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diff --git a/38560-h/38560-h.htm b/38560-h/38560-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..469b3d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/38560-h/38560-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8731 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bert Wilson at the Wheel, by J. W. Duffield. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 35%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.tdl {text-align: left;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + +/* ===================== */ +/* DACSoft custom styles */ +/* ===================== */ + +/* Indented paragraph - replacement */ +p { + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +/* Unindented paragraph style */ +.noi {text-indent: 0em;} + +/* Centered unindented paragraph style */ +.noic { + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Table cell alignments */ +.tdcb { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: bottom; +} + +.tdrb { + text-align: right; + vertical-align: bottom; +} + +.tdrt { + text-align: right; + vertical-align: top; +} + +/* Drop caps */ +p.cap { + text-indent: 0em; +} + +p.cap:first-letter { + float: left; + padding-right: 3px; + font-size: 250%; + line-height: 83%; +} + +.author { + font-size: 1.25em; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.works { + font-size: .75em; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.smfont { + font-size: .75em; +} + +/* Smaller page numbers - replacement */ +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + color: gray; +} /* page numbers */ + +/* Advertisement formatting. */ +.adpage { + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; +} + +.adtitle { + font-size: 1.5em; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.adauthor { + font-size: 1.25em; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +ol {list-style-position: inside;} + +.cite { + float: right; +} + + +/* Transcriber's Notes - replacement. */ +.tnote { + background-color: #E6E6FA; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; +} + +.tntitle { + font-size: 1.25em; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +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.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 378px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="378" height="600" alt="cover" title="cover" /> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h1>BERT WILSON AT THE WHEEL</h1> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="adpage"> +<p class="noi adtitle">THE BERT WILSON SERIES</p> +<p class="noi adauthor"><span class="smcap">By J. W. DUFFIELD</span></p> + +<p>An excellent series of stories for boys, full of +outdoor life and adventures, athletic sports, etc. +Wholesome, clean and instructive.</p> + +<ol> +<li><span class="smcap">Bert Wilson at the Wheel.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Bert Wilson’s Fadeaway Ball.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Bert Wilson Wireless Operator.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Bert Wilson Marathon Winner.</span></li> +</ol> + +<p class="noic"><i>Others in preparation.</i></p> + +<p>12mo. cloth with four illustrations in each, by +H. G. Richards.</p> + +<p class="noic">Price each, 60 cents.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 380px;"> +<a name="image01" id="image01"> +<img src="images/image01.jpg" width="380" height="600" +alt="He wrenched the steering wheel around, and headed it directly up the track." +title="He wrenched the steering wheel around, and headed it directly +up the track." /></a><br /> +<span class="caption"> +<a href="#Page_168">He wrenched the steering wheel around, and headed it directly +up the track.</a>—(<i>See page 168</i>)</span> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h1>BERT WILSON<br /> +at<br /> +the Wheel</h1> + +<p> </p> +<p class="noic">BY</p> +<p class="noi author">J. W. DUFFIELD</p> + +<p class="works"><span class="smcap">Author of “Bert Wilson’s Fadeaway Ball,”<br /> +“Bert Wilson Wireless Operator,”<br /> +“Bert Wilson Marathon Winner.”</span></p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 80px"> +<img src="images/logo.jpg" width="100%" alt="logo" title="logo" /> +</div> +<p> </p> + +<p class="noic">NEW YORK<br /> +SULLY AND KLEINTEICH<br /> +1913 +</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<p class="noic"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1913, by</span><br /> +SULLY AND KLEINTEICH<br /> +<br /> +All rights reserved.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width: 20%;" /> +<col style="width: 70%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">CHAPTER</td> + <td class="tdl"></td> + <td class="tdrt">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">I.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">The “Red Scout”</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">II.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">The Flying Auto</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">8</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">III.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">The Copperhead</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">19</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">The Challenge</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">30</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">V.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">The Hoboes and the Bees</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">39</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Shorty Goes to the Ant</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">50</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">The Ants Go Milking</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">61</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">VIII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">The Gipsy Caravan</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">76</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">IX.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">How the “Red Scout” Climbed Dobb’s Hill</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">94</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">X.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Quick Work</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">111</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">The Four-Legged Recruit</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">118</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">The Youngsters’ Great Day</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">127</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XIII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Dave’s Tiger Story</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">148</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XIV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">With Death Behind</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">160</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Mountain Scouting</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">176</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XVI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">By a Hair’s-Breadth</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">186</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XVII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Biddy Harrigan Remembers</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">199</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XVIII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">The Race</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">206</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<col style="width: 80%;" /> +<col style="width: 20%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#image01">He wrenched the steering wheel around and + headed it directly up the track</a>, <i>see page + 168</i></td> + <td class="tdrb"><i>Frontispiece</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdrb smfont">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#image02">Three men of the roughest order were dancing +distractedly around</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">46</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#image03">Then he swung the “Red Scout” squarely across +the road</a>, <i>see page 89</i></td> + <td class="tdrb">90</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><a href="#image04">Across the line it flew like a rocket</a>, <i>see page +217</i></td> + <td class="tdrb">218</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h1>Bert Wilson at the Wheel</h1> + +<p> </p> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The “Red Scout”</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“What dandy luck.”</p> + +<p>“It’s too good to be true.”</p> + +<p>“Who’d ever thought we’d have the luck to +get it?”</p> + +<p>“It can’t be true. I shan’t believe it till it +gets here.”</p> + +<p>“Anyway, it <i>is</i> true, and won’t we have the +niftiest time ever?