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diff --git a/old/50253-0.txt b/old/50253-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 78530b0..0000000 --- a/old/50253-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6189 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Camp Mates in Michigan, by St. George Rathborne - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Camp Mates in Michigan - or, with Pack and Paddle in the Pine Woods - -Author: St. George Rathborne - -Release Date: October 19, 2015 [EBook #50253] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP MATES IN MICHIGAN *** - - - - -Produced by Giovanni Fini and The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - -[Illustration: DECORATION] - - -[Illustration: TEDDY SAW HIS CHUM PADDLE AWAY - (Camp Mates in Michigan) (Page 104)] - - - - - CAMP MATES - IN MICHIGAN - - _or_ - - WITH PACK AND PADDLE - IN THE PINE WOODS - - - _by_ - ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE - - - [Illustration: LOGO] - - - CHICAGO - M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY - - - - -CANOE AND CAMPFIRE SERIES - - Four Books of Woodcraft and Adventure in the Forest - and on the Water that every Boy Scout should - have in his Library - -_By ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE_ - - - CANOEMATES IN CANADA; or, Three Boys Afloat on the Saskatchewan. - - THE YOUNG FUR-TAKERS; or, Traps and Trails in the Wilderness. - - THE HOUSE-BOAT BOYS; or, Drifting Down to the Sunny South. - - CHUMS IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Cruise of a Motor Boat. - - CAMP MATES IN MICHIGAN; or, With Pack and Paddle in the Pine Woods. - - ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOYS; or, Camping in the Big Game Country. - -In these four delightful volumes the author has drawn bountifully -from his thirty-five years experience as a true sportsman and lover -of nature, to reveal many of the secrets of the woods, such as all -Boys Scouts strive to know. And, besides, each book is replete with -stirring adventures among the four-footed denizens of the wilderness; -so that a feast of useful knowledge is served up, with just that class -of stirring incidents so eagerly welcomed by all boys with red blood in -their veins. For sale wherever books are sold, or sent prepaid for 50 -cents each by the publishers. - - - Copyright, 1913, M. A. Donohue & Co. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - Chapter Page - - I THE UNWELCOME VISITOR IN CAMP 7 - - II PADDLING AGAINST THE CURRENT 19 - - III THE JOY OF CAMPING OUT 32 - - IV AMOS GIVES WARNING 42 - - V THE ROOT HUNTER 53 - - VI EVIDENCE THAT TALKED 64 - - VII DOLPH MEETS SOMETHING 75 - - VIII THE WAY TO FISH FOR BULL FROGS 86 - - IX ON THE SHORE OF THE LAKE 97 - - X THE FIGHTING BUCK 106 - - XI ON THE TRACK OF AMOS 115 - - XII THE GAME POACHERS 124 - - XIII SALLIE 133 - - XIV DOLPH HEARS ABOUT THE HAUNTED CABIN 149 - - XV THE POWER OF MUSIC 158 - - XVI WHEN CRAWLEY LOST HIS HEAD 168 - - XVII THE HOLE IN THE FLOOR 178 - - XVIII THE CABIN ABANDONED TO THE GHOSTS 188 - - XIX TEDDY’S WOODCRAFT HELPS 198 - - XX WHAT SALLIE DID 208 - - XXI THE UPLIFTED HAND 217 - - XXII FLY FISHING FOR BASS 226 - - XXIII ALONG THE TAHQUAMANON 233 - - XXIV DOWN THE SOO RAPIDS—CONCLUSION 243 - - - - - Camp Mates in Michigan - - or - - With Pack and Paddle in the Pine Woods - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE UNWELCOME VISITOR IN CAMP - - -“Wake up everybody! Boarders ahoy! Hey! something’s after our grub! -Hurry up, or we’ll be cleaned out!” - -There was an upheaval of blankets in the lone tent that stood -on the bank of a Michigan stream; then three boys came crawling -every-which-way out, without more than a hazy idea as to what they were -doing. - -But at any rate, all of them seemed to know where their guns lay, for -every fellow gripped one in his hands as he emerged in this manner from -the interior of the khaki colored tent, made so by some waterproofing -tanning process. - -“What is it, Dolph?” demanded the first to arrive on the heels of the -boy who had shouted the alarm, and whose name was Dolph Bradley. - -“It jumped back, Teddy, when I poked my head out; and I think made up -in that pine yonder,” came the quick response, as the aforesaid Dolph -pointed with his gun. - -“And was it getting away with some of our fine stuff?” asked Teddy, in -evident dismay, as his eyes roamed toward a little pile of duffle at -the foot of another tree close to the tent. - -“It sure was. That’s the ham lying right out there, now, where I guess -he dropped it at seeing me. After this we’ve got to take that into the -tent with us, if we want to save the same.” - -“But are we going to let the scamp get off scot free, after nearly -wrecking the expedition; because if we lost our ham I’d feel like our -best friend was gone? For one, I’d like to let this thief know what -we think of him. I think I could put a charge of Number Sevens under -his jacket, from my little Marlin here, that would do the business in -double-quick style,” and Teddy Overton patted the repeating twelve-bore -modern gun he held, with the air of one who knew he could depend on its -hard hitting qualities. - -“Let’s spread out a little, so as to cover more ground,” suggested -Dolph; and with that the three boys moved apart, each with his weapon -half raised, so as to be ready for quick work, if the necessity arose. - -The one who as yet had not spoken a single word, gave the fire a kick -in passing, and this caused it to blaze up afresh, just as he knew it -would. - -“Good for you, Amos!” exclaimed Dolph. “That makes it better to aim by. -Does anybody glimpse him yet?” - -“Not I; but see here, Dolph,” Teddy went on to say, “you haven’t told -us what sort of a beast it was. Must be along the cat order, or it -wouldn’t try to steal a whole ham, and then take to a tree, when you -poked your head out to see what was doing.” - -“It sure was a cat, and the biggest I ever ran across,” Dolph hurriedly -declared. “You see, the fire was burning kind of low, and it jumped -so quick I didn’t get more’n a glimpse of the thing; but there was -something queer about it. If you asked me right off the shoulder now, -I’d be apt to say it had little bells hanging from its ears!” - -Teddy burst out into a laugh. - -“Hear that, Amos?” he cried. “Rings on her fingers, and bells on her -toes; she shall have music wherever she goes, eh? Sounds like that, -doesn’t it? Now, I guess from what you say, Dolph, our bold visitor, -that likes smoked ham so much, belongs to the lynx class of bob-cats.” - -“What, a real Canada lynx?” exploded Dolph. “That excites me a whole -lot, let me tell you; for if there’s one animal in this country I’ve -always wanted to run across it’s a genuine lynx. Heard a lot about the -sly things, too. Shot cats in Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, and up in -Maine, but never saw a lynx. I hope you’re not mistaken, Teddy, and -that I get a chance to clap my eyes on him.” - -“Then look sharp; I know the beast’s habits pretty well,” ventured the -other; whose father being a rich lumber merchant, it was only natural -that the boy should be acquainted with these Michigan pine woods, and -their furry inhabitants, “and the chances are that, having got a taste -of our fine ham, he won’t want to clear out without trying to carry it -with him.” - -“Wait! I think I see something that looks like a big knob on one of his -limbs!” exclaimed Dolph, eagerly. - -“Hi! there, go slow!” cautioned Teddy, fearing an attack, if any -blunder were committed; “a lynx only wounded can upset a whole camp -like a twister of a cyclone had struck it, ain’t that so, Amos?” - -“It sure is,” answered the third member of the party of campers, a -stocky boy, who was not apparently as well to do as the others, if one -could judge from the old gun he carried, and his general make-up; for -while Teddy and Dolph had donned pajamas when they retired for the -night, Amos had simply removed part of his day clothes, and crawled -under his blanket that way; but from the manner in which he handled his -weapon, he evidently felt pretty much at home in the wilderness. - -“Does it seem to move, Dolph?” asked Teddy, when the other continued to -bend his head forward, and stare at a certain point among the rather -thick branches of the marked pine. - -“Don’t seem to, and that’s what bothers me,” came the ready reply. “I -rather think it can’t be much, either, because, if it was the lynx, I’d -almost surely see his yellow eyes staring at me, wouldn’t I?” - -“That’s what you would,” answered Amos. - -“And that’s been what I’ve had my eye peeled for all the time,” -declared Teddy. “But I wish somebody’d hurry up and glimpse the old -thief. This night air ain’t as salubrious as it might be. Fact is, -I’m beginning to get the shakes; and give you my word, it ain’t the -excitement at all that’s making my hands tremble. Think that if I -moved over this way a little, perhaps I might stir him up. Watch now, -everybody; and shoot at the drop of a hat!” - -As he said this, Teddy slowly started to walk farther away, so as to -be able to investigate parts of the suspected tree that, up to then, -had not come fully under observation. The revived fire was doing pretty -well, for the flames had seized on portions of wood only partly burned, -and were crackling merrily. And the light revealed the presence of two -up-to-date canoes partly hauled up on the shore not thirty feet away -from the tent, thus disclosing the fact that the trio of lads had used -the water way in order to reach their present camp in the Michigan -pines. - -A sudden exclamation from Teddy announced that his latest move had met -with at least some measure of success. - -“See anything?” called out Dolph, eagerly, for he had been hoping that -the opportunity to blaze away might come to him. - -“Looks like it, but I’ll soon know,” replied the other, as he stooped -to pick up some object. “I’m going to toss this piece of wood up there. -Be ready now; for if it’s our visitor he’ll be apt to change his -position. Here goes!” - -With that he gave the object a quick twirl, and they could distinctly -hear it stirring the outer branches of the pines, to fall to the ground -again with a soft thud. - -Teddy was heard to utter a sharp ejaculation, and from this the others -understood that in all probability his little scheme had met with -success. They glanced that way and saw him bend his head down to glance -along the repeating gun’s matted barrel. - -Then came a sudden report, and with it a shrill screech, that sounded -very much as though Teddy could have made no mistake when he believed -he was aiming at the hairy thief. - -Loud outcries arose with the opening of hostilities. - -“Did you nail him?” demanded Dolph, greatly excited. - -“No, I guess not,” replied Teddy, in a chagrined tone. “The beast gave -a jump just as I pulled trigger, and I must have cut the air where he -sat. But he hasn’t left that tree yet, fellows. We command every side -of the same; and unless he can fly, we ought to get another crack at -him. Be lively, now, and try to do better than I did. I must still be -in the greenhorn class, though I thought I’d graduated three years ago.” - -“Oh! don’t worry about that!” sang out Dolph, cheerily: “mistakes will -happen you know, even in the best regulated families. I’ve done worse -than that more’n a few times; and I’ve hunted in a good many countries -with my dad, you know. Wow! I wonder now, can that be the sly cat? Yes, -looks like I can see twin glow-worms up there in that dark pocket. Had -I better give him a try, Teddy?” - -“If you feel pretty sure it’s the ham thief, why, go ahead and pot him; -but as quick as you shoot, leap to one side; because I’ve always heard -these lynx are just chain lightning on the jump, even when they’ve got -their death wound.” - -“Reckon I will then, because I ain’t hankering after feeling his claws -rake me fore and aft,” replied Dolph, who came from Cincinnati, and was -the son of a well known millionaire of that city. - -“Steady, boy; make sure!” cautioned Teddy, as he saw that the other was -aiming upward with his expensive gun, the finest that a celebrated firm -in England could put together for any amount of money; but which even -then Teddy would not have accepted for his own tried and true weapon. - -Hardly had he spoken than Dolph fired. Remembering the warning given -by his campmate the Cincinnati boy jumped backward as soon as he had -fairly pulled the trigger. His heels catching in a root, the presence -of which he knew nothing about, as a consequence he was tripped up, and -went headlong to the ground. - -Dolph was conscious of a shrill scream, this time not of anger but -pain; and that some heavy body flew through space in the very spot -which his form had occupied. That fall was the finest thing that could -have happened to him, after all, because, in spite of his movement, the -leaping lynx must have landed on him only for his sprawling on his back. - -Realizing the desperate nature of his position Dolph rolled over once -or twice before he even attempted to regain an erect position. Then, on -his knees he worked at the mechanism of his expensive imported shotgun, -only to find that somehow his fall must have jammed it; or else in his -excitement he failed to do exactly the thing that was necessary, for he -could not get another shell in the firing chamber. - -“This way, quick; I can’t get my gun to work!” he shrilled, half -believing that in another instant he would have the unfuriated and -wounded lynx on top of him. - -He could hear a dreadful threshing about only a few yards away from -him; and the awful thought flashed through his head that perhaps the -beast was clawing one of his chums. But as he immediately after saw -Teddy coming on the jump from one direction, while the Michigan boy -showed up from the other Dolph’s mind became easier. - -“It’s over there--I must have hit it hard, from the racket the thing -keeps up! Be ready to cover him, Teddy, Amos; because my plaguey old -gun’s jammed, and I can’t get it to work!” - -“Don’t bother,” said Teddy, with a short, nervous laugh; “I guess you -potted your first lynx all right, old fellow. He’s sure kicking his -last, if I’m any judge of things. But don’t get too close, mind you; -they’re nasty, treacherous beasts at the best. And he might give some -of us a streaking with his last effort.” - -“Oh!” shouted Dolph, with such an odd inflection of alarm in his voice -that the others were naturally startled. - -“What’s the matter now?” cried Teddy, whirling around toward the other. - -“There’s another cat crawling along on the ground—by ginger! two of -’em! Why, the woods must be full of them! We’re going to be swamped -with lynxes, boys; and this gun just _won’t_ behave half-way decent,” -and Dolph ended with a groan as he kept working away excitedly at the -mechanism of his repeating weapon. - -“Where? I see one!” cried Teddy, as he swung his gun around swiftly. - -“Bang!” - -“That’s the end of _him_; now show me the other cat, will you, Dolph? -Bring ’em on as fast as you like; as long as my little Marlin’s got a -single shell left, I’m good for any amount of game. Where’s the next -victim?” - -“Over yonder, crouching at the foot of that tree; don’t you see its -eyes now, Teddy?” whooped the boy from Cincinnati. - -“Shure I do; and that means I’m due for another victim. Watch me rool -his hoop for him, will you, fellows?” - -“Bang!” went the repeating shotgun again. - -“You did it that time too, Teddy! Oh! if only this old gun hadn’t got -stuck just when I needed it most, I might have made a clean sweep of -the lot!” cried Dolph. “I’ve got a good notion to smash the old thing -against a tree, and do without the rest of the trip, that’s what!” - -“Don’t think of it,” called out the lumberman’s son, steadily. “Perhaps -after all you’re more to blame than the gun, Dolph. I’ve been that -excited myself when in a bad hole, that I hardly knew how I was clawing -at the right part of my gun to work a new shell in. Do you see any sign -of my cats coming out of their trance again?” - -“No, they seem as dead as doornails; that gun is a hard hitter, Teddy,” -remarked Amos Simmons, as he handled his own rather old fashioned -single shot weapon with something approaching a sigh, as of envy, -though he never voiced such a feeling. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -PADDLING AGAINST THE CURRENT - - -“Any more around that you can see?” Teddy went on to call out, -hilariously. “If there are, let ’em step right up to the pursers’ -office, and settle. But I rather think the pair I potted look sort of -small for the lynx tribe. I guess they must be half-grown cubs, after -all; and you got the mother, Dolph.” - -“Just what they are,” announced Amos, who had strode forward, and was -bending over the last victim of Teddy’s snap shots. “But pretty tough -lookin’ customers at that, I tell you, boys. I kinder guess they’d put -up a rushin’ fight, if cornered. But you wound ’em up one, two, three, -Teddy, with that gun of yours.” - -Amos was a real Michigan boy. He had been in logging camps ever since -he was “knee high to a grasshopper,” as he always said; and was as -tough as a pine-knot, so far as physical endurance went. Teddy had -known him several years; and once before they had hunted in company -around this very region. While the lumberman’s son and his friend -from Cincinnati laid out this summer trip with pack and paddle through -the pine woods of the upper reaches of the Wolverine State, Teddy had -suggested hiring Amos to go along, not exactly in the nature of a -guide, nor yet as a cook, but simply for company. And knowing that when -far away from civilization two boys are apt to find it a bit lonely, -Dolph had readily agreed. - -He had heard his friend tell more or less about the natural ability -Amos possessed as a doctor; and that it was the ambition of his life -to later on take a regular course in some medical school. And Teddy -had also confided to Dolph the fact that he meant to coax his father -to see that the woods boy had his chance, when he reached an age to -allow of such a thing; because he would make a fine doctor some day, -as his whole heart was set on curing ailments, binding up wounds, and -alleviating pain. - -So it came that there were three of them in the party, with two canoes -instead of just one overcrowded boat. Most of the duffle, such as the -tent and the blankets, they usually stored in this one canoe, with a -single occupant to ply the paddle, while the other two campers took -charge of the second craft. - -They had laid out a regular course, which would take them through the -wildest part of the country of the peninsula, starting in at Manistique -on the southern shore, where the waves of Lake Michigan beat the sandy -strand, and following the winding, picturesque river up to the lakes -that were said to be its source. At this point they expected to find -some man who had a team capable of taking their light canvas canoes -across country, until beyond the railroad they could be launched in the -waters of the Tahquamanon river; following which to its mouth would -bring the adventurous cruisers into the celebrated White Fish Bay of -Lake Superior; and here they could skirt the shore until finally they -arrived at Saulte Ste. Marie, where the waters of Superior rush down -the mighty rapids into St. Mary’s river, thence through Lakes Huron, -Erie and Ontario, and afterwards being carried along the mighty St. -Lawrence river to the sea. - -It was a noble trip to lay out, and the three boys had already spent -some time making their way to the point where we find them passing a -night on the bank of the river, at the time the wildcats invaded their -camp, and produced such consternation, although paying dearly for -their fun. - -“Now come and take