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diff --git a/44882-0.txt b/44882-0.txt index 1d5d35f..545a458 100644 --- a/44882-0.txt +++ b/44882-0.txt @@ -1,47 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber, by -Herbert Carter - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber - Or, The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot - - -Author: Herbert Carter - - - -Release Date: February 12, 2014 [eBook #44882] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG -TIMBER*** - - -E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustration. - See 44882-h.htm or 44882-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44882/44882-h/44882-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44882/44882-h.zip) - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44882 *** Transcriber's note: @@ -50,7 +7,6 @@ Transcriber's note: - THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER Or @@ -6438,363 +6394,4 @@ Dialect and non-standard spellings were left unchanged. A table of contents was added for the convenience of the reader. - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG -TIMBER*** - - -******* This file should be named 44882-0.txt or 44882-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/8/8/44882 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> -<p class="pg">Title: The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber</p> -<p class="pg"> Or, The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot</p> -<p class="pg">Author: Herbert Carter</p> -<p class="pg">Release Date: February 12, 2014 [eBook #44882]<br /> -Most recently updated: June 21, 2014</p> -<p class="pg">Language: English</p> -<p class="pg">Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p class="pg">***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER***</p> -<p> </p> -<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by<br /> - Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p> </p> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44882 ***</div> <div class="img"> <img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber, by Herbert Carter" width="500" height="763" /> @@ -6892,362 +6872,6 @@ moving, “that we never cross their trail again.”</p> <li>A table of contents was added for the convenience of the reader.</li> </ul> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p class="pg">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER***</p> -<p class="pg">******* This file should be named 44882-h.txt or 44882-h.zip *******</p> -<p class="pg">This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/8/8/44882">http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/8/8/44882</a></p> -<p class="pg"> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed.</p> - -<p class="pg"> -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.</p> - -<p class="pg">Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> - -<p class="pg">This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.</p> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44882 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/44882.txt b/44882.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3a011f3..0000000 --- a/44882.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6800 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber, by -Herbert Carter - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber - Or, The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot - - -Author: Herbert Carter - - - -Release Date: February 12, 2014 [eBook #44882] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG -TIMBER*** - - -E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustration. - See 44882-h.htm or 44882-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44882/44882-h/44882-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44882/44882-h.zip) - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER - -Or - -The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot - -by - -HERBERT CARTER - -Author of "The Boy Scouts First Camp Fire," "The Boy Scouts -in the Blue Ridge," "The Boy Scouts on the Trail," -"The Boy Scouts in the Maine Woods," -"The Boy Scouts In the Rockies" - - - - - - - -Copyright, 1913 -By A. L. Burt Company - - - - - -[Illustration: "Look out for it, Davy, and grab the noose when it -comes near," shouted Thad. -_The Boy Scouts through the Big Timber._ _Page 17_] - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. The Camp. 3 - II. What Frightened the Pack Mules. 13 - III. When the Foxes Took to the Trees. 26 - IV. Bumpus Takes a Chance. 38 - V. The Missing Tenderfoot. 50 - VI. Forced to Think for Himself. 62 - VII. Turning the Tables. 78 - VIII. A Scout Should Always be on the Alert. 87 - IX. The Mean Trick Of The Timber Cruisers. 96 - X. The Bob-Cat. 106 - XI. Bumpus' Stock Above Par. 115 - XII. The Swoop of the Storm. 123 - XIII. The Bolt of Lightning. 131 - XIV. Step Hen Looks Out for the Provisions. 139 - XV. Through the Big Timber Again. 147 - XVI. The Snake Bite. 155 - XVII. More Trouble Ahead. 164 - XVIII. Still in Pursuit, with the Trail Growing Warmer. 172 - XIX. Another Shock. 181 - XX. Finding Out How Bumpus Did It. 189 - XXI. Caught in a Trap. 198 - XXII. The Cripple Business Seems to be Contagious. 206 - XXIII. The Way Blocked. 219 - XXIV. The "Little Lightning." 227 - XXV. "Catching a Tartar;" and a Fat One at That. 235 - XXVI. "Tenderfoot? Well, Hardly, After This." 243 - XXVII. Well-Earned Rest--Conclusion. 250 - - - - - THE BOY SCOUTS - THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER - - - - - CHAPTER I. - THE CAMP. - - -"Call the roll, Mr. Secretary," said the acting scoutmaster. - -Of course this was a mere matter of form, because everybody knew that the -entire membership of the Silver Fox Patrol, connected with the Cranford -Troop of Boy Scouts, was present. But nevertheless Bob White gravely took -out his little book, and made each boy answer to his name. - -"Thad Brewster." - -"Present," said the patrol leader, and assistant scoutmaster. - -"Allan Hollister." - -"Here," replied the second in command, a Maine boy, now living in -Cranford, the New York town from whence these boys had journeyed to this -far-off region along the foothills of the great Rocky Mountains. - -"Bumpus Hawtree." - -"Ditto," sang out the fat youth, looking up with a wide grin; for he was -about as good-natured as he was ponderous. - -"Giraffe Stedman." - -"More ditto," answered the tall lad, with the long neck, and the quick -movements, who was busying himself over the fire, being never so happy as -when he could feed wood to the crackling blaze. - -"Step Hen Bingham." - -"On deck," replied the boy mentioned, who was busy with the supper -arrangements. - -"Davy Jones." - -"O. K." came from the fellow who was walking on his hands at the moment, -his waving feet being high in the air, where his head was supposed to -appear; because Davy was a gymnast, and worked off his superfluous energy -in doing all manner of queer stunts. - -"Smithy." - -"Present," and the speaker, a very natty chap, brushed off an imaginary -insect from the sleeve of his coat; because it happened that Edmund -Maurice Travers Smith, as he was known in his home circle, had been born -with a horror for dirt: and it was taking his comrades a long time to -bring him down to the ordinary level of a happy-go-lucky, care-free boy -like themselves. - -"Robert White Quail." - -And the last named being the secretary himself, he merely put a cross -down, to indicate the fact of his being in the line of duty on that -occasion. - -"You neglected two other important members of the party!" called out -Giraffe, who, of course had gained his peculiar name on account of the -habit he had of often stretching that unusually long neck of his, until -the boys likened him to an ostrich, and then a giraffe. - -"Who are they?" demanded Bob White, scenting some sort of joke. - -"Mike, and Molly, the honest, hard-working mules here that we have for -pack animals," replied the tall scout, with a chuckle. - -"Oh! I reckon, suh, they don't count on the roll call," remarked Bob -White, who was a Southern boy, as his soft manner of speech, as well as -certain phrases he often used, betrayed. - -"Well," protested Giraffe, sturdily, "if you think now, that our pack -mules ain't going to make an impression on our camping through the big -timber, and the foothills of the Rockies, you've got another guess -coming, let me tell you." - -"Mike strikes me as particularly worthy of mention in the log book of the -trip. He made a _distinct_ impression on me, right in the start; and left -a black and blue record of it that hurts yet," with which remark, fat -Bumpus--whose real name chanced to be Jasper Cornelius, began to ruefully -rub a certain portion of his generous anatomy. - -A general shout went up at this. - -"Well, what could you expect, Bumpus?" demanded Davy Jones. "When Mike, -out of the corner of his wicked eye, saw you stooping over that way, and -offering such a wide target, the temptation was more than any -respectable, well-educated mule could resist." - -"Yes," put in Step Hen, who had divided his name in that queer fashion as -a lad first attending school, and it had clung to him ever since; "you -didn't know the strong points of pack mules, Bumpus, or you would never -have gone so close to his heels." - -"And," continued Davy, humorously, "you turned over in the air three -times, before you struck that dirty pool of water. And that time, Bumpus, -I own up you beat me fairly at gymnastics; for try as I will, so far I've -only been able to do two turns backward in the air, myself." - -Bumpus, being so good-natured, only chuckled and kept on rubbing, as in -imagination he saw the "cartwheels" he made in the air on that memorable -occasion. - -"Only thing I deeply regret," continued Davy, "was that I didn't have my -camera focussed at the time. That picture would sure have been the gem of -our collection." - -Bumpus presently sat himself down again, to watch those who were serving -as cooks for that occasion, get supper ready. - -And while it is preparing, with the fragrant odor of coffee in the air, -making the hungry boys almost frantic with suspense, perhaps, for the -benefit of the reader who has not made the acquaintance of these lively, -wide-awake boys in earlier stories of this series, a brief explanation of -who and what they were, may be deemed appropriate at this point. - -The Silver Fox Patrol had been organized for quite some time now, and the -boys who made up the membership had been fortunate enough to take two -long trips, with the idea of adding to their knowledge of woodcraft, and -such qualities as all good scouts are supposed to desire to possess. - -The first one had been to the region of the Land of the sky. Robert Quail -had come from the Blue Ridge, in North Carolina, and it was mostly -through his influence and persuasion that the scouts had gone thence. And -while there, they had met with many adventures that have been faithfully -chronicled in their log book, and portrayed in a previous story. - -Their next trip came in very fortunately. An epidemic breaking out in -Cranford, the school trustees closed the doors of the places of education -until after the Christmas holidays. This gave the boys the chance they -had long wanted to take a run up into Maine, and do a little camping, and -hunting of big game; several of their number being very fond of handling -a gun; and Allan having told them thrilling stories of the sport to be -found in his native State after the law had been lifted. - -And while enjoying themselves hugely, the scouts had had the good fortune -to recover some stolen bonds and other valuables belonging to a bank that -had been robbed. The reward offered for their restoration was paid over -into their treasury, and was of such a size as to admit of their taking -this long-desired journey into the mountain region of the Great -Northwest, when vacation time came around. - -During the balance of the winter, after their return from Maine, the -story of the wonderfully good times they enjoyed there had so enthused -other boys of Cranford, that a second full patrol, called the Eagle, had -been organized; and a third addition to the troop, to be called the Gray -Wolf, was in process of forming. - -But of course none of these lads had any share in the reward that had -come to the members of the first patrol; so that accounted for their not -being present on his occasion. - -Bumpus was a musician, and had a fine mellow voice, which he often used -to entertain his mates while sitting around the roaring camp-fire. He -could play on any instrument; indeed, with merely his doubled-up hands, -and his melodious voice, he often imitated various calls on the bugle. -And of course he had been elected as bugler to the troop, though on the -present occasion they had induced him to leave his instrument at home, -not thinking a hunting camp the place for such noisy demonstrations. - -The boys carried guns of various sorts, though until lately Bumpus had -never bothered himself about such a thing. But while in Maine the fever -seized him, and he had purchased a big ten-bore Marlin double-barreled -shotgun; because he always admired the twelve gauge of the same make -which Thad owned. - -Step Hen had a little beauty of a thirty-thirty six-shot repeating rifle, -that had been given to him by his father on a recent birthday. Thad -sometimes borrowed it, and could use the same with considerable skill. It -carried those soft-nosed bullets that mushroom when striking, and thus do -all the work of a ball several times the size. If big game must be -killed, the quicker the thing is over with the better. Besides, that -little fire-arm was "just as light as a feather," as Step Hen always -declared, when disputing with Giraffe, who carried the large rifle owned -by his respected dad, also fond of the woods and game. - -Davy managed to get along with a shotgun, while Allan had a rifle. Smithy -and Bob White had brought no weapons along, deeming the number on hand -amply sufficient to clean out most of the wild beasts inhabiting the -Rocky Mountain region. In fact, Smithy had never shot a gun in his life, -and was timid about trying; but on the other hand Bob was quite used to -working with a good retriever in the grain fields, where the bird he was -named after fattened, away down in the Old Tarheel State. - -Davy seemed to be unusually full of animal spirits on this occasion. He -just could not keep quiet, but kept up his tumbling, and standing on his -head, even though no one paid much attention to what wonderful stunts the -athletic lad was carrying on. - -Close by them ran a noisy stream. It came out from the foothills of the -great uplifts near by, and went brawling on its way. Indeed, it made so -much music that the scouts had to call out to each other at times; but -somehow the prospect of passing a night near such a rollicking stream -pleased them all. Besides, they were sure it must contain trout, and -several promised to get up at break of day to try for the speckled -beauties, so that they might have a mess for breakfast, before continuing -on their way. - -"Say, has anybody seen my sweater around?" called out Step Hen, who was -busily engaged looking over the contents of his pack, having turned over -the control of the cooking meal to Allan and Thad. "I'm just sure I -stowed it away in this knapsack I carry, but it ain't there now. I'm the -unluckiest feller you ever did see, about having my things taken. -Everybody just thinks they're general property, and grabs 'em up. Please -hand it over, whoever's got it. I might want it to-night, if it gets -cool." - -Step Hen was careless. He had a long-standing habit of never knowing -where he put his things, and hence, when he missed some object, loud were -his wails about being pursued by a "little evil genius," that was taking -the greatest delight in misplacing his possessions. Even when one of the -other scouts, taking pity on Step Hen, would show him where he had -himself left the article, he would pass it off as easily as a duck shakes -the water from its back. - -The tents had been raised, and everything looked cozy and comfortable. -Several of the scouts lay around, being footsore and weary; only that -never-tired Davy was still exercising himself in all sorts of ways. In -due time he would work off his superfluous energy, and behave. They were -so accustomed to seeing Davy hang by his toes from the high limb of a -tree, or doing some similar act better fitted for the circus than a camp -of Boy Scouts, that little attention was ordinarily paid to his actions. - -It came as a shock, then, when all of a sudden Thad started up with a -shout, and started on a run toward the edge of the high river bank, where -one could look down on the tumbling waters of the churning yeasty rapids. - -"Hurry, boys!" the scoutmaster was calling at the top of his voice, as he -covered the dozen yards separating the camp from the edge of the little -bluff; "Davy went too near the edge, and took a header right over into -the river!" - -Every one of the other six lads hurried as fast as possible to join their -leader on the brink of the bluff; and when they reached there, they saw a -sight that for the moment seemed to freeze the very blood in their veins. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - WHAT FRIGHTENED THE PACK MULES. - - -"Hold on to the rock, Davy! We'll get you out!" whooped Giraffe, greatly -excited, so that Thad, believing the tall scout meditated jumping after -the boy who was already at the mercy of that swift current, dropped a -restraining hand on his arm. - -"He must a hit his head when he fell; you c'n see he looks dazed!" cried -Bumpus. - -"Just what he did, I reckon!" added Bob White, as he clenched his hands, -and stared at the figure out in the midst of that rushing, boiling water. - -Davy looked far from nimble just then. He was clinging desperately to a -slippery moss-covered rock that just projected above the foamy water. If -he allowed his grip to slacken he would be instantly carried into a -pocket that had all the appearance of a whirlpool; and once lost in that -gap, where the water whirled around and around, Davy might never come out -alive again. - -Under ordinary conditions the agile lad might have had a fair chance to -work out his own salvation, for he was a good swimmer; but just as Bumpus -said, possibly he had struck his head when falling, and this dazed him. -He could only hang on there, and look appealingly toward his comrades, -high up on the bank. - -Thad saw immediately that the task of rescuing their comrade would prove -to be not a little one, even though Davy could hold on for a few minutes -longer, which was uncertain, since the current was very strong, and -seemed to drag at him with a dozen eager hands. - -"A rope! We must have a rope!" he cried. - -"Where's Bumpus? Take this rope!" came from Giraffe. - -"That's so; here, get your coat off, Bumpus, in a big hurry!" exclaimed -Thad, whirling upon the fat boy, who was even then starting to obey. - -Strange to say, as soon as he had undone his loose coat, one of the -reasons for his apparent great size through the body became apparent. -Bumpus had a small but stout clothes-line wound around his body many -times. - -While up in Maine he had taken a fancy for having a rope close to his -hand. On many occasions he had seen the great value of such a thing; and -it had by degrees become almost a mania with Bumpus; who secured just -such a rope as he thought best adapted for the purpose, and carefully -wound it around his body every morning. - -And as the possession of such a thing caused the scoffing scouts to call -it a lariat, of course Bumpus was privately and publicly doing his level -best to throw the rope, as he had once seen some cowboys connected with a -traveling circus do; but with rather poor success thus far, for his build -rather unfitted him for doing such strenuous work. - -Bumpus was so clumsy about most things that it could not be expected that -on the present occasion, when there was so much need of haste he could -satisfy the nervous demands of his camp-mates. - -He started to unwind the rope, but twice the end fell from his shaking -fingers, when he heard Giraffe call out that Davy seemed to be about to -let go his hold. - -Unable to stand such dilly-dallying tactics, Allan and Giraffe presently -took hold of the fat boy, and began to whirl him around as though he were -a teetotum, while Thad pulled at the rope. - -"Here, quit that!" roared Bumpus, throwing out his hands in an effort to -catch hold of something, for he was rapidly growing very dizzy under this -treatment; "what d'ye think I am, a top that wants spinning? Hi! ketch me -somebody, I'm going to tumble over!" and as the last remnant of the -clothes-line slipped from his rotating form, the fat scout did reel -around like a drunken man, though quickly recovering from the dizzy -sensation. - -Meanwhile Thad was busy. Fortunately Bumpus always kept a nice noose at -the end of the rope, with a running knot. Thad knew this, for he had many -a time thrown the lariat with considerable skill, when showing the owner -just how it should be done. - -Hastily he gathered the coils of rope in his hand, and rushed again to -the edge of the little bluff looking out on the rapids. - -He drew a breath of relief when he saw that the unfortunate gymnast was -still there, clinging desperately to that slippery rock, and yet -apparently well-nigh exhausted. - -"Look out for it, Davy, and grab the noose when it comes near! Here -goes!" - -With that the scoutmaster gave the rope several whirls about his head, -and then launched it forward. The others watched the result, with hearts -that seemed to actually stand still with suspense. - -"Missed him!" cried Giraffe, in despair, as the rope struck the surface -of the swift water about five feet or more above the imperiled scout. - -"Thad wanted to send it there; see!" exclaimed Allan. - -Just as the one who had thrown the rope expected, the noose was instantly -seized by the foaming waters, and swept downward, straight at the -clinging boy. Although Davy may have been partly dazed, he had known -enough to hang on with might and main. And right then and there he seemed -to understand what Thad meant to do; for as the rope was borne up against -the partly submerged rock to which he clung, the boy made a quick snatch -at it. - -"He lost it!" shrieked Bumpus, who had recovered enough now to crawl near -the edge in order to see what was going on; though not daring to trust -his weight too near the brink, lest the earth crumble under him, and let -him drop into the rapids where Davy was already fighting for his life. - -"Not much he did!" echoed Giraffe; "he's got it all right! Good boy, -Davy! Slip it under your arms, and we'll yank you out in a jiffy! That's -the ticket! Hurrah!" - -Davy seemed to understand what he must do. It was not enough that he -gripped the noose at the end of the saving rope; for once in the power of -the tossing current of the whirlpool he might lose his hold. - -And so he managed to put his arm right through, after which he held on -with might and main with that hand while he got the second one through -the loop. - -It was the last straw that broke the camel's back; Davy was so completely -exhausted by this effort that he just had to let go, and trust to his -comrades to do the rest. - -Thad began to pull with all his strength, and others laid hold on the -line, to add their mite to the work of rescue. Fortunately Bumpus had -selected a splendid braided window-sash cord when he picked out his rope, -capable of standing an enormous strain; and it held, despite the drag of -the savage whirlpool, and the rush of the rapids. - -Through the white foaming waters Davy was dragged in great style. One of -them managed to get down the little bluff, and helped the almost drowned -scout to clamber up. But hardly had Davy reached the camp than he fell in -a faint, utterly exhausted. Excitement had more or less to do with it, -perhaps fright as well; for he had really been facing death during those -few minutes when he held on with such splendid grit. - -Thad soon brought him to; and upon examining the boy's head he did -discover a pretty good-sized lump, showing that what they suspected must -have taken place; and that Davy had struck against a rock in falling. - -Davy was unusually quiet for the rest of the afternoon, and pretty -serious for one of his animal spirits. He realized that he had had a -close call; and never more would he make fun of poor Bumpus for such a -silly fad as carrying a rope around with him wherever he went. Only for -that Davy might have had a much more serious time of it, even if he were -rescued at all. - -They were having an early supper for many reasons. The tramp had been -rather tiresome on this day; and besides, that location on the side of -the noisy mountain stream had taken their fancy. - -When the meal was ready Bumpus made a bugle of his hands, and blew the -"assembly" in fairly good style. But none of the hungry scouts waited for -him to get through; for they were hard at it as soon as he started. -Indeed, Bumpus himself cut his "call" short, as he saw the tremendous -inroads being made on the visible supply of food; and hastened to take -his place, fearful lest he be left mourning, with a scant ration. - -Had Davy been half drowned by his submersion in the water, the -scoutmaster knew just what to do in order to restore him. He would have -placed the boy on his stomach, with his arms elevated; and while two of -the others worked these back and forth like pump handles, Thad would have -knelt astride Davy, pressing regularly downward with his hands or knees; -the idea being to produce an artificial respiration, and encourage the -heart to take up its suspended functions. - -It still lacked half an hour of sunset when they finished supper; and Bob -White was even thinking of getting out some fishing tackle, in order to -see if he could coax a few trout from the stream, at the foot of the -rapids below. - -The two mules, Mike and Molly, had been staked out at the end of their -ropes, and were cropping the green grass that grew abundantly near by. - -"Don't things look just fine and dandy around here, though?" remarked -Step Hen, as they lay there, feeling too full of supper to do anything. - -"Yes; and so far we haven't missed those two guides who gave us the cold -shake," Giraffe added. "One of 'em had to go and get sick; and the other -broke his contract, and went off with those two Eastern sportsmen who -came out here to shoot mountain sheep, just like they do chamois over in -Switzerland. But we're going to get on all right without 'em; though I -hope we manage to run across that Toby Smathers they told us about, and -who's up here somewhere on his own hook doin' something, nobody seemed to -know just what." - -"Yes," remarked Thad, "they told us he was just the right kind of a guide -to get. He's been through the whole mill--lumber-jack, trapper, hunter, -timber cruiser; and forest ranger employed to look out for fires, and -watch some of those thieves of timber pirates sent in here by the big -lumber concerns to steal millions of millions of feet of valuable lumber -every winter." - -"Hello! now Mike's gone and caught it!" cried Giraffe. - -This caused all of them to sit up, and take notice that one of the mules -was dancing at a lively clip at the end of his rope. He would stand up on -his hind legs, and strain at his stake; then turning, he would kick as -far as he could; and carry on in a most remarkable manner. - -"What in the dickens ails the beast?" asked Step Hen. "Has a bumble bee -stung him on the nose?" - -"Why, don't you see, it's catching," retorted Giraffe, grinning. "He saw -the way Davy here was walking around on his hands, with his feet in the -air; and Mike wants us to see if he can do better than that. I reckon -he'll stand on one foot after a bit, and show Davy stunts he dassent try -to follow." - -"Now, there goes Molly trying the same dodge," shouted Bumpus. - -"Well, I declare, if that don't beat the Dutch!" ejaculated Giraffe. "As -sure as I live, fellers, they mean to make it a double harness affair, a -team of educated mule gymnasts. Go it, Mike! Hey, show us what you can -do, Molly! I'm believing she c'n beat her pardner all hollow. Look at -that jump, would you? Say, they must a been eating some of that loco weed -we heard about, fellers!" - -"They're frightened, that's what!" exclaimed Thad, as he started to cast -his eyes around in search of any unusual object, but failing to discover -such; from which fact he judged that the mules depended on their sense of -smell to tell them there was danger near by. - -"Frightened; what at?" echoed Davy Jones. - -"I don't know; but if ever I saw a scared mule, that Mike is one," Thad -went on. - -"Look at him jerk, would you?" cried Giraffe. "Unless that stake gives -way soon, he'll sure break his old stubborn neck. Whoa! there, you silly; -nothing's going to hurt you. Wow! there he goes awhoopin', Thad! The -stake did give way, before he dislocated his spine. And there's Molly -bound to follow after him, whoop! see her tear, would you?" - -"She's broke away too, and is trailing the rope after her!" cried Step -Hen. - -"And now, won't we just have a dandy old time hunting our pack mules -again; unless by some accident that stake and rope get caught in the -rocks, and holds 'em up; which I'm hoping will be the case," remarked -Giraffe, looking blankly after the two disappearing animals, that, when -last seen, were still acting in the most remarkable manner, and giving -every evidence of a severe fright. - -"Now, what d'ye suppose, scared the fools that way?" demanded Bob White. - -"P'raps they just felt frisky, and wanted to show us their heels. I told -you they'd be mad, if you didn't include them on the roll call," Giraffe -remarked; though in truth, he was feeling anything but funny just then, -as he contemplated the possibility of their being stranded away out there -under the shadow of the great Rockies, without a single pack animal to -"tote" their camp luggage either way. - -"Look around, and see if you can spy anything moving," advised the -scoutmaster, making use of his own sharp eyes at the same moment. - -Immediately Bumpus called out: - -"What's that lumbering along over yonder, Thad? Looks to me like an old, -cinnamon-colored cow." - -Thad took one look. - -"You're away off there, Bumpus," he remarked, in a thrilling tone; -"because those two wise mules knew what was coming. That is anything but -a cow or even a bull. It's a bear!" - -"A bear!" almost shrieked Bumpus, making a dive for the nearest tent, in -which lay his nice ten-bore Marlin, loaded with buckshot shells. - -"Yes," Thad went on, "and a great big grizzly bear at that. Let's hope -he'll give us the go-by, and walk on about his own business!" - - - - - CHAPTER III. - WHEN THE FOXES TOOK TO THE TREES. - - -"Bang!" - -"Hold on there, Bumpus, you're crazy!" shouted Thad. - -"Bang!" went the other barrel of the new ten-bore gun, with which the fat -scout was determined he would sooner or later get a bear. - -"Oh! he knocked him over!" shrieked Step Hen, who had managed in some -mysterious way to get possession of his own gun, and was visibly -disappointed because it began to look as though he could not make use of -it. - -"Bumpus has killed a grizzly!" shouted Giraffe; and then, quick on the -heels of this exultant cry he added: "no he ain't, either! Look at him -gettin' up on all fours again! Now he's sighted us, fellers! Here he -comes, licketty-split! A tree for mine! They told us grizzlies couldn't -climb trees, you know." - -Giraffe was as good as his word. He seemed to fairly fly over to the -nearest tree, and the way those supple long legs wrapped around the -slender trunk was a sight worth seeing. - -A panic broke out among the rest, especially when Thad shouted: - -"Get up a tree, everybody! Quick, now, he's coming right along!" - -Now, Step Hen had his rifle, and knew that it could be depended on to do -its work, provided the marksman himself was there with the good aim. Step -Hen did not have full confidence in his ability to plant a bullet where -it would do the most execution. Besides, the sight of that savage monster -lumbering along, and looking so very fierce, gave poor Step Hen an attack -of the "rattles." - -When he heard the scoutmaster call out for every one to hunt a tree, Step -Hen felt that he must be included in that order. If all the others -climbed to safety, it would be the height of folly for him to remain -below. - -And not wanting to play the part of Casibianca, the boy who "stood on the -burning deck, whence all but him had fled," Step Hen, dropping his gun as -he ran, made for a tree that seemed to offer all the advantages of home. - -Just ahead of him was Bumpus, gripping a limb with a desperation born of -despair, and struggling furiously to get one of his fat legs entwined -above, when he might hope to pull himself up. - -Step Hen had no trouble in mounting on his side of the tree. - -"Give Bumpus a hand, Step Hen!" shouted the scoutmaster, already settled -in a nest of his choosing. - -As one scout is expected to help another whenever the chance arises, -doubtless Step Hen would have rendered this "first aid to the clumsy" -even though Thad had not seen fit to call out. - -There was really need of haste. The wounded bear was perilously near, and -seemed to be heading straight for the tree where Bumpus was, unable, in -his excitement and fright to draw his body up on the limb to which he -clung. - -His fat face was white, and his eyes seemed almost ready to pop out of -his head, as Step Hen, bending down, caught hold of his coat collar. It -looked as though the angry bear just knew which of these campers had -inflicted this pain upon him, and was bent upon revenge. - -But Step Hen was strong, moreover, the necessity of moving the unwieldy -body of Bumpus was great. Exerting himself as the fat scout commenced to -strain again, Step Hen managed to get Bumpus up alongside him. - -Even then there was more or less danger that the grizzly might stand -erect on his hind legs, and be able to claw them, so the boys hastened to -put more distance between their precious bodies and the furious beast. - -When the bear found that he could not reach any of the scouts, he spent -some little time rolling from one tree to another, and looking up at the -boys in the branches and sending forth loud growls. - -"Scat! get out!" shouted Giraffe. "Say, he's a goin' to try and climb up -my thin tree. Here, quit that, you old scamp! Look what he's doin', Thad! -Wow! he wants to shake me down like a big persimmon." - -The bear did actually shake the slender tree to and fro, by exerting his -tremendous strength. Giraffe had a few anxious minutes. He had to hold on -with all his might to keep from being dislodged. And then again, there -was always a chance that the furious grizzly might actually snap the tree -off. - -After a short time the animal seemed to tire of this sport. Greatly to -the relief of Giraffe he ambled away. - -"Good-bye, old feller! Come again when you can't stay so long!" cried -Giraffe, whose courage returned when he realized that his safety was -assured. - -But the bear did not have the remotest idea of abandoning his game. - -"He smells our grub, that's what!" called out Bumpus. "See him sniffing, -would you? And there he goes, right at our stock of things. Oh! what if -he gobbles it all up, whatever will we do, stranded away up here?" - -"We've got to do something, boys, to chase him off," declared Allan. - -"If I had some powder up here, I'd show him," declared Giraffe. - -"What would you do?" demanded Smithy, who for once had not waited to pick -out a clean tree, when he started to "elevate." - -"Why, I'd wet some powder, and make those sputtering 'devils' you -remember I used to carry around with me. Then I'd get the old bear right -under, put a match to a bunch of the powder, and when it took to sending -out sparks to beat the band, I'd drop it on his back. Wow! but take my -word for it, boys, he'd make tracks out of this in a cloud of smoke." - -"Well, suh, why don't you do that, and help us out of a bad scrape?" -demanded Bob White, whose hot Southern blood fairly boiled at the -ridiculous idea of eight wide-awake scouts being made prisoners, by just -one old bear. - -"For several reasons," replied Giraffe, calmly. "In the first place I -don't happen to possess a single match, even if I had the powder, which -is not the case. And then again, I want to see how our sagacious and -resourceful scoutmaster works his little game." - -This caused all the others to turn their attention toward Thad. For the -first time they discovered that he was lowering a long piece of cord, -with an open loop a few inches in diameter at the end. - -"Oh! I know what he's hoping to do," sang out Bumpus. "He wants to fish -up Step Hen's gun, that lies just below him, where Step Hen dropped it." - -"That's the stuff!" declared Davy Jones, excitedly, as he watched the -operation. - -"But look at the bear, fellers!" cried Giraffe. "He's right at it now, -chawin' up our grub as if he could store away the lot of it. Guess he's -forgot all about us." - -"Don't you believe it," declared Allan. "Watch me prove it." - -With that he made as if to descend his tree. No sooner had his swinging -legs attracted the attention of the bear, than uttering savage growls he -abandoned his feast, and came hurriedly over, to look up at Allan with -those cruel little eyes, as if inviting him to just try it. - -So Thad had to suspend operations until Bruin, overtaken by a desire to -once more revel in the camp-stores, shuffled back again to the -neighborhood of the twin tents. - -"Don't coax him over here again, please, Allan," remarked the -scoutmaster, who was now busily engaged "fishing" with that looped cord, -trying to drop the noose over the end of the little rifle, which, by a -rare chance, was raised a few inches from the ground. - -The other scouts were all watching his labor, being deeply interested in -the result. - -"Now you've got a bite, Thad!" called out Giraffe. - -"Give it to him, Thad!" advised Step Hen. - -But the fisherman was too cautious to risk so much. He wanted to slip the -noose a little further along, before he made a final jerk, in order to -try and tighten it. - -"He's got his eye on you, Thad!" warned Smithy, whose tree happened to be -better located for observation than any of the other ones appropriated by -his comrades. - -"Yes, and there he's coming over to see what you mean by that string -hanging down," asserted Giraffe. - -"Somebody draw his attention!" called out Thad. "Make him think you're -meaning to drop down. It will give me the chance I need to finish my -job." - -"Yes, throw Bumpus down, Step Hen!" called out Giraffe. "He was the cause -of all this trouble and he ought to sacrifice himself now, in order to -create a diversion." - -"Keep away from me! Don't you dare touch me, Step Hen! I'll pull you down -along with me, if you try to do that," cried Bumpus, really alarmed. - -But Allan caught the idea Thad advanced. Besides, it just happened that -he was well situated for carrying it out. By going through some -extravagant motions, as though about to descend, he caught the attention -of the bear, which immediately shuffled over to his tree, and looked up -expectantly. - -Meanwhile Thad was not idle. - -He saw what he had to do in order to make a sure thing of his work. -Moving to one side a little, as the nature of his hold in the branches of -the tree permitted, he jerked at his line until the loop actually closed -tightly on the barrel of Step Hen's rifle. After that it should not be a -difficult task to pull the weapon up. - -"Quick! Thad, he's coming!" shouted the excited Giraffe. - -In spite of all Allan's cutting-up the bear seemed to think that he had -better be paying more attention to what was going on elsewhere. - -Thad had raised the gun from the ground. It was slowly ascending through -space, and turning around as it came. - -The grizzly hurried underneath, while Thad hastened to pass the cord -through his fingers and when the wise old bear, seeming to understand the -case, reared up to strike at the dangling rifle, he just managed to give -it a tap that started it to spinning around at a lively clip. - -"Oh!" gasped Giraffe, under the belief that all was lost. - -But Thad had made one last drag, and even as the other uttered that -exclamation the scoutmaster snatched the gun out of the air; for with -that very last pull, the noose seemed to have slipped. - -"Hurrah! Thad wins!" burst out from Step Hen. - -"Good-bye, old Charlie!" mocked Bumpus. "Better skip out while there is -time, if you know what's good for you." - -But the bear did not seem to be that wise. He remained there, winking -those wicked little eyes up at Thad, as if daring him to do his worst. - -"Give it to him, Thad!" begged Giraffe, so impatient that he could hardly -understand why the more careful boy should wait. - -But although Thad had never up to now encountered a wild grizzly, he had -heard and read a great deal about them. And thus he knew that at times -such an animal can be shot full of bullets, so to speak, without killing -him, so tenacious of life is the grizzly bear of the Rocky Mountains. - -On this account, therefore, Thad wished to make all the capital possible -out of the six bullets that were contained in Step Hen's gun. - -Waiting until a good opportunity presented itself, he took a quick aim, -and then pulled the trigger. With the report there came a tremendous -roar, so savage, so full of pent-up animal rage, that Bumpus immediately -proceeded to climb up to a still higher limb of the tree in which he had -found shelter. - -"He's down! No, he's up again! Give him another, Thad! Oh! don't I wish I -had my Old Reliable here, though," cried Giraffe. - -Thad was awake to the necessity for prompt action. The bear, even though -desperately wounded, was still full of fight. And there could be no -telling what the maddened animal might not attempt, if given time. - -Thad taking careful aim fired again. - -He really felt an admiration for the hard-fighting grizzly, such as all -hunters worthy of the name experience toward the four-footed enemy that -puts up a game battle for its life. - -There were four more bullets in the repeating rifle, and Thad had to make -use of them all before he could really feel he had caused the last vital -spark to flee from its abiding-place in the body of the shaggy monster. - -But after the sixth and last shot had been fired, there was silence on -the part of the terror of the mountain gulches. The grizzly's last -convulsive movement had taken place. No longer would his savage roar, -echoing from cliff to cliff, cause all other wild animals to flee. - -"Hurrah!" shouted Giraffe, as he dropped to the ground. - -"Is he surely dead?" asked Smithy, from his perch aloft. - -For answer the reckless Giraffe ran up, and placed a foot on the -motionless body of the bear. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - BUMPUS TAKES A CHANCE. - - -"Everybody's getting bears but me," Bumpus was saying on the following -day, when, a new camp having been selected, further removed from the -noise of the rapids, the boys decided to stay over for a little while, -and try their luck hunting through the big timber lands around them. - -The two runaway pack mules had been recovered. Just as the boys expected, -the trailing stakes had become caught fast in the rocks that lay up the -stream, and in which direction the panic-stricken pack animals had gone. -Both were found before darkness set in, and escorted back in triumph to -the camp. - -The boys had also discovered that hungry trout lay in schools below the -foaming rapids, just anxious to grace the frying-pan of the scouts. And -the savory mess they had secured for breakfast that morning was one of -the reasons why, upon putting the question to a vote, it was decided to -stay over a while. - -And after they had located the new camp, with the tents erected, and -things looking fairly comfortable, the complaining voice of Bumpus was -heard in the land, as he rubbed diligently at the shining barrels of his -Marlin with an oiled rag. - -"Well, you had your chance, didn't you?" demanded Step Hen, with a wink -and a nod in the direction of Thad, who had paused to listen, while -stretching the great skin of the grizzly on a big frame, to start drying. - -"I s'pose I did; but he was too far away for my buckshot to bring him -down," declared Bumpus; "but I hit him, didn't I, Thad?" - -"In eight different places by actual count," replied the other. -"Altogether this pelt is shot so full of holes it won't make the finest -rug going; but whenever we look at it on the floor of our armory we'll -all remember the queer kind of fruit the trees out here bear." - -"There is Giraffe, now," went on Bumpus, still hugging his grievance to -his heart; "he got a black bear when we were up in Maine, but I call that -just a snap. The old thief was astealin' honey from the tree we cut down, -when Giraffe, he just plunked him. Why, my dandy gun would have knocked -that bear over at such close range, the easiest ever." - -"I guess it would, Bumpus," said Thad, consolingly, "and sometime, -perhaps you'll have your chance. We all hope you will, anyhow." - -"I'm going to see to it that I do," grumbled the fat scout; and from his -manner one would be apt to think that really life was becoming very tame, -and hardly worth having, unless he might find his one great wish -gratified. - -Bumpus really felt his failure of the preceding night very keenly. It was -not often that any of the boys had seen him so sober and sour. - -He felt as though a cruel fate had taken pleasure in cheating him out of -honors he should have claimed. That ought to have been _his_ bear, by -right of first discovery; and also because he had fired both barrels of -his Marlin at the beast, and actually knocked him over. - -The trouble was, old Charlie did not know enough to stay down; but had -persisted in giving them further trouble, until Thad engineered that -clever scheme for getting possession of a gun, when immediately the game -was up. - -Had Thad ever dreamed of what a tenacious hold this newly-acquired desire -to shine as a mighty Nimrod, had taken upon the mind of Bumpus, he would -certainly have been more careful about leaving the tenderfoot to his own -devices. - -The morning was still young when Giraffe proposed that they make up a -party, to take a look around. - -"Who knows but what we might run across a deer; or one of those Rocky -Mountain big-horn sheep?" he added, as a clincher to his argument. - -"That sounds good to me," declared Step Hen. - -"I'll go along to help tote your game," remarked Bob White. - -"And I'm in the ring," remarked Step Hen. "Why, my mouth's just watering -for some prime mutton chops." - -Thad smiled. He knew that if ever they did secure a big-horn, the flesh -of that high jumping animal would probably be as tough as leather, unless -fortunately they chanced upon a young one. - -It was finally arranged that besides Thad and Allan, Step Hen, Giraffe -and Bob White should make up the hunting party. - -This would leave three in camp--Smithy who had no gun, Davy Jones, whose -head still felt sore from the effect of his accident on the previous -afternoon; and the despondent Bumpus, who was acting very strangely, for -one of his cheery disposition. - -No one dreamed that any trouble could come upon the camp while part of -the scouts were away. Two of those who remained owned guns, though at the -last moment Davy Jones forced Bob White to carry his "pump" shot gun. But -then, what was there to fear? If the mate of the slain grizzly came -around, looking for the absent one, the boys had been instructed to take -to the trees; and Thad had even gone to the trouble of picking out the -best fortress available in this line, one that even the clumsy Bumpus -could readily climb. - -"Think you could shin up that tree, in case the other old Mountain -Charlie came prowling around?" Thad asked Bumpus. - -"Oh! I guess I could," replied the other, rather indifferently, Thad -thought. - -"Tell you what, Bumpus," called out Step Hen, "if I was you I'd fix it -so's to have my ammunition up in that tree. Then, you see, if he sat down -at the butt here, to wait till you got ripe and dropped, why, you could -just keep banging away till you loaded him so full of little bullets he -couldn't get up off the ground. Great stunt, ain't it boys?" - -The others readily declared that it was making things easy for Bumpus. -They were even kind enough to express a wish that another bear _would_ -take a notion to come around, just to please Bumpus, for it pained them -exceedingly to see him looking so miserable. - -But the fat boy did not grow at all enthusiastic over Step Hen's -proposal. He just watched all the preparations being made for the hunt; -and sitting there on the log, kept polishing his gun, although it -certainly showed no speck of rust or grime. - -Presently all of them were ready to start. - -"It would be nice now," said Thad, before departing, "if some of you -camp-keepers gave those trout another try. We may not get a shot at a -deer all the time we're gone; and if we fail on fresh meat, another mess -of trout would taste pretty fine." - -"I should say they would, whether we strike game or not," declared -Giraffe. - -"Haven't tasted anything so good since we were up in Maine last fall, and -had just one mess before the trout season closed," Allan observed. - -"I'll try and accommodate you as far as I'm able," Smithy agreed. - -"Same here," echoed Davy Jones. - -But as for Bumpus, good-natured, jolly Bumpus, he seemed to have lost his -tongue, for he failed to add his promise to that of the other two scouts. - -Thad looked at him as he turned away. He had never dreamed that the fat -scout would take anything so much to heart. Bumpus was not cut out for a -good hunter, either by instinct or bodily favor. Some of his enemies in -Cranford, like Brose Griffin and Eli Bangs, were wont to say that Bumpus -was not only ponderous of body, but "fat-witted" as well, by which they -probably meant his mind was slow to act. - -Still, there have been successful fat hunters. Bumpus knew, for he had -made it a point to investigate in every way possible, and he was resolved -that he would shine as a successful Nimrod, despite the disadvantages -under which he labored. So much the more credit to him when he finally -proved his right to boast that proud title. - -After the five hunters went away, Smithy found some bait, and wandered -down to the base of the rapids to fish. The gentle art of angling was -more in the line of the dude of the patrol than tramping through the big -timber after elusive game. - -Here Davy Jones presently joined him, saying that Bumpus had urged him to -add a second rod and line to that Smithy already had out. - -"Couldn't get him to try it, though," said Davy. "Told me he was no -fisherman, and nearly always fell in, he was that clumsy. And between us, -Smithy, that's pretty near the truth." - -"Well, I can remember several occasions when Bumpus made a splash that he -didn't calculate on," remarked Smithy, who was usually just as careful of -his language as he was of his clothes, and no one could ever remember -ever hearing him utter any slang phrase. - -Meanwhile the five hunters had gone off in high spirits. The day was -glorious, and a whole month of this sort of thing stared them in the -face. That was enough to make any bunch of boys happy, especially when -they cared as much for the Great Outdoors as Thad and his chums did. - -Allan was a born hunter. What he did not know about stalking game and all -such things that a successful hunter must be up in, the boys had not as -yet learned. - -He had noted the passing clouds, and observed the direction in which the -prevailing wind blew. It was of considerable moment for the success of -their fresh meat hunt, that they go _up_ the breeze. In this way they -would avoid having their presence in the timber made known in advance to -the wary game, through the medium of the wonderful sense of smell which -most animals possess. - -The five scouts spread out at times in the shape of a fan, so as to cover -as much ground as possible. - -Again they would come together for a little consultation, when they could -compare notes; and those who were not very much experienced in still -hunting, pick up more or less valuable pointers. - -Noon came, but as yet they had not met with any success. Around them the -tall trees grew thickly, and some of them had trunks of such girth that -the scouts easily understood why this region was always referred to as -the "big timber." - -As they ascended higher up the slopes of the foothills that bordered the -Rockies, they would find the trees growing smaller all the while, until -far up the heights the stunted mesquite or the dwarfed cedar alone -remained. - -Not at all dismayed, after they had refreshed themselves with the lunch -brought for that purpose, the young hunters again started out. - -The wind had veered somewhat, and with this fresh start they changed -their own course, so as to keep it coming toward them. Thad was just as -well pleased, for this new direction would serve to keep them within a -few miles of camp; and in case they did manage to secure meat, they would -not have so far to transport it. - -Still the time kept slipping away, and the sun could hardly have been -more than two hours above the western horizon when suddenly a buck was -started. Every one was so eager to get in a shot, that a regular volley -rang out immediately. - -There was positively no chance for the poor deer. He went down in a heap, -and was so near dead when he reached the ground that he did not even give -a last expiring kick. - -Of course the boys were delighted, especially when Allan declared their -united quarry was a nice young buck, and that his flesh ought by all -rights be tender. - -Using the greatest dispatch the deer was soon cut up. And when the -various packages of meat had been judiciously distributed, the five -scouts started on their return to camp. - -Thanks to the knowledge of woodcraft possessed by Allan and Thad, they -managed to make the camp on a line as straight as an arrow, almost. -Indeed, Thad declared that a bee laden with honey, could make no more -direct drive for the hive than Allan had in leading them toward the -region of the camp. - -It was just beginning to get a little dusk when they sighted the -crackling fire, and hurrying along, entered camp. Thad looked around. -Davy was busy over the fire, and the delightful smell of frying trout -told what his occupation must be. Smithy was cutting up some small wood -with the camp-hatchet. Both looked up as the hunters came in. - -"Where's Bumpus?" asked Thad, quickly scenting trouble. - -Davy and Smithy exchanged glances. - -"We hoped he'd found you, and come back," observed the former. - -"Found us? What do you mean by that?" demanded the scoutmaster. - -"We went down to the foot of the pool to fish," explained Davy. "An hour -later I came back to get another hook, and I found that Bumpus had -disappeared, taking his gun with him." - -Thad and Allan exchanged worried glances. With night at hand and that -clumsy tenderfoot lost somewhere in the big timber, it was no wonder that -a sense of impending trouble, that might yet end in tragedy, oppressed -them. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - THE MISSING TENDERFOOT. - - -"It looks like poor old Bumpus is lost," said Allan, presently, breaking -the silence that had fallen upon them all. - -"Lost--whew!" muttered Giraffe, with a suggestive whistle, and an -elevation of the eyebrows that stood for a great deal. - -"That big booby lost!" said Step Hen. - -"What on earth can we do?" Smithy asked. - -Again they looked at each other. - -Consternation had undoubtedly fallen upon the camp of the scouts, just as -though a wet blanket had suddenly been thrown on some pet project. It -would have been a matter of more or less concern had Davy Jones failed to -turn up after a day's hunt in the big timber, or Giraffe, or Step Hen; -but Bumpus, why, no one save himself had ever seriously contemplated the -possibility of the fat boy going astray. - -And yet, now that they thought of it, how many times had they heard him -prophesying that if ever he _did_ find himself wandering about alone, he -would know how to take care of himself? Bumpus had for a long time been -making preparations looking to such a happening. The remembrance of this -seemed to cheer the others up a little, after the first shock had passed. - -"He was always dreading just this same thing," said Davy Jones. - -"And getting ready against the evil day," remarked Allan. - -"That was why he bought his little compass," put in Giraffe. - -"Ditto his camp hatchet," added Step Hen. - -"And I reckon, suh," observed the Southern boy, "that Bumpus had it in -mind more than anything else when he took to carrying that piece of -window sash cord around with him." - -"Sure thing," Giraffe went on. "I've heard him say it was apt to come in -handy lots of times." - -"And it did," broke in Davy Jones, earnestly. "If it hadn't been for that -same handy rope, fellows, there's no telling what would have happened to -_me_; or what gloom might be ahangin' over this here camp right now." - -"Good old Bumpus!" murmured Smithy, quite affected. - -"Always willing to do his share of the work. You never knew him to shirk, -or get a cramp in the stomach," and as Giraffe said this he cast a severe -look over in the direction of Davy Jones, who turned red in the face, -gave a little uneasy laugh, and hastened to exclaim: - -"Oh! that joke is ancient history now, Giraffe, I've reformed since I -joined the patrol." - -Some years before, the Jones boy had really been subject to violent -cramps that gave him great pain, and doubled him up like a jack-knife, or -a closed hinge. He was always an object of pity at such times, and had -frequently been allowed to go home from school because of his affliction. - -But the time came when the teacher observed that these convenient -"cramps" never arrived on a rainy day; and also that Davy recovered in a -miraculous fashion, once he reached the open air. And when Davy was -simply allowed to retire to a cloak room, to let the "spasm" pass, -instead of being started homeward, it was noticed that his complaint -quickly disappeared. - -So on joining the scouts, Davy, whose dislike for exerting himself had -been his weakness, began to have those strange "cramps" whenever some -hard work was to be done. - -But trust boys for noticing that the pains never, never attacked him when -a meal was awaiting attention. And Davy was soon made so ashamed of -himself that he did actually "reform," as he now declared. - -"Well," Smithy went on to say, "it's some satisfaction, anyhow, to know -the poor old elephant is so well fixed, if he does have to pass a night -or two in the woods alone." - -"He evidently took a lot of grub and matches along," said Davy. - -"And if he has a fire, he can do without his blanket," Allan observed. - -"While we're pitying him in this way, how do we know but what it may be -the best thing in the world for Bumpus," suggested Thad. - -"Yes, he needs something like this to give him self-reliance. Bumpus was -always ready to follow at the heels of some one who led; but who ever -knew him to start out on his own hook?" said Allan. - -"If only we could be sure of finding him again, after a couple of days -had gone by, it wouldn't be so bad," declared Smithy. - -"Who'll tell his folks?" asked Davy Jones, dejectedly. - -Thad turned on him like a flash. - -"Here, we don't want any of that sort of talk," he said, severely. "We're -going to find our missing comrade again, all right. Get that fixed in -your mind, Davy. It may be to-morrow, or the day after, or even a week -from now, but we'll find him sooner or later, and he'll know more than he -ever did before, too." - -"You just bet he will," chuckled Giraffe, as he mentally pictured the fat -boy stalking through that great tract of timber, solemnly consulting his -compass from time to time, and yet utterly unable to say whether the camp -lay to the north, south, east or west. - -"It'll just be the making of Bumpus, fellers," ventured Step Hen. - -"But see here," remarked Thad, "if he disappeared this morning, how is it -you two, Davy and Smithy, let the whole afternoon go by without trying to -communicate with us?" - -Davy Jones took it upon himself to answer. - -"You see, Thad," he began, "in the first place we didn't know for sure -the poor old silly was lost, till late in the afternoon. We just kinder -felt a bit uneasy, but every time I came to camp after fishin' an hour or -so, I expected to see him sitting here." - -"But if you grew uneasy, it ought to have been your business to call us -in?" continued Thad, as the leader of the patrol. - -"Just so, boss," Davy went on to say, "but you see, it happened that I -let Bob White take my gun; and when Bumpus, he let that silly notion to -wander get a strangle hold on him, why, he carried off the only other -shooting iron we had in camp." - -"Oh!" said Thad, "of course. You did all right, Davy. And besides, -there's a little chance right now, that Bumpus, in wandering around, may -glimpse our fire here, and come in." - -"And on that account you mean we ought to keep a bumper blaze going all -evenin'," remarked Giraffe, eagerly. - -Giraffe's weakness lay in his adoration of fire. It was forever on his -mind, and whenever he sat down to rest, his always keen-edged jack-knife -was busy whittling shavings. - -"Oh! we might want to make a fire later on, who knows; and then these -shavings will come in real handy," he would say. - -He knew about every means possible for producing a blaze without the use -of matches. The patrol leader, afraid lest Giraffe set the woods afire up -in Maine, where the law is very particular about such things, had given -Giraffe the job of official fire-maker for the camp on condition that he -agreed never to carry matches on his person, but to ask for them as -needed. - -This put Giraffe on his mettle. - -He began experimenting, first with a burning sun-glass, and a pinch of -powder to start a blaze in the dry tinder. Then he had used flint and -steel successfully. And from this old-time method he advanced along the -line, making fires in half a dozen primitive ways, until he came up -against one that "stumped" him for a long time. - -This was the South Sea Island method of producing heat by friction. The -scout had studied it well, made him a little bow, and spent many hours -twirling the stick that was rolled back and forward by the cord. - -How success finally came, and at a time when it seemed Giraffe really -needed a fire, if ever he did in all his life, has been already told in a -previous volume of this series. - -But the passion for a fire was just as much a part of Giraffe's nature as -it had ever been. And this was why his face lighted up, while his eyes -glittered with happiness, when he heard the acting scoutmaster admit they -ought to keep a good fire going all evening. - -Trust Giraffe for that; a wink was as good as a nod to him, when the -subject of fire-building was concerned. - -Later on, they sat around enjoying the venison steaks, and the trout -which had been so beautifully browned in the frying-pan, after several -slices of fat salt pork had been "tried out." - -"What are you putting that lot aside for, Davy?" asked Thad; just as if -he did not know the generous thought which impelled the cook to reserve -one good big portion of the supper. - -"Why, I thought that mebbe Bumpus might poke along after a bit," replied -Davy, adding another crisp trout to the pile he had heaped up, "and if he -does, I guess he's apt to be pretty hungry. Bumpus is a good feeder, we -all know." - -"What d'ye suppose made him do it, Thad?" asked Step Hen. - -"There," said the scoutmaster, "that's the question. None of us really -know; but we can give a pretty good guess, eh, boys?" - -"I should say, yes," spoke up Giraffe. "Bumpus has gone clean crazy over -this bear business." - -"Said everybody was getting them but him," put in Smithy; "and I'm sure -that doesn't apply to me in the least. I never expect to get a bear; and -my only hope is that no bear will get me." - -"And even if he didn't actually say the words." went on Giraffe, "his -manner stood for it all right--'you just wait, and I'm going to have my -chance before long.' And fellers, it's my opinion Bumpus just got tired -of waiting for his chance to come to him, so he went out stalkin' after -it." - -"No use trying to pick up his trail to-night, is there?" asked Step Hen. - -Thad shook his head. - -"Not in the least," he said. "We'll have to wait until morning, and hope -he may show up yet. As I said before, we'll try and keep a fire going all -night, so as to show him a beacon, if by good luck he keeps on turning to -the left, as lost people nearly always do, and comes back this way." - -They sat up rather late, talking. And although the conversation might be -of things that had happened in the past, it was easy to see what the -chief thought in every one of those boys' minds must be; for never did a -rabbit or a squirrel rustle the near-by underbrush that there did not -come a look of eager expectancy upon seven faces, that quickly died out -again with repeated disappointments. - -There is an old saying to the effect that "you never miss the water till -the well runs dry." And these seven scouts of the Silver Fox Patrol did -not fully realize what a universal favorite Bumpus Hawtree had become -until he was missing from camp. - -Many times that night when either Allan or Thad, being light sleepers, -took it upon themselves to crawl out from their blanket in the tent they -occupied, to fix the smouldering fire, they would sit there a bit, and -listen to see if by good luck they might hear a distant "halloo." - -But only the usual noises of the night greeted them. Around lay the -mysterious big timber, and somewhere in the unknown depths of this wide -stretch of woods bordering the Rocky Mountain foothills their comrade was -camping in solitude, doubtless a prey to lively fears. - -So morning found them. - -Breakfast was quickly eaten. There was no "cutting up," or boyish pranks -shown on this morning. Every one seemed serious, gloomy, oppressed with -doubts, and a vague sense of coming trouble. - -Thad saw to it that a complete understanding was arranged with the three -who were to remain in camp, being Davy Jones, Bob White and Smithy. - -And then the others, having each made up a few rations of food to carry -them over possibly a couple of days, prepared to start upon the plain -trail of Bumpus, which had been easily found. - -A last wave of the hand, a few "good luck go with you's," from the boys -in the camp, and then the trackers were swallowed up in the big timber. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - FORCED TO THINK FOR HIMSELF. - - -"What time d'ye suppose it is, Thad?" - -Step Hen asked the question. Perhaps he was a little tired himself, for -the four scouts had been constantly on the go since early morning, and it -was now getting well on into the afternoon. - -They had kept on the zigzag trail left by Bumpus. As a rule it had been -very easy following, and afforded all of them considerable enjoyment, -because Bumpus knew nothing at all concerning the art of hiding a trail, -and would have had no object in doing so, even had he been educated along -this line. - -But there were times when it happened that the formation of the ground -interfered to some extent with their making progress, since even Allan -and Thad had considerable to learn about reading signs. - -"Oh! about four o'clock," replied Thad, and instead of consulting his -little nickel watch when saying this, he cast a quick glance upward to -where a glimpse of the sun could be obtained through an opening in the -tops of the exceedingly tall trees. - -Thus the habit of observation is encouraged in a scout. He learns to -depend less upon the devices of civilization, and more on such natural -resources as the primitive folks enjoyed. - -"Let's see how close you came to it," remarked Giraffe, as he took out -the cheap but effective dollar watch the patrol leader carried. "Well, -now, what d'ye think of that for hittin' the bull's eye plumb in the -center." - -He held the watch up to show that the hands pointed exactly to four. Thad -laughed. - -"Perhaps I couldn't hit it as close as that in a dozen times," he -admitted. "But it's always easy to get pretty near the hour, day or -night, if you only fall into the habit of noticing where the sun, moon or -stars should be. There isn't a time in the night, if the sky happens to -be clear, but what I can tell you the hour within ten minutes anyhow." - -"Have we gained any on Bumpus?" asked Giraffe. - -At this question the scoutmaster shook his head. - -"I'm sorry to say we don't seem to gain any," he remarked. "Where we -picked up some at times, we lost again when the trail got faint." - -"Huh! looks like an endless task, then," grunted Step Hen. "Bumpus keeps -tramping along, every day, and when night comes we're just the same -distance behind. Seems to me we'll just never get him at that rate." - -"Oh!" replied Thad, not at all dismayed, "we'll just keep at it, you -know. Lots of things are apt to happen to help us. Bumpus will tire out -soon. Then he may get discouraged, and just make up his mind to stay in -camp till we come." - -"Which would be a mighty sensible thing for him to do," declared Step -Hen. - -"But that wouldn't fetch him his bear," chuckled Giraffe, "and that's the -one thing worth living for with Bumpus right now." - -"Mebbe he's got over the fever," suggested Step Hen. "P'raps a reaction -has set in by now." - -"Let's hope so, anyhow," remarked Allan. - -"And so Bumpus was about here yesterday at four P. M.," said Giraffe, -"Don't I wonder where he is now." - -"And what he's doing," added Step Hen. "One thing sure, he hadn't run -across that bear of his up to this point." - -"Which I take it was a lucky thing for Bumpus," Giraffe went on. - -"Come on, fellows," Thad went on to say, "we've still got the trail in -front of us, and it seems to lead across that boggy stretch ahead. Here's -where he walked along the edge. Then for some reason or other he started -to cross over." - -"Which I take it was a fool play for Bumpus," grunted Giraffe. "Chances -are a fellow of his heft would get stuck in the mud and mired." - -"Mebbe he thought he saw his bear on the other side," suggested Step Hen. - -Thad had plunged in, regardless of the mud. Where Bumpus went it seemed -to be their duty to follow. - -"Whew! wouldn't this give Smithy a heartache though?" remarked Giraffe, -when the mud came half way to their knees, and seemed so sticky that it -was only through some exertion that they lifted each foot. - -"But, much as he'd hate to do it," Thad observed, proudly, "Smithy would -follow wherever his leader went. He's learned the rules by which all true -scouts are governed, and obedience is one of them. What is it, Allan?" he -went on, as the other uttered an exclamation of dismay. - -"Hold up, don't go a step further!" called out the other. - -"What's the matter?" demanded Step Hen, getting his gun ready, and -casting a glance up at the branches of the trees as though he half -expected to see a sleek gray panther crouched in a fork, ready to pounce -down upon them. - -"Look at the dry mud splattered on the trunk of that tree;" continued -Allan, pointing. - -And after they had looked, the four scouts exchanged horrified glances. - -"It's a sink hole!" exclaimed Giraffe, turning pale. - -"And poor old Bumpus was caught in the mud. He splashed around like a -stranded porpoise, and that threw the stuff up on that tree trunk," Step -Hen went on to say. - -"Oh! it can't be as bad as that, can it, Thad?" asked Giraffe in a -tremulous tone, as his eyes remained glued on the treacherous surface of -the bog about the place where Bumpus had been caught and held as in a -vise. - -Was it possible their poor comrade could have sunk out of sight under -that smooth deceptive surface? The thought was too terrible. - -All at once Thad uttered a cry, and the others noticed that it seemed to -have a little ring of joy about it, rather than gloom. - -"Hold my gun and my haversack, fellows," said the patrol leader. - -To the surprise of the others he started to climb a tree that had low -limbs some of them not more than eight feet above the surface of the bog. - -"What in the dickens is he up to?" exclaimed Step Hen. - -"Watch, and you'll see," Allan went on to say. - -"Do you know, Allan?" demanded Giraffe. - -"I can give a guess, but I don't want to spoil it all by telling," the -other replied. "Both of you stand right where you are, and don't move a -foot ahead, or you may get in the same trouble Bumpus did, and without -his means of crawling out of the hole." - -At these mysterious words Giraffe and Step Hen exchanged looks of -amazement. They could not for the life of them imagine Bumpus capable of -doing anything that would be beyond them. - -"There, Thad's managed to get to a place just above where Bumpus must -have been stuck," Allan went on. - -"He's actually laughing!" exclaimed Step Hen. - -"What's struck you as funny, Thad?" called out Giraffe, unable to hold -in. - -"Well, as sure as you live, boys, he did it," replied the scoutmaster. - -"Did what?" demanded both Step Hen and Giraffe in concert. - -"Got out of the muck bed." - -"But how could he, Thad? That limb must a been two feet above his head -when he stood there knee deep or more, in the mud. Tell us how?" pleaded -Step Hen. - -"Here are the plain marks," Thad went on, "where the bark of the tree was -bruised, as it had a right to be with such a heavy weight as Bumpus." - -"Marks!" repeated Giraffe. "Good gracious! hurry up and tell us. Marks of -what, Thad?" - -"The rope!" replied the other, still laughing. - -"Rope! Bumpus used his blessed old rope to drag himself out of the mud -sink! Well, well, well, if that don't beat the Dutch," Giraffe cried out. - -"It reflects great credit on Bumpus," said the scoutmaster, warmly. "He -must have quickly made up his mind that he could only sink deeper in by -keeping up his floundering. Then that nice limb above his head caught his -eye, and he remembered about the rope." - -"Bully for Bumpus," cried Giraffe. - -"I'm proud to call him my comrade," added Step Hen, warmly. - -"It must have taxed him a whole lot to drag himself up," said Thad, -"because he's so heavy, you know." - -"A case of 'root hog, or die,' I take it," Step Hen remarked; "and when -he had to face the music Bumpus proved real game. You're sure he made it, -are you, Thad?" - -"Heaps of evidence to that effect," replied the other. "Rope's gone, in -the first place. Then here's dried mud a plenty, showing that our pard -was in this tree. I can even see which way he went, by the marks he left; -and he was determined enough to cross the slough, for he kept right on." - -"Suppose you follow him in the trees, Thad," sang out Allan, "while we -hunt a better place to cross over without getting mired. We'll join you -later. Give a call when you've landed, and got his trail again." - -"Fine," commended the patrol leader. "I'll get busy here then." - -He began climbing along the limb, and succeeded in safely passing into -the adjoining tree, just as Bumpus must have done. How the clumsy fat boy -had succeeded in carrying out these capers puzzled the agile Thad, for at -times it tried even his agility to make progress. - -But Thad was delighted to know that Bumpus, upon being thrown on his own -resources, could make good. - -Before a great while his loud call announced to the others, who had just -succeeded in finding a safe ford across the water and mud, that Thad was -once more on the ground, and ready to take up the trail. - -The little party started on again. - -Both Giraffe and Step Hen were filled with secret admiration for the -stout comrade whom they had always been in the habit of rather looking -down on as a good-natured fellow, but rather incapable. - -"Don't for the life of me see how he ever done it," Giraffe would say. - -"Beats everything, and after this we ain't got any business to look on -Bumpus as a big baby. He got out of that hole just fine," Step Hen would -add. - -Half an hour later, Allan came to a sudden halt. - -"Ashes of a fire!" he remarked, pointing to his feet. - -"Then here's where Bumpus must a spent last night?" suggested Step Hen, -looking curiously about. - -"Wonder what he had to eat?" remarked Giraffe. - -"Oh! plenty of grub," Thad said, laughingly. "Look, here's the rind from -a slice of our ham. Davy said he'd cut some off." - -"Think of the nerve of him," declared Step Hen. "But I just can see this -rough experience is goin' to be the makin' of Bumpus." - -"Reminds me of the story of the bull pup," remarked Thad, laughing. "You -know, the boy had brought home a young bulldog, and the old man, to -encourage the pup, had gone down on his hands and knees to bark at him, -when the dog grabbed him by the nose and held on like fun. And while the -old man was trying to break away, the boy was sicking the dog on, all the -time shouting: 'Stand it, dad, stand it as long as you can, because it's -going to be the making of the pup!'" - -Allen had been bending over the fire while all this talk was going on. He -now looked up to remark: - -"Guess he stuck several potatoes in his bag, too, before he started out," -and he held up a couple of blackened skins, showing that the interior had -been gauged out after the potatoes had been baked in the hot ashes. - -"Good for Bumpus, he's learning to take care of himself fast," cried -Thad. - -"That isn't all," remarked Allan, smiling. - -"What next?" asked Thad. - -"Bumpus shows he's bound to be something of a hunter yet," declared -Allan, "and what he learned up in Maine has been in his mind ever since." - -"Do you mean about leaving fires burning when breaking camp, and the -danger of the wind carrying the hot ashes among the dead leaves?" the -scoutmaster went on to say, for he had eyes of his own, and had been -watching Allan's actions even while talking with the others. - -"That's just what I do mean," the other continued. "In the first place -Bumpus knew enough to make his camp close to running water, so he could -get a drink whenever he wanted it." - -"I see he did," Thad went on to say, glancing toward the gurgling little -stream that ran not twenty feet away. - -"And when he left here this morning," continued Allan, "he made sure to -carry water from the creek and sprinkle the fire till it was dead. Look, -you can see for yourself that it's been wet down." - -"Hurray for Bumpus!" exclaimed Giraffe. - -"I can see him passing the examination for a first-class scout some of -these fine days," added Step Hen. "Who'd ever think it of him?" - -They pushed on once more, after Allan had even shown them the very stick -on one end of which Bumpus had thrust his slice of smoked ham, and cooked -it, after a fashion. Step Hen put it up to his nose, and vouched for the -accuracy of Allan's assertion. - -But all the boys were a little tired, and when it grew too dark under the -trees to see the trail of the lost tenderfoot they eagerly welcomed -Thad's suggestion that they rest up for the night. - -So Giraffe was instructed to build a cooking fire at a certain place. It -happened to be in a little natural basin, and here the four boys ate -their supper, over which they talked earnestly, but there was no -hilarity. - -Later on while the others were partly done with their meal, Allan left -the circle and said he would take a little stroll. He went up the rise, -as though desirous of seeing what lay beyond. - -The moon was about three-quarters full, and hung in the eastern sky; but -under the big trees it was almost dark. - -Shortly afterward Allan came hurrying back, declaring that he had -discovered what looked to be a lone camp-fire, at some distance away in -the woods. - -"Perhaps it's Bumpus," suggested Step Hen, eagerly, jumping up, although -still hungry. - -"Then he didn't go far on the second day, or else he's been traveling in -a circle and got back near where he started out from," said Giraffe. - -"Let's head over that way," Step Hen went on to say. - -"And surprise him, eh? That's the ticket, boys," Giraffe continued. - -"That fire is a good long ways off," warned Allan. - -"Don't care if it is." - -"It looked like a star at first, and must be on rising ground, where the -trees are more open," the discoverer continued. - -"Lead us to it. We want to surprise Bumpus," both the others declared. - -"How about it, Thad?" Allan asked. - -"It's the only thing we can do," replied the scoutmaster. "If it proves -to be Bumpus, we hadn't ought to take any chances of losing him again in -the morning. If you're all of the same mind, let's be off." - -So the fire was carefully extinguished, and Allan led his comrades to the -top of the little rise. Here he pointed out the object he said was a -campfire, although Giraffe and Step Hen believed they would have taken it -for a star low down near the horizon, had they noticed it at all. - -After their bearings had been carefully taken, in order that they might -head in a direct line for the fire, they started forth. - -By degrees the seeming star grew into a light of the first magnitude, and -finally even the two less experienced scouts were ready to affirm that it -must be a camp-fire. - -They kept on going. - -"We'll sure give old Bumpus the biggest surprise of his life," chuckled -Step Hen, as they drew nearer the place. - -Of course they made some noise pushing along through the almost dark -woods, but then Bumpus would not be apt to hear that. Perhaps the poor -tired fellow was already fast asleep alongside the fire. - -A few minutes later, and the boys were very close to the blaze. Giraffe -thrust up his head above the bushes, which he was better fitted by Nature -for doing than any of his comrades. - -"Don't see a sign of him about, fellers," he whispered, ducking down -again. - -Thereupon the others also raised their heads to look. There was the fire, -burning cheerfully, and showing that it must have had recent care. But -not a single sign of a human being was to be seen. - -It was very strange. - -"Mebbe he heard us coming, and thought it was a bear," suggested Step -Hen. - -"And in that case I guess Bumpus would take to a tree," Giraffe added. - -"Perhaps we ought to step out right away, and let him know," came from -Allan. - -"I should say, yes," Giraffe went on, "I know for one I'd hate to be -peppered with the loads he carries in that Marlin scatter gun of his. -Hello! there, Bumpus, hold your fire. It's your chums come to look you -up." - -The four scouts had arisen to their feet, and were just about to push out -from behind the fringe of bushes, in order to show themselves to Bumpus, -when they were electrified to hear a voice, gruff and surly, and -certainly not that of their jolly companion, call loudly: - -"Jest hold up yer hands, you fellers, for we've sure got ye kivered!" - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - TURNING THE TABLES. - - -"What's all this mean?" said Thad, laughingly, although he did not fail -to do as he had been ordered. - -Two rather rough looking men came out of the scrub, carrying guns which -seemed to be handled rather carelessly, seeing that they were evidently -ready for immediate use. - -"Why, consarn it all, Pierre, they're on'y a pack o' boys arter all, and -not sojers," the larger man exclaimed, staring hard at the four scouts, -some of whom wore various parts of their regular khaki uniforms, as well -as the regulation campaign hat of the Boy Scout organization. - -"_Sacre!_ zat ees so," the other man exploded, and Thad knew instantly -from his name and manner of speech that Pierre must be one of those -French Canadian half-breeds of whom he had heard so much. - -"That's just what we are, my friends," Thad hastened to remark; "we -belong to a Boy Scout troop in the East, and came out here to have a hunt -in the Rockies. One of our number, a very fat boy, wandered off, and got -lost in the big timber. We were following up his trail, and trying to -locate him, when we discovered a camp-fire over here. So you see, we -walked another mile just to give our friend a little surprise. But we -hope you'll let us take down our hands now, because it's hard to hold -them up like this." - -The two men exchanged looks. Then they lowered the hammers of their guns. -The action signified that, according to their way of thinking, they had -nothing to fear from these half-grown lads. - -"Cum an' set down an' tell us a lot more," said the big man, with the red -face, and the crafty eyes, Thad could not bring himself to like, because -he seemed to see wells of treachery in their depths. - -So the boys dropped down again, being more foot-weary than ever. But -taking a cue from Allan and Thad, the other two scouts kept their guns -close beside them. Apparently none of them exactly liked the looks of the -two strangers; and they were not accustomed to much reading of character, -either. - -"War his name Bumpus?" asked the American. - -"Just what it was," flashed out Giraffe; "but how did you know that? Have -you met up with our lost pard?" - -"Sho! ain't I got ears, an' didn't one o' ye call out that same name when -ye was agoin' ter walk inter our camp?" demanded the other, gruffly. - -Thad was on the alert. - -He did not feel favorably impressed by the looks of the two men. Besides, -he noticed a crafty, greedy expression cross their faces whenever they -allowed their eyes to rest on Step Hen's new repeating rifle. Evidently -the neatness of the little weapon quite captured them, and made them envy -the boy its possession. - -And Thad was of the opinion that two such rough-looking customers would -not hesitate long about trying to obtain anything they coveted. - -The conversation soon became more general, the men wanting to know how it -was these boys, almost wholly inexperienced in the ways of the woods as -they took them to be, were venturesome enough to start into the foothills -of the Rockies without a single guide along. - -So Thad explained how they had engaged a pair of guides, both of whom had -disappointed them, one by getting sick, and the other in taking up with a -couple of big-horn sportsmen. - -"But we heard of a man up here somewhere," Thad went on, "who'd been -logger, trapper, timber cruiser and everything; and people said that if -we could only run across Toby Smathers, and he took the job, we'd have a -guide worth any two men." - -"What's thet? Toby Smathers, did ye say?" demanded the other, that crafty -look coming into his face again. - -"Yes, that was the name; do you happen to know him?" asked Giraffe, -eagerly. - -"Reckons now, as none o' ye ever run acrost Toby; air thet right?" asked -the man. - -"We never have," replied Thad. - -The fellow laughed harshly. - -"Thet shore is a fack," he went on to say. "Jest think o' it, Pierre -Laporte, they's askin' o' me ef I ever run acrost Toby Smathers? Ain't -thet a good joke, though? I've kerried a few names in my day, younkers, -an' Toby Smathers be one o' 'em." - -"Oh! then you're the very man we've been looking for, eh?" but while Thad -uttered this sentiment, there did not seem to be any great amount of -enthusiasm in his manner, Allan thought. - -"He believes the fellow lies; and I just know it," Allan was saying to -himself. - -"An' if so be ye wanter make me a offer, spot cash, ter guide ye boys -through the big timber, find yer missin' chum, and show ye some big-horn -huntin' in the Rockies, I'm yer man; on'y make the price wuth my while, -an' cash down, spot cash." - -Thad said he had no doubt it could be easily arranged to the satisfaction -of all parties concerned. His object was really to gain time. He had -received a secret sign from Allan, which told him just as plainly as so -many words would have done that his chum had something of importance to -communicate, as soon as they could get their heads together. - -Step Hen and Giraffe had apparently swallowed the story offered by the -self-called Toby Smathers without a suspicion. They were now entertaining -the two men with some accounts of previous experiences. The fellows -seemed to be in high spirits. They would nudge each other, and laugh -boisterously on the slightest pretense. And sometimes they would laugh -when there was no humorous story being told; a look exchanged between -them being sufficient grounds for hilarity. - -"They're sure enough feeling pretty fine," thought Thad; "and it strikes -me they think they've got a little joke of their own that they're playing -on us. Three to one it's about that name, too. I just can't believe that -man answers to the description I've had of Toby Smathers. Why, they said -he was just the picture of an honest wood's ranger, employed by the -Government to watch out for timber thieves, forest fires and the likes. -And that man's face would condemn him on sight before any judge." - -Just then he heard Allan say he was thirsty, and must get a drink. The -stream ran near by, and Thad noticed how the cautious Maine boy carried -his gun along with him as he went. - -A minute or so later Thad also arose. - -"I'm as dry as a bone," he observed, "and I think I'd like a drink about -the size of the one Allan's getting. Wait here, fellows." - -He added these last words as a sop to quiet the suspicions of Pierre and -the man who called himself Toby Smathers. They had frowned, and made an -impatient movement upon noticing that Thad, too, took his gun along with -him, rather a queer thing to do when only going for a drink. - -But Thad's last words apparently served to disarm their suspicions. They -had two of the boys held as hostages, at any rate. - -Thad found his chum much excited. A drink just then was about the last -thing Allan Hollister was thinking about. - -"What is it?" asked Thad, in a whisper. - -"Let's laugh a little, out loud, so they won't be suspicious," said the -other; and after that clever dodge had been carried out, he went on to -add: "you didn't believe what he said about that name, did you, Thad?" - -"I certainly don't believe he's the man we're looking for up here," came -the answer. - -"That's right," Allan went on, "and I know he's a fraud. He wants to get -hold of anything we have that's worth taking. That gun of Step Hen's -seems to just take his eye." - -"Do you know who he is?" demanded Thad. - -"I can give a pretty close guess, now that we heard the name of his -companion, Pierre Laporte," said Allan. "Some men down at the post where -we got the mules told me to look out for a half-breed by that name, who -kept company with an even worse scoundrel named Hank Dodge. And this is -Hank, all right, make up your mind to that, Thad." - -"Rascal is written big all over his face, I can see," the other went on. -"But what is their line--just plain scamps, or timber cruisers?" - -"There are different kinds of timber scouts or cruisers, they tell me," -Allan continued. "Some are honest men, working for honest lumber dealers. -Others spy out rich tracts on Government land, which the big company of -thieves they're hired by, want to cut next winter. The Government loses -millions on millions every year that way. And these crafty fellows are up -here looking for timber that can be easily stolen and marketed next -winter." - -"What had we better do?" asked Thad. "It wouldn't be safe for us to spend -the night in camp with them." - -"I should say not," replied Allan earnestly. "If we go in the ordinary -way the chances are they'll jump on us. So I suppose we might as well up -and tell them we know who they are, and that we don't propose staying any -longer in their company." - -"They'll be as mad as hornets," suggested Thad. - -"Let 'em," replied the other, "four guns are better than two, any day. -Come on back to the fire right away." - -As they drew near, Allan whispered: - -"He's got it right now, Step Hen's rifle, I mean. Reckon he asked to see -it, and our chum handed it over. Chances are he won't give it back again -in a hurry. There, what did I tell you; he's laid it down beside him, -Thad?" - -"Now's our time to cut in, then," said the patrol leader. "You watch out -for Pierre, and don't let him slip up on you, or there'll be heaps of -trouble. Cover him when I do the other. Ready? Then here goes." - -And ten seconds later those by the fire heard Thad call out in ringing -tones. - -"It's your turn, Pierre and Hank Dodge, to hold up your hands. Quick now, -or it'll be the worse for you. The tables are turned--up with them!" - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - A SCOUT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THE ALERT. - - -When the young scoutmaster chose to, he could put a world of meaning in -his voice. And those two timber cruisers, upon seeing both guns covering -them so steadily, doubtless realized that firearms are no respecter of -persons; since a weapon fired by a lad is just as sure to make good, if -held correctly, as though a mature man looked along the barrel. - -And so they complied with the order, although grumblingly, and evidently -loth to admit that a couple of boys had gotten the better of them. - -"This hyars a nice how-d'ye-do, treatin' yer guide like he was pizen -mean. What d'ye mean by it, younker?" growled the man who had claimed to -be Toby Smathers, the forest ranger. - -"Oh! it only means that we've guessed who you are," remarked Thad, -calmly. "We were warned down at the post to look out for a couple of -unscrupulous timber cruisers by the name of Hank Dodge and Pierre -Laporte. And we don't want to have anything to do with you, that's all." - -"Take keer, young feller, who yer insultin'," growled Hank, ominously. - -"Oh!" said Giraffe, airily, who made sure to have his own gun ready in -his hands at the time he spoke in such boasting tones, "we don't scare so -easy, Mister Hank Dodge, if that's your name. Fact is, the boys of the -Silver Fox Patrol have helped gather in a few men even more dangerous -than you and your pal ever dared to be." - -"Be still, Giraffe," ordered Thad, who knew it was unwise to add to the -anger of the ruffians. "Now, we don't mean to bother you at all, Hank -Dodge. Our business up here has nothing to do with timber cruisers; and -we're not hired by the Government to watch for any steels of lumber, or -land frauds. We came here to camp out, and to hunt. And just now we're -busy looking up the comrade who has lost himself in these big woods. Do -you understand what I say?" - -"Reckon as how ye put it plain enuff, younker," replied the other, -wondering if Thad noticed that he was gradually lowering his arms; but -the very next words uttered by the boy told him this. - -"Hold 'em up high again, Hank! I don't want to have to shoot you through -the shoulder or the legs, but I will, if you try to grab up that rifle." - -With a string of hard words the man elevated his hands once more; but if -black looks could kill, Thad must have expired on the spot. - -"Step Hen," said the patrol leader. - -"Yes, what is it, Thad?" - -"Go forward, and recover your gun," the other went on, severely. "I'm -surprised at you letting it get out of your hands at all. A wide-awake -scout should be smarter than that. And Step Hen!" - -"Yes." - -"Be sure you don't for even a second get between the muzzle of my gun and -our friend Hank, there; because I'm going to shoot the very second he -makes the first move looking to grabbing either you, or the gun. Hear -that, Step Hen?" - -"Sure I do, Thad, and I'll be careful, just as you say," came the reply. - -The boy crept up on one side, and lying down flat on his chest, reached -out an arm, thus starting to draw his own highly-prized little repeater -toward him. - -Hank could see it going, and ground his teeth in helpless rage, for he -could also watch the determined gleam in those convincing eyes of Thad -Brewster, and only too well did he know what sort of hard luck would be -apt to overtake him, if he but allowed himself to be tempted too far. - -When Step Hen gripped his little gun once more, he made haste to draw -back the hammer. And thus a fourth weapon was brought to bear upon the -persons of the two notorious timber thieves. - -Hank Dodge laughed. - -It was not a mirthful sound at all, but rather caused a shiver to pass -through the forms of those who heard it. - -"We throws up ther sponge, me an' Pierre, don't we, ole hoss?" said Hank. - -"Four against two--zat ees too mooch odds. We cave; we gif in; we cry -out, enough!" exclaimed the ferret-eyed French Canadian _voyageur_, who, -they said, had once been the factor at a Hudson Bay Fur Company's post -until he betrayed his trust, and fled to the States with a bunch of money -belonging to his employers. - -"Well, we want to say good-night then, to both of you," said Thad. - -"We ain't agoin' ter forget this, let me tell yer," replied Hank. - -"I don't see why there need be any hard feelings between us," Thad went -on. "It's only tit for tat. You held us up first, and now we've returned -the favor. And we haven't taken anything from you, Hank Dodge." - -"But--held up by a pack o' kids; we'll never be able ter look each other -in the face agin till it's wiped out, sum way," the man went on to say, -angrily. - -Thad knew that further argument would be useless. There was only one -thing men of their calibre could appreciate, and that was force. - -"Oh! well," he said, as if carelessly, "you can do just as you please -about it. But I want to tell you this plainly, right on the start. We're -all armed, and can shoot as well as the next one. We're no tenderfeet, -like our chum who is lost. And if in spite of this plain warning you -choose to molest us, look out you don't get something you won't like. -That's all I'm going to say; but you can put it in your pipe and smoke -it. Back off, fellows, but keep 'em both covered, and shoot if they try -to grab up a gun!" - -So the four scouts backed out of the hostile camp, the air of which did -not seem to agree with them. Those avaricious eyes belonging to Hank -Dodge did not create a favorable impression on any of the young campers. - -"I sure believe he meant to keep my dandy little gun," Step Hen was -muttering, as, having passed out of sight of the two timber cruisers, the -scouts walked along in couples, on the alert for any signs of further -trouble. - -"Just what he expected to do," replied Thad. "And another time we happen -on any unknown men in this part of the country, see to it that you keep -your gun in your own possession, Step Hen." - -"I sure will," replied the other, humbly enough; "I had my lesson, all -right." - -"What if they're coming after us?" suggested Giraffe; and the very -possibility of such a thing caused Step Hen to utter a little cry of -alarm, and turn in several directions, as though expecting to discover -crouching foes, or see the flash that would accompany the discharge of a -hostile gun. - -But nothing happened; and presently Allan, who had been looking back over -his shoulder many times, announced that there was no danger. - -"They haven't left the camp up to now," he said, positively. "I can see -their figures moving in front of the fire. It's all right, boys. We can -go, and settle down after a little for the night." - -Presently Thad called a halt. - -"Here, we can make a stop," he announced. "There's a little swale at the -base of this rocky hill. If we wanted we could make a small fire, and -finish our supper. I don't think they'd see it; and besides, Allan and -myself will stand guard up on the ridge here." - -This plan was carried out, since they had not wholly satisfied their -appetites at the time Allan discovered the camp-fire which they supposed -had been kindled by the lost tenderfoot, Bumpus. - -Afterwards Thad and Allan came in, the fire having been extinguished, and -ate a little. Then they talked in low tones. - -"It makes me feel uneasy," remarked Giraffe, "to think of that poor -innocent thing of a Bumpus, who wouldn't lift a finger to hurt even a -fly, wanderin' around all alone in these big woods." - -"Yes," added Step Hen, seriously enough, "and with a couple of hard cases -like that Hank Dodge and Pierre Laporte around. What if he was unlucky -enough to run across 'em? wouldn't they just take revenge on our poor fat -chum. I hope that don't happen." - -Thad was not saying anything, but it struck him that the fellow who could -show enough ingenuity to get himself out of a quicksand, or a muck bed, -the way Bumpus had done, might be far from the ignoramus some of his -comrades still chose to believe him. - -"I'm getting sleepy, and I move we turn in," suggested Giraffe after more -time had elapsed. - -"Well, hold on then, because we've got to make a move out of this basin," -said the shrewd patrol leader. - -"Seems a good enough place to bunk in," grumbled the sleepy Giraffe. - -"But dangerous at that," Thad remarked. "Those men may have glimpsed our -fire, and give us a call. We'll not be at home to them. I've been told -that a hunted man never sleeps where he eats. Come along; it won't be -far, I promise you." - -After a short walk, Thad announced that in his opinion, as well as that -of Allan, it was now safe for them to lie down, and get what sleep they -could. - -"I hope Bumpus is as well off, and got plenty to eat still," were the -last words Giraffe spoke; "I remember the time we got twisted in our -bearings up in Maine, and nary a match between us, with a cold night at -hand. But I got fire all right with my little apparatus. Besides, there -was two of us, and it don't seem near so lonely when you've got company -along, even if it is only a tenderfoot scout." - -Soon all of them had made themselves as comfortable as possible. The -absence of blankets was going to be severely felt. Without a camp-fire to -cheer them, Thad feared they would be shivering before morning, even if -it was the good old summer time. The atmosphere close to the foothills of -the great Rockies is quite rarefied, and the nights are apt to seem even -cold. - -The four scouts were pretty tired, and they not only went to sleep -quickly, but they slumbered heavily--it might have been hours for all any -one of them could say, when they were suddenly awakened by a series of -heavy crashes and detonations that sounded very much as though an -earthquake had shaken the Rockies to their foundation. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - THE MEAN TRICK OF THE TIMBER CRUISERS. - - -"A land-slide!" exclaimed Giraffe, as he sat up, and began twisting his -long neck around, as though doubtful whether he should dodge to the right -or to the left, since it was difficult to locate the direction from -whence the furious racket seemed to come. - -"Better say an earthquake!" Step Hen managed to articulate, though he was -shaking all over, with the excitement, that he would hardly have -recognized his own voice. "I c'n feel the old ground shake! Listen, would -you, to that smash! Must be volcanoes around here." - -"Keep still, and listen," said Thad, in that tone of authority which both -the talkers recognized as belonging to the scoutmaster, rather than their -Chum Thad. - -So they held their tongues, and strained their ears to listen. - -There was no trouble in hearing, for the racket still kept up. There were -heavy thuds, crashes, and a breaking of bushes. No wonder the scouts were -mystified. No wonder one thought it a land-slide, while another believed -some supposed extinct volcano had burst into action again, and that the -rain of stones that followed, produced these weird sounds. - -All at once the racket stopped, just as suddenly as though a command had -been given to "cease firing." - -"Well, I declare, if that ain't funny, now," remarked Step Hen, but -because of the order for silence which Thad had issued, he dared not -breathe a word above a whisper. - -"Hark!" said Allan. - -Surely that sounded like a hoarse laugh. The boys crouched there, and -strained their ears to hear more. Once or twice they thought they caught -vague sounds. It was as if some one might be moving along the rocky -elevation that formed one side of the near-by little basin in which they -had made their small fire, and finished their once interrupted supper. -But the sounds were moving further away, as though the unknown parties -might be retreating. - -Then silence, deep and profound, brooded over the immediate vicinity of -the spot where the four startled scouts sat. - -"May we talk now, Thad?" asked Giraffe. - -"Yes, but let it be in a low voice," replied the patrol leader. - -"Jerusalem!" exclaimed Step Hen, just as though he had to let the pent-up -steam escape, one way or another, and it took the form of this -expression. - -"What does it all mean?" asked Step Hen, plainly confused, and unable to -clearly grasp the truth. - -"I think I know," remarked Thad. - -"Then tell us, please," quickly asked Giraffe. "Sounded like a laugh to -me." - -"Just what it was, too," Thad went on. - -"But who'd want to act funny when all that racket was going on, Thad?" -continued Giraffe, who seemed unusually thick headed just then, possibly -on account of being aroused in such a startling manner. - -"The men who made all the row," replied the scoutmaster. - -"Men who made the row--great governor! d'ye mean these rowdies, Hank and -Pierre?" burst out Giraffe. - -"No other," said Thad, positively. "They must have located our little -fire in some way, and supposed that we were sleeping close by. So they -crept up along the side of that bare ridge, where the stones are so -thick, and just started to heave a few dozen down. That's why it sounded -like thunder and hail combined." - -"The cowards!" hissed Giraffe, whose honest blood seemed to almost boil -with indignation; "the sneaks! Afraid to face four boys because they -believed we could shoot some, they had to crawl around to the back door, -and play a trick that you'd think would be about the size of the meanest -boy in our home town of Cranford, Brose Griffin." - -"They laughed over it, too," burst out Step Hen, almost as angry as his -long-legged chum, "and that shows what kind of fellows they are." - -"Altogether, it was a lucky escape for us," remarked Allan. - -"That's what," added Giraffe. "And we owe a heap to Thad's long head. -Never sleep where you eat--that was a pretty good rule for the old hunter -to have, when painted Injuns were all around him. And by George! it seems -to be all right, even in these modern days." - -"Wow! just think what a time we'd a had," observed Step Hen, "if we'd -been sleepin' there just as sweetly as--as the babes in the woods, and -all of a sudden them rocks began to smash around us. I can just see the -whole blessed outfit scrambling in the dark, trying to get behind trees, -and yet not knowing which side of the trunk was the safe side." - -Step Hen actually chuckled a little, as though a gleam of humor had begun -to light up the serious nature of the situation. - -"It was a game just in keeping with such a precious pair of rascals," -declared Thad. "They might have injured some of us badly; and that was -just what they hoped to do." - -"Perhaps killed us in the bargain," Allan added. "Some of the rocks they -heaved into that little basin were just fierce. They came down like -cannon balls. It was like what Rip Van Winkle heard, when the little old -men of the Catskills were playing ten pins with big rocks." - -"But Thad," remarked Giraffe, "when they get to thinking it over, don't -you reckon now they'll guess they didn't do any damage?" - -"Just what was in my mind," replied the leader of the patrol. "They must -know that even men would have yelled, and shown all sorts of excitement, -when bombarded in that way. But let 'em think what they please. I hope -we'll never cross their trail again." - -"Second the wish," said Allan. - -"That's where I differ with you," declared the aroused Giraffe, "I'd just -like to pay the cowards back for that dirty trick; and I will, too, if -the chance ever comes along." - -"I'm only bothering about one thing," observed Step Hen. - -"And what's that?" Thad inquired. - -"What if they run across our innocent chum, poor old Bumpus?" Step Hen -went on to say, "Why, he's so confiding, and so straight himself, that he -couldn't believe wrong of anybody. Why, they'd rob him of his gun, and -everything else he had; and then turn him loose like that, in the big -timber. Oh! I hope they just don't find Bumpus before we get to him. It -would be a shame!" - -"Like taking candy from the baby," added Giraffe. - -"Well, let's go to sleep again! We can talk it over in the morning," -suggested Thad. - -"Don't believe I c'n sleep another wink," declared Step Hen. - -But in spite of his gloomy prophecy, he did drop off again soon after -stretching himself out on the ground, in the softest spot he could find; -and knew nothing more until some one shook him. Looking up, Step Hen -discovered that the dawn was stealing through the timber, and that Thad -bent over him. - -The other two were already astir. Giraffe was busying himself, as usual, -in getting a little fire underway; for Thad had given it as his opinion -that after playing such a dastardly mean trick, Hank and Pierre, the -lawless timber cruisers would not feel like venturing over in this -quarter again, lest they be greeted with a warm fire from the guns of the -boys. - -All of the scouts felt more or less chilled, as the early morning air was -pretty cool, and consequently the fire proved acceptable. - -As they munched their breakfast Thad announced that he had found the -trail of Bumpus again. This meant that when they were ready to start out, -there would be little delay. - -Of course, pretty much all the talk was about the event of the preceding -night, and the fortunes of their lost comrade. - -"When I shut my eyes," said Giraffe, "I c'n just see that blessed -innocent awalkin' through these here woods, awhistlin' for his bear to -come out and be shot." - -"And I'm wonderin'," remarked Step Hen, "whether Bumpus, if he does run -across a cinnamon bear, just through the luck greenhorns seem to have, -would climb his tree _first_, and then begin shooting; or just bang away, -like he did before, and make for a tree afterwards." - -"Oh! well, I guess Bumpus learned his little lesson that time, all -right," declared Giraffe, with the superior air of one who had already -gotten _his_ bear, and could afford to look down on those not so -fortunate. - -"He was scared, good and hard," Step Hen went on. "Why, his face looked -like pie paste, and his goggle eyes fairly stood out of his head when he -couldn't get up in that tree, with the old grizzly a comin' for him, -growlin', and champin' his teeth." - -Thad only smiled as he heard these remarks that had an undercurrent vein -of condescending pity for the tenderfoot chum. If he remembered -correctly, Bumpus was not the only frightened scout about the time that -wounded grizzly charged the camp. He had plenty of company. - -When they had finished eating, the fire was put out; and after that they -made for the spot where Thad had found the trail of the lost scout. - -It was as plain as day just there, even though some twenty-four hours -must have elapsed since the fat and ambitious Nimrod passed that way. - -Giraffe and Step Hen were suspicious of the two rascally timber cruisers, -and persisted in keeping their eyes constantly on the alert, searching -every possible spot for an ambuscade, and holding their guns ready for -quick work. - -The patrol leader did not attempt to interfere, although he and Allan -were of the opinion that the men would not bother trying to look them up. -It gave the boys more or less practice, and did no harm. - -And so the little bunch of scouts started to once more lift the trail of -their missing chum. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - THE BOB-CAT. - - -The morning was half gone, and they had been making pretty fair progress. - -"But," said Giraffe, when Allan mentioned this fact, "if we're only -holding our own, that means we'll never glimpse the poor old chap in a -week, 'less he just drops down from being so worn out, reduced to skin -and bones, so to speak," and both he and Step Hen chuckled at the -possibility of Bumpus ever coming to such an end. - -"Oh! I don't know," said Allan. "There's always a chance that you might -sight him somewhere. You see, he turns every which way. Now he's heading -almost north; and a little while back it was nearly due east. Perhaps he -may double on his tracks yet; we can't tell." - -"And if he did, and happened to discover all our footprints, what d'ye -think the blessed innocent would do?" asked Giraffe. - -"Be scared stiff, most likely, and think Injuns must be trailing him, -bound to take his scalp," laughed Step Hen. - -Thad stopped for a minute's breathing spell. - -"I think both of you are wrong there," he remarked, "and if Bumpus did -only happen to come on his own trail, after we'd passed along, the -chances are he'd just make up his mind to sit down, and wait for us to -come around again." - -"You don't say?" exclaimed Step Hen. - -"How in the wide world would Bumpus ever guess it was _us_ made the -tracks?" Giraffe demanded, incredulously. - -"He wouldn't have to guess, because he'd know!" Thad ventured. - -"You must believe that fat chum of ours is waking up, Thad? Just tell us, -will you now, how he'd be so dead sure of this? We haven't been dropping -our visiting cards along the way, that I saw," and Step Hen gave Giraffe -a sly wink. - -"Well, we have, right along," Thad continued, "and unless I'm much -mistaken, Bumpus can read the signs all right. He knows what kind of an -imprint your shoes make, Step Hen, and how there's a bunch of nails -shaped like a star in both of your heels. Look down there, and you'll -notice them." - -"Well, I'll be jiggered if there ain't!" muttered the surprised Step Hen, -as if the fact was quite new to him. - -"And Giraffe, he also knows that you 'toe in' with your right foot, so -that each time you step it makes a little peculiar scrape. Bend down and -I'll show you, here, and here, and here. Catch on to it, now, Giraffe?" - -"Well, I never knew that before; but it's a fact, Thad, I do turn that -foot some, I admit. Tried to break off the habit lots of times, but it's -no use." - -"More than that," said Thad, "look at my track, and you'll see there's a -marked peculiarity that makes it different from any other. I had a piece -put on each heel, and the line shows as plain as anything. And now here's -Allan's footprint--do you see anything about that you'd be likely to -recognize if you ran across it again?" - -"Sure we do," burst out Giraffe. "The shoe is square at the toes, broader -than any other. Besides that, Allan walks with his feet nearly straight, -and most people turn them out some; all but those that toe-in." - -"Well, you see, now, that each one of us has an individual mark," -continued the patrol leader, wishing to impress the lesson on the others. - -"Yes, that's all right, Thad; but how would a tenderfoot like Bumpus know -all about these things?" persisted Giraffe. - -"How do _you_ know?" demanded the leader. - -"Huh! because you just told us, I guess," the tall scout admitted. - -"Well, that's just the case with Bumpus," went on Thad. "Of late he's -taken a remarkably deep interest in the thousand-and-one things that are -open to the eyes of a scout, if only he chooses to look around. And so, -when he asked about following a trail, I showed him how to tell the marks -of every scout in the patrol, himself included. And Bumpus wrote them all -down in that little notebook he carries." - -"Well, if that don't beat all creation!" exclaimed Giraffe. - -"Just imagine the poor boy squattin' down, to pull out his note-book, and -then say: 'There, I know Giraffe made those tracks; and that other must -be the manly tread of my good friend, Step Hen Bingham!' I guess it's up -to us to improve each shining hour, ourselves, Giraffe, like the busy -little bee. We don't want a tenderfoot like Bumpus to beat us out, do -we?" - -"Not much we don't," said Giraffe. - -And for three minutes the two of them were busily engaged writing -descriptions in their scout's note-book, with which every one in the -patrol was provided; stopping now and then to examine or measure one of -the tracks. - -When this operation was concluded, much to the amusement of Thad and -Allan, the forward movement was again resumed. - -But it seemed as though this little incident must have aroused the -curiosity and ambition of Giraffe and Step Hen, for they frequently asked -questions that had more or less bearing on trailing. - -And the information which Allan was able to give, in addition to what the -scoutmaster said, quite enthused both searchers after facts. - -"Say, I never thought there was so much in this trackin' business," Step -Hen honestly admitted. "I used to believe it was pretty much of a fake, -and that fellers just kind of went along, smellin' out things, like a -setter or a hound would. But now I see it's a whole lot of fun; and I'm -going in for trackin'. I am to be a champion trailer." - -"Look out there, fellers!" shouted Giraffe. - -They saw him swing his gun around, and almost immediately discharge the -heavy rifle. All of the others hastened to get their guns in a -serviceable condition, even while they were looking to see what had -happened to excite the tall scout. - -Something flashed from one tree to another, and vanished amidst the dense -growth of leaves. As this tree was close to others, the chances were that -the animal would have little difficulty in eluding them. - -"Wow! a big wildcat!" exclaimed Step Hen, in great excitement. - -"Tell me, did you see his left hind leg drag _just a little_, when he -landed on that limb?" asked Giraffe, eagerly. - -"Oh! you aimed to take him on the left hind leg, did you?" jeered Step -Hen, advancing a pace in the hope of discovering the beast crouching -above, and offering a fair target. - -"I hadn't time to aim, but just shot any old way," declared the other. -"Fact is, I don't believe the butt of my gun was more'n half way to my -shoulder when I let go. He was agoin' to jump right then, and I knew it -was hit or miss with me." - -"A dangerous thing to do when it's a lynx or a bob-cat," remarked Allan, -who, being a Maine boy, had had lots of experience with the fierce -beasts. "Better have let him get clean away. But I don't think you -wounded him, Giraffe." - -"Huh? why not?" - -"Because I never knew a wildcat that was wounded to run away," Allan -replied. "Once you give them pain, and you can make up your mind you've -got a fight on your hands, and the chances are, a warm one too." - -Giraffe looked disappointed. - -"Well, I tried for him, anyway," he remarked. "Let's see if we can -glimpse his old staring yellow eyes somewhere up there." - -But they failed to do so. - -"Make up your minds he's got clean off before now," said Allan. "The way -one of those big cats can spring from tree to tree is fierce. But we -haven't the time just now to be looking for cats. I don't believe we've -lost any, do you, Thad?" - -"But that old rascal seemed to be hanging on a limb just about over where -our tenderfoot pard must have passed by," ventured Giraffe, a new fear -arising in his breast. - -"Oh! my, I hope now he wasn't there when Bumpus came along," remarked -Step Hen, as if comprehending the thought that had taken form in the mind -of his comrade. - -"What's this mean, Thad?" asked Allen, just then, pointing down close to -his feet; and the other three uttered various exclamations when they saw -what he was referring to. - -"Spots of dried blood!" gasped Giraffe. - -"It is, now, for a fact," Step Hen followed with, "Oh! that cat must have -jumped on poor old Bumpus, and clawed him up something scandalous. He -bled like a stuck pig, as he ran off. And see here, where something's -been just dragging along the ground. What if he's wounded so bad he had -to pull one leg after him? This is just awful, fellers. Poor old Bumpus!" - -But Thad and Allan somehow did not seem to join with the others in -feeling sorry. At least they made no remarks. And as they all walked -slowly on, following the blood-stained tracks, if Giraffe or Step Hen, -instead of keeping their eyes so closely upon the ground, had ventured to -raise them a little, so as to take in the faces of their chums, doubtless -their surprise would have been great to notice that Thad wore a broad -smile, while Allan was making various suggestive gestures, and winking -one eye in the direction of the scoutmaster. - -So they walked slowly forward a score or more of paces, when Giraffe and -Step Hen were once more startled. This time it was not by the sudden -appearance of a ferocious wild beast, but only the voice of Allan calling -out: - -"Oh! look! look! whatever can that be, hanging yonder from the limb of -that tree?" - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - BUMPUS' STOCK ABOVE PAR. - - -"Same old cat again!" burst out Giraffe; and he was in the act of raising -his gun, to his shoulder this time, when Thad caught hold of it. - -"Don't be silly, Giraffe!" cried the patrol leader. - -"But--it _is_ a cat!" exclaimed the other, rubbing his eyes with the -knuckles of one hand, and looking again. - -Meanwhile Step Hen had cautiously advanced a pace or two, staring at the -dangling object as though he did not know whether to really believe his -eyes or not. - -Giraffe, seeing him going on, pushed to his side; and when the two of -them came close to the object that had gripped their attention, they -turned to exchange stares. - -"A dead cat!" said Giraffe, solemnly. - -"And hung up by the hind legs to that limb; now who could have done -that?" demanded Step Hen. - -"Must have been the same old critter that tackled our poor chum, Bumpus, -back yonder. Some friendly forest ranger just happened along in the nick -of time, and used his rifle on the yowler. Here's where the bullet hit -him, right in the heart," and Giraffe laid his finger on the wound. - -"But say, here's where another caught him on the square head, and this -hole shows where yet a third passed through his body. Why, he's been -riddled, all shot to pieces, that's plain!" Step Hen declared, -positively; and the other two listened, not wanting to break in just yet. - -"Buckshot, not a rifle bullet ended this here cat, that's sure," said -Giraffe. - -"And say, Bumpus is carrying a two-shot Marlin scatter gun that uses -buckshot cartridges!" went on Step Hen. - -They looked at each other again, and then once more eyed the swinging -trophy of _some one's_ skill. - -"But it's silly to think of _him_ knockin' over a ferocious animal like -this here cat," Giraffe ventured to say. "I never saw a bigger one; and -he must have looked fierce enough, I tell you, when he was alive, and -could arch up his back, and just growl in a way to make your blood run -cold." - -"H'm! s'pose you take a squint up to where the legs are tied to the limb -of that tree, Giraffe?" suggested Step Hen, chuckling now with a new -sense of humor. - -The tall scout craned his long neck, the better to see. - -"Jupiter! say, that does look like it, now," he admitted. - -"That's what it is, sure enough," avowed Step Hen, "a piece cut from that -rope Bumpus carries. You can see it's braided sash cord, and I'd know -that old rope among a thousand. He done it, all right, Bumpus did!" - -Giraffe whistled, to indicate the extent of his amazement. - -"Who'd ever think he had it in him?" he observed, scratching his head as -he stood there, and gazed at the dangling wildcat. "I reckon, now, he -must a had the best luck ever, when he just shut his eyes and pulled -trigger. This old cat must a wanted to commit suicide. P'raps he just -climbed up and looked into the muzzle of Bumpus' gun." - -"You know better'n that, Giraffe. He must have been some distance away, -or else the buckshot wouldn't have scattered as much as it did. I reckon, -now, our fat chum is improving a heap. That was a great shot." - -"Good for you, Step Hen," Thad broke in to say. "And take another look at -the cat, will you? Tell me if you see anything strange about him? I -imagine the one Giraffe chased away was a mate to this, and must have -been smelling at the body still, when we came up." - -Step Hen uttered a little cry, and then remarked: - -"Well, would you believe it, the old thing was a cripple. You can see he -only had three paws. The aft fore paw is gone. Like as not it was bitten -off in some fight he had long ago." - -"You're wrong!" cried Giraffe, who had leaned forward to examine the -injury at closer quarters. "That ain't any old hurt. The blood is as -fresh as any of the rest, and I guess it only happened yesterday." - -"Fine. Go on," declared Thad, and the tall scout, spurred on by that word -of commendation, to exert himself to the utmost, was quick to continue. - -"I can see that the paw wasn't bitten off, nor yet shot away," he -remarked. "The cut is as clean as a whistle, and I reckon only a sharp -hunting knife would do the job like that." - -"But what would Bumpus want to go and hack a paw off the old cat for?" -objected Step Hen. - -"Why, for a trophy, silly," answered the' other, quickly. "He just didn't -know how to skin the beast, and hardly liked the job of toting it all -around with him. So you see, to convince the rest of us that he'd really -and truly knocked over a wildcat, he just took that paw along. How's -that, Mr. Scoutmaster?" - -"You hit the nail on the head that time, Giraffe," answered Thad, pleased -at the way the other had figured things out, for it proved that, once -aroused to do his best, the tall scout possessed the ability required for -reading "signs." - -And this was one of the things that Thad Brewster, as acting head of the -troop, always tried to impress upon the minds of the scouts under him. -"Let every tub stand on its own bottom." "Learn to depend on yourself; do -your own thinking; keep on the watch, and see all the wonderful things -that are constantly happening around you in the great storehouse of -Nature." "Be awake, active"--in a word, as the manual of the organization -has it, "be prepared." - -Giraffe and Step Hen had been tremendously staggered by the knowledge -that the stout comrade, whom they always looked down on as a weakling, -and called their "tenderfoot pard" with such a tone of patronage, seemed -to be actually waking up, and doing things. - -It was not enough that he exhibit the nerve to want to go out in search -of a bear, all by himself. There was that episode of the muck bed for -example--that sent Bumpus' stock up a few points above par. It revealed -the fact that in an emergency the fat boy could actually _think for -himself_. - -Instead of allowing himself to get "rattled" after discovering that he -was gripped fast in the tenacious mud, Bumpus had looked around him, and -noticed that convenient limb above his head. - -Of course he had stretched out his hands toward it, but vainly, as they -must have fallen short by two feet or more of reaching the limb. And then -Bumpus remembered the fine rope he was carrying around his fat waist, -under the conviction that it might come in handy some time or other. - -Well, it did. Bumpus had drawn himself out of the mud, and up to the -friendly limb of the tree; though it surely must have proven a most -severe tax on his untrained muscles, he was such a heavy weight. - -Giraffe admitted, deep down in his mind, that he could not have done any -better himself. - -And now, here was this same blundering, awkward Bumpus, actually knocking -over a monstrous wildcat, one of the most ferocious animals roaming -through the swamps adjoining the big timber belt. - -It was commencing to dawn upon the minds of those two boys that, -beginning right now, they would have to revise their opinion of Bumpus. -He hardly seemed a fit candidate for the greenhorn grade of scout. -Really, there seemed to be some class to this work he was putting up, -that promised to raise him high up in the estimation of his comrades. - -In fact, both of the boys who stood there, examining the hanging bob-cat, -were beginning to wonder what next Bumpus would do. - -"Seems to be another feller," remarked Step Hen. - -"Right you are," replied Giraffe. "I never would have believed he had it -in him. Biggest surprise ever. Gosh! Step Hen, after this, d'ye know, it -wouldn't take much to make me expect bigger things." - -"You mean----" - -"That if he keeps on going at this warm pace, Bumpus might even get his -old bear yet, who knows," Giraffe asserted. - -Thad and Allan noticed with considerable amusement and satisfaction that -the boys no longer alluded to the lost comrade as "poor old Bumpus," and -"our tenderfoot pard." Their pity for the clumsy scout was fast changing -into sincere admiration, respect. And surely Bumpus deserved it. - -"A good lesson all around, eh Thad?" whispered Allan in the other's ear. - -"Just what it is," was the scoutmaster's reply in the same low tone. - -"Bumpus is learning to depend on himself," Allan went on. - -"And these boys have been taught to be more careful how they allow -themselves to feel so superior to a comrade who happens to be slower -about waking up. They won't forget this in a hurry." - -"Sure they won't," added Allan. - -"Come, boys, let's be going on," Thad remarked, aloud. "I don't exactly -like the looks of the sky over yonder where the breeze is coming out of." - -These words of the scoutmaster caused Giraffe and Step Hen to turn and -look back of them. So much engaged had they been in keeping tabs on the -trail, and scanning the woods on either side for a possible glimpse of -Bumpus, that neither of them had once bothered about looking at the -heavens. - -Hence a great surprise awaited them. - -"Wow! did you ever see blacker clouds?" exclaimed Giraffe, apparently -deeply impressed by what he had discovered. - -"Looks like we might be in for a big storm," remarked Step Hen uneasily, -for he never felt as brave as he might when the elements were battling -with one another; but in order to disguise his timidity he added: "but -then, as we ain't sugar or salt, I guess we won't melt." - -As they hurried along through the timber, still following the plain trail -left by the lost scout, it might have been noticed that Allan and Thad -really looked more serious than the other pair. And there was a good -reason for it, too. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - THE SWOOP OF THE STORM. - - -"Whoo! she's coming right along, all right." - -Step Hen volunteered this statement, when the first rumble of thunder was -borne to their ears from the direction whence the storm was advancing. - -"Hear that," added Giraffe, and then he went on: "I say, Thad, don't you -think we'd better let up on this trail business, and hunt for a place -where we might sit out the storm?" - -"I'd just come to that conclusion myself," replied the other. - -"And seems to me we hadn't ought to lose any too much valuable time in -doing that," remarked Step Hen, starting a little when there came a flash -of lightning, and later on another deep growl of thunder. - -"Still three miles away; I counted between the flash and the thunder," -announced Giraffe. - -"Huh! three miles ain't a song when the old wind gets to blowing," -declared Step Hen. "Notice that it's died out altogether now, fellers?" - -"And getting pretty dark, too," Giraffe added. "Looks to me like we might -be in for a little cyclone. Wonder if they ever have 'em up here, like -they do in Kansas." - -"Cyclone!" exclaimed Step Hen, "oh! my stars! and here we are without -even a cyclone cellar." - -"We'll try and find one," said Thad, encouragingly, for he had been -keeping his eyes around him a long time back, noting the formation of the -ground, and drawing his own conclusions. - -They were no longer walking steadily on. Thad had increased his pace to a -run, and his comrades kept at his side, as though determined not to be -left in the lurch. - -The sounds from the rear had gradually increased in volume. The thunder -was louder, and more ominous, as each dazzling flash of lightning made -the timber around them stand out most distinctly; although after it had -passed, the semi-gloom seemed more appalling than ever. - -And that other threatening sound, could it be the wind playing havoc with -the tall trees? Thad had from time to time noticed that they came upon a -windrow of fallen timber, all the trees lying in one direction. This -circumstance had told him once that in a great while the region at the -foot of the Rockies was visited by a destructive storm. - -Might not this one prove to be such, and throw down more of these giants -of the woods? - -Thad had to bear this in mind, along with many other things. Surely, if -the storm proved to be so severe that trees were going to be uprooted and -blown down, they wanted to be out of danger. - -Step Hen was getting more and more excited. - -He always felt this way, even at home, when the air was charged with -electricity. Many a time he could remember walking up and down a room, -like a tiger in its cage, while the elements were holding high carnival -without. - -And while he believed that the scoutmaster would do all that lay in his -power to get himself and comrades into some sort of shelter before the -threatening storm broke over their heads, Step Hen saw no reason why he -should not assist, as far as he could. - -So he kept those sharp eyes of his on the constant watch, as he ran along -at the side of the pace-maker. - -Suddenly Step Hen gave a triumphant shout. - -"Oh! look! look! here's a good place for us to crawl in," and he pointed -to one side as he spoke. - -There, as another bright flash lighted up the gloomy forest, Thad saw an -enormous tree, easily the king of them all. Doubtless it out topped all -its comrades, rearing its lofty head far above the best of them. - -And yet old age had started in to demolish the monarch of the woods, -beginning at the butt instead of the top. The giant tree was hollow. -There yawned an aperture, surely large enough to hold the four scouts -easily, if they chose to huddle together. - -"And the hole is pretty well away from the track of the storm, so the -rain ain't agoin' to beat in on us," Step Hen went on. - -"Do we crawl in, Thad?" asked Giraffe, showing by his manner that he was -only too willing to comply, if the scoutmaster said the word. - -But Thad and Allan exchanged a look, and each shook his head. - -"No tree for mine in a storm like this, come on boys;" called out the -patrol leader, once more starting on a run. - -Step Hen hesitated. It even seemed as though the spirit of finding safety -was tempting him to hold back. If he thought Giraffe would back him up, -Step Hen might possibly have declined to leave the big hollow tree that -looked so inviting to him. - -But Giraffe, either more submissive to authority just then, or else not -quite so frightened by the crash of the approaching storm, was already -hurrying after the leader. - -And so Step Hen went on, although grumblingly. - -"Why couldn't we use that nice, old hiding-place, Thad?" he called out; -for the thunder, together with the roar of the wind, and the rain, in -their rear, made so much racket, that talking in ordinary tones was -impossible. - -"That tree might go down with a crash in the gale," was what Thad said -over his shoulder, as he ran. - -"Well, p'raps that's so," admitted Step Hen. - -"And worse than that, it was liable to be struck by lightning," added the -young scoutmaster. "Nearly always picks out the tallest tree, or one -standing alone. You never want to get under a tree in a thunderstorm, -remember that, Step Hen. Better lie down flat on the ground, and take -your soaking." - -And even though the advice was shouted at him under such peculiar -conditions, Step Hen was apt to remember it. Indeed, those very -conditions served to impress it indelibly on his mind. He would never -again hear the crash of thunder, and see the vivid flash of lightning -without remembering what Thad had said. - -And every boy should do the same; for what does a wetting amount to, -beside the peril of sudden death? Every day during the summer there can -be found brief accounts of men or boys killed by lightning, because they -took refuge under a tree, when a storm interrupted their work in the -harvest field. - -During an ordinary shower a tree may be an acceptable shelter, but never -when the air is sur-charged with electricity; since it serves as a -conductor to draw the lightning. - -"But what are we agoin' to do?" - -It was Giraffe who broke out with this appeal, shortly after they left -the neighborhood of the hollow tree that had so tempted Step Hen. - -Up to this point the tall scout had been blindly following Thad's lead. -The quality of obedience was plainly well developed in Giraffe. But now -his curiosity seemed to get the better of these other traits in his -character. Although he did not come from Missouri, and in fact had never -seen the sacred soil of that grand state, still Giraffe "wanted to know." - -Nor did Thad seem to take it amiss in a comrade asking such a natural -question, under the circumstances. - -He was always willing to volunteer information. - -"Got an idea we ought to find some ledges on the other side of this -little rocky knob hill on the left," he called out. - -"Oh," said Step Hen. - -That was the extent of his remarks, and for several reasons. In the first -place he had considerable confidence in Thad's sagacity, for he had seen -it successfully tried under many conditions; and what the other suggested -appealed to Step Hen as reasonable. Then again, he was short of breath, -and needed all he possessed in order to keep running along with the -others. - -Step Hen and Giraffe kept pretty well up in the van. Now and then, when a -particularly fearful flash came they would turn part way around, as if -the fascination of that on-coming tempest were too much for them. - -And sometimes either one would give utterance to an excited whoop when -the timber was lighted up by an unusually dazzling flash, though the cry -was sure to be immediately deadened by the reverberating thunder. - -They also noticed with some degree of satisfaction, that they were even -then rounding the low rocky elevation. Unless Thad had made a sad mistake -in his judgment, they should know the facts before another minute passed. - -But so rapidly was the storm coming along now, that apparently they would -have none too generous an allowance of time. - -With the rush of the wind another sound began to be heard that was quite -disconcerting. This was a frequent crash, such as even Giraffe and Step -Hen knew must accompany the fall of trees. - -They were glad on this account, if for no other, that Thad had led them -by degrees out of the big timber, so that they now skirted the base of -the singular little rocky elevation that was almost devoid of trees. - -The thought of being in constant danger of having one of those giants -topple over upon their heads, was far from pleasant. - -Between the flashes it had become oppressively dark, so much so that the -boys had to be more careful where they set their feet. But with all that -turmoil of shrieking winds, crash of falling trees, and roar of thunder, -chasing along in their rear, and rapidly overtaking them, it was little -wonder that at times they made mistakes in where they stepped. - -And presently, what Thad had been fearing came to pass, when Step Hen -shouted out at the top of his voice: - -"Hold up, Thad, Giraffe's taken a tumble; and I reckon he's some hurt!" - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - THE BOLT OF LIGHTNING. - - -In the midst of such a confusion of dreadful sounds, and knowing that in -another minute or so they would be overtaken by the storm, it was little -wonder that Thad's heart seemed to feel a cold clutch when Step Hen burst -out with that announcement. - -What if Giraffe had broken a leg in taking this tumble? He was that tall, -and possessed such "spindle legs," as the boys always called them, that -they often joked him on the probability of his cracking a bone when he -slid to second base. - -And it was in dreadful fear, then, that the scoutmaster halted, to turn -hastily around. - -To his satisfaction he saw that Giraffe, helped by Step Hen, was already -scrambling to his feet, although limping some. - -"All right, Giraffe?" called out Thad. - -"On deck; go ahead!" came the cheery reply. - -And shutting his teeth hard together, Giraffe managed to once more start -on a run after his chief, though his bruised leg must have hurt him -considerably. - -They were now turning the side of the rocky elevation. And just as Thad -had said, it seemed to be made up of little ledges, one above the other. -This was not a mere guess on Thad's part, for he had noticed the same -peculiar formation in connection with several other outcroppings they had -passed, these being off-shoots of the foothills at the base of the Rocky -Mountains. - -And so, again did that policy of observation, "noticing things" promise -to prove of great assistance to the fugitive scouts when chased by the -storm. It often does, and the boy who keeps his eyes about him under any -and all circumstances, is the one who reaps the profit. There is never an -emergency arises but he is ready with some remedy to meet it. - -When they saw these friendly ledges the other boys realized that for the -time being their troubles were about at an end. - -There would be plenty of chances for them to find shelter here. Thad did -not accept of the very first refuge that offered, because he knew there -was still a little more time at their disposal, and he had an idea they -would presently come upon a ledge capable of covering them all. - -It turned out just as he figured. - -When the four crept under the outcropping shelf of rock, they found that -they had no longer any need to fear the violence of the gale. - -The lightning could not well reach them here, the wind was powerless to -do them any harm; there were no threatening trees to topple over upon -their heads; and as for the rain, it would sweep past, and leave them -perfectly dry. - -No wonder then, that Step Hen, in the sudden change of his feelings from -dark despair to complete satisfaction, gave vent to a scout whoop; while -Giraffe, equally pleased, uttered several fox barks, that being the -distinguishing signal of the patrol, by which members would recognize -each other if approaching in the dark. - -"This is something like!" cried Step Hen, in between the thunder claps. - -"As comfy as if we were at home," added Giraffe, who was sitting there, -gingerly rubbing his bruised shin. - -A tremendous crash made further talk just then out of the question. And -it seemed as though that thunder clap might have been the signal that the -stage was all set, and the war of the elements could begin. - -The wind started in with a furious rush that snapped off several trees -not far away from where the four scouts huddled under their shelter. -These came crashing down, as though loudly protesting against their -untimely fate. But the sound of their fall was really swallowed up in all -the other mad noises that marked the first rush of the summer storm. - -How the wind did whistle through the tops of the trees, that bent before -its fury, together with the downpour of rain. The ones that could prove -most humble, and bow their proud heads, best, were those that came out of -the turmoil with the least damage. The trees could adapt themselves to -circumstances, the scouts saw; and surely there was another lesson for -them all in that. - -After a furious rush, the storm slackened up a little, as though -gathering force for a fresh outburst, perhaps more strenuous than before. - -But this little breathing spell afforded the boys a chance to exchange a -few remarks, since it is at all times a difficult task to keep their -tongues from wagging. - -"That was a swift one, all right!" Giraffe burst out with. - -"Did you ever hear such thunder?" said Allan. - -"And the lightning--oh! my stars! it just made me blink, and shiver every -time it flashed," declared Step Hen. - -"Well, the worst is yet to come!" announced Thad, seriously. - -"He's joking," cried out Step Hen. - -"No, I'm not," the scoutmaster went on. "I've always noticed that when a -storm lets up like this, it generally hits harder the next spell. And -you'll find out, if you wait a minute, for it's coming again." - -"But we're all right here, ain't we?" asked Giraffe. - -"Sure," replied the other, "unless it turns around." - -"Turns around!" ejaculated Step Hen. "D'ye mean to say that old wind -could take a kink in itself, and come back on us?" - -"It often happens during a storm. In the beginning it may beat down on -you from the east, and finish up in the southwest. But I guess the second -half of this one is coming out of the same quarter as the first." - -"Good for that!" exclaimed Step Hen. "We're all so cozy under here, I'd -hate to have the wind drive that wet rain in on us. There she comes, -boys. Whew! say, listen to that, would you? I hope that thunder don't -start the rocks to rolling down this slope." - -"No danger of that," called out Thad, for with the return of the furious -bombardment talking was becoming more difficult. - -Just as the scout leader had said it, it really did look as though this -second half of the storm promised to be more violent than the one that -had gone booming along its way. It seemed to the boys that some of the -thunder claps would split their ear drums, so powerful did they appear. - -The rain again fell in torrents, too. They could hear it rushing -furiously down the side of the little rocky hill. Several spouts shot -over the outcropping ledge that served as their roof; but despite it all, -none of them so much as had a sprinkle fall upon him. - -Never had the wisdom and sagacity of the scoutmaster been more amply -proven than right then. And doubtless each of the other three boys must -have been secretly saying as much, as they crouched there, gazing in -speechless wonder and awe at the curious freaks shown by the zigzag -forked lightning, every time it came down from the black vault above, or -played tag among the piled up masses of clouds that were slowly -retreating. - -Apparently the worst was over. - -Even then doubtless there was a break in the van of the storm clouds. -Furious though the tempest had been, it was to prove of short duration. -But while it lasted Thad reckoned that it was about as tropical in its -nature as any he had ever encountered. - -"Glad it's going!" called out Giraffe. - -"It never will be missed," sang Step Hen, feeling particularly joyous -over the fact that after all they had come through it all unscathed. - -"The rain's stopped, that's sure," Giraffe asserted. - -"And that means the danger's over. We can go out now, when we please," -Step Hen remarked, making a movement as if to rise. - -"Hold on, I wouldn't do that yet," exclaimed Thad. - -"Why not?" asked Step Hen, but at the same time falling back. - -"There's a lot of dangerous electricity in the air still," said Thad. -"You can see that the reports after each flash are as quick and powerful -as if a twelve-inch gun on a battleship were being fired. Every bolt -strikes just after a storm has passed. Lots of people say the back action -is the most dangerous time of all." - -"Oh! all right, Thad. Guess I'll stay awhile longer. No need of a feller -takin' more chances than he has to," and Step Hen settled down again; for -if there was any danger of being struck by lightning, no one would find -him careless. - -"But this is the end, ain't it, Thad?" asked Giraffe, still rubbing at -his leg. - -"I reckon it is," replied the patrol leader. - -"Wonder how our fellers in camp stood the racket. Hope the tents didn't -get blown away," Step Hen remarked. - -"And Bumpus, I reckon he'll be put to his wit's ends to know what to do -at such a time as this," but Thad noticed that when he said it, Giraffe -really betrayed an undercurrent of respect in his manner. - -Bumpus was no longer a complete ignoramus; Bumpus had raised himself -wonderfully in the estimation of his chums. - -Just then there was an unusually brilliant flash. The thunder seemed to -really accompany it, showing that the bolt struck near at hand. - -"Wow! that hit something, as sure as you live!" exclaimed Giraffe. - -"Thought I heard branches crashing down, and I reckon it must have been a -tree," remarked Step Hen, who had given a nervous jump at the brilliant -and dazzling illumination. - -"It _did_ shatter a tree, and over in the very place we came from, too. -To tell you the truth, fellows, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if it was -that same big tree that had so splendid a hollow in its butt." - -Step Hen turned very white when he heard Thad say this, and a painful -silence fell upon the little group of scouts under the friendly ledge. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - STEP HEN LOOKS OUT FOR THE PROVISIONS. - - -Some little time passed. Gradually the storm was passing away in the -distance, where they could still hear the constant growl and mutter of -the thunder. But those near-by crashes had really ceased. - -As the boys were cramped, and becoming restless, Thad saw no reason why -they should not get out in the open again. - -"First, I want to look at that leg of yours, Giraffe," said the -scoutmaster. - -"Aw! guess I'll manage all right," replied the other, his pride revolting -at such a thing as showing the white feather. - -"All the same, it ought to be looked after," persisted Thad. "We can't -afford to take any chances of your being lamed. A stiff leg is a constant -bother. And there's no need of it when I've got liniment and salve and -linen in my haversack, for just such uses. Here, roll up the leg of your -trousers and let Doc Thad take a look. No nonsense, now, Giraffe. It's -orders." - -So, protesting still that it "didn't amount to a row of pins," Giraffe -nevertheless obeyed the injunction of the patrol leader. - -"There, it is quite an ugly wound, and bleeding too," declared Thad. "And -you might have had a heap of trouble with that same hurt, Giraffe, if you -didn't let me put some salve on. It's an open cut and the liniment would -bite too much. Besides this healing salve is better." - -And so Thad soon had a nice bandage fastened snugly about the hurt. -Giraffe frankly admitted that it did feel soothed by the application, -though he still had to limp more or less when he walked, naturally -favoring the lame leg. - -"Now we can go ahead again, and find old Bumpus," Step Hen remarked, -after the operation had been successfully finished. - -"That's the worst of it all," said Allan, with a disconsolate shrug of -his shoulders, and making a wry face at the same time. - -"Worst of what?" demanded Step Hen. "Ain't we going to pick up the trail -at the place we lost it, or back where the old cat hangs?" - -"There isn't any trail!" Allan replied. - -"What?" ejaculated both Step Hen and Giraffe, amazed by his declaration, -that filled them with dismay. - -"The rain washed it all out, you see," Allan went on to explain. - -"But--how are we agoin' to find Bumpus, then?" Step Hen gasped. - -Again the Maine boy shrugged his shoulders, and there was something very -expressive about the movement. - -"Ask me something easy, please? I confess I'm all up in the air. I don't -know how we can find our chum, unless by an accident, later on, we came -upon his fresh trail again, made after the storm. And that's supposing a -good many things, you see, one of which is that he's come out of the -racket safe and sound." - -"Whew! strikes me we've got as much chance of running across him as we'd -have finding a needle in a haystack," ventured Giraffe. - -"Just about as much," Allan replied, looking downcast. - -As long as there was any trail to find, Allan was not the one to give up; -he would hang on tenaciously while a shred of hope remained. But with the -tracks of Bumpus positively washed out by the downpour from the clouds, -it was useless wasting time in looking for any "signs." - -Even Thad seemed serious now. - -Troubles were accumulating thick and fast, for the missing member of the -Silver Fox Patrol. Though thus far Bumpus seemed to have surmounted his -trials and difficulties, he might have been caught unawares by that -furious storm. And what if he had been tempted to seek shelter in a -hollow tree, not having a wise scoutmaster handy, to warn against the -evil of such a thing? Giraffe and Step Hen felt very uneasy at even the -thought. - -They left the vicinity of the ledges, and once more entered the tall -timber. But the others knew that Thad was indulging in no hope that they -could discover any signs of the trail, or follow it, even though an -occasional footprint remained. He had some other purpose in leading them -backward, and they could hazard a pretty good guess as to what it might -be. - -There were abundant signs of the storm's passage all around them. Some of -the more slender trees still bowed their heads in the direction where, -far away in the distance, the thunder still growled and muttered. Here -and there the boys could see one that had been uprooted, and either -thrown flat to the ground, or else received in the sheltering embrace of -some neighbor, that held it in a half reclining attitude. - -And presently Giraffe gave vent to a loud cry. - -"It _did_ strike Step Hen's tree!" he exclaimed. - -"Where is it? I don't see the same;" demanded Step Hen. - -"Look again. Rub your eyes, and wake up! Don't you glimpse that pile of -branches over there, scattered in every direction?" asked Giraffe. - -"Sure I do," admitted the other, "but how d'ye know now that wreckage -came from my tree?" - -"Why, that's easy," replied Giraffe. "Notice that shattered trunk partly -standing yet? Well, step this way and you can see where part, only part, -mind you, Step Hen, is left of that hiding-place you wanted to crawl in." - -"Oh! my stars!" ejaculated the other scout, when his staring eyes told -him that what his comrade said was the awful truth. - -It had been the luckiest escape those four boys would ever know. They -felt a great awe steal over them, accompanied by a sensation of -thanksgiving, as they stood there looking at the ruin of that once proud -king of the woods. - -"None of us would ever know what hit us, I guess," said Step Hen, -finally. - -"And I reckon I've learned my lesson all right," added the tall scout. -"Just as Thad said, what's a ducking, when you think of taking chances -with a thing like this? I am for a wetting down, every time, after this." - -"But what had we better do--head back for camp, and give our poor old -chum Bumpus up for good?" asked Step Hen, dejectedly. - -"Not just yet," the scoutmaster replied. - -"We've got some grub still," suggested Giraffe, "and can make fires all -right, no matter how wet the wood got." - -"Yes, we can stay out for another day or two," said Thad, "and longer -than that, if we think there's any chance of finding him; because we -could knock over some game at the worst." - -"But what's the programme?" persisted Giraffe. "Are we going to lay out -some sort of plan, and then follow it up; or just go meanderin' around, -every-which-way, trusting to sheer luck?" - -"We'll try and figure on what Bumpus was most likely to do," said Thad, -"and then pattern our plan after that. And later on, you know, we could -give a shout once in a while. If he was near enough to us he might hear -us that way." - -"You're right, Thad, and it's a good scheme," declared Giraffe. - -"A dandy one," added Step Hen. "And if ever Bumpus hears me ashoutin' -he'll know who 'tis, all right." - -"I should say, yes," Giraffe observed, with such a meaning look that the -other took umbrage at once, and flamed out with: - -"'Tain't any more like the caw of a crow than your squawk is, Giraffe, -and you know it, even if you used to say so. That's because you was -envious because, outside of Bumpus himself, I could sing better'n any -other scout in the whole troop." - -Giraffe made no answer to this taunt. He only looked appealing toward -Thad, as much as to say that he was not to blame for this flare-up. - -They walked on for a while, although the going was not so very pleasant, -owing to the fact that the bushes were all so wet, they had to avoid -contact with them. - -Allan and Thad conferred as they went, and apparently must have laid out -their plans, for the others presently became aware of the fact that they -seemed to be moving ahead in something like a direct line. - -Although they had thus far met with no great success, Step Hen and -Giraffe still felt considerable confidence in their leaders. Thad and -Allan seemed so able to cope with anything and everything that came -along, it was no wonder the others had begun to believe they could -accomplish the impossible. - -But when the afternoon waned, and another night stared them in the face, -they had to temporarily forget about Bumpus, and consider their own -condition. - -A fire would certainly be needed, for everything around them was still -wet; and as the droppings from the trees had partly soaked their -garments, Thad thought they must dry out. - -But a piece of luck came their way about this time that was as welcome as -it was unexpected. - -Step Hen happened to be out on the left flank, and suddenly the others -heard the report of his rifle in that quarter. As they hastily turned -that way, it was to see Step Hen dancing madly up and down. - -"I got it! I got it!" he was shouting, clawing at his little repeating -rifle in the endeavor to work the pump action, and render it serviceable -again. - -"Got what?" demanded Giraffe, running up. - -"A deer!" replied the other. - -"Yes, you have. Tell us where?" asked the tall scout, incredulously. - -"Over back of them bushes. It was just going to jump when I let go. Guess -it dropped in its tracks!" panted Step Hen. - -Giraffe gave a mocking laugh. - -"We'll soon see if you put a flim-flam bullet into an old stump," he -remarked, derisively, limping forward: and immediately shouting: "Well, -of all the world, if he didn't get the nicest little buck you ever saw; -and shot straight through the heart. No wonder he went down ker-flop. -Step Hen, you're going some. I'll have to look out, or else you'll be -crowding at my heels." - -"Beat that snapshot if you can, Giraffe," said the other, proudly looking -down at his quarry. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER AGAIN. - - -That night the boys feasted. - -After being without fresh meat for some little time now, that venison -certainly did taste prime. And no doubt it was doubly sweet to Step Hen, -who had made the best shot of his life when he brought the game down. - -At least they need no longer think of being compelled to return to the -camp near the foot of the noisy rapids, on account of a lack of food. -They could go a number of days, subsisting on the new supply that had -stocked up their almost exhausted larder so handsomely. - -But there was a weight resting on all of them. They talked some, but most -of the time after supper they sat there, looking into the comfortable -blaze, and busy with their thoughts. - -What these were, as a rule, might be gathered from a remark made by Step -Hen. - -"It was a good supper, all right, and that deer meat went just prime. -Only wish _he's_ got as good to-night." - -And no one asked him who he meant. No doubt every one of the four around -the fire had Bumpus in mind right then and there. - -"And we're going to keep this fire burning through the live-long night, -too," said Thad, later on, when there was some talk of going to sleep. - -"Regardless of Hank and Pierre, eh?" asked Giraffe, his eyes brightening; -for he never liked to see a camp-fire go out; it was always as solemn a -ceremony in his mind as the passing of a dear friend would be. - -"Oh! like as not they're miles and miles away from here," Thad went on to -say. "And anyhow, one of us at a time will be on guard all night. If he -hears a shot or a distant shout be sure to call me up, whoever he may -be." - -And that, then, was the programme laid down. They would do everything in -their power to attract the attention of the wandering Bumpus, in case he -happened to be anywhere in the neighborhood. - -But it was all of no avail. - -Doubtless one or the other of the scouts, when standing his turn as -sentry, may have fancied he heard far-away hails, because the wish was -father to the thought; but upon listening, to make doubly sure before -arousing the others, it had invariably turned out that the sound was an -owl calling to his mate in the depth of the big timber, or the strange -cry of the night hawk abroad seeking food. - -But all the live-long night that watch-fire continued to burn, although -without any result. - -The boys went about their duties in the morning, a little crestfallen; -and yet they had no reason to reproach themselves, having done everything -in their power to win success. - -As they ate breakfast they tried to lay out the day's campaign. Enough of -the fresh venison was to be carried along to provide several meals. And -as they went, they meant to let out a few shouts at intervals. - -Of course they knew that, just as one of them, Giraffe, had said before, -it was about as satisfactory as searching for a needle in a haystack. But -it was the best they could do. And boys as a rule, are very prone to put -considerable confidence in what they call "luck." - -After the violent storm there was one good result, at least; the air was -as sweet and pure and invigorating as any of them could wish. Indeed, -Thad, as he glanced around and above him, when they stopped once that -morning to rest, thought he had never seen a lovelier picture. And only -for this weight resting so heavily upon his soul, in connection with the -fate of the missing tenderfoot, he could have enjoyed it immensely. - -The sky was the bluest of the blue, with here and there a fleecy white -cloud floating across it. Away up could be seen a pair of eagles sailing -in immense circles, and able to look directly into the face of the sun. - -Lower down a number of other large birds were floating around, and it -looked as though they might be centering over a certain spot. Thad -recognized them as buzzards, those scavengers of the wilds that are -protected by law in most sections of the country, because of their -usefulness in disposing of carrion that might otherwise breed an epidemic -of disease. - -On one side glimpses could occasionally be had of the lofty mountains, to -explore which had been one of the excuses the scouts had for making such -a long journey. - -Apparently the other boys were also looking around them, for presently -Step Hen, pointing with his finger, said: - -"What are those birds away up there, Thad?" - -"The ones up in the clouds, you mean, I suppose?" asked the other. - -"Yes," replied Step Hen. - -"That is the majestic eagle, my son," said Giraffe, pompously. - -"Majestic humbug," laughed Allan. - -"But they represent the American nation," objected Giraffe, "every time -the papers get talkin' about trouble with foreign nations they say 'now -listen to the eagle scream' don't they?" - -"Oh! it can scream, all right, and fight right hard, I admit, when it has -to," Allan went on to say, "but all this talk about the eagle being such -a _noble_ bird makes me weary. If you'd watched him as often as I have, -sitting lazily on the limb of a dead tree, and waiting till some poor, -industrious fish hawk makes a haul, so he could rob him, you wouldn't -have quite so much respect for the magnificent bird as you do now." - -"Huh! p'raps not," grunted Giraffe, looking crestfallen. "Honest to -goodness now, I always did think the old feller couldn't live up to his -reputation. Guess America had ought to hunt up another emblem besides the -eagle." - -"But say, them others ain't eagles, I know," spoke up Step Hen. - -"No, they are the despised buzzard, that everybody shuns, yet no one -kills, for he'd be far worse to eat than crow," said Thad. - -"And yet a ten times more useful bird than the eagle, which lives upon -its ill-gotten reputation, and as I said before, the labor of the osprey, -or fish hawk," Allan went on to remark. - -"But see 'em circle around, would you, Thad," Step Hen kept on. "They -generally do that, don't they, when they've discovered something worth -while?" - -Step Hen did not wholly voice the terrible fear that had suddenly gripped -his heart in a sickening clutch. There was no need, for every one of the -other scouts had a spasm along the same lines. - -They looked at each other rather guiltily. An undefined fear was written -large upon each paling countenance. Thad, however, was the first to -recover. - -"You gave me an uneasy minute with the suggestion your words conjured up, -Step Hen," he said, firmly; "but I just can't force myself to believe -there's anything to it." - -"But, Thad----" - -"Just hold on, Step Hen," the patrol leader went on to remark, "I -understand what you mean, and of course we'll head that way, to make sure -it's a deer, or something like that." - -None of them cared to pursue the matter any further, as they walked -along, keeping one eye aloft to note the position of the buzzards that -sailed around and around, constantly dropping lower, and with the other -taking stock of their surroundings. - -Thad smiled after a while, but he did not take the trouble to communicate -what was in his mind to the others. - -"They'll know soon enough," he was saying to himself, "let them find it -out for themselves." - -Allan was the first to make a discovery. He threw a quick, knowing look -in the direction of the scoutmaster, who answered with a nod and a smile. - -Pretty soon Giraffe began to smell a rat. - -"Well, I declare," he remarked, "seems like I've set eyes before on that -there queer old tree with the big hump on its trunk. Can't be possible -there could be another just like that anywhere this side the Rockies." - -No one saying anything, Giraffe went on to remark: - -"Yes sir, it's the same identical tree, I'd take my affidavy on that. See -here's where I sliced off a bit of the bark with my hatchet, as we went -along. Now, ain't that funny, we've made a grand circle ourselves, just -like we thought he'd _do_; and crossed our own trail right here." - -"Have you any idea where this tree is, Giraffe?" asked Thad, meaning to -test the memory of the observing scout. - -"Let's see, when was it I noticed the same?" and Giraffe frowned with the -effort to whip his memory. "Oh! yes, sure, I recollect it all now. Why, -you see Thad, it was just after we'd left that place where Bumpus had -hung up that dead cat." - -"Wow! there it hangs right now; and yes, as sure as you live, the wind -brings us a whiff of it, too!" cried Step Hen. "Say, Thad, was _this_ -what the buzzards scented far off, and gathered here to make their dinner -off?" - -"Just what it was, and they're welcome, for all of me," replied the -patrol leader; evidently greatly relieved over something. "But come on, -boys, we're going to start on a new track from here, one we haven't been -over yet. I'm in hopes we may have the great good luck to learn something -about our chum, before we make another grand circuit. My first guess -didn't pan out very well." - -None of them were sorry to leave the neighborhood of the dead cat, which -Bumpus had hung up in the tree, possibly in the hope of sometime claiming -its well-riddled pelt. - -An hour later they were making their way through a particularly bad -stretch of woodland, where the brush was dense in places, and many trees, -fallen years upon years ago, forced the scouts to either clamber over, or -go around. - -Step Hen was just in the act of jumping over the half-rotten trunk of one -of these fallen forest monarchs, when the rest heard him give utterance -to a loud whoop, immediately followed by words that struck a chill to -their very hearts: - -"Thad! Allan! come here, quick! I'm snake bit, and I reckon it was a big -rattler that grabbed me by the leg!" - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - THE SNAKE BITE. - - -"What can we do, Thad?" exclaimed Giraffe, as with the others he hurried -over in the direction of Step Hen's voice. - -Step Hen had not kept exactly with his mates; had he done so the trouble -that was now upon him might not have happened. Encouraged by his success -of the preceding day, when he had secured a fine deer just because he -hung upon the flank of the advancing party, Step Hen had wandered far -afield again, though careful, after a fashion, never to lose sight of the -rest. - -It was easy to understand, under the circumstances, how the ambitious -Nimrod kept his eyes about him, looking for a possible deer to jump up -and bound away. He had not been thinking of snakes at all, when so -recklessly jumping over the dead tree; and this is always a more or less -dangerous thing to do in a country where poisonous snakes may be found. - -They came upon the frightened Step Hen. He was down on one knee, and with -hands that trembled so he could hardly work, was trying to roll up one of -his trousers' legs, after having kicked off his canvas legging. - -Thad was instantly at his side. - -"Let me do that for you, Step Hen," he exclaimed, as he dropped his gun, -and applied himself to the task, to cry out a few seconds later, "I don't -see any marks where his fangs went in. Where was it he struck you? Oh! -that red spot? Wait a minute." - -Thad, to the astonishment of the injured lad, whipped out a small -magnifying glass, with which he was in the habit of examining beetles, -and all sorts of things of a like nature, in whose habits he, as an -amateur naturalist, chanced to be interested. - -This he applied to the red mark, examining the same closely. - -"I can see two sets of little punctures, one above and one below," he -announced presently. - -"That's them!" exclaimed Step Hen. "Oh! he jumped right at me, and bit -me, all right! I was that scared I could hardly move. I hate snakes, you -know, the worst kind. Thad, tell me, did anybody ever get bit by a -rattler, and live? My goodness! will you have to cut my leg off, to save -me? Oh! I think I'd rather die right now, than have to hop around on one -leg all my life. Do something for me, Thad; what are you grinning at, -Giraffe? This is a mighty serious matter, I tell you." - -"Keep still!" said Thad, sternly. - -Then he got down, and sucked at the tiny wounds with all his might, -having first made sure that he had no cut, or abrasion of the skin about -his lips, or the interior of his mouth. Having expectorated freely Thad -got up again. Step Hen followed his every movement with a troubled look -on his face. - -"Think you got all the old poison out, Thad? Oh! let somebody else have a -try, won't you? Can't afford to take any chances about this. Think what -an awful blow it'd be to my folks if I skipped off right here and now. -Ketch me a jumpin' over a log again without first lookin'. Where's my -gun? Did anybody see my gun? Goodness knows where it went. I bet that -snake went and carried--oh! thank you, Allan, there's the little dandy, -all right. But Thad, don't it look like my leg's beginning to swell? I -just seem to feel it twitching all the time. Is that the poison going -through my system? Oh! I just knew some day a measly old snake'd get me. -How I hate 'em." - -"Keep still!" commanded the scoutmaster, sternly. - -"Oh! all right, Thad. I'm sure you'll do the right thing by me; but it's -just awful to know you've been bitten by a rattlesnake." - -"In the first place, I don't believe it _was_ a rattlesnake!" said Thad, -positively. - -"But it was an _awful_ big, wicked looking snake, Thad; and if you'd seen -the way it jumped at me----" began Step Hen. - -"That's one of the reasons I had for saying what I did," Thad went on, "a -rattlesnake never attacks any one, or any enemy. It always throws itself -into a coil, and with head erect, and tail rattling a warning 'don't -tread on me,' waits to be attacked. This rule has no exception. A -rattlesnake is almost helpless out of coil, and the very first thing he -does is to curl up. He may lunge so hard at something as to throw himself -half way out of coil; but as quick as a flash he's back again, for he's -afraid something will get him." - -"Oh! is that so, Thad?" exclaimed Step Hen, still keeping one anxious eye -on his bare leg, as though he half expected to see it begin to puff up -visibly before his very eyes. - -"Was this snake coiled when you first saw it?" demanded Thad. - -"N--no." - -"What was it doing then, Step Hen?" - -"I reckon it was crawlin' along--yes, I know it was, because I remember -how I got a fierce jolt when I was just going over the log, to see it -with its old head raised, and showing its teeth." - -"And then it jumped at you?" Thad continued. - -"And tried to wrap around me, after it bit me through my legging; but I -guess I kicked some, because it dropped off, and ran away." - -Thad smiled. - -"I'm sure now it was not a rattler," he said. "No doubt it may have been -a big black snake. They're as fierce as they make them, and can whip a -sluggish rattler every time, but they're not poisonous at all, Step Hen." - -"Oh! I hope then it was a black snake!" exclaimed the other scout, with a -sigh. - -"Another thing," said Thad, wishing to make it conclusive, so Step Hen -might not keep on worrying about the affair. "A black snake bites, but as -a general rule a rattlesnake opens his jaws until they stand almost -perpendicular, so that he can lay bare his poison fangs. He sinks these -two hollow teeth into his enemy, with a furious blow, and at the same -time injects the poison. There is no known _sure_ remedy for a -rattlesnake's poison. But this snake tried to bite you. There are the -faint marks of teeth belonging to both the upper and the lower jaw. It's -all right, Step Hen; you're in no danger. The poison would have begun to -work before now, if it was there." - -"But you won't take any chances, will you, Thad?" asked the other. - -"I didn't. I sucked just as hard as if I thought you were going to swell -up, and have your heart affected," said Thad. - -"But to make sure, Thad, suppose you paint my leg with some of that -purple stuff you carry with you," pleaded Step Hen. - -"Oh! you mean that solution of permanganate of potash," replied the -other. - -"Yes, that's the stuff." - -"But," objected Thad, "it's meant for scratches from the claws of -carnivorous animals, so as to neutralize the virus that is apt to get in -the blood, and give blood poisoning." - -"Well, here's some poison it can get in its little work on," Step Hen -insisted. - -"But it will hurt like sixty." - -"Let her hurt. The more the better; because then I know it'll be doing -its work. Come, let's have it, Thad." - -Knowing how persistent Step Hen could be when he wanted to, the -scoutmaster felt that he must comply with his request. It could do no -harm, and at least would make the boy feel easier in his mind. - -"Gee! don't it darken things up some," Step Hen declared, a little later, -when the application had been made. - -"It stains a whole lot," admitted Thad. - -"Huh! I've got one thing to be thankful for anyhow," Step Hen remarked. - -"Lots of 'em, my boy," laughed Thad. "But what do you mean in -particular?" - -"I'm glad he pinched me on the leg," the other went on, whimsically. -"Think if he'd jumped up and dented my nose, and you had to paint it like -that! My stars! mebbe I wouldn't be a sight though." - -"You'd sure never a been able to go back to Cranford," declared Giraffe, -who had been an interested observer of all that went on. "Because they'd -all say you'd taken to drink." - -"Huh! nothing funny about that, because I've been drinking all my life," -the other answered back. - -"Does it hurt?" asked Thad. - -"Well, I guess, yes," replied Step Hen, making a grimace; "but then, I -want it to just gouge me. Go it, you little gripper; hope you counteract -every drop of poison. That's it, hit me up again. Whew! that's going -some." - -"Now there are two of us," remarked Giraffe, as he vied with Step Hen in -seeing which could limp the most. "It's your right leg, and my left one; -so we've still got a decent pair between us." - -"But they ain't mates, by a long shot," declared Step Hen. - -Joking in this way they followed after Thad and Allan. But as the morning -was nearly done it was decided to make camp long enough to have a bite. - -Again they talked of Bumpus and his affairs, as they sat around the fire, -and ate. - -Step Hen hoped that the fat scout would not have the misfortune to run -across a "fighting snake," such as the one that had thrown him into such -a panic. - -"Because, you see," he went on, "not knowing any better, the poor feller -would think it was a rattler, instead of just a plain, every day black -snake. And it w'd give him no end of worry, because he couldn't suck the -wound himself, being no contortionist like Davy Jones; and he wouldn't -have Thad and his little potash bottle handy." - -"Yes, that's so," remarked Giraffe, "there are some people who don't know -the difference between a poisonous rattler, with its square head, and a -long twisting black snake." - -Step Hen turned a little red in the face, and laughed; but did not -venture to take up Giraffe's dare, so that for once an argument that -might have waxed fierce was avoided. - -Presently they were moving on again. Acting on the suggestion of Thad the -four scouts had formed a sort of fan formation, being within easy seeing -and hearing distance of each other, but covering quite a wide stretch of -ground. - -Allan and Thad had given it as their opinion, although they admitted they -could not be absolutely sure, that although they must certainly have -covered fully thirty miles in their wanderings, they were not more than -ten from the camp by the rapids. - -It fell to Giraffe to make a discovery this time. Along about two o'clock -he raised his voice and gave an excited call. This being the signal to -assemble, the other scouts hurried toward Giraffe, anxious to learn what -he had to communicate. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - MORE TROUBLE AHEAD. - - -"What have you?" asked Step Hen, who, strange to say, in spite of his -lame leg, arrived just a little in advance of the other two. - -Giraffe was standing there, twisting that long neck of his this way and -that. He declined to say anything until Thad had arrived on the scene. -Then, with an expressive pose, he pointed to the ground near his feet. - -"What d'ye call that, eh? Tell me I ain't got the eye of an eagle? -Somebody else might have gone stumping along, and never seen it. But you -can ketch a weasel asleep as easy as you can fool me." - -"It's a trail, all right," said Thad. - -"Say _his_ trail," persisted Giraffe. - -"Bumpus did make it, that's certain," Allan broke in with. - -"And _after_ the storm, too?" - -"No question about that, because the rain hasn't washed the marks at -all," was the joyous declaration of Allan. - -"See?" cried Giraffe. - -If he had been wearing a vest. Step Hen really believed the proud lengthy -scout would have thrust his thumbs into the arm holes and assumed a pose, -as though about to have his picture taken as a serious rival to Cooper's -"Leatherstocking," the greatest of trail finders. - -"What luck!" Step Hen broke out with. - -"Luck nothing," flashed back Giraffe, refusing to be cheated out of any -of his honors. "It's the reward of patient, plodding work, and using eyes -and brain right along. Now, if I'd been satisfied to limp along, looking -up at the sky, and all around, but never once on the ground, like some -people I know do, d'ye suppose I'd ever run across this trail? Not much. -Give Old Eagle Eye his due, Step Hen." - -"Yes, he deserves it," said Thad, "because this is a most important find. -It places us on top once more." - -"Because now we've got something to work on," added Allan. - -"Was this track made this morning?" asked Step Hen. - -Allan shook his head. - -"No," he replied, "I don't think so." - -"But why shouldn't it be?" continued the other scout, bound to know. - -"Why, you can see that the ground was still quite wet when he passed -along here. That wouldn't have been the case this morning, for in twelve -hours or more it must have dried out pretty well," Allan explained. - -"That's so; I never thought of such an easy explanation," Step Hen -admitted. - -"Oh! there's a heap of things about this business we don't know," said -Giraffe; "but it all sounds so mighty interesting I'm bound to learn -right along." - -They were following the new trail while exchanging remarks along this -line. - -"One good thing about it," Thad went on to say, "we now know Bumpus must -have come through the storm all right." - -"However did he do it?" murmured Giraffe, perplexed because the -tenderfoot was proving such a wonder. - -"Three to one he found a hollow tree and crawled in," grumbled Step Hen. -"With the luck he's got, why of course lightning never struck there; -while with me it was just sure to." - -"Well," remarked Thad, "between you and me I don't believe Bumpus would -do that, because we were talking of lightning only the other day. He had -an uncle who was killed that way when a tree was struck; and Bumpus said -nobody would ever get him to take such chances. I remember his asking me -if it would be all right to crawl in a hollow log that lay flat on the -ground, and I told him yes. So if he was able to find a log big enough to -hold him, I guess that's what he did." - -Giraffe gave a whistle. There was a little trace of envy in his manner, -for Giraffe was a boy, and it did seem to him Bumpus was developing along -the lines of a scout altogether too fast. - -"I see your finish as patrol leader, Thad," he remarked. "That Bumpus has -just waked up, and there's no telling what he'll do. I expect we'll all -be kowtowing to him yet, like he was a real Chinese mandarin." - -"Glad of it," laughed Thad. "And it would tickle me a lot, I tell you, if -a few more scouts would take a notion to wake up." - -"Well," returned Giraffe, "they may, yet. I know two that are digging -knuckles into their eyes right at this minute, and stretchin' and yawnin' -like they just meant to stir out of their dope sleep; eh, Step Hen?" - -"That's so, Giraffe! Bumpus has set us the pace, I tell you," came the -reply. - -"What do you make of the trail, Allan?" the scoutmaster asked. - -"About this," replied the tracker. "Bumpus was leg-weary about this time. -Plenty to show it. And I wouldn't be surprised if we came on his camp -before long. I've seen where he stepped out of his way, looking for dry -wood, and then went on again, as if not satisfied." - -"Hurrah for Bumpus! He's our pard;" exclaimed Step Hen, glad to even bask -in the reflected light of so much glory. - -"I wonder, now," Giraffe remarked, his thoughts naturally turning in the -one direction, "was he able to make a fire? Lots of fellers that like to -call themselves scouts wouldn't know how, when every stick of wood was -soaking wet after such a rain." - -"Oh! they ain't all such fire cranks as you've always been, Giraffe," -ventured Step Hen. "And I say it's good for the country they ain't. I -reckon the whole wood supply of the United States would have been used up -by now if the rest of the scouts had their minds set like you." - -"But wait and see," said Thad. "I've got a notion that Bumpus is going to -surprise some of us a lot more. Fact is, I believe he's just had his mind -set on a hike like this for some time, because he's been asking dozens of -questions of me, and setting the answers down in that little note-book of -his, till he half filled it." - -"Was one of them about makin' 'a fire after a rain?'" demanded Giraffe. - -"Just that," replied Thad. - -"You told him how to dig out the dry heart from a stump or a log, to -start his fire with, didn't you, Thad?" - -"Explained it all fully," answered the patrol leader. - -"Oh! if that's the case I just guess he will have made a fire. It's easy, -once you've been shown how," grumbled Giraffe. - -"But you had to be told how, once, don't forget, Giraffe," Thad went on -to say. "Be generous now, and remember that Bumpus has had his outdoor -education sadly neglected. I'm glad he's showing new life, and I hope it -will keep right along. I believe it will. That's the beauty of this scout -business--once a boy gets a taste of these many things that call for -self-reliance and thought, he keeps on wanting to know more. His appetite -becomes enormous; but the food supply in the shape of information really -has no limit, you understand." - -"I'm going in for it with all my heart and soul, Thad," asserted Giraffe, -more seriously than the patrol leader had known him to be for a long -time. - -"Me too," echoed Step Hen. "It's a good thing to know how to save a -feller's life if he gets near drowned, cuts his foot with an axe, gets -shot by accident, or else has the hard luck to run up against a mean -rattler." - -"And you can count on me to help you all I'm able to," said Thad. "There -are a lot of things I don't know, myself. Allan, here, is teaching me a -heap about following a trail, and I'm enjoying it more than I can -explain. Nothing like the practical experience, after all. The -book-taught scout is all very well, but he has to change a lot of his -ideas when he comes to see the same things really and truly done. And -some of them are so different from his notion that he can hardly -recognize 'em. What is it, Allan?" - -This last was directed toward the tracker, who had suddenly shown -evidences of excitement. They saw him bend down and more closely examine -the ground in front. - -Then he whistled, and turned a face toward his chums on which they could -plainly read new anxiety. - -"It beats anything how they could have just happened to cross the trail -of Bumpus," he observed. - -Thad instantly jumped at conclusions. - -"Meaning our old acquaintances. Hank Dodge and Pierre Laporte?" he said. - -"Here are their footprints as plain as anything," continued Allan. "Look -for yourselves, because all of you know what they were like. Here's where -Hank rested the butt of his gun on the ground, while he talked it over -with Pierre; and yes, he even emptied his pipe right at this place, -knocking it on his shoe, because you can see some half-burned tobacco in -this footprint." - -"Do you think they knew who Bumpus was?" asked Thad. - -"They could guess, easy enough, after remembering what we said about our -having a tenderfoot chum wandering around here by himself," was the -prompt reply of the trail finder. - -"But then, it wasn't any of their business," Giraffe went on to say. -"They might have had curiosity enough to figure out who Bumpus was; but -they'd never seen him, and so of course he hadn't done anything to injure -them." - -He looked troubled, though, even while thus trying to assure himself that -Bumpus could not be in any peril because of these two ugly timber -cruisers. - -"But his chums had riled them up considerably," Allan went on, "and -perhaps they were mean enough to think they could hit us, through -Bumpus." - -Step Hen ground his teeth in anger, while his eyes flashed ominously. - -"Did they change their course right here, Allan?" he asked. - -"Just what they did," was the reply. - -"And followed after our chum?" Step Hen went on. - -"You can see for yourself that their prints blot his out in places," the -other replied. - -"Come on!" said Step Hen, shaking his gun furiously. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - STILL IN PURSUIT, WITH THE TRAIL GROWING WARMER. - - -Step Hen was not alone in feeling angry at this action on the part of the -two unscrupulous timber cruisers. Every one of the scouts experienced a -degree of indignation that might easily be fanned into boyish rage. - -"And I don't calculate, now," said Giraffe, presently, "that Hank and -Pierre are the kind of men to step out of their way ten feet to do a good -deed, 'specially toward a boy they'd never yet seen?" - -"Well, they didn't impress me that way," declared Thad. - -"And they haven't much of a reputation for being tenderhearted, I -believe," Allan added, speaking over his shoulder, for he was following -the trail persistently. - -But then, even a novice could have kept on that trail. None of the three -who made it seemed to think anything about hiding their tracks. - -Those of Bumpus in particular were plainly marked, and presently Giraffe -began to notice this patent fact. - -"There seems to be a big difference in these footprints," he said. - -"There certainly is," Allan replied. - -"Now, I don't mean it that way, because of course Bumpus hasn't got feet -anywhere near as big as those of Hank and Pierre. But always it's the -same, and his footprints look deeper than theirs. But for all he's so -fat, sure Bumpus can't be heavier than either of those big broad -shouldered husky men?" - -Giraffe seemed to realize that there must be an explanation which would -clear up this little mystery, and he wanted it. - -"That isn't what makes the difference, Giraffe," the tracker went on. -"You know, we decided that Bumpus went along here right soon after the -storm yesterday afternoon, and while the ground was still soft?" - -"Yes, I remember, Allan." - -"Well," said Allan, "Hank and Pierre didn't happen on the scene until -this morning, and by then the ground was somewhat firm again. Is that -plain enough?" - -"I should say it was, and thank you for the explanation," Giraffe -answered. "It beats all what you fellers can get out of this thing. Why, -that alone is about as interesting a fact as anybody could think up." - -"Then Bumpus had, say twelve hours the start?" suggested Step Hen. - -"Right here, yes," replied Allan. "But you must remember that he was -meaning to settle down for the night about this time. And when he went on -this morning, perhaps they'd be only a couple of hours behind." - -"Whew! things seem to be getting mighty interesting," remarked Giraffe. - -"I should say they were," Step Hen asserted. - -"Don't I wish Davy and Smithy and Bob White were here." the long scout -went on. - -"Huh! there's four of us as it is, and all carryin' good guns too. We -ought to be enough of a crowd to hold up that pair of cowards," declared -Step Hen, who did not seem to have a very high opinion of Hank and his -mate. - -"We did it once, all right," remarked Giraffe, with a grin, "and we c'n -do it again, or my name is Dennis." - -"But Bumpus hadn't camped yet, had he?" Step Hen asked. - -"I think we're coming to where he spent last night," said Allan. "I had a -glimpse just then of something that looked like a dead camp-fire. Yes, -here it is, boys, you see." - -"Well, he did do it, all right," muttered Giraffe, as he stood there, and -looked down upon the ashes of a fire. - -"Yes," Thad remarked, "and here we can see where he obtained dry timber -by hacking into the heart of this stump." - -"Oh! Bumpus is the surprise of this trip, all right!" exclaimed Step Hen. -"I'm just goin' to take off my hat to him, after what he's done." - -"He seems to keep us guessing, don't he?" Thad remarked, looking around -with a feeling akin to pride, to realize that the one who all along had -been termed the real tenderfoot of the patrol, should so suddenly develop -such astonishing skill in taking care of himself. - -"No babes in the wood about this business, let me tell you." asserted -Giraffe, after he had examined the way Bumpus had made his fire. "Done -things pretty near as well as an old seasoned fire builder could have -made out." - -That was a high compliment indeed, coming from Giraffe. Bumpus must have -felt greatly pleased, could he have heard it. Perhaps his right ear -burned him just about that time, for all boys know that such a thing -happens only when some one is making complimentary remarks about you. - -"But Bumpus left here this morning, of course?" said Step Hen; and Allan -went on: - -"He did, after passing a pretty comfortable night on that bed of hemlock -boughs which he made, and which you can see there. Kept his feet toward -the fire, too, just like an old experienced camper, who was without a -tent and blanket would do. And his going off without this last is what -convinces me Bumpus didn't really mean to lose himself when he started -out to get his bear. He just took a lot of grub along, his hatchet, and -plenty of ammunition, so as to be pretty well fixed in case he couldn't -make use of his compass in finding the way back to camp." - -Giraffe placed his hand on the dead ashes. - -"Wet 'em down again, sure he did," he remarked. - -"Ain't our chum just _it_ though," chuckled Step Hen. - -"He kept his fire burning all night," Thad remarked, casually. - -"How d'ye know that?" asked Step Hen. - -"Oh! the amount of ashes tells that he used a heap of wood," was the -reply. "You can see he made his camp close to this fallen tree, and used -his little axe in cutting up the dead branches." - -"Bumpus deserves to be made a first-class scout," said Giraffe, in -genuine enthusiasm. - -"He's on the road there, anyhow," declared Allan. - -"But we must be off," Thad remarked. "We've had a few minutes' rest while -figuring out all these things our chum has been up to. Now let's put our -best leg forward." - -"That means the right one," said Giraffe. - -"No, you're away off there; it's the left one," remonstrated Step Hen, -limping more decidedly with his right leg to prove that it was not "in -the running." - -"Both of you are correct," declared Thad. "It all depends on the point of -view you choose to take." - -"And of course Hank and Company started out on the new trail, because I -can see the marks of their brogans?" ventured Giraffe. - -"Yes," Allan replied, "they looked around the camp a bit, perhaps -surprised to find that even a tenderfoot scout knows how to take care of -himself. Then they pushed on." - -"How far behind Bumpus?" - -"I should say about three hours," replied the trail master, without -hesitation. - -"He's got that much lead, then?" Giraffe asked. - -"Close on it," Allan answered. "But something may cause him to stop, and -then they'd overtake him. On the whole, I'd rather guess those men would -make faster time than our chum." - -"And be slowly but surely gaining, all the while?" suggested Thad. - -"Yes." - -"Then we've got to get a hustle on us, that's all," Giraffe asserted. -"Already we're away behind in the race, and just as like as not another -night's going to catch us before we overhaul these parties. That'll make -it bad." - -"We can't help it any," remarked Thad, "we're doing our level best, and -there's a limit, you know. We've just got to leave the rest to -Providence." - -"And Bumpus' luck--don't forget that," said Step Hen. - -"He's sure got it along with him this trip," Giraffe avowed, "and it's -been working over time for our fat chum too. Seems to me these here gents -are kind of rash tryin' to meddle with a feller that has everything -comin' to him like Bumpus has. P'raps they'll think they have made a -mistake when they tackle that walkin' wonder." - -Both Giraffe and Step Hen chuckled a little, as though the idea rather -appealed to their boyish sense of humor. And Thad could not help thinking -things had come to a strange pass indeed, when these two scouts, who had -lorded it over Bumpus so long, on account of their superior knowledge, -were ready to admit that they might yet sit at the feet of the fat chum, -and take lessons in woodcraft. - -Would wonders ever cease, Thad thought? But then, he knew only too well -that once a scout becomes fully enthused with zeal in the pursuit of -knowledge along these lines he will not only open up new pleasures daily -for himself, but surprises for his friends as well. - -They had been gone from the camp-fire about half an hour now. There was -no trouble at all about following the trail; indeed, Allan more than once -declared that even if a bandage were tied over his eyes he would have -been able to keep right along, using his fingers to guide him, so plainly -marked were the footprints of men and boy. - -"Hello!" said Allan, suddenly, "I wonder now what started him to -running?" - -"Bumpus, you mean, don't you?" asked Giraffe. - -"Yes, he began right here. You can see how his toes press down," Allan -remarked. - -"Perhaps he discovered the men behind him," suggested Step Hen. - -"No, they were still more than two hours' back," Allan contrived, as he -walked on hastily. "And besides, Bumpus never once turned to look behind; -I could tell from his track if he did. Something in front must have -attracted him." - -Giraffe and Step Hen looked at each other. - -"I wonder," said the former. - -"'Twould be just Bumpus' luck if he did," the other boy exclaimed. - -Neither of them spoke their thoughts aloud further than that. For a short -time they kept moving rapidly along. And then Allan held up his hand as a -signal for the others to stop. - -"Well," he said, "it happened, after all these days of tramping. Bumpus -came across the trail of a bear, and a big fellow too. See here, you can -see his tracks, where none of the others have marred them." - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - ANOTHER SHOCK. - - -"He was a buster, just as you said, Allan," Giraffe remarked, uneasily, -after they had examined the imprint of those feet, showing the marks of -the long cruel claws. - -"A grizzly, I reckon?" Step Hen ventured. - -"Yes. And I think he must have been hurt some, because he seemed to drag -his left hind leg a little." - -"P'raps Bumpus plugged him," Giraffe suggested, just as though he were -speaking of some celebrated forest ranger, accustomed to meeting up with -these terrors of the Rockies, rather than a fat scout who, up to -recently, had been looked upon by most of his comrades as something of a -joke. - -"No, Bumpus was some distance away right here," Allan continued. "There -is no sign of blood, so we know from that the injury was not a fresh one. -And besides, whoever heard of a full-grown grizzly running away from a -dozen human enemies, after being shot and wounded, much less from a -single foe, and he a boy?" - -"You're right, Allan," commented the scoutmaster. - -"Reckon it does look that way," Giraffe admitted. - -There was one good trait about the tall scout--no matter how strong an -opinion he might have on any subject, once convinced of the error of his -thinking, and Giraffe would own up to his mistake most cheerfully. - -"So right here," Step Hen broke in, "Bumpus was on the run, achasin' fast -after the limpin' grizzly? Say, Giraffe, he was in your class of -cripples, because Allan says it was his _left_ hind leg that was hurt." - -"Well, I ain't got but one left leg so that makes all the difference," -the tall scout hastened to announce. - -"I wonder--" began Step Hen, and then paused, as though hardly daring to -frame his thoughts in words. - -"We're all doing that," remarked Allan. - -"How did it end?" Thad remarked, straining his eyes to look ahead. - -"Say, wouldn't it be just great now," Giraffe broke out with, "if we'd -just come up with Bumpus asquattin' in the crotch of a tree, all his -ammunition fired away, and that old bear sittin' on his haunches below, -awaitin' for him to come down?" - -"I'd just like to see it," said Step Hen, making a suggestive gesture -with his gun. "I'd try to drive a few dum-dum bullets into his hulking -old carcase." - -"But perhaps Bumpus mightn't be so smart about getting up in a tree, when -a wounded bear was charging him," Giraffe ventured to remark. - -All of them had a painful recollection of that other episode, when -Bumpus, rashly discharged his ten-bore Marlin at the monster, and would -have been caught trying to climb a tree, only for the help he received -from one of his comrades. - -"But Bumpus doesn't make the same mistake twice, I notice," said Thad, -firmly; "and if he fired at _this_ bear, I'm pretty sure he first of all -had a tree picked out that he could climb, all right." - -"I warrant you he did, Thad," Giraffe added. - -They were all of them only too eager to believe the best. The very -thought of Bumpus, after all the good work he had been doing, meeting -such a dreadful fate as being torn to pieces by a bear, was something -they tried to banish from their minds as incredible. - -Nevertheless, in spite of all this outward display of confidence, they -continued to cast eager glances ahead as they pushed on. - -Giraffe about this time remembered that there were others also interested -in the fate of the lone scout. - -"I see Hank and Pierre are keepin' right along?" he remarked. - -"Yes," replied Allan, thinking this was really a question. - -"Mebbe they think a nice bear skin wouldn't be a bad article to have, -even if it is the off season for furs," Giraffe added. - -"More'n likely," Step Hen broke in with, "they reckon as how they'd -better keep along, so as to bury what's left of our poor chum, and claim -his rifle and other belongings as salvage." - -"Let's hope then they'll meet up with the greatest disappointment of -their lives," Thad hastened to remark, shivering at the cruel picture the -words of Step Hen presented to his mind. - -"Listen!" - -They all came to a standstill when Giraffe called out. Every ear was -strained in the attempt to catch a sound that might be a cry for help, or -the distant report of a gun. - -"Guess it must a been that old crow cawing himself hoarse over yonder on -that tree," Giraffe finally admitted. "Thought it was somebody callin' us -to halt, sure I did, Thad." - -"Seems like you were mistaken," was all the scoutmaster remarked, as once -again the march was resumed. - -"P'raps he didn't overtake the old bear after all," Step Hen broke out -with, a couple of minutes later. - -"Well, he was following the trail, all right, when he got here," Allan -asserted, with a positive way that seemed convincing. - -"But you said at first he saw the bear, when he took to running." - -"I thought he did," replied the trail hunter, "but since then I've come -to the conclusion I was wrong. Still, you can see that he kept on, for -bear, Bumpus and the two men are written in the tracks as plain as -print." - -"Yes, that's so, Allan. But there don't seem to be any sign of life -ahead. Here, what's the matter with you, Old Eagle Eye? Just look beyond, -and see if you c'n discover our brave chum up a tree somewhere?" - -Thus appealed to, and complimented rather than otherwise by the title -which Step Hen had thrust upon him, Giraffe did stretch his long neck, -and scan the region ahead. - -"Don't see him a waiving to us, up in one of those trees?" the other -asked. - -"Nixy," returned the one with the keen vision, a shade of disappointment -perceptible in his voice. "I c'n see heaps of trees, and p'raps there -might be a boy sittin' up in one of the same; but if he's waving to us, I -don't get on to his wave. But hold on!" - -"Oh! then you _do_ see something?" cried Step Hen, pulling back the -hammer of his repeating rifle eagerly. - -"Not in a tree," replied Giraffe, cautiously. - -Something in his manner, perhaps in his paling face as well, gave Thad a -nervous chill. As for himself, he had not discovered anything amiss; but -perhaps his range of vision was more limited than that of the tall scout; -or possibly he did not chance to be looking in the same direction. - -"Where then?" asked Step Hen. - -"Er--on the ground," replied the other, slowly and soberly. - -"Is--do you think it's Bumpus?" demanded Step Hen, also losing his color. - -"I don't know. There's a little bush in the way, and I can't see very -well," Giraffe added. - -"But--does it move any, Giraffe?" the horrified Step Hen asked. - -"Don't seem to, one bit, all the time I've been keepin' my eye on the -same." - -"Oh! my stars." - -Step Hen could not command his voice to say more. He kept staring in a -general direction ahead, as though he could see what attracted the notice -of the chum who had the telescopic eyes. - -But Thad was not so easily satisfied. - -"Show me where you mean, Giraffe," he said, grimly. - -If there was any unpleasant duty to be performed Thad Brewster could be -depended on to go about it without flinching. He would have made a fine -soldier, because discipline was so much a part of his nature. - -"There, follow those three trees that run as straight a line as if some -surveyor had a planted the same for range finders. D'ye see that light -bunch of scrub just beyond? All right, look just to the left, and----" - -"I see it!" said Thad, quietly. - -A dozen seconds of dreadful suspense followed. Then Step Hen, who had -managed to recover his lost breath, broke forth with: - -"Is it Bumpus, Thad?" - -"I don't believe so," replied the scoutmaster, steadily, and it could -easily be seen that he must have just been under a terrible strain. - -"What makes you say that; I'm asking for information, but all the same -I'm awful glad to hear you make that remark," Giraffe observed. - -"In the first place it doesn't seem to be the color of our chum's -clothes," Thad began, "and then, on the other hand, it's certainly too -big to be him." - -"Guess you hit the nail on the head there, Thad," Giraffe hastened to -declare; "now that I look closer, I reckon it is just too big." - -"Mebbe it's only a rock after all, or an old stump," suggested Step Hen. - -"Mebbe it is," replied the tall scout, meekly, for his feelings had been -so recently torn by conflicting hopes and fears, that he was in no mood -for argument. - -"Let's push forward and see," suggested Allan. - -"Trail seems to lead that way, don't it?" Thad mentioned, when they had -been moving along swiftly for a few minutes. - -"Yes, and we'll soon know the worst, because, unless I'm much mistaken -the _thing_ is lying just at the other side of them bushes. They're -thicker here, you see, and we won't be able to tell what it's doing till -after we get around the same." - -Giraffe had a habit of talking at a lively pace when wishing to keep his -heart from betraying his nervousness. It was somewhat on the principle -that a boy whistles as loud as he can when passing a country graveyard. - -Half a minute later, and in a bunch the four scouts turned a flank -movement around the bushes. Step Hen and Giraffe almost dropped with -sheer astonishment, and had to actually sustain each other. No wonder, -when before them they saw the motionless form of a huge bear, that had -evidently been shot in a dozen places. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - FINDING OUT HOW BUMPUS DID IT. - - -"Well, what d'ye think of that?" Giraffe demanded, as, with his comrades, -he presently hurried forward to examine the dead bear. - -"I said Bumpus could do it, didn't I?" questioned Step Hen. "Why, with -the great run of luck he's camping alongside now, that pard of ours could -go into the lion and elephant country of Africa, and knock over more old -tuskers and yellow manes than you could shake a stick at." - -"But how d'ye know he did this?" asked Giraffe, as a new doubt assailed -him. - -"Tell me who else could?" demanded the other. - -"Oh! I'm not sayin' they did; don't think that," Giraffe went on; "but we -happen to know there are a couple of men hanging around this section of -the country." - -"Meaning Hank and Pierre, of course?" - -"Yes, they're the dodgers. Now, you see, they just might have come up -here, found the bear holdin' Bumpus up in a tree, and took a notion to -knock the old mountain bear silly, just so they could look our chum over, -and take all he had." - -Step Hen was unable to hazard a reply to this, and so he appealed to -those who ought to be able to decide. - -"How about that, Thad, Allan?" - -Both shook their heads in the negative. - -"Give Bumpus all the credit of downing this bear," Thad remarked. - -"There are lots of things that go to prove it," said Allan. "Look here, -and I'll show you. See, here's where he knelt to fire, first of all, and -I want you to notice what a dandy tree for climbing Bumpus picked out, -just alongside." - -"And when he'd rammed in both charges, only to see the bear coming full -tilt after him, like a house afire, Bumpus swung up in the tree--is that -it, Allan?" and Giraffe looked wise as he said this. - -"Just what he did," Allan went on to say. "I reckon he had a stout cord -fixed on his gun, and could slip one arm through this, so that the Marlin -went up when he did, all right." - -"Ain't he the cute one, though?" Step Hen murmured, in admiration. - -"Well, you can see how the bear clawed the tree," continued Allan, "but -he wasn't able to get up. Grizzlies are poor climbers anyway, and this -fellow must have been handicapped by that injured hind leg." - -"And then Bumpus, he opened on him, didn't he?" Giraffe cried. - -"Well, I guess that's what he did," laughed Thad. "I can count _twelve_ -empty shells here under the tree. Two Bumpus used at long range, but all -the rest he must have fired point-blank, with the bear not more than five -or ten feet away from the muzzle of his gun." - -"How d'ye tell that?" asked Giraffe. - -"Why, here, and here you can see the hair on the bear looks singed around -a wound. That proves the gun was only a few feet away. And notice too, -boys, nearly every shot took effect either in the breast or back of the -bear. The one that finished him was this in the ear. It penetrated his -brain." - -Giraffe gave one of his whistles, and then remarked: - -"Glory! but there must have been a hot time around here, all right. I can -just imagine I see Bumpus perched up in that crotch, and blazing away as -fast as he could load. What a circus it was, and such great luck. Why, -that feller could grab the first prize in the Havana lottery if he ever -wanted to go down to Cuba and take a chance. He can sure do anything!" - -"He got his bear, bless his dear old heart," laughed Step Hen. - -"Yes, and just like he did with the bob-cat; only this time, he hacked -off the claws from all four feet. Must mean to have 'em made into a war -necklace, Indian fashion," observed Allan. - -"Looks some like a slaughter-house around here," Giraffe said. "The bear -bled from every wound. They told us a grizzly could stand any amount of -lead, and now I believe it. Why, at that close range, them buckshot in -his gun just tore in like a great big fifty-eight slug. Oh! what a sight, -if Davy had only been here with his snapshot box." - -"But I can see that Hank and Pierre came right along in," observed Step -Hen. - -"Yes, and looked around, just like we're doing now," Allan remarked. - -"I'm some surprised that they didn't capture the skin of the bear," the -other went on. "Bumpus couldn't take it off, because that's one thing he -hasn't learned--yet. But surely Hank or Pierre must be old trappers -enough for that." - -But Allan shook his head. - -"They looked at it, and quickly decided it wasn't worth taking," he said. -"First place, Bumpus had hacked all the fierce claws off, and they're the -best part of a grizzly pelt, I'm told. Then our chum had, as you can see, -just about riddled the hide; shot holes through every which way. That's -probably why they didn't bother trying to take the skin off the bear." - -"But--did they keep on after Bumpus?" asked Giraffe. - -"I'm sorry to say they did," admitted Allan, who with his customary -alertness had been looking around, and taking note of things. - -"That means, we will be on the move again," Giraffe declared. - -"Can't be getting away any too soon to suit me," Step Hen said. - -"The things I'm sorry about are these," remarked Thad. "First, it's -getting along in the afternoon now, and our chances of overtaking either -the men or Bumpus before darkness comes on are mighty small, I'm afraid. -You see they've got quite a few hours' advantage over us." - -"Well, why not make a torch or so, and keep moving along, even after -night does set in," suggested Giraffe, quickly, for his mind was always -inclining toward fire in some shape or style. - -"Now, that may not be such a bad idea at all, Giraffe," Thad promptly -declared. "And I'm glad you mentioned it. If we're not too leg-weary -after we've eaten, and rested an hour or two, we might try that scheme." - -"If it didn't do anything else," put in Allan, "it would surely cut down -the big lead they've got on us, and we might be close enough when we -started at dawn again, to get Bumpus with the call of the Silver Fox -Patrol." - -"Better than that, even," said Thad, "if we kept moving right along -to-night who knows but what we might have the luck to glimpse a -camp-fire. Remember how we did that before, and thought to surprise our -chum; when it turned out the other way, and we got all the surprise from -Hank and Pierre?" - -"Whose fire would this be, d'ye think--Bumpus', or Hank's?" asked -Giraffe. - -"Perhaps both," was the significant reply Thad made. "For unless they've -changed their minds, and concluded not to meddle with a tenderfoot scout -who was able to kill a full grown grizzly all by himself, I take it that -before now Bumpus and the timber cruisers have joined forces." - -"Like the lion and the lamb lying down together without the least bit of -trouble, because the lamb was _inside_ the lion," remarked Giraffe, -drily. - -"Yes, the chances are that they've bulldozed our chum, and made him wait -upon them like a slave, cook their meals for them; and perhaps they will -tie him up in camp to-night, so he won't have a chance to run away." - -Step Hen fairly gnashed his teeth while drawing this agonizing mental -picture of the further troubles of Bumpus. And even those who had the -most faith in the fat scout's newly aroused ability to think, and take -care of himself, could hardly see how the awkward lad might come out of -such an encounter as this with any degree of credit. - -Being up against two husky and unprincipled men, who had brains with -which to plot and scheme, was an entirely different proposition from -meeting animals that acted only from instinct, and often very unwisely. - -"But see here, Thad," exclaimed Step Hen, "you said a while ago there -were two reasons for you feeling sorry, and the first was that it was -getting late, and we might have to camp soon. What was the other?" - -"Why," the patrol leader continued; "knowing that these hard characters -are abroad, between us and Bumpus, even if they haven't made a prisoner -of our chum, you see, we're kept from doing any more shouting out loud." - -"Just why?" asked the other, dubiously. - -"It would only advertise our presence to the pair, and they could lay a -trap to snare us. Perhaps they'd make Bumpus lure us on, or even imitate -his voice and catch us napping. As it is now," Thad went on, "so far as -we know, they don't even suspect that we're around. If we can keep them -from knowing right along, our job's going to be all the easier." - -"You're right, Thad," said Allan, emphatically. - -And even the other two could see the force of his reasoning. - -There was nothing to do, therefore, but keep steadily along, trusting to -their perseverance to bring them a reward in the end. None of them dared -to even dream that the astonishing good luck that had followed Bumpus -ever since he found himself lost in the big timber, would not continue -with him to the end. - -The best they could figure on was that if their chum had fallen into the -hands of the two husky timber spies, they would be tired enough to go -into camp soon after, and make the boy do all the work of getting supper. - -And while they thus dallied, dreaming of no danger, the four scouts might -be advancing steadily, rod after rod, making use of a rude torch in order -to see the trail, and all the while drawing nearer the crisis. - -"You don't think they'd be apt to hurt Bumpus, do you, Thad?" the -war-like Step Hen asked, for the third time, as they continued to press -on. - -"Not seriously," replied the scoutmaster. "We know they are bullies on -the face of it, but really cowards at heart. If they hadn't been that, -d'ye suppose for one minute they would ever have bombarded us while we -slept, as they thought, with great rocks, any one of which might have -broken our arms or legs? And if they've got hold of Bumpus, just because -he's a scout, and our friend, they'd likely kick him around a lot, and -make him knuckle down to them; but I hardly believe they'd hurt him -badly. But no matter what they do, they've got to settle with Bumpus' -chums, sooner or later." - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - CAUGHT IN A TRAP. - - -"I'm glad, right glad to hear you say that, Thad," declared Step Hen. - -"Yes, I know how you feel," the scoutmaster went on, "and it does you a -lot of credit too, for scouts should stand by each other through thick -and thin. But go slow, Step Hen, go slow. We don't want to do any -shooting, if it can be avoided; and then, remember, only pepper their -legs. We belong to an organization that stands for _peace_ every time, -and no scout can be permitted to do any violence, unless it is to -actually save his own life, or that of a chum." - -"Oh! I understand all that, Thad; make your mind easy," declared Step -Hen, jauntily. "What I'd like to do in case those curs have kicked and -pounded poor old Bumpus, would be to just give 'em each forty whacks on -the bare back with that bull whip we use on Mike and Molly, our pack -mules, when they get too stubborn for anything." - -"Now, that ain't a bad idea, Step Hen," asserted Giraffe, nodding his -head until, perched on such a long neck, it reminded Thad of a wooden -manikin he had seen working as an advertisement in a shop window where -razors were sold. "No, it's a pretty good scheme--for you, Step Hen; but -I can go you one better. We ought to just tar and feather such rascals, -take their guns away, and ride 'em out of camp on a rail." - -"The last part could be done easy enough," Step Hen declared; "but that -other about the tar and feathers is too silly for anything." - -"Why is it, I'd just like to know?" demanded Giraffe. "It's been done -hundreds of times, down South, out West, and even up North." - -"Sure, and I've no doubt it's a heap of satisfaction to them that apply -the feathers. Something like the old fable 'fun for the boys, but death -to the frogs.' But tell me, Giraffe, please where would you get the tar, -up in this big timber wilderness? And how about the feathers--got a -pillow handy you can rip open?" and Step Hen laughed in the face of the -long scout, feeling that he had by far the best of the bargain. - -"Oh, shucks! guess that did kinder slip my mind," grumbled Giraffe; and -he felt so humiliated over his defeat in the wordy war that for five full -minutes he actually remained as mute as the sphinx; and it generally took -a good deal to keep Giraffe silent that long. - -Of course they were constantly on the lookout for any signs ahead of -those whose trail they followed. But they had very little hope of -stumbling upon such a piece of good luck as overtaking them before night -set in. - -According to the latest report from Allan, in whom they all felt the -utmost confidence, some hours had passed, perhaps four or more, since -Hank and his French-Canadian partner had made those footprints. - -"But they have been catching up on Bumpus right along," he had also -announced in the same breath. "If they were two hours behind at the spot -where the bear was killed, they've cut that down to one at the time they -passed here. And going at the same rate of speed I should say they'd -overtake our chum about a couple of miles away from this spot." - -"Hope they made up their minds to camp right away then," said Giraffe. -"I'm not saying anything, and I can keep on as long as the next one; but -this right--left, which old leg is it, anyway--feels sore sometimes, and -then numb-like." - -"And I'm afraid mine's swelling just a little, Thad," ventured Step Hen. -"P'raps there was some poison in that snake bite after all, and you -didn't suck it all out." - -"Don't worry," remarked the scoutmaster, cheerily. "Both of you are using -your lame limb more than you should, that's all. But that can't be -helped, because we're bound to find our chum." - -"Yes," said Giraffe, sturdily, "even if it takes a leg, as they say. But -suppose, now, those men do come up with Bumpus, I reckon they'll make out -to be friendly hunters, sent out by some of us to find him; because they -know a lot about the scouts. Step Hen here jabbered like an old woman, -when we believed Hank was the forest ranger, Toby Smathers, we'd been -told to find." - -"Not near so much as you did yourself, Giraffe," remonstrated Step Hen. -"That's one thing I will admit you stand in a class by yourself--talking; -yes, and in the making of fires at any old time and place. But of course -they'll fool Bumpus that easy, he's so confiding, so free from suspicion -himself." - -"And then, before he knows what's happening, they'll switch his gun out -of his hands, give him a few hard kicks, and just treat him like a dog. -Oh! it fairly makes my blood boil just to think of it," Giraffe went on -to say, while he frowned, and gnashed his teeth in a way that must have -seriously alarmed the objects of his detestation, could they have been -near enough to see and hear. - -But unfortunately it was all wasted, for both Hank and Pierre were miles -away at the time. - -"What's that yonder?" exclaimed Thad, startling the others. - -"Would you believe it, looks like an old stake and rider country fence, -left alone to go to the waste years ago?" Allan announced, after taking a -look. - -"Well, that's a sign we're getting near some village, I take it," -declared Step Hen. - -Giraffe laughed aloud when he heard this. - -"Why, what a goose you are, Step Hen," he remarked, bluntly. - -"Oh! am I? See any down coming along?" demanded the other, warmly. - -"Sure I do--on your upper lip," Giraffe went on. "Noticed it only the -other day; and thought then that if you keep on for a dozen years or so, -we'll expect you to be sportin' as fine a moustache as the one old Jerry -William has been coaxing along this half century. You know, the Cranford -boys liken it to a baseball game, because there are nine on one side and -nine on the other." - -"But why was I silly when I said we might run across a village up here?" -Step Hen persisted, being just bound to know. - -"Because we were told that there wasn't such a thing within fifty miles -of this same place, except the little settlement where we got our pack -mules," the tall scout went on to say, convincingly. - -"But that was a fence, all right," Step Hen avowed. "I heard Allan say -so; and I guess I know a fence when I see one." - -"Oh! well, don't talk of a fence now, Step Hen. I think if you ask Thad, -he'll tell you some feller must a tried to hold out up here, and gave it -up from sheer loneliness. Either that, or else the Injuns got him." - -"Injuns!" repeated Step Hen, apparently startled. - -"Sure," Giraffe went on, for he was a great tease. - -"How about that, Thad?" and the other scout turned to the patrol leader; -because it had long ago become second nature with the members of the -Silver Fox Patrol to put all arguments up to him for settlement; and it -was really remarkable how satisfied both sides usually seemed with his -decisions, since they had absolute faith in Thad as a just judge. - -"Well, I rather expect Giraffe is yarning a little when he says the man -may have been wiped out by the Indians," the scoutmaster replied, -laughingly. "Fact is, the chances would be, some trappers come up here -each season, and likely spent the whole winter reaping a harvest, -returning in the Spring with their take. If we had time to look around, -which we haven't, I reckon we'd stumble on a concealed cabin somewhere in -the thickest of the timber." - -"Wow! must be cold, all right, in winter. Talk about your zero, I guess -the bottom drops out of the thermometer up here," Giraffe ventured to -say. - -"No doubt it is cold, because we're not a great distance from the border -line of the British Northwest provinces. But then, these fur takers -expect that. The further north you go the better the fur," Thad remarked. - -"That's a well-known fact," added Allan. "One trapper told me that the -skin of a muskrat or a raccoon, taken away up in Canada, was worth three -of the same captured down in Florida." - -"Yes, I reckon that's so," said Giraffe, "I can understand why the fur is -heavier and richer. Old Nature provides it according to the weather. If -it's a country with hardly any winter, why the fur is thin; and just the -other way where it's bitter cold for many months." - -"But that fence?" Step Hen went on. - -"Listen to him still harping on that fence business!" jeered Giraffe. - -"Oh!" Thad went on to say, pleasantly, "perhaps one year these trappers -tried to stay through the summer too, and put up a fence to keep their -horses from straying, and falling prey to the wild beasts." - -Step Hen seemed satisfied, because the explanation appeared natural. So -for a while they kept plodding on in almost complete silence. - -Both lame boys limped more or less. Thad noticed this, and concluded that -they deserved a rest, especially since the afternoon was creeping along, -and already the timber began to look a little shadowy. - -So he mentioned the fact to Allan, who immediately resolved to keep a -bright lookout for a nice spring of cool water, alongside of which they -might stop, build a little fire, and take things comfortable for a while. - -Luckily this chanced to appear very shortly. Although they would not say -as much, being too proud to complain, Step Hen and Giraffe were secretly -glad of the chance to rest. They talked valorously, however, of what -great stunts they would be ready to perform after they devoured some -supper, and had taken things a little easy. - -Thad knew, however, that it would really require something of an effort -to get the boys started afresh. The two hours' rest would refresh their -energies, but stiffen their sore legs, more or less. - -Giraffe attended to the fire part of the business, as usual, and Step Hen -hovered near by, ready to assist with what little cooking they might have -to do. Thad sat there, examining some rough charts he had made of the -country, as he knew it; and figuring on just where the camp by the -rapids, occupied by Bob White, Davy Jones and Smithy, must be. - -Allan had started to take a look around the vicinity, and it was hardly -more than ten minutes when he was heard calling: - -"Hello! Thad, come here, and give me a hand, will you? I'm caught fast in -a trap!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - THE CRIPPLE BUSINESS SEEMS TO BE CONTAGIOUS. - - -Of course these words from their comrade gave the other three Boy Scouts -quite a shock. Giraffe was on his knees by the fire, and he immediately -started to crane his neck, twisting his head in every direction. Step Hen -very wisely first of all removed the little extra coffee-pot they had -brought along, and set it safely on the ground, before scrambling to his -feet. - -Thad was already hurrying off. Not knowing what Allan meant by being in a -"trap" the sagacious scoutmaster made sure to carry his gun along with -him. And seeing this, the other two did likewise. In that wonderful -country so close to the mountains, there was no telling what sudden -necessity might arise for a means of defense. - -"Where are you, Allan?" called Thad. - -The woods were partly in darkness. It was possible to see the tree -trunks, but all else seemed vague. This, of course, was partly caused by -the fact of the boys having had their eyes dazzled by the glowing fire. -Had they stood there for ten minutes, until used to the semi-gloom, -doubtless they could have distinguished objects around them much more -readily. - -"This way!" came in Allan's voice, and rather close by. "No great hurry, -boys; but I've tried to get out myself, and can't turn around so as to -reach the spring, and step on it with the other foot." - -"Spring!" echoed Giraffe. - -"Yes, because I'm held fast in the grip of an old rusty bear trap, that -must have been left here last season by the trappers," said Allan. - -"Well! what d'ye think about that?" exclaimed Giraffe. - -They were now close to where Allan could be seen standing up. - -"Are you hurt much, Allan?" demanded Thad, horrified at the idea of the -other having a badly-mangled leg. - -"Oh! it hurts some, but I guess the old trap must have a pretty weak set -of springs, and that's why they purposely left it behind. But if it -didn't get a bear, it caught me by the leg, all right." - -"Which leg?" demanded Step Hen, quickly; but Thad spoke up before the -question could be answered. - -"Hadn't we better have some light here to work by, Allan?" he asked. - -"I should say it wouldn't be a bad idea, because there are two springs, -and they ought to be held down at the same time," the victim of the trap -answered. - -"How about it, Giraffe?" asked the patrol leader. - -"Do you want a torch?" exclaimed the fire builder, eagerly. "Oh! just -give me a minute or so, and I'll fix you out quick." - -With that he whirled around in his tracks, and started to go back toward -the fire, with great bounds, that would have done credit to a leaping -deer. When those long "spindle" legs of Giraffe got to working properly, -they were capable of covering ground at a tremendous rate. And if he had -a few stitches of pain, because of that bad stone bruise, Giraffe paid -little attention to it, so engrossed was he in carrying out the order to -get a torch. - -"I hope you're not hurt much, Allan?" said Thad, solicitously, as he -reached the side of his chum, and began feeling for the trap with both -hands. - -"It isn't as comfortable as it might be," admitted the other, with a -nervous little laugh, "and I guess I'll have to join the ranks of the -limpers for a few days; but then, think how much worse it might have -been, Thad." - -"You mean if the trap had been new instead of worn out, Allen?" - -"Yes, that's it, with the springs good, and strong enough to hold even a -big bear. Whew! I guess I'm some lucky at that. And then, if I didn't -have a lot of splendid chums close at hand to help me, I might have a -tough time getting out myself; because, you see, they staked the old trap -down to the ground, and I just don't seem able to turn far enough to get -at the second spring." - -"I warrant you've been trying, all right," suggested Thad. - -"You just bet I have," chuckled Allan, "for five minutes or so, turning -and twisting. You see, I didn't want the rest of you to know how I'd -stepped plumb into an old bear trap, hidden under the dead leaves here." - -"But of course you couldn't make it?" Thad continued, watching Giraffe -waving a blazing brand about his head to induce it to flame up better, as -he left the fire, and started toward the others. - -"Had to own up at last," admitted Allan, "because it hurt badly every -time I tried to turn around. But now it will be all right; for here's -Giraffe and his light." - -"A good torch she is, too," declared the long scout, coming up just then; -"burns just like that fat pine or light wood we had down in North -Carolina. My! what an immense trap. It must pinch that leg of yours some, -Allan." - -"Get around on that side, Step Hen," ordered Thad, "and be sure, once you -stand on the spring, not to get off until I give the word; because if you -did, it will close the jaws as quick as that, and perhaps do more -damage." - -"Reckon I understand, Thad," said Step Hen, starting to follow out -directions. - -"And you, Giraffe, hold the light so both of us can see," continued Thad. -"There, steady now. All ready. Step Hen?" - -"Sure." - -"Then push down hard and steady. There she comes!" - -Allan had taken hold of the jaws of the old bear trap, and no sooner did -the pressure exerted by the two side springs cease, than he was able to -push them wide apart. - -He immediately snatched his leg out of the trap, and no sooner had he -done so than he rolled over on the ground. - -"Oh! my stars!" exclaimed Step Hen, "he's hurt more'n he knows of. What -if he's got a broken leg? Wouldn't we be in a nice pickle though?" - -"It isn't so bad as that, boys," said Allan, who was feeling of the calf -of his leg as he lay on his back, "though it hurts quite some. But help -me up, Thad, and we'll get to the fire. By the time I've used my leg a -little, and you get some of that magic liniment soaked on the spot, I -guess I'll make out, and be able to start when the rest of you do." - -Allan was full of pluck. Moreover, he was an unusually hardy boy, for he -had always spent a good part of his time outdoors; and there is nothing -more calculated to build up a lad's system than that. - -He limped some, of course, as he headed toward the fire; but when Allan -put those firm lips of his tightly together, nothing of an ordinary -character at least, could force him to groan, or even admit that he -suffered. - -Once by the fire he sat down. Step Hen went on with his simple cooking -operations, while Thad, assisted by the ready Giraffe, started to look at -the hurt. - -"Lucky I had on my leggings," remarked Allan. "With those, and my trouser -leg underneath, it made more or less of a bumper. And then again, you -know, traps are never made with teeth nowadays, like they used to be. A -man told me they found that the old style lacerated the leg of the animal -so much, they used to lose a third of their catch; for the fox or the -mink or the otter would either pull and squirm till he'd amputated his -leg, or else gnaw it off." - -"Gnaw it off--ain't you romancing, now, Allan?" asked Giraffe. - -"Not at all," replied the other. "Why that's often been done, though -trappers are divided in their opinion about it. Some think the animal -deliberately gnaws its leg off, ready to make the sacrifice for the sake -of liberty. Others say that an animal naturally bites at anything that -hurts it; and it's while snapping at the jaws of the trap they keep on -tearing at their wounded and broken leg, till it gives way. Anyhow, there -are always a number of poor three-legged small animals in the woods where -trapping is done. I've seen a red fox that was minus a leg; and I tell -you right now, the way he could get over ground was a caution." - -While Allan was talking along in this fashion, doling out interesting -information, he was rolling up the leg of his trousers, though Thad could -see him wince a little as though it gave him pain to do so. - -"Only a black and blue place on each side," Allan went on to say, as if -surprised not to discover a worse looking wound. "Funny how that could -hurt as much as it does." - -"Here, let me put on the liniment, and then bind it up," remarked Thad. -"You'll find it cooling; and I warrant it's going to help along a lot. -These black and blue bruises are always mighty painful. That's where you -got the blow, and the blood's already settling there. This stuff will -help to keep it moving, for there's witch hazel in it, and that, you -know, is really the extract of hamamelis. How's that now?" - -"Feels better, yes, fifty per cent better," declared Allan, as the -amateur scout surgeon fastened the wet bandage snugly with a couple of -safety pins, and started to draw down the leg of the other's trousers, so -the outside covering of canvas legging could be replaced. - -After this had all been done, Allan got up, and commenced to walk around. - -"Sort of trying out myself, you know, boys," he remarked, laughingly, to -hide any grimace of pain, his actions might be causing. - -"How is it?" asked Thad, sympathetically. - -"Better than I expected," the other replied. "Excuse me if I limp around -some, boys, but I think it'll let the liniment work in better, to keep it -warmed up. Oh! I've a lot to be thankful for, let me tell you. I'm not -putting up any sort of kick." - -"Well," remarked Thad, with a good-natured smile, "all I can say is, that -you fellows are working the family doctor to the limit these days. What -with stone bruises, snake bites, and getting caught in bear traps, I'm -making a big hole in the stock of salve and liniment I fetched along. I -suppose it's going to be my turn next. Perhaps you may have to make a -stretcher, and carry me back to camp with a broken leg, or something like -that." - -"For goodness sake, I hope not," exclaimed Allan. "Just imagine the alarm -of the other fellows when a procession of limpers came in sight, carrying -another. And with our chum Bumpus an unknown quantity too." - -"What if he got lamed up too; wouldn't that just be the limit?" chuckled -Giraffe, who often saw humor where no one else did. - -"Anyhow," spoke up Step Hen, still busy at the fire, and there was an air -of satisfaction in his voice, Giraffe instantly noted, "Allan belongs in -_my_ class." - -"How's that?" instantly demanded the jealous Giraffe. - -"Well! Just use your eyes, and you won't need to ask so many foolish -questions. Don't you see how he limps when he puts that old _right_ leg -down? Well, it was my right one that got the snake bite. Allan and me -make up the right leg brigade. You'll just have to herd by yourself, -Giraffe--anyhow till somebody else takes a notion to drop in the fire, or -cut his toe with the wood axe, or somethin' like that." - -Thad and Allan laughed at the comical way in which the peculiar condition -of things was described by Step Hen. - -"Well," said the scoutmaster, "let's hope that won't happen. Better -Giraffe should stay in a class all by himself to the end of the chapter, -than another fellow meet with a serious accident. We've got cripples -enough." - -"I guess this ends the run of hard luck," declared the Maine boy, still -keeping up his movements, although perhaps unconsciously favoring the -injured leg, as any one is apt to do under similar conditions. - -"Why d'ye say that?" asked Giraffe. - -"Oh! you know they always say accidents come in threes," Allan replied, -cheerfully. "The women folks in our house used always to believe that, -anyhow; and this makes three of us hobbling around. If we were at home -now, perhaps we'd be wanting to use crutches; but up here in the woods we -just grin and bear it like true scouts." - -"Yes," Giraffe went on, "guess you're right about women folks believin' -in a broken looking-glass standing for coming trouble, and all such -things; though my dad used to say he had all the trouble settle on him in -paying for a new mirror. But honest to goodness, fellers, I remember once -when my maw, she chanced to drop some dishes, and busted two--what does -she do but walks right over to the dresser, gets out a cracked tumbler -she must a been keepin' for just such a time to come along; and I give -you my word, I nearly took a fit when she just deliberately smashed that -down alongside the broken crockery, and I heard her say, says she: -'There! that makes _three_ now!' just as if that ended it." - -"Supper's ready," announced Step Hen, when the laughter induced by -Giraffe's little story had subsided. - -The coffee tasted just as good as ever. Besides, they had some venison, -cooked in the hunter's primitive way, each piece having been pierced by a -long splinter of wood, the other end being stuck in the ground, so that -the meat was close enough to the red coals to cook without burning--too -much. - -Perhaps at home, with a white table-cloth, silver, cut glass, and all the -ordinary "fixings" around them, some of those boys might have viewed the -suspicious looks of those half-cooked pieces of meat with more or less -hesitation. But appetite ruled here, and every one declared it was "just -prime." And if a fellow found that his meat, while scorched on the -outside, was nearly raw in the center, why, you know, all good cook's -unite in saying game should always be juicy and underdone, rather than -dry and overdone--Step Hen had read it in his mother's precious cook-book -at home, and boldly said so. - -When they were done eating they just lay around talking and resting. It -was very comfortable, and neither Giraffe nor Step Hen felt in the least -like making any change. But they knew that after a while, when the -determined scoutmaster thought they had rested long enough, he would give -the order that must once more see them limping along the trail, a band of -cripples. - -Of course the talk was mostly about Bumpus, harmed. For, despite the -faith Thad professed to and what chances they had of finding him unharmed -in the extraordinary good luck of the fat scout, there were times when -even his stout heart became a prey to misgivings; and in his mind he saw -poor Bumpus being badly treated by those two bullies, the timber -cruisers. - -Latterly Allan had been selecting several good pieces of wood calculated -to burn well, and serve as torches. - -When Thad finally gave the word, they prepared to depart. One of the -splinters of wood, taken from a near-by tree that must have been riven by -a bolt of lightning in the recent storm, was lighted. Then they saw that -the camp-fire was carefully put out, after which Allan, bearing the -torch, found the trail, and started off. - -They kept this up for over an hour. Not one of them murmured, though no -doubt their lame legs hurt considerably. But they remembered constantly -that they were scouts; and that as such, their ability to stand pain was -on trial. - -It was the secret hope of every heart, however, that very soon now they -might discover signs calculated to tell them they were drawing near the -end of their long pursuit of the lost tenderfoot. - -The others were glad, therefore, when Old Eagle Eye, as Step Hen -persisted in terming Giraffe, suddenly called a halt. - -"I guess I've sighted a camp-fire ahead, fellers!" was what he declared. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - THE WAY BLOCKED. - - -"Hurrah!" exclaimed Step Hen, not in a shout, but cautious like, as -became a scout when danger was near; still, he was thrilled by the -information which this announcement from Giraffe contained. - -If there was a fire beyond, the chances seemed pretty good that they -would soon know the truth with regard to Bumpus. Of course they kept on -hoping for the best; but almost anything would be preferable to this -anxiety that had been gnawing so long at their hearts, it had nearly worn -them out. - -Allan thrust his burning torch into the ground, behind a neighboring -tree, so that its light might no longer blind his eyes when he tried to -see the fire Giraffe had discovered. - -After all of them had been directed just where to look, by the exulting -scout whose sharp vision had first located the far-off light, it was -easily decided that there could be no doubt as to its being a fire. - -And as the trail ran about that way, in a general direction, of course -they were perfectly safe in believing that some, or all, of those they -had been so persistently following, would be found alongside that fire. - -The very thought gave them a delicious thrill. By another hour then, -perhaps in even less time than that, they would likely know the worst. -And if, as several of them secretly feared, those two ugly brutes of -timber cruisers had dared lay so much as the weight of their heavy hands -in anger on Bumpus, or ventured to kick him around as though he were a -slave--well, something unpleasant was going to happen to them, that was -positive. - -"It's a fire, all right," announced Thad; and Giraffe breathed easier, -for he had been entertaining a slight fear lest some of his laurels be -snatched away. - -"And all of a mile from here," Allan remarked. "I wonder however you -discovered it, Giraffe, with all these big trees around. There must be -just a little opening ahead, and you hit on that avenue." - -"Oh!" said Giraffe, as if carelessly, though he was undoubtedly secretly -pleased with such words of commendation from one who had had such long -experience in the art of woodcraft as the Maine boy; "what's the good of -having eyes unless you use 'em? That was just dead easy--for me, you -know." - -"Now, the question is, what do we want to do--what would seem to be our -best course?" Thad went on to say. - -"I calculate you are referring to the torch business?" Allan remarked. - -"Yes, that's it," replied the scoutmaster, "we've got to decide right now -whether to keep on using it for a while longer, or stamp on the same, and -make our way ahead the best way possible." - -"But why not keep on with the light?" asked Step Hen, who was wondering -whether in the darkness he might not be so dreadfully unfortunate as to -step on another of those "fighting snakes," and have his _left_ leg put -out of commission also, which would be a dreadful catastrophe indeed. - -"Because there's always a chance one of those sharp timber cruisers would -see it bobbin' along, and that would put them on their guard. We had one -experience in that line, you know, fellers, when they heard us coming, -and got all ready to receive us. I don't like ever to stamp out a fire, -but if you say the word, Thad, out it goes." - -"I think on the whole," remarked the patrol leader, "it would be wiser -for us to do it. Let's locate that fire by the stars, or any other old -way. Now, you can douse the glim, Giraffe." - -Accordingly the tall scout trampled on the partly-burned torch until the -very last spark had been extinguished. - -"Hated to do it, but orders is orders," Giraffe was heard to mutter. - -"Listen to him, would you?" said Step Hen, scornfully. "He feels that way -about all the fires he makes, too; just hates to put 'em out. Makes me -think of an old aunt I have. She raises chickens, but never has any to -eat. Why, she says she might as soon eat a baby, as a hen she'd raised, -and talked to, and made a pet of. Don't ketch me being so old-womanish -and silly." - -Now that they were in darkness, it would of course make their progress -slower, since they had to reckon on all sorts of obstacles. - -"One thing," said Allan, as they started out, "I think I can come back to -this same place in the morning, if we should want to find it again." - -"But what would we want to find it for?" Step Hen demanded. - -"Oh! I don't believe we will; but it might happen, you see, that we'd -have to take up the trail again from here," Allan explained. - -"You mean in case we lost the fire, or didn't find Bumpus with those two -rascals?" Giraffe asked. - -"That's it," said the Maine boy. - -"Well, how're you agoin' to find this place again?" Step Hen went on to -inquire, "all coons look alike to me; and one part of this big timber -strikes me as pretty much the same as the rest, 'specially when you see -it at night time." - -"You wait, and Allan, he'll tell you how," broke in Giraffe, confidently. -He felt sure from the way Allan spoke that he knew what he was saying; -and after seeing how cleverly the Maine boy had stuck to the trail, when -the marks were all Greek to himself and Step Hen, the tall scout had come -to have a sincere admiration for Allan. - -Besides, just then it happened that Giraffe was feeling pretty good. He -had received a very high compliment from the acting scoutmaster, and that -is usually a great victory for any ambitious scout. - -Why, he almost forgot he was tired to death, and that his injured leg had -been paining him furiously. Such an affect can mind have over matter. - -"Oh!" said Allan, off-hand, and in no particular hurry to speak, because -they all really needed a little breathing spell before going on, "it's -generally dead easy to mark most any place in the timber, if only you use -your eyes. There's nearly always some odd old stump of a tree standing -around that you'd be apt to know again. Sometimes there happens to be a -tree with a queer shape, that just catches your eye. Once noticed, it's -easy to remember the same." - -"And right now you're meaning that pair of trees that have fallen toward -each other till they look like a couple of girls going to hug," spoke up -Giraffe, quickly; eager to show that those boasted eagle eyes of his had -been able to see more than just the campfire far ahead. - -"Sure thing. Giraffe, and I'm glad you noticed them, because two heads -are better than one, any day," Allan went on to say. - -"Even if one is--but I won't say it," Step Hen chuckled. - -"Guess you better not," snapped Giraffe. "But now that we've decided on -that little tree test of memory, hadn't we better be going ahead? I'm -thinkin' of our poor chum Bumpus, and what he may be enduring right now." - -"Yes," declared Thad, "we've rested enough, and might just as well be -putting our best foot forward." - -"Meanin' the right leg," muttered Giraffe. - -"You're wrong--it's the left one with Allan and me, and majority rules in -our patrol, you know," chuckled Step Hen. - -"Come on, boys, I've got the bearings pretty well, if that star only -stays out from behind the clouds that hide the moon." - -Thad, upon speaking in this strain, started, with Allan alongside to give -council, and insure progress along direct lines. - -Having had much more experience than the other pair of scouts they were -not only able to keep in a fairly direct line with the fire, but managed -to avoid stumbling over obstacles as well. - -Giraffe and Step Hen proved less fortunate. Several times they stepped -into holes, or else tripped over vines. And each mishap was accompanied -by more or less of a crash, as well as much grumbling from the -unfortunate one, and perhaps chuckling from the other. - -This would never do in the wide world. Either they must slow up still -more, so as to give the stumblers a chance to pick their way more -carefully, or else those better able to move along without trouble would -have to take Giraffe and Step Hen in tow. - -It was decided that the latter method would be better, all things -considered. And so Thad convoyed Giraffe, while Allan slipped a hand -through the right arm of Step Hen. - -"Case of the blind leading the blind, I guess," muttered the latter, -grimly, "because we've both got a game right leg." - -"Don't talk any more than you have to, Step Hen," cautioned the other. - -So they moved along for some time. At any rate it seemed to go better -now. The stumbles were fewer, and of less consequence, and naturally, as -the two who lacked experience in this sort of thing, became more and more -proficient, their confidence arose accordingly. - -Now and then they were able to discover the beacon light that was drawing -them along. And in this particular the really sharp eyes of Giraffe -proved of great help. Several times he was able to direct Thad's -attention to the light when even the scoutmaster had failed to discover -it. - -But all this while their progress seemed to continue in such a direct -forward line that both Giraffe and Step Hen were amazed. They could not -understand how it was done, with all those trees, and other obstacles, to -avoid. - -Some boys seem to be natural-born woodsmen. It comes easy to such to -adapt themselves to circumstances, and learn all sorts of new "wrinkles" -connected with woodcraft. With others it is a hard task, though -determination to succeed is the main thing. Before that will-power, few -obstacles can stand. - -It was while the four scouts were making fair progress through the timber -in this manner, that they suddenly ran up against another serious -obstacle, and one that for a time threatened to upset all their -calculations. - -Allan suddenly gave the low bark of a fox, quickly repeated twice. It -brought the boys to a sudden standstill, for they recognized the signal -of danger. - -The way was blocked! - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - THE "LITTLE LIGHTNING." - - -"What is it?" whispered Step Hen, suddenly turning cold with -apprehension. - -No doubt the first thought that flashed through his mind was that those -two unscrupulous timber cruisers must in some remarkable manner have -learned of their coming again, as on the previous occasion. - -Perhaps Step Hen had just been thinking along these lines, and was -prepared to hear a gruff voice call out to them that it was no use, and -that they had better surrender. - -"The way is blocked!" said Allan, also in a low, guarded voice, as the -others crowded in toward him. - -"In what way, Allan?" asked Thad, anxiously, his voice hardly louder than -the soft murmuring night wind that gently shivered the leaves overhead. - -"Look straight ahead," replied the other. "It's good I happened to -glimpse the fellow before we bumped into him." - -"Goodness gracious!" ejaculated Step Hen. - -He had of course done as Allan suggested, and to his surprise discovered -two glow worms, or fire flies, or something similar, only they did not -seem to come and go, but just burned steadily. - -"What are they?" asked Giraffe, excitedly. - -"Eyes," replied Allan. - -"A wolf?" whispered Step Hen, apprehensively. - -"More likely a panther," Thad answered back. - -They were all half crouching there, with nervous hands clutching their -guns. - -"That's what it is," said Allan, with decision in his voice and manner. -"A wolf would be too much of a coward to stay so long. And listen -closely, boys." - -"Wow! I can hear the old cat growling to himself," said Giraffe. - -Thad felt his comrade make a hasty little move. Then his quick ear caught -the click of a gun lock. - -"Here, none of that, Giraffe," he whispered, sternly. - -"But he might jump on us!" expostulated the tall scout. - -"How about that, Allan?" asked the patrol leader, who did not like the -idea of such a happening any more than Giraffe. - -"I don't think he will, if we keep back," replied Allan, coolly; "that -is, if I know anything about the nature of the beasts; and I ought to. He -objects to our being in his game preserves, that's all, and is trying to -serve notice on us the best he knows how, that he's cleared the decks for -action, and means to fight, unless we turn around and quit." - -"The nerve of the thing!" muttered Giraffe, weakly. - -"How about going around, and letting the old thing alone?" suggested Step -Hen. - -"Oh! you'd find him on to that game," Allan went on to say. "Chances are -he'd just keep pace with us; and when we started to advance again, we'd -see his yellow eyes, and hear his warning growl." - -"Shucks! and do we have to take water from a painter?" demanded Giraffe, -giving the dangerous animal the name by which it is generally known among -all backwoodsmen and forest rangers. - -"I say let's knock him over. Every one draw a bead on those yellow eyes, -and Thad give the word to fire. We'll pepper him so well he never can -know what hit him." - -It was Step Hen who made this war-like proposal; but Thad cautioned his -comrades against any such rash action. - -"Of course," he said, "we'd be pretty sure to kill the beast. He couldn't -stand for such a volley at short range. But you understand, such a fierce -racket would tell everybody inside of five miles that we were around." - -"Sure!" exclaimed Step Hen, quite crushed. "I forgot those thieves of -timber men." - -"But what can we do, then, Thad;" pleaded Giraffe, at his wits' ends to -grapple with the perplexing problem. - -As usual it was Thad who saw a way out. - -"We've just got to scare him off," he said, in a resolute tone. - -"But how can we, when we dassn't shout even, for fear of telling the -fellers around that camp-fire all about us?" Step Hen asked. - -"There may be a way," Thad said, quietly, just as though he might be -running things over in that clever mind of his, and trying to decide -whether it would pay to try the plan he had in view. - -"Tell us?" urged Giraffe. - -"Then listen, and if any of you think it's too risky, just say so, and -we'll try something else." - -When Thad said this, the others imagined he was about to propose an -advance on the enemy from all sides. Confused by having four enemies -approaching from as many quarters, perhaps the panther might think -discretion the better part of valor, and turn tail and run. - -So Giraffe and Step Hen drew in long breaths, and shut their teeth -together in a firm, determined way; doubtless resolving to do their duty, -as scouts always should, no matter what the risk. - -But they were very much surprised when Thad's explanation turned out to -be something of an entirely different nature. - -"Just by chance," he went on to say, while all of them kept watching -those glowing balls of yellow fire so close by, "I've got with me one of -those new patent little flashlights Davy has been using to take pictures -with at night time. All you have to do is to hold it out, and pull the -thing off. If that suddenly dazzled the eyes of the panther, I've got a -good notion he'd move along. How about it, Allan?" - -"I guess you're right, Thad," chuckled the Maine boy. "All the cat tribe -seem to be dreadfully afraid of fire. Yes, that would sure fetch him." - -Neither Giraffe nor Step Hen gave utterance to a single word, one way or -the other. They were, as the former would have expressed it, "just -tickled to death" by this bright suggestion on the part of the scout -leader. And doubtless neither scout ever would believe, deep down in his -admiring heart, that Thad simply "chanced" to have the explosive -cartridge in his possession. Rather were they positive that he must have -foreseen this very difficulty, and prepared for it. - -"The only trouble is this," Thad continued, even while he handed his gun -over to Step Hen, and seemed to be fumbling with both hands, as though -getting the little new-fangled flashlight cartridge in readiness for -action; "do you think the sudden illumination will be seen at the camp -yonder; and if so what do you expect Hank and Pierre will believe?" - -"Oh! it will be seen, all right," remarked Giraffe. - -"Sure thing," put in Step Hen, as though he felt it his duty to give his -opinion with the rest, just to show that he grasped the situation; -"because those things make a fierce flare-up." - -"But you ought to use it, all the same, Thad," remarked Allan. "If the -men notice it at all, the chances are ten to one they'll think it was -only some little lightning. Since that storm anything goes, you know." - -"Little lightning it is, then," returned the scoutmaster. - -"The rest of us had better hold ourselves ready to shoot, if the beast -jumps this way instead of the other," Allan suggested. - -"You bet we will," said Giraffe. - -"Every time," whispered Step Hen, gently lowering Thad's gun to the -ground, so he could handle his own better. - -Now, Thad knew how both of them were apt to be impulsive, and he thought -it best to warn them against precipitate action. - -"Careful, boys. The chances are, you won't have to shoot. Use good -judgment, and don't spoil things. Keep your eyes on that spot. Are you -ready?" - -"Yes," said Allan. - -"Go ahead, Thad!" whispered Giraffe. - -"Go on!" muttered Step Hen, partly holding his breath with suspense. - -"All right. Here she goes!" - -Hardly had Thad spoken these words than there was a dazzling flash. He -had been wise enough to hold the little cartridge pistol out at right -angles, so that the fierce white glare might not blind them, as he hoped -it would do in connection with the panther. - -All of the boys were eagerly on the watch; and knowing just where to look -they instantly sighted the panther. The abrupt and terrific burst of -intense light had produced an effect upon the startled beast, just as -Thad and Allan had so confidently predicted. - -The boys saw a long, lithe, gray body leap wildly into the air. This was -the beast that had just been disputing their right to advance further -into his domain. - -Evidently the cautious nature of the panther, together with his -well-known fear of fire, had combined to give him a shock; for when he -made that spasmodic leap into the air, it was _away_ from the "little -lightning," and not toward it. - -For a second or two only did that brilliant illumination continue. Then -darkness once more swallowed up the surroundings; and doubtless it was -all the more dense to the eyes of the four boys because of that recent -dazzling flash. - -They could hear a patter of feline feet among the dead leaves; but the -sounds were retreating. There also came a low whimper. Allan told them -later that a panther always gives utterance to such a complaining sound -when he has been whipped in a fight, and made to slink off; or else -frightened in any way. - -"He's gone!" said Allan, reassuringly. - -"And the chances are, he won't dare to block our path again in a hurry," -Thad declared. - -"Say, that old painter must a got a shock, though," Giraffe went on. "It -was enough to scare anything that walks on four legs, or even two. Fact -is, if I hadn't been looking for it, the giddy old thing would a given me -a start." - -"Same here," admitted Step Hen. - -"Now that the way's clear, let's go on, boys," remarked Thad, as he took -his gun again from Step Hen; "and we'll hope all our troubles can be -chased away as easy as that." - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - "CATCHING A TARTAR;" AND A FAT ONE AT THAT. - - -They had little trouble moving along now. - -Somehow, it seemed as though the eyes of Step Hen and Giraffe must be -getting more accustomed to the way obstacles could be avoided; or else -the woods had become a little more open. At any rate they stumbled not at -all now, which would seem to be a lucky thing, because all the while they -were constantly drawing closer to the fire. - -Thad and Allan knew they had need of caution. Those two precious rogues -of timber spies were roaming this region with the intention of locating -patches of valuable trees near enough to a stream to be felled, and -floated down by the next Spring freshet. They were on Government land, -and their rich but unscrupulous employers had been long engaged in this -form of robbery, by which the reservations lose many millions of feet of -fine lumber every year. - -And such men, knowing that their work is evil, and that they are -constantly breaking the law, suspect every stranger of being a Government -spy. No wonder then they showed dislike at the mere mention of the name -of Toby Smathers, who was a forest ranger, at times in the employ of the -Washington authorities, and always on the lookout for the operations of -timber thieves. - -Thad could see some one moving about. This happened when the other -chanced to come between himself and the fire. - -"I do believe that's our chum, Bumpus;" whispered Giraffe, eagerly, -showing that he too had been watching the figure. - -They all used their eyes to advantage, as they cautiously crept along. -Presently they would have gained a point so near the fire that it would -be necessary for them to change their mode of locomotion. Instead of -walking, even as they were doing now, in a bent-over attitude, they must -get down on all fours, and creep, just as a panther would do when -approaching a feeding deer which he hoped to pounce upon unawares. - -It was one of the most exciting and thrilling moments in the lives of -Step Hen and Giraffe. Possibly they could not conceive of anything more -typical of what must go hand in hand with scouting business, than this -creeping through the woods, and constantly drawing closer and closer to a -fire, about which enemies would most likely be seated, all unaware of -their presence. - -They felt proud of the manner in which they were accomplishing these -things. It reflected great credit upon their ability as scouts. - -Nearer they crawled. - -Why, Allan was actually down on his stomach now, and he seemed to -"wiggle" along just as they had seen an angle worm do, or a snake. Yes, -and there was Thad copying the example of the expert Maine boy. - -It would seem to be up to Giraffe and Step Hen to do likewise. They were -quick to learn, once they had a pattern to go by. And in another minute -the whole four of the scouts lay fully extended on the ground, clawing -their way along as best they might; satisfied to advance, even though it -be inches at a time. - -There was no longer any doubt in connection with what might be going on -just beyond. Even Giraffe and Step Hen understood it now. - -First of all they saw the lost tenderfoot; and it did them great good -just to feast their eyes upon the portly figure of Bumpus, after all this -searching for him, day after day. - -Then there were Hank and Pierre, too, just as hulking, and ugly as ever, -or even more so. - -The two timber cruisers were evidently taking their ease, stretched out -at full length, smoking their pipes. Something about the very air of the -men would have told an observer that they were enjoying the novelty of -being waited on. It was not often that Hank and Pierre knew the luxury of -having a "slave" along, to humor their every little whim; and they were -apparently bent on making the most out of the opportunity. - -Evidently Bumpus was aware of the fact that he might look upon himself as -a servant, for the time being. His dejected manner, as he sat there, -gnawing at some bones they had evidently allowed him to have, after he -had cooked supper, and waited on his captors, seemed to tell this only -too plainly. - -Even as the four scouts lay there and looked, they heard Hank call out -gruffly: - -"Come here, younker!" - -Bumpus pretended not to hear at first. Evidently he dreaded to get too -close to the men, for some reason or other. - -At that Hank burst out into a string of profanity that was enough to make -any respectable scout shudder. And when he ordered Bumpus again to come -over to him, the fat boy evidently dared no longer pretend deafness. - -He approached the spot where the two men half sat; and Thad could see -from the wary manner in which Bumpus did this that he expected rough -treatment. - -"Git me a coal outen the fire, you fat fool; my pipe's gone out again!" - -Hank said this in the ugliest way possible. Indeed, to judge from his -manner, one might even imagine it was the fault of poor Bumpus that his -pipe had ceased to burn, instead of his own laziness. - -Bumpus forthwith stepped over to the near-by fire. As he bent over, he -looked cautiously behind him once or twice, just as though the poor -fellow half expected to have one of his tormentors kick him, and he did -not want to have such a thing happen so that he would plunge in among the -burning wood. - -Securing a brand that was suitable for the purpose, Bumpus advanced -toward the two men. He handed this to Hank. - -"Stand thar!" ordered the bully, as Bumpus was edging away. - -Applying the light to his pipe, Hank sent out several puffs of smoke. -Then, just as a smoker might wish to extinguish his match before throwing -it away, he suddenly hurled the blazing torch after the now retreating -Bumpus. That worthy tried to dodge, but was either too clumsy, or else -Hank had made allowances for this. At any rate, the brand struck Bumpus -squarely in the middle of his fat back; and while it did not set his -clothes on fire, at least it forced a grunt from the scout. - -Hank burst out into a harsh laugh, while Pierre grinned. Then they went -on talking as though regardless of the presence of the boy. - -Thad had felt Giraffe quiver beside him when he saw Bumpus abused and -insulted in this fashion. - -And only for Hank giving that laugh, one of the men might have heard the -gritting of Giraffe's strong teeth, he was that worked up. - -"Sh!" hissed the scoutmaster, close to the other's ear; and Giraffe -subsided, though he was still quivering all over from excitement and -eagerness,--yes and anger too. If he could only have had his way right -then and there, Giraffe undoubtedly would have stepped out, and covering -the two rascals with his gun, threatened to shoot unless they abjectly -surrendered. And this time they would not get off as easily as before. -After the way they had treated Bumpus, they deserved something more -severe. - -But then Thad evidently was not quite ready to act. Perhaps he wanted to -see what else Hank and his timber mate might do. Perhaps--but Giraffe -concluded that it was foolish trying to figure these things out, when all -he had to do in order to learn the truth, was to possess his soul in -patience and wait. - -Bumpus, true to his new scout training, even while he was listening to -the laughter of his tormentor, and rubbing his back where the fire-brand -had struck him with such a thump; turned, and deliberately put his foot -upon the blaze, grinding it into the earth until it was utterly -extinguished. - -It was really one of the most surprising examples of newly-acquired -discipline that Thad had even seen. Nor would he soon forget it. - -Bumpus was apparently watching the two men on the sly. When he thought -they were not looking, the fat scout quickly bent over near a tree. - -Thad had quite a thrill, for he saw that the two guns owned by the men -stood against this same tree. Whatever could Bumpus be doing there? Again -and again did he turn his head to glance toward Hank and Pierre, just as -though he might be afraid that one of them could see him. But Hank was -telling a story of some kind, evidently, for the rumble of his heavy -voice seemed continuous; while Pierre lay on his back, both hands under -his head, listening, and smoking in a lazy fashion. - -Now Bumpus had quitted the vicinity of the tree, and hovered on the other -side of the fire. He craned his neck several times, just as though he -wanted to make sure of something. - -Thad believed he knew what that _something_ was. He had discovered, close -alongside the burly figure of Hank, the ten-guaged, Marlin, -double-barreled gun belonging to Bumpus. Evidently the bully had -confiscated the weapon, and meant to keep it, as something that might -come in handy. - -Now, Bumpus was a poor loser. He had grown to feel quite attached to that -remarkable gun, during the short period of his ownership. And doubtless -it had become more precious in his sight, after the clever way in which -it had worked of late, with regard to that wildcat; and later on the lame -grizzly that had treed Bumpus. - -Thad believed he had designs on that gun. - -Just then Hank called out again. - -"Git a kettle o' water at the spring, younker, an' bring me a drink! Be -quick, now, er I'll skin ye alive!" - -Bumpus picked up a kettle or saucepan, the only one in sight, and of -generous proportions. As Hank roared at him to "dip deep, and bring her -full, enough for a grown man," the fat scout hastened to do so. - -He approached, holding the kettle with both hands. Hank half sat up, to -receive it; which he certainly did, full in the face. As spluttering he -started to get, first to his knees and then on his feet, Bumpus, with an -agility that was remarkable in one of his stout build, snatched up his -trusty Marlin from the ground, and hastened to put some little space -between himself and the astonished timber cruisers, already jumping -toward the tree where their guns stood. - -"'Tain't no use!" shouted Bumpus, gleefully. "I took every cartridge out, -and you bet I ain't agoin' to let you shove any more in. Sit down now, or -I'll open fire on you!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - "TENDERFOOT? WELL, HARDLY, AFTER THIS." - - -"Wow! bully for Bumpus!" cried out Giraffe. - -"Hold 'em tight, old chum; we're here to see you through, all right!" -shouted Step Hen. - -Of course there was no use of trying to hide any longer. Thad and Allan -knew this, and that the time had come for them to back Bumpus up, the -minute they saw him open hostilities in that astonishing way. - -All of them were on their feet, now, and hurrying toward the fire. Hank -and Pierre, being desperate men, might have even thought it worth while -to put up some sort of resistance; but they had their talons drawn when, -upon investigating the condition of their guns, they found that, sure -enough, these were empty. - -While the two men lay there at their ease, never dreaming that the fat -scout would have the nerve to do anything but whimper, and shiver at the -sound of their harsh orders, Bumpus, laying out this wonderfully clever -little surprise, had amused himself by working the mechanism of their -guns, and extracting the last cartridge. And it was the heavy rumble of -Hank's deep bass voice that had helped operations along, by deadening the -"click" of the cautiously moved mechanical devises belonging to the -repeating rifles. - -"Drop those guns, you two, and be quick about it!" - -Thad gave this order, because he knew that each of the men would be apt -to have a belt of extra cartridges buckled about their waists, or slung -over their shoulder. And to an experienced hunter, it is only a question -of seconds, really, when he can shove a single charge into the firing -chamber of his empty gun. - -Of course Hank and Pierre hated most dreadfully to obey this order; but -there was no use talking; the scouts had the upper hand, and if they knew -what was good for them they must do as they were told. - -In the first place there was Bumpus, excitedly covering first one and -then the other; and how were they to make sure but that he might, even by -accident, have a cramp in his finger, while looking along the -double-barreled Marlin? - -Then, as if that were not enough, four other guns were bearing upon them, -as the new arrivals advanced in a line. - -"It's too big odds, younkers, an' we gives in;" but Hank used a good many -more words than this to express his disgust, only the rest were not at -all necessary. - -He threw his gun down angrily on the ground; Pierre was just as -energetic, and both men fairly glared at their boyish captors. - -"Step Hen, lay down your gun, and secure those of the enemy," ordered -Thad. - -With a wide grin decorating his freckled face, Step Hen proceeded to -carry out the injunction of the patrol leader. And one could easily see -that the boy took the keenest delight in thus having a hand in disarming -the enemy. - -"Now," continued Thad, "search Hank for a knife, and take it away. Get -his cartridge belt too; and when you've done that, give Pierre a whirl. -We'll just stand around, and be ready to plunk them chock full of lead if -they try to resist." - -But the men were utterly disheartened. They seemed to realize that they -were up against a tough proposition. Everything was going wrong; and the -philosophy of your timber cruiser under such conditions is to appear -indifferent and reckless. Perhaps they try to act very much on the same -principle as an Indian would, upon being put to the torture. - -After fully disarming the men Thad saw to it that both of them were tied -up. Hank growled fearfully, but the half-breed seemed to take the whole -affair somewhat in the light of a good joke. This seemed all the more -strange because nearly all half-breeds, Thad had been told, were surly by -nature. - -When this duty had been well performed, Thad joined the others about the -fire. Bumpus had had his hand shaken again and again until his whole arm -began to feel the result. - -"The bulliest feller in the whole bunch, barring none!" Step Hen had -declared. - -"He's on the way to being made a first-class scout, that's right," -Giraffe solemnly remarked, all his petty jealousy gone, now that he again -had hold of Bumpus' fat hand, and found himself looking into the laughing -eyes. - -"All along he's acquitted himself splendidly," said Thad, warmly. - -"And none of us ever dreamed you had it in you, Bumpus." Allan chimed in. - -It was indeed a proud hour for Bumpus. Forgotten were all his trials and -anxieties. He would easily have been willing to undertake the whole -programme again could he be sure of such a joyous outcome--yes, even to -being hectored, browbeaten, insulted, and kicked about like a dog, by -Hank and Pierre. - -Long they sat there, talking of the many things that must of course be -exceedingly interesting when looked back upon as past performances. -Bumpus was asked strings of questions until finally he threw up his -hands, to announce that the well was pumped dry. - -Then they set about making ready to pass the remainder of the night -there. When another day came they could decide what to do with Hank and -his companion, who were hardly the kind of men to set free, with arms on -their person, and hatred in their hearts. - -Of course Thad and Allan made up their minds that they must, between -them, stand guard until morning came. - -They dared not take any chances when dealing with such desperate men as -were the two trapped timber cruisers. And when they saw that a vidette, -armed with a ready gun, was to keep the fire going all the while, as well -as watch them, doubtless the men decided not to try and escape, but take -things as easy as possible. - -There was no trouble. - -Morning came, and found them up and doing; for Thad was most anxious to -return to the camp near the foot of the rapids. After so many days he -felt sure the three boys left at the camp would be dreadfully worried -concerning the absent ones, and especially Bumpus; because, of course -they still considered him as a poor, ignorant tenderfoot scout, -blundering along after a fashion, and hardly knowing enough to come in -out of the wet, when it rained. - -Ah! yes, there were a number of tremendous surprises in store for Dave -and Bob and Smithy, when the full story of Bumpus' achievements was told -by the glowing camp-fire; and mostly at that by those who had followed -his trail through the big timber, reading the signs as they appeared, and -observing the remarkable progress the fat member of the Silver Fox Patrol -made, once he started thinking for himself. - -They had enough venison left for one good meal all around, including the -two timber cruisers. Thad was worried about these men. He did not know -what to do with them, truth to tell. - -If he sent them away with weapons and ammunition; there was always a -chance that sometime later the fellows might again run across them, and -give trouble. - -On the other hand, it seemed rather cruel to turn them loose in the -wilderness, so far away from civilization, and without arms, by means of -which they might obtain food, or defend themselves in case of trouble. - -Upon putting it up to Hank and Pierre themselves, the men, quite downcast -now, declared that they were done "cruising" in that section, and meant -to get out of it just as fast as their legs could carry them. - -"Let us off this time, younker," Hank pleaded. "We got our lesson rubbed -in good an' hard, I reckons. I'm even willin' to have Fatty here kick me -as many times as I did him; though I do say as how he paid it all up when -he played that fine trick on us." - -It was not surprising, therefore, that the gratified Bumpus, in the -goodness of his heart, asked Thad to forgive the two men. - -"I'll tell you what we'll do," Thad decided. "Leave their guns here, and -take the men to the camp with us. Then, if we decide to turn them loose, -they'll have to come half a day's journey back to get the guns." - -And so it was decided to arrange matters. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - WELL-EARNED REST--CONCLUSION. - - -Welcome indeed, was the sight of the two familiar tents, with a cheery -camp-fire blazing in front; Mike and Molly, the two pack mules, browsing -near by, and the three boys who had been left in charge caught in the act -of cooking dinner. - -It was just high noon on that day when Thad led his little victorious -squad out of the brush, and in sight of the camp. - -What an uproarious welcome awaited them! The three boys, who had begun to -grow heavy hearted with suspense from long waiting and watching, vied -with each other in trying to see who could make the most noise, and give -the greatest assortment of yells intended to take the place of a welcome. - -Why, even the astonished mules looked up and "hee-hawed to beat the -band," as Giraffe declared. And when Bob White, Smithy and Davy Jones -discovered that sure enough their comrades were fetching a pair of -hulking prisoners along with them, their delight surpassed all bounds. - -"It's getting to be a habit with us, fellers," declared Giraffe, proudly. -"Why, we just can't take a little stroll any more, without bumping up -against a pair of bad men, who need attention. Don't blame us; we just -couldn't help it." - -Bumpus, bless his dear old heart, was looking as "fine as a peach;" -nothing at all like the woebegone, half-starved tenderfoot, whom those -left in the camp had expected to gaze upon, if indeed they were lucky -enough to ever see him in the flesh once more. - -With a beaming face he came along, his gun slung over his back by the -heavy cord that had come in so handy when the grizzly chased him up a -tree; and as he walked Bumpus had both hands up to his mouth, making -sounds that would do credit to any horn. And behold, the burden of the -air, as the shouting scouts recognized, was "Lo, the Conquering Hero -Comes; Sound the Trumpets. Beat the Drums." - -Such a great time as they had, shaking Bumpus by the hand, pounding him -on the back, and telling him again and again how lucky he ought to -consider himself because he had such good and loyal chums, ever ready to -go out and succor the unfortunate, and bring them home again safely. - -And Bumpus never once lifted up his voice in protestations or boastings, -simply grinned through it all, and kept one eye on Thad; who finally -thinking it was time the fellows were made aware of the true state of -affairs, called out: - -"Show what you've got, Bumpus!" - -Imagine the great surprise, bordering on consternation, of Bob and Davy -and Smithy when the fat tenderfoot fished in his pocket and held -something up. - -"The foot of a bob-cat, as sure as I live!" ejaculated Davy Jones. - -"Did you kill it, Bumpus?" asked Smithy, awed by the very thought. - -"Thad says so, and _he_ knows!" was what Bumpus remarked; and then with -even a wider grin he fished down in another pocket, this time holding up -some bulky articles that made the three camp guardians fairly gasp for -breath. - -"Grizzly bear claws! Great Jehosophat! you don't mean to say that you -found your bear, Bumpus, and actually bagged him?" cried Davy Jones. - -"Did I, Thad; you saw where I left him?" replied the Wonderful One. - -"You sure nailed him, good and hard, Bumpus, even if it did take ten -shots or more, fired into him from a tree, to do the business. If ever -anybody has a right to say he killed a bear all by himself, fair and -square, Bumpus has. And here are three more truthful witnesses who will -testify the same way," with which Thad waved his arm around to take in -Step Hen, Allan and Giraffe, all of whom put up a right hand, and gravely -nodded approval of his words. - -"And even that ain't all, fellers," quoth Giraffe, "what would you think -now if I told you Bumpus had turned the tables on these here two critters -who'd captured him, and were makin' him do all sorts of slave stunts to -please themselves? Yes-siree, took all the shells out of their guns, and -then grabbed up his own to cover 'em. We _saw_ him do it all, so there -ain't any mistake. If you doubt me, ask Hank there." - -Mechanically the doubting ones turned toward the big timber cruiser, who, -playing his little game of appearing to be very contrite and sorry, so as -to be let off easily, made a wry face, and remarked: - -"Jest what Fatty did ter us; he give us the biggest s'prise of our lives, -Pierre and me. That's the time we fooled ourselves. He caught us, all -right, and I ain't got no kick acomin', 'less so be he wants to pay me -back that way; which I don't think's goin' to be the case, 'cause he's -too fine a feller to be revengeful like." - -"I want to shake hands with you again, suh," said Bob White, the Southern -boy, as he pushed up to Bumpus. "And right now let me take back -everything I've ever said about your being a poor tenderfoot. I reckon, -suh, a heap of the rest of us scouts'll have to sit at your feet, and -take a few lessons on _how to do it_." - -"A wild cat; a bear; and capturing a couple of--what are they, Thad, -pirates, or just plain hold-up men? That's going some for even a -first-class scout. Just as Bob says, we take off our hats to you, Chum -Bumpus, and now, while dinner is cooking, just gather around the fire and -tell us the whole blooming story," saying which Davy led the returned -hero of the occasion to the seat of honor. - -The story was all told over again, both during the eating of the meal, -and afterwards. In fact it took almost two hours to get most of the facts -out. - -Then they concluded to hold the prisoners until the next morning, when -they would be breaking camp, to head into the valleys of the Rocky -Mountains, the tops of which reared themselves in great granite masses -against the western sky. - -"We'll probably have a good enough time the rest of our vacation out -here," said Giraffe, later on, "but you can be sure we'll never again see -such a string of exciting adventures as fell to our lot, and that of -Bumpus, when he was hunting through the big timber for a bear; and the -rest of us searching for a lost tenderfoot scout." - -But Giraffe was really mistaken when he ventured to make this prophecy; -for it was written that the members of the Silver Fox Patrol were to meet -with still another series of mishaps and adventures before they left for -home. What these were, and how cleverly Thad and his chums carried -themselves under trying conditions, will be found set down in the pages -of the next volume in this Series, now ready under the title of "The Boy -Scouts in the Rockies; or the Secret of the Hidden Silver Mine." - -That very evening who should come along but Toby Smathers himself. He had -been ranging through that section, really to find out what Hank Dodge and -Pierre Laporte were doing; and seeing the camp had hastened to join the -scouts feeling a longing for human company. - -Thad liked the forest ranger right from the start, and was very much -pleased when the other agreed to go with them as guide during the balance -of the time they expected to spend in the Rockies--several weeks at -least. - -Toby Smathers gave the two men to understand that their every movement -was being watched by agents of the aroused Government. The Interior -Department was determined to put an end to timber stealing on a large -scale by men who had grown enormously rich in the business. - -Hank and Pierre professed to be alarmed; and when they went away in the -morning to get their guns, which Thad had left ten miles off, they -declared they were going to reform, and either go into the mines, or else -emigrate to British Columbia. - -"But," said Toby Smathers, "they ain't goin' to do it, mark me. Them -critters are cut out for jail-birds, and they'll either bring up thar, or -else die with their boots on." - -"Well, all I hope is," said Thad, as he gave Mike, the pack mule, a touch -with the whip to start him moving, "that we never cross their trail -again." - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Obvious typographical errors were corrected without comment. - -Dialect and non-standard spellings were left unchanged. - -A table of contents was added for the convenience of the reader. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG -TIMBER*** - - -******* This file should be named 44882.txt or 44882.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/8/8/44882 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/44882.zip b/44882.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index aae3fb4..0000000 --- a/44882.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/44882.txt b/old/44882.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3a011f3..0000000 --- a/old/44882.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6800 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber, by -Herbert Carter - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber - Or, The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot - - -Author: Herbert Carter - - - -Release Date: February 12, 2014 [eBook #44882] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG -TIMBER*** - - -E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustration. - See 44882-h.htm or 44882-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44882/44882-h/44882-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44882/44882-h.zip) - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER - -Or - -The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot - -by - -HERBERT CARTER - -Author of "The Boy Scouts First Camp Fire," "The Boy Scouts -in the Blue Ridge," "The Boy Scouts on the Trail," -"The Boy Scouts in the Maine Woods," -"The Boy Scouts In the Rockies" - - - - - - - -Copyright, 1913 -By A. L. Burt Company - - - - - -[Illustration: "Look out for it, Davy, and grab the noose when it -comes near," shouted Thad. -_The Boy Scouts through the Big Timber._ _Page 17_] - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. The Camp. 3 - II. What Frightened the Pack Mules. 13 - III. When the Foxes Took to the Trees. 26 - IV. Bumpus Takes a Chance. 38 - V. The Missing Tenderfoot. 50 - VI. Forced to Think for Himself. 62 - VII. Turning the Tables. 78 - VIII. A Scout Should Always be on the Alert. 87 - IX. The Mean Trick Of The Timber Cruisers. 96 - X. The Bob-Cat. 106 - XI. Bumpus' Stock Above Par. 115 - XII. The Swoop of the Storm. 123 - XIII. The Bolt of Lightning. 131 - XIV. Step Hen Looks Out for the Provisions. 139 - XV. Through the Big Timber Again. 147 - XVI. The Snake Bite. 155 - XVII. More Trouble Ahead. 164 - XVIII. Still in Pursuit, with the Trail Growing Warmer. 172 - XIX. Another Shock. 181 - XX. Finding Out How Bumpus Did It. 189 - XXI. Caught in a Trap. 198 - XXII. The Cripple Business Seems to be Contagious. 206 - XXIII. The Way Blocked. 219 - XXIV. The "Little Lightning." 227 - XXV. "Catching a Tartar;" and a Fat One at That. 235 - XXVI. "Tenderfoot? Well, Hardly, After This." 243 - XXVII. Well-Earned Rest--Conclusion. 250 - - - - - THE BOY SCOUTS - THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER - - - - - CHAPTER I. - THE CAMP. - - -"Call the roll, Mr. Secretary," said the acting scoutmaster. - -Of course this was a mere matter of form, because everybody knew that the -entire membership of the Silver Fox Patrol, connected with the Cranford -Troop of Boy Scouts, was present. But nevertheless Bob White gravely took -out his little book, and made each boy answer to his name. - -"Thad Brewster." - -"Present," said the patrol leader, and assistant scoutmaster. - -"Allan Hollister." - -"Here," replied the second in command, a Maine boy, now living in -Cranford, the New York town from whence these boys had journeyed to this -far-off region along the foothills of the great Rocky Mountains. - -"Bumpus Hawtree." - -"Ditto," sang out the fat youth, looking up with a wide grin; for he was -about as good-natured as he was ponderous. - -"Giraffe Stedman." - -"More ditto," answered the tall lad, with the long neck, and the quick -movements, who was busying himself over the fire, being never so happy as -when he could feed wood to the crackling blaze. - -"Step Hen Bingham." - -"On deck," replied the boy mentioned, who was busy with the supper -arrangements. - -"Davy Jones." - -"O. K." came from the fellow who was walking on his hands at the moment, -his waving feet being high in the air, where his head was supposed to -appear; because Davy was a gymnast, and worked off his superfluous energy -in doing all manner of queer stunts. - -"Smithy." - -"Present," and the speaker, a very natty chap, brushed off an imaginary -insect from the sleeve of his coat; because it happened that Edmund -Maurice Travers Smith, as he was known in his home circle, had been born -with a horror for dirt: and it was taking his comrades a long time to -bring him down to the ordinary level of a happy-go-lucky, care-free boy -like themselves. - -"Robert White Quail." - -And the last named being the secretary himself, he merely put a cross -down, to indicate the fact of his being in the line of duty on that -occasion. - -"You neglected two other important members of the party!" called out -Giraffe, who, of course had gained his peculiar name on account of the -habit he had of often stretching that unusually long neck of his, until -the boys likened him to an ostrich, and then a giraffe. - -"Who are they?" demanded Bob White, scenting some sort of joke. - -"Mike, and Molly, the honest, hard-working mules here that we have for -pack animals," replied the tall scout, with a chuckle. - -"Oh! I reckon, suh, they don't count on the roll call," remarked Bob -White, who was a Southern boy, as his soft manner of speech, as well as -certain phrases he often used, betrayed. - -"Well," protested Giraffe, sturdily, "if you think now, that our pack -mules ain't going to make an impression on our camping through the big -timber, and the foothills of the Rockies, you've got another guess -coming, let me tell you." - -"Mike strikes me as particularly worthy of mention in the log book of the -trip. He made a _distinct_ impression on me, right in the start; and left -a black and blue record of it that hurts yet," with which remark, fat -Bumpus--whose real name chanced to be Jasper Cornelius, began to ruefully -rub a certain portion of his generous anatomy. - -A general shout went up at this. - -"Well, what could you expect, Bumpus?" demanded Davy Jones. "When Mike, -out of the corner of his wicked eye, saw you stooping over that way, and -offering such a wide target, the temptation was more than any -respectable, well-educated mule could resist." - -"Yes," put in Step Hen, who had divided his name in that queer fashion as -a lad first attending school, and it had clung to him ever since; "you -didn't know the strong points of pack mules, Bumpus, or you would never -have gone so close to his heels." - -"And," continued Davy, humorously, "you turned over in the air three -times, before you struck that dirty pool of water. And that time, Bumpus, -I own up you beat me fairly at gymnastics; for try as I will, so far I've -only been able to do two turns backward in the air, myself." - -Bumpus, being so good-natured, only chuckled and kept on rubbing, as in -imagination he saw the "cartwheels" he made in the air on that memorable -occasion. - -"Only thing I deeply regret," continued Davy, "was that I didn't have my -camera focussed at the time. That picture would sure have been the gem of -our collection." - -Bumpus presently sat himself down again, to watch those who were serving -as cooks for that occasion, get supper ready. - -And while it is preparing, with the fragrant odor of coffee in the air, -making the hungry boys almost frantic with suspense, perhaps, for the -benefit of the reader who has not made the acquaintance of these lively, -wide-awake boys in earlier stories of this series, a brief explanation of -who and what they were, may be deemed appropriate at this point. - -The Silver Fox Patrol had been organized for quite some time now, and the -boys who made up the membership had been fortunate enough to take two -long trips, with the idea of adding to their knowledge of woodcraft, and -such qualities as all good scouts are supposed to desire to possess. - -The first one had been to the region of the Land of the sky. Robert Quail -had come from the Blue Ridge, in North Carolina, and it was mostly -through his influence and persuasion that the scouts had gone thence. And -while there, they had met with many adventures that have been faithfully -chronicled in their log book, and portrayed in a previous story. - -Their next trip came in very fortunately. An epidemic breaking out in -Cranford, the school trustees closed the doors of the places of education -until after the Christmas holidays. This gave the boys the chance they -had long wanted to take a run up into Maine, and do a little camping, and -hunting of big game; several of their number being very fond of handling -a gun; and Allan having told them thrilling stories of the sport to be -found in his native State after the law had been lifted. - -And while enjoying themselves hugely, the scouts had had the good fortune -to recover some stolen bonds and other valuables belonging to a bank that -had been robbed. The reward offered for their restoration was paid over -into their treasury, and was of such a size as to admit of their taking -this long-desired journey into the mountain region of the Great -Northwest, when vacation time came around. - -During the balance of the winter, after their return from Maine, the -story of the wonderfully good times they enjoyed there had so enthused -other boys of Cranford, that a second full patrol, called the Eagle, had -been organized; and a third addition to the troop, to be called the Gray -Wolf, was in process of forming. - -But of course none of these lads had any share in the reward that had -come to the members of the first patrol; so that accounted for their not -being present on his occasion. - -Bumpus was a musician, and had a fine mellow voice, which he often used -to entertain his mates while sitting around the roaring camp-fire. He -could play on any instrument; indeed, with merely his doubled-up hands, -and his melodious voice, he often imitated various calls on the bugle. -And of course he had been elected as bugler to the troop, though on the -present occasion they had induced him to leave his instrument at home, -not thinking a hunting camp the place for such noisy demonstrations. - -The boys carried guns of various sorts, though until lately Bumpus had -never bothered himself about such a thing. But while in Maine the fever -seized him, and he had purchased a big ten-bore Marlin double-barreled -shotgun; because he always admired the twelve gauge of the same make -which Thad owned. - -Step Hen had a little beauty of a thirty-thirty six-shot repeating rifle, -that had been given to him by his father on a recent birthday. Thad -sometimes borrowed it, and could use the same with considerable skill. It -carried those soft-nosed bullets that mushroom when striking, and thus do -all the work of a ball several times the size. If big game must be -killed, the quicker the thing is over with the better. Besides, that -little fire-arm was "just as light as a feather," as Step Hen always -declared, when disputing with Giraffe, who carried the large rifle owned -by his respected dad, also fond of the woods and game. - -Davy managed to get along with a shotgun, while Allan had a rifle. Smithy -and Bob White had brought no weapons along, deeming the number on hand -amply sufficient to clean out most of the wild beasts inhabiting the -Rocky Mountain region. In fact, Smithy had never shot a gun in his life, -and was timid about trying; but on the other hand Bob was quite used to -working with a good retriever in the grain fields, where the bird he was -named after fattened, away down in the Old Tarheel State. - -Davy seemed to be unusually full of animal spirits on this occasion. He -just could not keep quiet, but kept up his tumbling, and standing on his -head, even though no one paid much attention to what wonderful stunts the -athletic lad was carrying on. - -Close by them ran a noisy stream. It came out from the foothills of the -great uplifts near by, and went brawling on its way. Indeed, it made so -much music that the scouts had to call out to each other at times; but -somehow the prospect of passing a night near such a rollicking stream -pleased them all. Besides, they were sure it must contain trout, and -several promised to get up at break of day to try for the speckled -beauties, so that they might have a mess for breakfast, before continuing -on their way. - -"Say, has anybody seen my sweater around?" called out Step Hen, who was -busily engaged looking over the contents of his pack, having turned over -the control of the cooking meal to Allan and Thad. "I'm just sure I -stowed it away in this knapsack I carry, but it ain't there now. I'm the -unluckiest feller you ever did see, about having my things taken. -Everybody just thinks they're general property, and grabs 'em up. Please -hand it over, whoever's got it. I might want it to-night, if it gets -cool." - -Step Hen was careless. He had a long-standing habit of never knowing -where he put his things, and hence, when he missed some object, loud were -his wails about being pursued by a "little evil genius," that was taking -the greatest delight in misplacing his possessions. Even when one of the -other scouts, taking pity on Step Hen, would show him where he had -himself left the article, he would pass it off as easily as a duck shakes -the water from its back. - -The tents had been raised, and everything looked cozy and comfortable. -Several of the scouts lay around, being footsore and weary; only that -never-tired Davy was still exercising himself in all sorts of ways. In -due time he would work off his superfluous energy, and behave. They were -so accustomed to seeing Davy hang by his toes from the high limb of a -tree, or doing some similar act better fitted for the circus than a camp -of Boy Scouts, that little attention was ordinarily paid to his actions. - -It came as a shock, then, when all of a sudden Thad started up with a -shout, and started on a run toward the edge of the high river bank, where -one could look down on the tumbling waters of the churning yeasty rapids. - -"Hurry, boys!" the scoutmaster was calling at the top of his voice, as he -covered the dozen yards separating the camp from the edge of the little -bluff; "Davy went too near the edge, and took a header right over into -the river!" - -Every one of the other six lads hurried as fast as possible to join their -leader on the brink of the bluff; and when they reached there, they saw a -sight that for the moment seemed to freeze the very blood in their veins. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - WHAT FRIGHTENED THE PACK MULES. - - -"Hold on to the rock, Davy! We'll get you out!" whooped Giraffe, greatly -excited, so that Thad, believing the tall scout meditated jumping after -the boy who was already at the mercy of that swift current, dropped a -restraining hand on his arm. - -"He must a hit his head when he fell; you c'n see he looks dazed!" cried -Bumpus. - -"Just what he did, I reckon!" added Bob White, as he clenched his hands, -and stared at the figure out in the midst of that rushing, boiling water. - -Davy looked far from nimble just then. He was clinging desperately to a -slippery moss-covered rock that just projected above the foamy water. If -he allowed his grip to slacken he would be instantly carried into a -pocket that had all the appearance of a whirlpool; and once lost in that -gap, where the water whirled around and around, Davy might never come out -alive again. - -Under ordinary conditions the agile lad might have had a fair chance to -work out his own salvation, for he was a good swimmer; but just as Bumpus -said, possibly he had struck his head when falling, and this dazed him. -He could only hang on there, and look appealingly toward his comrades, -high up on the bank. - -Thad saw immediately that the task of rescuing their comrade would prove -to be not a little one, even though Davy could hold on for a few minutes -longer, which was uncertain, since the current was very strong, and -seemed to drag at him with a dozen eager hands. - -"A rope! We must have a rope!" he cried. - -"Where's Bumpus? Take this rope!" came from Giraffe. - -"That's so; here, get your coat off, Bumpus, in a big hurry!" exclaimed -Thad, whirling upon the fat boy, who was even then starting to obey. - -Strange to say, as soon as he had undone his loose coat, one of the -reasons for his apparent great size through the body became apparent. -Bumpus had a small but stout clothes-line wound around his body many -times. - -While up in Maine he had taken a fancy for having a rope close to his -hand. On many occasions he had seen the great value of such a thing; and -it had by degrees become almost a mania with Bumpus; who secured just -such a rope as he thought best adapted for the purpose, and carefully -wound it around his body every morning. - -And as the possession of such a thing caused the scoffing scouts to call -it a lariat, of course Bumpus was privately and publicly doing his level -best to throw the rope, as he had once seen some cowboys connected with a -traveling circus do; but with rather poor success thus far, for his build -rather unfitted him for doing such strenuous work. - -Bumpus was so clumsy about most things that it could not be expected that -on the present occasion, when there was so much need of haste he could -satisfy the nervous demands of his camp-mates. - -He started to unwind the rope, but twice the end fell from his shaking -fingers, when he heard Giraffe call out that Davy seemed to be about to -let go his hold. - -Unable to stand such dilly-dallying tactics, Allan and Giraffe presently -took hold of the fat boy, and began to whirl him around as though he were -a teetotum, while Thad pulled at the rope. - -"Here, quit that!" roared Bumpus, throwing out his hands in an effort to -catch hold of something, for he was rapidly growing very dizzy under this -treatment; "what d'ye think I am, a top that wants spinning? Hi! ketch me -somebody, I'm going to tumble over!" and as the last remnant of the -clothes-line slipped from his rotating form, the fat scout did reel -around like a drunken man, though quickly recovering from the dizzy -sensation. - -Meanwhile Thad was busy. Fortunately Bumpus always kept a nice noose at -the end of the rope, with a running knot. Thad knew this, for he had many -a time thrown the lariat with considerable skill, when showing the owner -just how it should be done. - -Hastily he gathered the coils of rope in his hand, and rushed again to -the edge of the little bluff looking out on the rapids. - -He drew a breath of relief when he saw that the unfortunate gymnast was -still there, clinging desperately to that slippery rock, and yet -apparently well-nigh exhausted. - -"Look out for it, Davy, and grab the noose when it comes near! Here -goes!" - -With that the scoutmaster gave the rope several whirls about his head, -and then launched it forward. The others watched the result, with hearts -that seemed to actually stand still with suspense. - -"Missed him!" cried Giraffe, in despair, as the rope struck the surface -of the swift water about five feet or more above the imperiled scout. - -"Thad wanted to send it there; see!" exclaimed Allan. - -Just as the one who had thrown the rope expected, the noose was instantly -seized by the foaming waters, and swept downward, straight at the -clinging boy. Although Davy may have been partly dazed, he had known -enough to hang on with might and main. And right then and there he seemed -to understand what Thad meant to do; for as the rope was borne up against -the partly submerged rock to which he clung, the boy made a quick snatch -at it. - -"He lost it!" shrieked Bumpus, who had recovered enough now to crawl near -the edge in order to see what was going on; though not daring to trust -his weight too near the brink, lest the earth crumble under him, and let -him drop into the rapids where Davy was already fighting for his life. - -"Not much he did!" echoed Giraffe; "he's got it all right! Good boy, -Davy! Slip it under your arms, and we'll yank you out in a jiffy! That's -the ticket! Hurrah!" - -Davy seemed to understand what he must do. It was not enough that he -gripped the noose at the end of the saving rope; for once in the power of -the tossing current of the whirlpool he might lose his hold. - -And so he managed to put his arm right through, after which he held on -with might and main with that hand while he got the second one through -the loop. - -It was the last straw that broke the camel's back; Davy was so completely -exhausted by this effort that he just had to let go, and trust to his -comrades to do the rest. - -Thad began to pull with all his strength, and others laid hold on the -line, to add their mite to the work of rescue. Fortunately Bumpus had -selected a splendid braided window-sash cord when he picked out his rope, -capable of standing an enormous strain; and it held, despite the drag of -the savage whirlpool, and the rush of the rapids. - -Through the white foaming waters Davy was dragged in great style. One of -them managed to get down the little bluff, and helped the almost drowned -scout to clamber up. But hardly had Davy reached the camp than he fell in -a faint, utterly exhausted. Excitement had more or less to do with it, -perhaps fright as well; for he had really been facing death during those -few minutes when he held on with such splendid grit. - -Thad soon brought him to; and upon examining the boy's head he did -discover a pretty good-sized lump, showing that what they suspected must -have taken place; and that Davy had struck against a rock in falling. - -Davy was unusually quiet for the rest of the afternoon, and pretty -serious for one of his animal spirits. He realized that he had had a -close call; and never more would he make fun of poor Bumpus for such a -silly fad as carrying a rope around with him wherever he went. Only for -that Davy might have had a much more serious time of it, even if he were -rescued at all. - -They were having an early supper for many reasons. The tramp had been -rather tiresome on this day; and besides, that location on the side of -the noisy mountain stream had taken their fancy. - -When the meal was ready Bumpus made a bugle of his hands, and blew the -"assembly" in fairly good style. But none of the hungry scouts waited for -him to get through; for they were hard at it as soon as he started. -Indeed, Bumpus himself cut his "call" short, as he saw the tremendous -inroads being made on the visible supply of food; and hastened to take -his place, fearful lest he be left mourning, with a scant ration. - -Had Davy been half drowned by his submersion in the water, the -scoutmaster knew just what to do in order to restore him. He would have -placed the boy on his stomach, with his arms elevated; and while two of -the others worked these back and forth like pump handles, Thad would have -knelt astride Davy, pressing regularly downward with his hands or knees; -the idea being to produce an artificial respiration, and encourage the -heart to take up its suspended functions. - -It still lacked half an hour of sunset when they finished supper; and Bob -White was even thinking of getting out some fishing tackle, in order to -see if he could coax a few trout from the stream, at the foot of the -rapids below. - -The two mules, Mike and Molly, had been staked out at the end of their -ropes, and were cropping the green grass that grew abundantly near by. - -"Don't things look just fine and dandy around here, though?" remarked -Step Hen, as they lay there, feeling too full of supper to do anything. - -"Yes; and so far we haven't missed those two guides who gave us the cold -shake," Giraffe added. "One of 'em had to go and get sick; and the other -broke his contract, and went off with those two Eastern sportsmen who -came out here to shoot mountain sheep, just like they do chamois over in -Switzerland. But we're going to get on all right without 'em; though I -hope we manage to run across that Toby Smathers they told us about, and -who's up here somewhere on his own hook doin' something, nobody seemed to -know just what." - -"Yes," remarked Thad, "they told us he was just the right kind of a guide -to get. He's been through the whole mill--lumber-jack, trapper, hunter, -timber cruiser; and forest ranger employed to look out for fires, and -watch some of those thieves of timber pirates sent in here by the big -lumber concerns to steal millions of millions of feet of valuable lumber -every winter." - -"Hello! now Mike's gone and caught it!" cried Giraffe. - -This caused all of them to sit up, and take notice that one of the mules -was dancing at a lively clip at the end of his rope. He would stand up on -his hind legs, and strain at his stake; then turning, he would kick as -far as he could; and carry on in a most remarkable manner. - -"What in the dickens ails the beast?" asked Step Hen. "Has a bumble bee -stung him on the nose?" - -"Why, don't you see, it's catching," retorted Giraffe, grinning. "He saw -the way Davy here was walking around on his hands, with his feet in the -air; and Mike wants us to see if he can do better than that. I reckon -he'll stand on one foot after a bit, and show Davy stunts he dassent try -to follow." - -"Now, there goes Molly trying the same dodge," shouted Bumpus. - -"Well, I declare, if that don't beat the Dutch!" ejaculated Giraffe. "As -sure as I live, fellers, they mean to make it a double harness affair, a -team of educated mule gymnasts. Go it, Mike! Hey, show us what you can -do, Molly! I'm believing she c'n beat her pardner all hollow. Look at -that jump, would you? Say, they must a been eating some of that loco weed -we heard about, fellers!" - -"They're frightened, that's what!" exclaimed Thad, as he started to cast -his eyes around in search of any unusual object, but failing to discover -such; from which fact he judged that the mules depended on their sense of -smell to tell them there was danger near by. - -"Frightened; what at?" echoed Davy Jones. - -"I don't know; but if ever I saw a scared mule, that Mike is one," Thad -went on. - -"Look at him jerk, would you?" cried Giraffe. "Unless that stake gives -way soon, he'll sure break his old stubborn neck. Whoa! there, you silly; -nothing's going to hurt you. Wow! there he goes awhoopin', Thad! The -stake did give way, before he dislocated his spine. And there's Molly -bound to follow after him, whoop! see her tear, would you?" - -"She's broke away too, and is trailing the rope after her!" cried Step -Hen. - -"And now, won't we just have a dandy old time hunting our pack mules -again; unless by some accident that stake and rope get caught in the -rocks, and holds 'em up; which I'm hoping will be the case," remarked -Giraffe, looking blankly after the two disappearing animals, that, when -last seen, were still acting in the most remarkable manner, and giving -every evidence of a severe fright. - -"Now, what d'ye suppose, scared the fools that way?" demanded Bob White. - -"P'raps they just felt frisky, and wanted to show us their heels. I told -you they'd be mad, if you didn't include them on the roll call," Giraffe -remarked; though in truth, he was feeling anything but funny just then, -as he contemplated the possibility of their being stranded away out there -under the shadow of the great Rockies, without a single pack animal to -"tote" their camp luggage either way. - -"Look around, and see if you can spy anything moving," advised the -scoutmaster, making use of his own sharp eyes at the same moment. - -Immediately Bumpus called out: - -"What's that lumbering along over yonder, Thad? Looks to me like an old, -cinnamon-colored cow." - -Thad took one look. - -"You're away off there, Bumpus," he remarked, in a thrilling tone; -"because those two wise mules knew what was coming. That is anything but -a cow or even a bull. It's a bear!" - -"A bear!" almost shrieked Bumpus, making a dive for the nearest tent, in -which lay his nice ten-bore Marlin, loaded with buckshot shells. - -"Yes," Thad went on, "and a great big grizzly bear at that. Let's hope -he'll give us the go-by, and walk on about his own business!" - - - - - CHAPTER III. - WHEN THE FOXES TOOK TO THE TREES. - - -"Bang!" - -"Hold on there, Bumpus, you're crazy!" shouted Thad. - -"Bang!" went the other barrel of the new ten-bore gun, with which the fat -scout was determined he would sooner or later get a bear. - -"Oh! he knocked him over!" shrieked Step Hen, who had managed in some -mysterious way to get possession of his own gun, and was visibly -disappointed because it began to look as though he could not make use of -it. - -"Bumpus has killed a grizzly!" shouted Giraffe; and then, quick on the -heels of this exultant cry he added: "no he ain't, either! Look at him -gettin' up on all fours again! Now he's sighted us, fellers! Here he -comes, licketty-split! A tree for mine! They told us grizzlies couldn't -climb trees, you know." - -Giraffe was as good as his word. He seemed to fairly fly over to the -nearest tree, and the way those supple long legs wrapped around the -slender trunk was a sight worth seeing. - -A panic broke out among the rest, especially when Thad shouted: - -"Get up a tree, everybody! Quick, now, he's coming right along!" - -Now, Step Hen had his rifle, and knew that it could be depended on to do -its work, provided the marksman himself was there with the good aim. Step -Hen did not have full confidence in his ability to plant a bullet where -it would do the most execution. Besides, the sight of that savage monster -lumbering along, and looking so very fierce, gave poor Step Hen an attack -of the "rattles." - -When he heard the scoutmaster call out for every one to hunt a tree, Step -Hen felt that he must be included in that order. If all the others -climbed to safety, it would be the height of folly for him to remain -below. - -And not wanting to play the part of Casibianca, the boy who "stood on the -burning deck, whence all but him had fled," Step Hen, dropping his gun as -he ran, made for a tree that seemed to offer all the advantages of home. - -Just ahead of him was Bumpus, gripping a limb with a desperation born of -despair, and struggling furiously to get one of his fat legs entwined -above, when he might hope to pull himself up. - -Step Hen had no trouble in mounting on his side of the tree. - -"Give Bumpus a hand, Step Hen!" shouted the scoutmaster, already settled -in a nest of his choosing. - -As one scout is expected to help another whenever the chance arises, -doubtless Step Hen would have rendered this "first aid to the clumsy" -even though Thad had not seen fit to call out. - -There was really need of haste. The wounded bear was perilously near, and -seemed to be heading straight for the tree where Bumpus was, unable, in -his excitement and fright to draw his body up on the limb to which he -clung. - -His fat face was white, and his eyes seemed almost ready to pop out of -his head, as Step Hen, bending down, caught hold of his coat collar. It -looked as though the angry bear just knew which of these campers had -inflicted this pain upon him, and was bent upon revenge. - -But Step Hen was strong, moreover, the necessity of moving the unwieldy -body of Bumpus was great. Exerting himself as the fat scout commenced to -strain again, Step Hen managed to get Bumpus up alongside him. - -Even then there was more or less danger that the grizzly might stand -erect on his hind legs, and be able to claw them, so the boys hastened to -put more distance between their precious bodies and the furious beast. - -When the bear found that he could not reach any of the scouts, he spent -some little time rolling from one tree to another, and looking up at the -boys in the branches and sending forth loud growls. - -"Scat! get out!" shouted Giraffe. "Say, he's a goin' to try and climb up -my thin tree. Here, quit that, you old scamp! Look what he's doin', Thad! -Wow! he wants to shake me down like a big persimmon." - -The bear did actually shake the slender tree to and fro, by exerting his -tremendous strength. Giraffe had a few anxious minutes. He had to hold on -with all his might to keep from being dislodged. And then again, there -was always a chance that the furious grizzly might actually snap the tree -off. - -After a short time the animal seemed to tire of this sport. Greatly to -the relief of Giraffe he ambled away. - -"Good-bye, old feller! Come again when you can't stay so long!" cried -Giraffe, whose courage returned when he realized that his safety was -assured. - -But the bear did not have the remotest idea of abandoning his game. - -"He smells our grub, that's what!" called out Bumpus. "See him sniffing, -would you? And there he goes, right at our stock of things. Oh! what if -he gobbles it all up, whatever will we do, stranded away up here?" - -"We've got to do something, boys, to chase him off," declared Allan. - -"If I had some powder up here, I'd show him," declared Giraffe. - -"What would you do?" demanded Smithy, who for once had not waited to pick -out a clean tree, when he started to "elevate." - -"Why, I'd wet some powder, and make those sputtering 'devils' you -remember I used to carry around with me. Then I'd get the old bear right -under, put a match to a bunch of the powder, and when it took to sending -out sparks to beat the band, I'd drop it on his back. Wow! but take my -word for it, boys, he'd make tracks out of this in a cloud of smoke." - -"Well, suh, why don't you do that, and help us out of a bad scrape?" -demanded Bob White, whose hot Southern blood fairly boiled at the -ridiculous idea of eight wide-awake scouts being made prisoners, by just -one old bear. - -"For several reasons," replied Giraffe, calmly. "In the first place I -don't happen to possess a single match, even if I had the powder, which -is not the case. And then again, I want to see how our sagacious and -resourceful scoutmaster works his little game." - -This caused all the others to turn their attention toward Thad. For the -first time they discovered that he was lowering a long piece of cord, -with an open loop a few inches in diameter at the end. - -"Oh! I know what he's hoping to do," sang out Bumpus. "He wants to fish -up Step Hen's gun, that lies just below him, where Step Hen dropped it." - -"That's the stuff!" declared Davy Jones, excitedly, as he watched the -operation. - -"But look at the bear, fellers!" cried Giraffe. "He's right at it now, -chawin' up our grub as if he could store away the lot of it. Guess he's -forgot all about us." - -"Don't you believe it," declared Allan. "Watch me prove it." - -With that he made as if to descend his tree. No sooner had his swinging -legs attracted the attention of the bear, than uttering savage growls he -abandoned his feast, and came hurriedly over, to look up at Allan with -those cruel little eyes, as if inviting him to just try it. - -So Thad had to suspend operations until Bruin, overtaken by a desire to -once more revel in the camp-stores, shuffled back again to the -neighborhood of the twin tents. - -"Don't coax him over here again, please, Allan," remarked the -scoutmaster, who was now busily engaged "fishing" with that looped cord, -trying to drop the noose over the end of the little rifle, which, by a -rare chance, was raised a few inches from the ground. - -The other scouts were all watching his labor, being deeply interested in -the result. - -"Now you've got a bite, Thad!" called out Giraffe. - -"Give it to him, Thad!" advised Step Hen. - -But the fisherman was too cautious to risk so much. He wanted to slip the -noose a little further along, before he made a final jerk, in order to -try and tighten it. - -"He's got his eye on you, Thad!" warned Smithy, whose tree happened to be -better located for observation than any of the other ones appropriated by -his comrades. - -"Yes, and there he's coming over to see what you mean by that string -hanging down," asserted Giraffe. - -"Somebody draw his attention!" called out Thad. "Make him think you're -meaning to drop down. It will give me the chance I need to finish my -job." - -"Yes, throw Bumpus down, Step Hen!" called out Giraffe. "He was the cause -of all this trouble and he ought to sacrifice himself now, in order to -create a diversion." - -"Keep away from me! Don't you dare touch me, Step Hen! I'll pull you down -along with me, if you try to do that," cried Bumpus, really alarmed. - -But Allan caught the idea Thad advanced. Besides, it just happened that -he was well situated for carrying it out. By going through some -extravagant motions, as though about to descend, he caught the attention -of the bear, which immediately shuffled over to his tree, and looked up -expectantly. - -Meanwhile Thad was not idle. - -He saw what he had to do in order to make a sure thing of his work. -Moving to one side a little, as the nature of his hold in the branches of -the tree permitted, he jerked at his line until the loop actually closed -tightly on the barrel of Step Hen's rifle. After that it should not be a -difficult task to pull the weapon up. - -"Quick! Thad, he's coming!" shouted the excited Giraffe. - -In spite of all Allan's cutting-up the bear seemed to think that he had -better be paying more attention to what was going on elsewhere. - -Thad had raised the gun from the ground. It was slowly ascending through -space, and turning around as it came. - -The grizzly hurried underneath, while Thad hastened to pass the cord -through his fingers and when the wise old bear, seeming to understand the -case, reared up to strike at the dangling rifle, he just managed to give -it a tap that started it to spinning around at a lively clip. - -"Oh!" gasped Giraffe, under the belief that all was lost. - -But Thad had made one last drag, and even as the other uttered that -exclamation the scoutmaster snatched the gun out of the air; for with -that very last pull, the noose seemed to have slipped. - -"Hurrah! Thad wins!" burst out from Step Hen. - -"Good-bye, old Charlie!" mocked Bumpus. "Better skip out while there is -time, if you know what's good for you." - -But the bear did not seem to be that wise. He remained there, winking -those wicked little eyes up at Thad, as if daring him to do his worst. - -"Give it to him, Thad!" begged Giraffe, so impatient that he could hardly -understand why the more careful boy should wait. - -But although Thad had never up to now encountered a wild grizzly, he had -heard and read a great deal about them. And thus he knew that at times -such an animal can be shot full of bullets, so to speak, without killing -him, so tenacious of life is the grizzly bear of the Rocky Mountains. - -On this account, therefore, Thad wished to make all the capital possible -out of the six bullets that were contained in Step Hen's gun. - -Waiting until a good opportunity presented itself, he took a quick aim, -and then pulled the trigger. With the report there came a tremendous -roar, so savage, so full of pent-up animal rage, that Bumpus immediately -proceeded to climb up to a still higher limb of the tree in which he had -found shelter. - -"He's down! No, he's up again! Give him another, Thad! Oh! don't I wish I -had my Old Reliable here, though," cried Giraffe. - -Thad was awake to the necessity for prompt action. The bear, even though -desperately wounded, was still full of fight. And there could be no -telling what the maddened animal might not attempt, if given time. - -Thad taking careful aim fired again. - -He really felt an admiration for the hard-fighting grizzly, such as all -hunters worthy of the name experience toward the four-footed enemy that -puts up a game battle for its life. - -There were four more bullets in the repeating rifle, and Thad had to make -use of them all before he could really feel he had caused the last vital -spark to flee from its abiding-place in the body of the shaggy monster. - -But after the sixth and last shot had been fired, there was silence on -the part of the terror of the mountain gulches. The grizzly's last -convulsive movement had taken place. No longer would his savage roar, -echoing from cliff to cliff, cause all other wild animals to flee. - -"Hurrah!" shouted Giraffe, as he dropped to the ground. - -"Is he surely dead?" asked Smithy, from his perch aloft. - -For answer the reckless Giraffe ran up, and placed a foot on the -motionless body of the bear. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - BUMPUS TAKES A CHANCE. - - -"Everybody's getting bears but me," Bumpus was saying on the following -day, when, a new camp having been selected, further removed from the -noise of the rapids, the boys decided to stay over for a little while, -and try their luck hunting through the big timber lands around them. - -The two runaway pack mules had been recovered. Just as the boys expected, -the trailing stakes had become caught fast in the rocks that lay up the -stream, and in which direction the panic-stricken pack animals had gone. -Both were found before darkness set in, and escorted back in triumph to -the camp. - -The boys had also discovered that hungry trout lay in schools below the -foaming rapids, just anxious to grace the frying-pan of the scouts. And -the savory mess they had secured for breakfast that morning was one of -the reasons why, upon putting the question to a vote, it was decided to -stay over a while. - -And after they had located the new camp, with the tents erected, and -things looking fairly comfortable, the complaining voice of Bumpus was -heard in the land, as he rubbed diligently at the shining barrels of his -Marlin with an oiled rag. - -"Well, you had your chance, didn't you?" demanded Step Hen, with a wink -and a nod in the direction of Thad, who had paused to listen, while -stretching the great skin of the grizzly on a big frame, to start drying. - -"I s'pose I did; but he was too far away for my buckshot to bring him -down," declared Bumpus; "but I hit him, didn't I, Thad?" - -"In eight different places by actual count," replied the other. -"Altogether this pelt is shot so full of holes it won't make the finest -rug going; but whenever we look at it on the floor of our armory we'll -all remember the queer kind of fruit the trees out here bear." - -"There is Giraffe, now," went on Bumpus, still hugging his grievance to -his heart; "he got a black bear when we were up in Maine, but I call that -just a snap. The old thief was astealin' honey from the tree we cut down, -when Giraffe, he just plunked him. Why, my dandy gun would have knocked -that bear over at such close range, the easiest ever." - -"I guess it would, Bumpus," said Thad, consolingly, "and sometime, -perhaps you'll have your chance. We all hope you will, anyhow." - -"I'm going to see to it that I do," grumbled the fat scout; and from his -manner one would be apt to think that really life was becoming very tame, -and hardly worth having, unless he might find his one great wish -gratified. - -Bumpus really felt his failure of the preceding night very keenly. It was -not often that any of the boys had seen him so sober and sour. - -He felt as though a cruel fate had taken pleasure in cheating him out of -honors he should have claimed. That ought to have been _his_ bear, by -right of first discovery; and also because he had fired both barrels of -his Marlin at the beast, and actually knocked him over. - -The trouble was, old Charlie did not know enough to stay down; but had -persisted in giving them further trouble, until Thad engineered that -clever scheme for getting possession of a gun, when immediately the game -was up. - -Had Thad ever dreamed of what a tenacious hold this newly-acquired desire -to shine as a mighty Nimrod, had taken upon the mind of Bumpus, he would -certainly have been more careful about leaving the tenderfoot to his own -devices. - -The morning was still young when Giraffe proposed that they make up a -party, to take a look around. - -"Who knows but what we might run across a deer; or one of those Rocky -Mountain big-horn sheep?" he added, as a clincher to his argument. - -"That sounds good to me," declared Step Hen. - -"I'll go along to help tote your game," remarked Bob White. - -"And I'm in the ring," remarked Step Hen. "Why, my mouth's just watering -for some prime mutton chops." - -Thad smiled. He knew that if ever they did secure a big-horn, the flesh -of that high jumping animal would probably be as tough as leather, unless -fortunately they chanced upon a young one. - -It was finally arranged that besides Thad and Allan, Step Hen, Giraffe -and Bob White should make up the hunting party. - -This would leave three in camp--Smithy who had no gun, Davy Jones, whose -head still felt sore from the effect of his accident on the previous -afternoon; and the despondent Bumpus, who was acting very strangely, for -one of his cheery disposition. - -No one dreamed that any trouble could come upon the camp while part of -the scouts were away. Two of those who remained owned guns, though at the -last moment Davy Jones forced Bob White to carry his "pump" shot gun. But -then, what was there to fear? If the mate of the slain grizzly came -around, looking for the absent one, the boys had been instructed to take -to the trees; and Thad had even gone to the trouble of picking out the -best fortress available in this line, one that even the clumsy Bumpus -could readily climb. - -"Think you could shin up that tree, in case the other old Mountain -Charlie came prowling around?" Thad asked Bumpus. - -"Oh! I guess I could," replied the other, rather indifferently, Thad -thought. - -"Tell you what, Bumpus," called out Step Hen, "if I was you I'd fix it -so's to have my ammunition up in that tree. Then, you see, if he sat down -at the butt here, to wait till you got ripe and dropped, why, you could -just keep banging away till you loaded him so full of little bullets he -couldn't get up off the ground. Great stunt, ain't it boys?" - -The others readily declared that it was making things easy for Bumpus. -They were even kind enough to express a wish that another bear _would_ -take a notion to come around, just to please Bumpus, for it pained them -exceedingly to see him looking so miserable. - -But the fat boy did not grow at all enthusiastic over Step Hen's -proposal. He just watched all the preparations being made for the hunt; -and sitting there on the log, kept polishing his gun, although it -certainly showed no speck of rust or grime. - -Presently all of them were ready to start. - -"It would be nice now," said Thad, before departing, "if some of you -camp-keepers gave those trout another try. We may not get a shot at a -deer all the time we're gone; and if we fail on fresh meat, another mess -of trout would taste pretty fine." - -"I should say they would, whether we strike game or not," declared -Giraffe. - -"Haven't tasted anything so good since we were up in Maine last fall, and -had just one mess before the trout season closed," Allan observed. - -"I'll try and accommodate you as far as I'm able," Smithy agreed. - -"Same here," echoed Davy Jones. - -But as for Bumpus, good-natured, jolly Bumpus, he seemed to have lost his -tongue, for he failed to add his promise to that of the other two scouts. - -Thad looked at him as he turned away. He had never dreamed that the fat -scout would take anything so much to heart. Bumpus was not cut out for a -good hunter, either by instinct or bodily favor. Some of his enemies in -Cranford, like Brose Griffin and Eli Bangs, were wont to say that Bumpus -was not only ponderous of body, but "fat-witted" as well, by which they -probably meant his mind was slow to act. - -Still, there have been successful fat hunters. Bumpus knew, for he had -made it a point to investigate in every way possible, and he was resolved -that he would shine as a successful Nimrod, despite the disadvantages -under which he labored. So much the more credit to him when he finally -proved his right to boast that proud title. - -After the five hunters went away, Smithy found some bait, and wandered -down to the base of the rapids to fish. The gentle art of angling was -more in the line of the dude of the patrol than tramping through the big -timber after elusive game. - -Here Davy Jones presently joined him, saying that Bumpus had urged him to -add a second rod and line to that Smithy already had out. - -"Couldn't get him to try it, though," said Davy. "Told me he was no -fisherman, and nearly always fell in, he was that clumsy. And between us, -Smithy, that's pretty near the truth." - -"Well, I can remember several occasions when Bumpus made a splash that he -didn't calculate on," remarked Smithy, who was usually just as careful of -his language as he was of his clothes, and no one could ever remember -ever hearing him utter any slang phrase. - -Meanwhile the five hunters had gone off in high spirits. The day was -glorious, and a whole month of this sort of thing stared them in the -face. That was enough to make any bunch of boys happy, especially when -they cared as much for the Great Outdoors as Thad and his chums did. - -Allan was a born hunter. What he did not know about stalking game and all -such things that a successful hunter must be up in, the boys had not as -yet learned. - -He had noted the passing clouds, and observed the direction in which the -prevailing wind blew. It was of considerable moment for the success of -their fresh meat hunt, that they go _up_ the breeze. In this way they -would avoid having their presence in the timber made known in advance to -the wary game, through the medium of the wonderful sense of smell which -most animals possess. - -The five scouts spread out at times in the shape of a fan, so as to cover -as much ground as possible. - -Again they would come together for a little consultation, when they could -compare notes; and those who were not very much experienced in still -hunting, pick up more or less valuable pointers. - -Noon came, but as yet they had not met with any success. Around them the -tall trees grew thickly, and some of them had trunks of such girth that -the scouts easily understood why this region was always referred to as -the "big timber." - -As they ascended higher up the slopes of the foothills that bordered the -Rockies, they would find the trees growing smaller all the while, until -far up the heights the stunted mesquite or the dwarfed cedar alone -remained. - -Not at all dismayed, after they had refreshed themselves with the lunch -brought for that purpose, the young hunters again started out. - -The wind had veered somewhat, and with this fresh start they changed -their own course, so as to keep it coming toward them. Thad was just as -well pleased, for this new direction would serve to keep them within a -few miles of camp; and in case they did manage to secure meat, they would -not have so far to transport it. - -Still the time kept slipping away, and the sun could hardly have been -more than two hours above the western horizon when suddenly a buck was -started. Every one was so eager to get in a shot, that a regular volley -rang out immediately. - -There was positively no chance for the poor deer. He went down in a heap, -and was so near dead when he reached the ground that he did not even give -a last expiring kick. - -Of course the boys were delighted, especially when Allan declared their -united quarry was a nice young buck, and that his flesh ought by all -rights be tender. - -Using the greatest dispatch the deer was soon cut up. And when the -various packages of meat had been judiciously distributed, the five -scouts started on their return to camp. - -Thanks to the knowledge of woodcraft possessed by Allan and Thad, they -managed to make the camp on a line as straight as an arrow, almost. -Indeed, Thad declared that a bee laden with honey, could make no more -direct drive for the hive than Allan had in leading them toward the -region of the camp. - -It was just beginning to get a little dusk when they sighted the -crackling fire, and hurrying along, entered camp. Thad looked around. -Davy was busy over the fire, and the delightful smell of frying trout -told what his occupation must be. Smithy was cutting up some small wood -with the camp-hatchet. Both looked up as the hunters came in. - -"Where's Bumpus?" asked Thad, quickly scenting trouble. - -Davy and Smithy exchanged glances. - -"We hoped he'd found you, and come back," observed the former. - -"Found us? What do you mean by that?" demanded the scoutmaster. - -"We went down to the foot of the pool to fish," explained Davy. "An hour -later I came back to get another hook, and I found that Bumpus had -disappeared, taking his gun with him." - -Thad and Allan exchanged worried glances. With night at hand and that -clumsy tenderfoot lost somewhere in the big timber, it was no wonder that -a sense of impending trouble, that might yet end in tragedy, oppressed -them. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - THE MISSING TENDERFOOT. - - -"It looks like poor old Bumpus is lost," said Allan, presently, breaking -the silence that had fallen upon them all. - -"Lost--whew!" muttered Giraffe, with a suggestive whistle, and an -elevation of the eyebrows that stood for a great deal. - -"That big booby lost!" said Step Hen. - -"What on earth can we do?" Smithy asked. - -Again they looked at each other. - -Consternation had undoubtedly fallen upon the camp of the scouts, just as -though a wet blanket had suddenly been thrown on some pet project. It -would have been a matter of more or less concern had Davy Jones failed to -turn up after a day's hunt in the big timber, or Giraffe, or Step Hen; -but Bumpus, why, no one save himself had ever seriously contemplated the -possibility of the fat boy going astray. - -And yet, now that they thought of it, how many times had they heard him -prophesying that if ever he _did_ find himself wandering about alone, he -would know how to take care of himself? Bumpus had for a long time been -making preparations looking to such a happening. The remembrance of this -seemed to cheer the others up a little, after the first shock had passed. - -"He was always dreading just this same thing," said Davy Jones. - -"And getting ready against the evil day," remarked Allan. - -"That was why he bought his little compass," put in Giraffe. - -"Ditto his camp hatchet," added Step Hen. - -"And I reckon, suh," observed the Southern boy, "that Bumpus had it in -mind more than anything else when he took to carrying that piece of -window sash cord around with him." - -"Sure thing," Giraffe went on. "I've heard him say it was apt to come in -handy lots of times." - -"And it did," broke in Davy Jones, earnestly. "If it hadn't been for that -same handy rope, fellows, there's no telling what would have happened to -_me_; or what gloom might be ahangin' over this here camp right now." - -"Good old Bumpus!" murmured Smithy, quite affected. - -"Always willing to do his share of the work. You never knew him to shirk, -or get a cramp in the stomach," and as Giraffe said this he cast a severe -look over in the direction of Davy Jones, who turned red in the face, -gave a little uneasy laugh, and hastened to exclaim: - -"Oh! that joke is ancient history now, Giraffe, I've reformed since I -joined the patrol." - -Some years before, the Jones boy had really been subject to violent -cramps that gave him great pain, and doubled him up like a jack-knife, or -a closed hinge. He was always an object of pity at such times, and had -frequently been allowed to go home from school because of his affliction. - -But the time came when the teacher observed that these convenient -"cramps" never arrived on a rainy day; and also that Davy recovered in a -miraculous fashion, once he reached the open air. And when Davy was -simply allowed to retire to a cloak room, to let the "spasm" pass, -instead of being started homeward, it was noticed that his complaint -quickly disappeared. - -So on joining the scouts, Davy, whose dislike for exerting himself had -been his weakness, began to have those strange "cramps" whenever some -hard work was to be done. - -But trust boys for noticing that the pains never, never attacked him when -a meal was awaiting attention. And Davy was soon made so ashamed of -himself that he did actually "reform," as he now declared. - -"Well," Smithy went on to say, "it's some satisfaction, anyhow, to know -the poor old elephant is so well fixed, if he does have to pass a night -or two in the woods alone." - -"He evidently took a lot of grub and matches along," said Davy. - -"And if he has a fire, he can do without his blanket," Allan observed. - -"While we're pitying him in this way, how do we know but what it may be -the best thing in the world for Bumpus," suggested Thad. - -"Yes, he needs something like this to give him self-reliance. Bumpus was -always ready to follow at the heels of some one who led; but who ever -knew him to start out on his own hook?" said Allan. - -"If only we could be sure of finding him again, after a couple of days -had gone by, it wouldn't be so bad," declared Smithy. - -"Who'll tell his folks?" asked Davy Jones, dejectedly. - -Thad turned on him like a flash. - -"Here, we don't want any of that sort of talk," he said, severely. "We're -going to find our missing comrade again, all right. Get that fixed in -your mind, Davy. It may be to-morrow, or the day after, or even a week -from now, but we'll find him sooner or later, and he'll know more than he -ever did before, too." - -"You just bet he will," chuckled Giraffe, as he mentally pictured the fat -boy stalking through that great tract of timber, solemnly consulting his -compass from time to time, and yet utterly unable to say whether the camp -lay to the north, south, east or west. - -"It'll just be the making of Bumpus, fellers," ventured Step Hen. - -"But see here," remarked Thad, "if he disappeared this morning, how is it -you two, Davy and Smithy, let the whole afternoon go by without trying to -communicate with us?" - -Davy Jones took it upon himself to answer. - -"You see, Thad," he began, "in the first place we didn't know for sure -the poor old silly was lost, till late in the afternoon. We just kinder -felt a bit uneasy, but every time I came to camp after fishin' an hour or -so, I expected to see him sitting here." - -"But if you grew uneasy, it ought to have been your business to call us -in?" continued Thad, as the leader of the patrol. - -"Just so, boss," Davy went on to say, "but you see, it happened that I -let Bob White take my gun; and when Bumpus, he let that silly notion to -wander get a strangle hold on him, why, he carried off the only other -shooting iron we had in camp." - -"Oh!" said Thad, "of course. You did all right, Davy. And besides, -there's a little chance right now, that Bumpus, in wandering around, may -glimpse our fire here, and come in." - -"And on that account you mean we ought to keep a bumper blaze going all -evenin'," remarked Giraffe, eagerly. - -Giraffe's weakness lay in his adoration of fire. It was forever on his -mind, and whenever he sat down to rest, his always keen-edged jack-knife -was busy whittling shavings. - -"Oh! we might want to make a fire later on, who knows; and then these -shavings will come in real handy," he would say. - -He knew about every means possible for producing a blaze without the use -of matches. The patrol leader, afraid lest Giraffe set the woods afire up -in Maine, where the law is very particular about such things, had given -Giraffe the job of official fire-maker for the camp on condition that he -agreed never to carry matches on his person, but to ask for them as -needed. - -This put Giraffe on his mettle. - -He began experimenting, first with a burning sun-glass, and a pinch of -powder to start a blaze in the dry tinder. Then he had used flint and -steel successfully. And from this old-time method he advanced along the -line, making fires in half a dozen primitive ways, until he came up -against one that "stumped" him for a long time. - -This was the South Sea Island method of producing heat by friction. The -scout had studied it well, made him a little bow, and spent many hours -twirling the stick that was rolled back and forward by the cord. - -How success finally came, and at a time when it seemed Giraffe really -needed a fire, if ever he did in all his life, has been already told in a -previous volume of this series. - -But the passion for a fire was just as much a part of Giraffe's nature as -it had ever been. And this was why his face lighted up, while his eyes -glittered with happiness, when he heard the acting scoutmaster admit they -ought to keep a good fire going all evening. - -Trust Giraffe for that; a wink was as good as a nod to him, when the -subject of fire-building was concerned. - -Later on, they sat around enjoying the venison steaks, and the trout -which had been so beautifully browned in the frying-pan, after several -slices of fat salt pork had been "tried out." - -"What are you putting that lot aside for, Davy?" asked Thad; just as if -he did not know the generous thought which impelled the cook to reserve -one good big portion of the supper. - -"Why, I thought that mebbe Bumpus might poke along after a bit," replied -Davy, adding another crisp trout to the pile he had heaped up, "and if he -does, I guess he's apt to be pretty hungry. Bumpus is a good feeder, we -all know." - -"What d'ye suppose made him do it, Thad?" asked Step Hen. - -"There," said the scoutmaster, "that's the question. None of us really -know; but we can give a pretty good guess, eh, boys?" - -"I should say, yes," spoke up Giraffe. "Bumpus has gone clean crazy over -this bear business." - -"Said everybody was getting them but him," put in Smithy; "and I'm sure -that doesn't apply to me in the least. I never expect to get a bear; and -my only hope is that no bear will get me." - -"And even if he didn't actually say the words." went on Giraffe, "his -manner stood for it all right--'you just wait, and I'm going to have my -chance before long.' And fellers, it's my opinion Bumpus just got tired -of waiting for his chance to come to him, so he went out stalkin' after -it." - -"No use trying to pick up his trail to-night, is there?" asked Step Hen. - -Thad shook his head. - -"Not in the least," he said. "We'll have to wait until morning, and hope -he may show up yet. As I said before, we'll try and keep a fire going all -night, so as to show him a beacon, if by good luck he keeps on turning to -the left, as lost people nearly always do, and comes back this way." - -They sat up rather late, talking. And although the conversation might be -of things that had happened in the past, it was easy to see what the -chief thought in every one of those boys' minds must be; for never did a -rabbit or a squirrel rustle the near-by underbrush that there did not -come a look of eager expectancy upon seven faces, that quickly died out -again with repeated disappointments. - -There is an old saying to the effect that "you never miss the water till -the well runs dry." And these seven scouts of the Silver Fox Patrol did -not fully realize what a universal favorite Bumpus Hawtree had become -until he was missing from camp. - -Many times that night when either Allan or Thad, being light sleepers, -took it upon themselves to crawl out from their blanket in the tent they -occupied, to fix the smouldering fire, they would sit there a bit, and -listen to see if by good luck they might hear a distant "halloo." - -But only the usual noises of the night greeted them. Around lay the -mysterious big timber, and somewhere in the unknown depths of this wide -stretch of woods bordering the Rocky Mountain foothills their comrade was -camping in solitude, doubtless a prey to lively fears. - -So morning found them. - -Breakfast was quickly eaten. There was no "cutting up," or boyish pranks -shown on this morning. Every one seemed serious, gloomy, oppressed with -doubts, and a vague sense of coming trouble. - -Thad saw to it that a complete understanding was arranged with the three -who were to remain in camp, being Davy Jones, Bob White and Smithy. - -And then the others, having each made up a few rations of food to carry -them over possibly a couple of days, prepared to start upon the plain -trail of Bumpus, which had been easily found. - -A last wave of the hand, a few "good luck go with you's," from the boys -in the camp, and then the trackers were swallowed up in the big timber. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - FORCED TO THINK FOR HIMSELF. - - -"What time d'ye suppose it is, Thad?" - -Step Hen asked the question. Perhaps he was a little tired himself, for -the four scouts had been constantly on the go since early morning, and it -was now getting well on into the afternoon. - -They had kept on the zigzag trail left by Bumpus. As a rule it had been -very easy following, and afforded all of them considerable enjoyment, -because Bumpus knew nothing at all concerning the art of hiding a trail, -and would have had no object in doing so, even had he been educated along -this line. - -But there were times when it happened that the formation of the ground -interfered to some extent with their making progress, since even Allan -and Thad had considerable to learn about reading signs. - -"Oh! about four o'clock," replied Thad, and instead of consulting his -little nickel watch when saying this, he cast a quick glance upward to -where a glimpse of the sun could be obtained through an opening in the -tops of the exceedingly tall trees. - -Thus the habit of observation is encouraged in a scout. He learns to -depend less upon the devices of civilization, and more on such natural -resources as the primitive folks enjoyed. - -"Let's see how close you came to it," remarked Giraffe, as he took out -the cheap but effective dollar watch the patrol leader carried. "Well, -now, what d'ye think of that for hittin' the bull's eye plumb in the -center." - -He held the watch up to show that the hands pointed exactly to four. Thad -laughed. - -"Perhaps I couldn't hit it as close as that in a dozen times," he -admitted. "But it's always easy to get pretty near the hour, day or -night, if you only fall into the habit of noticing where the sun, moon or -stars should be. There isn't a time in the night, if the sky happens to -be clear, but what I can tell you the hour within ten minutes anyhow." - -"Have we gained any on Bumpus?" asked Giraffe. - -At this question the scoutmaster shook his head. - -"I'm sorry to say we don't seem to gain any," he remarked. "Where we -picked up some at times, we lost again when the trail got faint." - -"Huh! looks like an endless task, then," grunted Step Hen. "Bumpus keeps -tramping along, every day, and when night comes we're just the same -distance behind. Seems to me we'll just never get him at that rate." - -"Oh!" replied Thad, not at all dismayed, "we'll just keep at it, you -know. Lots of things are apt to happen to help us. Bumpus will tire out -soon. Then he may get discouraged, and just make up his mind to stay in -camp till we come." - -"Which would be a mighty sensible thing for him to do," declared Step -Hen. - -"But that wouldn't fetch him his bear," chuckled Giraffe, "and that's the -one thing worth living for with Bumpus right now." - -"Mebbe he's got over the fever," suggested Step Hen. "P'raps a reaction -has set in by now." - -"Let's hope so, anyhow," remarked Allan. - -"And so Bumpus was about here yesterday at four P. M.," said Giraffe, -"Don't I wonder where he is now." - -"And what he's doing," added Step Hen. "One thing sure, he hadn't run -across that bear of his up to this point." - -"Which I take it was a lucky thing for Bumpus," Giraffe went on. - -"Come on, fellows," Thad went on to say, "we've still got the trail in -front of us, and it seems to lead across that boggy stretch ahead. Here's -where he walked along the edge. Then for some reason or other he started -to cross over." - -"Which I take it was a fool play for Bumpus," grunted Giraffe. "Chances -are a fellow of his heft would get stuck in the mud and mired." - -"Mebbe he thought he saw his bear on the other side," suggested Step Hen. - -Thad had plunged in, regardless of the mud. Where Bumpus went it seemed -to be their duty to follow. - -"Whew! wouldn't this give Smithy a heartache though?" remarked Giraffe, -when the mud came half way to their knees, and seemed so sticky that it -was only through some exertion that they lifted each foot. - -"But, much as he'd hate to do it," Thad observed, proudly, "Smithy would -follow wherever his leader went. He's learned the rules by which all true -scouts are governed, and obedience is one of them. What is it, Allan?" he -went on, as the other uttered an exclamation of dismay. - -"Hold up, don't go a step further!" called out the other. - -"What's the matter?" demanded Step Hen, getting his gun ready, and -casting a glance up at the branches of the trees as though he half -expected to see a sleek gray panther crouched in a fork, ready to pounce -down upon them. - -"Look at the dry mud splattered on the trunk of that tree;" continued -Allan, pointing. - -And after they had looked, the four scouts exchanged horrified glances. - -"It's a sink hole!" exclaimed Giraffe, turning pale. - -"And poor old Bumpus was caught in the mud. He splashed around like a -stranded porpoise, and that threw the stuff up on that tree trunk," Step -Hen went on to say. - -"Oh! it can't be as bad as that, can it, Thad?" asked Giraffe in a -tremulous tone, as his eyes remained glued on the treacherous surface of -the bog about the place where Bumpus had been caught and held as in a -vise. - -Was it possible their poor comrade could have sunk out of sight under -that smooth deceptive surface? The thought was too terrible. - -All at once Thad uttered a cry, and the others noticed that it seemed to -have a little ring of joy about it, rather than gloom. - -"Hold my gun and my haversack, fellows," said the patrol leader. - -To the surprise of the others he started to climb a tree that had low -limbs some of them not more than eight feet above the surface of the bog. - -"What in the dickens is he up to?" exclaimed Step Hen. - -"Watch, and you'll see," Allan went on to say. - -"Do you know, Allan?" demanded Giraffe. - -"I can give a guess, but I don't want to spoil it all by telling," the -other replied. "Both of you stand right where you are, and don't move a -foot ahead, or you may get in the same trouble Bumpus did, and without -his means of crawling out of the hole." - -At these mysterious words Giraffe and Step Hen exchanged looks of -amazement. They could not for the life of them imagine Bumpus capable of -doing anything that would be beyond them. - -"There, Thad's managed to get to a place just above where Bumpus must -have been stuck," Allan went on. - -"He's actually laughing!" exclaimed Step Hen. - -"What's struck you as funny, Thad?" called out Giraffe, unable to hold -in. - -"Well, as sure as you live, boys, he did it," replied the scoutmaster. - -"Did what?" demanded both Step Hen and Giraffe in concert. - -"Got out of the muck bed." - -"But how could he, Thad? That limb must a been two feet above his head -when he stood there knee deep or more, in the mud. Tell us how?" pleaded -Step Hen. - -"Here are the plain marks," Thad went on, "where the bark of the tree was -bruised, as it had a right to be with such a heavy weight as Bumpus." - -"Marks!" repeated Giraffe. "Good gracious! hurry up and tell us. Marks of -what, Thad?" - -"The rope!" replied the other, still laughing. - -"Rope! Bumpus used his blessed old rope to drag himself out of the mud -sink! Well, well, well, if that don't beat the Dutch," Giraffe cried out. - -"It reflects great credit on Bumpus," said the scoutmaster, warmly. "He -must have quickly made up his mind that he could only sink deeper in by -keeping up his floundering. Then that nice limb above his head caught his -eye, and he remembered about the rope." - -"Bully for Bumpus," cried Giraffe. - -"I'm proud to call him my comrade," added Step Hen, warmly. - -"It must have taxed him a whole lot to drag himself up," said Thad, -"because he's so heavy, you know." - -"A case of 'root hog, or die,' I take it," Step Hen remarked; "and when -he had to face the music Bumpus proved real game. You're sure he made it, -are you, Thad?" - -"Heaps of evidence to that effect," replied the other. "Rope's gone, in -the first place. Then here's dried mud a plenty, showing that our pard -was in this tree. I can even see which way he went, by the marks he left; -and he was determined enough to cross the slough, for he kept right on." - -"Suppose you follow him in the trees, Thad," sang out Allan, "while we -hunt a better place to cross over without getting mired. We'll join you -later. Give a call when you've landed, and got his trail again." - -"Fine," commended the patrol leader. "I'll get busy here then." - -He began climbing along the limb, and succeeded in safely passing into -the adjoining tree, just as Bumpus must have done. How the clumsy fat boy -had succeeded in carrying out these capers puzzled the agile Thad, for at -times it tried even his agility to make progress. - -But Thad was delighted to know that Bumpus, upon being thrown on his own -resources, could make good. - -Before a great while his loud call announced to the others, who had just -succeeded in finding a safe ford across the water and mud, that Thad was -once more on the ground, and ready to take up the trail. - -The little party started on again. - -Both Giraffe and Step Hen were filled with secret admiration for the -stout comrade whom they had always been in the habit of rather looking -down on as a good-natured fellow, but rather incapable. - -"Don't for the life of me see how he ever done it," Giraffe would say. - -"Beats everything, and after this we ain't got any business to look on -Bumpus as a big baby. He got out of that hole just fine," Step Hen would -add. - -Half an hour later, Allan came to a sudden halt. - -"Ashes of a fire!" he remarked, pointing to his feet. - -"Then here's where Bumpus must a spent last night?" suggested Step Hen, -looking curiously about. - -"Wonder what he had to eat?" remarked Giraffe. - -"Oh! plenty of grub," Thad said, laughingly. "Look, here's the rind from -a slice of our ham. Davy said he'd cut some off." - -"Think of the nerve of him," declared Step Hen. "But I just can see this -rough experience is goin' to be the makin' of Bumpus." - -"Reminds me of the story of the bull pup," remarked Thad, laughing. "You -know, the boy had brought home a young bulldog, and the old man, to -encourage the pup, had gone down on his hands and knees to bark at him, -when the dog grabbed him by the nose and held on like fun. And while the -old man was trying to break away, the boy was sicking the dog on, all the -time shouting: 'Stand it, dad, stand it as long as you can, because it's -going to be the making of the pup!'" - -Allen had been bending over the fire while all this talk was going on. He -now looked up to remark: - -"Guess he stuck several potatoes in his bag, too, before he started out," -and he held up a couple of blackened skins, showing that the interior had -been gauged out after the potatoes had been baked in the hot ashes. - -"Good for Bumpus, he's learning to take care of himself fast," cried -Thad. - -"That isn't all," remarked Allan, smiling. - -"What next?" asked Thad. - -"Bumpus shows he's bound to be something of a hunter yet," declared -Allan, "and what he learned up in Maine has been in his mind ever since." - -"Do you mean about leaving fires burning when breaking camp, and the -danger of the wind carrying the hot ashes among the dead leaves?" the -scoutmaster went on to say, for he had eyes of his own, and had been -watching Allan's actions even while talking with the others. - -"That's just what I do mean," the other continued. "In the first place -Bumpus knew enough to make his camp close to running water, so he could -get a drink whenever he wanted it." - -"I see he did," Thad went on to say, glancing toward the gurgling little -stream that ran not twenty feet away. - -"And when he left here this morning," continued Allan, "he made sure to -carry water from the creek and sprinkle the fire till it was dead. Look, -you can see for yourself that it's been wet down." - -"Hurray for Bumpus!" exclaimed Giraffe. - -"I can see him passing the examination for a first-class scout some of -these fine days," added Step Hen. "Who'd ever think it of him?" - -They pushed on once more, after Allan had even shown them the very stick -on one end of which Bumpus had thrust his slice of smoked ham, and cooked -it, after a fashion. Step Hen put it up to his nose, and vouched for the -accuracy of Allan's assertion. - -But all the boys were a little tired, and when it grew too dark under the -trees to see the trail of the lost tenderfoot they eagerly welcomed -Thad's suggestion that they rest up for the night. - -So Giraffe was instructed to build a cooking fire at a certain place. It -happened to be in a little natural basin, and here the four boys ate -their supper, over which they talked earnestly, but there was no -hilarity. - -Later on while the others were partly done with their meal, Allan left -the circle and said he would take a little stroll. He went up the rise, -as though desirous of seeing what lay beyond. - -The moon was about three-quarters full, and hung in the eastern sky; but -under the big trees it was almost dark. - -Shortly afterward Allan came hurrying back, declaring that he had -discovered what looked to be a lone camp-fire, at some distance away in -the woods. - -"Perhaps it's Bumpus," suggested Step Hen, eagerly, jumping up, although -still hungry. - -"Then he didn't go far on the second day, or else he's been traveling in -a circle and got back near where he started out from," said Giraffe. - -"Let's head over that way," Step Hen went on to say. - -"And surprise him, eh? That's the ticket, boys," Giraffe continued. - -"That fire is a good long ways off," warned Allan. - -"Don't care if it is." - -"It looked like a star at first, and must be on rising ground, where the -trees are more open," the discoverer continued. - -"Lead us to it. We want to surprise Bumpus," both the others declared. - -"How about it, Thad?" Allan asked. - -"It's the only thing we can do," replied the scoutmaster. "If it proves -to be Bumpus, we hadn't ought to take any chances of losing him again in -the morning. If you're all of the same mind, let's be off." - -So the fire was carefully extinguished, and Allan led his comrades to the -top of the little rise. Here he pointed out the object he said was a -campfire, although Giraffe and Step Hen believed they would have taken it -for a star low down near the horizon, had they noticed it at all. - -After their bearings had been carefully taken, in order that they might -head in a direct line for the fire, they started forth. - -By degrees the seeming star grew into a light of the first magnitude, and -finally even the two less experienced scouts were ready to affirm that it -must be a camp-fire. - -They kept on going. - -"We'll sure give old Bumpus the biggest surprise of his life," chuckled -Step Hen, as they drew nearer the place. - -Of course they made some noise pushing along through the almost dark -woods, but then Bumpus would not be apt to hear that. Perhaps the poor -tired fellow was already fast asleep alongside the fire. - -A few minutes later, and the boys were very close to the blaze. Giraffe -thrust up his head above the bushes, which he was better fitted by Nature -for doing than any of his comrades. - -"Don't see a sign of him about, fellers," he whispered, ducking down -again. - -Thereupon the others also raised their heads to look. There was the fire, -burning cheerfully, and showing that it must have had recent care. But -not a single sign of a human being was to be seen. - -It was very strange. - -"Mebbe he heard us coming, and thought it was a bear," suggested Step -Hen. - -"And in that case I guess Bumpus would take to a tree," Giraffe added. - -"Perhaps we ought to step out right away, and let him know," came from -Allan. - -"I should say, yes," Giraffe went on, "I know for one I'd hate to be -peppered with the loads he carries in that Marlin scatter gun of his. -Hello! there, Bumpus, hold your fire. It's your chums come to look you -up." - -The four scouts had arisen to their feet, and were just about to push out -from behind the fringe of bushes, in order to show themselves to Bumpus, -when they were electrified to hear a voice, gruff and surly, and -certainly not that of their jolly companion, call loudly: - -"Jest hold up yer hands, you fellers, for we've sure got ye kivered!" - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - TURNING THE TABLES. - - -"What's all this mean?" said Thad, laughingly, although he did not fail -to do as he had been ordered. - -Two rather rough looking men came out of the scrub, carrying guns which -seemed to be handled rather carelessly, seeing that they were evidently -ready for immediate use. - -"Why, consarn it all, Pierre, they're on'y a pack o' boys arter all, and -not sojers," the larger man exclaimed, staring hard at the four scouts, -some of whom wore various parts of their regular khaki uniforms, as well -as the regulation campaign hat of the Boy Scout organization. - -"_Sacre!_ zat ees so," the other man exploded, and Thad knew instantly -from his name and manner of speech that Pierre must be one of those -French Canadian half-breeds of whom he had heard so much. - -"That's just what we are, my friends," Thad hastened to remark; "we -belong to a Boy Scout troop in the East, and came out here to have a hunt -in the Rockies. One of our number, a very fat boy, wandered off, and got -lost in the big timber. We were following up his trail, and trying to -locate him, when we discovered a camp-fire over here. So you see, we -walked another mile just to give our friend a little surprise. But we -hope you'll let us take down our hands now, because it's hard to hold -them up like this." - -The two men exchanged looks. Then they lowered the hammers of their guns. -The action signified that, according to their way of thinking, they had -nothing to fear from these half-grown lads. - -"Cum an' set down an' tell us a lot more," said the big man, with the red -face, and the crafty eyes, Thad could not bring himself to like, because -he seemed to see wells of treachery in their depths. - -So the boys dropped down again, being more foot-weary than ever. But -taking a cue from Allan and Thad, the other two scouts kept their guns -close beside them. Apparently none of them exactly liked the looks of the -two strangers; and they were not accustomed to much reading of character, -either. - -"War his name Bumpus?" asked the American. - -"Just what it was," flashed out Giraffe; "but how did you know that? Have -you met up with our lost pard?" - -"Sho! ain't I got ears, an' didn't one o' ye call out that same name when -ye was agoin' ter walk inter our camp?" demanded the other, gruffly. - -Thad was on the alert. - -He did not feel favorably impressed by the looks of the two men. Besides, -he noticed a crafty, greedy expression cross their faces whenever they -allowed their eyes to rest on Step Hen's new repeating rifle. Evidently -the neatness of the little weapon quite captured them, and made them envy -the boy its possession. - -And Thad was of the opinion that two such rough-looking customers would -not hesitate long about trying to obtain anything they coveted. - -The conversation soon became more general, the men wanting to know how it -was these boys, almost wholly inexperienced in the ways of the woods as -they took them to be, were venturesome enough to start into the foothills -of the Rockies without a single guide along. - -So Thad explained how they had engaged a pair of guides, both of whom had -disappointed them, one by getting sick, and the other in taking up with a -couple of big-horn sportsmen. - -"But we heard of a man up here somewhere," Thad went on, "who'd been -logger, trapper, timber cruiser and everything; and people said that if -we could only run across Toby Smathers, and he took the job, we'd have a -guide worth any two men." - -"What's thet? Toby Smathers, did ye say?" demanded the other, that crafty -look coming into his face again. - -"Yes, that was the name; do you happen to know him?" asked Giraffe, -eagerly. - -"Reckons now, as none o' ye ever run acrost Toby; air thet right?" asked -the man. - -"We never have," replied Thad. - -The fellow laughed harshly. - -"Thet shore is a fack," he went on to say. "Jest think o' it, Pierre -Laporte, they's askin' o' me ef I ever run acrost Toby Smathers? Ain't -thet a good joke, though? I've kerried a few names in my day, younkers, -an' Toby Smathers be one o' 'em." - -"Oh! then you're the very man we've been looking for, eh?" but while Thad -uttered this sentiment, there did not seem to be any great amount of -enthusiasm in his manner, Allan thought. - -"He believes the fellow lies; and I just know it," Allan was saying to -himself. - -"An' if so be ye wanter make me a offer, spot cash, ter guide ye boys -through the big timber, find yer missin' chum, and show ye some big-horn -huntin' in the Rockies, I'm yer man; on'y make the price wuth my while, -an' cash down, spot cash." - -Thad said he had no doubt it could be easily arranged to the satisfaction -of all parties concerned. His object was really to gain time. He had -received a secret sign from Allan, which told him just as plainly as so -many words would have done that his chum had something of importance to -communicate, as soon as they could get their heads together. - -Step Hen and Giraffe had apparently swallowed the story offered by the -self-called Toby Smathers without a suspicion. They were now entertaining -the two men with some accounts of previous experiences. The fellows -seemed to be in high spirits. They would nudge each other, and laugh -boisterously on the slightest pretense. And sometimes they would laugh -when there was no humorous story being told; a look exchanged between -them being sufficient grounds for hilarity. - -"They're sure enough feeling pretty fine," thought Thad; "and it strikes -me they think they've got a little joke of their own that they're playing -on us. Three to one it's about that name, too. I just can't believe that -man answers to the description I've had of Toby Smathers. Why, they said -he was just the picture of an honest wood's ranger, employed by the -Government to watch out for timber thieves, forest fires and the likes. -And that man's face would condemn him on sight before any judge." - -Just then he heard Allan say he was thirsty, and must get a drink. The -stream ran near by, and Thad noticed how the cautious Maine boy carried -his gun along with him as he went. - -A minute or so later Thad also arose. - -"I'm as dry as a bone," he observed, "and I think I'd like a drink about -the size of the one Allan's getting. Wait here, fellows." - -He added these last words as a sop to quiet the suspicions of Pierre and -the man who called himself Toby Smathers. They had frowned, and made an -impatient movement upon noticing that Thad, too, took his gun along with -him, rather a queer thing to do when only going for a drink. - -But Thad's last words apparently served to disarm their suspicions. They -had two of the boys held as hostages, at any rate. - -Thad found his chum much excited. A drink just then was about the last -thing Allan Hollister was thinking about. - -"What is it?" asked Thad, in a whisper. - -"Let's laugh a little, out loud, so they won't be suspicious," said the -other; and after that clever dodge had been carried out, he went on to -add: "you didn't believe what he said about that name, did you, Thad?" - -"I certainly don't believe he's the man we're looking for up here," came -the answer. - -"That's right," Allan went on, "and I know he's a fraud. He wants to get -hold of anything we have that's worth taking. That gun of Step Hen's -seems to just take his eye." - -"Do you know who he is?" demanded Thad. - -"I can give a pretty close guess, now that we heard the name of his -companion, Pierre Laporte," said Allan. "Some men down at the post where -we got the mules told me to look out for a half-breed by that name, who -kept company with an even worse scoundrel named Hank Dodge. And this is -Hank, all right, make up your mind to that, Thad." - -"Rascal is written big all over his face, I can see," the other went on. -"But what is their line--just plain scamps, or timber cruisers?" - -"There are different kinds of timber scouts or cruisers, they tell me," -Allan continued. "Some are honest men, working for honest lumber dealers. -Others spy out rich tracts on Government land, which the big company of -thieves they're hired by, want to cut next winter. The Government loses -millions on millions every year that way. And these crafty fellows are up -here looking for timber that can be easily stolen and marketed next -winter." - -"What had we better do?" asked Thad. "It wouldn't be safe for us to spend -the night in camp with them." - -"I should say not," replied Allan earnestly. "If we go in the ordinary -way the chances are they'll jump on us. So I suppose we might as well up -and tell them we know who they are, and that we don't propose staying any -longer in their company." - -"They'll be as mad as hornets," suggested Thad. - -"Let 'em," replied the other, "four guns are better than two, any day. -Come on back to the fire right away." - -As they drew near, Allan whispered: - -"He's got it right now, Step Hen's rifle, I mean. Reckon he asked to see -it, and our chum handed it over. Chances are he won't give it back again -in a hurry. There, what did I tell you; he's laid it down beside him, -Thad?" - -"Now's our time to cut in, then," said the patrol leader. "You watch out -for Pierre, and don't let him slip up on you, or there'll be heaps of -trouble. Cover him when I do the other. Ready? Then here goes." - -And ten seconds later those by the fire heard Thad call out in ringing -tones. - -"It's your turn, Pierre and Hank Dodge, to hold up your hands. Quick now, -or it'll be the worse for you. The tables are turned--up with them!" - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - A SCOUT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THE ALERT. - - -When the young scoutmaster chose to, he could put a world of meaning in -his voice. And those two timber cruisers, upon seeing both guns covering -them so steadily, doubtless realized that firearms are no respecter of -persons; since a weapon fired by a lad is just as sure to make good, if -held correctly, as though a mature man looked along the barrel. - -And so they complied with the order, although grumblingly, and evidently -loth to admit that a couple of boys had gotten the better of them. - -"This hyars a nice how-d'ye-do, treatin' yer guide like he was pizen -mean. What d'ye mean by it, younker?" growled the man who had claimed to -be Toby Smathers, the forest ranger. - -"Oh! it only means that we've guessed who you are," remarked Thad, -calmly. "We were warned down at the post to look out for a couple of -unscrupulous timber cruisers by the name of Hank Dodge and Pierre -Laporte. And we don't want to have anything to do with you, that's all." - -"Take keer, young feller, who yer insultin'," growled Hank, ominously. - -"Oh!" said Giraffe, airily, who made sure to have his own gun ready in -his hands at the time he spoke in such boasting tones, "we don't scare so -easy, Mister Hank Dodge, if that's your name. Fact is, the boys of the -Silver Fox Patrol have helped gather in a few men even more dangerous -than you and your pal ever dared to be." - -"Be still, Giraffe," ordered Thad, who knew it was unwise to add to the -anger of the ruffians. "Now, we don't mean to bother you at all, Hank -Dodge. Our business up here has nothing to do with timber cruisers; and -we're not hired by the Government to watch for any steels of lumber, or -land frauds. We came here to camp out, and to hunt. And just now we're -busy looking up the comrade who has lost himself in these big woods. Do -you understand what I say?" - -"Reckon as how ye put it plain enuff, younker," replied the other, -wondering if Thad noticed that he was gradually lowering his arms; but -the very next words uttered by the boy told him this. - -"Hold 'em up high again, Hank! I don't want to have to shoot you through -the shoulder or the legs, but I will, if you try to grab up that rifle." - -With a string of hard words the man elevated his hands once more; but if -black looks could kill, Thad must have expired on the spot. - -"Step Hen," said the patrol leader. - -"Yes, what is it, Thad?" - -"Go forward, and recover your gun," the other went on, severely. "I'm -surprised at you letting it get out of your hands at all. A wide-awake -scout should be smarter than that. And Step Hen!" - -"Yes." - -"Be sure you don't for even a second get between the muzzle of my gun and -our friend Hank, there; because I'm going to shoot the very second he -makes the first move looking to grabbing either you, or the gun. Hear -that, Step Hen?" - -"Sure I do, Thad, and I'll be careful, just as you say," came the reply. - -The boy crept up on one side, and lying down flat on his chest, reached -out an arm, thus starting to draw his own highly-prized little repeater -toward him. - -Hank could see it going, and ground his teeth in helpless rage, for he -could also watch the determined gleam in those convincing eyes of Thad -Brewster, and only too well did he know what sort of hard luck would be -apt to overtake him, if he but allowed himself to be tempted too far. - -When Step Hen gripped his little gun once more, he made haste to draw -back the hammer. And thus a fourth weapon was brought to bear upon the -persons of the two notorious timber thieves. - -Hank Dodge laughed. - -It was not a mirthful sound at all, but rather caused a shiver to pass -through the forms of those who heard it. - -"We throws up ther sponge, me an' Pierre, don't we, ole hoss?" said Hank. - -"Four against two--zat ees too mooch odds. We cave; we gif in; we cry -out, enough!" exclaimed the ferret-eyed French Canadian _voyageur_, who, -they said, had once been the factor at a Hudson Bay Fur Company's post -until he betrayed his trust, and fled to the States with a bunch of money -belonging to his employers. - -"Well, we want to say good-night then, to both of you," said Thad. - -"We ain't agoin' ter forget this, let me tell yer," replied Hank. - -"I don't see why there need be any hard feelings between us," Thad went -on. "It's only tit for tat. You held us up first, and now we've returned -the favor. And we haven't taken anything from you, Hank Dodge." - -"But--held up by a pack o' kids; we'll never be able ter look each other -in the face agin till it's wiped out, sum way," the man went on to say, -angrily. - -Thad knew that further argument would be useless. There was only one -thing men of their calibre could appreciate, and that was force. - -"Oh! well," he said, as if carelessly, "you can do just as you please -about it. But I want to tell you this plainly, right on the start. We're -all armed, and can shoot as well as the next one. We're no tenderfeet, -like our chum who is lost. And if in spite of this plain warning you -choose to molest us, look out you don't get something you won't like. -That's all I'm going to say; but you can put it in your pipe and smoke -it. Back off, fellows, but keep 'em both covered, and shoot if they try -to grab up a gun!" - -So the four scouts backed out of the hostile camp, the air of which did -not seem to agree with them. Those avaricious eyes belonging to Hank -Dodge did not create a favorable impression on any of the young campers. - -"I sure believe he meant to keep my dandy little gun," Step Hen was -muttering, as, having passed out of sight of the two timber cruisers, the -scouts walked along in couples, on the alert for any signs of further -trouble. - -"Just what he expected to do," replied Thad. "And another time we happen -on any unknown men in this part of the country, see to it that you keep -your gun in your own possession, Step Hen." - -"I sure will," replied the other, humbly enough; "I had my lesson, all -right." - -"What if they're coming after us?" suggested Giraffe; and the very -possibility of such a thing caused Step Hen to utter a little cry of -alarm, and turn in several directions, as though expecting to discover -crouching foes, or see the flash that would accompany the discharge of a -hostile gun. - -But nothing happened; and presently Allan, who had been looking back over -his shoulder many times, announced that there was no danger. - -"They haven't left the camp up to now," he said, positively. "I can see -their figures moving in front of the fire. It's all right, boys. We can -go, and settle down after a little for the night." - -Presently Thad called a halt. - -"Here, we can make a stop," he announced. "There's a little swale at the -base of this rocky hill. If we wanted we could make a small fire, and -finish our supper. I don't think they'd see it; and besides, Allan and -myself will stand guard up on the ridge here." - -This plan was carried out, since they had not wholly satisfied their -appetites at the time Allan discovered the camp-fire which they supposed -had been kindled by the lost tenderfoot, Bumpus. - -Afterwards Thad and Allan came in, the fire having been extinguished, and -ate a little. Then they talked in low tones. - -"It makes me feel uneasy," remarked Giraffe, "to think of that poor -innocent thing of a Bumpus, who wouldn't lift a finger to hurt even a -fly, wanderin' around all alone in these big woods." - -"Yes," added Step Hen, seriously enough, "and with a couple of hard cases -like that Hank Dodge and Pierre Laporte around. What if he was unlucky -enough to run across 'em? wouldn't they just take revenge on our poor fat -chum. I hope that don't happen." - -Thad was not saying anything, but it struck him that the fellow who could -show enough ingenuity to get himself out of a quicksand, or a muck bed, -the way Bumpus had done, might be far from the ignoramus some of his -comrades still chose to believe him. - -"I'm getting sleepy, and I move we turn in," suggested Giraffe after more -time had elapsed. - -"Well, hold on then, because we've got to make a move out of this basin," -said the shrewd patrol leader. - -"Seems a good enough place to bunk in," grumbled the sleepy Giraffe. - -"But dangerous at that," Thad remarked. "Those men may have glimpsed our -fire, and give us a call. We'll not be at home to them. I've been told -that a hunted man never sleeps where he eats. Come along; it won't be -far, I promise you." - -After a short walk, Thad announced that in his opinion, as well as that -of Allan, it was now safe for them to lie down, and get what sleep they -could. - -"I hope Bumpus is as well off, and got plenty to eat still," were the -last words Giraffe spoke; "I remember the time we got twisted in our -bearings up in Maine, and nary a match between us, with a cold night at -hand. But I got fire all right with my little apparatus. Besides, there -was two of us, and it don't seem near so lonely when you've got company -along, even if it is only a tenderfoot scout." - -Soon all of them had made themselves as comfortable as possible. The -absence of blankets was going to be severely felt. Without a camp-fire to -cheer them, Thad feared they would be shivering before morning, even if -it was the good old summer time. The atmosphere close to the foothills of -the great Rockies is quite rarefied, and the nights are apt to seem even -cold. - -The four scouts were pretty tired, and they not only went to sleep -quickly, but they slumbered heavily--it might have been hours for all any -one of them could say, when they were suddenly awakened by a series of -heavy crashes and detonations that sounded very much as though an -earthquake had shaken the Rockies to their foundation. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - THE MEAN TRICK OF THE TIMBER CRUISERS. - - -"A land-slide!" exclaimed Giraffe, as he sat up, and began twisting his -long neck around, as though doubtful whether he should dodge to the right -or to the left, since it was difficult to locate the direction from -whence the furious racket seemed to come. - -"Better say an earthquake!" Step Hen managed to articulate, though he was -shaking all over, with the excitement, that he would hardly have -recognized his own voice. "I c'n feel the old ground shake! Listen, would -you, to that smash! Must be volcanoes around here." - -"Keep still, and listen," said Thad, in that tone of authority which both -the talkers recognized as belonging to the scoutmaster, rather than their -Chum Thad. - -So they held their tongues, and strained their ears to listen. - -There was no trouble in hearing, for the racket still kept up. There were -heavy thuds, crashes, and a breaking of bushes. No wonder the scouts were -mystified. No wonder one thought it a land-slide, while another believed -some supposed extinct volcano had burst into action again, and that the -rain of stones that followed, produced these weird sounds. - -All at once the racket stopped, just as suddenly as though a command had -been given to "cease firing." - -"Well, I declare, if that ain't funny, now," remarked Step Hen, but -because of the order for silence which Thad had issued, he dared not -breathe a word above a whisper. - -"Hark!" said Allan. - -Surely that sounded like a hoarse laugh. The boys crouched there, and -strained their ears to hear more. Once or twice they thought they caught -vague sounds. It was as if some one might be moving along the rocky -elevation that formed one side of the near-by little basin in which they -had made their small fire, and finished their once interrupted supper. -But the sounds were moving further away, as though the unknown parties -might be retreating. - -Then silence, deep and profound, brooded over the immediate vicinity of -the spot where the four startled scouts sat. - -"May we talk now, Thad?" asked Giraffe. - -"Yes, but let it be in a low voice," replied the patrol leader. - -"Jerusalem!" exclaimed Step Hen, just as though he had to let the pent-up -steam escape, one way or another, and it took the form of this -expression. - -"What does it all mean?" asked Step Hen, plainly confused, and unable to -clearly grasp the truth. - -"I think I know," remarked Thad. - -"Then tell us, please," quickly asked Giraffe. "Sounded like a laugh to -me." - -"Just what it was, too," Thad went on. - -"But who'd want to act funny when all that racket was going on, Thad?" -continued Giraffe, who seemed unusually thick headed just then, possibly -on account of being aroused in such a startling manner. - -"The men who made all the row," replied the scoutmaster. - -"Men who made the row--great governor! d'ye mean these rowdies, Hank and -Pierre?" burst out Giraffe. - -"No other," said Thad, positively. "They must have located our little -fire in some way, and supposed that we were sleeping close by. So they -crept up along the side of that bare ridge, where the stones are so -thick, and just started to heave a few dozen down. That's why it sounded -like thunder and hail combined." - -"The cowards!" hissed Giraffe, whose honest blood seemed to almost boil -with indignation; "the sneaks! Afraid to face four boys because they -believed we could shoot some, they had to crawl around to the back door, -and play a trick that you'd think would be about the size of the meanest -boy in our home town of Cranford, Brose Griffin." - -"They laughed over it, too," burst out Step Hen, almost as angry as his -long-legged chum, "and that shows what kind of fellows they are." - -"Altogether, it was a lucky escape for us," remarked Allan. - -"That's what," added Giraffe. "And we owe a heap to Thad's long head. -Never sleep where you eat--that was a pretty good rule for the old hunter -to have, when painted Injuns were all around him. And by George! it seems -to be all right, even in these modern days." - -"Wow! just think what a time we'd a had," observed Step Hen, "if we'd -been sleepin' there just as sweetly as--as the babes in the woods, and -all of a sudden them rocks began to smash around us. I can just see the -whole blessed outfit scrambling in the dark, trying to get behind trees, -and yet not knowing which side of the trunk was the safe side." - -Step Hen actually chuckled a little, as though a gleam of humor had begun -to light up the serious nature of the situation. - -"It was a game just in keeping with such a precious pair of rascals," -declared Thad. "They might have injured some of us badly; and that was -just what they hoped to do." - -"Perhaps killed us in the bargain," Allan added. "Some of the rocks they -heaved into that little basin were just fierce. They came down like -cannon balls. It was like what Rip Van Winkle heard, when the little old -men of the Catskills were playing ten pins with big rocks." - -"But Thad," remarked Giraffe, "when they get to thinking it over, don't -you reckon now they'll guess they didn't do any damage?" - -"Just what was in my mind," replied the leader of the patrol. "They must -know that even men would have yelled, and shown all sorts of excitement, -when bombarded in that way. But let 'em think what they please. I hope -we'll never cross their trail again." - -"Second the wish," said Allan. - -"That's where I differ with you," declared the aroused Giraffe, "I'd just -like to pay the cowards back for that dirty trick; and I will, too, if -the chance ever comes along." - -"I'm only bothering about one thing," observed Step Hen. - -"And what's that?" Thad inquired. - -"What if they run across our innocent chum, poor old Bumpus?" Step Hen -went on to say, "Why, he's so confiding, and so straight himself, that he -couldn't believe wrong of anybody. Why, they'd rob him of his gun, and -everything else he had; and then turn him loose like that, in the big -timber. Oh! I hope they just don't find Bumpus before we get to him. It -would be a shame!" - -"Like taking candy from the baby," added Giraffe. - -"Well, let's go to sleep again! We can talk it over in the morning," -suggested Thad. - -"Don't believe I c'n sleep another wink," declared Step Hen. - -But in spite of his gloomy prophecy, he did drop off again soon after -stretching himself out on the ground, in the softest spot he could find; -and knew nothing more until some one shook him. Looking up, Step Hen -discovered that the dawn was stealing through the timber, and that Thad -bent over him. - -The other two were already astir. Giraffe was busying himself, as usual, -in getting a little fire underway; for Thad had given it as his opinion -that after playing such a dastardly mean trick, Hank and Pierre, the -lawless timber cruisers would not feel like venturing over in this -quarter again, lest they be greeted with a warm fire from the guns of the -boys. - -All of the scouts felt more or less chilled, as the early morning air was -pretty cool, and consequently the fire proved acceptable. - -As they munched their breakfast Thad announced that he had found the -trail of Bumpus again. This meant that when they were ready to start out, -there would be little delay. - -Of course, pretty much all the talk was about the event of the preceding -night, and the fortunes of their lost comrade. - -"When I shut my eyes," said Giraffe, "I c'n just see that blessed -innocent awalkin' through these here woods, awhistlin' for his bear to -come out and be shot." - -"And I'm wonderin'," remarked Step Hen, "whether Bumpus, if he does run -across a cinnamon bear, just through the luck greenhorns seem to have, -would climb his tree _first_, and then begin shooting; or just bang away, -like he did before, and make for a tree afterwards." - -"Oh! well, I guess Bumpus learned his little lesson that time, all -right," declared Giraffe, with the superior air of one who had already -gotten _his_ bear, and could afford to look down on those not so -fortunate. - -"He was scared, good and hard," Step Hen went on. "Why, his face looked -like pie paste, and his goggle eyes fairly stood out of his head when he -couldn't get up in that tree, with the old grizzly a comin' for him, -growlin', and champin' his teeth." - -Thad only smiled as he heard these remarks that had an undercurrent vein -of condescending pity for the tenderfoot chum. If he remembered -correctly, Bumpus was not the only frightened scout about the time that -wounded grizzly charged the camp. He had plenty of company. - -When they had finished eating, the fire was put out; and after that they -made for the spot where Thad had found the trail of the lost scout. - -It was as plain as day just there, even though some twenty-four hours -must have elapsed since the fat and ambitious Nimrod passed that way. - -Giraffe and Step Hen were suspicious of the two rascally timber cruisers, -and persisted in keeping their eyes constantly on the alert, searching -every possible spot for an ambuscade, and holding their guns ready for -quick work. - -The patrol leader did not attempt to interfere, although he and Allan -were of the opinion that the men would not bother trying to look them up. -It gave the boys more or less practice, and did no harm. - -And so the little bunch of scouts started to once more lift the trail of -their missing chum. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - THE BOB-CAT. - - -The morning was half gone, and they had been making pretty fair progress. - -"But," said Giraffe, when Allan mentioned this fact, "if we're only -holding our own, that means we'll never glimpse the poor old chap in a -week, 'less he just drops down from being so worn out, reduced to skin -and bones, so to speak," and both he and Step Hen chuckled at the -possibility of Bumpus ever coming to such an end. - -"Oh! I don't know," said Allan. "There's always a chance that you might -sight him somewhere. You see, he turns every which way. Now he's heading -almost north; and a little while back it was nearly due east. Perhaps he -may double on his tracks yet; we can't tell." - -"And if he did, and happened to discover all our footprints, what d'ye -think the blessed innocent would do?" asked Giraffe. - -"Be scared stiff, most likely, and think Injuns must be trailing him, -bound to take his scalp," laughed Step Hen. - -Thad stopped for a minute's breathing spell. - -"I think both of you are wrong there," he remarked, "and if Bumpus did -only happen to come on his own trail, after we'd passed along, the -chances are he'd just make up his mind to sit down, and wait for us to -come around again." - -"You don't say?" exclaimed Step Hen. - -"How in the wide world would Bumpus ever guess it was _us_ made the -tracks?" Giraffe demanded, incredulously. - -"He wouldn't have to guess, because he'd know!" Thad ventured. - -"You must believe that fat chum of ours is waking up, Thad? Just tell us, -will you now, how he'd be so dead sure of this? We haven't been dropping -our visiting cards along the way, that I saw," and Step Hen gave Giraffe -a sly wink. - -"Well, we have, right along," Thad continued, "and unless I'm much -mistaken, Bumpus can read the signs all right. He knows what kind of an -imprint your shoes make, Step Hen, and how there's a bunch of nails -shaped like a star in both of your heels. Look down there, and you'll -notice them." - -"Well, I'll be jiggered if there ain't!" muttered the surprised Step Hen, -as if the fact was quite new to him. - -"And Giraffe, he also knows that you 'toe in' with your right foot, so -that each time you step it makes a little peculiar scrape. Bend down and -I'll show you, here, and here, and here. Catch on to it, now, Giraffe?" - -"Well, I never knew that before; but it's a fact, Thad, I do turn that -foot some, I admit. Tried to break off the habit lots of times, but it's -no use." - -"More than that," said Thad, "look at my track, and you'll see there's a -marked peculiarity that makes it different from any other. I had a piece -put on each heel, and the line shows as plain as anything. And now here's -Allan's footprint--do you see anything about that you'd be likely to -recognize if you ran across it again?" - -"Sure we do," burst out Giraffe. "The shoe is square at the toes, broader -than any other. Besides that, Allan walks with his feet nearly straight, -and most people turn them out some; all but those that toe-in." - -"Well, you see, now, that each one of us has an individual mark," -continued the patrol leader, wishing to impress the lesson on the others. - -"Yes, that's all right, Thad; but how would a tenderfoot like Bumpus know -all about these things?" persisted Giraffe. - -"How do _you_ know?" demanded the leader. - -"Huh! because you just told us, I guess," the tall scout admitted. - -"Well, that's just the case with Bumpus," went on Thad. "Of late he's -taken a remarkably deep interest in the thousand-and-one things that are -open to the eyes of a scout, if only he chooses to look around. And so, -when he asked about following a trail, I showed him how to tell the marks -of every scout in the patrol, himself included. And Bumpus wrote them all -down in that little notebook he carries." - -"Well, if that don't beat all creation!" exclaimed Giraffe. - -"Just imagine the poor boy squattin' down, to pull out his note-book, and -then say: 'There, I know Giraffe made those tracks; and that other must -be the manly tread of my good friend, Step Hen Bingham!' I guess it's up -to us to improve each shining hour, ourselves, Giraffe, like the busy -little bee. We don't want a tenderfoot like Bumpus to beat us out, do -we?" - -"Not much we don't," said Giraffe. - -And for three minutes the two of them were busily engaged writing -descriptions in their scout's note-book, with which every one in the -patrol was provided; stopping now and then to examine or measure one of -the tracks. - -When this operation was concluded, much to the amusement of Thad and -Allan, the forward movement was again resumed. - -But it seemed as though this little incident must have aroused the -curiosity and ambition of Giraffe and Step Hen, for they frequently asked -questions that had more or less bearing on trailing. - -And the information which Allan was able to give, in addition to what the -scoutmaster said, quite enthused both searchers after facts. - -"Say, I never thought there was so much in this trackin' business," Step -Hen honestly admitted. "I used to believe it was pretty much of a fake, -and that fellers just kind of went along, smellin' out things, like a -setter or a hound would. But now I see it's a whole lot of fun; and I'm -going in for trackin'. I am to be a champion trailer." - -"Look out there, fellers!" shouted Giraffe. - -They saw him swing his gun around, and almost immediately discharge the -heavy rifle. All of the others hastened to get their guns in a -serviceable condition, even while they were looking to see what had -happened to excite the tall scout. - -Something flashed from one tree to another, and vanished amidst the dense -growth of leaves. As this tree was close to others, the chances were that -the animal would have little difficulty in eluding them. - -"Wow! a big wildcat!" exclaimed Step Hen, in great excitement. - -"Tell me, did you see his left hind leg drag _just a little_, when he -landed on that limb?" asked Giraffe, eagerly. - -"Oh! you aimed to take him on the left hind leg, did you?" jeered Step -Hen, advancing a pace in the hope of discovering the beast crouching -above, and offering a fair target. - -"I hadn't time to aim, but just shot any old way," declared the other. -"Fact is, I don't believe the butt of my gun was more'n half way to my -shoulder when I let go. He was agoin' to jump right then, and I knew it -was hit or miss with me." - -"A dangerous thing to do when it's a lynx or a bob-cat," remarked Allan, -who, being a Maine boy, had had lots of experience with the fierce -beasts. "Better have let him get clean away. But I don't think you -wounded him, Giraffe." - -"Huh? why not?" - -"Because I never knew a wildcat that was wounded to run away," Allan -replied. "Once you give them pain, and you can make up your mind you've -got a fight on your hands, and the chances are, a warm one too." - -Giraffe looked disappointed. - -"Well, I tried for him, anyway," he remarked. "Let's see if we can -glimpse his old staring yellow eyes somewhere up there." - -But they failed to do so. - -"Make up your minds he's got clean off before now," said Allan. "The way -one of those big cats can spring from tree to tree is fierce. But we -haven't the time just now to be looking for cats. I don't believe we've -lost any, do you, Thad?" - -"But that old rascal seemed to be hanging on a limb just about over where -our tenderfoot pard must have passed by," ventured Giraffe, a new fear -arising in his breast. - -"Oh! my, I hope now he wasn't there when Bumpus came along," remarked -Step Hen, as if comprehending the thought that had taken form in the mind -of his comrade. - -"What's this mean, Thad?" asked Allen, just then, pointing down close to -his feet; and the other three uttered various exclamations when they saw -what he was referring to. - -"Spots of dried blood!" gasped Giraffe. - -"It is, now, for a fact," Step Hen followed with, "Oh! that cat must have -jumped on poor old Bumpus, and clawed him up something scandalous. He -bled like a stuck pig, as he ran off. And see here, where something's -been just dragging along the ground. What if he's wounded so bad he had -to pull one leg after him? This is just awful, fellers. Poor old Bumpus!" - -But Thad and Allan somehow did not seem to join with the others in -feeling sorry. At least they made no remarks. And as they all walked -slowly on, following the blood-stained tracks, if Giraffe or Step Hen, -instead of keeping their eyes so closely upon the ground, had ventured to -raise them a little, so as to take in the faces of their chums, doubtless -their surprise would have been great to notice that Thad wore a broad -smile, while Allan was making various suggestive gestures, and winking -one eye in the direction of the scoutmaster. - -So they walked slowly forward a score or more of paces, when Giraffe and -Step Hen were once more startled. This time it was not by the sudden -appearance of a ferocious wild beast, but only the voice of Allan calling -out: - -"Oh! look! look! whatever can that be, hanging yonder from the limb of -that tree?" - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - BUMPUS' STOCK ABOVE PAR. - - -"Same old cat again!" burst out Giraffe; and he was in the act of raising -his gun, to his shoulder this time, when Thad caught hold of it. - -"Don't be silly, Giraffe!" cried the patrol leader. - -"But--it _is_ a cat!" exclaimed the other, rubbing his eyes with the -knuckles of one hand, and looking again. - -Meanwhile Step Hen had cautiously advanced a pace or two, staring at the -dangling object as though he did not know whether to really believe his -eyes or not. - -Giraffe, seeing him going on, pushed to his side; and when the two of -them came close to the object that had gripped their attention, they -turned to exchange stares. - -"A dead cat!" said Giraffe, solemnly. - -"And hung up by the hind legs to that limb; now who could have done -that?" demanded Step Hen. - -"Must have been the same old critter that tackled our poor chum, Bumpus, -back yonder. Some friendly forest ranger just happened along in the nick -of time, and used his rifle on the yowler. Here's where the bullet hit -him, right in the heart," and Giraffe laid his finger on the wound. - -"But say, here's where another caught him on the square head, and this -hole shows where yet a third passed through his body. Why, he's been -riddled, all shot to pieces, that's plain!" Step Hen declared, -positively; and the other two listened, not wanting to break in just yet. - -"Buckshot, not a rifle bullet ended this here cat, that's sure," said -Giraffe. - -"And say, Bumpus is carrying a two-shot Marlin scatter gun that uses -buckshot cartridges!" went on Step Hen. - -They looked at each other again, and then once more eyed the swinging -trophy of _some one's_ skill. - -"But it's silly to think of _him_ knockin' over a ferocious animal like -this here cat," Giraffe ventured to say. "I never saw a bigger one; and -he must have looked fierce enough, I tell you, when he was alive, and -could arch up his back, and just growl in a way to make your blood run -cold." - -"H'm! s'pose you take a squint up to where the legs are tied to the limb -of that tree, Giraffe?" suggested Step Hen, chuckling now with a new -sense of humor. - -The tall scout craned his long neck, the better to see. - -"Jupiter! say, that does look like it, now," he admitted. - -"That's what it is, sure enough," avowed Step Hen, "a piece cut from that -rope Bumpus carries. You can see it's braided sash cord, and I'd know -that old rope among a thousand. He done it, all right, Bumpus did!" - -Giraffe whistled, to indicate the extent of his amazement. - -"Who'd ever think he had it in him?" he observed, scratching his head as -he stood there, and gazed at the dangling wildcat. "I reckon, now, he -must a had the best luck ever, when he just shut his eyes and pulled -trigger. This old cat must a wanted to commit suicide. P'raps he just -climbed up and looked into the muzzle of Bumpus' gun." - -"You know better'n that, Giraffe. He must have been some distance away, -or else the buckshot wouldn't have scattered as much as it did. I reckon, -now, our fat chum is improving a heap. That was a great shot." - -"Good for you, Step Hen," Thad broke in to say. "And take another look at -the cat, will you? Tell me if you see anything strange about him? I -imagine the one Giraffe chased away was a mate to this, and must have -been smelling at the body still, when we came up." - -Step Hen uttered a little cry, and then remarked: - -"Well, would you believe it, the old thing was a cripple. You can see he -only had three paws. The aft fore paw is gone. Like as not it was bitten -off in some fight he had long ago." - -"You're wrong!" cried Giraffe, who had leaned forward to examine the -injury at closer quarters. "That ain't any old hurt. The blood is as -fresh as any of the rest, and I guess it only happened yesterday." - -"Fine. Go on," declared Thad, and the tall scout, spurred on by that word -of commendation, to exert himself to the utmost, was quick to continue. - -"I can see that the paw wasn't bitten off, nor yet shot away," he -remarked. "The cut is as clean as a whistle, and I reckon only a sharp -hunting knife would do the job like that." - -"But what would Bumpus want to go and hack a paw off the old cat for?" -objected Step Hen. - -"Why, for a trophy, silly," answered the' other, quickly. "He just didn't -know how to skin the beast, and hardly liked the job of toting it all -around with him. So you see, to convince the rest of us that he'd really -and truly knocked over a wildcat, he just took that paw along. How's -that, Mr. Scoutmaster?" - -"You hit the nail on the head that time, Giraffe," answered Thad, pleased -at the way the other had figured things out, for it proved that, once -aroused to do his best, the tall scout possessed the ability required for -reading "signs." - -And this was one of the things that Thad Brewster, as acting head of the -troop, always tried to impress upon the minds of the scouts under him. -"Let every tub stand on its own bottom." "Learn to depend on yourself; do -your own thinking; keep on the watch, and see all the wonderful things -that are constantly happening around you in the great storehouse of -Nature." "Be awake, active"--in a word, as the manual of the organization -has it, "be prepared." - -Giraffe and Step Hen had been tremendously staggered by the knowledge -that the stout comrade, whom they always looked down on as a weakling, -and called their "tenderfoot pard" with such a tone of patronage, seemed -to be actually waking up, and doing things. - -It was not enough that he exhibit the nerve to want to go out in search -of a bear, all by himself. There was that episode of the muck bed for -example--that sent Bumpus' stock up a few points above par. It revealed -the fact that in an emergency the fat boy could actually _think for -himself_. - -Instead of allowing himself to get "rattled" after discovering that he -was gripped fast in the tenacious mud, Bumpus had looked around him, and -noticed that convenient limb above his head. - -Of course he had stretched out his hands toward it, but vainly, as they -must have fallen short by two feet or more of reaching the limb. And then -Bumpus remembered the fine rope he was carrying around his fat waist, -under the conviction that it might come in handy some time or other. - -Well, it did. Bumpus had drawn himself out of the mud, and up to the -friendly limb of the tree; though it surely must have proven a most -severe tax on his untrained muscles, he was such a heavy weight. - -Giraffe admitted, deep down in his mind, that he could not have done any -better himself. - -And now, here was this same blundering, awkward Bumpus, actually knocking -over a monstrous wildcat, one of the most ferocious animals roaming -through the swamps adjoining the big timber belt. - -It was commencing to dawn upon the minds of those two boys that, -beginning right now, they would have to revise their opinion of Bumpus. -He hardly seemed a fit candidate for the greenhorn grade of scout. -Really, there seemed to be some class to this work he was putting up, -that promised to raise him high up in the estimation of his comrades. - -In fact, both of the boys who stood there, examining the hanging bob-cat, -were beginning to wonder what next Bumpus would do. - -"Seems to be another feller," remarked Step Hen. - -"Right you are," replied Giraffe. "I never would have believed he had it -in him. Biggest surprise ever. Gosh! Step Hen, after this, d'ye know, it -wouldn't take much to make me expect bigger things." - -"You mean----" - -"That if he keeps on going at this warm pace, Bumpus might even get his -old bear yet, who knows," Giraffe asserted. - -Thad and Allan noticed with considerable amusement and satisfaction that -the boys no longer alluded to the lost comrade as "poor old Bumpus," and -"our tenderfoot pard." Their pity for the clumsy scout was fast changing -into sincere admiration, respect. And surely Bumpus deserved it. - -"A good lesson all around, eh Thad?" whispered Allan in the other's ear. - -"Just what it is," was the scoutmaster's reply in the same low tone. - -"Bumpus is learning to depend on himself," Allan went on. - -"And these boys have been taught to be more careful how they allow -themselves to feel so superior to a comrade who happens to be slower -about waking up. They won't forget this in a hurry." - -"Sure they won't," added Allan. - -"Come, boys, let's be going on," Thad remarked, aloud. "I don't exactly -like the looks of the sky over yonder where the breeze is coming out of." - -These words of the scoutmaster caused Giraffe and Step Hen to turn and -look back of them. So much engaged had they been in keeping tabs on the -trail, and scanning the woods on either side for a possible glimpse of -Bumpus, that neither of them had once bothered about looking at the -heavens. - -Hence a great surprise awaited them. - -"Wow! did you ever see blacker clouds?" exclaimed Giraffe, apparently -deeply impressed by what he had discovered. - -"Looks like we might be in for a big storm," remarked Step Hen uneasily, -for he never felt as brave as he might when the elements were battling -with one another; but in order to disguise his timidity he added: "but -then, as we ain't sugar or salt, I guess we won't melt." - -As they hurried along through the timber, still following the plain trail -left by the lost scout, it might have been noticed that Allan and Thad -really looked more serious than the other pair. And there was a good -reason for it, too. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - THE SWOOP OF THE STORM. - - -"Whoo! she's coming right along, all right." - -Step Hen volunteered this statement, when the first rumble of thunder was -borne to their ears from the direction whence the storm was advancing. - -"Hear that," added Giraffe, and then he went on: "I say, Thad, don't you -think we'd better let up on this trail business, and hunt for a place -where we might sit out the storm?" - -"I'd just come to that conclusion myself," replied the other. - -"And seems to me we hadn't ought to lose any too much valuable time in -doing that," remarked Step Hen, starting a little when there came a flash -of lightning, and later on another deep growl of thunder. - -"Still three miles away; I counted between the flash and the thunder," -announced Giraffe. - -"Huh! three miles ain't a song when the old wind gets to blowing," -declared Step Hen. "Notice that it's died out altogether now, fellers?" - -"And getting pretty dark, too," Giraffe added. "Looks to me like we might -be in for a little cyclone. Wonder if they ever have 'em up here, like -they do in Kansas." - -"Cyclone!" exclaimed Step Hen, "oh! my stars! and here we are without -even a cyclone cellar." - -"We'll try and find one," said Thad, encouragingly, for he had been -keeping his eyes around him a long time back, noting the formation of the -ground, and drawing his own conclusions. - -They were no longer walking steadily on. Thad had increased his pace to a -run, and his comrades kept at his side, as though determined not to be -left in the lurch. - -The sounds from the rear had gradually increased in volume. The thunder -was louder, and more ominous, as each dazzling flash of lightning made -the timber around them stand out most distinctly; although after it had -passed, the semi-gloom seemed more appalling than ever. - -And that other threatening sound, could it be the wind playing havoc with -the tall trees? Thad had from time to time noticed that they came upon a -windrow of fallen timber, all the trees lying in one direction. This -circumstance had told him once that in a great while the region at the -foot of the Rockies was visited by a destructive storm. - -Might not this one prove to be such, and throw down more of these giants -of the woods? - -Thad had to bear this in mind, along with many other things. Surely, if -the storm proved to be so severe that trees were going to be uprooted and -blown down, they wanted to be out of danger. - -Step Hen was getting more and more excited. - -He always felt this way, even at home, when the air was charged with -electricity. Many a time he could remember walking up and down a room, -like a tiger in its cage, while the elements were holding high carnival -without. - -And while he believed that the scoutmaster would do all that lay in his -power to get himself and comrades into some sort of shelter before the -threatening storm broke over their heads, Step Hen saw no reason why he -should not assist, as far as he could. - -So he kept those sharp eyes of his on the constant watch, as he ran along -at the side of the pace-maker. - -Suddenly Step Hen gave a triumphant shout. - -"Oh! look! look! here's a good place for us to crawl in," and he pointed -to one side as he spoke. - -There, as another bright flash lighted up the gloomy forest, Thad saw an -enormous tree, easily the king of them all. Doubtless it out topped all -its comrades, rearing its lofty head far above the best of them. - -And yet old age had started in to demolish the monarch of the woods, -beginning at the butt instead of the top. The giant tree was hollow. -There yawned an aperture, surely large enough to hold the four scouts -easily, if they chose to huddle together. - -"And the hole is pretty well away from the track of the storm, so the -rain ain't agoin' to beat in on us," Step Hen went on. - -"Do we crawl in, Thad?" asked Giraffe, showing by his manner that he was -only too willing to comply, if the scoutmaster said the word. - -But Thad and Allan exchanged a look, and each shook his head. - -"No tree for mine in a storm like this, come on boys;" called out the -patrol leader, once more starting on a run. - -Step Hen hesitated. It even seemed as though the spirit of finding safety -was tempting him to hold back. If he thought Giraffe would back him up, -Step Hen might possibly have declined to leave the big hollow tree that -looked so inviting to him. - -But Giraffe, either more submissive to authority just then, or else not -quite so frightened by the crash of the approaching storm, was already -hurrying after the leader. - -And so Step Hen went on, although grumblingly. - -"Why couldn't we use that nice, old hiding-place, Thad?" he called out; -for the thunder, together with the roar of the wind, and the rain, in -their rear, made so much racket, that talking in ordinary tones was -impossible. - -"That tree might go down with a crash in the gale," was what Thad said -over his shoulder, as he ran. - -"Well, p'raps that's so," admitted Step Hen. - -"And worse than that, it was liable to be struck by lightning," added the -young scoutmaster. "Nearly always picks out the tallest tree, or one -standing alone. You never want to get under a tree in a thunderstorm, -remember that, Step Hen. Better lie down flat on the ground, and take -your soaking." - -And even though the advice was shouted at him under such peculiar -conditions, Step Hen was apt to remember it. Indeed, those very -conditions served to impress it indelibly on his mind. He would never -again hear the crash of thunder, and see the vivid flash of lightning -without remembering what Thad had said. - -And every boy should do the same; for what does a wetting amount to, -beside the peril of sudden death? Every day during the summer there can -be found brief accounts of men or boys killed by lightning, because they -took refuge under a tree, when a storm interrupted their work in the -harvest field. - -During an ordinary shower a tree may be an acceptable shelter, but never -when the air is sur-charged with electricity; since it serves as a -conductor to draw the lightning. - -"But what are we agoin' to do?" - -It was Giraffe who broke out with this appeal, shortly after they left -the neighborhood of the hollow tree that had so tempted Step Hen. - -Up to this point the tall scout had been blindly following Thad's lead. -The quality of obedience was plainly well developed in Giraffe. But now -his curiosity seemed to get the better of these other traits in his -character. Although he did not come from Missouri, and in fact had never -seen the sacred soil of that grand state, still Giraffe "wanted to know." - -Nor did Thad seem to take it amiss in a comrade asking such a natural -question, under the circumstances. - -He was always willing to volunteer information. - -"Got an idea we ought to find some ledges on the other side of this -little rocky knob hill on the left," he called out. - -"Oh," said Step Hen. - -That was the extent of his remarks, and for several reasons. In the first -place he had considerable confidence in Thad's sagacity, for he had seen -it successfully tried under many conditions; and what the other suggested -appealed to Step Hen as reasonable. Then again, he was short of breath, -and needed all he possessed in order to keep running along with the -others. - -Step Hen and Giraffe kept pretty well up in the van. Now and then, when a -particularly fearful flash came they would turn part way around, as if -the fascination of that on-coming tempest were too much for them. - -And sometimes either one would give utterance to an excited whoop when -the timber was lighted up by an unusually dazzling flash, though the cry -was sure to be immediately deadened by the reverberating thunder. - -They also noticed with some degree of satisfaction, that they were even -then rounding the low rocky elevation. Unless Thad had made a sad mistake -in his judgment, they should know the facts before another minute passed. - -But so rapidly was the storm coming along now, that apparently they would -have none too generous an allowance of time. - -With the rush of the wind another sound began to be heard that was quite -disconcerting. This was a frequent crash, such as even Giraffe and Step -Hen knew must accompany the fall of trees. - -They were glad on this account, if for no other, that Thad had led them -by degrees out of the big timber, so that they now skirted the base of -the singular little rocky elevation that was almost devoid of trees. - -The thought of being in constant danger of having one of those giants -topple over upon their heads, was far from pleasant. - -Between the flashes it had become oppressively dark, so much so that the -boys had to be more careful where they set their feet. But with all that -turmoil of shrieking winds, crash of falling trees, and roar of thunder, -chasing along in their rear, and rapidly overtaking them, it was little -wonder that at times they made mistakes in where they stepped. - -And presently, what Thad had been fearing came to pass, when Step Hen -shouted out at the top of his voice: - -"Hold up, Thad, Giraffe's taken a tumble; and I reckon he's some hurt!" - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - THE BOLT OF LIGHTNING. - - -In the midst of such a confusion of dreadful sounds, and knowing that in -another minute or so they would be overtaken by the storm, it was little -wonder that Thad's heart seemed to feel a cold clutch when Step Hen burst -out with that announcement. - -What if Giraffe had broken a leg in taking this tumble? He was that tall, -and possessed such "spindle legs," as the boys always called them, that -they often joked him on the probability of his cracking a bone when he -slid to second base. - -And it was in dreadful fear, then, that the scoutmaster halted, to turn -hastily around. - -To his satisfaction he saw that Giraffe, helped by Step Hen, was already -scrambling to his feet, although limping some. - -"All right, Giraffe?" called out Thad. - -"On deck; go ahead!" came the cheery reply. - -And shutting his teeth hard together, Giraffe managed to once more start -on a run after his chief, though his bruised leg must have hurt him -considerably. - -They were now turning the side of the rocky elevation. And just as Thad -had said, it seemed to be made up of little ledges, one above the other. -This was not a mere guess on Thad's part, for he had noticed the same -peculiar formation in connection with several other outcroppings they had -passed, these being off-shoots of the foothills at the base of the Rocky -Mountains. - -And so, again did that policy of observation, "noticing things" promise -to prove of great assistance to the fugitive scouts when chased by the -storm. It often does, and the boy who keeps his eyes about him under any -and all circumstances, is the one who reaps the profit. There is never an -emergency arises but he is ready with some remedy to meet it. - -When they saw these friendly ledges the other boys realized that for the -time being their troubles were about at an end. - -There would be plenty of chances for them to find shelter here. Thad did -not accept of the very first refuge that offered, because he knew there -was still a little more time at their disposal, and he had an idea they -would presently come upon a ledge capable of covering them all. - -It turned out just as he figured. - -When the four crept under the outcropping shelf of rock, they found that -they had no longer any need to fear the violence of the gale. - -The lightning could not well reach them here, the wind was powerless to -do them any harm; there were no threatening trees to topple over upon -their heads; and as for the rain, it would sweep past, and leave them -perfectly dry. - -No wonder then, that Step Hen, in the sudden change of his feelings from -dark despair to complete satisfaction, gave vent to a scout whoop; while -Giraffe, equally pleased, uttered several fox barks, that being the -distinguishing signal of the patrol, by which members would recognize -each other if approaching in the dark. - -"This is something like!" cried Step Hen, in between the thunder claps. - -"As comfy as if we were at home," added Giraffe, who was sitting there, -gingerly rubbing his bruised shin. - -A tremendous crash made further talk just then out of the question. And -it seemed as though that thunder clap might have been the signal that the -stage was all set, and the war of the elements could begin. - -The wind started in with a furious rush that snapped off several trees -not far away from where the four scouts huddled under their shelter. -These came crashing down, as though loudly protesting against their -untimely fate. But the sound of their fall was really swallowed up in all -the other mad noises that marked the first rush of the summer storm. - -How the wind did whistle through the tops of the trees, that bent before -its fury, together with the downpour of rain. The ones that could prove -most humble, and bow their proud heads, best, were those that came out of -the turmoil with the least damage. The trees could adapt themselves to -circumstances, the scouts saw; and surely there was another lesson for -them all in that. - -After a furious rush, the storm slackened up a little, as though -gathering force for a fresh outburst, perhaps more strenuous than before. - -But this little breathing spell afforded the boys a chance to exchange a -few remarks, since it is at all times a difficult task to keep their -tongues from wagging. - -"That was a swift one, all right!" Giraffe burst out with. - -"Did you ever hear such thunder?" said Allan. - -"And the lightning--oh! my stars! it just made me blink, and shiver every -time it flashed," declared Step Hen. - -"Well, the worst is yet to come!" announced Thad, seriously. - -"He's joking," cried out Step Hen. - -"No, I'm not," the scoutmaster went on. "I've always noticed that when a -storm lets up like this, it generally hits harder the next spell. And -you'll find out, if you wait a minute, for it's coming again." - -"But we're all right here, ain't we?" asked Giraffe. - -"Sure," replied the other, "unless it turns around." - -"Turns around!" ejaculated Step Hen. "D'ye mean to say that old wind -could take a kink in itself, and come back on us?" - -"It often happens during a storm. In the beginning it may beat down on -you from the east, and finish up in the southwest. But I guess the second -half of this one is coming out of the same quarter as the first." - -"Good for that!" exclaimed Step Hen. "We're all so cozy under here, I'd -hate to have the wind drive that wet rain in on us. There she comes, -boys. Whew! say, listen to that, would you? I hope that thunder don't -start the rocks to rolling down this slope." - -"No danger of that," called out Thad, for with the return of the furious -bombardment talking was becoming more difficult. - -Just as the scout leader had said it, it really did look as though this -second half of the storm promised to be more violent than the one that -had gone booming along its way. It seemed to the boys that some of the -thunder claps would split their ear drums, so powerful did they appear. - -The rain again fell in torrents, too. They could hear it rushing -furiously down the side of the little rocky hill. Several spouts shot -over the outcropping ledge that served as their roof; but despite it all, -none of them so much as had a sprinkle fall upon him. - -Never had the wisdom and sagacity of the scoutmaster been more amply -proven than right then. And doubtless each of the other three boys must -have been secretly saying as much, as they crouched there, gazing in -speechless wonder and awe at the curious freaks shown by the zigzag -forked lightning, every time it came down from the black vault above, or -played tag among the piled up masses of clouds that were slowly -retreating. - -Apparently the worst was over. - -Even then doubtless there was a break in the van of the storm clouds. -Furious though the tempest had been, it was to prove of short duration. -But while it lasted Thad reckoned that it was about as tropical in its -nature as any he had ever encountered. - -"Glad it's going!" called out Giraffe. - -"It never will be missed," sang Step Hen, feeling particularly joyous -over the fact that after all they had come through it all unscathed. - -"The rain's stopped, that's sure," Giraffe asserted. - -"And that means the danger's over. We can go out now, when we please," -Step Hen remarked, making a movement as if to rise. - -"Hold on, I wouldn't do that yet," exclaimed Thad. - -"Why not?" asked Step Hen, but at the same time falling back. - -"There's a lot of dangerous electricity in the air still," said Thad. -"You can see that the reports after each flash are as quick and powerful -as if a twelve-inch gun on a battleship were being fired. Every bolt -strikes just after a storm has passed. Lots of people say the back action -is the most dangerous time of all." - -"Oh! all right, Thad. Guess I'll stay awhile longer. No need of a feller -takin' more chances than he has to," and Step Hen settled down again; for -if there was any danger of being struck by lightning, no one would find -him careless. - -"But this is the end, ain't it, Thad?" asked Giraffe, still rubbing at -his leg. - -"I reckon it is," replied the patrol leader. - -"Wonder how our fellers in camp stood the racket. Hope the tents didn't -get blown away," Step Hen remarked. - -"And Bumpus, I reckon he'll be put to his wit's ends to know what to do -at such a time as this," but Thad noticed that when he said it, Giraffe -really betrayed an undercurrent of respect in his manner. - -Bumpus was no longer a complete ignoramus; Bumpus had raised himself -wonderfully in the estimation of his chums. - -Just then there was an unusually brilliant flash. The thunder seemed to -really accompany it, showing that the bolt struck near at hand. - -"Wow! that hit something, as sure as you live!" exclaimed Giraffe. - -"Thought I heard branches crashing down, and I reckon it must have been a -tree," remarked Step Hen, who had given a nervous jump at the brilliant -and dazzling illumination. - -"It _did_ shatter a tree, and over in the very place we came from, too. -To tell you the truth, fellows, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if it was -that same big tree that had so splendid a hollow in its butt." - -Step Hen turned very white when he heard Thad say this, and a painful -silence fell upon the little group of scouts under the friendly ledge. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - STEP HEN LOOKS OUT FOR THE PROVISIONS. - - -Some little time passed. Gradually the storm was passing away in the -distance, where they could still hear the constant growl and mutter of -the thunder. But those near-by crashes had really ceased. - -As the boys were cramped, and becoming restless, Thad saw no reason why -they should not get out in the open again. - -"First, I want to look at that leg of yours, Giraffe," said the -scoutmaster. - -"Aw! guess I'll manage all right," replied the other, his pride revolting -at such a thing as showing the white feather. - -"All the same, it ought to be looked after," persisted Thad. "We can't -afford to take any chances of your being lamed. A stiff leg is a constant -bother. And there's no need of it when I've got liniment and salve and -linen in my haversack, for just such uses. Here, roll up the leg of your -trousers and let Doc Thad take a look. No nonsense, now, Giraffe. It's -orders." - -So, protesting still that it "didn't amount to a row of pins," Giraffe -nevertheless obeyed the injunction of the patrol leader. - -"There, it is quite an ugly wound, and bleeding too," declared Thad. "And -you might have had a heap of trouble with that same hurt, Giraffe, if you -didn't let me put some salve on. It's an open cut and the liniment would -bite too much. Besides this healing salve is better." - -And so Thad soon had a nice bandage fastened snugly about the hurt. -Giraffe frankly admitted that it did feel soothed by the application, -though he still had to limp more or less when he walked, naturally -favoring the lame leg. - -"Now we can go ahead again, and find old Bumpus," Step Hen remarked, -after the operation had been successfully finished. - -"That's the worst of it all," said Allan, with a disconsolate shrug of -his shoulders, and making a wry face at the same time. - -"Worst of what?" demanded Step Hen. "Ain't we going to pick up the trail -at the place we lost it, or back where the old cat hangs?" - -"There isn't any trail!" Allan replied. - -"What?" ejaculated both Step Hen and Giraffe, amazed by his declaration, -that filled them with dismay. - -"The rain washed it all out, you see," Allan went on to explain. - -"But--how are we agoin' to find Bumpus, then?" Step Hen gasped. - -Again the Maine boy shrugged his shoulders, and there was something very -expressive about the movement. - -"Ask me something easy, please? I confess I'm all up in the air. I don't -know how we can find our chum, unless by an accident, later on, we came -upon his fresh trail again, made after the storm. And that's supposing a -good many things, you see, one of which is that he's come out of the -racket safe and sound." - -"Whew! strikes me we've got as much chance of running across him as we'd -have finding a needle in a haystack," ventured Giraffe. - -"Just about as much," Allan replied, looking downcast. - -As long as there was any trail to find, Allan was not the one to give up; -he would hang on tenaciously while a shred of hope remained. But with the -tracks of Bumpus positively washed out by the downpour from the clouds, -it was useless wasting time in looking for any "signs." - -Even Thad seemed serious now. - -Troubles were accumulating thick and fast, for the missing member of the -Silver Fox Patrol. Though thus far Bumpus seemed to have surmounted his -trials and difficulties, he might have been caught unawares by that -furious storm. And what if he had been tempted to seek shelter in a -hollow tree, not having a wise scoutmaster handy, to warn against the -evil of such a thing? Giraffe and Step Hen felt very uneasy at even the -thought. - -They left the vicinity of the ledges, and once more entered the tall -timber. But the others knew that Thad was indulging in no hope that they -could discover any signs of the trail, or follow it, even though an -occasional footprint remained. He had some other purpose in leading them -backward, and they could hazard a pretty good guess as to what it might -be. - -There were abundant signs of the storm's passage all around them. Some of -the more slender trees still bowed their heads in the direction where, -far away in the distance, the thunder still growled and muttered. Here -and there the boys could see one that had been uprooted, and either -thrown flat to the ground, or else received in the sheltering embrace of -some neighbor, that held it in a half reclining attitude. - -And presently Giraffe gave vent to a loud cry. - -"It _did_ strike Step Hen's tree!" he exclaimed. - -"Where is it? I don't see the same;" demanded Step Hen. - -"Look again. Rub your eyes, and wake up! Don't you glimpse that pile of -branches over there, scattered in every direction?" asked Giraffe. - -"Sure I do," admitted the other, "but how d'ye know now that wreckage -came from my tree?" - -"Why, that's easy," replied Giraffe. "Notice that shattered trunk partly -standing yet? Well, step this way and you can see where part, only part, -mind you, Step Hen, is left of that hiding-place you wanted to crawl in." - -"Oh! my stars!" ejaculated the other scout, when his staring eyes told -him that what his comrade said was the awful truth. - -It had been the luckiest escape those four boys would ever know. They -felt a great awe steal over them, accompanied by a sensation of -thanksgiving, as they stood there looking at the ruin of that once proud -king of the woods. - -"None of us would ever know what hit us, I guess," said Step Hen, -finally. - -"And I reckon I've learned my lesson all right," added the tall scout. -"Just as Thad said, what's a ducking, when you think of taking chances -with a thing like this? I am for a wetting down, every time, after this." - -"But what had we better do--head back for camp, and give our poor old -chum Bumpus up for good?" asked Step Hen, dejectedly. - -"Not just yet," the scoutmaster replied. - -"We've got some grub still," suggested Giraffe, "and can make fires all -right, no matter how wet the wood got." - -"Yes, we can stay out for another day or two," said Thad, "and longer -than that, if we think there's any chance of finding him; because we -could knock over some game at the worst." - -"But what's the programme?" persisted Giraffe. "Are we going to lay out -some sort of plan, and then follow it up; or just go meanderin' around, -every-which-way, trusting to sheer luck?" - -"We'll try and figure on what Bumpus was most likely to do," said Thad, -"and then pattern our plan after that. And later on, you know, we could -give a shout once in a while. If he was near enough to us he might hear -us that way." - -"You're right, Thad, and it's a good scheme," declared Giraffe. - -"A dandy one," added Step Hen. "And if ever Bumpus hears me ashoutin' -he'll know who 'tis, all right." - -"I should say, yes," Giraffe observed, with such a meaning look that the -other took umbrage at once, and flamed out with: - -"'Tain't any more like the caw of a crow than your squawk is, Giraffe, -and you know it, even if you used to say so. That's because you was -envious because, outside of Bumpus himself, I could sing better'n any -other scout in the whole troop." - -Giraffe made no answer to this taunt. He only looked appealing toward -Thad, as much as to say that he was not to blame for this flare-up. - -They walked on for a while, although the going was not so very pleasant, -owing to the fact that the bushes were all so wet, they had to avoid -contact with them. - -Allan and Thad conferred as they went, and apparently must have laid out -their plans, for the others presently became aware of the fact that they -seemed to be moving ahead in something like a direct line. - -Although they had thus far met with no great success, Step Hen and -Giraffe still felt considerable confidence in their leaders. Thad and -Allan seemed so able to cope with anything and everything that came -along, it was no wonder the others had begun to believe they could -accomplish the impossible. - -But when the afternoon waned, and another night stared them in the face, -they had to temporarily forget about Bumpus, and consider their own -condition. - -A fire would certainly be needed, for everything around them was still -wet; and as the droppings from the trees had partly soaked their -garments, Thad thought they must dry out. - -But a piece of luck came their way about this time that was as welcome as -it was unexpected. - -Step Hen happened to be out on the left flank, and suddenly the others -heard the report of his rifle in that quarter. As they hastily turned -that way, it was to see Step Hen dancing madly up and down. - -"I got it! I got it!" he was shouting, clawing at his little repeating -rifle in the endeavor to work the pump action, and render it serviceable -again. - -"Got what?" demanded Giraffe, running up. - -"A deer!" replied the other. - -"Yes, you have. Tell us where?" asked the tall scout, incredulously. - -"Over back of them bushes. It was just going to jump when I let go. Guess -it dropped in its tracks!" panted Step Hen. - -Giraffe gave a mocking laugh. - -"We'll soon see if you put a flim-flam bullet into an old stump," he -remarked, derisively, limping forward: and immediately shouting: "Well, -of all the world, if he didn't get the nicest little buck you ever saw; -and shot straight through the heart. No wonder he went down ker-flop. -Step Hen, you're going some. I'll have to look out, or else you'll be -crowding at my heels." - -"Beat that snapshot if you can, Giraffe," said the other, proudly looking -down at his quarry. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER AGAIN. - - -That night the boys feasted. - -After being without fresh meat for some little time now, that venison -certainly did taste prime. And no doubt it was doubly sweet to Step Hen, -who had made the best shot of his life when he brought the game down. - -At least they need no longer think of being compelled to return to the -camp near the foot of the noisy rapids, on account of a lack of food. -They could go a number of days, subsisting on the new supply that had -stocked up their almost exhausted larder so handsomely. - -But there was a weight resting on all of them. They talked some, but most -of the time after supper they sat there, looking into the comfortable -blaze, and busy with their thoughts. - -What these were, as a rule, might be gathered from a remark made by Step -Hen. - -"It was a good supper, all right, and that deer meat went just prime. -Only wish _he's_ got as good to-night." - -And no one asked him who he meant. No doubt every one of the four around -the fire had Bumpus in mind right then and there. - -"And we're going to keep this fire burning through the live-long night, -too," said Thad, later on, when there was some talk of going to sleep. - -"Regardless of Hank and Pierre, eh?" asked Giraffe, his eyes brightening; -for he never liked to see a camp-fire go out; it was always as solemn a -ceremony in his mind as the passing of a dear friend would be. - -"Oh! like as not they're miles and miles away from here," Thad went on to -say. "And anyhow, one of us at a time will be on guard all night. If he -hears a shot or a distant shout be sure to call me up, whoever he may -be." - -And that, then, was the programme laid down. They would do everything in -their power to attract the attention of the wandering Bumpus, in case he -happened to be anywhere in the neighborhood. - -But it was all of no avail. - -Doubtless one or the other of the scouts, when standing his turn as -sentry, may have fancied he heard far-away hails, because the wish was -father to the thought; but upon listening, to make doubly sure before -arousing the others, it had invariably turned out that the sound was an -owl calling to his mate in the depth of the big timber, or the strange -cry of the night hawk abroad seeking food. - -But all the live-long night that watch-fire continued to burn, although -without any result. - -The boys went about their duties in the morning, a little crestfallen; -and yet they had no reason to reproach themselves, having done everything -in their power to win success. - -As they ate breakfast they tried to lay out the day's campaign. Enough of -the fresh venison was to be carried along to provide several meals. And -as they went, they meant to let out a few shouts at intervals. - -Of course they knew that, just as one of them, Giraffe, had said before, -it was about as satisfactory as searching for a needle in a haystack. But -it was the best they could do. And boys as a rule, are very prone to put -considerable confidence in what they call "luck." - -After the violent storm there was one good result, at least; the air was -as sweet and pure and invigorating as any of them could wish. Indeed, -Thad, as he glanced around and above him, when they stopped once that -morning to rest, thought he had never seen a lovelier picture. And only -for this weight resting so heavily upon his soul, in connection with the -fate of the missing tenderfoot, he could have enjoyed it immensely. - -The sky was the bluest of the blue, with here and there a fleecy white -cloud floating across it. Away up could be seen a pair of eagles sailing -in immense circles, and able to look directly into the face of the sun. - -Lower down a number of other large birds were floating around, and it -looked as though they might be centering over a certain spot. Thad -recognized them as buzzards, those scavengers of the wilds that are -protected by law in most sections of the country, because of their -usefulness in disposing of carrion that might otherwise breed an epidemic -of disease. - -On one side glimpses could occasionally be had of the lofty mountains, to -explore which had been one of the excuses the scouts had for making such -a long journey. - -Apparently the other boys were also looking around them, for presently -Step Hen, pointing with his finger, said: - -"What are those birds away up there, Thad?" - -"The ones up in the clouds, you mean, I suppose?" asked the other. - -"Yes," replied Step Hen. - -"That is the majestic eagle, my son," said Giraffe, pompously. - -"Majestic humbug," laughed Allan. - -"But they represent the American nation," objected Giraffe, "every time -the papers get talkin' about trouble with foreign nations they say 'now -listen to the eagle scream' don't they?" - -"Oh! it can scream, all right, and fight right hard, I admit, when it has -to," Allan went on to say, "but all this talk about the eagle being such -a _noble_ bird makes me weary. If you'd watched him as often as I have, -sitting lazily on the limb of a dead tree, and waiting till some poor, -industrious fish hawk makes a haul, so he could rob him, you wouldn't -have quite so much respect for the magnificent bird as you do now." - -"Huh! p'raps not," grunted Giraffe, looking crestfallen. "Honest to -goodness now, I always did think the old feller couldn't live up to his -reputation. Guess America had ought to hunt up another emblem besides the -eagle." - -"But say, them others ain't eagles, I know," spoke up Step Hen. - -"No, they are the despised buzzard, that everybody shuns, yet no one -kills, for he'd be far worse to eat than crow," said Thad. - -"And yet a ten times more useful bird than the eagle, which lives upon -its ill-gotten reputation, and as I said before, the labor of the osprey, -or fish hawk," Allan went on to remark. - -"But see 'em circle around, would you, Thad," Step Hen kept on. "They -generally do that, don't they, when they've discovered something worth -while?" - -Step Hen did not wholly voice the terrible fear that had suddenly gripped -his heart in a sickening clutch. There was no need, for every one of the -other scouts had a spasm along the same lines. - -They looked at each other rather guiltily. An undefined fear was written -large upon each paling countenance. Thad, however, was the first to -recover. - -"You gave me an uneasy minute with the suggestion your words conjured up, -Step Hen," he said, firmly; "but I just can't force myself to believe -there's anything to it." - -"But, Thad----" - -"Just hold on, Step Hen," the patrol leader went on to remark, "I -understand what you mean, and of course we'll head that way, to make sure -it's a deer, or something like that." - -None of them cared to pursue the matter any further, as they walked -along, keeping one eye aloft to note the position of the buzzards that -sailed around and around, constantly dropping lower, and with the other -taking stock of their surroundings. - -Thad smiled after a while, but he did not take the trouble to communicate -what was in his mind to the others. - -"They'll know soon enough," he was saying to himself, "let them find it -out for themselves." - -Allan was the first to make a discovery. He threw a quick, knowing look -in the direction of the scoutmaster, who answered with a nod and a smile. - -Pretty soon Giraffe began to smell a rat. - -"Well, I declare," he remarked, "seems like I've set eyes before on that -there queer old tree with the big hump on its trunk. Can't be possible -there could be another just like that anywhere this side the Rockies." - -No one saying anything, Giraffe went on to remark: - -"Yes sir, it's the same identical tree, I'd take my affidavy on that. See -here's where I sliced off a bit of the bark with my hatchet, as we went -along. Now, ain't that funny, we've made a grand circle ourselves, just -like we thought he'd _do_; and crossed our own trail right here." - -"Have you any idea where this tree is, Giraffe?" asked Thad, meaning to -test the memory of the observing scout. - -"Let's see, when was it I noticed the same?" and Giraffe frowned with the -effort to whip his memory. "Oh! yes, sure, I recollect it all now. Why, -you see Thad, it was just after we'd left that place where Bumpus had -hung up that dead cat." - -"Wow! there it hangs right now; and yes, as sure as you live, the wind -brings us a whiff of it, too!" cried Step Hen. "Say, Thad, was _this_ -what the buzzards scented far off, and gathered here to make their dinner -off?" - -"Just what it was, and they're welcome, for all of me," replied the -patrol leader; evidently greatly relieved over something. "But come on, -boys, we're going to start on a new track from here, one we haven't been -over yet. I'm in hopes we may have the great good luck to learn something -about our chum, before we make another grand circuit. My first guess -didn't pan out very well." - -None of them were sorry to leave the neighborhood of the dead cat, which -Bumpus had hung up in the tree, possibly in the hope of sometime claiming -its well-riddled pelt. - -An hour later they were making their way through a particularly bad -stretch of woodland, where the brush was dense in places, and many trees, -fallen years upon years ago, forced the scouts to either clamber over, or -go around. - -Step Hen was just in the act of jumping over the half-rotten trunk of one -of these fallen forest monarchs, when the rest heard him give utterance -to a loud whoop, immediately followed by words that struck a chill to -their very hearts: - -"Thad! Allan! come here, quick! I'm snake bit, and I reckon it was a big -rattler that grabbed me by the leg!" - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - THE SNAKE BITE. - - -"What can we do, Thad?" exclaimed Giraffe, as with the others he hurried -over in the direction of Step Hen's voice. - -Step Hen had not kept exactly with his mates; had he done so the trouble -that was now upon him might not have happened. Encouraged by his success -of the preceding day, when he had secured a fine deer just because he -hung upon the flank of the advancing party, Step Hen had wandered far -afield again, though careful, after a fashion, never to lose sight of the -rest. - -It was easy to understand, under the circumstances, how the ambitious -Nimrod kept his eyes about him, looking for a possible deer to jump up -and bound away. He had not been thinking of snakes at all, when so -recklessly jumping over the dead tree; and this is always a more or less -dangerous thing to do in a country where poisonous snakes may be found. - -They came upon the frightened Step Hen. He was down on one knee, and with -hands that trembled so he could hardly work, was trying to roll up one of -his trousers' legs, after having kicked off his canvas legging. - -Thad was instantly at his side. - -"Let me do that for you, Step Hen," he exclaimed, as he dropped his gun, -and applied himself to the task, to cry out a few seconds later, "I don't -see any marks where his fangs went in. Where was it he struck you? Oh! -that red spot? Wait a minute." - -Thad, to the astonishment of the injured lad, whipped out a small -magnifying glass, with which he was in the habit of examining beetles, -and all sorts of things of a like nature, in whose habits he, as an -amateur naturalist, chanced to be interested. - -This he applied to the red mark, examining the same closely. - -"I can see two sets of little punctures, one above and one below," he -announced presently. - -"That's them!" exclaimed Step Hen. "Oh! he jumped right at me, and bit -me, all right! I was that scared I could hardly move. I hate snakes, you -know, the worst kind. Thad, tell me, did anybody ever get bit by a -rattler, and live? My goodness! will you have to cut my leg off, to save -me? Oh! I think I'd rather die right now, than have to hop around on one -leg all my life. Do something for me, Thad; what are you grinning at, -Giraffe? This is a mighty serious matter, I tell you." - -"Keep still!" said Thad, sternly. - -Then he got down, and sucked at the tiny wounds with all his might, -having first made sure that he had no cut, or abrasion of the skin about -his lips, or the interior of his mouth. Having expectorated freely Thad -got up again. Step Hen followed his every movement with a troubled look -on his face. - -"Think you got all the old poison out, Thad? Oh! let somebody else have a -try, won't you? Can't afford to take any chances about this. Think what -an awful blow it'd be to my folks if I skipped off right here and now. -Ketch me a jumpin' over a log again without first lookin'. Where's my -gun? Did anybody see my gun? Goodness knows where it went. I bet that -snake went and carried--oh! thank you, Allan, there's the little dandy, -all right. But Thad, don't it look like my leg's beginning to swell? I -just seem to feel it twitching all the time. Is that the poison going -through my system? Oh! I just knew some day a measly old snake'd get me. -How I hate 'em." - -"Keep still!" commanded the scoutmaster, sternly. - -"Oh! all right, Thad. I'm sure you'll do the right thing by me; but it's -just awful to know you've been bitten by a rattlesnake." - -"In the first place, I don't believe it _was_ a rattlesnake!" said Thad, -positively. - -"But it was an _awful_ big, wicked looking snake, Thad; and if you'd seen -the way it jumped at me----" began Step Hen. - -"That's one of the reasons I had for saying what I did," Thad went on, "a -rattlesnake never attacks any one, or any enemy. It always throws itself -into a coil, and with head erect, and tail rattling a warning 'don't -tread on me,' waits to be attacked. This rule has no exception. A -rattlesnake is almost helpless out of coil, and the very first thing he -does is to curl up. He may lunge so hard at something as to throw himself -half way out of coil; but as quick as a flash he's back again, for he's -afraid something will get him." - -"Oh! is that so, Thad?" exclaimed Step Hen, still keeping one anxious eye -on his bare leg, as though he half expected to see it begin to puff up -visibly before his very eyes. - -"Was this snake coiled when you first saw it?" demanded Thad. - -"N--no." - -"What was it doing then, Step Hen?" - -"I reckon it was crawlin' along--yes, I know it was, because I remember -how I got a fierce jolt when I was just going over the log, to see it -with its old head raised, and showing its teeth." - -"And then it jumped at you?" Thad continued. - -"And tried to wrap around me, after it bit me through my legging; but I -guess I kicked some, because it dropped off, and ran away." - -Thad smiled. - -"I'm sure now it was not a rattler," he said. "No doubt it may have been -a big black snake. They're as fierce as they make them, and can whip a -sluggish rattler every time, but they're not poisonous at all, Step Hen." - -"Oh! I hope then it was a black snake!" exclaimed the other scout, with a -sigh. - -"Another thing," said Thad, wishing to make it conclusive, so Step Hen -might not keep on worrying about the affair. "A black snake bites, but as -a general rule a rattlesnake opens his jaws until they stand almost -perpendicular, so that he can lay bare his poison fangs. He sinks these -two hollow teeth into his enemy, with a furious blow, and at the same -time injects the poison. There is no known _sure_ remedy for a -rattlesnake's poison. But this snake tried to bite you. There are the -faint marks of teeth belonging to both the upper and the lower jaw. It's -all right, Step Hen; you're in no danger. The poison would have begun to -work before now, if it was there." - -"But you won't take any chances, will you, Thad?" asked the other. - -"I didn't. I sucked just as hard as if I thought you were going to swell -up, and have your heart affected," said Thad. - -"But to make sure, Thad, suppose you paint my leg with some of that -purple stuff you carry with you," pleaded Step Hen. - -"Oh! you mean that solution of permanganate of potash," replied the -other. - -"Yes, that's the stuff." - -"But," objected Thad, "it's meant for scratches from the claws of -carnivorous animals, so as to neutralize the virus that is apt to get in -the blood, and give blood poisoning." - -"Well, here's some poison it can get in its little work on," Step Hen -insisted. - -"But it will hurt like sixty." - -"Let her hurt. The more the better; because then I know it'll be doing -its work. Come, let's have it, Thad." - -Knowing how persistent Step Hen could be when he wanted to, the -scoutmaster felt that he must comply with his request. It could do no -harm, and at least would make the boy feel easier in his mind. - -"Gee! don't it darken things up some," Step Hen declared, a little later, -when the application had been made. - -"It stains a whole lot," admitted Thad. - -"Huh! I've got one thing to be thankful for anyhow," Step Hen remarked. - -"Lots of 'em, my boy," laughed Thad. "But what do you mean in -particular?" - -"I'm glad he pinched me on the leg," the other went on, whimsically. -"Think if he'd jumped up and dented my nose, and you had to paint it like -that! My stars! mebbe I wouldn't be a sight though." - -"You'd sure never a been able to go back to Cranford," declared Giraffe, -who had been an interested observer of all that went on. "Because they'd -all say you'd taken to drink." - -"Huh! nothing funny about that, because I've been drinking all my life," -the other answered back. - -"Does it hurt?" asked Thad. - -"Well, I guess, yes," replied Step Hen, making a grimace; "but then, I -want it to just gouge me. Go it, you little gripper; hope you counteract -every drop of poison. That's it, hit me up again. Whew! that's going -some." - -"Now there are two of us," remarked Giraffe, as he vied with Step Hen in -seeing which could limp the most. "It's your right leg, and my left one; -so we've still got a decent pair between us." - -"But they ain't mates, by a long shot," declared Step Hen. - -Joking in this way they followed after Thad and Allan. But as the morning -was nearly done it was decided to make camp long enough to have a bite. - -Again they talked of Bumpus and his affairs, as they sat around the fire, -and ate. - -Step Hen hoped that the fat scout would not have the misfortune to run -across a "fighting snake," such as the one that had thrown him into such -a panic. - -"Because, you see," he went on, "not knowing any better, the poor feller -would think it was a rattler, instead of just a plain, every day black -snake. And it w'd give him no end of worry, because he couldn't suck the -wound himself, being no contortionist like Davy Jones; and he wouldn't -have Thad and his little potash bottle handy." - -"Yes, that's so," remarked Giraffe, "there are some people who don't know -the difference between a poisonous rattler, with its square head, and a -long twisting black snake." - -Step Hen turned a little red in the face, and laughed; but did not -venture to take up Giraffe's dare, so that for once an argument that -might have waxed fierce was avoided. - -Presently they were moving on again. Acting on the suggestion of Thad the -four scouts had formed a sort of fan formation, being within easy seeing -and hearing distance of each other, but covering quite a wide stretch of -ground. - -Allan and Thad had given it as their opinion, although they admitted they -could not be absolutely sure, that although they must certainly have -covered fully thirty miles in their wanderings, they were not more than -ten from the camp by the rapids. - -It fell to Giraffe to make a discovery this time. Along about two o'clock -he raised his voice and gave an excited call. This being the signal to -assemble, the other scouts hurried toward Giraffe, anxious to learn what -he had to communicate. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - MORE TROUBLE AHEAD. - - -"What have you?" asked Step Hen, who, strange to say, in spite of his -lame leg, arrived just a little in advance of the other two. - -Giraffe was standing there, twisting that long neck of his this way and -that. He declined to say anything until Thad had arrived on the scene. -Then, with an expressive pose, he pointed to the ground near his feet. - -"What d'ye call that, eh? Tell me I ain't got the eye of an eagle? -Somebody else might have gone stumping along, and never seen it. But you -can ketch a weasel asleep as easy as you can fool me." - -"It's a trail, all right," said Thad. - -"Say _his_ trail," persisted Giraffe. - -"Bumpus did make it, that's certain," Allan broke in with. - -"And _after_ the storm, too?" - -"No question about that, because the rain hasn't washed the marks at -all," was the joyous declaration of Allan. - -"See?" cried Giraffe. - -If he had been wearing a vest. Step Hen really believed the proud lengthy -scout would have thrust his thumbs into the arm holes and assumed a pose, -as though about to have his picture taken as a serious rival to Cooper's -"Leatherstocking," the greatest of trail finders. - -"What luck!" Step Hen broke out with. - -"Luck nothing," flashed back Giraffe, refusing to be cheated out of any -of his honors. "It's the reward of patient, plodding work, and using eyes -and brain right along. Now, if I'd been satisfied to limp along, looking -up at the sky, and all around, but never once on the ground, like some -people I know do, d'ye suppose I'd ever run across this trail? Not much. -Give Old Eagle Eye his due, Step Hen." - -"Yes, he deserves it," said Thad, "because this is a most important find. -It places us on top once more." - -"Because now we've got something to work on," added Allan. - -"Was this track made this morning?" asked Step Hen. - -Allan shook his head. - -"No," he replied, "I don't think so." - -"But why shouldn't it be?" continued the other scout, bound to know. - -"Why, you can see that the ground was still quite wet when he passed -along here. That wouldn't have been the case this morning, for in twelve -hours or more it must have dried out pretty well," Allan explained. - -"That's so; I never thought of such an easy explanation," Step Hen -admitted. - -"Oh! there's a heap of things about this business we don't know," said -Giraffe; "but it all sounds so mighty interesting I'm bound to learn -right along." - -They were following the new trail while exchanging remarks along this -line. - -"One good thing about it," Thad went on to say, "we now know Bumpus must -have come through the storm all right." - -"However did he do it?" murmured Giraffe, perplexed because the -tenderfoot was proving such a wonder. - -"Three to one he found a hollow tree and crawled in," grumbled Step Hen. -"With the luck he's got, why of course lightning never struck there; -while with me it was just sure to." - -"Well," remarked Thad, "between you and me I don't believe Bumpus would -do that, because we were talking of lightning only the other day. He had -an uncle who was killed that way when a tree was struck; and Bumpus said -nobody would ever get him to take such chances. I remember his asking me -if it would be all right to crawl in a hollow log that lay flat on the -ground, and I told him yes. So if he was able to find a log big enough to -hold him, I guess that's what he did." - -Giraffe gave a whistle. There was a little trace of envy in his manner, -for Giraffe was a boy, and it did seem to him Bumpus was developing along -the lines of a scout altogether too fast. - -"I see your finish as patrol leader, Thad," he remarked. "That Bumpus has -just waked up, and there's no telling what he'll do. I expect we'll all -be kowtowing to him yet, like he was a real Chinese mandarin." - -"Glad of it," laughed Thad. "And it would tickle me a lot, I tell you, if -a few more scouts would take a notion to wake up." - -"Well," returned Giraffe, "they may, yet. I know two that are digging -knuckles into their eyes right at this minute, and stretchin' and yawnin' -like they just meant to stir out of their dope sleep; eh, Step Hen?" - -"That's so, Giraffe! Bumpus has set us the pace, I tell you," came the -reply. - -"What do you make of the trail, Allan?" the scoutmaster asked. - -"About this," replied the tracker. "Bumpus was leg-weary about this time. -Plenty to show it. And I wouldn't be surprised if we came on his camp -before long. I've seen where he stepped out of his way, looking for dry -wood, and then went on again, as if not satisfied." - -"Hurrah for Bumpus! He's our pard;" exclaimed Step Hen, glad to even bask -in the reflected light of so much glory. - -"I wonder, now," Giraffe remarked, his thoughts naturally turning in the -one direction, "was he able to make a fire? Lots of fellers that like to -call themselves scouts wouldn't know how, when every stick of wood was -soaking wet after such a rain." - -"Oh! they ain't all such fire cranks as you've always been, Giraffe," -ventured Step Hen. "And I say it's good for the country they ain't. I -reckon the whole wood supply of the United States would have been used up -by now if the rest of the scouts had their minds set like you." - -"But wait and see," said Thad. "I've got a notion that Bumpus is going to -surprise some of us a lot more. Fact is, I believe he's just had his mind -set on a hike like this for some time, because he's been asking dozens of -questions of me, and setting the answers down in that little note-book of -his, till he half filled it." - -"Was one of them about makin' 'a fire after a rain?'" demanded Giraffe. - -"Just that," replied Thad. - -"You told him how to dig out the dry heart from a stump or a log, to -start his fire with, didn't you, Thad?" - -"Explained it all fully," answered the patrol leader. - -"Oh! if that's the case I just guess he will have made a fire. It's easy, -once you've been shown how," grumbled Giraffe. - -"But you had to be told how, once, don't forget, Giraffe," Thad went on -to say. "Be generous now, and remember that Bumpus has had his outdoor -education sadly neglected. I'm glad he's showing new life, and I hope it -will keep right along. I believe it will. That's the beauty of this scout -business--once a boy gets a taste of these many things that call for -self-reliance and thought, he keeps on wanting to know more. His appetite -becomes enormous; but the food supply in the shape of information really -has no limit, you understand." - -"I'm going in for it with all my heart and soul, Thad," asserted Giraffe, -more seriously than the patrol leader had known him to be for a long -time. - -"Me too," echoed Step Hen. "It's a good thing to know how to save a -feller's life if he gets near drowned, cuts his foot with an axe, gets -shot by accident, or else has the hard luck to run up against a mean -rattler." - -"And you can count on me to help you all I'm able to," said Thad. "There -are a lot of things I don't know, myself. Allan, here, is teaching me a -heap about following a trail, and I'm enjoying it more than I can -explain. Nothing like the practical experience, after all. The -book-taught scout is all very well, but he has to change a lot of his -ideas when he comes to see the same things really and truly done. And -some of them are so different from his notion that he can hardly -recognize 'em. What is it, Allan?" - -This last was directed toward the tracker, who had suddenly shown -evidences of excitement. They saw him bend down and more closely examine -the ground in front. - -Then he whistled, and turned a face toward his chums on which they could -plainly read new anxiety. - -"It beats anything how they could have just happened to cross the trail -of Bumpus," he observed. - -Thad instantly jumped at conclusions. - -"Meaning our old acquaintances. Hank Dodge and Pierre Laporte?" he said. - -"Here are their footprints as plain as anything," continued Allan. "Look -for yourselves, because all of you know what they were like. Here's where -Hank rested the butt of his gun on the ground, while he talked it over -with Pierre; and yes, he even emptied his pipe right at this place, -knocking it on his shoe, because you can see some half-burned tobacco in -this footprint." - -"Do you think they knew who Bumpus was?" asked Thad. - -"They could guess, easy enough, after remembering what we said about our -having a tenderfoot chum wandering around here by himself," was the -prompt reply of the trail finder. - -"But then, it wasn't any of their business," Giraffe went on to say. -"They might have had curiosity enough to figure out who Bumpus was; but -they'd never seen him, and so of course he hadn't done anything to injure -them." - -He looked troubled, though, even while thus trying to assure himself that -Bumpus could not be in any peril because of these two ugly timber -cruisers. - -"But his chums had riled them up considerably," Allan went on, "and -perhaps they were mean enough to think they could hit us, through -Bumpus." - -Step Hen ground his teeth in anger, while his eyes flashed ominously. - -"Did they change their course right here, Allan?" he asked. - -"Just what they did," was the reply. - -"And followed after our chum?" Step Hen went on. - -"You can see for yourself that their prints blot his out in places," the -other replied. - -"Come on!" said Step Hen, shaking his gun furiously. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - STILL IN PURSUIT, WITH THE TRAIL GROWING WARMER. - - -Step Hen was not alone in feeling angry at this action on the part of the -two unscrupulous timber cruisers. Every one of the scouts experienced a -degree of indignation that might easily be fanned into boyish rage. - -"And I don't calculate, now," said Giraffe, presently, "that Hank and -Pierre are the kind of men to step out of their way ten feet to do a good -deed, 'specially toward a boy they'd never yet seen?" - -"Well, they didn't impress me that way," declared Thad. - -"And they haven't much of a reputation for being tenderhearted, I -believe," Allan added, speaking over his shoulder, for he was following -the trail persistently. - -But then, even a novice could have kept on that trail. None of the three -who made it seemed to think anything about hiding their tracks. - -Those of Bumpus in particular were plainly marked, and presently Giraffe -began to notice this patent fact. - -"There seems to be a big difference in these footprints," he said. - -"There certainly is," Allan replied. - -"Now, I don't mean it that way, because of course Bumpus hasn't got feet -anywhere near as big as those of Hank and Pierre. But always it's the -same, and his footprints look deeper than theirs. But for all he's so -fat, sure Bumpus can't be heavier than either of those big broad -shouldered husky men?" - -Giraffe seemed to realize that there must be an explanation which would -clear up this little mystery, and he wanted it. - -"That isn't what makes the difference, Giraffe," the tracker went on. -"You know, we decided that Bumpus went along here right soon after the -storm yesterday afternoon, and while the ground was still soft?" - -"Yes, I remember, Allan." - -"Well," said Allan, "Hank and Pierre didn't happen on the scene until -this morning, and by then the ground was somewhat firm again. Is that -plain enough?" - -"I should say it was, and thank you for the explanation," Giraffe -answered. "It beats all what you fellers can get out of this thing. Why, -that alone is about as interesting a fact as anybody could think up." - -"Then Bumpus had, say twelve hours the start?" suggested Step Hen. - -"Right here, yes," replied Allan. "But you must remember that he was -meaning to settle down for the night about this time. And when he went on -this morning, perhaps they'd be only a couple of hours behind." - -"Whew! things seem to be getting mighty interesting," remarked Giraffe. - -"I should say they were," Step Hen asserted. - -"Don't I wish Davy and Smithy and Bob White were here." the long scout -went on. - -"Huh! there's four of us as it is, and all carryin' good guns too. We -ought to be enough of a crowd to hold up that pair of cowards," declared -Step Hen, who did not seem to have a very high opinion of Hank and his -mate. - -"We did it once, all right," remarked Giraffe, with a grin, "and we c'n -do it again, or my name is Dennis." - -"But Bumpus hadn't camped yet, had he?" Step Hen asked. - -"I think we're coming to where he spent last night," said Allan. "I had a -glimpse just then of something that looked like a dead camp-fire. Yes, -here it is, boys, you see." - -"Well, he did do it, all right," muttered Giraffe, as he stood there, and -looked down upon the ashes of a fire. - -"Yes," Thad remarked, "and here we can see where he obtained dry timber -by hacking into the heart of this stump." - -"Oh! Bumpus is the surprise of this trip, all right!" exclaimed Step Hen. -"I'm just goin' to take off my hat to him, after what he's done." - -"He seems to keep us guessing, don't he?" Thad remarked, looking around -with a feeling akin to pride, to realize that the one who all along had -been termed the real tenderfoot of the patrol, should so suddenly develop -such astonishing skill in taking care of himself. - -"No babes in the wood about this business, let me tell you." asserted -Giraffe, after he had examined the way Bumpus had made his fire. "Done -things pretty near as well as an old seasoned fire builder could have -made out." - -That was a high compliment indeed, coming from Giraffe. Bumpus must have -felt greatly pleased, could he have heard it. Perhaps his right ear -burned him just about that time, for all boys know that such a thing -happens only when some one is making complimentary remarks about you. - -"But Bumpus left here this morning, of course?" said Step Hen; and Allan -went on: - -"He did, after passing a pretty comfortable night on that bed of hemlock -boughs which he made, and which you can see there. Kept his feet toward -the fire, too, just like an old experienced camper, who was without a -tent and blanket would do. And his going off without this last is what -convinces me Bumpus didn't really mean to lose himself when he started -out to get his bear. He just took a lot of grub along, his hatchet, and -plenty of ammunition, so as to be pretty well fixed in case he couldn't -make use of his compass in finding the way back to camp." - -Giraffe placed his hand on the dead ashes. - -"Wet 'em down again, sure he did," he remarked. - -"Ain't our chum just _it_ though," chuckled Step Hen. - -"He kept his fire burning all night," Thad remarked, casually. - -"How d'ye know that?" asked Step Hen. - -"Oh! the amount of ashes tells that he used a heap of wood," was the -reply. "You can see he made his camp close to this fallen tree, and used -his little axe in cutting up the dead branches." - -"Bumpus deserves to be made a first-class scout," said Giraffe, in -genuine enthusiasm. - -"He's on the road there, anyhow," declared Allan. - -"But we must be off," Thad remarked. "We've had a few minutes' rest while -figuring out all these things our chum has been up to. Now let's put our -best leg forward." - -"That means the right one," said Giraffe. - -"No, you're away off there; it's the left one," remonstrated Step Hen, -limping more decidedly with his right leg to prove that it was not "in -the running." - -"Both of you are correct," declared Thad. "It all depends on the point of -view you choose to take." - -"And of course Hank and Company started out on the new trail, because I -can see the marks of their brogans?" ventured Giraffe. - -"Yes," Allan replied, "they looked around the camp a bit, perhaps -surprised to find that even a tenderfoot scout knows how to take care of -himself. Then they pushed on." - -"How far behind Bumpus?" - -"I should say about three hours," replied the trail master, without -hesitation. - -"He's got that much lead, then?" Giraffe asked. - -"Close on it," Allan answered. "But something may cause him to stop, and -then they'd overtake him. On the whole, I'd rather guess those men would -make faster time than our chum." - -"And be slowly but surely gaining, all the while?" suggested Thad. - -"Yes." - -"Then we've got to get a hustle on us, that's all," Giraffe asserted. -"Already we're away behind in the race, and just as like as not another -night's going to catch us before we overhaul these parties. That'll make -it bad." - -"We can't help it any," remarked Thad, "we're doing our level best, and -there's a limit, you know. We've just got to leave the rest to -Providence." - -"And Bumpus' luck--don't forget that," said Step Hen. - -"He's sure got it along with him this trip," Giraffe avowed, "and it's -been working over time for our fat chum too. Seems to me these here gents -are kind of rash tryin' to meddle with a feller that has everything -comin' to him like Bumpus has. P'raps they'll think they have made a -mistake when they tackle that walkin' wonder." - -Both Giraffe and Step Hen chuckled a little, as though the idea rather -appealed to their boyish sense of humor. And Thad could not help thinking -things had come to a strange pass indeed, when these two scouts, who had -lorded it over Bumpus so long, on account of their superior knowledge, -were ready to admit that they might yet sit at the feet of the fat chum, -and take lessons in woodcraft. - -Would wonders ever cease, Thad thought? But then, he knew only too well -that once a scout becomes fully enthused with zeal in the pursuit of -knowledge along these lines he will not only open up new pleasures daily -for himself, but surprises for his friends as well. - -They had been gone from the camp-fire about half an hour now. There was -no trouble at all about following the trail; indeed, Allan more than once -declared that even if a bandage were tied over his eyes he would have -been able to keep right along, using his fingers to guide him, so plainly -marked were the footprints of men and boy. - -"Hello!" said Allan, suddenly, "I wonder now what started him to -running?" - -"Bumpus, you mean, don't you?" asked Giraffe. - -"Yes, he began right here. You can see how his toes press down," Allan -remarked. - -"Perhaps he discovered the men behind him," suggested Step Hen. - -"No, they were still more than two hours' back," Allan contrived, as he -walked on hastily. "And besides, Bumpus never once turned to look behind; -I could tell from his track if he did. Something in front must have -attracted him." - -Giraffe and Step Hen looked at each other. - -"I wonder," said the former. - -"'Twould be just Bumpus' luck if he did," the other boy exclaimed. - -Neither of them spoke their thoughts aloud further than that. For a short -time they kept moving rapidly along. And then Allan held up his hand as a -signal for the others to stop. - -"Well," he said, "it happened, after all these days of tramping. Bumpus -came across the trail of a bear, and a big fellow too. See here, you can -see his tracks, where none of the others have marred them." - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - ANOTHER SHOCK. - - -"He was a buster, just as you said, Allan," Giraffe remarked, uneasily, -after they had examined the imprint of those feet, showing the marks of -the long cruel claws. - -"A grizzly, I reckon?" Step Hen ventured. - -"Yes. And I think he must have been hurt some, because he seemed to drag -his left hind leg a little." - -"P'raps Bumpus plugged him," Giraffe suggested, just as though he were -speaking of some celebrated forest ranger, accustomed to meeting up with -these terrors of the Rockies, rather than a fat scout who, up to -recently, had been looked upon by most of his comrades as something of a -joke. - -"No, Bumpus was some distance away right here," Allan continued. "There -is no sign of blood, so we know from that the injury was not a fresh one. -And besides, whoever heard of a full-grown grizzly running away from a -dozen human enemies, after being shot and wounded, much less from a -single foe, and he a boy?" - -"You're right, Allan," commented the scoutmaster. - -"Reckon it does look that way," Giraffe admitted. - -There was one good trait about the tall scout--no matter how strong an -opinion he might have on any subject, once convinced of the error of his -thinking, and Giraffe would own up to his mistake most cheerfully. - -"So right here," Step Hen broke in, "Bumpus was on the run, achasin' fast -after the limpin' grizzly? Say, Giraffe, he was in your class of -cripples, because Allan says it was his _left_ hind leg that was hurt." - -"Well, I ain't got but one left leg so that makes all the difference," -the tall scout hastened to announce. - -"I wonder--" began Step Hen, and then paused, as though hardly daring to -frame his thoughts in words. - -"We're all doing that," remarked Allan. - -"How did it end?" Thad remarked, straining his eyes to look ahead. - -"Say, wouldn't it be just great now," Giraffe broke out with, "if we'd -just come up with Bumpus asquattin' in the crotch of a tree, all his -ammunition fired away, and that old bear sittin' on his haunches below, -awaitin' for him to come down?" - -"I'd just like to see it," said Step Hen, making a suggestive gesture -with his gun. "I'd try to drive a few dum-dum bullets into his hulking -old carcase." - -"But perhaps Bumpus mightn't be so smart about getting up in a tree, when -a wounded bear was charging him," Giraffe ventured to remark. - -All of them had a painful recollection of that other episode, when -Bumpus, rashly discharged his ten-bore Marlin at the monster, and would -have been caught trying to climb a tree, only for the help he received -from one of his comrades. - -"But Bumpus doesn't make the same mistake twice, I notice," said Thad, -firmly; "and if he fired at _this_ bear, I'm pretty sure he first of all -had a tree picked out that he could climb, all right." - -"I warrant you he did, Thad," Giraffe added. - -They were all of them only too eager to believe the best. The very -thought of Bumpus, after all the good work he had been doing, meeting -such a dreadful fate as being torn to pieces by a bear, was something -they tried to banish from their minds as incredible. - -Nevertheless, in spite of all this outward display of confidence, they -continued to cast eager glances ahead as they pushed on. - -Giraffe about this time remembered that there were others also interested -in the fate of the lone scout. - -"I see Hank and Pierre are keepin' right along?" he remarked. - -"Yes," replied Allan, thinking this was really a question. - -"Mebbe they think a nice bear skin wouldn't be a bad article to have, -even if it is the off season for furs," Giraffe added. - -"More'n likely," Step Hen broke in with, "they reckon as how they'd -better keep along, so as to bury what's left of our poor chum, and claim -his rifle and other belongings as salvage." - -"Let's hope then they'll meet up with the greatest disappointment of -their lives," Thad hastened to remark, shivering at the cruel picture the -words of Step Hen presented to his mind. - -"Listen!" - -They all came to a standstill when Giraffe called out. Every ear was -strained in the attempt to catch a sound that might be a cry for help, or -the distant report of a gun. - -"Guess it must a been that old crow cawing himself hoarse over yonder on -that tree," Giraffe finally admitted. "Thought it was somebody callin' us -to halt, sure I did, Thad." - -"Seems like you were mistaken," was all the scoutmaster remarked, as once -again the march was resumed. - -"P'raps he didn't overtake the old bear after all," Step Hen broke out -with, a couple of minutes later. - -"Well, he was following the trail, all right, when he got here," Allan -asserted, with a positive way that seemed convincing. - -"But you said at first he saw the bear, when he took to running." - -"I thought he did," replied the trail hunter, "but since then I've come -to the conclusion I was wrong. Still, you can see that he kept on, for -bear, Bumpus and the two men are written in the tracks as plain as -print." - -"Yes, that's so, Allan. But there don't seem to be any sign of life -ahead. Here, what's the matter with you, Old Eagle Eye? Just look beyond, -and see if you c'n discover our brave chum up a tree somewhere?" - -Thus appealed to, and complimented rather than otherwise by the title -which Step Hen had thrust upon him, Giraffe did stretch his long neck, -and scan the region ahead. - -"Don't see him a waiving to us, up in one of those trees?" the other -asked. - -"Nixy," returned the one with the keen vision, a shade of disappointment -perceptible in his voice. "I c'n see heaps of trees, and p'raps there -might be a boy sittin' up in one of the same; but if he's waving to us, I -don't get on to his wave. But hold on!" - -"Oh! then you _do_ see something?" cried Step Hen, pulling back the -hammer of his repeating rifle eagerly. - -"Not in a tree," replied Giraffe, cautiously. - -Something in his manner, perhaps in his paling face as well, gave Thad a -nervous chill. As for himself, he had not discovered anything amiss; but -perhaps his range of vision was more limited than that of the tall scout; -or possibly he did not chance to be looking in the same direction. - -"Where then?" asked Step Hen. - -"Er--on the ground," replied the other, slowly and soberly. - -"Is--do you think it's Bumpus?" demanded Step Hen, also losing his color. - -"I don't know. There's a little bush in the way, and I can't see very -well," Giraffe added. - -"But--does it move any, Giraffe?" the horrified Step Hen asked. - -"Don't seem to, one bit, all the time I've been keepin' my eye on the -same." - -"Oh! my stars." - -Step Hen could not command his voice to say more. He kept staring in a -general direction ahead, as though he could see what attracted the notice -of the chum who had the telescopic eyes. - -But Thad was not so easily satisfied. - -"Show me where you mean, Giraffe," he said, grimly. - -If there was any unpleasant duty to be performed Thad Brewster could be -depended on to go about it without flinching. He would have made a fine -soldier, because discipline was so much a part of his nature. - -"There, follow those three trees that run as straight a line as if some -surveyor had a planted the same for range finders. D'ye see that light -bunch of scrub just beyond? All right, look just to the left, and----" - -"I see it!" said Thad, quietly. - -A dozen seconds of dreadful suspense followed. Then Step Hen, who had -managed to recover his lost breath, broke forth with: - -"Is it Bumpus, Thad?" - -"I don't believe so," replied the scoutmaster, steadily, and it could -easily be seen that he must have just been under a terrible strain. - -"What makes you say that; I'm asking for information, but all the same -I'm awful glad to hear you make that remark," Giraffe observed. - -"In the first place it doesn't seem to be the color of our chum's -clothes," Thad began, "and then, on the other hand, it's certainly too -big to be him." - -"Guess you hit the nail on the head there, Thad," Giraffe hastened to -declare; "now that I look closer, I reckon it is just too big." - -"Mebbe it's only a rock after all, or an old stump," suggested Step Hen. - -"Mebbe it is," replied the tall scout, meekly, for his feelings had been -so recently torn by conflicting hopes and fears, that he was in no mood -for argument. - -"Let's push forward and see," suggested Allan. - -"Trail seems to lead that way, don't it?" Thad mentioned, when they had -been moving along swiftly for a few minutes. - -"Yes, and we'll soon know the worst, because, unless I'm much mistaken -the _thing_ is lying just at the other side of them bushes. They're -thicker here, you see, and we won't be able to tell what it's doing till -after we get around the same." - -Giraffe had a habit of talking at a lively pace when wishing to keep his -heart from betraying his nervousness. It was somewhat on the principle -that a boy whistles as loud as he can when passing a country graveyard. - -Half a minute later, and in a bunch the four scouts turned a flank -movement around the bushes. Step Hen and Giraffe almost dropped with -sheer astonishment, and had to actually sustain each other. No wonder, -when before them they saw the motionless form of a huge bear, that had -evidently been shot in a dozen places. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - FINDING OUT HOW BUMPUS DID IT. - - -"Well, what d'ye think of that?" Giraffe demanded, as, with his comrades, -he presently hurried forward to examine the dead bear. - -"I said Bumpus could do it, didn't I?" questioned Step Hen. "Why, with -the great run of luck he's camping alongside now, that pard of ours could -go into the lion and elephant country of Africa, and knock over more old -tuskers and yellow manes than you could shake a stick at." - -"But how d'ye know he did this?" asked Giraffe, as a new doubt assailed -him. - -"Tell me who else could?" demanded the other. - -"Oh! I'm not sayin' they did; don't think that," Giraffe went on; "but we -happen to know there are a couple of men hanging around this section of -the country." - -"Meaning Hank and Pierre, of course?" - -"Yes, they're the dodgers. Now, you see, they just might have come up -here, found the bear holdin' Bumpus up in a tree, and took a notion to -knock the old mountain bear silly, just so they could look our chum over, -and take all he had." - -Step Hen was unable to hazard a reply to this, and so he appealed to -those who ought to be able to decide. - -"How about that, Thad, Allan?" - -Both shook their heads in the negative. - -"Give Bumpus all the credit of downing this bear," Thad remarked. - -"There are lots of things that go to prove it," said Allan. "Look here, -and I'll show you. See, here's where he knelt to fire, first of all, and -I want you to notice what a dandy tree for climbing Bumpus picked out, -just alongside." - -"And when he'd rammed in both charges, only to see the bear coming full -tilt after him, like a house afire, Bumpus swung up in the tree--is that -it, Allan?" and Giraffe looked wise as he said this. - -"Just what he did," Allan went on to say. "I reckon he had a stout cord -fixed on his gun, and could slip one arm through this, so that the Marlin -went up when he did, all right." - -"Ain't he the cute one, though?" Step Hen murmured, in admiration. - -"Well, you can see how the bear clawed the tree," continued Allan, "but -he wasn't able to get up. Grizzlies are poor climbers anyway, and this -fellow must have been handicapped by that injured hind leg." - -"And then Bumpus, he opened on him, didn't he?" Giraffe cried. - -"Well, I guess that's what he did," laughed Thad. "I can count _twelve_ -empty shells here under the tree. Two Bumpus used at long range, but all -the rest he must have fired point-blank, with the bear not more than five -or ten feet away from the muzzle of his gun." - -"How d'ye tell that?" asked Giraffe. - -"Why, here, and here you can see the hair on the bear looks singed around -a wound. That proves the gun was only a few feet away. And notice too, -boys, nearly every shot took effect either in the breast or back of the -bear. The one that finished him was this in the ear. It penetrated his -brain." - -Giraffe gave one of his whistles, and then remarked: - -"Glory! but there must have been a hot time around here, all right. I can -just imagine I see Bumpus perched up in that crotch, and blazing away as -fast as he could load. What a circus it was, and such great luck. Why, -that feller could grab the first prize in the Havana lottery if he ever -wanted to go down to Cuba and take a chance. He can sure do anything!" - -"He got his bear, bless his dear old heart," laughed Step Hen. - -"Yes, and just like he did with the bob-cat; only this time, he hacked -off the claws from all four feet. Must mean to have 'em made into a war -necklace, Indian fashion," observed Allan. - -"Looks some like a slaughter-house around here," Giraffe said. "The bear -bled from every wound. They told us a grizzly could stand any amount of -lead, and now I believe it. Why, at that close range, them buckshot in -his gun just tore in like a great big fifty-eight slug. Oh! what a sight, -if Davy had only been here with his snapshot box." - -"But I can see that Hank and Pierre came right along in," observed Step -Hen. - -"Yes, and looked around, just like we're doing now," Allan remarked. - -"I'm some surprised that they didn't capture the skin of the bear," the -other went on. "Bumpus couldn't take it off, because that's one thing he -hasn't learned--yet. But surely Hank or Pierre must be old trappers -enough for that." - -But Allan shook his head. - -"They looked at it, and quickly decided it wasn't worth taking," he said. -"First place, Bumpus had hacked all the fierce claws off, and they're the -best part of a grizzly pelt, I'm told. Then our chum had, as you can see, -just about riddled the hide; shot holes through every which way. That's -probably why they didn't bother trying to take the skin off the bear." - -"But--did they keep on after Bumpus?" asked Giraffe. - -"I'm sorry to say they did," admitted Allan, who with his customary -alertness had been looking around, and taking note of things. - -"That means, we will be on the move again," Giraffe declared. - -"Can't be getting away any too soon to suit me," Step Hen said. - -"The things I'm sorry about are these," remarked Thad. "First, it's -getting along in the afternoon now, and our chances of overtaking either -the men or Bumpus before darkness comes on are mighty small, I'm afraid. -You see they've got quite a few hours' advantage over us." - -"Well, why not make a torch or so, and keep moving along, even after -night does set in," suggested Giraffe, quickly, for his mind was always -inclining toward fire in some shape or style. - -"Now, that may not be such a bad idea at all, Giraffe," Thad promptly -declared. "And I'm glad you mentioned it. If we're not too leg-weary -after we've eaten, and rested an hour or two, we might try that scheme." - -"If it didn't do anything else," put in Allan, "it would surely cut down -the big lead they've got on us, and we might be close enough when we -started at dawn again, to get Bumpus with the call of the Silver Fox -Patrol." - -"Better than that, even," said Thad, "if we kept moving right along -to-night who knows but what we might have the luck to glimpse a -camp-fire. Remember how we did that before, and thought to surprise our -chum; when it turned out the other way, and we got all the surprise from -Hank and Pierre?" - -"Whose fire would this be, d'ye think--Bumpus', or Hank's?" asked -Giraffe. - -"Perhaps both," was the significant reply Thad made. "For unless they've -changed their minds, and concluded not to meddle with a tenderfoot scout -who was able to kill a full grown grizzly all by himself, I take it that -before now Bumpus and the timber cruisers have joined forces." - -"Like the lion and the lamb lying down together without the least bit of -trouble, because the lamb was _inside_ the lion," remarked Giraffe, -drily. - -"Yes, the chances are that they've bulldozed our chum, and made him wait -upon them like a slave, cook their meals for them; and perhaps they will -tie him up in camp to-night, so he won't have a chance to run away." - -Step Hen fairly gnashed his teeth while drawing this agonizing mental -picture of the further troubles of Bumpus. And even those who had the -most faith in the fat scout's newly aroused ability to think, and take -care of himself, could hardly see how the awkward lad might come out of -such an encounter as this with any degree of credit. - -Being up against two husky and unprincipled men, who had brains with -which to plot and scheme, was an entirely different proposition from -meeting animals that acted only from instinct, and often very unwisely. - -"But see here, Thad," exclaimed Step Hen, "you said a while ago there -were two reasons for you feeling sorry, and the first was that it was -getting late, and we might have to camp soon. What was the other?" - -"Why," the patrol leader continued; "knowing that these hard characters -are abroad, between us and Bumpus, even if they haven't made a prisoner -of our chum, you see, we're kept from doing any more shouting out loud." - -"Just why?" asked the other, dubiously. - -"It would only advertise our presence to the pair, and they could lay a -trap to snare us. Perhaps they'd make Bumpus lure us on, or even imitate -his voice and catch us napping. As it is now," Thad went on, "so far as -we know, they don't even suspect that we're around. If we can keep them -from knowing right along, our job's going to be all the easier." - -"You're right, Thad," said Allan, emphatically. - -And even the other two could see the force of his reasoning. - -There was nothing to do, therefore, but keep steadily along, trusting to -their perseverance to bring them a reward in the end. None of them dared -to even dream that the astonishing good luck that had followed Bumpus -ever since he found himself lost in the big timber, would not continue -with him to the end. - -The best they could figure on was that if their chum had fallen into the -hands of the two husky timber spies, they would be tired enough to go -into camp soon after, and make the boy do all the work of getting supper. - -And while they thus dallied, dreaming of no danger, the four scouts might -be advancing steadily, rod after rod, making use of a rude torch in order -to see the trail, and all the while drawing nearer the crisis. - -"You don't think they'd be apt to hurt Bumpus, do you, Thad?" the -war-like Step Hen asked, for the third time, as they continued to press -on. - -"Not seriously," replied the scoutmaster. "We know they are bullies on -the face of it, but really cowards at heart. If they hadn't been that, -d'ye suppose for one minute they would ever have bombarded us while we -slept, as they thought, with great rocks, any one of which might have -broken our arms or legs? And if they've got hold of Bumpus, just because -he's a scout, and our friend, they'd likely kick him around a lot, and -make him knuckle down to them; but I hardly believe they'd hurt him -badly. But no matter what they do, they've got to settle with Bumpus' -chums, sooner or later." - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - CAUGHT IN A TRAP. - - -"I'm glad, right glad to hear you say that, Thad," declared Step Hen. - -"Yes, I know how you feel," the scoutmaster went on, "and it does you a -lot of credit too, for scouts should stand by each other through thick -and thin. But go slow, Step Hen, go slow. We don't want to do any -shooting, if it can be avoided; and then, remember, only pepper their -legs. We belong to an organization that stands for _peace_ every time, -and no scout can be permitted to do any violence, unless it is to -actually save his own life, or that of a chum." - -"Oh! I understand all that, Thad; make your mind easy," declared Step -Hen, jauntily. "What I'd like to do in case those curs have kicked and -pounded poor old Bumpus, would be to just give 'em each forty whacks on -the bare back with that bull whip we use on Mike and Molly, our pack -mules, when they get too stubborn for anything." - -"Now, that ain't a bad idea, Step Hen," asserted Giraffe, nodding his -head until, perched on such a long neck, it reminded Thad of a wooden -manikin he had seen working as an advertisement in a shop window where -razors were sold. "No, it's a pretty good scheme--for you, Step Hen; but -I can go you one better. We ought to just tar and feather such rascals, -take their guns away, and ride 'em out of camp on a rail." - -"The last part could be done easy enough," Step Hen declared; "but that -other about the tar and feathers is too silly for anything." - -"Why is it, I'd just like to know?" demanded Giraffe. "It's been done -hundreds of times, down South, out West, and even up North." - -"Sure, and I've no doubt it's a heap of satisfaction to them that apply -the feathers. Something like the old fable 'fun for the boys, but death -to the frogs.' But tell me, Giraffe, please where would you get the tar, -up in this big timber wilderness? And how about the feathers--got a -pillow handy you can rip open?" and Step Hen laughed in the face of the -long scout, feeling that he had by far the best of the bargain. - -"Oh, shucks! guess that did kinder slip my mind," grumbled Giraffe; and -he felt so humiliated over his defeat in the wordy war that for five full -minutes he actually remained as mute as the sphinx; and it generally took -a good deal to keep Giraffe silent that long. - -Of course they were constantly on the lookout for any signs ahead of -those whose trail they followed. But they had very little hope of -stumbling upon such a piece of good luck as overtaking them before night -set in. - -According to the latest report from Allan, in whom they all felt the -utmost confidence, some hours had passed, perhaps four or more, since -Hank and his French-Canadian partner had made those footprints. - -"But they have been catching up on Bumpus right along," he had also -announced in the same breath. "If they were two hours behind at the spot -where the bear was killed, they've cut that down to one at the time they -passed here. And going at the same rate of speed I should say they'd -overtake our chum about a couple of miles away from this spot." - -"Hope they made up their minds to camp right away then," said Giraffe. -"I'm not saying anything, and I can keep on as long as the next one; but -this right--left, which old leg is it, anyway--feels sore sometimes, and -then numb-like." - -"And I'm afraid mine's swelling just a little, Thad," ventured Step Hen. -"P'raps there was some poison in that snake bite after all, and you -didn't suck it all out." - -"Don't worry," remarked the scoutmaster, cheerily. "Both of you are using -your lame limb more than you should, that's all. But that can't be -helped, because we're bound to find our chum." - -"Yes," said Giraffe, sturdily, "even if it takes a leg, as they say. But -suppose, now, those men do come up with Bumpus, I reckon they'll make out -to be friendly hunters, sent out by some of us to find him; because they -know a lot about the scouts. Step Hen here jabbered like an old woman, -when we believed Hank was the forest ranger, Toby Smathers, we'd been -told to find." - -"Not near so much as you did yourself, Giraffe," remonstrated Step Hen. -"That's one thing I will admit you stand in a class by yourself--talking; -yes, and in the making of fires at any old time and place. But of course -they'll fool Bumpus that easy, he's so confiding, so free from suspicion -himself." - -"And then, before he knows what's happening, they'll switch his gun out -of his hands, give him a few hard kicks, and just treat him like a dog. -Oh! it fairly makes my blood boil just to think of it," Giraffe went on -to say, while he frowned, and gnashed his teeth in a way that must have -seriously alarmed the objects of his detestation, could they have been -near enough to see and hear. - -But unfortunately it was all wasted, for both Hank and Pierre were miles -away at the time. - -"What's that yonder?" exclaimed Thad, startling the others. - -"Would you believe it, looks like an old stake and rider country fence, -left alone to go to the waste years ago?" Allan announced, after taking a -look. - -"Well, that's a sign we're getting near some village, I take it," -declared Step Hen. - -Giraffe laughed aloud when he heard this. - -"Why, what a goose you are, Step Hen," he remarked, bluntly. - -"Oh! am I? See any down coming along?" demanded the other, warmly. - -"Sure I do--on your upper lip," Giraffe went on. "Noticed it only the -other day; and thought then that if you keep on for a dozen years or so, -we'll expect you to be sportin' as fine a moustache as the one old Jerry -William has been coaxing along this half century. You know, the Cranford -boys liken it to a baseball game, because there are nine on one side and -nine on the other." - -"But why was I silly when I said we might run across a village up here?" -Step Hen persisted, being just bound to know. - -"Because we were told that there wasn't such a thing within fifty miles -of this same place, except the little settlement where we got our pack -mules," the tall scout went on to say, convincingly. - -"But that was a fence, all right," Step Hen avowed. "I heard Allan say -so; and I guess I know a fence when I see one." - -"Oh! well, don't talk of a fence now, Step Hen. I think if you ask Thad, -he'll tell you some feller must a tried to hold out up here, and gave it -up from sheer loneliness. Either that, or else the Injuns got him." - -"Injuns!" repeated Step Hen, apparently startled. - -"Sure," Giraffe went on, for he was a great tease. - -"How about that, Thad?" and the other scout turned to the patrol leader; -because it had long ago become second nature with the members of the -Silver Fox Patrol to put all arguments up to him for settlement; and it -was really remarkable how satisfied both sides usually seemed with his -decisions, since they had absolute faith in Thad as a just judge. - -"Well, I rather expect Giraffe is yarning a little when he says the man -may have been wiped out by the Indians," the scoutmaster replied, -laughingly. "Fact is, the chances would be, some trappers come up here -each season, and likely spent the whole winter reaping a harvest, -returning in the Spring with their take. If we had time to look around, -which we haven't, I reckon we'd stumble on a concealed cabin somewhere in -the thickest of the timber." - -"Wow! must be cold, all right, in winter. Talk about your zero, I guess -the bottom drops out of the thermometer up here," Giraffe ventured to -say. - -"No doubt it is cold, because we're not a great distance from the border -line of the British Northwest provinces. But then, these fur takers -expect that. The further north you go the better the fur," Thad remarked. - -"That's a well-known fact," added Allan. "One trapper told me that the -skin of a muskrat or a raccoon, taken away up in Canada, was worth three -of the same captured down in Florida." - -"Yes, I reckon that's so," said Giraffe, "I can understand why the fur is -heavier and richer. Old Nature provides it according to the weather. If -it's a country with hardly any winter, why the fur is thin; and just the -other way where it's bitter cold for many months." - -"But that fence?" Step Hen went on. - -"Listen to him still harping on that fence business!" jeered Giraffe. - -"Oh!" Thad went on to say, pleasantly, "perhaps one year these trappers -tried to stay through the summer too, and put up a fence to keep their -horses from straying, and falling prey to the wild beasts." - -Step Hen seemed satisfied, because the explanation appeared natural. So -for a while they kept plodding on in almost complete silence. - -Both lame boys limped more or less. Thad noticed this, and concluded that -they deserved a rest, especially since the afternoon was creeping along, -and already the timber began to look a little shadowy. - -So he mentioned the fact to Allan, who immediately resolved to keep a -bright lookout for a nice spring of cool water, alongside of which they -might stop, build a little fire, and take things comfortable for a while. - -Luckily this chanced to appear very shortly. Although they would not say -as much, being too proud to complain, Step Hen and Giraffe were secretly -glad of the chance to rest. They talked valorously, however, of what -great stunts they would be ready to perform after they devoured some -supper, and had taken things a little easy. - -Thad knew, however, that it would really require something of an effort -to get the boys started afresh. The two hours' rest would refresh their -energies, but stiffen their sore legs, more or less. - -Giraffe attended to the fire part of the business, as usual, and Step Hen -hovered near by, ready to assist with what little cooking they might have -to do. Thad sat there, examining some rough charts he had made of the -country, as he knew it; and figuring on just where the camp by the -rapids, occupied by Bob White, Davy Jones and Smithy, must be. - -Allan had started to take a look around the vicinity, and it was hardly -more than ten minutes when he was heard calling: - -"Hello! Thad, come here, and give me a hand, will you? I'm caught fast in -a trap!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - THE CRIPPLE BUSINESS SEEMS TO BE CONTAGIOUS. - - -Of course these words from their comrade gave the other three Boy Scouts -quite a shock. Giraffe was on his knees by the fire, and he immediately -started to crane his neck, twisting his head in every direction. Step Hen -very wisely first of all removed the little extra coffee-pot they had -brought along, and set it safely on the ground, before scrambling to his -feet. - -Thad was already hurrying off. Not knowing what Allan meant by being in a -"trap" the sagacious scoutmaster made sure to carry his gun along with -him. And seeing this, the other two did likewise. In that wonderful -country so close to the mountains, there was no telling what sudden -necessity might arise for a means of defense. - -"Where are you, Allan?" called Thad. - -The woods were partly in darkness. It was possible to see the tree -trunks, but all else seemed vague. This, of course, was partly caused by -the fact of the boys having had their eyes dazzled by the glowing fire. -Had they stood there for ten minutes, until used to the semi-gloom, -doubtless they could have distinguished objects around them much more -readily. - -"This way!" came in Allan's voice, and rather close by. "No great hurry, -boys; but I've tried to get out myself, and can't turn around so as to -reach the spring, and step on it with the other foot." - -"Spring!" echoed Giraffe. - -"Yes, because I'm held fast in the grip of an old rusty bear trap, that -must have been left here last season by the trappers," said Allan. - -"Well! what d'ye think about that?" exclaimed Giraffe. - -They were now close to where Allan could be seen standing up. - -"Are you hurt much, Allan?" demanded Thad, horrified at the idea of the -other having a badly-mangled leg. - -"Oh! it hurts some, but I guess the old trap must have a pretty weak set -of springs, and that's why they purposely left it behind. But if it -didn't get a bear, it caught me by the leg, all right." - -"Which leg?" demanded Step Hen, quickly; but Thad spoke up before the -question could be answered. - -"Hadn't we better have some light here to work by, Allan?" he asked. - -"I should say it wouldn't be a bad idea, because there are two springs, -and they ought to be held down at the same time," the victim of the trap -answered. - -"How about it, Giraffe?" asked the patrol leader. - -"Do you want a torch?" exclaimed the fire builder, eagerly. "Oh! just -give me a minute or so, and I'll fix you out quick." - -With that he whirled around in his tracks, and started to go back toward -the fire, with great bounds, that would have done credit to a leaping -deer. When those long "spindle" legs of Giraffe got to working properly, -they were capable of covering ground at a tremendous rate. And if he had -a few stitches of pain, because of that bad stone bruise, Giraffe paid -little attention to it, so engrossed was he in carrying out the order to -get a torch. - -"I hope you're not hurt much, Allan?" said Thad, solicitously, as he -reached the side of his chum, and began feeling for the trap with both -hands. - -"It isn't as comfortable as it might be," admitted the other, with a -nervous little laugh, "and I guess I'll have to join the ranks of the -limpers for a few days; but then, think how much worse it might have -been, Thad." - -"You mean if the trap had been new instead of worn out, Allen?" - -"Yes, that's it, with the springs good, and strong enough to hold even a -big bear. Whew! I guess I'm some lucky at that. And then, if I didn't -have a lot of splendid chums close at hand to help me, I might have a -tough time getting out myself; because, you see, they staked the old trap -down to the ground, and I just don't seem able to turn far enough to get -at the second spring." - -"I warrant you've been trying, all right," suggested Thad. - -"You just bet I have," chuckled Allan, "for five minutes or so, turning -and twisting. You see, I didn't want the rest of you to know how I'd -stepped plumb into an old bear trap, hidden under the dead leaves here." - -"But of course you couldn't make it?" Thad continued, watching Giraffe -waving a blazing brand about his head to induce it to flame up better, as -he left the fire, and started toward the others. - -"Had to own up at last," admitted Allan, "because it hurt badly every -time I tried to turn around. But now it will be all right; for here's -Giraffe and his light." - -"A good torch she is, too," declared the long scout, coming up just then; -"burns just like that fat pine or light wood we had down in North -Carolina. My! what an immense trap. It must pinch that leg of yours some, -Allan." - -"Get around on that side, Step Hen," ordered Thad, "and be sure, once you -stand on the spring, not to get off until I give the word; because if you -did, it will close the jaws as quick as that, and perhaps do more -damage." - -"Reckon I understand, Thad," said Step Hen, starting to follow out -directions. - -"And you, Giraffe, hold the light so both of us can see," continued Thad. -"There, steady now. All ready. Step Hen?" - -"Sure." - -"Then push down hard and steady. There she comes!" - -Allan had taken hold of the jaws of the old bear trap, and no sooner did -the pressure exerted by the two side springs cease, than he was able to -push them wide apart. - -He immediately snatched his leg out of the trap, and no sooner had he -done so than he rolled over on the ground. - -"Oh! my stars!" exclaimed Step Hen, "he's hurt more'n he knows of. What -if he's got a broken leg? Wouldn't we be in a nice pickle though?" - -"It isn't so bad as that, boys," said Allan, who was feeling of the calf -of his leg as he lay on his back, "though it hurts quite some. But help -me up, Thad, and we'll get to the fire. By the time I've used my leg a -little, and you get some of that magic liniment soaked on the spot, I -guess I'll make out, and be able to start when the rest of you do." - -Allan was full of pluck. Moreover, he was an unusually hardy boy, for he -had always spent a good part of his time outdoors; and there is nothing -more calculated to build up a lad's system than that. - -He limped some, of course, as he headed toward the fire; but when Allan -put those firm lips of his tightly together, nothing of an ordinary -character at least, could force him to groan, or even admit that he -suffered. - -Once by the fire he sat down. Step Hen went on with his simple cooking -operations, while Thad, assisted by the ready Giraffe, started to look at -the hurt. - -"Lucky I had on my leggings," remarked Allan. "With those, and my trouser -leg underneath, it made more or less of a bumper. And then again, you -know, traps are never made with teeth nowadays, like they used to be. A -man told me they found that the old style lacerated the leg of the animal -so much, they used to lose a third of their catch; for the fox or the -mink or the otter would either pull and squirm till he'd amputated his -leg, or else gnaw it off." - -"Gnaw it off--ain't you romancing, now, Allan?" asked Giraffe. - -"Not at all," replied the other. "Why that's often been done, though -trappers are divided in their opinion about it. Some think the animal -deliberately gnaws its leg off, ready to make the sacrifice for the sake -of liberty. Others say that an animal naturally bites at anything that -hurts it; and it's while snapping at the jaws of the trap they keep on -tearing at their wounded and broken leg, till it gives way. Anyhow, there -are always a number of poor three-legged small animals in the woods where -trapping is done. I've seen a red fox that was minus a leg; and I tell -you right now, the way he could get over ground was a caution." - -While Allan was talking along in this fashion, doling out interesting -information, he was rolling up the leg of his trousers, though Thad could -see him wince a little as though it gave him pain to do so. - -"Only a black and blue place on each side," Allan went on to say, as if -surprised not to discover a worse looking wound. "Funny how that could -hurt as much as it does." - -"Here, let me put on the liniment, and then bind it up," remarked Thad. -"You'll find it cooling; and I warrant it's going to help along a lot. -These black and blue bruises are always mighty painful. That's where you -got the blow, and the blood's already settling there. This stuff will -help to keep it moving, for there's witch hazel in it, and that, you -know, is really the extract of hamamelis. How's that now?" - -"Feels better, yes, fifty per cent better," declared Allan, as the -amateur scout surgeon fastened the wet bandage snugly with a couple of -safety pins, and started to draw down the leg of the other's trousers, so -the outside covering of canvas legging could be replaced. - -After this had all been done, Allan got up, and commenced to walk around. - -"Sort of trying out myself, you know, boys," he remarked, laughingly, to -hide any grimace of pain, his actions might be causing. - -"How is it?" asked Thad, sympathetically. - -"Better than I expected," the other replied. "Excuse me if I limp around -some, boys, but I think it'll let the liniment work in better, to keep it -warmed up. Oh! I've a lot to be thankful for, let me tell you. I'm not -putting up any sort of kick." - -"Well," remarked Thad, with a good-natured smile, "all I can say is, that -you fellows are working the family doctor to the limit these days. What -with stone bruises, snake bites, and getting caught in bear traps, I'm -making a big hole in the stock of salve and liniment I fetched along. I -suppose it's going to be my turn next. Perhaps you may have to make a -stretcher, and carry me back to camp with a broken leg, or something like -that." - -"For goodness sake, I hope not," exclaimed Allan. "Just imagine the alarm -of the other fellows when a procession of limpers came in sight, carrying -another. And with our chum Bumpus an unknown quantity too." - -"What if he got lamed up too; wouldn't that just be the limit?" chuckled -Giraffe, who often saw humor where no one else did. - -"Anyhow," spoke up Step Hen, still busy at the fire, and there was an air -of satisfaction in his voice, Giraffe instantly noted, "Allan belongs in -_my_ class." - -"How's that?" instantly demanded the jealous Giraffe. - -"Well! Just use your eyes, and you won't need to ask so many foolish -questions. Don't you see how he limps when he puts that old _right_ leg -down? Well, it was my right one that got the snake bite. Allan and me -make up the right leg brigade. You'll just have to herd by yourself, -Giraffe--anyhow till somebody else takes a notion to drop in the fire, or -cut his toe with the wood axe, or somethin' like that." - -Thad and Allan laughed at the comical way in which the peculiar condition -of things was described by Step Hen. - -"Well," said the scoutmaster, "let's hope that won't happen. Better -Giraffe should stay in a class all by himself to the end of the chapter, -than another fellow meet with a serious accident. We've got cripples -enough." - -"I guess this ends the run of hard luck," declared the Maine boy, still -keeping up his movements, although perhaps unconsciously favoring the -injured leg, as any one is apt to do under similar conditions. - -"Why d'ye say that?" asked Giraffe. - -"Oh! you know they always say accidents come in threes," Allan replied, -cheerfully. "The women folks in our house used always to believe that, -anyhow; and this makes three of us hobbling around. If we were at home -now, perhaps we'd be wanting to use crutches; but up here in the woods we -just grin and bear it like true scouts." - -"Yes," Giraffe went on, "guess you're right about women folks believin' -in a broken looking-glass standing for coming trouble, and all such -things; though my dad used to say he had all the trouble settle on him in -paying for a new mirror. But honest to goodness, fellers, I remember once -when my maw, she chanced to drop some dishes, and busted two--what does -she do but walks right over to the dresser, gets out a cracked tumbler -she must a been keepin' for just such a time to come along; and I give -you my word, I nearly took a fit when she just deliberately smashed that -down alongside the broken crockery, and I heard her say, says she: -'There! that makes _three_ now!' just as if that ended it." - -"Supper's ready," announced Step Hen, when the laughter induced by -Giraffe's little story had subsided. - -The coffee tasted just as good as ever. Besides, they had some venison, -cooked in the hunter's primitive way, each piece having been pierced by a -long splinter of wood, the other end being stuck in the ground, so that -the meat was close enough to the red coals to cook without burning--too -much. - -Perhaps at home, with a white table-cloth, silver, cut glass, and all the -ordinary "fixings" around them, some of those boys might have viewed the -suspicious looks of those half-cooked pieces of meat with more or less -hesitation. But appetite ruled here, and every one declared it was "just -prime." And if a fellow found that his meat, while scorched on the -outside, was nearly raw in the center, why, you know, all good cook's -unite in saying game should always be juicy and underdone, rather than -dry and overdone--Step Hen had read it in his mother's precious cook-book -at home, and boldly said so. - -When they were done eating they just lay around talking and resting. It -was very comfortable, and neither Giraffe nor Step Hen felt in the least -like making any change. But they knew that after a while, when the -determined scoutmaster thought they had rested long enough, he would give -the order that must once more see them limping along the trail, a band of -cripples. - -Of course the talk was mostly about Bumpus, harmed. For, despite the -faith Thad professed to and what chances they had of finding him unharmed -in the extraordinary good luck of the fat scout, there were times when -even his stout heart became a prey to misgivings; and in his mind he saw -poor Bumpus being badly treated by those two bullies, the timber -cruisers. - -Latterly Allan had been selecting several good pieces of wood calculated -to burn well, and serve as torches. - -When Thad finally gave the word, they prepared to depart. One of the -splinters of wood, taken from a near-by tree that must have been riven by -a bolt of lightning in the recent storm, was lighted. Then they saw that -the camp-fire was carefully put out, after which Allan, bearing the -torch, found the trail, and started off. - -They kept this up for over an hour. Not one of them murmured, though no -doubt their lame legs hurt considerably. But they remembered constantly -that they were scouts; and that as such, their ability to stand pain was -on trial. - -It was the secret hope of every heart, however, that very soon now they -might discover signs calculated to tell them they were drawing near the -end of their long pursuit of the lost tenderfoot. - -The others were glad, therefore, when Old Eagle Eye, as Step Hen -persisted in terming Giraffe, suddenly called a halt. - -"I guess I've sighted a camp-fire ahead, fellers!" was what he declared. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - THE WAY BLOCKED. - - -"Hurrah!" exclaimed Step Hen, not in a shout, but cautious like, as -became a scout when danger was near; still, he was thrilled by the -information which this announcement from Giraffe contained. - -If there was a fire beyond, the chances seemed pretty good that they -would soon know the truth with regard to Bumpus. Of course they kept on -hoping for the best; but almost anything would be preferable to this -anxiety that had been gnawing so long at their hearts, it had nearly worn -them out. - -Allan thrust his burning torch into the ground, behind a neighboring -tree, so that its light might no longer blind his eyes when he tried to -see the fire Giraffe had discovered. - -After all of them had been directed just where to look, by the exulting -scout whose sharp vision had first located the far-off light, it was -easily decided that there could be no doubt as to its being a fire. - -And as the trail ran about that way, in a general direction, of course -they were perfectly safe in believing that some, or all, of those they -had been so persistently following, would be found alongside that fire. - -The very thought gave them a delicious thrill. By another hour then, -perhaps in even less time than that, they would likely know the worst. -And if, as several of them secretly feared, those two ugly brutes of -timber cruisers had dared lay so much as the weight of their heavy hands -in anger on Bumpus, or ventured to kick him around as though he were a -slave--well, something unpleasant was going to happen to them, that was -positive. - -"It's a fire, all right," announced Thad; and Giraffe breathed easier, -for he had been entertaining a slight fear lest some of his laurels be -snatched away. - -"And all of a mile from here," Allan remarked. "I wonder however you -discovered it, Giraffe, with all these big trees around. There must be -just a little opening ahead, and you hit on that avenue." - -"Oh!" said Giraffe, as if carelessly, though he was undoubtedly secretly -pleased with such words of commendation from one who had had such long -experience in the art of woodcraft as the Maine boy; "what's the good of -having eyes unless you use 'em? That was just dead easy--for me, you -know." - -"Now, the question is, what do we want to do--what would seem to be our -best course?" Thad went on to say. - -"I calculate you are referring to the torch business?" Allan remarked. - -"Yes, that's it," replied the scoutmaster, "we've got to decide right now -whether to keep on using it for a while longer, or stamp on the same, and -make our way ahead the best way possible." - -"But why not keep on with the light?" asked Step Hen, who was wondering -whether in the darkness he might not be so dreadfully unfortunate as to -step on another of those "fighting snakes," and have his _left_ leg put -out of commission also, which would be a dreadful catastrophe indeed. - -"Because there's always a chance one of those sharp timber cruisers would -see it bobbin' along, and that would put them on their guard. We had one -experience in that line, you know, fellers, when they heard us coming, -and got all ready to receive us. I don't like ever to stamp out a fire, -but if you say the word, Thad, out it goes." - -"I think on the whole," remarked the patrol leader, "it would be wiser -for us to do it. Let's locate that fire by the stars, or any other old -way. Now, you can douse the glim, Giraffe." - -Accordingly the tall scout trampled on the partly-burned torch until the -very last spark had been extinguished. - -"Hated to do it, but orders is orders," Giraffe was heard to mutter. - -"Listen to him, would you?" said Step Hen, scornfully. "He feels that way -about all the fires he makes, too; just hates to put 'em out. Makes me -think of an old aunt I have. She raises chickens, but never has any to -eat. Why, she says she might as soon eat a baby, as a hen she'd raised, -and talked to, and made a pet of. Don't ketch me being so old-womanish -and silly." - -Now that they were in darkness, it would of course make their progress -slower, since they had to reckon on all sorts of obstacles. - -"One thing," said Allan, as they started out, "I think I can come back to -this same place in the morning, if we should want to find it again." - -"But what would we want to find it for?" Step Hen demanded. - -"Oh! I don't believe we will; but it might happen, you see, that we'd -have to take up the trail again from here," Allan explained. - -"You mean in case we lost the fire, or didn't find Bumpus with those two -rascals?" Giraffe asked. - -"That's it," said the Maine boy. - -"Well, how're you agoin' to find this place again?" Step Hen went on to -inquire, "all coons look alike to me; and one part of this big timber -strikes me as pretty much the same as the rest, 'specially when you see -it at night time." - -"You wait, and Allan, he'll tell you how," broke in Giraffe, confidently. -He felt sure from the way Allan spoke that he knew what he was saying; -and after seeing how cleverly the Maine boy had stuck to the trail, when -the marks were all Greek to himself and Step Hen, the tall scout had come -to have a sincere admiration for Allan. - -Besides, just then it happened that Giraffe was feeling pretty good. He -had received a very high compliment from the acting scoutmaster, and that -is usually a great victory for any ambitious scout. - -Why, he almost forgot he was tired to death, and that his injured leg had -been paining him furiously. Such an affect can mind have over matter. - -"Oh!" said Allan, off-hand, and in no particular hurry to speak, because -they all really needed a little breathing spell before going on, "it's -generally dead easy to mark most any place in the timber, if only you use -your eyes. There's nearly always some odd old stump of a tree standing -around that you'd be apt to know again. Sometimes there happens to be a -tree with a queer shape, that just catches your eye. Once noticed, it's -easy to remember the same." - -"And right now you're meaning that pair of trees that have fallen toward -each other till they look like a couple of girls going to hug," spoke up -Giraffe, quickly; eager to show that those boasted eagle eyes of his had -been able to see more than just the campfire far ahead. - -"Sure thing. Giraffe, and I'm glad you noticed them, because two heads -are better than one, any day," Allan went on to say. - -"Even if one is--but I won't say it," Step Hen chuckled. - -"Guess you better not," snapped Giraffe. "But now that we've decided on -that little tree test of memory, hadn't we better be going ahead? I'm -thinkin' of our poor chum Bumpus, and what he may be enduring right now." - -"Yes," declared Thad, "we've rested enough, and might just as well be -putting our best foot forward." - -"Meanin' the right leg," muttered Giraffe. - -"You're wrong--it's the left one with Allan and me, and majority rules in -our patrol, you know," chuckled Step Hen. - -"Come on, boys, I've got the bearings pretty well, if that star only -stays out from behind the clouds that hide the moon." - -Thad, upon speaking in this strain, started, with Allan alongside to give -council, and insure progress along direct lines. - -Having had much more experience than the other pair of scouts they were -not only able to keep in a fairly direct line with the fire, but managed -to avoid stumbling over obstacles as well. - -Giraffe and Step Hen proved less fortunate. Several times they stepped -into holes, or else tripped over vines. And each mishap was accompanied -by more or less of a crash, as well as much grumbling from the -unfortunate one, and perhaps chuckling from the other. - -This would never do in the wide world. Either they must slow up still -more, so as to give the stumblers a chance to pick their way more -carefully, or else those better able to move along without trouble would -have to take Giraffe and Step Hen in tow. - -It was decided that the latter method would be better, all things -considered. And so Thad convoyed Giraffe, while Allan slipped a hand -through the right arm of Step Hen. - -"Case of the blind leading the blind, I guess," muttered the latter, -grimly, "because we've both got a game right leg." - -"Don't talk any more than you have to, Step Hen," cautioned the other. - -So they moved along for some time. At any rate it seemed to go better -now. The stumbles were fewer, and of less consequence, and naturally, as -the two who lacked experience in this sort of thing, became more and more -proficient, their confidence arose accordingly. - -Now and then they were able to discover the beacon light that was drawing -them along. And in this particular the really sharp eyes of Giraffe -proved of great help. Several times he was able to direct Thad's -attention to the light when even the scoutmaster had failed to discover -it. - -But all this while their progress seemed to continue in such a direct -forward line that both Giraffe and Step Hen were amazed. They could not -understand how it was done, with all those trees, and other obstacles, to -avoid. - -Some boys seem to be natural-born woodsmen. It comes easy to such to -adapt themselves to circumstances, and learn all sorts of new "wrinkles" -connected with woodcraft. With others it is a hard task, though -determination to succeed is the main thing. Before that will-power, few -obstacles can stand. - -It was while the four scouts were making fair progress through the timber -in this manner, that they suddenly ran up against another serious -obstacle, and one that for a time threatened to upset all their -calculations. - -Allan suddenly gave the low bark of a fox, quickly repeated twice. It -brought the boys to a sudden standstill, for they recognized the signal -of danger. - -The way was blocked! - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - THE "LITTLE LIGHTNING." - - -"What is it?" whispered Step Hen, suddenly turning cold with -apprehension. - -No doubt the first thought that flashed through his mind was that those -two unscrupulous timber cruisers must in some remarkable manner have -learned of their coming again, as on the previous occasion. - -Perhaps Step Hen had just been thinking along these lines, and was -prepared to hear a gruff voice call out to them that it was no use, and -that they had better surrender. - -"The way is blocked!" said Allan, also in a low, guarded voice, as the -others crowded in toward him. - -"In what way, Allan?" asked Thad, anxiously, his voice hardly louder than -the soft murmuring night wind that gently shivered the leaves overhead. - -"Look straight ahead," replied the other. "It's good I happened to -glimpse the fellow before we bumped into him." - -"Goodness gracious!" ejaculated Step Hen. - -He had of course done as Allan suggested, and to his surprise discovered -two glow worms, or fire flies, or something similar, only they did not -seem to come and go, but just burned steadily. - -"What are they?" asked Giraffe, excitedly. - -"Eyes," replied Allan. - -"A wolf?" whispered Step Hen, apprehensively. - -"More likely a panther," Thad answered back. - -They were all half crouching there, with nervous hands clutching their -guns. - -"That's what it is," said Allan, with decision in his voice and manner. -"A wolf would be too much of a coward to stay so long. And listen -closely, boys." - -"Wow! I can hear the old cat growling to himself," said Giraffe. - -Thad felt his comrade make a hasty little move. Then his quick ear caught -the click of a gun lock. - -"Here, none of that, Giraffe," he whispered, sternly. - -"But he might jump on us!" expostulated the tall scout. - -"How about that, Allan?" asked the patrol leader, who did not like the -idea of such a happening any more than Giraffe. - -"I don't think he will, if we keep back," replied Allan, coolly; "that -is, if I know anything about the nature of the beasts; and I ought to. He -objects to our being in his game preserves, that's all, and is trying to -serve notice on us the best he knows how, that he's cleared the decks for -action, and means to fight, unless we turn around and quit." - -"The nerve of the thing!" muttered Giraffe, weakly. - -"How about going around, and letting the old thing alone?" suggested Step -Hen. - -"Oh! you'd find him on to that game," Allan went on to say. "Chances are -he'd just keep pace with us; and when we started to advance again, we'd -see his yellow eyes, and hear his warning growl." - -"Shucks! and do we have to take water from a painter?" demanded Giraffe, -giving the dangerous animal the name by which it is generally known among -all backwoodsmen and forest rangers. - -"I say let's knock him over. Every one draw a bead on those yellow eyes, -and Thad give the word to fire. We'll pepper him so well he never can -know what hit him." - -It was Step Hen who made this war-like proposal; but Thad cautioned his -comrades against any such rash action. - -"Of course," he said, "we'd be pretty sure to kill the beast. He couldn't -stand for such a volley at short range. But you understand, such a fierce -racket would tell everybody inside of five miles that we were around." - -"Sure!" exclaimed Step Hen, quite crushed. "I forgot those thieves of -timber men." - -"But what can we do, then, Thad;" pleaded Giraffe, at his wits' ends to -grapple with the perplexing problem. - -As usual it was Thad who saw a way out. - -"We've just got to scare him off," he said, in a resolute tone. - -"But how can we, when we dassn't shout even, for fear of telling the -fellers around that camp-fire all about us?" Step Hen asked. - -"There may be a way," Thad said, quietly, just as though he might be -running things over in that clever mind of his, and trying to decide -whether it would pay to try the plan he had in view. - -"Tell us?" urged Giraffe. - -"Then listen, and if any of you think it's too risky, just say so, and -we'll try something else." - -When Thad said this, the others imagined he was about to propose an -advance on the enemy from all sides. Confused by having four enemies -approaching from as many quarters, perhaps the panther might think -discretion the better part of valor, and turn tail and run. - -So Giraffe and Step Hen drew in long breaths, and shut their teeth -together in a firm, determined way; doubtless resolving to do their duty, -as scouts always should, no matter what the risk. - -But they were very much surprised when Thad's explanation turned out to -be something of an entirely different nature. - -"Just by chance," he went on to say, while all of them kept watching -those glowing balls of yellow fire so close by, "I've got with me one of -those new patent little flashlights Davy has been using to take pictures -with at night time. All you have to do is to hold it out, and pull the -thing off. If that suddenly dazzled the eyes of the panther, I've got a -good notion he'd move along. How about it, Allan?" - -"I guess you're right, Thad," chuckled the Maine boy. "All the cat tribe -seem to be dreadfully afraid of fire. Yes, that would sure fetch him." - -Neither Giraffe nor Step Hen gave utterance to a single word, one way or -the other. They were, as the former would have expressed it, "just -tickled to death" by this bright suggestion on the part of the scout -leader. And doubtless neither scout ever would believe, deep down in his -admiring heart, that Thad simply "chanced" to have the explosive -cartridge in his possession. Rather were they positive that he must have -foreseen this very difficulty, and prepared for it. - -"The only trouble is this," Thad continued, even while he handed his gun -over to Step Hen, and seemed to be fumbling with both hands, as though -getting the little new-fangled flashlight cartridge in readiness for -action; "do you think the sudden illumination will be seen at the camp -yonder; and if so what do you expect Hank and Pierre will believe?" - -"Oh! it will be seen, all right," remarked Giraffe. - -"Sure thing," put in Step Hen, as though he felt it his duty to give his -opinion with the rest, just to show that he grasped the situation; -"because those things make a fierce flare-up." - -"But you ought to use it, all the same, Thad," remarked Allan. "If the -men notice it at all, the chances are ten to one they'll think it was -only some little lightning. Since that storm anything goes, you know." - -"Little lightning it is, then," returned the scoutmaster. - -"The rest of us had better hold ourselves ready to shoot, if the beast -jumps this way instead of the other," Allan suggested. - -"You bet we will," said Giraffe. - -"Every time," whispered Step Hen, gently lowering Thad's gun to the -ground, so he could handle his own better. - -Now, Thad knew how both of them were apt to be impulsive, and he thought -it best to warn them against precipitate action. - -"Careful, boys. The chances are, you won't have to shoot. Use good -judgment, and don't spoil things. Keep your eyes on that spot. Are you -ready?" - -"Yes," said Allan. - -"Go ahead, Thad!" whispered Giraffe. - -"Go on!" muttered Step Hen, partly holding his breath with suspense. - -"All right. Here she goes!" - -Hardly had Thad spoken these words than there was a dazzling flash. He -had been wise enough to hold the little cartridge pistol out at right -angles, so that the fierce white glare might not blind them, as he hoped -it would do in connection with the panther. - -All of the boys were eagerly on the watch; and knowing just where to look -they instantly sighted the panther. The abrupt and terrific burst of -intense light had produced an effect upon the startled beast, just as -Thad and Allan had so confidently predicted. - -The boys saw a long, lithe, gray body leap wildly into the air. This was -the beast that had just been disputing their right to advance further -into his domain. - -Evidently the cautious nature of the panther, together with his -well-known fear of fire, had combined to give him a shock; for when he -made that spasmodic leap into the air, it was _away_ from the "little -lightning," and not toward it. - -For a second or two only did that brilliant illumination continue. Then -darkness once more swallowed up the surroundings; and doubtless it was -all the more dense to the eyes of the four boys because of that recent -dazzling flash. - -They could hear a patter of feline feet among the dead leaves; but the -sounds were retreating. There also came a low whimper. Allan told them -later that a panther always gives utterance to such a complaining sound -when he has been whipped in a fight, and made to slink off; or else -frightened in any way. - -"He's gone!" said Allan, reassuringly. - -"And the chances are, he won't dare to block our path again in a hurry," -Thad declared. - -"Say, that old painter must a got a shock, though," Giraffe went on. "It -was enough to scare anything that walks on four legs, or even two. Fact -is, if I hadn't been looking for it, the giddy old thing would a given me -a start." - -"Same here," admitted Step Hen. - -"Now that the way's clear, let's go on, boys," remarked Thad, as he took -his gun again from Step Hen; "and we'll hope all our troubles can be -chased away as easy as that." - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - "CATCHING A TARTAR;" AND A FAT ONE AT THAT. - - -They had little trouble moving along now. - -Somehow, it seemed as though the eyes of Step Hen and Giraffe must be -getting more accustomed to the way obstacles could be avoided; or else -the woods had become a little more open. At any rate they stumbled not at -all now, which would seem to be a lucky thing, because all the while they -were constantly drawing closer to the fire. - -Thad and Allan knew they had need of caution. Those two precious rogues -of timber spies were roaming this region with the intention of locating -patches of valuable trees near enough to a stream to be felled, and -floated down by the next Spring freshet. They were on Government land, -and their rich but unscrupulous employers had been long engaged in this -form of robbery, by which the reservations lose many millions of feet of -fine lumber every year. - -And such men, knowing that their work is evil, and that they are -constantly breaking the law, suspect every stranger of being a Government -spy. No wonder then they showed dislike at the mere mention of the name -of Toby Smathers, who was a forest ranger, at times in the employ of the -Washington authorities, and always on the lookout for the operations of -timber thieves. - -Thad could see some one moving about. This happened when the other -chanced to come between himself and the fire. - -"I do believe that's our chum, Bumpus;" whispered Giraffe, eagerly, -showing that he too had been watching the figure. - -They all used their eyes to advantage, as they cautiously crept along. -Presently they would have gained a point so near the fire that it would -be necessary for them to change their mode of locomotion. Instead of -walking, even as they were doing now, in a bent-over attitude, they must -get down on all fours, and creep, just as a panther would do when -approaching a feeding deer which he hoped to pounce upon unawares. - -It was one of the most exciting and thrilling moments in the lives of -Step Hen and Giraffe. Possibly they could not conceive of anything more -typical of what must go hand in hand with scouting business, than this -creeping through the woods, and constantly drawing closer and closer to a -fire, about which enemies would most likely be seated, all unaware of -their presence. - -They felt proud of the manner in which they were accomplishing these -things. It reflected great credit upon their ability as scouts. - -Nearer they crawled. - -Why, Allan was actually down on his stomach now, and he seemed to -"wiggle" along just as they had seen an angle worm do, or a snake. Yes, -and there was Thad copying the example of the expert Maine boy. - -It would seem to be up to Giraffe and Step Hen to do likewise. They were -quick to learn, once they had a pattern to go by. And in another minute -the whole four of the scouts lay fully extended on the ground, clawing -their way along as best they might; satisfied to advance, even though it -be inches at a time. - -There was no longer any doubt in connection with what might be going on -just beyond. Even Giraffe and Step Hen understood it now. - -First of all they saw the lost tenderfoot; and it did them great good -just to feast their eyes upon the portly figure of Bumpus, after all this -searching for him, day after day. - -Then there were Hank and Pierre, too, just as hulking, and ugly as ever, -or even more so. - -The two timber cruisers were evidently taking their ease, stretched out -at full length, smoking their pipes. Something about the very air of the -men would have told an observer that they were enjoying the novelty of -being waited on. It was not often that Hank and Pierre knew the luxury of -having a "slave" along, to humor their every little whim; and they were -apparently bent on making the most out of the opportunity. - -Evidently Bumpus was aware of the fact that he might look upon himself as -a servant, for the time being. His dejected manner, as he sat there, -gnawing at some bones they had evidently allowed him to have, after he -had cooked supper, and waited on his captors, seemed to tell this only -too plainly. - -Even as the four scouts lay there and looked, they heard Hank call out -gruffly: - -"Come here, younker!" - -Bumpus pretended not to hear at first. Evidently he dreaded to get too -close to the men, for some reason or other. - -At that Hank burst out into a string of profanity that was enough to make -any respectable scout shudder. And when he ordered Bumpus again to come -over to him, the fat boy evidently dared no longer pretend deafness. - -He approached the spot where the two men half sat; and Thad could see -from the wary manner in which Bumpus did this that he expected rough -treatment. - -"Git me a coal outen the fire, you fat fool; my pipe's gone out again!" - -Hank said this in the ugliest way possible. Indeed, to judge from his -manner, one might even imagine it was the fault of poor Bumpus that his -pipe had ceased to burn, instead of his own laziness. - -Bumpus forthwith stepped over to the near-by fire. As he bent over, he -looked cautiously behind him once or twice, just as though the poor -fellow half expected to have one of his tormentors kick him, and he did -not want to have such a thing happen so that he would plunge in among the -burning wood. - -Securing a brand that was suitable for the purpose, Bumpus advanced -toward the two men. He handed this to Hank. - -"Stand thar!" ordered the bully, as Bumpus was edging away. - -Applying the light to his pipe, Hank sent out several puffs of smoke. -Then, just as a smoker might wish to extinguish his match before throwing -it away, he suddenly hurled the blazing torch after the now retreating -Bumpus. That worthy tried to dodge, but was either too clumsy, or else -Hank had made allowances for this. At any rate, the brand struck Bumpus -squarely in the middle of his fat back; and while it did not set his -clothes on fire, at least it forced a grunt from the scout. - -Hank burst out into a harsh laugh, while Pierre grinned. Then they went -on talking as though regardless of the presence of the boy. - -Thad had felt Giraffe quiver beside him when he saw Bumpus abused and -insulted in this fashion. - -And only for Hank giving that laugh, one of the men might have heard the -gritting of Giraffe's strong teeth, he was that worked up. - -"Sh!" hissed the scoutmaster, close to the other's ear; and Giraffe -subsided, though he was still quivering all over from excitement and -eagerness,--yes and anger too. If he could only have had his way right -then and there, Giraffe undoubtedly would have stepped out, and covering -the two rascals with his gun, threatened to shoot unless they abjectly -surrendered. And this time they would not get off as easily as before. -After the way they had treated Bumpus, they deserved something more -severe. - -But then Thad evidently was not quite ready to act. Perhaps he wanted to -see what else Hank and his timber mate might do. Perhaps--but Giraffe -concluded that it was foolish trying to figure these things out, when all -he had to do in order to learn the truth, was to possess his soul in -patience and wait. - -Bumpus, true to his new scout training, even while he was listening to -the laughter of his tormentor, and rubbing his back where the fire-brand -had struck him with such a thump; turned, and deliberately put his foot -upon the blaze, grinding it into the earth until it was utterly -extinguished. - -It was really one of the most surprising examples of newly-acquired -discipline that Thad had even seen. Nor would he soon forget it. - -Bumpus was apparently watching the two men on the sly. When he thought -they were not looking, the fat scout quickly bent over near a tree. - -Thad had quite a thrill, for he saw that the two guns owned by the men -stood against this same tree. Whatever could Bumpus be doing there? Again -and again did he turn his head to glance toward Hank and Pierre, just as -though he might be afraid that one of them could see him. But Hank was -telling a story of some kind, evidently, for the rumble of his heavy -voice seemed continuous; while Pierre lay on his back, both hands under -his head, listening, and smoking in a lazy fashion. - -Now Bumpus had quitted the vicinity of the tree, and hovered on the other -side of the fire. He craned his neck several times, just as though he -wanted to make sure of something. - -Thad believed he knew what that _something_ was. He had discovered, close -alongside the burly figure of Hank, the ten-guaged, Marlin, -double-barreled gun belonging to Bumpus. Evidently the bully had -confiscated the weapon, and meant to keep it, as something that might -come in handy. - -Now, Bumpus was a poor loser. He had grown to feel quite attached to that -remarkable gun, during the short period of his ownership. And doubtless -it had become more precious in his sight, after the clever way in which -it had worked of late, with regard to that wildcat; and later on the lame -grizzly that had treed Bumpus. - -Thad believed he had designs on that gun. - -Just then Hank called out again. - -"Git a kettle o' water at the spring, younker, an' bring me a drink! Be -quick, now, er I'll skin ye alive!" - -Bumpus picked up a kettle or saucepan, the only one in sight, and of -generous proportions. As Hank roared at him to "dip deep, and bring her -full, enough for a grown man," the fat scout hastened to do so. - -He approached, holding the kettle with both hands. Hank half sat up, to -receive it; which he certainly did, full in the face. As spluttering he -started to get, first to his knees and then on his feet, Bumpus, with an -agility that was remarkable in one of his stout build, snatched up his -trusty Marlin from the ground, and hastened to put some little space -between himself and the astonished timber cruisers, already jumping -toward the tree where their guns stood. - -"'Tain't no use!" shouted Bumpus, gleefully. "I took every cartridge out, -and you bet I ain't agoin' to let you shove any more in. Sit down now, or -I'll open fire on you!" - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - "TENDERFOOT? WELL, HARDLY, AFTER THIS." - - -"Wow! bully for Bumpus!" cried out Giraffe. - -"Hold 'em tight, old chum; we're here to see you through, all right!" -shouted Step Hen. - -Of course there was no use of trying to hide any longer. Thad and Allan -knew this, and that the time had come for them to back Bumpus up, the -minute they saw him open hostilities in that astonishing way. - -All of them were on their feet, now, and hurrying toward the fire. Hank -and Pierre, being desperate men, might have even thought it worth while -to put up some sort of resistance; but they had their talons drawn when, -upon investigating the condition of their guns, they found that, sure -enough, these were empty. - -While the two men lay there at their ease, never dreaming that the fat -scout would have the nerve to do anything but whimper, and shiver at the -sound of their harsh orders, Bumpus, laying out this wonderfully clever -little surprise, had amused himself by working the mechanism of their -guns, and extracting the last cartridge. And it was the heavy rumble of -Hank's deep bass voice that had helped operations along, by deadening the -"click" of the cautiously moved mechanical devises belonging to the -repeating rifles. - -"Drop those guns, you two, and be quick about it!" - -Thad gave this order, because he knew that each of the men would be apt -to have a belt of extra cartridges buckled about their waists, or slung -over their shoulder. And to an experienced hunter, it is only a question -of seconds, really, when he can shove a single charge into the firing -chamber of his empty gun. - -Of course Hank and Pierre hated most dreadfully to obey this order; but -there was no use talking; the scouts had the upper hand, and if they knew -what was good for them they must do as they were told. - -In the first place there was Bumpus, excitedly covering first one and -then the other; and how were they to make sure but that he might, even by -accident, have a cramp in his finger, while looking along the -double-barreled Marlin? - -Then, as if that were not enough, four other guns were bearing upon them, -as the new arrivals advanced in a line. - -"It's too big odds, younkers, an' we gives in;" but Hank used a good many -more words than this to express his disgust, only the rest were not at -all necessary. - -He threw his gun down angrily on the ground; Pierre was just as -energetic, and both men fairly glared at their boyish captors. - -"Step Hen, lay down your gun, and secure those of the enemy," ordered -Thad. - -With a wide grin decorating his freckled face, Step Hen proceeded to -carry out the injunction of the patrol leader. And one could easily see -that the boy took the keenest delight in thus having a hand in disarming -the enemy. - -"Now," continued Thad, "search Hank for a knife, and take it away. Get -his cartridge belt too; and when you've done that, give Pierre a whirl. -We'll just stand around, and be ready to plunk them chock full of lead if -they try to resist." - -But the men were utterly disheartened. They seemed to realize that they -were up against a tough proposition. Everything was going wrong; and the -philosophy of your timber cruiser under such conditions is to appear -indifferent and reckless. Perhaps they try to act very much on the same -principle as an Indian would, upon being put to the torture. - -After fully disarming the men Thad saw to it that both of them were tied -up. Hank growled fearfully, but the half-breed seemed to take the whole -affair somewhat in the light of a good joke. This seemed all the more -strange because nearly all half-breeds, Thad had been told, were surly by -nature. - -When this duty had been well performed, Thad joined the others about the -fire. Bumpus had had his hand shaken again and again until his whole arm -began to feel the result. - -"The bulliest feller in the whole bunch, barring none!" Step Hen had -declared. - -"He's on the way to being made a first-class scout, that's right," -Giraffe solemnly remarked, all his petty jealousy gone, now that he again -had hold of Bumpus' fat hand, and found himself looking into the laughing -eyes. - -"All along he's acquitted himself splendidly," said Thad, warmly. - -"And none of us ever dreamed you had it in you, Bumpus." Allan chimed in. - -It was indeed a proud hour for Bumpus. Forgotten were all his trials and -anxieties. He would easily have been willing to undertake the whole -programme again could he be sure of such a joyous outcome--yes, even to -being hectored, browbeaten, insulted, and kicked about like a dog, by -Hank and Pierre. - -Long they sat there, talking of the many things that must of course be -exceedingly interesting when looked back upon as past performances. -Bumpus was asked strings of questions until finally he threw up his -hands, to announce that the well was pumped dry. - -Then they set about making ready to pass the remainder of the night -there. When another day came they could decide what to do with Hank and -his companion, who were hardly the kind of men to set free, with arms on -their person, and hatred in their hearts. - -Of course Thad and Allan made up their minds that they must, between -them, stand guard until morning came. - -They dared not take any chances when dealing with such desperate men as -were the two trapped timber cruisers. And when they saw that a vidette, -armed with a ready gun, was to keep the fire going all the while, as well -as watch them, doubtless the men decided not to try and escape, but take -things as easy as possible. - -There was no trouble. - -Morning came, and found them up and doing; for Thad was most anxious to -return to the camp near the foot of the rapids. After so many days he -felt sure the three boys left at the camp would be dreadfully worried -concerning the absent ones, and especially Bumpus; because, of course -they still considered him as a poor, ignorant tenderfoot scout, -blundering along after a fashion, and hardly knowing enough to come in -out of the wet, when it rained. - -Ah! yes, there were a number of tremendous surprises in store for Dave -and Bob and Smithy, when the full story of Bumpus' achievements was told -by the glowing camp-fire; and mostly at that by those who had followed -his trail through the big timber, reading the signs as they appeared, and -observing the remarkable progress the fat member of the Silver Fox Patrol -made, once he started thinking for himself. - -They had enough venison left for one good meal all around, including the -two timber cruisers. Thad was worried about these men. He did not know -what to do with them, truth to tell. - -If he sent them away with weapons and ammunition; there was always a -chance that sometime later the fellows might again run across them, and -give trouble. - -On the other hand, it seemed rather cruel to turn them loose in the -wilderness, so far away from civilization, and without arms, by means of -which they might obtain food, or defend themselves in case of trouble. - -Upon putting it up to Hank and Pierre themselves, the men, quite downcast -now, declared that they were done "cruising" in that section, and meant -to get out of it just as fast as their legs could carry them. - -"Let us off this time, younker," Hank pleaded. "We got our lesson rubbed -in good an' hard, I reckons. I'm even willin' to have Fatty here kick me -as many times as I did him; though I do say as how he paid it all up when -he played that fine trick on us." - -It was not surprising, therefore, that the gratified Bumpus, in the -goodness of his heart, asked Thad to forgive the two men. - -"I'll tell you what we'll do," Thad decided. "Leave their guns here, and -take the men to the camp with us. Then, if we decide to turn them loose, -they'll have to come half a day's journey back to get the guns." - -And so it was decided to arrange matters. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - WELL-EARNED REST--CONCLUSION. - - -Welcome indeed, was the sight of the two familiar tents, with a cheery -camp-fire blazing in front; Mike and Molly, the two pack mules, browsing -near by, and the three boys who had been left in charge caught in the act -of cooking dinner. - -It was just high noon on that day when Thad led his little victorious -squad out of the brush, and in sight of the camp. - -What an uproarious welcome awaited them! The three boys, who had begun to -grow heavy hearted with suspense from long waiting and watching, vied -with each other in trying to see who could make the most noise, and give -the greatest assortment of yells intended to take the place of a welcome. - -Why, even the astonished mules looked up and "hee-hawed to beat the -band," as Giraffe declared. And when Bob White, Smithy and Davy Jones -discovered that sure enough their comrades were fetching a pair of -hulking prisoners along with them, their delight surpassed all bounds. - -"It's getting to be a habit with us, fellers," declared Giraffe, proudly. -"Why, we just can't take a little stroll any more, without bumping up -against a pair of bad men, who need attention. Don't blame us; we just -couldn't help it." - -Bumpus, bless his dear old heart, was looking as "fine as a peach;" -nothing at all like the woebegone, half-starved tenderfoot, whom those -left in the camp had expected to gaze upon, if indeed they were lucky -enough to ever see him in the flesh once more. - -With a beaming face he came along, his gun slung over his back by the -heavy cord that had come in so handy when the grizzly chased him up a -tree; and as he walked Bumpus had both hands up to his mouth, making -sounds that would do credit to any horn. And behold, the burden of the -air, as the shouting scouts recognized, was "Lo, the Conquering Hero -Comes; Sound the Trumpets. Beat the Drums." - -Such a great time as they had, shaking Bumpus by the hand, pounding him -on the back, and telling him again and again how lucky he ought to -consider himself because he had such good and loyal chums, ever ready to -go out and succor the unfortunate, and bring them home again safely. - -And Bumpus never once lifted up his voice in protestations or boastings, -simply grinned through it all, and kept one eye on Thad; who finally -thinking it was time the fellows were made aware of the true state of -affairs, called out: - -"Show what you've got, Bumpus!" - -Imagine the great surprise, bordering on consternation, of Bob and Davy -and Smithy when the fat tenderfoot fished in his pocket and held -something up. - -"The foot of a bob-cat, as sure as I live!" ejaculated Davy Jones. - -"Did you kill it, Bumpus?" asked Smithy, awed by the very thought. - -"Thad says so, and _he_ knows!" was what Bumpus remarked; and then with -even a wider grin he fished down in another pocket, this time holding up -some bulky articles that made the three camp guardians fairly gasp for -breath. - -"Grizzly bear claws! Great Jehosophat! you don't mean to say that you -found your bear, Bumpus, and actually bagged him?" cried Davy Jones. - -"Did I, Thad; you saw where I left him?" replied the Wonderful One. - -"You sure nailed him, good and hard, Bumpus, even if it did take ten -shots or more, fired into him from a tree, to do the business. If ever -anybody has a right to say he killed a bear all by himself, fair and -square, Bumpus has. And here are three more truthful witnesses who will -testify the same way," with which Thad waved his arm around to take in -Step Hen, Allan and Giraffe, all of whom put up a right hand, and gravely -nodded approval of his words. - -"And even that ain't all, fellers," quoth Giraffe, "what would you think -now if I told you Bumpus had turned the tables on these here two critters -who'd captured him, and were makin' him do all sorts of slave stunts to -please themselves? Yes-siree, took all the shells out of their guns, and -then grabbed up his own to cover 'em. We _saw_ him do it all, so there -ain't any mistake. If you doubt me, ask Hank there." - -Mechanically the doubting ones turned toward the big timber cruiser, who, -playing his little game of appearing to be very contrite and sorry, so as -to be let off easily, made a wry face, and remarked: - -"Jest what Fatty did ter us; he give us the biggest s'prise of our lives, -Pierre and me. That's the time we fooled ourselves. He caught us, all -right, and I ain't got no kick acomin', 'less so be he wants to pay me -back that way; which I don't think's goin' to be the case, 'cause he's -too fine a feller to be revengeful like." - -"I want to shake hands with you again, suh," said Bob White, the Southern -boy, as he pushed up to Bumpus. "And right now let me take back -everything I've ever said about your being a poor tenderfoot. I reckon, -suh, a heap of the rest of us scouts'll have to sit at your feet, and -take a few lessons on _how to do it_." - -"A wild cat; a bear; and capturing a couple of--what are they, Thad, -pirates, or just plain hold-up men? That's going some for even a -first-class scout. Just as Bob says, we take off our hats to you, Chum -Bumpus, and now, while dinner is cooking, just gather around the fire and -tell us the whole blooming story," saying which Davy led the returned -hero of the occasion to the seat of honor. - -The story was all told over again, both during the eating of the meal, -and afterwards. In fact it took almost two hours to get most of the facts -out. - -Then they concluded to hold the prisoners until the next morning, when -they would be breaking camp, to head into the valleys of the Rocky -Mountains, the tops of which reared themselves in great granite masses -against the western sky. - -"We'll probably have a good enough time the rest of our vacation out -here," said Giraffe, later on, "but you can be sure we'll never again see -such a string of exciting adventures as fell to our lot, and that of -Bumpus, when he was hunting through the big timber for a bear; and the -rest of us searching for a lost tenderfoot scout." - -But Giraffe was really mistaken when he ventured to make this prophecy; -for it was written that the members of the Silver Fox Patrol were to meet -with still another series of mishaps and adventures before they left for -home. What these were, and how cleverly Thad and his chums carried -themselves under trying conditions, will be found set down in the pages -of the next volume in this Series, now ready under the title of "The Boy -Scouts in the Rockies; or the Secret of the Hidden Silver Mine." - -That very evening who should come along but Toby Smathers himself. He had -been ranging through that section, really to find out what Hank Dodge and -Pierre Laporte were doing; and seeing the camp had hastened to join the -scouts feeling a longing for human company. - -Thad liked the forest ranger right from the start, and was very much -pleased when the other agreed to go with them as guide during the balance -of the time they expected to spend in the Rockies--several weeks at -least. - -Toby Smathers gave the two men to understand that their every movement -was being watched by agents of the aroused Government. The Interior -Department was determined to put an end to timber stealing on a large -scale by men who had grown enormously rich in the business. - -Hank and Pierre professed to be alarmed; and when they went away in the -morning to get their guns, which Thad had left ten miles off, they -declared they were going to reform, and either go into the mines, or else -emigrate to British Columbia. - -"But," said Toby Smathers, "they ain't goin' to do it, mark me. Them -critters are cut out for jail-birds, and they'll either bring up thar, or -else die with their boots on." - -"Well, all I hope is," said Thad, as he gave Mike, the pack mule, a touch -with the whip to start him moving, "that we never cross their trail -again." - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Obvious typographical errors were corrected without comment. - -Dialect and non-standard spellings were left unchanged. - -A table of contents was added for the convenience of the reader. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG -TIMBER*** - - -******* This file should be named 44882.txt or 44882.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/8/8/44882 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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