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Run early and avoid the rush,” sang out +Tom Henderson.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“To pass he had such scanty room,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The descending grazed his plume,”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noi">chanted Dick Trent.</p> + +<p>“Let’s forgive and forget,” said Ben Cooper.</p> + +<p>“Be glad we let you live, Frank,” Bob Ward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +chimed in; and so the culprit, reassured, ventured +out to breakfast.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was many minutes before a normal condition +of things was re-established, but at last the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +boys fell to discussing the proposed change of +camp.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” said Tom cheerily; +“we’ll have the dandiest fun, hunting new caves +and things.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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, <i>their</i> car, the +“Red Scout” had come!</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Flying Auto</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">A group of the campers stood regarding +the big red touring car rather dubiously.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Make believe we’re not glad to see you, +Bert. We thought you wouldn’t be able to get +off this year.”</p> + +<p>“Tom Henderson spread that report. Where +is he?”</p> + +<p>“Wait till I get at him.”</p> + +<p>“He ought to have a ducking,” and other undeserved +threats were hurled at poor Tom’s +innocent head.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, fellows,” said Bert, laughing; +“Tom wasn’t to blame. I didn’t know myself +that I could make the camp till yesterday.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> + +<p>At that moment the maligned Tom dashed up, +nearly upsetting his friend in an ecstasy of delight.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Then, dragging his friend away unceremoniously, +Tom explained the situation in which he +and the other volunteers found themselves.</p> + +<p>“You will help us out, won’t you, Bert?” he +asked appealingly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Through the recommendation of Mr. Hollis,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the “Red Scout’s” passengers were +having the time of their lives.</p> + +<p>“Gee, it’s like flying,” said Frank joyfully.</p> + +<p>“It’s a heap sight better,” challenged Tom. +“Can’t you make it go faster?” he asked of +Bert.</p> + +<p>“I guess yes,” Bert shouted, as he put on more +speed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On, on they rushed along roads over which +giant trees met, past meadow lands where cattle +grazed lazily, over bridges, past sparkling brooks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +that formed miniature waterfalls as they rushed +over the stones—on, on!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I think we’d better improvise a lever,” Bert +suggested.</p> + +<p>“That may look all right in print,” grumbled +Bob, “but how are you going to do it?”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Guess you’ve got the right idea, son,” said +the man who had first spoken. “Now let’s get +down to business.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In a very few moments the half-famished boys +were seated at a most appetizing meal, to which +they did full justice.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Hello. Are you asleep over there?”</p> + +<p>“Just turning the corner,” came a sleepy voice.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Where Tom promptly joined him.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Copperhead</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“That you, Bert? What are you doing awake +at this unearthly hour?”</p> + +<p>“Same as yourself, I suppose,” came the calm +reply.</p> + +<p>“Humph! Well, you’re not going to rout me +out at five o’clock in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Got a bite, Shorty?” they shouted, when +they came within hailing distance.</p> + +<p>“Bet your life, and it’s pulling like a good fellow, +too.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boys, convulsed with laughter, fished him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“Poor little Shorty, he’s always getting into +trouble,” one of the boys said when he had +breath enough.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Soon after breakfast the “Red Scout” was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“I should think we ought to be able to fix it +up,” said Frank. “We can ask Mr. Hollis about +it anyway.”</p> + +<p>Then they started again, on the lookout for +other finds. All the way along they came across<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Gee!” said Tom, drawing a long breath. +“It sure is wonderful!”</p> + +<p>“Wonderful!” Bert exclaimed. “It’s by far<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +the most beautiful place I’ve ever had the luck +to locate! Come on, fellows, let’s take a look +around.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” said Frank, “but I feel +a heap sight heavier.”</p> + +<p>“You shouldn’t have eaten so much,” Shorty +reproved him.</p> + +<p>“If I’d eaten as much as you have, Philip +Strong,” Frank retorted, “I wouldn’t be able to +walk.”</p> + +<p>“Speaking of eating,” said Shorty, sniffing the +air inquiringly, “do any of you fellows smell +cucumbers?”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Shorty? Has the little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +ducking you indulged in this morning addled your +brains? Whoever heard of cucumbers in the +woods?” said Frank contemptuously.</p> + +<p>“I know it sounds foolish but it’s the truth +just the same,” and Shorty stood his ground +stoutly.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Before they realized it they had come upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +the “Red Scout” standing just as they had left it in +its leafy garage.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was a long time before the boys could quiet +down and even then they felt like hearing something +exciting.</p> + +<p>“Who can tell a good ghost story?” Bob +asked.</p> + +<p>“Dave’s the boy. Come on, Dave, put on +your thinking cap.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Dave was silent, thinking for a little while.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +Then he said, “All right boys, here goes. Are +you ready?”</p> + +<p>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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Challenge</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>From it descended a genial looking man, apparently +of about the same age as Mr. Hollis, +followed by five clean cut young fellows.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +concerning the respective merits of their +cars.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well,” replied Tom, drawing a long breath,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +“you fellows evidently think you could win in +a race and we just <i>know</i> 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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you’re dead right there, of course,” returned +Mr. Thompson, “but then I don’t think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“No, that’s a pleasure still in store for me,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t be surprised if they did,” laughed +Mr. Thompson.</p> + +<p>“Here, you fellows come out of your trance,” +called Dick, and Bert and Ralph turned quickly +around and saluted.</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>There was a chorus of excited cries and exclamations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +from the boys, and their leaders +smiled indulgently.</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>“How long is the track that you propose +using?” inquired Mr. Hollis.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s just one mile, isn’t it Ralph?” +asked Mr. Thompson.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” replied Ralph.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I can see no objection to that,” replied +the latter, “what day shall we have the race?”</p> + +<p>“How would a week from today suit you?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>They voiced a unanimous assent to these arrangements, +and both sides started discussing the +various chances and possibilities of the contest,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +but with perfect good humor and friendly feeling.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As they turned away to prepare for sleep, +Jim remarked: “Aw, I bet we’ll have a walkover +in that race.”</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>For a long time he stood staring at the “Red +Scout,” and then raised its shining hood and patted +the spotless cylinders.