +The sympathy of children in the humane treatment of animals will be +enlisted by this charming story. They see how cruel our thoughtlessness +and lack of attention to the needs of our dumb servants often are. They +will share the views of this bright little pony in regard to man's +attitude to animals. The story is fascinating and as circus performer or +polo pony, Star is a most interesting character. After many strange +experiences he saves the lives of twelve people, receives a medal from +the Royal Humane Society and retires from public life. The story is not +marred by a sad ending. The book is fully illustrated. + + + =A BOOK OF BIRDS AND BEASTS= + OR + _THE LAW OF KINDNESS_ + +134 pages and 32 colored illustrations + +_Price_, net $1.00 + +It is full of interesting stories, all about animals and their doings, +and of such a character that no child who reads them will ever dream of +being unkind to bird, beast, fish, or insect; for when people get to +know God's creatures and their wonderful ways, they learn how to leave +them alone and to watch them patiently, just because they are so well +worth watching. + + + =THE OLD FAIRY TALES= + +189 pages and 32 colored illustrations + +_Price_, net $1.00 + +A book of Fairy Tales for Boys and Girls containing; The Three Bears -- +Brother and Sister -- Little Red Riding-Hood -- Hansel and Grethel -- +The Golden Goose -- The Magic Key -- Little One Eye, Little Two Eyes, +and Little Three Eyes -- The Story of Catskin -- Cinderella, or, The +Little Glass Slipper -- The Frog-Prince -- The Sleeping Beauty in the +Wood -- The Iron Stove -- Shemus and the Little People -- Prince Curly +Chin -- Queen Mab and Oberon -- The Merry Tricks of Tom Thumb -- Prince +Cherry -- Little Snowdrop -- The Goose Girl -- The Fairies of the +Caldon-Low. + + + =THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD= + + Formerly published under the title of + "The World by the Fireside." + +By MARY and ELIZABETH KIRBY. Crown. 8 vo. Cloth. Hundreds of +illustrations. Price $1.50 + +This volume brings the world, that is so full of wonders, to our own +fireside. + +The book is embellished with pictures of the various scenes and objects +described, in order to make it more attractive. + + + =THE WONDERS OF THE SEA= + + Formerly published under the title of + "The Sea and Its Wonders." + +By MARY and ELIZABETH KIRBY. Crown. 8 vo. Cloth. Hundreds of +illustrations. Price $1.50 + +Wonders abound in the Ocean. It is a world in itself, and is subject to +its own laws. + +"In this great and wide sea are creeping things innumerable, both small +and great." + +The various chapters are amply illustrated with drawings taken from +life, and on which the utmost care has been bestowed. + + +Sully and Kleinteich--New York + + + + + THE + BOOK OF INDOOR + AND + OUTDOOR GAMES + + BY + MRS. BURTON KINGSLAND + +With suggestions for entertainments. Illustrated. + + 12mo. Cloth. $1.00 + +A veritable encyclopaedia of games, pastimes, and entertainment. + +CONTENTS + +Games of Thought, Wit and Memory -- Progressive Games -- Card Games -- +Children's Games -- Children's Singing Games -- Games for Sunday +Evenings -- Catches and Riddles -- Fortune Telling -- Mesmerism -- +Children's Parties -- Special Dinners, Dances and Luncheons -- +Tableaux -- Wedding Anniversaries. + +"Without touching on the side of profit-yielding occupations, and with +more stress laid down upon the social side of life, this book will prove +a real treasure for those lacking in invention, and will bring delight +to many a dull or rainy day."--_The Dial_ + +=Sully and Kleinteich--New York= + + + + +The Golden River Series + +=Bound in cloth 16mo. With a colored panel Illustration on front +cover--title stamped in gold= + + =PRICE EACH= =50 Cents= + + Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 8 colored illustrations. + Anderson's Fairy Tales. (Ugly Duckling.) 4 colored illustrations. + Water Babies. 4 " " + The King of the Golden River. 8 " " + Arabian Nights. 5 " " + Gulliver in Lilliput. 4 " " + Don Quixote. 4 " " + Stories from Hiawatha. 6 " " + Tanglewood Tales. 4 " " + John Halifax's Boyhood. 4 " " + Tales of a Grandfather. 6 " " + David and Emily. 6 " " + Nell and Her Grandfather. 4 " " + Stories from Spenser. 8 " " + Rose and the Ring. 4 " " + Knights of the Grail. 8 " " + Sir Thomas Thumb. 8 " " + Linden Leaf. 8 " " + Undine. 8 " " + Maggie and Tom Tulliver. 4 " " + Children of the Old Testament. 6 " " + Children of the New Testament. 6 " " + Six Gifts. 6 " " + Kingsley's Heroes. 4 " " + Adventures of Ulysses. 6 " " + Golden Deeds. 6 " " + Stories from Tennyson. 6 " " + Tales from Shakespeare. 6 " " + Stories from Chaucer. 4 " " + Cox's Greek Heroes. 4 " " + +=SULLY & KLEINTEICH--NEW YORK= + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + + --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + + --Text in bold is enclosed by "equal" signs (=bold=). + + --Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected, + except as noted below. + + --Colon (:) punctuation has been retained as in original. + + --Normalized variations of Red Scout and Gray Ghost to 'Red Scout' + and 'Gray Ghost' within quoted speech and "Red Scout" and + "Gray Ghost" in all other cases. + + --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. + + --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. + + --Spaced dashes used in some back matter for better wrapping of text. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bert Wilson at the Wheel, by J. 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