a look at your prize, Dolph!” Teddy called out, “and -then it’s back to my downy for me; because I’m shaking all over, like a -jelly-fish.” - -He dragged the now defunct lynx out nearer the still blazing fire, so -that the others could look it over. - -“Ugh! I’m right glad now that root tripped me up,” remarked Dolph. -“Only for that, those claws might have ripped me considerably before -the beast keeled over.” - -“I should say, yes,” chuckled Teddy. “And now excuse me, please, but -I’m in for the grand disappearing act. I’ll chuck that fine ham inside -the tent as I go. Better follow my example, Dolph, if you don’t want to -catch cold. Get your gun to work yet?” - -“Why, yes, it seems to; but I’m rather discouraged about the thing,” -the other remarked. “Guess these repeating guns are a bit unreliable in -a pinch.” - -“H’m! not if you keep your wits about you, and do the right thing; but -for any one apt to get rattled, the old style might be best. Not that -I’m blaming you, this time, Dolph, because you had an ugly tumble, you -see. Well, so-long.” - -As neither of the other lads chanced to be feeling any too warm about -then, they waited not upon the order of their going, but ducked into -the tent soon after Teddy vanished. Amos, however, with the instinct -of one who had spent pretty much all of his young life in the forest, -waited long enough to throw several more large pieces of wood on the -fire, meaning to find something warm when morning came along, for the -air was sure to be cool up to the time the sun rose part way up in the -eastern heavens. - -There was no further alarm; and when dawn came peeping through the -pines the campers were soon astir. However, no one seemed anxious to -take the customary morning dip in the stream, so sharp was the air. -Dolph had his fishing-rod jointed, it being a steel affair calculated -to resist the rush of even a furious muscallonge. So, being an -enthusiast in this sport, he was out the first thing, having a try to -see whether he could not pick up a mess of trout for breakfast. - -Fortune smiled on his efforts too, for he made several fairly decent -captures, which Amos cleaned in the most approved style as fast as the -fisherman threw them to him. - -And in the end, just as the first rays of the sun found them out, from -the delicate odors that were going up from that fire, such as coffee -and trout, it was evident that the boys were in for a treat they never -tired of. - -While Dolph was doing the fishing, and Amos looking after breakfast, -the third member of the expedition had another sort of job laid out -for his amusement. This consisted in taking off the furry coats of -the three dead lynx. They were all in a fair condition, though the -shot holes would have to be hidden by the man who eventually made them -into a rug; and for the summer season, when furs are generally pretty -“skimp,” Teddy said they passed muster. - -Amos knew how to cook trout so as to brown them in a crisp manner. He -first of all “tried out” several slices of fat salt pork; and after the -resulting liquid had become furiously hot, he dropped in the fish, that -had first been dipped in cracker crumbs. It was very much after the -manner in which the New England cook manages with her crullers, only no -lard was used. - -Each of the boys was gifted with a hearty appetite; and when breakfast -was declared closed there were precious few crumbs to throw away, -outside of the fish-bones. Yet Amos had seen to it that enough had been -provided to satisfy all. - -Afterwards came the duty of taking down the tent, and packing things -away in the canoe that was used partly for their transportation, being -paddled by Amos himself, the huskiest of the lot. - -They had this thing reduced to a science, from long practice. -Everything went in a particular place, and thus they economized in the -matter of space, which counted for much on a trip of this sort. - -“All ready?” sang out Dolph, as he balanced his paddle, sitting in the -front of the canoe which he and Teddy managed. - -“Just a minute more, while I throw some water on what’s left of the -fire,” said Teddy. “You see, I’m a lumberman’s son, and I never like to -think of taking chances of having the wind scatter the red-hot embers -of a deserted camp fire, to start a forest blaze that might burn up -millions and millions of feet of fine timber.” - -“Yes’m you’re right, I believe in the same thing!” declared Dolph, -“though I look at it from the view of a true sportsman, who will never, -never leave a fire burning after him, when he breaks up camp. I was in -one woods’ fire up in the Adirondacks two years back, and came mighty -near having my crop of hair singed off; and they said it started just -in that way, on a windy day. Why, in Maine, they won’t let hunters -go into the woods without a licensed guide along, who is supposed to -see to it that no chances are taken with fires left by careless city -sportsmen; or rather men who like to call themselves by that name, -though they are often a disgrace to the cloth.” - -“Yes, I’ve run across a-plenty of that kind up here in Michigan, and -over in Wisconsin,” remarked Amos. “We call ’em fish hogs up here, -because, when they strike a lake where the trout bite free-like, they -keep on throwing bushels out on the bank to die and rot. I hate the -breed, and I think they just ought to be tarred and feathered, that’s -what.” - -“Same here,” remarked Teddy. “In my opinion every fellow who wants to -call himself a true sportsman should give the animals and fish a chance -to breed. When he’s caught all he can use, he ought to stop fishing, -unless he happens to be using artificial flies, when he can put all the -rest he takes back again, because they won’t be hurt that way. I’ve -stopped many a time when using live minnow, because I knew that when -bass gorge the bait, they’re sure to die, even if you do throw them -overboard again. The hook tears them more or less. Well, everybody -ready now?” - -“O. K. here!” sang out Amos. - -“Then let’s be off, for we’ve got a strong bit of work before us today, -with all this water coming down the old Manistique,” and as he spoke, -Teddy thrust his paddle deep in the running water of the river, and -gave a thrust that started the canoe on its farther journey northward. - -As they labored with regular movements the boys often indulged in -laughter, and even broke out at times in bits of song; for they were -light-hearted, and seemed to have few cares or troubles sitting on -their broad shoulders. Indeed, the millionaire’s son, and the heir of -the wealthy lumberman, certainly knew nothing at all of anxiety with -regard to their well-being. Amos, being a poor boy, often doubtless -tried to lift the veil of the future, eager to ascertain what lay in -store for him there; but he was still young, and care does not weigh -down youth very often. Besides, he enjoyed the company of his camp -mates so much, that for the time being the woods boy felt supremely -happy. - -This sort of work continued until the sun had reached a position so -near the zenith that they knew it must be close to the noon hour. And -as their muscles had for some little time now, been feeling more or -less sore, because of the constant labor, it was decided as usual to -take a rest. - -They would not let a chance pass by to have a fire going, even though -the day had turned out quite warm. With such vast quantities of easy -burning pine all around them, and Amos just wild to always take care -of the fire, which he dearly loved, of course, they could not resist -the temptation; and soon a crackling blaze was sending up its cheery -song, such as has bolstered up the spirits of many a lonely camper all -over the known world; for the fire is certainly one of man’s finest -servants; but like some other things, a very bad master, once it is -allowed to have its own head. - -About an hour and a half afterwards, the voyage was resumed, though -none of the boys paddled with just the same vim that had marked the -start. It was now more in the nature of pure grit that carried them -steadily along; the pleasure had mostly petered out during that hard -dash of the morning. - -And as the afternoon shadows began to lengthen perceptibly, it might -be noticed that they were more frequently mentioning the fact that -this place or that seemed to offer pretty fine prospects for a night’s -lodging, though thus far no one openly advocated bringing the day’s run -to a close. - -There were parts of this section of country where the great Overton -Lumber Company had its numerous squads of men busy in the winter -season, cutting timber, which, however was getting more and more scarce -in the peninsula of Michigan every year. - -It chanced that there was a rival company, also a big corporation, -which, being exceedingly jealous of the success attending the work of -the Overton, never tired of trying all sorts of games calculated to run -the other out of the district. Teddy amused his camp mates many times, -when sitting around the fire of nights, by relating how his father -managed to outwit the owners of this rival concern on more than a few -occasions, when they came to loggerheads. - -And the men were almost as bitter toward each other as their employers; -so that each, winter there were one or more regular battles when the -Overton loggers chanced to be cutting within a few miles of the rival -camp. - -“We’ve all got to clear out of this before a great while,” Teddy -would remark, doubtless echoing the words he had heard his father -say; “because the available timber is getting less and less every -year. That’s what makes things so warm between the two companies, -you see. Amos, here, used to work for the Combine once, and he knows -what underhanded tricks they keep on trying to play, with the idea of -forcing us out of the State, so as to leave things to them. But it -don’t work. My dad is some fighter himself; and with the law back of -him, he just laughs at threats. But sometimes it makes mother afraid -that they may do something desperate. Once a shot was fired at him, and -the bullet clipped a piece out of his hat. Never learned who did it; -but dad always believed it was a thug hired by the other company to -scare him a little. But we’re still here on deck, and this year expect -to cut more timber than ever. Might as well get our share of it while -the stuff lasts.” - -The three paddlers kept up their steady work, as the sun headed down -into the western sky. - -“How about those clouds over yonder, Teddy?” asked Dolph, when the -afternoon was possibly two-thirds gone. “Looks a little like rain, -don’t you think?” - -“Where?” ejaculated the other, eagerly, as though he just welcomed a -chance to call a halt upon the day’s doings. “Well, yes, to be sure -they have got a sort of ugly look. P’raps we’d just as well draw in at -that point ahead, and make things snug for the night. Because we’ve -been favored with good weather up to now, mustn’t make us think we’re -always going to have the same. You never know what’s going to come up -in a night; and for that reason I always make it a point, even when -things look as peaceful as they could, to secure the canvas of a tent, -just as if I knew a terrible storm was going to break on me. Got left -once, with my canvas carried high up in the branches of a tree, just -through pure carelessness; and it served as a lesson I’ll never forget. -Head in, Amos; we’re going to land there under that leaning tree. Looks -like a dandy camp site, with all those extra big trees around. And -honest, fellows, I must say I’m pretty near played out with fighting -that pesky current all the live-long day. Here’s where we find rest. -Hurrah for the next camp! for every new one is the best, you know!” - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE JOY OF CAMPING OUT - - -To tell the truth, none of them showed any signs of disappointment -because the labor of the day was done. It was no child’s play, urging -the canoes against the volume of water the flowed down the Manistique -on the occasion of their voyage. And as they had come out for fun, -and not to earn a living with the paddle, the boys knew when they had -enough. - -So, after bringing the two boats ashore, they drew them partly out of -the water at a place that seemed to have been just designed for that -very purpose by a kind Nature, as the beach was shelving, and sandy -too, for a wonder. - -It was quickly decided just where the tent should be erected. There -were a few general rules governing this part of the daily programme, -which all of them knew by heart. First of all, it was necessary to -select ground that was not on the dead level, so that in case of a rain -during the night, the inmates of the tent would not find themselves -knee-deep in a flood. And with those clouds hovering in the southwest, -they felt it wise to make assurance in this respect doubly sure on this -particular night. - -Then the camp must be pitched away from any sort of swampy patch, -which could not only breed mosquitoes by myriads, but prove malarial -as well. And having an eye to the picturesque, the boys always saw to -it that they could arrange the front of the tent toward the water. It -was so pleasant to look out, and see the little waves dancing in the -moonlight, as well as hear the musical gurgle so dear to the hearts of -all those who love the great Outdoors. - -And last, but not least, the tent must be within a reasonable distance -of the two canoes. There was no particular reason to suspect that -any damage might happen to the craft, either from accident, or the -malicious designs of evil-minded persons; but since they must depend -solely on the mosquito boats, as they are often called, to carry them -over the course they had charted out, and the walking was not at all to -their liking, it behooved Teddy and his camp mates to keep an eye on -them during the periods of their resting, between sunset and dawn. - -Each one of the three had his regular duties to perform. While these -were sometimes changed around, so that things might not become too -monotonous, still, as a rule, Teddy and Dolph saw to erecting the tent, -while Amos lugged the plunder from the canoes, packing it into camp, -and after that started a fire. - -Amos dearly loved a fire. He seemed to be one of those boys who can -sit for perhaps a solid hour, staring into the snapping blaze, with a -rapt look on his face; just as though he saw pictures there that gave -him infinite satisfaction. Who has not enjoyed this pleasure to some -extent, while surrounded by the primitive forest; unless you have, you -do not know one half the joy of living? - -And after the fire was burning briskly, Amos was ready to attend to -almost any thing that chanced to come along. If either of the other -boys happened to be fishing he wanted to prepare the catch as it was -brought in; so that sometimes Dolph used to declare that the trout -flopped right from the water into the frying-pan; the span of their -existence between the two was so brief. - -But tonight they did not think of fishing, though Dolph cast a wistful -eye along the brink of the river, and mentally noted several likely -spots which he meant to try in the morning, if the fates allowed. But -with those threatening clouds spurring them on, it was decided that -they had better get supper over with as soon as possible. - -“No telling,” Teddy had remarked, with a grin, “but what we’re in for -a stormy night. I wouldn’t be surprised to find the lot of us holding -on to the guy ropes of this tent around midnight, like all get-out, to -keep the bally thing from kiting up in the trees. Then again, there may -be no wind, no rain, nothing at all. You never can tell. A fellow has -just got to be _always prepared_ when he’s camping out; or sometime -he’ll get caught napping, and have a healthy old time hustling to save -his chattels.” - -Amos knew how to cook, for he had filled that position, or rather as -an assistant, in a logging camp one winter. But of course, the rough -fare the husky timber choppers need, differs vastly from such food as -the sons of rich men would be apt to take with them into the woods; and -Amos had to learn a few new wrinkles, under the tutelage of the others, -who were experienced hands at such things. - -Doubtless the woods boy had never in all his life sniffed coffee that -had the delicious aroma of that high-grade Java; and when it came to -tea, Amos, who had up to this time believed that to be a concoction -only meant for old maids, discovered that a cup of fragrant Ceylon, -made in the only proper way, was simply unequalled as “refresher,” -after a hard day’s work. - -This is the way he went about making it; and any boy who cares to get -the best out of things, would do well to remember the simple directions. - -It would have been better if the campers had possessed a teapot made -of crockery but since that could never be thought of, since it was apt -to be broken, and would weigh too much, they had to use the next best -thing, which was one made of pure aluminum. - -Taking this, when the water had come to a boil Amos poured a little in -the tea pot, to heat it, and then dashed it out. Then he put in the -right quantity of tea, which in their case for three was a heaping -teaspoonful; after which he poured a small quantity of the boiling -water over it, and set the pot near the fire, where the tea could -“steep” or “draw.” - -Not more than seven to ten minutes later, he filled it with the hot -water, and the tea was ready to use. A very simple formula, but -essential if the best results are wanted. - -Of course, some readers might scoff at paying so much attention to -small things; but nearly every lad who has camped out, as so many -thousands of Boy Scouts are now doing for the first time every summer, -discovers that half the pleasure of the outing springs from such -little things being properly done. No efficient and painstaking scout -master will think of allowing his boys to do things in a careless, -happy-go-lucky way. And once they learn the pleasure of knowing the -_right_ methods, there is no fear of them doing anything else. A boy -who knows better will turn up his nose at coffee improperly made, and -shame the careless cook into decent methods. - -Besides the tea, the three camp mates had what Teddy called a -“canoeist’s delight.” It was really a stew or “hodge-podge,” being a -mixture of several “left-overs” from previous meals. There was some -corned beef hashed up, some Boston baked beans, a little canned corn, -and a few pieces of bacon, with the balance of the drippings that had -not been thrown away, but preserved in the can the corn had come in. -And with healthy appetites backing them up, the three boys were ready -to agree that never did any dish at the family table satisfy them -one-half so well as this wonderful concoction. - -The chances are, that had it been placed before either Teddy or Dolph -when at home, with a snowy tablecloth on the table, and silver and cut -glass around, they would have sniffed at it suspiciously, and ordered -it taken away at once. But it was different here. Their looks were -more than a few times directed toward the largest sized kettle in the -outfit, which had been used to cook the mess, as though their one fear -was whether there would be enough for a third helping all around. - -Teddy took considerable pride in that aluminum outfit. He had paid a -round sum for it, too. It was intended for six people, because Teddy -said that there was never any knowing how many might sit around the -campfire on occasion; and being a big-hearted generous fellow, he was -bent on all having enough. - -The several kettles all nested in one another, as did the cups; and -with the numerous other things comprising the complete outfit, it made -an appearance to quite take the eye of a camper. - -Amos kept them