</p> + +<p>“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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Hoboes and the Bees</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>Then Bert went back to pick up Mr. Hollis +and Dick Trent who had stayed behind to see +that nothing had been forgotten.</p> + +<p>On the way back he passed the wagon and +hailed Tom with a “How are you getting along, +old man?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Come on out, Jim,” Bert called. “We don’t +want to keep Mr. Hollis waiting <i>too</i> long, you +know.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At the look of complete surprise and dismay +on his face the boys burst into a shout of +laughter.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you lemon,” gasped Steve. “You full-sized +lemon! How did you ever manage to get +away with it?”</p> + +<p>“No wonder we have been short of grub, +lately,” Dave said, holding his sides as if he +were afraid he would burst.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They all piled into the “Red Scout” in a hurry +because they feared that Mr. Hollis would worry +on account of their prolonged absence.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Soon, the call to dinner was heard, and the +boys all gathered around the table, chattering +like magpies.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It’s the classiest place I’ve ever been in,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You’d better be careful how you</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘Beard the lion in his den<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Ferris in his hall,’”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noi">said Dick Trent, warningly. “He won’t favor +us with any more stories if you are not careful +how you offend him.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“How very kind of you,” said Dave, sarcastically. +“I thank you with all my heart for +your liberality.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You’d better hang on to it, Shorty. It’s the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +best kind of thing to have around at times,” said +Mr. Hollis, as he rose to leave the table.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>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. +<a href="#image02">Three men, of the roughest order, were +dancing distractedly around</a>, 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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px;"> +<a name="image02" id="image02"><img src="images/image02.jpg" width="384" height="600" alt="Three men of the roughest order were dancing distractedly around." title="Three men of the roughest order were dancing distractedly around." /></a> +<br /><span class="caption"><a href="#Page_46">Three men of the roughest order were dancing distractedly around.</a></span> +</div> + +<p>“Say, this is better than a circus,” Shorty +shouted, “only I’m glad that those hoboes and +not I are the whole show now.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +mere slits and their ears appeared to be twice +their natural size.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Oh, they did look <i>so</i> funny!” said Shorty between +gasps. “I never shall forget that sight +until my dying day.”</p> + +<p>At that minute Bert sat up suddenly, exclaiming, +“Fellows, look who’s here!”</p> + +<p>With one accord they turned and saw the collie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +which they had entirely forgotten, sitting near +and regarding them with inquiring, wistful eyes.</p> + +<p>“Come here, Beauty,” Bert called, and the +dog came unhesitatingly and stuck his cold, black +muzzle in Bert’s hand.</p> + +<p>“Did they desert you, old fellow?” Bert +asked, putting his arm around the dog’s neck.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Shorty Goes to the Ant</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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.</p> + +<p>“Gee, what a fearful day,” said Jim.</p> + +<p>“You bet it is,” chimed in Shorty.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I said you were pessimists.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what does that jawbreaker mean?”</p> + +<p>“Why,” said Bert, who could not resist his +propensity to tease, “that means that you are not +optimists.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Worse and worse and more of it,” complained +Shorty.</p> + +<p>“That’s just as clear as mud,” echoed Jim.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Bert, tantalizingly, “listen my +children——”</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘Listen, my children and you shall hear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,’”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noi">chanted Frank, who had recited that identical +poem in his elocution class at the last term of +school.</p> + +<p>A well-aimed pillow made him duck, and Bert +resumed:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Tom, expressing the general sentiment, +“I’d sure like the money, but, oh, you +corn bread.”</p> + +<p>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”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +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:</p> + +<p>“Aw, why don’t you fellows quit your kidding? +Stop tickling me with that——”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“You’re a sport, Phil, all right,” called out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +Frank, and at this highest of commendations from +a boy’s point of view, the last vestige of Phil’s +resentment faded away.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>As he said this, he turned toward the ant hill +as though to demolish it, but Dick put up a +friendly hand:</p> + +<p>“No, Phil,” said he, “you wouldn’t destroy +a wonderful and beautiful palace, would +you?”</p> + +<p>“Palace,” said Phil in amazement, thinking +for a moment that Dick was “stringing” him. +“What do you mean by that?”</p> + +<p>“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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +If you waited round a while, you would see the +farmers going out to milk their cows——”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>prove</i> +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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Dick, “as it happens that is +just the thing I can show you more easily than +anything else.”</p> + +<p>The boys crowded eagerly around him.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Ants Go Milking</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s see,” said Dick, “you’d run away from +a boa-constrictor, wouldn’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Who wouldn’t,” retorted Jim.</p> + +<p>“Well, if you’d run away from the boa-constrictor, +and he’d run away from the ants, where +do <i>you</i> get any license to face the ants.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to say that those monster +snakes are afraid of such tiny things?”</p> + +<p>“I should say they were,” replied Dick, “the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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——”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>“What?” interrupted Frank, “do you mean +to say they fly? I never knew that an ant had +wings.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” hummed Shorty:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“The bed bug has no wings at all<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But he gets there just the same.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A rather severe glance from Dick quenched +Phil’s exuberant spirits which had all come back +to him since his ducking.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +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——”</p> + +<p>“Regular dudes,” muttered Jim.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Tom, “that’s something that +will never be laid up against you, Jim.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Reserved seats as it were,” murmured Frank.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +carried home by their companions and the dead +are buried in a regular ants’ cemetery.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Tom, “it certainly sounds like a +fairy story.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Gee,” said Jim, “how do the rest get on +without them?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Every one of them,” said Dick. “It is a +regular colony of Amazons.”</p> + +<p>“It seems to me,” said Shorty, “that in all +the bunch the queen is the only one who has a +snap.”</p> + +<p>“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——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, say,” interrupted Shorty, “aren’t you +putting it a little bit too strong, Dick?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all,” said Dick; “here, take up this +ant and look at it through the magnifying glass.”</p> + +<p>Under the lens the boys, crowding around,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +saw that there, sure enough, was a fine silky +down resembling very much the hair upon the +human head.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“You bet,” came in a responsive murmur from +the boys.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The boys laughed and Dick resumed.</p> + +<p>“It is almost pathetic to see the poor old +queen going out for a walk. She moves in a perfect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Can’t eat!” said Jim, whose appetite was a +standing joke in camp; “then no lords and dukes +for me.”</p> + +<p>“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——”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +follow one of these lines and see just how they +do it.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boys at a signal from Dick followed him +softly, so that the ants might not be disturbed.</p> + +<p>“See,” said Dick, gently taking hold of a +branch that projected beyond the others, “look +through this magnifying glass.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Jim, at last breaking the silence, +“those ants are surely not going hungry to bed.”</p> + +<p>“Gee,” said Shorty, “I bet they will suffer +from indigestion.”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of it,” said Dick. “You don’t suppose +they keep this all to themselves, do you? +Just look here.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“Those,” said Dick, “are the lords and dukes +getting their supper.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘Never to blend our pleasure or our pride<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With sorrow to the meanest thing that feels.’”<br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Gipsy Caravan</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“Hello, fellows. Look at this. Well, of +all the——”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sing heigho, and a bottle of rum.”<br /></span></div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +unintelligible to the boys, and occasionally +casting an indifferent look at the group in the +automobile, who had watched the scene with +breathless interest.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind, Jim,” said Tom, “we’ll all go +over soon and take it in. I suppose they’ll be +there for some time.”</p> + +<p>“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</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘Fold their tents like the Arabs<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And silently steal away.’”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>“‘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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“How do they make a living, anyway?” interjected +Dave. “What they steal isn’t enough to +keep them alive.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +can take care of itself. They are as irresponsible +as crickets or butterflies. They ‘never trouble +trouble till trouble troubles them.’”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The boys laughed, and Tom asked:</p> + +<p>“Where do they get their name from? Why +do they call them gipsies?”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Quite different from that of the day before +was the sight that burst upon them as they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>With the gipsy women, however, it was different. +This was their hour and they improved it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What time is it, anyway, Dick?” yawned +Bert, as they started to undress.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’ll see,” said Dick, as he reached for his +watch; “it’s just——”</p> + +<p>He stopped aghast as the chain came out of +his pocket with a jerk. His watch was gone.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>Bert looked at Dick and Dick stared back at +Bert. The same thought came into their minds +at once.</p> + +<p>“Stung,” groaned Dick, as he sank down +heavily on his bed.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Here, Don, old fellow, good dog,” he called +when the whistle failed to bring him; but no Don<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>The camp was gone!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The telephone,” cried Bert; “let’s try that +first.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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. <a href="#image03">Then he swung the “Red Scout” squarely +across the road</a> and with Mr. Hollis, Dick, Tom +and Bob, sprang to the ground.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> +<a name="image03" id="image03"><img src="images/image03.jpg" width="382" height="600" alt="Then he swung the “Red Scout” squarely across the road." title="Then he swung the “Red Scout” squarely across the road." /></a> +<br /><span class="caption"><a href="#Page_89">Then he swung the “Red Scout” squarely across the road.</a>—(<i>See page 89</i>)</span> +</div> + +<p>Consternation plainly reigned in the halted +carts. The men crowded forward and hastily +consulted. A moment later an old man, evidently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The leader’s smile faded, to be replaced by +an ominous scowl.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>The chief held up his hand. “Wait,” he said, +“while I talk to my people. Perhaps they have +found something. I will see.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +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:</p> + +<p>“The dark lady, Tom. The dark lady that +the gipsy prophesied would bring you luck.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just.’”<br /></span></div></div> +<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">How the “Red Scout” Climbed Dobb’s Hill</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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.</p> + +<p>The car was ready to start, and Bert had received +Mr. Hollis’ last instructions.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, or we might swim, I suppose,” suggested +Shorty, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>Now, the hill to which Tom referred was one +notorious in the neighborhood. More than one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>The boys also realized that a lot of credit was +due Bert for the success of their climb, as even<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +such a car as the “Red Scout” could never have +gotten up that hill without expert handling.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +This raised a general laugh, as, it is needless to +say, the boys had had no such intentions.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that,” replied Tom, “this +old Scout went up that hill better than I thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What do you think we’d better do, Bert;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +make a run for camp or hunt shelter around +here?” asked Tom.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>By this time the boys were all hungry, and as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In a short time everything was ready, and they +seated themselves near the fire. Tom dished out +the sizzling bacon and steaming “corn pone.”</p> + +<p>Under the cheering influence of this feast even +Bob Ward forgot his grudge of the morning, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +when he shouted, “What’s the matter with Wilson?” +the resulting “He’s all right!” almost +lifted the roof off the old barn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +to get out of here as soon as we can, because Mr. +Hollis will be anxious about us. Lively’s the +word.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What are tire chains, Bert, and what are +they for?” inquired Frank.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Sure thing, and much obliged for the explanation,” +said Frank, heartily.</p> + +<p>By this time Bert had arranged things to his +satisfaction, and now climbed into the driver’s +seat, while the boys looked on expectantly.</p> + +<p>Bert threw out the clutch, advanced the spark +slightly, and opened the throttle a few notches. +Immediately the motor increased its revolutions,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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’.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>By this time it was getting near dusk, and Bert +knew that Mr. Hollis would be worried over +their continued absence. Accordingly, when he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +of that in the end.” And with that they were +forced to be content.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>“Just bet your hat we did.”</p> + +<p>“Well, say, isn’t the old ‘Red Scout’ about +the greatest automobile that ever turned a +wheel?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Quick Work</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“You fellows get it all,” complained Steve +Thomas, with as ugly a look as such a +round good-natured face as his could wear.