well shined too. He did not like to see the aluminum -discolored, and was forever polishing the kettles and coffee and tea -pots with a preparation that came with the outfit. - -“The biggest mistake we made,” declared Teddy, as, having finished -supper, they sat around, helping Amos clean up, “was about Amos here.” - -Dolph looked up quickly, a puzzled expression on his face; and even the -woods boy smiled as he waited to hear the other explain; though he knew -only too well that Teddy Overton was too fond of him to say anything -mean. - -“How was that?” Dolph asked. - -“Why, I should never have thought of allowing Amos to come along -without his fiddle, as he calls his violin,” the lumberman’s son said. -“He thought it might be in the way in the canoe; but I know he misses -it terribly. I’ve seen him sigh when he sits there, looking into the -fire; and every time I’ve known what was on his mind. He found his -fingers just fairly itching to hold that bow of his, and work it across -the strings.” - -“Why, I didn’t know Amos played the violin,” remarked Dolph, looking -interested. - -“Well, he doesn’t—only the fiddle. They’d laugh to have a fit if you -called it anything but that in a logging camp. And Amos used to be -the most popular boy all through the winter, when the men were out in -the snow woods cutting timber. He had to play for them every single -night. They never seemed to get tired of hearing Money Musk, Arkansaw -Traveler, and all those old pieces. And I tell you, Amos can just make -his fiddle _talk_. He had it along when we spent several weeks in these -pine woods before; and night after night we used to have a regular -musicale by the light of the fire. Why, I’ve seen the little chipmunks -come stealing along, with their ears cocked up, as though they were -taking it all in; and one night a raccoon fell off the branch of a -tree, nearly on top of Amos. I always said that the music had made him -dizzy, it was so sweet. But there, let’s drop that subject. It makes -Amos homesick, I guess, to remember how he won’t be able to touch a -fiddle again for a whole month.” - -An hour later, and the three boys were taking things easy. The storm -clouds did not seem to have crept up any farther that they could see, -and as yet it was a question no one could decide, as to whether they -would be visited by a storm during the night, or not. - -Amos has been getting another armful of wood to throw down near the -fire, so they would have plenty, if it was thought advisable to keep -the blaze going, for frequently these Michigan summer nights feel -pretty cool around about two o’clock; and it is nice, if one comes out -to take a look at the weather, to see a cheery fire going. - -With the wood still in his arms, the lumber camp boy bent his head in -passing the others; and in a low but very distinct voice uttered a few -sentences that gave both Teddy and Dolph a thrill: - -“Don’t jump, or show any signs of excitement, either of you,” was what -Amos said in a whisper, “but there’s a man hiding behind those bushes -just above our boats; I saw him duck down as I came nearer; but I never -let on the least bit that I’d glimpsed him. Better just change your -sets a little, so as to be nearer your guns, boys. And when you’re -ready, Teddy, give the word, so I c’n grab up mine. I don’t like the -looks of things, that’s what.” - -All of this Amos muttered while he was rustling the wood, and laying it -down piece by piece, in a heap near the fire. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -AMOS GIVES WARNING - - -“Wonder if he’s alone?” Teddy remarked, in a low voice to Dolph, as he -hitched himself along a few inches nearer the spot where his Marlin -shotgun rested against a tree. - -“But what under the sun can he want, spying on us this way?” asked the -other, who was in the Michigan pine woods for the first time, and not -so well acquainted with things as the lumberman’s son. - -“We’ll soon find that out,” remarked the other, in a louder voice, as -he saw that Dolph could easily reach his own foreign made weapon. “Are -you all ready, boys? Then catch on!” - -Each of them snatched up a gun. There was not a sign from the vicinity -of the bushes mentioned by Amos. Could it be that the other had made a -blunder, after all? Had his eyes been blinded with so much looking into -the fire, that he mistook some stump, or the remains of a log, for a -man? - -Teddy gained his feet, the others following his example. Three guns -were brought to bear, covering the suspected spot. - -“Come out! Show a leg; or we might take a notion to send a shot in -there!” called Teddy, in a belligerant tone, making a threatening -motion with his gun at the same time. - -Immediately the bushes stirred. Then a tall and brawny figure came -into view, that of a red-bearded man, clad in rough attire, as became -a woods nomad. In one hand he gripped an old-fashioned gun, something -like that of Amos’. But just then he was busily engaged in holding it -up, as he tried to make the Indian “peace sign,” by exposing the palms -of both hands as well as he was able. - -“Hold on, boys; I wouldn’t do nawthin’ rash, if I was you. I’m only too -willin’ ter kim into camp. Jest snuck up ter find out who an’ what ye -war. Happens that thar be lots o’ hard characters aroamin’ those woods -hyarabouts; an’ a decent respectable man hes to be putty keerful who he -makes up with. I jest seen ye was all ter ther good, when ye called me.” - -He kept on advancing as he spoke in this strain. - -Teddy had seen many just such rough looking men among the scores of -husky loggers employed by his father. He knew it was never safe to -judge a man by either the clothes he wore, or his general appearance. -Some of the hardest looking of them, upon closer acquaintance, would -turn out to be big-hearted fellows, and as honest as the day was long. -Then again, there was just as strong a chance that the same fellow -would prove to be a scoundrel. - -In the woods, men have to know each other before they become friends. -Looks go for little, and words less. A man is what he proves himself to -be. - -Teddy was only a boy, and he had not rubbed up against a hard world -after the fashion of Amos Simmons. And yet he certainly did not like -the looks of this big man any too well. There was that in the other’s -face to tell only too plainly his love for strong drink; and being a -strictly temperance boy himself, Teddy had little use for any one who -was addicted to liquor. - -Besides, he could not help but think there was something mighty -suspicious about the manner in which the man was sneaking about their -camp. Why should he crawl up, and lie there in those bushes, just as -though anxious to listen to what the boys were talking about? If, as -he said, he wished to make sure that they were decent campers, and -not lawless persons, why, a single look at their canoes, and the boys -themselves, must have told him that. There would be no need of all this -caution; unless possibly the man might be a fugitive from justice, -and suspicious of every party he met, thinking it might represent a -sheriff’s posse come to hunt for him. - -The thought was not particularly pleasant to Teddy. He determined to -keep his Marlin within each reach while the giant was in camp; and he -sincerely hoped the stranger might not take a notion to remain with -them over night. - -Perhaps he had had evil designs on some of their property—the -beautiful green canoes that must look particularly inviting to any one -tired of tramping through the endless pine woods; or could it be that -lovely aluminum set of cooking utensils that was piled up in plain -sight? - -Teddy noticed that the man had his eyes fastened almost greedily on the -gun which he himself was holding; why, he did not even seem to waste a -glance upon the more expensive weapon which Dolph sported. And that -would seem to prove that he knew a good thing when he saw it. Indeed, -since he himself carried an old-fashioned gun, no doubt a substantial -up-to-date weapon must appeal to him, as a hunter. - -The fellow saw that they no longer made any threatening motions. He -showed his cool assurance by dropping down on the ground, not a great -distance away from the fire; and sniffing the air in a way that could -have but one meaning. He was hungry, and would like to have something -to eat. - -Woods hospitality is no respecter of persons. If a hungry man comes -into camp and asks for a bite, common decency compels one to feed him, -even though later you expect to order him on, at the muzzle of your gun. - -So Teddy made a motion to Amos, which the latter easily understood. He -started to make a pot of coffee, knowing that the man would never drink -tea. Besides, Amos deliberately opened another can of corned beef, -which he expected the giant would entirely devour, since he must be -possessed of a tremendous appetite. - -There were crackers, and some left-over biscuits which Amos had cooked -on the preceding day in a little make-shift oven. All these he began -to set out before the man, before another word had been said. - -It was not considered polite to ask any questions before the edge of -the stranger’s appetite had been taken off. The first thing Teddy -inquired was very naturally in connection with his identity. - -“Would you mind introducing yourself to us?” he asked, as he watched -the terrific inroads being made on their stock provisions; while Dolph -was figuring on just how many days their larder could stand such an -onslaught. - -“Me? I’m Gabe Hackett,” remarked the giant, with a quick glance toward -Amos. “Used to be logger onct; knowed Amos Simmons, too, when I worked -fur ther Woodstock Company a cupple o’ years back. I been about -everything thar is—trapper in winter time, takin’ nigh a thousand -muskrat pelts one season; timber cruiser, a skirmishing through, new -fields lookin’ fur wood that cud be bought up by my company; trader; -spruce gum collector; honey harvester, whar the bees they lays up a -store o’ the sweet stuff in holler trees. Reckon I ’bout near been all -thar is for a honest man ter make a livin, at, up hyar in the Michigan -woods.” - -“And what are you doing now?” asked Teddy. - -The man started slightly, and gave the other a quick look; but -evidently he was reassured by the manner of his questioner, who -appeared to be solely seeking knowledge, for the inquiry was made in -good faith. - -“Right now I’m tackling a new dodge,” he chuckled. “I wouldn’t tell -everybody, ’cause thar be some fellers as’d take advantage o’ me; but I -kin see that you ain’t built that way. Why, I’m hunting roots jest now.” - -“Roots!” echoed Dolph, greatly interested because it happened that he -was himself more or less interested in botany, and had even gone out -on an expedition in search of medicinal roots with a professor of a -Cincinnati college, whom his rich father thought a good bit of, and -patronized to the extent of sending him to Europe each summer to study. - -“That’s it, younker; wild ginseng, golden seal, an’ all them kinder -things ye know, that brings good money, if on ’y ye happen on whar they -grows. Swamps ain’t too planty up this aways; down in Indiana, now, -whar I kim from, why they used to be jest heaps o’ them weeds, but in -them days nobody ever thort they was wuth picking up. I hed an ijee o’ -hiking back thar; but a letter tole me the place was jest cleaned out -o’ every root, and that farmers was aplantin’ ginseng by the acre.” - -At least the information was interesting. It might be true, or on the -other hand, Gabe Hackett was possibly inventing this plausible excuse -for his presence in that neck of the land. Teddy went on to ask a few -more questions. - -“And have you met with any success at all; p’raps you might show us -some of these same roots. I’ve heard a heap about them, but wouldn’t -know one from another, though my chum here, Dolph Bradley, from -Cincinnati, knows something about—what is it, botany, or rootology or -what?” - -Gabe shrugged his shoulders, as he replied, with his mouth half full of -beef: - -“Reckons ye’d never know what they was like, if so be ye had ter depend -on the amount I’ve been able ter pick up, this far. Why, I ain’t never -set eyes on a thing wuth takin’, and that’s the truth. But I got an -agreement ter meet up wid a feller by the name o’ Crawley, as sez he -kin pilot me ter whar we kin git jest piles o’ that wild ginseng. Hopes -as how he ain’t mistook it fur somethin’ else; ’cause I needs ther -money right bad. I gotter try an’ show up at his shack afore mornin’ -too, wuss luck, else I’d like ter stay with ye, an’ heve another shake -at that prime coffee in ther mornin’.” - -Teddy and Dolph could not help exchanging a sly look; they were so -glad to hear this last bit of news. It would have been very unpleasant -having such a guest all night long; and his presence must have -necessitated a constant vigil being kept. Indeed, so far as that went, -Teddy was already of a mind that they would be wise to stand guard; for -the very fact of his being somewhere in the vicinity, possibly with a -boon companion of the same stamp, was enough to make one uneasy with -regard to the safety of their belongings. - -Happening to glance toward Amos, who had not been saying a word all -this while, Teddy caught him winking one eye, and making a suggestive -motion with his head. He guessed instinctively that the woods boy -wished to find a chance to speak with him aside, where the visitor -might not hear. - -Dolph had taken what the man had said about the roots as Gospel truth. -He was trying to squeeze some information out of Gabe; and the other -on his part seemed endeavoring to dodge the same by cautious replies, -so as not to expose his blank ignorance in the matter too much. - -So Teddy found an opportunity to stretch himself, and get up from his -seat, as if tired of sitting. He had noticed that Amos was no longer -near the fire; and on glancing toward the twin canoes, saw him bending -over one of the small, dandy craft, as though examining some scratch -that he had noticed before. - -Teddy walked in that direction. He knew that he was followed by the -eyes of the visitor, who must have considered it a little odd that the -boy persisted in carrying his gun along with him on such an occasion. -But however that might be, Hackett did not see fit to express his -disgust in words, though he may have frowned some, and gritted those -strong yellow teeth of his in an ugly manner. - -Reaching the vicinity of the canoes, Teddy pretended to be as deeply -interested in the supposed scratch made by a snag as Amos was. But when -their heads came close together Amos took advantage of the opportunity -to say softly: - -“A bad egg, that Gabe Hackett, Teddy, believe me! Tell you about him -after he’s shook the roost, and gone about his way. Wouldn’t set -anything past him. Watch your gun, and everything else while he’s -around. Why, he’d steal a coffee-pot if he had half a chance. Used to -be the cock of the walk once at the lumber camp; but since then he’s -slid down the ladder some, I’m telling you. Hunting ginseng, he says; -but I’d rather believe he’s bein’ paid by that Woodstock Company to -foller _you_, and find out what the son of the president of the Overton -Lumber Company is doing up in the pine forests; and that’s what!” - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE ROOT HUNTER - - -“Well,” remarked Teddy, softly, “what you’re telling me doesn’t -flabbergast me one little bit. I just guessed that much from looking at -the fellow, and hearing him talk. We’ll keep an eye on him, all right; -and if he steals anything from _our_ camp this night, why, he’s welcome -to it, that’s all. But we’d better act like we had only come over here -to examine this boat, and see how bad a mark that snag made in the -varnished side. He’s got his eye on us all the while; I can feel it.” - -“Righto!” replied the woods boy, cheerfully, his mind relieved, since -he had given his friend and employer proper warning, so that the burden -was no longer on his shoulders. - -A few minutes later they walked back to the fire, engaged in discussing -whether the snag “bite” would prove serious at some future time; and if -so, should they cover the spot with a piece of canvas, brought along -for mending purposes. - -Hackett watched them suspiciously, and seemed to strain his hearing in -the endeavor to make out what they were saying. He seemed relieved upon -catching the burden of their talk, as though it proved that they had -not been discussing him while away. - -By the time he finished eating, there was nothing more in sight. Dolph -was of the opinion that the giant’s capacity was of such an unlimited -nature, that if given an opportunity he could have lessened their stock -of provisions alarmingly, before calling a halt. - -“Must say that I never seed such a dandy outfit as ye boys kerry,” Gabe -was pleased to remark, as he looked enviously around him; “canoes that -jest take me eye; guns sech as I never handled in all my life; and ther -cutest cookin’ things as was ever got up. Must take a heap o’ hard cash -ter buy sech things. An’ thet coffee, say, will I ever forgit it? Like -as not the taste’ll stick with me forever. Ain’t nawthin’ hardly I -wouldn’t do, if so be I could aim the money ter buy sich coffee. P’raps -ye wouldn’t mind leavin’ me the name, an’ fust dollar I find rollin’ up -hill, hang me if I don’t invest the same in it. I could do with little -else, if I got a drink like that. It beats any old pizen whiskey I -ever swallered.” - -“That’s where you’re right, Gabe!” remarked Teddy, quickly; “and if a -lot of our men only thought the same, and carried it out, they’d be -better off for it. Perhaps you’ve guessed it before, but I might as -well tell you that I’m Teddy Overton, the only son of the president of -the lumber company that’s a rival of the one you used to work for.” - -“Yep, I guessed it, an’ why—’cause in the fust place ye’re the image -o’ yer daddy; and then agin, I see ye onct at the store,” the visitor -went on to say. - -Then, although he had known this fact from the start, was there some -hidden reason why Gabe had not said a word about it? - -They went on talking for a while, the man evidently in no hurry to -leave his comfortable seat in order to once more take up his walking -through the pine forest. - -Teddy could not but notice how often those greedy eyes rested on his -gun; or it might be something else belonging to the outfit. Plainly -Gabe Hackett was wishing some great good fortune might throw a chance -in his way to gain possession of some of these things. - -And Amos thought he saw more than that, as he continued to watch the -burly former logger out of the tail of his eye. He had just mentioned -to Teddy a suspicion that was creeping through his mind; and sitting -there, the boy kept following it up, trying to make ends meet, yet -never seeming quite able to do so. - -He wondered why Gabe should look toward Dolph so many times, and always -with a sudden little tightening of the lips. If it had been Teddy now, -Amos could understand, and believe that the unprincipled man might be -plotting some harm to the son of the lumberman who defied the Trust; -but Dolph was a stranger in these Michigan woods, his home being in -faraway Cincinnati. - -Could it be barely possible, Amos wondered, that this rough man knew -about the father of Dolph being a man of almost unlimited money, one -of the big millionaire manufacturers of the thriving city on the bank -of the Ohio; and was he even daring to lay some bold plan, looking to -kidnaping the boy, to hold him for a ransom? - -Lots of people would say that such things, while being done frequently -in Italy, Greece, and such Old World countries, were just impossible -in up-to-date free America. Why even Amos knew it was just to the -contrary. He read the papers every