</p> + +<p>“You sure do seem to move in a charmed circle,” +chimed in another grumbler.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The “lucky three,” to whom these remarks +were addressed, stood grinning happily at the +disgusted faces of the other fellows in camp.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +hotter he saw that immediate action was necessary.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +sunshine, shot off up the road and disappeared +from their longing eyes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Out of the woods at last they swept into a +wide well-kept turnpike, where they could safely +ride at greater speed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t you better go rather slow,” he cautioned +Bert; “one of those horses doesn’t seem +to have any love for automobiles.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>The “lucky three,” feeling not a bit lucky at +that moment, were filled with dismay.</p> + +<p>“I suppose that’s our fault,” groaned Tom, +“although I don’t for the life of me see how we +could have helped it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s not the question,” said Bert, anxiously, +“the only thing now is how to help +them.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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</p> + +<p> +“Hark! The Conquering Hero Comes!”<br /> +</p> + +<p>It was evident that the news of their adventure +had preceded them.</p> + +<p>The “Gray Ghost,” coming over to the camp +to discuss some detail of the forthcoming race,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Four-Legged Recruit</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“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.</p> + +<p>Don’s answer was to stick his cold muzzle into +Bert’s hand and to wig-wag a little harder.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I wonder if he could be hiding in a cave the +way Jim was doing the other day,” Shorty suggested.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, Shorty,” said Frank. “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +know we all feel the same way so we had better +get down to business in a hurry.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We’d better go,” Tom said. “He may have +found him, or at least some trace of him.”</p> + +<p>So, with Don in the lead the boys started once<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +and the finest dog that ever lived. Come on, +now——</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>And so the four-legged recruit went happily +to sleep to dream that he was rescuing all the +boys in camp.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Youngsters’ Great Day</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“Say, fellows,” said Bert, as he lay stretched +out lazily beneath the limbs of a spreading +beech, “isn’t this the finest day ever?”</p> + +<p>“You bet it is,” said Tom, “the mould was +broken when this day was made.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I tell you what, boys,” said Frank, “it sure +was the luckiest day in my life when I struck this +camp.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>Tom stared a moment, “why yes,” he said +slowly, “to make somebody else happy.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>A murmur of assent arose from the boys.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +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?”</p> + +<p>What they said was plenty. As Shorty said, +“it hit them where they lived.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“It is a capital idea,” said Dick, warmly. +“How did you come to think about it?”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>The boys listened with rapt attention, and +when Mr. Hollis had finished they were chock +full of enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +find plenty of the townspeople who would be glad +to furnish teams to carry the rest.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +and as for the kids, there is no question of the +way they would feel about it.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Mr. Hollis, while the superintendent +and matron greeted gratefully this further +example of Bert’s thoughtfulness and kindness +of heart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There had been a heavy rain a day or two before +and the prospects were that nothing in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>While there was no bitterness in the rivalry +between the two camps, yet their desire to win +was extremely keen.</p> + +<p>“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.’”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Bert, who, as the driver of the +car, naturally felt a greater weight of responsibility +than anybody else, “there are just three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +once had he failed to use every ounce of energy +and power that he possessed. If he <i>should +lose</i>—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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +had melted away, and the woods resounded with +their childish prattle.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Why do they call them that?” said little +Tony Darimo.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>Little Billy Jackson seemed unconvinced.</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t seem to me like a cat,” he +said.</p> + +<p>Just then Shorty, who had turned his head to +put the fish in the basket, uttered a loud +“meow.” Billy jumped.</p> + +<p>“I guess you are right after all,” he said. +“It surely does sound like a pussy cat.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +about and watched him, with endless wonder and +delight.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boys were tired that night. Even Tom,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Dave’s Tiger Story</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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.</p> + +<p>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</p> + +<p class="noic"><span class="smcap">The Story of the Tiger</span></p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +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?</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>“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.’</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“They had not long to wait, for now the tiger +began crawling toward them, inch by inch, inch +by inch——”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a burst of ringing laughter made itself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +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 <i>will</i> go to +pieces. Oh, my! Oh, my!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!’</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“As the beast sprang the man shouted,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +‘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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +lid searched for and found a screw driver, and, +oh, joy! a few large screws.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +above them, while the saliva dropped from his +savage jaws.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>must</i> take it.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“With a muttered prayer for protection for his +poor wife and help for himself, the man lowered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +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?</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“The awful thought made him pause, and he +hung there with fiercely throbbing heart, undecided +what to do. If he could hear one sound<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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——</p> + +<p>“‘John! Oh, John!’ comes a cheerful voice +from below. ‘Aren’t you coming down? It is +almost train time, and breakfast is ready.’</p> + +<p>“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 <i>all a dream</i>!”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +astonished, somewhat disgusted look as the totally +unexpected ending of the story filtered in +upon them.</p> + +<p>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.”</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">With Death Behind</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It sure did,” confirmed Frank. “What <i>was</i> +the matter, Bert?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing to speak of,” replied Bert airily.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +“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?”</p> + +<p>“That’s what it did,” broke in Shorty, “and +seeing all that smoke reminded me of a riddle +I heard a little while ago.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, the riddle is this,” said Shorty. +“Why is it that an automobile smokes?”</p> + +<p>Many were the answers to this, but at each +one Shorty shook his head. Finally he said, +“Well, do you give it up?”</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll have to, fellows,” grinned Bert. +“Go on and tell us, Shorty; why <i>is</i> it that an +automobile smokes?”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” Bert had replied, “if you feel that +way about it, why not manufacture a little wind +of our own?”</p> + +<p>“Manufacture it,” had come a chorus of surprised +protest, “how in time can you manufacture +wind?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>The answer was an uproarious shout of approval, +and accordingly Bert had been getting +the machine in shape.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Say, you weren’t going without me, were +you?” he asked reproachfully.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Nobody seemed to be bothered much by this, +however, and they soon reached the hard, level,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Gee, Bert,” exclaimed Frank, excitedly, but +in a low voice, “you’re not going to let them +pass us, are you?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>At this point the blue car passed them, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +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?”</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Finally the excitement subsided somewhat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +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!</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boys turned sick with horror, and gripped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 +<a href="#image01">he wrenched the steering wheel around and +headed it directly up the track</a> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The momentum of a fast and heavy express +train is not a thing to be checked in a moment,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +however, and the boys in the rear of the automobile +could feel the heat from the locomotive +boiler.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Shorty leaned over and thumped Bert on the +back and yelled: “Slow up, Bert, slow up! +We’re out of danger now, I guess.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +would have been the last of us, because we could +never have made it.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +kick against fate, though, for not smashing our +car for us, will we?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +give him a chance to climb aboard. Shorty was +soon in his place, and Frank laughed.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>you</i> say, fellows?”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +so there’s no use getting mad about it. I just +offered that as a suggestion, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“What has been detaining you, boys? It +seems to me that you are not treating me quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +right by going off in this manner and returning +at such an hour as this. Why, you should have +been back two hours ago.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Mountain Scouting</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>The camp was full of merriment, but perhaps +the happiest squad of all was the auto squad.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +camp outfit. Thus safe-guarded, they felt no +fear.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Dave sprang to his feet. “Look, +Bert,” said he, “another signal.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +over himself, in a vain effort to find a place to +climb down.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +might prove a serious matter. There was no +doubt about it, the leg must be set at once.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +crabbed, he was skilful, and in a very short time +the temporary splints were replaced by permanent +ones and the party turned toward camp.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Irish Kitty, who washed for the camp, was +overjoyed at her old mother’s safe return and +overwhelmed them with gratitude.</p> + +<p>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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By a Hair’s-Breadth</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">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 <i>this</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Hush, hush, not a breath, not a breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I’ve a nibble, still as death, still as death.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The others could not resist joining in the +chorus of the old song, and regardless of consequences +sang lustily:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Oh, the joys of angling!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, the joys of angling!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, the joys, oh, the joys,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The joys, the joys of angling.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Every boy who has spent a day in the open +will know exactly how <i>good</i> those cold chicken +and ham sandwiches tasted; and the way the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +was to be a fish dinner at camp that night, they +would have to stop at once.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to make a quick sneak,” said +Ben, who, in moments of excitement, sometimes +forgot his most polished English.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +“What’s the matter, Bert?” and Bert +replied, “The brake won’t work, fellows. +Something’s stuck. I can’t control the car.”</p> + +<p>Then for a moment all yielded to a panic of +fear. “Oh, Bert,” said Ben, “you <i>must</i> stop +her.” “There must be <i>something</i> you can do,” +begged Tom.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>But “would they ever reach that level roadway?” +each boy asked himself, with sinking +heart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>almost</i> 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 <i>must</i> crash into the railing, and that +nothing could save them.</p> + +<p>Instinctively they closed their eyes, as the car +dashed upon the bridge, expecting each minute +to hear the crash of breaking timbers, and to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +feel themselves falling into the engulfing waters +of the rushing river.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“But,” began Tom, and said no more, for +at that moment they were called before the +judge.</p> + +<p>They were obliged to stand by and hear the +constable’s charge against them, given in detail. +Then the judge turned to them——</p> + +<p>“What are your names?” was the first question.</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The magistrate smiled more broadly at this, +but repeated that they were brave boys, and that +he was glad to meet them.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>Another handshake all around, and the boys +found themselves free once more. Were they +happy?—well, you should have seen them as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +they climbed into the car and headed toward +camp.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Gee whiz, I’m glad I’m free<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No prison cell for me.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Biddy Harrigan Remembers</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“Cast thy bread—cast thy bread upon the +waters,</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>To-night, as the notes of “The Soldier’s Farewell”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>The boys sat up and stared. There was a moment +of surprised silence and then a chorus of +voices:</p> + +<p>“Then you can sing?”</p> + +<p>“We never dreamed you could.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you tell us?”</p> + +<p>“Why wouldn’t you sing for us?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Cast thy bread upon the waters”——<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘Tis a name<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That no shame<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Has iver been connected with<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Harrigan! That’s me.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>“It certainly did and it didn’t take ‘many +days’ either to get here,” said Tom.</p> + +<p>“And,” chimed in Shorty, “a big bunch of +red roses thrown in, too.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Caruso,” added Bert, throwing his arm +affectionately over Phil’s shoulder, “you must +be a prophet as well as a singer.”</p> + +<p>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!”</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Race</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, such a contingency did not arise, +however, and finally the last nut had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +tightened and the last fine adjustment made, and +everything was ready for the start.