chance he could get; and many a -time had he discovered where Italians, or others, had taken to these -methods, with the idea of forcing people with money to divide with them. - -There was that case of the Cudahy boy, for instance; and numerous -others of like boldness. Oh! no, such things are not at all confined to -Europe. They are being planned and executed right in our own country, -every week. The only question that staggered Amos was how such a -small-minded fellow as this giant, could ever engineer a scheme like -this. But perhaps he may have backing they knew nothing of; and that -there were wheels within wheels. Dolph might be made to disappear, -just to make it look as though Teddy Overton’s abduction were in the -ordinary nature of things; when in truth it was all being done to force -the lumber company to seek new fields, and leave this region to the -opposition. - -So Amos was wrestling with a pretty big proposition as he sat there by -the fire, listening to the man talk, and hoping to pick up a few little -clues from what he said, that might lead to disclosures. - -It all came back to Amos later on, under entirely different conditions; -to give him new chances for anxiety. - -The hour was getting rather late, and still Hackett lingered on, loth -to once more continue his lonely tramp. He said he was waiting for -the moon to rise; but even after the battered remnant of the heavenly -luminary put in an appearance over the trees across the river, he made -no movement looking to immediate departure. - -“Why do you suppose he keeps hanging on so?” Teddy managed to ask Amos, -aside, as they chanced to enter the tent together for some purpose. - -“P’raps he wants you to ask him to have another little snack?” -suggested the woods boy, with a chuckle. - -“Well, he’ll wait a long time, then, I tell you,” complained Teddy. -“Why, that fellow could eat us out of house and home in three days, and -then not half try. Did you ever see such a mouth? He takes a bite that -would be three to me.” - -“Huh! I cooked for him one winter,” remarked Amos, as though that -circumstance ought to tell how much he knew concerning the capacity of -Big Gabe to stow away provisions. “Kept us busy, right along, too, I’m -promising you. But we’d better get outside again; he’s that slick he -might pull the wool over Dolph’s eyes, and make away with a package of -our coffee.” - -When they came out, greatly to their delight they found that Gabe was -on his feet, stretching his six feet three. - -“Hate ter do hit the wust kind, boys,” he was remarking. “You all hev -been so kind to me, I’d like ter stop over jest till mawnin’, so’ds ter -hev another drink o’ that fine coffee. Don’t s’pose now, he could spare -a feller one leetle cupful o’ the same? I’d take it handsome now, sure -I would. An’ it’d help me git over the miles I gotter go afore mawnin’; -jest ter smell it every little while’d help right sum.” - -Teddy jumped over to the mess chest. There was a can full of the ground -coffee in this; and besides, he calculated that they had an abundance, -and to spare. Even if they had to go on short rations, if the giving of -a cup of the pulverized berry from the South Seas could help hurry Gabe -off, he was willing to endure the privation. - -And so he found a paper bag to pour the fragrant stuff in. When he -handed this over to Gabe the big ex-logger sniffed at it with what was -intended to be an expression of bliss on his bearded face, rolling his -eyes at the same time heavenward to signify his thanks. - -“That’s the stuff, young fellers! Never seed the like, give ye my word -for hit. I’m glad ye writ me the name o’ the brand, an’ tells me whar I -kin git the same. I’m a-goin’ ter hev that coffee arter this, or know -the reason why.” - -He folded the paper bag, and thrust it in the outer pocket of his coat; -though Amos afterwards remembered seeing the corner of the packet -sticking out. - -Shortly afterwards Gabe took his departure. He gave one last look -around ere doing so. It might be to impress the appearance of all those -fine outing arrangements in his memory, so that he could recall them at -some future time, when sitting at his lone camp fire; or on the other -hand, possibly he wanted to know just how the camp was laid out, for -some other purpose, not so honorable. - -But the boys were glad to be rid of him. - -“Hope we never set eyes on Gabe again,” remarked Teddy, after they had -seen him pass out of sight, up the river. - -“Well, since he seems to be heading in the same direction we’re bound, -we might run across the man again,” remarked Dolph. “But honest now, -between us, Teddy, I couldn’t swallow all he said about hunting roots. -You see, the man doesn’t even have an idea what wild ginseng looks -like; and as for golden seal, he would pass it by every time, judging -from some remarks he made. Now, what would such an ignorant man want, -hunting valuable medicinal roots up here?” - -“But if not that, what is he after then?” queried Teddy with a frown on -his young face, as though a faint suspicion had even begun to trouble -him. - -“He knows you are the son of Mr. Overton, the president of the lumber -company; and he admits that he used to work for the opposition. Perhaps -he’s still in their employ, Teddy; perhaps he means to do something -to you, something that will give his company the whiphand over your -father.” - -It was Amos who said this; but Teddy laughed at such an idea. He -declared that the most they had to fear from Big Gabe was his thievish -propensity. Possibly he might be sorely tempted to come back, and try -to loot the camp. His actions had shown them that he was envious of -the fine guns they carried, as well as all those other things, the like -of which the man had never seen before. - -“I’m going to put in a couple of shells of the finest bird shot I’ve -got,” he went on to say, grimly; “and whichever one is on duty must -carry my Marlin. Then, if our friend does come creeping around, we’ll -pretend that we think it a bear or a cat, and blaze away. He’ll get his -jacket dusted, and limp a little, maybe; but he won’t try that dodge -again, I reckon.” - -“A good idea,” declared Dolph; and even Amos grinned; for in -imagination he could see that ill-natured giant, who had always been -the bully of the logging camp, going limping away, grunting with the -pain of the fine shot that Teddy kept for summer woodcock shooting in -the brush, where close shots were the rule. - -They sat down to talk a little before making arrangements for the -night; because both Teddy and Dolph were curious to hear what the woods -boy knew concerning the past tempestuous life of Big Gabe. - -And Amos, on his part, was quite willing to tell. His recollections of -the giant were not at all pleasing, for doubtless the boy must have -more than a few times felt the heavy hand of the man who, for some -years, had been reckoned the biggest bully among the Woodstock loggers. - -As they chatted, they kept their eyes constantly on the alert; just as -though Hackett would ever think of creeping back while the camp mates -were on the alert, rather than wait until they had entered the tent to -rest. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -EVIDENCE THAT TALKED - - -“Now tell us about Gabe, and how he came to be run out of the Woodstock -camp?” asked Teddy. - -“Why, it was this way,” began Amos, without the slightest hesitation; -“he’d been known as the bully for years and years. Many’s the man he -knocked down, and beat up terrible like, just for crossing him. They -were that afraid of Gabe, that when he told a silly story everybody -just roared. And I take it there ain’t anything to beat that, to -show how one man lords it over twenty. But his time came,” and Amos -snickered, as though even the recollection of what he had witnessed -gave him the greatest pleasure. - -“I suppose a bigger man than Gabe came to camp; and when set on, just -up and took him unawares?” suggested Dolph. - -“Took him unawares goes,” replied the other, “but as for the rest, just -listen. You saw how Gabe, he looked at me lots of times uneasy like. -Guess he knew I’d be telling you all about his fall, after he went -away. Mebbe that helped to hurry him off, too, because I guess he ain’t -never gotten over being touchy on that sore spot. Notice that he’d had -his nose broke, didn’t you?” - -“Why, yes, now that you mention it, there was a crook to it. Did the -new bully do that when he hit Gabe?” asked Teddy. - -“It was like this,” continued Amos, soberly. “We had a little Swede -named Larz, the quietest and most peaceful man you ever saw. Nobody had -ever seen him lift a hand to hit anything. He used to do whatever he -was told by the rest, and since they took him to be just a good-natured -fellow, why I guess they imposed on him a heap.” - -“Well, one night Gabe, who had been drinking, and was just wild for a -row with somebody, after trying all he could to get some of the men to -fight, picks on Larz. I think he struck him, and said something that -the Swede didn’t like one little bit. Just how he did it, nobody ever -knew. They heard the sound, and saw Big Gabe measure his length on the -floor, his head striking so hard that it must have made him see stars. -He started to get up, and was knocked flat again. And before Larz was -done, he’d made the big coward, who turned out to be only a bag of -wind, apologize to him before the whole shouting crowd.” - -“And after that, of course, Gabe never dared stay in camp a day. And he -quit the company too. They called Larz the Terrible Swede after that; -but the man became just as quiet as ever, and refused to take the place -vacated by the bully. That was about two years ago; and I haven’t set -eyes on Gabe till tonight. But I did hear he was doing all sorts of -things, from shooting game out of season, to netting bass when the game -and fish warden was far away and selling ’em in the towns. And now you -know all about him, as far as I can tell you.” - -Of course, both the other boys laughed heartily at the idea of that -husky logger being whipped by a mild-mannered, inoffensive man half his -size. - -“These Swedes can go the limit when they get their mad up,” Teddy -remarked. “We have a number working for us; and such dare-devil fellows -you never saw. Why, they think nothing of risking their lives in a log -jam; and hardly a year passes but what a number of serious accidents do -occur to them at one time or another. Sometimes it’s a tree falls on a -man; then again a slip of the ax cuts his foot terribly; and in spring, -when the freshet comes, and the logs start down, you just ought to see -what goes on. They’re a hard lot, it’s true, but a braver batch of men -it’d be impossible to find.” - -“I’d have given a lot to have had a picture of that little scrap,” -remarked Dolph, who was fond of taking snapshots with a kodak he -carried. - -“Well,” continued Amos, “you’d have had a fine chance at the time -little Larz was sitting on Gabe, and pounding him for keeps, until he -made him roar out that he’d had enough, and took back everything he’d -said. I’ll never forget it. Gabe won’t either, though he never went -back to get satisfaction being afraid that there were too many of that -logging crew who had a bone to pick with him.” - -“Yes, and I suppose nine out of ten believed they could down him, after -the little Swede had shown them the way,” added Dolph. - -“Now, about keeping an eye on our stuff tonight; how had we better -arrange it?” asked Teddy. - -“I could stay up on the watch,” remarked Amos. - -“Yes, one-third of the time, and that’s all,” the other quickly -observed. “You had it even harder than either of us, paddling against -that current; because there were two in our boat to change about. And -you’ve got to have some rest, as well as us. So here is what we’ll do; -divide up the time between now and dawn into three parts. I’ll stand -guard the first watch; then I’ll wake up Amos, and he’ll surely promise -to give you a punch when his time is out. Get that, fellows?” - -“Suits me all right,” declared Dolph; “and I don’t want any funny -business, either, about getting me up. I’d be as mad as a wet hen if -Amos lets me sleep on, and in that way cheated me out of my rights. We -agreed when we started out on this trip it was going to be share and -share alike, and no favors shown. Shall we crawl in now, Teddy, and -leave you to yourself?” - -“Yes; but remember to take my gun, everybody. He seemed to like it -better than yours, Dolph,” the lumberman’s son went on to remark. - -“Showed his good sense, that’s all; I’m not stuck on this gun half so -much as I used to be. If it goes back on me again, I’ll throw it away -after this trip, and get one like yours, Teddy. Come on, Amos, it’s -us to snatch a few winks, while our brave chum mounts guards over our -possessions.” - -Dolph was undeniably tired enough to welcome the chance for some -hours’ sleep. And it seemed to him that his head had hardly hit the -pillow, which consisted of a bag filled with the same kind of stuff -that constituted their beds, hemlock browse, stripped by hand from its -attendant stems, than he lost consciousness. - -He was suddenly aroused by a tremendous bang; and although for the -moment Dolph found himself unable to place himself, some sort of -intuition caused him to feel for his gun, and crawl hastily out of the -tent. - -Amos had been just ahead of him, and was on his feet as Dolph appeared. - -“What is it; more cats invading us?” demanded the latter, when he saw -the figure of Teddy just beyond the fire, in the act of half raising -his gun, as if tempted to shoot again. - -The other was laughing as if there might be something of a joke. - -“No cats this time,” he replied; “unless you choose to call two-legged -thieves by that name.” - -“Whew! did he come back, then?” gasped Dolph, as he suddenly remembered -their unwelcome visitor of the earlier evening, and the suspicion they -had entertained as to his thievish propensities. - -“I heard a sound as of somebody or _some thing_ creeping through -the bushes,” declared Teddy, “and making as sure as I could of the -direction, I let one shot go.” - -“Did he yelp?” demanded Amos, grinning as he remembered the fine, -dust-like shot which the owner of the repeating gun had said he meant -to use. - -“Well, I didn’t hear anything like that,” admitted Teddy. “If he got a -dose he sure knew how to keep a tight upper lip. But I felt certain I -heard a patter of feet on the pine needles, like somebody scooting off -in a big hurry. I was just thinking I’d like to give him another shot, -when you came out and interrupted me. Now it’s too late, because he’s -gone.” - -“But you ain’t sure of it, are you?” asked Dolph. - -“Well, I’m just dead certain that I heard those sounds; but of course -it might have been some sort of animal pattering away. Tell you what, -we’ll light the lantern, and take a look over there where I fired.” - -“Oh! do you expect to find drops of blood, or anything like that?” -asked Dolph, with a little catch in his voice. - -“Hardly, but we might be able to run across a trail; and Amos here is -a pretty good hand at reading signs. Get some clothes on, both of you; -then we’ll take our lantern, and see.” - -Apparently, then, Teddy must have considerable faith in the theory -he had advanced, since he was ready to put it to the test of an -examination. So both Dolph and the woods boy hastened to get their -missing garments, not being as warmly clad as they would like, when it -came to standing around in that night air. - -Presently they made their reappearance again, and better prepared to -undertake the adventure which Teddy had proposed. He led them in a -direct line, as though he had been taking exact note, and knew where to -look. - -“See here, you can see where my charge of shot cut through this lower -limb of this tree, and sent a lot of green stuff to the ground. But -I’m a little afraid, fellows, that we’re going to have some trouble -locating anything like footprints; because, you see, the ground’s as -hard as all get-out around here.” - -Ten seconds later, and Teddy came to a stop. - -“Now, as near as I could say,” he remarked, “this ought to be about -where he was at the time I fired. See anything, Amos?” - -Carrying the lantern, the woods boy was carefully examining the ground. -He scratched his head as he looked up. - -“Nothing doing yet, as I can see,” he remarked. “Just as you said, -Teddy, the ground is as hard as the mischief right here. I might come -on some sign where p’raps he broke off a twig when he hurried so, to -get away. That’s what I’m really looking for right now; something -that’ll tell there was a sneaker here.” - -“Hope you find it, then, Amos,” said Teddy, who was more or less -chagrined because he had not been able, thus far, to advance the -necessary proof, in order to show he had not been mistaken in his -belief; and that it really was a man, probably Hackett, whose -retreating footsteps he claimed to have heard, after firing at random. - -Amos did not give up so easily. He seemed to just _feel_ that there -should be some sort of evidence at hand, if one did not tire hunting -for the same. And so, holding his lantern low, he kept looking to the -right and to the left. - -All at once the others heard him give an exclamation; and Teddy felt -that there was something akin to delight in the cry. - -“Found the trail, have you, Amos?” he demanded joyously. - -“No trail, but something better,” came the answer. “Come here, both of -you. What do you make that out to be?” - -He pointed to some object on the ground. It looked like a bunch of -paper. Teddy bent down and secured possession of the thing, which he -instantly raised to his nose, as though anxious to make doubly sure. - -“Some of our coffee, by the great horn spoon!” he exclaimed, “and since -we know who carried this away, stuck in his pocket, why, it ain’t a -hard thing to guess now, is it, that Big Gabe came back, meaning to -take away either one of our canoes, or, failing that, my dandy repeater -here. Well, I only hope he carried off some of the charge that was in -the barrel of this same gun.” - -Solemnly the package was passed around, each of the others smelling -of it, and then nodding an assent to the explanation advanced by Teddy -Overton. The pretended hunter for wild ginseng had come back, filled -with a desire to lay hands on more of that delicious coffee, or some of -the other possessions of the camp mates. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -DOLPH MEETS SOMETHING - - -After they broke camp on the following morning, the three boys looked -back to the spot where the tent had lately been pitched, and exchanged -remarks concerning the strange happenings of the night. - -“One thing I’m glad for?” remarked Dolph; “that storm concluded it -didn’t have a call in this direction. Thought I heard the faraway -rumble of thunder once or twice, when it was my turn on duty; but I may -have been mistaken. Anyhow, it’s a pretty enough morning to eat.” - -“Oh! we’ve got plenty to be thankful for,” laughed Teddy, who was -feeling extra joyous it seemed. “Just think, if that big black-browed -pirate had chosen to stay over with us, what a hole he’d have made in -our grub chest this morning. As it is, we got off cheap by bribing him -to go, with that cup of ground coffee; and as sure as you live, we even -got that back again!” - -“Do you think we’ll make the lake by night time?” asked Dolph, knowing -that his chum carried a little chart of the peninsula about him, and -was making good use of the same in planning their various moves. - -“Ought to,” Teddy replied, thoughtfully, “unless we peg out too soon, -with this hard business of playing the spruce blade. I can tell better -by noon. If we reach that point in front of the wild cranberry marsh, -we ’ll be more than half way there, and should be able to cover the -balance easy enough.” - -“I hope we do,” Dolph went on to say. - -“Now, you’re thinking of trying those flies you brought along, on the -bass they say inhabit that same lake, and of whopping size too,” Teddy -jokingly remarked. - -“Oh! I acknowledge the corn,” the other admitted, candidly; “because I -do happen to be mighty fond of fishing at any and all times. If I can -toss a fly, and get’em, so much the better; but if they won’t whiff at -the feathered lure, why, then I turn to a frog, a minnow, artificial -bait, a trolling spoon, and last, but not always least, the worm. I’m -bound to get fish _some_ way or other, if they’re to be had.” - -“I wonder if we’ll meet up with him again?” mused Teddy, as he sank his -paddle deep into the running water of the Manistique, and started the -canoe up stream with a steady muscular push. - -“Meaning our big friend, Gabe?” inquired the other, following suit on -his side of the boat; while Amos was already some forty feet in the -van, being a most accomplished waterdog, for he had spent half of his -life swimming and paddling around. - -“Yes, Gabe. You see he headed upstream, and that would mean he meant to -keep on the same course we are following. I’d rather it was the other -way; for after my shooting at him, I’m afraid he’ll feel uglier than -ever toward us.” - -“Let him,” remarked the good-natured Dolph, easily; “we’ve done nothing -to him. Anybody would have a right to bang away, if they thought a bear -or a cat was sneaking about the camp. And besides, he told us he was -going off; so he couldn’t very well make out that we knew it was him -creeping back. For one I’m going to forget all about Gabe, except that -at night-times perhaps I’ll remember to keep one eye open for intruders -that ain’t cats.” - -“Too bad you didn’t have a chance to snap him off,” said Teddy. “He’d -make a fine addition to the pictures you’re gathering, to show what -happened to us on the trip.” - -“Gabe happened, all right. And we ought to keep that coffee, to present -to him if ever he shows up again,” Dolph went on to say, with a laugh. -“I’d like to watch his face turn red, if it could get any more so than -it is now, when he saw from our looks that we were on to his little -wrinkle.” - -“Why not get a line out as we go along?” Teddy asked. “You might pick -up a trout or two with an artificial minnow. There are lots of likely -places. Perhaps there are black bass here, too. Most of the rivers in -Michigan are full of gamey fighters. I’ve taken them out of the St. -Mary’s, that gave me all the fun anybody could ever want.” - -“Oh! I’m not so greedy as all that, or so fish hungry, either. I like -to attend to my rod when I’m fishing, and not trust to luck to have the -trout or bass hook himself. Besides, I’ve got about as much as I want, -keeping tabs of your paddling, and making out to match you every time. -We can camp on the lake a few days, and I reckon I’ll have all the -fishing I want.” - -“Well, I take it that’s sensible of you, after all, Dolph. Some boys, -and men too, are so cracked over fishing that they get on your nerves. -And as you say, paddling a canoe against this fierce current is about -all any decent fellow ought to think of doing at a time. Look out for -that snag; it’s got an ugly point, too. Thought at first it was the -head of a water snake sticking up; or a snapping turtle, mebbe. Did you -ever see any one handle a paddle like Amos? I never could learn like -that. He doesn’t seem to make half the effort that we do, and yet see -his boat, how it eats up against the stream.” - -“I suppose it’s just because he knows how to do it, and where to place -every ounce of force expended. Some fellows are born paddlers; and -others seem to keep on bunglers all their lives. I guess I belong to -that class,” and Dolph Bradley laughed in his jolly fashion, as though -he did not mean to let such a little thing bother him, at any rate. - -“Oh! rats! when you know you’re better than I am by several degrees. -But then we’ve got little to be ashamed of as things go. Only Amos -is away up in a class all by himself. Look at the way he dips in, -will you, not a sound, not a drop spilled. That’s the way to handle -a paddle, when out at night after deer, with a jack; which way of -hunting is knocked on the head these days in most States though, -because too many deer were wounded, and ran away, only to die. I never -had a chance to try it, I must say, did you, Dolph?” - -“Once, down in Florida, and when I wasn’t hunting deer at all, but -shining ’gators along the border of a swamp. I had a darky paddling me, -and he pointed to a pair of eyes that he said must be a ’gator; so I -banged away, having a scatter gun, and using buckshot shells. We heard -something kick, and going ashore found a young deer lying there. I was -put out, because I wouldn’t have shot the little thing for any amount -of money. And from that day to this I’ve kept the promise I made to -myself right then and there.” - -“What was that?” asked Teddy, although he thought he could guess. - -“Never on any account to shoot at something that I didn’t have a pretty -good idea as to what it was. Why, it gave me the creeps to think that -it might just as well have been a little black pickaninny, staring out -at our light; for there was a cabinful not far away.” - -Talking in this fashion, the boys beguiled the time away. Often Amos -would hold up, it might be to join in the conversation; or possibly -to draw their attention to some interesting object that had caught his -eye. For although Amos had lived his entire life in the woods, save the -short time he chanced to attend school, he had an artistic temperament, -and his eye unerringly picked out beautiful vistas through the woods, -which seemed to fairly ravish his soul. Indeed, more than once Teddy -had openly declared that if Amos failed to become a doctor, one of -these days, as his ambition led him to hope he would, he would surely -turn out to be a painter; for he discovered beauties in Nature that -neither of the others noticed until the woods boy called attention to -them. - -They kept this constant motion up hour after hour. It was tiresome, -of course, but then these boys had persistence well developed, and -knew that if they hoped to camp that night on the lake, they must keep -everlastingly at it. - -And just before the sun had climbed to the zenith, or as near as he -meant to ascend, Teddy gave a squawk of delight. - -“There’s the place we’re going to spend an hour or two at, fellows, -just ahead, yonder, where that tree bends down over the water.” - -“That’s a point of land marked on my chart. Just back of it lies a big -natural cranberry marsh, where the reds grow thick in the fall; but you -see, it’s so far from everywhere, that few of them ever get to market.” - -“I want to step back, and take a look at that same marsh myself,” -remarked Dolph. “Don’t believe I ever saw a real wild cranberry bog, -though I’ve been in one down in New Jersey near Barnagat, where they -cultivated the berries. I was having one of those famous sneakboats -built by an old bayman, and paid him a visit to try how it worked that -fall, on the waters there, with a few ducks coming in. Going to land -right here, Teddy?” - -“Amos has picked out the best place; trust his eagle eye for seeing it. -Run her up alongside his canoe. That’s the ticket. Now, all ashore and -stretch!” - -It certainly felt good to be able to stand up, and get what Teddy -called the “kinks” out of their legs. - -As it had been decided to spend some little time here, seeing they -could now easily reach their intended destination ere nightfall, Amos -started a fire, meaning to have a pot of cheering coffee. Teddy busied -himself about something that he had laid out to do, while on the river -that morning; and Dolph, to pass the time away, sauntered back, to find -a way of looking over the cranberry marsh. - -He came back presently, and began to take out a fishing rod, quite a -stiff one in the bargain. - -“What’s up?” demanded Teddy, watching these preparations curiously. -“Thought you said you didn’t expect to catch a fish until we got to the -lake?” - -“Well, I don’t,” replied the other, chuckling, “you wouldn’t call frogs -fish, now, would you?” - -“Frogs! Oh! I see, you’ve discovered that the grunting we heard back -there came from a colony of big greenbacks, eh? Well, I hope you’ve got -some red flannel, or if not, then a red ibis bass fly along with you. -They’ll jump at it like hot cakes; and you’ll nearly die laughing to -see the circus that takes place when they find that they just can’t let -go. But I see you know all about it, because you’ve shortened your line -to a foot, and fastened it around your reel handle. Going to put ’em in -that covered bucket, are you? Well, good luck! A dozen saddles wouldn’t -be any too big a mess, Dolph. Call you when the coffee is boiling.” - -So Dolph went away, hurrying, for he was considerably excited over the -chance to capture a mess of the frogs; because if there was one dish he -was fond of, it could be set down as frogs’ legs, nicely browned; why, -in his mind they were better than the finest spring chicken ever grown. - -Teddy went on with the task he had set out to perform; while Amos -busied himself with his cooking fire, which of course differed from the -usual big camp fire about which the canoe cruisers liked to sit, after -their evening meal was over. - -Amos found stones to suit him, and built a cairn that was something -like fourteen inches wide at the mouth, tapering along until at the -other end it did not exceed four inches. On this he could place both -frying-pan and coffee-pot, if both were to be used. And in the cavity, -he proceeded to coax a red fire by adding just the proper kind and -amount of small fuel. - -Not more than six or seven minutes had passed when the two boys were -startled by hearing Dolph shouting wildly at the top of his voice; and -they judged that he was coming toward the camp with all the speed he -could command. - -“Bear! Big black bear! and chasing after me! Hurry up, and bring a gun, -somebody! Quick! he’s right after me, I tell you! Whoop!” No wonder -that both boys hurriedly snatched up a gun apiece, never looking to see -whose these happened to be, and ran toward the spot from whence the cry -for help proceeded. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE WAY TO FISH FOR BULL FROGS - - -Here was a pretty how-dye-do; Dolph going innocently back to the -cranberry bog to pick up a dinner of frogs’ legs, and being chased by a -savage old bear! - -Somebody did get a move on, as Dolph had pleaded for them to do; -everybody did, in fact; for Teddy dropped whatever he was doing, -snatched up a gun, and put out as fast as he could run; while Amos, -forgetting all about the chances of his fire going out just when it -needed the most attention, followed close in the footsteps of his camp -mate, also armed with a deadly weapon. - -There was not the slightest difficulty in locating the scene of -operations. The continued whoops of Dolph did that all right for them. - -All at once the yells ceased, as if by magic, and a fear gripped the -would-be rescuers that they were, alas, too late to be of help. Then -they heard what sounded like a hysterical laugh, followed by the -exclamation: - -“Well, I’ll be hanged, if that ain’t a good one on me!” - -That was Dolph’s well known voice; there could not be the slightest -doubt about it; and to judge from the fact of his actually uttering a -sort of laugh, it seemed as though Bruin could not have eaten him up, -as yet. Both gallant rescuers felt vastly encouraged, and emboldened to -push right on. - -Breaking through a fringe of bushes they were just in time to catch -a last glimpse of a badly rattled black bear, putting for all he was -worth into the adjacent scrubbery, and never looking back once to -ascertain whether or not he was being pursued by the object that had so -thoroughly frightened him. - -Dolph was standing there, panting heavily, and yet shaking all over at -the same time, either with nervousness, or an inclination to laugh at -his late scare, possibly both. - -“He’s vamosed, has he?” queried Teddy, drily, though both he and Amos -were conscious of feeling a broad grin creeping over their respective -faces. - -“Why, yes, seems like he has,” replied Dolph, heaving a deep sigh of -relief, “and I’m right glad of it. Honest to goodness, fellows, he -made straight at me, and had on his fighting face to boot. I thought -it was a she bear with cubs; and you know they’re always ready for a -scrap. That’s why I whooped it up like I did. I was a little bothered, -I admit; yes, considerably so, if you will have it. Because, you see, I -couldn’t very well stand off a ferocious bear with one little fishing -rod, could I? What if he’d grabbed that red ibis fly, was I to try -and play him? Not much. All I knew just then was that I had a very -important engagement in the next county. And while I was trying my -best to keep it, I thought it my duty to send you fellows warning, so -you wouldn’t be scared when he bobbed in on you. And I couldn’t seem -to make up my mind which tree I wanted to climb, either; not that it -mattered much, because black bears climb like monkeys. But anyway, -whatever do you think made him take after me like that?” - -“Mebbe he thought you wanted to steal some of his pets, the frogs,” -suggested Amos, pleasantly. - -“Rather say he wanted to give you a try in a wrestle; these black bears -have got a hug that will crack a man’s ribs, if you let ’em get the -right hold,” was what Teddy advanced as his theory, but with a twinkle -in his eye that plainly proclaimed that he was joking. - -“Seriously, now, Teddy, what do you think made him chase after me so? I -hadn’t bothered him, thrown sticks at him, or even said ‘boo!’ when he -started straight toward me on the jump, making the queerest sounds you -ever heard.” - -“Well, if you want my honest, unadulterated opinion,” said Teddy, -“here it is, I happen to know this same cranberry bog. It’s surrounded -on nearly every side by swampy ground, where you heard those big -frogs tuning their bass notes. In fact, right here is the only way of -reaching the bog dry-shod. A sort of natural causeway leads to it, -so to speak. Now, Mr. Bear knew that as well as I do. He had used -that same many a time in the past. When he saw you, he was scared, -and wanted to get away the worst kind. You happened to be blocking -his passage, and so he had to gallop toward you. He was grunting in -fright, that’s what caused him to make those queer sounds. Perhaps he -hoped to squeeze past you. But one thing sure, Dolph, while you had a -scare, that poor bear was the worse rattled of the two. Right now he is -congratulating himself on having got off with his life!” - -“There might be another around, because bears often hunt in couples?” -suggested Dolph. - -“Wouldn’t be surprised; and I reckon there goes all our hopes of frogs’ -legs for dinner tonight,” remarked Teddy, dejectedly. - -“Well, I guess not,” said the other, with a compression of his lips, “I -see you snatched up my gun in your hurry. Let me have it. I’ll keep it -handy, and then I don’t care a hang for all the old bears in Michigan. -Who’s afraid? Go back to your jobs, fellows, and many thanks for saving -my precious life.” - -Laughing at his merry mood, Teddy and Amos did turn about, the latter -running back, for fear lest his newly-started fire might have suffered -during his short absence. - -Dolph walked on into the cranberry marsh. He found that the ground was -fairly covered with the plants, and that an abundant crop of berries -seemed assured for the coming fall. Already in many instances they -were taking on a pinkish tinge, although they would hardly be fit for -picking before the first frost. - -But a mere glance around was enough for Dolph just then. As he had -said, a cranberry bog was not a new sight to him, though this chanced -to be the first wild uncultivated one he had ever gazed upon. - -Just now he had other fish to fry. Those big deep-toned bull-frogs had -opened up again, and were loudly accusing each other of having had -“more rum” than was good for them. - -Dolph knew just how to go about it, and was presently having “more fun -than a circus,” as he called it. But evidently the frogs did not enjoy -the picnic so much as the fisherman; but then, whoever considers what -the feelings of the submerged half is, when in quest of food? - -Discovering just where a monster was squatted on the bank, uttering -sounds like the lowing of a bull, Dolph would creep up behind him, -until he could glimpse his intended quarry. Then he would elevate his -stiff rod, and allow that flaming bunch of red feathers to descend in -front of the creature’s nose. There would be a start, the bull-frog -could be seen to half crouch down, after the manner of a sly cat, and -then he would jump up at the tempting lure, which, of course, the poor -silly thing believed to be the finest moth it had ever seen. After that -it was ludicrous in one way to see how badly he wanted to let go, and -couldn’t. But Dolph wasted no more time, and quickly put an end to the -acrobatic stunts of the hooked frog. - -Then he would go on to the next serenader, whose song might prove just -as much a symbol of his approaching end as that which the swan is said -to give vent to, when death draws near. - -So it went on, and the load Dolph was carrying kept on getting heavier; -while his visions of a treat in the way of frogs’ legs for supper kept -advancing with each new capture. - -When Teddy blew the conch shell as a signal that lunch was ready, the -coffee having boiled sufficiently, on counting his prizes, Dolph found -that he had just fourteen, almost five apiece. - -He came staggering into camp with his load, to be greeted with much -clapping of hands, and all sorts of suggestive gestures, which were -calculated to tell what pleasure the other two anticipated from the -results of his raid on the frog preserves guarded by that bear. - -After they had eaten their noon meal, Dolph busied himself in preparing -the catch. Of course he lacked some of the dexterity of the man in the -French market, who can take off the saddles in such wonderfully fast -time; but then Dolph manipulated his hunting knife with good results, -and in the end the load to be carried had diminished considerably. - -“Fourteen splendid saddles,” declared the pleased frog fisherman, as -he gazed down at his catch. “And we’ll have the finest dinner tonight -either of you ever set your teeth into; I give you my word on that. -Just wait, and get good and hungry. You can have your fill for once.” - -“How do you cook the blooming things?” asked Teddy, looking a little -dubiously at the array of double hind-legs spread out, in what Dolph -considered a most tempting way. “You see, I never yet have tried one, -though Amos here says he has, many a time. But they do look kind of -nice and clean, just like chicken breast.” - -“You’ll say they are like the most tender spring chicken you ever saw,” -remarked Dolph. “Of course, there is a suspicion of fish about them, -so you must remember that it’s frogs you’re having. How do I cook ’em? -Why, exactly like we do trout. Sizzle out some salt pork, and have -plenty of the grease, and piping hot. Then wet your frog legs, and roll -them in the cracker crumbs. If you haven’t any, corn meal would answer. -After that, just let them get as pretty a brown all over as you can; -and then start in for a grand time. That’s all. Just hold your horses, -and see. You’ll never hear an old granddaddy frog tuning up again, -without smacking your lips, and looking around for something to spear -him with.” - -After a while the cruisers of the Upper Peninsula once more started up -the Manistique. The current was getting somewhat less strong