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Many a time they had seen the boys stop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The other boys had been bitterly disappointed, +especially Tom, who had counted right along on +going.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>But Mr. Hollis was firm as a rock, as he well +knew how to be when he thought circumstances +required it of him.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Bert was pleased at this evidently sincere<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +tribute from Dick, and could not prevent a slight +flush of pleasure from mounting to his face.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>But there was no time for further speculation, +as Mr. Hollis was seen approaching them, and +it was evident the race must soon begin.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Slowly the fire-spitting monsters were backed +out of the shed, and their respective drivers +swung them around and on to the track. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +Mr. Thompson and I will act as judges. Is that +perfectly clear?” to Bert and Ralph.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” they both responded, and proceeded +to manœuvre their cars into the appointed +positions.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hollis and Mr. Thompson took their +places in the grandstand, part of which the boys +had been directed to reserve for them.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +wild thrill run through his body as he realized +the vast force beneath him, subject only to his +control.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But now the “Gray Ghost” was ranging +alongside—ahead—</p> + +<p>“Give her a pump full of oil, Dick,” yelled +Bert to his friend, and opened the throttle a +trifle wider.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +the mighty speed song of the ravening motor was +like music in their ears.</p> + +<p>Faster and faster they flew, the two cars keeping +pace side by side, and the speedometer hand +creeping up—up.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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. <a href="#image04">Across the +line it flew like a rocket</a>, the pistol cracked, and—<i>the +race was won</i>!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> +<a name="image04" id="image04"><img src="images/image04.jpg" width="382" height="600" alt="Across the line it flew like a rocket." title="Across the line it flew like a rocket." /></a> +<br /><span class="caption"><a href="#Page_217">Across the line it flew like a rocket.</a>—(<i>See page 217</i>)</span> +</div> + +<p>Both cars made another circuit of the track +before they were able to stop, and then drew +up in front of the grandstand.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hollis pressed forward and grasped the +hands of Bert and Dick, one in each of his.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Like the clean-cut and manly fellow that he +was, Ralph walked up and shook hands with Bert +and Dick in turn.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>All the other boys showed the same feeling as +had Ralph, and both parties separated with mutual +expressions of esteem and good will.</p> + +<p>All the members of Mr. Hollis’s troop that +could do so crowded into the “Red Scout,” and +various good-natured farmers volunteered to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>And in this he expressed the general sentiment +of the crowd.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” quoted Dick,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘This is the steed that saved the day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By carrying Sheridan into the fight<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From Winchester, twenty miles away,’<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noi">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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>But Bert was mistaken. A broader field and +greater triumphs lay before him—exploits that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p class="p2 noic">THE END</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="adpage"> +<p class="noi adtitle">THE BERT WILSON SERIES</p> +<p class="noi adauthor">By J. W. DUFFIELD</p> + +<p>An excellent series of stories for boys, full of outdoor +life and adventures, athletic sports, etc. +Wholesome, clean and instructive.</p> + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>BERT WILSON AT THE WHEEL</b></p> + +<p>An absorbing story of automobile exploits, abounding in +stirring experiences and exciting adventures.</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>BERT WILSON’S FADEAWAY BALL</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>BERT WILSON, WIRELESS OPERATOR</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>BERT WILSON, MARATHON WINNER</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="noic"><i>Others in preparation</i></p> + +<p>12mo, cloth, with four illustrations in each, by +H. G. Richards.</p> + +<p class="noic">Price each, 60 cents.</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>SULLY AND KLEINTEICH—NEW YORK</b></p> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="adpage"> +<p class="noi adtitle">THE BERT WILSON SERIES</p> +<p class="noi adauthor">By J. W. DUFFIELD</p> + +<p class="noic"><i>THE FOLLOWING TITLES ARE +IN PREPARATION</i></p> + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>BERT WILSON AT PANAMA</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>BERT WILSON’S TWIN-CYLINDER RACER</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>BERT WILSON ON THE GRIDIRON</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>12mo, cloth, with four illustrations in each, by +H. G. Richards.</p> + +<p class="noic">Price each, 60 cents.</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>SULLY AND KLEINTEICH—NEW YORK</b></p> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="adpage"> +<p class="noi adtitle">Publications of Sully and Kleinteich</p> + +<p class="noi adtitle">THE “HOW” BOOKS</p> + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>HOW TO MAKE THINGS</b></p> + +<p class="noic">By Archibald Williams</p> + +<p class="noic">Author of “How It is Done,” “How It is Made,” “How It Works.” +</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="noic">12mo. Cloth, 450 pages, with numerous illustrations and diagrams.</p> + +<p class="noic">Price $1.20 net</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>HOW IT IS DONE</b><br /> +<i>OR, VICTORIES OF THE ENGINEER</i></p> + +<p class="noic">By Archibald Williams</p> + +<p class="noic">Author of “How It is Made,” “How It Works,” “How To Make Things.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="noic">12 mo. Cloth. 450 pages, with 268 illustrations and diagrams.</p> + +<p class="noic">Price $1.20 net</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>HOW IT IS MADE</b></p> + +<p class="noic">By Archibald Williams</p> + +<p class="noic">Author of “How It Works,” “How It is Done,” “How To Make Things.” +</p> + +<p>Describing in simple language how various machines and many articles in common +use are manufactured from the raw material.</p> + +<p class="noic">12mo. Cloth. 474 pages, with numerous illustrations and diagrams.</p> + +<p class="noic">Price $1.20 net</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>HOW IT WORKS</b></p> + +<p class="noic">By Archibald Williams</p> + +<p class="noic">Author of “How It is Done,” “How To Make Things,” “How It is Made.” +</p> + +<p>It deals in simple language with Steam, Electricity, Light, Heat, Sound, Hydraulics, +Optics, etc., and with their application to apparatus in common use.</p> + +<p class="noic">12mo. Cloth. 461 pages, with illustrations and diagrams.</p> + +<p class="noic">Price $1.20 net</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>HOW IT FLIES</b><br /> +<i>OR, THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR</i></p> + +<p class="noic">By Richard Ferris, B. S., C. E. +</p> + +<p>The story of man’s endeavors to fly and of the inventions by which he has +succeeded.</p> + +<p class="noic">12mo. Cloth. 476 pages, with numerous illustrations and diagrams.</p> + +<p class="noic">Price $1.20 net</p> + + +<p class="p4 noi adtitle">THE GATEWAY SERIES</p> + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>GATEWAY TO CHAUCER</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">8vo. Cloth.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Net $2.00</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>THE GATEWAY TO SPENSER</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">8vo. Cloth.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Net $2.00</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>THE GATEWAY TO ROMANCE</b></p> + +<p>Tales retold by EMILY UNDERDOWN, from “The Earthly +Paradise,” by WILLIAM MORRIS. With 16 colored plates and +many other illustrations.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">8vo. Cloth.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Net $2.00</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>THE GATEWAY TO TENNYSON</b></p> + +<p>Tales and extracts from the poet’s works, with an introduction +by MRS. ANDREW LANG. With 16 colored illustrations from +drawings by NORMAN LITTLE.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">8vo. Cloth.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Net $2.00</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>THE GATEWAY TO SHAKESPEARE</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">8vo. Cloth.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Net $2.00</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p class="p4 noi adtitle">THE SUNSHINE +AND SHADOW SERIES</p> + +<p class="p2 noi"><b><span class="smcap">In the Service of the King</span>, and +Other Stories</b></p> + +<p class="noi"><b><span class="smcap">In the Heart of the Forest</span></b></p> + +<p class="noi"><b><span class="smcap">After Long Years</span>, and Other Stories</b></p> + +<p>These books translated from the German by +Sophia A. Miller and Anes M. Dunne.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">16mo.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Illustrated. Each $.75</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="p4 noic"><b>THE BOOK OF GOLDEN DEEDS.</b></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">8vo. Cloth.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Net $2.50</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>TALES OF THE GODS AND HEROES.</b></p> + +<p>By SIR G. W. COX, M. A. With sixteen colored plates from +drawings by JAMES FRIPP.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">8vo. Cloth.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Net $2.00</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="noic">CONTENTS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>LIVES OF GREAT MEN,<br /> +TOLD BY GREAT MEN</b></p> + +<p>Edited by RICHARD WILSON. With 31 full-page illustrations +in color.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Quarto. Cloth. 448 pp.</td> + <td class="tdrb">Net $2.00</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="noic">CONTENTS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>THE STORY OF HEATHER</b></p> + +<p class="noic">By MAY WYNNE</p> + +<p class="noic">12mo. Cloth, 6 colored illustrations. <i>Price</i>, net $1.00 +</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>EXMOOR STAR</b><br /> +The Autobiography of a Pony</p> + +<p class="noic">By A. E. BONSER</p> + +<p class="noic">12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. <i>Price</i>, net 50c; postpaid 55c. +</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>A BOOK OF BIRDS AND BEASTS</b><br /> +OR<br /> +<i>THE LAW OF KINDNESS</i></p> + +<p class="noic">134 pages and 32 colored illustrations</p> + +<p class="noic"><i>Price</i>, net $1.00</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>THE OLD FAIRY TALES</b></p> + +<p class="noic">189 pages and 32 colored illustrations</p> + +<p class="noic"><i>Price</i>, net $1.00</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD</b></p> + +<p class="noic">Formerly published under the title of<br /> +“The World by the Fireside.” +</p> + +<p>By MARY and ELIZABETH KIRBY. Crown. +8 vo. Cloth. Hundreds of illustrations. Price $1.50</p> + +<p>This volume brings the world, that is so full of wonders, +to our own fireside.</p> + +<p>The book is embellished with pictures of the various +scenes and objects described, in order to make it more +attractive.</p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>THE WONDERS OF THE SEA</b></p> + +<p class="noic">Formerly published under the title of<br /> +“The Sea and Its Wonders.” +</p> + +<p>By MARY and ELIZABETH KIRBY. Crown. +8 vo. Cloth. Hundreds of illustrations. Price $1.50</p> + +<p>Wonders abound in the Ocean. It is a world in itself, +and is subject to its own laws.</p> + +<p>“In this great and wide sea are creeping things innumerable, +both small and great.”</p> + +<p>The various chapters are amply illustrated with drawings +taken from life, and on which the utmost care has +been bestowed.</p> + + +<p class="p2 noi adtitle"><b>Sully and Kleinteich—New York</b></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="adpage"> +<p class="noi adtitle">THE +BOOK OF INDOOR +AND +OUTDOOR GAMES</p> + +<p class="noic">BY<br /> +MRS. BURTON KINGSLAND</p> + +<p>With suggestions for entertainments. Illustrated.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">12mo. Cloth.</td> + <td class="tdrb">$1.00</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>A veritable encyclopaedia of games, pastimes, +and entertainment.</p> + +<p class="noic">CONTENTS</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”<br /> +<span class="cite">—<i>The Dial</i></span></p> + + +<p class="p2 noic"><b>Sully and Kleinteich—New York</b></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="adpage"> +<p class="noi adtitle">The Golden River Series</p> + +<p class="noic"><b>Bound in cloth 16mo. With a colored panel<br /> +Illustration on front cover—title stamped in gold</b></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="price"> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl"><b>PRICE EACH</b></td> + <td class="tdrb"><b>50 Cents</b></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<div class="noic"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="booklist"> +<col style="width: 50%;" /> +<col style="width: 15%;" /> +<col style="width: 15%;" /> +<col style="width: 15%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.</td> + <td class="tdrb">8</td> + <td class="tdcb">colored</td> + <td class="tdcb">illustrations.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Anderson’s Fairy Tales. (Ugly Duckling.)</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">colored</td> + <td class="tdcb">illustrations.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Water Babies.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">The King of the Golden River.</td> + <td class="tdrb">8</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Arabian Nights.</td> + <td class="tdrb">5</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Gulliver in Lilliput.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Don Quixote.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Stories from Hiawatha.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Tanglewood Tales.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">John Halifax’s Boyhood.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Tales of a Grandfather.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">David and Emily.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Nell and Her Grandfather.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Stories from Spenser.</td> + <td class="tdrb">8</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Rose and the Ring.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Knights of the Grail.</td> + <td class="tdrb">8</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Sir Thomas Thumb.</td> + <td class="tdrb">8</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Linden Leaf.</td> + <td class="tdrb">8</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Undine.</td> + <td class="tdrb">8</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Maggie and Tom Tulliver.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Children of the Old Testament.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Children of the New Testament.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Six Gifts.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Kingsley’s Heroes.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Adventures of Ulysses.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Golden Deeds.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Stories from Tennyson.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Tales from Shakespeare.</td> + <td class="tdrb">6</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Stories from Chaucer.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdl">Cox’s Greek Heroes.</td> + <td class="tdrb">4</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> + <td class="tdcb">”</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="noic"><b>SULLY & KLEINTEICH—NEW YORK</b></p> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="tnote"> +<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> + +<p>Except for the frontispiece, illustrations have been moved to follow +the text that they illustrate, so the page number of the illustration +may not match the page number in the List of Illustrations.</p> + +<p>Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected, +except as noted below.</p> + +<p>Colon (:) punctuation has been retained as in original.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p> + +<p>Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> + +<p>Spaced dashes used in some back matter for better wrapping of text.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bert Wilson at the Wheel, by J. 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