now, and -hence they did not have to fight quite so hard in order to shove their -craft against it. - -The time passed as usual. Now they indulged in an exchange of -pleasantries, with more or less laughter, that sprang from boyish -hearts not yet burdened with the cares and responsibilities of life. -Then again they would sing some popular ditty, all of them having fair -voices, that seemed to blend splendidly; for Teddy had a high tenor, -Amos a baritone, while Dolph could come in with a pretty fair article -of bass that added harmony to the whole, though he would never venture -it alone. - -The sun was now more than half way down its regular afternoon route -toward the western horizon. - -“We must be getting somewhere near there,” Dolph suggested, as he got -on his knees, to change the swing of his stroke, but more because he -felt dreadfully cramped sitting in one position so long. - -“I was just thinking that way myself, and if I remember the lay of -things at all, we ought to glimpse the lake inside of the next ten -minutes. How about that, Amos?” - -“I think the same way,” replied the woods boy, nodding his head, and -smiling. - -“For one, then, I won’t be sorry,” declared Dolph, frankly. “My back’s -as humped as an old man’s seventy years old; and one of my legs has -gone to sleep so hard I’m afraid it never will wake up again.” - -“Oh! well, then I suppose Amos and myself will have to cook those -frogs’ legs, and make way with the entire bunch, after all,” sighed -Teddy. - -“Wow! don’t you believe it!” exclaimed Dolph. “Why, honest, I can feel -a quiver in my dead leg right away. I’m good for my share, and I’m -going to cook ’em too, just you make sure of that, my hearty.” - -“There’s the lake!” cried Amos at that interesting juncture, and Dolph -was so excited by the news that he tried to stand up in the canoe, -spreading his feet so as to steady the frail craft, and came near -taking a header over the side, as one of his legs refused to bear his -weight; but all the same he managed to shout: - -“It is, for a fact. Three cheers for a camp on Manistique Lake!” - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -ON THE SHORE OF THE LAKE - - -“Let’s turn up this side, and keep right along for an hour,” Teddy -suggested, after the canoes had kissed the waters of the lake. - -“What’s the idea?” asked Dolph. - -“Well, only a liking on my part to camp as much on the east shore of a -lake as I can, when I have the choice,” replied the other. - -“But the storms generally come from the west,” Dolph went on to say, -“and if one hits you plumb in the face, it’s kind of disagreeable.” - -“Hang the storms. One ge-lorious sunset over the water makes up for -half a dozen blows. And then, on a hot summer night, it’s nice to catch -all the cool air that stirs.” - -“Perhaps you’re right, Teddy. Anyhow, we’ll risk it on your word. -To tell the honest truth, I’m that hungry right now, I don’t care a -continental where we camp, just so Amos gets one of his bully cooking -fires going.” - -“Oh! it’s frogs’ legs that tempts you!” scoffed Teddy. - -Dolph smacked his lips as he replied: - -“In fancy I can smell them now; and after you’ve had your first taste, -chances are Amos and me, why, we’ll have to spear our share out of the -pan in a big hurry, for fear we won’t get it. There’s just one thing -troubling me.” - -“What’s that?” demanded Teddy. - -“Why, there’s only fourteen saddles, you see,” Dolph sighed. - -“Well, goodness knows that ought to be enough,” laughed his canoe mate. - -“But unfortunately it happens that fourteen doesn’t divide by three.” - -“Oh! is that what you’re worrying about?” Teddy exclaimed. - -“Somebody can only have four saddles,” Dolph went on. “I imagine the -poor fellow’s feelings when his appetite keeps on calling for another, -and he sees his comrades holding up a tempting morsel on their forks, -but none for him! It is a terrible thought.” - -“Make your mind easy, old fellow. Never despair. See, I’m game enough -to offer myself as the victim. I’ll take just four as my portion,” -Teddy cried out. - -“I refuse to accept the noble sacrifice. We’ll have to draw lots,” -said Dolph, with an air of determination; while Amos listened to the -humorous dialogue with a broad smile of appreciation on his face. - -“But I mightn’t like frogs’ legs; I’ve never tried ’em before,” -insisted Teddy. - -The other made a scornful gesture. - -“No danger of that happening. You’ll just adore them, and I know it. -And we’ll certainly have to draw lots to see who has to curtail his -appetite.” - -“Oh! well, just as you say; I don’t want to kick up any row in the -family.” Teddy concluded, with the resigned air of one who gives in in -order to keep the peace, yet still clings to his opinion. - -“You went and blew that horn on me too soon,” complained Dolph. - -“But the coffee was all ready,” said Teddy. - -“Yes, and I’d just discovered the granddaddy of all the bull frogs. He -was sitting there, winking at me. And I could see he just loved queer -red bugs that came down to dangle in front of his nose. I make it a -rule never to disobey a call to dinner, and that’s why I failed to get -the fifteenth. Wish I’d gone back, now.” - -“There’s the place for our camp, I guess,” exclaimed Teddy just then. - -Both of the other canoe cruisers united in voicing their appreciation -for Teddy’s selection. Indeed, it seemed as though Nature had taken -especial pains to create an ideal site for a summer camp. - -There were enough trees for shade, without interfering too much with -their view of the lake. The ground had a gentle slope that promised -them immunity from a flooded tent in case of heavy rain. And there was -the clear water of the lake within reach, for all purposes—drinking if -need be, fishing, boating and swimming. - -Could anyone ask more? - -There was the nicest little beach just in front, where the canoes could -be landed. And as the three lads jumped ashore, they felt satisfied -that the conditions could not possibly be improved on. - -As they expected to stay in this camp for several days, it was only -natural that they should go to some little extra care in doing things. - -For instance, after the tent had been raised, Teddy and Dolph took -hatchet and knife, and dug a little sluice in a crescent shape around -the side that was up the slope. This was calculated to turn any water -aside that might, during a storm, have a tendency to creep under the -tent, and wet the piece of canvas they always used as a “floor.” - -Then Amos, too, used extra care in building his stone fire place. They -had a sort of gridiron arrangement along with them, which, composed of -cross sections or bars, could be opened very much after the manner of -the drawing arrangement used in some schools for copying designs. - -When open it was very nearly two feet square, and yet it could be -squeezed into the smallest compass imaginable when not in use. - -Amos built his fire place to fit this “spider” as he called it. Once -the arrangement was completed they could set the coffee pot and skillet -on this frame without the slightest danger of an upset, such as so -often disturbs the harmony of a camp. - -Besides, once the fire got down to red embers, the bars of this grate -were useful to hold pieces of toasting bread—when there was any in -store. - -And so, after all these things had been looked after, and the sun shone -very red across the lake, Dolph was called upon to exhibit his skill as -a cook. - -When, just as twilight came stealing through the pine woods, supper was -announced, Teddy was seen to sniff the heavily charged air in a manner -so full of eager appreciation that the cook felt constrained to call -out: - -“Remember what I said about drawing lots for the two extras.” - -He watched Teddy eagerly as the other forked his first “saddle,” pulled -it apart, and took his first bite. There were no words spoken; none -were needed, since actions always speak louder than any language. - -Teddy hesitated, and Dolph frowned; then suddenly a look of deep -satisfaction chased away this cloud from the face of the cook; for -Teddy was gnawing savagely at both frogs legs at the same time, as -though that single taste had set him fairly wild, and grunting like a -satisfied porker, as he ate. - -But three seemed to be his limit. - -“Mighty fine, all right, Mr. Cook,” he declared, “and next time set me -down for a round half dozen; but just now I draw the line at three. -It’s a queer dish, you know, and a fellow had better go a little slow -till he gets used to it.” - -“But that leaves an extra saddle, just like before. Don’t you think you -could get away with just one more, to save trouble?” pleaded Dolph. - -“Not on your life. I’ve had enough, and I know it. I don’t want to -overeat, and get a distaste for such a fine dish. Draw lots for the odd -one, you and Amos. And I’ll hold the straws. Long one eats my share.” - -It fell to Dolph. - -“But you’re welcome to it, if you really care for another, Amos,” he -said, generously. - -The result of all this talking was that there were just _three_ saddles -left over. Dolph and Amos were stalled at four each. - -“They were as fine as silk,” declared the cook, as he wrapped the -remnants of the feast in some clean paper, to be eaten for lunch on the -following day, “but they were such whoppers, I just couldn’t make way -with more than four.” - -“Then I did pretty well for a beginner, didn’t I?” asked Teddy. - -“Oh! you’re going to make the champion frog leg eater of the bunch,” -Dolph replied, with a laugh. “Why I only nibbled at _my_ first taste, -and it took me some time to really appreciate them. But you took to ’em -as easily as a duck does to water.” - -They had a fairly quiet night, all told. A few mosquitoes sang around, -and Teddy vowed he would have the net up another time. - -Then a loon out on the lake uttered its discordant cry several times, -after the moon had arisen. But taken in all, the boys found little to -complain of in this, their first night’s camp on Lake Manistique. - -When another day came, they knocked around camp for some time. - -“Where’s Amos gone?” asked Teddy, as he came up from the canoes, to -find Dolph the sole occupant of the camp, and busy rigging up a fishing -outfit, as if he wanted to try the bass in the lake. - -“Oh! he heard me say I wished we had some honey for those fine flap -jacks he made for breakfast,” replied Dolph. - -“And just like the bully fellow he is, Amos has trotted off to see if -he can’t discover a bee tree somewhere, eh? Well, I sure hope he does. -I like honey pretty well myself, sometimes. Going to try the bass, eh, -Dolph.” - -“I hope they take the ibis half as greedily as those big bull-frogs -did. I couldn’t ask anything better,” replied the other, as he walked -down to the canoes. - -These had been completely emptied of everything but the paddles. - -Teddy saw his chum paddle away, and watched him following the shore of -the lake, gaily casting his gaudy flies in every shadowy spot. - -“Hello! he’s struck one, and a jim-dandy fish, too, if that bent rod -stands for anything! Whew! look at him jump out, would you? That’s -the finest bass I’ve seen for many a day. Good boy, Dolph, you know -how to manage the tricky thing. He didn’t fall on the line, and tear -loose that time, for you lowered the tip handsomely. Go it again, you -fighter. Makes my fingers tingle just to see it going on. But one steel -fly rod is all we’ve got along. Another time I’ll take a turn at it.” - -He watched Dolph land three fish inside of half an hour. - -Then something caught Teddy’s attention at the camp, and he went back, -only to return half an hour later. - -Look as he would he could not see his chum. - -“Like as not he’s in one of the little bays,” Teddy remarked to -himself, “where the trees make a shadow on the water. Perhaps he’s on -the way back to camp. Guess I might as well—hello! now, I wonder what -that is, swimming out there in the lake? I declare, it looks like—yes, -it _must_ be a big buck deer! I can see his antlers plain now! And he’s -heading to strike the shore over on this side, too!” - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE FIGHTING BUCK - - -After watching the progress of the swimming deer for a few minutes, a -sudden idea flashed into the mind of Teddy. - -“Wonder if I could work that camera of Dolph’s now?” he exclaimed. -“It’d be a bully good picture to get that buck swimming.” - -He hurried to the tent, and snatched up the little kodak. - -Another minute and he had launched the second canoe, and was wielding -the paddle for all he was worth. Teddy headed in such fashion as to -intercept the swimming animal, and keep him from reaching land. It was -not his purpose to attempt to do the buck any injury, simply to have -some fun; though, of course, the animal had no means of understanding -that. - -Before Teddy had gone a hundred yards he discovered his chum in one of -the small bays, still trailing his cast of flies over the water. - -“Hi! Dolph! deer swimming! Come out, and help have some fun with him,” -was what Teddy shouted. - -And Dolph, apparently nothing loth, started to paddle vigorously, -meaning to join the other as he came along. - -The deer had taken the alarm, and changed his course. He was now headed -so as to reach a tongue of land that jutted out into the lake. - -But the canoes could move four feet to his one. Rapidly they overhauled -him. Still, there was nothing for the buck to do but keep doggedly on. -Plainly though, he was alarmed and “putting in his best licks” as Teddy -said. - -“I’ve got your kodak along,” cried Teddy, as the two canoes drew close -together. - -“Good for you,” Dolph replied. - -“Thought we’d like to get a picture of the deer swimming the lake.” - -“Crack him off now, then, Teddy.” - -“I’d rather you’d manage it,” said the other. “I might make a bad job -of it, and never hear the end of the joke. Pull in a little closer, and -I’ll throw it over. Be sure and catch it now.” - -The change was successfully completed. And although neither of the -boys dreamed of such a thing just then, it was fated to prove a very -fortunate idea on the part of Teddy. At least, it saved the kodak from -ending its usefulness at the bottom of the lake. - -“Let’s surround him,” suggested Dolph, after he had managed to snap off -one view. “I’d like to get a closer shot at him.” - -“All right,” agreed Teddy, ready for anything, “you go that way, and -I’ll head him off. How’d it do to catch hold of his short tail, and -make him tow the canoe?” - -“Great stunt for a picture!” declared Dolph excitedly. - -What the buck thought about it, no one seemed to care. Teddy put on -a little extra spurt of speed, and circled around the deer. Then he -headed directly at the swimmer. The buck swerved a little, and Teddy, -now crouched in the bow of his canoe, leaned forward. - -“All ready for a shot, Dolph?” he shouted. The buck was swimming -gallantly, and desperately, too. - -“Now, snap away!” whooped Teddy, reaching down, and clutching the short -tail of the deer. - -What happened just then was never very clear to Teddy. The buck must -have turned upon him, when insult was added to injury. He heard -the “click” of the kodak; then something rammed the frail canoe so -furiously that Teddy went headlong into the lake. - -Being a good swimmer, the boy instantly struck out. It happened -fortunately that at the time he was only wearing a sleeveless tunic, -also a pair of trousers and tennis shoes, for the day had turned out -quite warm. - -When Teddy arose to the surface, after his hasty dive, he shook his -head in his accustomed way, to get the wet hair away from his eyes. - -The first thing he heard was Dolph roaring: - -“Look out! He’s coming after you! He’s a fighter, all right! Dive, -Teddy, dive!” - -And then, sure enough, Teddy saw the buck. For the time being the -animal seemed to have forgotten how anxious he had been to reach the -shore. Revenge was what he appeared to be after now. Teddy had placed -an indignity upon him when pulling his tail, that no self-respecting -buck could stand. - -Teddy saw it was useless attempting to get into the canoe again, with -that angry beast in full chase. The tables had turned, and it was now -Teddy who was being pursued. - -He was a good swimmer, but perhaps the deer was even better. So it -seemed as if Dolph’s suggestion might be the best after all. By diving -under the water he would leave the vengeful buck in the lurch. - -Just how the deer might have attacked him, whether with horns or hoofs, -or both together, Teddy did not know. He did not stop to find out, but -went down like a shot, meaning to swim under water for the floating -canoe. - -He must have made a pretty accurate, if hasty, calculation, for when -he arose to the surface again, he was just behind his canoe, which had -righted after tossing its occupant out. - -“What’s he doing now, Dolph?” called Teddy, when he could get rid of -some of the water he had half swallowed, and draw in fresh breath. - -“Going around in a circle trying to find you,” came the reply. - -“Head him off if he looks this way even. I’ve had all the deer hunt I -want today,” declared the boy in the water. - -“All right, now; he’s turned to the shore. I guess he thinks you’ve -drowned,” announced Dolph. - -Whereupon Teddy grew bold enough to peep around one end of his canoe, -and finding that it was just as Dolph said, he proceeded to climb in -over the stern, by straddling the same, the only way a canoe can be -entered from the water. - -“Pick up both paddles, will you, Dolph? Well, can you beat that? I’ve -had some queer things happen to me, but that’s the first time I ever -had a deer give me a ducking. Good joke on me, Dolph.” - -“You’ll say so when you see the picture,” chuckled the other. - -“What! did you strike me off?” gasped Teddy. - -“Just when you were going over,” laughed Dolph. “Wouldn’t be surprised -but what it’ll show what made the canoe turn partly over, because I saw -the deer do it. There’s the marks of his horns right now, where they -scratched the green paint.” - -“Well, don’t that beat all? I’m glad we met up with that old buck. Say, -he’s some scrapper, let me tell you. Look at him climbing out on the -bank, Dolph! Aint he feeling proud, though? See him shake his antlers, -and strike his hoof on the ground. You put it all over your Uncle -Teddy, that time, old chap. I’ll be mighty careful after this, how I -try and make a swimming deer tow me, while I’m squatting in the bow of -a cranky canoe. There he goes. Good-bye, and good luck to you.” - -There was not a bit of resentment in Teddy’s voice, as he waved a hand -after the disappearing deer. He could give and take, and in his mind -the buck had come out of the little affair with high honors. - -“Guess I’ll go in with you,” remarked Dolph, after he had easily -recovered the floating paddles, and handed them to his chum. - -“Mebbe you think it ain’t safe to trust me alone on a big lake like -this, and in a boat that can act like a bucking broncho!” chuckled -Teddy. - -“Oh! I’m done fishing. Got all we can use, and they’ve about stopped -rising to the fly too. Gamey fellows, I tell you, Teddy, all right.” - -“I watched you pull in a few, and saw that they were full of fight, all -right. But that’s always the way with Michigan bass. They never give -up till they’re all played out. I’ve had one on that jumped out of the -water sixteen times, and only a two pound fish at that. Yes, that _is_ -a beauty, sure enough.” as Dolph held up a splendid fish, “and I see -that you believe in knocking ’em on the head when you boat them, to end -their suffering.” - -“The only way anyone should do,” declared Dolph, earnestly. “I hate to -see fish gasping their lives away in the sun. Besides, they’d flop all -over and keep up the worst racket you ever heard. When you’re fishing, -you had ought never to knock the boat more than you can help. Sound -travels through the water like everything.” - -“You never said a truer thing, Dolph, and I know it,” declared Teddy, -as they paddled for the camp landing place. - -“Going to change your clothes?” asked the other, laughing again. - -“Oh! I guess not, they can dry on me, all right. Laugh all you want to, -Dolph. It’s a good joke, that’s certain. And I reckon Amos—listen, -I wonder if that was him firing, and what he found to shoot at. Amos -wouldn’t dream of killing a deer in the close season.” - -“Not unless he was nearly starving, and needed food. But Teddy, somehow -or other I don’t believe that was Amos shooting.” - -“Why do you say that?” asked the other. - -“Because I’m sure I heard _two_ reports, one right after the other,” -Dolph went on. - -“You mean that Amos only carries a single shot gun; but that’s where -you’re mistaken, my boy. He took my Marlin repeater along. I told him -to carry it the next time he went off.” - -“Still, the shots were so close together, one gun couldn’t have made -them, unless it was a double-barreled scatter gun. Perhaps we’re not -the only ones around here. We happen to know about Gabe Hackett, and he -said he was on the way to visit a friend’s cabin, a man named Crawley.” - -“Yes,” said Teddy, “I know the man, too, and he’s about as hard a case, -when drinking, as Big Gabe ever could be, from what Amos tells us. -Those two men are game poachers; that is, they shoot game regardless of -the close season. Perhaps they’ve knocked over the buck that upset me? -That could hardly be, either, for the shots sounded too far away.” - -“Anyhow, I hope our chum Amos doesn’t fall in with them,” remarked the -other, as they jumped ashore, and drew the canoes up on the shelving -beach. - -And Teddy voiced the same wish, though not dreaming that there was any -danger of such a thing happening to Amos. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -ON THE TRACK OF AMOS - - -When Amos failed to show up at lunch time the two boys did not think it -odd. - -“He’s a determined fellow, when once he starts out to do a thing,” -Teddy remarked, as the two of them sat there, eating what had been -provided. “And the chances are he’s had to go further to find his bee -tree than he figured on. Well just put some grub aside and keep the -coffee warm, because Amos does dearly love his coffee.” - -“I know another fellow who gave us to understand that he’d risk his -immortal soul for such fine Java as this,” laughingly remarked Dolph. - -“Meaning Big Gabe,” said Teddy. “That’s right. But if his stripe of -lumbermen could only drink more coffee, and less whiskey, it would be -better for them. Some people say coffee is bad for the nerves, but it -never makes men crazy, and want to fight, like the other stuff does.” - -An hour passed. - -“No Amos yet?” asked Teddy, coming up from the canoes, where he had -been doing something to fill in the cut made by the snag, under the -impression that all such serious bruises weakened a canoe, and made it -unreliable in case it was used in the rough water of rapids. - -“Nothing doing,” replied Dolph. “Kind of expecting him any time, -though. Come here, and see how you looked taking that header.” - -“Hello! been developing a roll of films in your daylight tank, have -you? And did they turn out good?” Teddy asked. - -“Look for yourself; I’ve given them a hypo bath, and fixed them. Now -they’re being washed. That one with the teetering canoe, and you taking -a backward plunge, is just immense, aint it, Teddy?” - -“Well, that proves one thing, anyhow,” the other declared, with a -laugh, “I know now that I went over _backwards_. Couldn’t just decide -before how I did it. And as sure as you live, there are the deer’s -horns actually tilting the canoe.” - -“Great, ain’t it, Teddy?” - -“You never got such a picture before in all your life, and I don’t -believe you ever will again. It beats anything I ever saw. But I wish -Amos would come in,” and Teddy frowned a trifle. - -“Why, you’re not worried, are you?” Dolph asked. - -“Hardly that, but I can’t help but think of those two shots, and wonder -if they could have anything to do with his staying away.” - -Dolph made no reply, although, he, too, looked a little uneasy. - -When more than another hour had passed, Teddy again approached the -subject that seemed on his mind. - -“It’s sure queer we don’t hear anything from Amos,” he remarked. - -“Three o’clock, and past. You don’t think now, it’s possible that Amos -could have gone and got lost?” suggested Dolph. - -At that Teddy laughed scornfully. - -“That boy?” he declared. “Why you couldn’t lose him anywhere in -Northern Michigan. Take him in a balloon, and drop him down somewhere -in the pitch dark, and I honestly believe all he’d have to do would be -to smell the soil, feel of the trees, and tell right away where he was.” - -Dolph in turn laughed at that. - -“Makes me think of a story I heard once about an old Nantucket -fisherman. He always claimed that he could tell by the smell of the mud -on the anchor, where they were, whenever they had to haul up in a fog. -So one day, just to fool old Captain Jones, his men, while they were -anchored in a fog somewhere off shore, took a handful of soil out of a -box they had on deck, where the skipper kept some parsley growing, of -which he was very fond.” - -Hurrying to where he was sleeping they roused the old man by telling -him that they had lost their bearings, and wanted him to tell where -they were at, from the mud scraped off the anchor, and with that they -clapped the soil taken from the parsley box under his nose. He took one -smell, and then jumped to his feet wildly excited, yelling out: - -“You lazy lubbers, you’ve let us drift ashore, and we’ve been anchored -right over Mother Jones’ garden!” - -It was Teddy’s turn to laugh now. But as the afternoon waned, his fears -kept on growing apace. - -“I don’t like it,” he would say, “it’s so unusual for Amos to stay away -like this, and when he only meant to be gone a few hours.” - -“But you say he couldn’t be lost?” remarked Dolph. - -“I’m dead sure of that.” - -“Then tell me, what might have happened to him, Teddy.” - -“Oh, one of a good many things. He may have met up with those poachers, -and had trouble,” the other said. - -“Yes, that’s always possible,” admitted Dolph. - -“Then again, some accident might have happened, Dolph.” - -“As how?” demanded the other. “Amos is a careful boy, and not the one -to take unusual risks, like wanting a deer to tow him.” - -“That is right,” Teddy continued, smiling, “but then even long -headed fellows can sometimes meet up with accidents in the woods. A -rotten branch might give way under him when he was climbing a tree -to investigate a possible bee hive. And a tumble can break a leg, no -matter if it is as stout as those Amos boasts.” - -“Still, I can’t believe such a thing would ever happen to Amos,” Dolph -persisted in saying. - -“Then there’s my repeating shot gun—he’s never really handled one, you -know. While it works like a charm for me, and I can’t for the life -of me see how anybody could ever make any mistake handling that gun, -still, I admit I’m worried,” and Teddy showed it in his looks. - -“Had we better do anything?” asked Dolph. “I’m ready to follow out -whatever plan you suggest.” - -“Oh! we’ll wait another hour,” Teddy replied. - -“And then?” the other went on. - -“If Amos hasn’t shown up, I’m going to start out on his trail.” - -“You must let me go along, Teddy.” - -“Of course, wouldn’t think of trying it alone. If the boy was in -serious trouble, of any kind, mind you, it would be as well to have -both of us there.” - -That was a long hour. - -When it finally ended, both boys were ready and eager to start out. The -tent was securely fastened up, so that if it rained no damage might -come to their things. Teddy even hid away a lot of stuff in a hollow -tree, so that in case thieves came they might not quite clean out the -provision department. He also secreted the paddles, and thus in a -measure guarded against having the canoes, now placed ashore in the -bushes, from being carried away. - -“What if he should drop in after we’re gone?” remarked Dolph, -shouldering his gun. - -“I’ve thought of that,” replied Teddy. - -“And prepared for it too, I wager, for I saw you writing a note,” Dolph -went on to say. - -“Yes, which I’ll leave fastened in this stick standing up, one end -of which I’ve split with my knife. He’ll be sure to see it the first -thing,” Teddy remarked. - -“What did you say?” asked his chum and camp mate. - -“That we were anxious about him, and had started out on his trail. If -he came in while we were gone he was to stay in camp and wait for us. -Could you add anything to that, Dolph?” - -“I guess not. And your idea of keeping him here is a good one, too. -Only for that Amos might start out to hunt us up; and so we’d all keep -on chasing around in circles, no end of time. I’m ready, if you are, -Teddy.” - -“Here is where I found when he went away. The trail is as plain as -anything, too. No trouble about following that. We’re off.” - -And with these words Teddy started. Indeed, they doubtlessly moved -along even more rapidly than Amos himself may have gone, because on -his part the woods boy halted every little while to look around, and -ascertain if there were any bees working on the wild flowers. Had he -found such Amos was prepared to capture one that was already laden with -honey, attach a white thread to him, and then let the insect go free. -It would invariably head straight for the tree hive, for a laden bee -_always_ goes home directly, whence the saying of a “bee line.” - -Watching until he could no longer see the trailing white thread, Amos -would have marked the spot. Capturing another laden honey gatherer he -would attach a second thread, and let him loose. - -And in this fashion would he draw nearer to the forest hive, until -certain well known signs must have betrayed its presence to the honey -hunter. - -But evidently Amos was not finding any bees. At least, he seemed to -make no effort to play this well known little game. - -The afternoon wore away, and evening came on. By now the boys guessed -they must be several miles from their camp on the shore of the lake; -and so far not a sign of the missing comrade had they run across. - -Both of them became more anxious. At Teddy’s suggestion Dolph even -fired three shots in quick succession. But though they strained their -ears they heard no response to this recognized signal that should have -had an answer. - -“I’m afraid there’s something wrong,” remarked Dolph. - -“And I’ve been feeling more and more that way for some time,” Teddy -said. - -A minute later he uttered a low cry: - -“Look what’s that on the ground ahead of us, Dolph?” - -The other gasped, fearing the worst; and then exclaimed: - -“It’s only what’s left of a deer that’s been shot here, and cut up.” - -“But our chum never shot it,” declared Teddy. “See, here are the tracks -of two men. Chances are, Amos saw them kill the deer out of season. And -now they’ve made him go off with them, so he won’t tell what he knows -to a game warden. Here’s a pretty kettle of fish.” - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE GAME POACHERS - - -Meanwhile, the woods boy was in trouble. - -He had walked for several miles through the pines, packing that dandy -little Marlin repeater belonging to Teddy, and really wishing he might -run across a fighting wild cat, or even a panther, though these latter -animals were seldom seen in the Michigan woods in late years. Anything -in the shape of game that the law did not protect, but paid a bounty -for killing—that was the height of Amos’ ambition as he stalked along. -For he wanted to see how it felt to use the gun he had always admired -so much; and even a fierce lucivee would have been welcomed. - -Of course, Amos did not forget for one minute what especial object had -lured him abroad on this morning. He kept on the alert to discover -traces of wild flowers, and their busy attendants, the little honey -gathering, pollen scattering bees. - -Strange to say there seemed to be a wonderful dearth of the insects -right around that particular section. Amos was at first surprised, and -then nettled. He disliked to give any object up so easily; and when -noon came it found him with his head still turned away from the camp, -and without having met with any success. - -Thinking he had better not go further in that direction, Amos began to -circle around to the left. This movement would allow of his covering -much new ground. Better still, if he kept on, he expected to eventually -strike the shore of the lake, at a point, say a mile or two from the -camp. - -It was a nicely arranged plan, but circumstances which he had never -forseen, and over which he really had no control, caused it to miss -fire. - -There was undoubtedly a whole lot of luck or accident in the way things -came about; but then that can be said with regard to nearly every -event that occurs. Think of the western railway train that was five -minutes behind time, arriving in sight of the station just so that the -horrified passengers saw the cyclone tear that building at which they -should have been stopping, into a thousand bits. That happened just the -other day, out near Omaha, Nebraska. - -All of a sudden Amos, sitting on a log and resting, heard a deer -jumping. Then came two shots, one close on the heels of the other. - -A wounded doe ran out of the scrub and fell dead on the ground not -twenty feet away from the boy. Then he heard voices approaching. Amos -would have shown his good sense by taking to his heels just then, and -vanishing. He did nothing of the kind, only stood there, and waited to -see who it was shooting deer out of season, and a doe at that. And like -as not Amos would quickly repent him of this unwise, even foolish lack -of caution. - -Two men came hurrying forward. The first one Amos recognized as Big -Gabe Hackett and he guessed that the other must be Jared Crawley—yes, -he remembered the fellow, though some years had passed since last he -saw him. - -Just as they reached the deer they discovered Amos, and both men showed -signs of confusion, which quickly changed to anger. - -Almost before the surprised Amos realized what was happening, the giant -poacher had leaped over to his side, and snatched the precious Marlin -out of his hands. - -After that they could not have driven the woods boy away, for he -simply must have refused to return to camp minus Teddy’s pet gun. - -“What ye doin’ hyar, ye game warden spy?” growled Big Gabe, lifting his -fist, as though tempted to strike the boy; but at least Amos did not -quail; he looked the other straight in the eye as he replied: - -“I was trackin’ around in hopes of findin’ a bee tree for the boys; -but just concludin’ to give it up and head for camp, when this deer -dropped. Somebody shot her, but I didn’t see who fired, so it ain’t any -of my business.” - -“Oh! it ain’t, hey?” roared Gabe, “wall then, I’ll make it yer -business,” and with that he placed the repeating gun so close to the -deer that when he fired the sound was so muffled that it could not -possibly have carried any great distance; which was why those in the -camp heard no third discharge. - -“What’d ye do that for?” demanded Crawley, who was a tough looking old -customer, weaker in disposition, perhaps, than Big Gabe, but, Amos -believed, every inch as much a rascal. - -“So he’d have a hand in downin’ the deer,” said the big poacher, with -a cunning leer. “Now he dasn’t peach on us, Jared, ’cause Amos, he’s -in the same fix himself. And say, this leetle gun handles great. I jest -been a lookin’ fur somebody ter make me a present o’ a six shooter like -this.” - -“Well,” said Amos, stoutly, “I guess you’re off your trolley about that -gun. Nobody ain’t giving it to you. It belongs to my friend, Teddy -Overton, and he’s carried it so long he wouldn’t let it go for a heap.” - -“Oh! he wudn’t, eh?” growled Big Gabe, frowning. - -“And you know what his father is; he ain’t afraid of any man or any -Lumber Trust on earth. Well, the boy’s a chip of the old block. You try -to keep his gun, and see what happens to you. I guess you’ll think some -black hornets are singin’ around your head in no time.” - -Perhaps it was wrong for Amos to taunt the poacher after this fashion. -But then Big Gabe, being at the time in a nasty, reckless humor, the -chances are he would hardly have backed down anyhow, once he put his -hand to the plow. - -He looked at Amos reflectively. - -“Say, them fellers think a heap o’ ye, I guess, mebbe, Amos?” he -remarked. - -“They’re mighty fine boys,” admitted the other, falling into the trap. - -“And like as not,” continued the poacher, a grim smile beginning to -creep over his red face, “if they thort as how you was hurted or lost, -now, that Overton boy and the Bradley one, son o’ Mark Bradley the rich -manufacturer, would sally out, and try to find ye. Ain’t thet so, Amos?” - -Amos knew it was. But he declined to commit himself. Truth to tell, a -terrible fear had suddenly taken possession of him. Evidently these -two desperate lawless men had been talking over some wild scheme that -had for its main object the demand on Mr. Overton or Mr. Bradley, for -ransom money, after the two sons of the wealthy men had been made -prisoners. - -Once the ransom was in their hands no doubt the two men had in mind an -asylum across the lake in Canada. - -That was why a dreadful fear suddenly sealed the lips of Amos. But Big -Gabe read his answer in the look of alarm that shot athwart the boy’s -face. He laughed harshly, and then went on to say: - -“Git busy an’ cut up the deer, Amos, none o’ yer puttin’ on airs now -or I’ll be tempted to use that on ye,” and he lifted one of his -tremendous fists that had knocked scores of men down in the days when -Big Gabe “ruled the roost” as the bully of the logging camp. - -Amos was no fool. He could be discreet as well as brave. And truth -to tell, a wild desire now began to seize upon him to learn in some -fashion just what the plans of these two conspirators might be, in -order that he could make them come to naught, and save his chums. - -By running away he would lose all chance of finding this out. And -besides, he was apt to take unnecessary risks, because he honestly -believed Gabe would shoot after him, using the shot gun in order to -simply lame him. - -And then, there was Teddy’s prized gun—how could he have the face -to go back to camp and tell how that had been plucked from his hands -without his being able to make the least resistance? - -So Amos making the best of a bad bargain, took out his knife, got down -on his knees beside the slain deer, and started to cut the carcass up. -The two men sat there on the log Amos had recently vacated, watching -his labors, and occasionally exchanging a remark, generally to the -effect of how enjoyable it was to have some one to do all the dirty -work. - -This was no new business to the woods boy. He pretended not to pay any -attention to what was said by the men. But he saw that Hackett kept the -Marlin gun across his knees all the while, allowing his own old weapon -to lie unheeded on the ground. - -“Now tie up all them parts in the skin, so ye kin tote ’em, Amos,” -ordered the despot, when the boy announced that he had taken all the -choice portions. - -There was nothing to do but grin and bear it, though Amos doubtless -thought his lines had fallen in anything but pleasant places. - -“Pick her up!” ordered Big Gabe, as he arose, tucked Teddy Overton’s -gun under one arm, and his own under the other. “We got about two miles -ter kiver; an’ me ’n Jarda here, bein’ kinder rusty in the j’ints, -ain’t as well able ter pack loads acrost kentry as when we was young -an’ nimble guides. Head straight into the south, Amos. And I hopes as -how ye’re too sensible ter think of tryin’ ter run away, ’cause I’d -hate to pepper ye with this ere scatter gun; but I swear I will if so -be he tries to skin out.” - -Amos knew the man, and he believed him. So for various reasons he -decided not to make any attempt at flight—just then, at any rate. - -He wondered where they were taking him. Somewhere or other they must -have a camp. Then he remembered Big Gabe mentioning the fact that -Crawley had a cabin somewhere. - -“I wonder if it could be that old place they used to say was haunted?” -Amos was whispering to himself, as he walked along, now turning a -little to the right, and again to the left as his captor directed, and -often the butt of coarse ridicule on the part of Big Gabe, who thought -the boy was only a little coward, after all. - -He did not dream what was passing through the mind of Amos. - -After a while the boy felt sure they must be making for the cabin of -which he had heard more or less talk, but which he had never seen. - -And sure enough, when the sun was only half way down toward the horizon -they came in sight of an old cabin, nestled in the midst of the wildest -growth of bush; as though Nature was trying hard to heal the scar made -by man’s hand. - -“Hello! thar, Sallie, open up!” shouted old Crawley; and somewhat to -the astonishment of Amos, the cabin door opened to reveal the slender -figure of a girl about the twelve years of age—a girl with tawny -golden hair, a rather small, pallid face, and the biggest blue eyes he -had ever seen in any one. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -SALLIE - - -Amos was taken aback when he saw the girl standing there in the doorway -of the old cabin in the pine woods. - -He had supposed that when he set that greasy old ruffian, Crawley, down -as a vagabond, without a single good quality in his make-up, he was -only doing him justice and to discover that he actually had a decent -trait in his miserable character, was quite enough to shake Amos’s -faith in his own ability to read men. - -This was when he saw Crawley actually bend down and kiss the girl. -It made Amos shudder, too, somehow, when he thought of those tobacco -stained lips coming in contact with the red ones of the frail girl. - -At any rate, Amos thought, if this were his child, she surely could -not have any of Crawley’s nature in her; for he looked the drinking -scoundrel the boy knew him to be, while somehow Amos thought of angels -he had seen in dreams when he saw her yellow hair and big blue eyes. - -So this was Sallie! She seemed somewhat surprised to see a boy with the -two men and turned those big eyes reproachfully upon Crawley, which -action somehow caused him to squirm uneasily, and say hastily: - -“Oh! we ain’t a-goin’ to kill the little fool, Sallie. All we wants -is ter keep him close here a few days, so he can’t meddle in other -people’s bizness. Ye see, it ain’t safe for greenies ter be aroamin’ -the woods, when fellers is ahuntin’. They don’t know how ter handle -highfalutin’ guns, an’ are apt to do damage ter pore hard workin’ root -gatherers like Gabe ’n me. Set that meat down in a corner, ye gump, an’ -don’t stant thar astarin’ at my Gal. Sallie, sense ye got sech a fine -fire, I reckon we might’s well cut off some o’ this fresh mutton, and -make a meal o’ it. Gabe, spose ye keep one eye on our new friend hyar, -an’ if he tries ter vamose, wing him.” - -The girl said nothing, but she evidently understood that these two evil -men had some wicked game in prospect. Amos saw her shoot a pitying -glance toward him, and somehow he was not sorry that he had been -brought to that cabin. - -Of course, the presence of that splendid repeating rifle made her think -the young owner must be well to do, and she knew from experience that -such people always had a certain stamp of value in the eyes of her -unscrupulous parent, who was forever trying to collect the living he -said the world owed him. - -Amos had by this time recovered from his great surprise and was -beginning to wonder whether he might not sooner or later reap some -benefit from this new situation. - -The girl looked as though she could not possibly enter into any of -the wicked plans of her father and his equally unprincipled partner; -perhaps Amos might prevail upon her to even set him free, once the -chance presented itself. - -And the more the boy looked upon the slender little figure, almost -pitiful in comparison with the bulky frames of the men, or even his own -stocky form, the less he found to regret in his apparently desperate -situation. - -Why, he had never imagined that such a sweet child existed; for in all -his experience he could not remember having looked upon a face that -appealed so to the best that was in him as Sallie’s seemed to do. - -Boy-like, he wondered what she thought of him. He knew that his -appearance could not be very prepossessing, especially after carrying -that meat so long. - -Now and then he saw her glance curiously at him. When she was not -looking Amos ran his fingers through his hair. He even stepped over to -a tin basin that held some water, and washed his hands. The sight of -spots of dried blood on them disturbed him. Somehow, he thought she -might not like to see it. - -Sallie went about her task of cooking the fresh venison with the air of -one who knew all about the little wrinkles connected with such work; -no doubt she had prepared her father’s meals for a considerable time, -perhaps since her mother died. - -The man she called father was an ugly citizen when aroused, or -drinking; and Amos found himself wondering whether he ever descended so -low as to actually strike this child, when the brute nature was on top. - -Somehow the very thought of such a thing gave the boy a cold chill. -He found himself shutting his teeth hard together, and muttering to -himself what he would do in case he ever happened to see that heavy -fist raised to strike that patient face, in which the eyes shone as -Amos had seen them in an innocent fawn; only hers were blue like the -skies, instead of hazel. - -At least he could see no sign of any mark or bruise about her face, and -the man really seemed to entertain some sort of affection for the girl, -the more remarkable because no one would ever suspect him of being -capable of any such feeling. - -When early supper was ready, they sat down at a rude table, a couple of -benches supplying seats for all. - -Amos found himself opposite the girl, and of course he could not help -keeping his eyes upon her a good deal of the time. She was the only -object worth attention; and the two rough featured poachers looked like -beings from another world beside Sallie. - -The men talked little, and then it was of ordinary subjects. Evidently -they did not mean to discuss any secrets while the other two were -alongside. - -From time to time, though, Gabe would ask him something in connection -with his camp mate, Dolph Bradley. While the woods boy might have felt -like declining to supply them with the information they wished, a -glance into the red eyes, and the scowling face of his questioner, was -enough to convince him that such defiance would only be the height of -folly. So he answered as best he could. - -Sallie seemed to be taking more interest in him as the rude meal -progressed. She even spoke to him once, asking if he would like to have -some more of the meat, or some stew from the big iron pot. - -If Amos missed the splendid “Kababs,” which Dolph knew so well how to -prepare, as he had eaten it in canoeists’ camps, he at least had no -reason to complain on the score of hunger; for he ate most heartily; -showing that it takes something more than the shadow of possible coming -trouble to seriously affect the appetite of a healthy boy. - -After the meal Gabe stood in the doorway of the cabin smoking his pipe, -and apparently listening, as though he half expected to hear something. - -While he stood there he laughed as though pleased. Amos, too, had -been keeping his keen ears on the alert, and he also caught the three -gunshots fired by Dolph at the suggestion of Teddy. - -Amos was a little surprised that they could hear the shots, which -seemed to come from the quarter where the men had shot the doe, and -captured him. It gave him additional reason to believe that in coming -to the cabin they had for some reason or other followed a more or less -circuitous route. - -Pretty soon, then, these wretches would be setting their trap to catch -one or both of his friends. - -Would he be helpless to prevent the springing of the same? - -Amos, filled with a new zeal, began to observe everything about him, -with the idea of utilizing the knowledge later on, when perhaps it -might prove valuable. He marked the position of the open window; saw -where the men placed their guns; figured in his mind just how many -steps it was to the door; noted how this same barrier seemed to be -secured with a stout bar; and in numerous other ways fortified himself -for action, with a view to outwitting his enemies, should so much as -half a chance arise. - -And whenever he thought of Teddy, somehow he could not despair; for -in this time of trouble the lumberman’s wide awake son seemed to be a -tower of strength. Why, Amos even begun to pluck up hope that he might -even be able to outwit these plotters at their own game. - -He felt that the two boys must have started out to look for him; those -three shots told that much. Remembering the ability of Teddy especially -as a woodsman, Amos believed they would experience little difficulty -in following his trail up to the place of his encounter with the -poachers. - -From that point Hackett had made sure that the job would be easy. He -meant to “toll” the other boys into a trap, just as a little barking -dog is used by gunners along the Chesapeake Bay, to gambol on the sand, -and so excite the curiosity of beds of ducks that they keep pushing in -a little further to observe, until within reach of the death dealing -guns. - -Would his chums wait until morning before taking action? - -Amos knew better. - -If they headed toward the cabin, following the trail by the aid of -torchlight, or using the lantern, why they might arrive inside of a few -hours. - -It was dark outside now. - -The girl had lighted a candle, and this, with the fire, dimly -illuminated the interior of the cabin. - -The two men were huddled over by the door, talking in low tones. Amos -would have been glad to have caught a part of what they were saying, -and even did incline his ear that way; but their voices only sounded -like a rumble, and he soon gave up all hope of hearing anything worth -while. - -Then he became aware of the fact that the girl, washing her few dishes -at the table near by, was observing him with something like a glance of -amusement in her blue eyes. - -Amos forgot his own troubles for the time being. He only wished Sallie -might take a notion to come a little closer, so he could talk with her. - -It would seem as though his desire must have impressed itself upon his -face in some way, for sure enough, Sallie did edge in his direction, -still busy with her dish pan, and the suspicious looking crockery that -had served them at supper. - -She cast a quick glance toward her father, as if to see whether either -of the men were paying the slightest attention. But they seemed to be -“head over ears” interested in what they were discussing. - -“Won’t you take pity on me, Sallie and talk a little?” said Amos, in a -low tone. “Who are you, anyway?” - -She smiled back at Amos as she replied swiftly: - -“Why, Sallie Crawley, don’t you know?” - -“Is Crawley your real, true dad?” the boy went on to ask. - -“Why, yes, of course; don’t you know that?” she answered. - -“I never heard he ever had a wife or child, when he used to work in the -lumber camp; and least of all, a girl like you,” Amos went on, growing -a little bolder. - -“Well, he has,” she replied. “I’m like my mother used to be, because -she had yellow hair and blue eyes, dad says. He often looks at me -kinder queer, and shakes his head. I guess I make him think he sees her -again.” - -“Does he take you around everywhere with him?” Amos next asked. - -“Oh! no. Sometimes now I stay with my grandmother at the Soo. But dad, -he gets lonely once in a while, and comes after me. I always go, ’cause -I promised _her_ I’d never, never give him up. And then, dad, he hates -to cook for himself—all men do, I guess.” - -“But Crawley has a pretty hard reputation—excuse me for saying it, -Sallie—he’s an awful rough man, at best. Are you happy with him?” - -She hesitated before replying to this. Amos could see a shadow cross -her thin face; but evidently pride must have come to the rescue, for -presently she tossed her yellow mane back and said: - -“Why, I s’pose so—least ways as happy as I ought to expect. There -is just heaps of trouble in this world, anyhow, whichever way you -take it, and everybody must just grin and bear it. Dad is good to -me—sometimes. Then he’s ugly too; but that’s only when he’s been -having too much whiskey. That’s an awful thing to change a man. I hope -you don’t drink it, boy.” - -“Not a drop for me, as long as I live,” declared Amos. “But see here, -Sallie, it ain’t fair for me to know your name, and you to just call me -‘boy’. I’m Amos Simmons, and I’ve been in the lumber camps of Northern -Michigan, cookin’, and doing all what-not, for just years. Now, I’ve -got a couple of mighty fine chums not far away, one of them named Teddy -Overton, and the other Dolph Bradley.” - -She uttered a little exclamation. - -“I’ve met Teddy Overton once; he’s a splendid boy,” she said, hastily. - -“Well, I guess that’s just right,” remarked Amos. “Now, you see the -other, Dolph, he’s from Cincinnati. Everybody knows that his father’s -rich. Why, they’ve got oodles of money. I kind o’ think your dad and -Gabe, there, know it; and right now they’re a hatching some measly plan -expectin’ to separate Dolph’s folks from a lot of that spare cash. And -that’s the reason they pulled me in like they did.” - -He kept one eye on the men while saying this. - -The girl looked surprised. - -“Oh! then it ain’t _you_ they’re meaning to hold up?” she asked. - -Amos chuckled, as though amused at the idea. - -“Precious little good I’d do them,” he said. “They might keep me till -their hair turned white, and nobody’d pay a nickel for lettin’ me go -free. But they’re sharp, I tell you, Sallie. They know them boys are -bound to look for me. Don’t you see, it’s going to be a trap, and I’m -the bait. And unless you or me warn the boys, they’re just bound to -tumble right into it!” - -Amos watched her thin face closely when he advanced this “feeler,” as -he chose to call it. Sallie started, and looked very serious. - -“Me?” she said, slowly. - -“Why, yes,” Amos went on, “you wouldn’t want to see a nice feller like -my friend Dolph, kept here like he was a dog, would you, Sallie; till -somebody sent on some money? If he could be warned, I guess, with -Teddy’s help, he might manage to keep clear of the trap.” - -“But—what are you saying, boy—you want me to stand up agin dad, and -upset his game? My! but he’d be awful mad,” she said, reflectively; and -her face looked as careworn as that of a grown woman, Amos thought. - -“Well, it might save him from going to prison, that’s all,” he said, -“and I guess you wouldn’t like that to happen to him.” - -“Oh! no, of course not. You see, boy, I promised mother to stand by -dad right along, and try to get him to quit drinkin’ and being tough. -He could be decent if he just let that stuff alone, and kept away -from that Gabe Hackett. When him and me are alone, and he ain’t got -no drink, he’s good. I keep hopin’ and hopin’; but it’s terrible hard -work. I sure don’t know how it’s goin’ to end. Sometimes I’m afraid of -what he does.” - -There was a almost whimper in her voice, that cut the boy cruelly. - -“He don’t hit you, I hope, Sallie?” he said, glancing in the direction -of the two men. - -“Oh! no,” she answered, quickly, “not that. He started to do it a few -times, but I just stood there and looked at him, like my poor mother -did that last time he struck her; and he just can’t do it, you see. But -now you won’t want me to go agin him. Do you think it’s right to ask a -girl to do that, when it’s her own father?” - -“Yes,” said Amos boldly, “if he was sick and the doctor told you to -give him some bitter medicine that’d make him well, you’d sure do it, -no matter what your dad said. Well, you’re goin’ to save him this way, -you know.” - -“Yes, yes,” she breathed, putting a hand to her breast, as if the -conflict of emotions almost overpowered her, “_she_ did the same more’n -once, broke his bottle to save him; and that was why he hit her.” - -“Was she sorry that she done it?” asked Amos, craftily. - -“I know she said, when she came to again, after lyin’ there a whole -hour, with me a cryin’ my eyes out, believin’ her dead—she said she’d -do it again whenever she had the chance, if he killed her for it. She -believed she’d been sent to try and _save_ dad—poor little mother, she -never lived to see the day.” - -Amos was feeling somewhat remorseful about thus working upon her -feelings; but he really believed he was doing the best thing for -everybody. - -“Then her duty has come down to you, Sallie,” he went on to say. “If -this crazy scheme goes through, you can just bet your dad will end his -days locked up in jail. Now, by playing a little trick on Gabe Hackett -you can upset his plan and save your father. Anyhow, you know it’s -Gabe’s idea, and he’s just dragging your weak dad into it.” - -Amos winced a little when saying this but he felt that the end -justified the means. Crawley had the word “rascal” written all over his -face, and apparently it required very little persuading to “drag” him -into any scheme that promised easy money. - -Sallie seemed to ponder over what the boy had suggested. - -“Yes, it’s sure my duty to save him, even if I has to seem agin him. -That was what my mother said to me. Amos Simmons, I guess you’re right. -I’d die if my dad was sent to jail. He ain’t never been there yet, you -know. What do you want me to do, boy?” and she shivered, as if her -resolution was made. - -“Wait and see,” whispered Amos, “two of us ought to be able to beat a -pair like that. They’re only bunglers, anyway. I’m dependin’ on you, -girl, remember. When Teddy Overton comes, you’ll be right glad you -promised to help. You’ve heard of his dad, the head of the big lumber -company, ain’t you? But laugh a little, Sallie, ’cause Gabe, he’s -watchin’ us like a hawk, right now. It wouldn’t be good for us if he -thought we was hatchin’ up a way to pull the wool over his eyes. Laugh, -and make out as how I was sayin’ something funny like.” - -Sallie understood, and played her part so well that Hackett, who had -been growing suspicious at seeing them with their heads together as if -in confidential conversation, seemed satisfied that all was well, for -he went on with his argument. - -And so the minutes crept on. An hour had passed since they heard those -three shots. The boys must be on the trail, and presently Gabe and -Crawley would be considering it high time they set their trap. And yet -Amos had not been able to figure out just how he was going to prevent -the capture from taking place. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -DOLPH HEARS ABOUT THE HAUNTED CABIN - - -Teddy Overton busied himself for several minutes around the spot where -they could easily see, a deer had been butchered. - -Dolph watched his chum eagerly, now and then casting an uneasy glance -toward the scene of the late tragedy; as though the mutilated remains -of the deer might tell the story, if only gifted with the power of -speech. - -One thing was already evident. The tracks of the two lawless poachers -told that their comrade must have run up against some sort of snag, in -his quest for a bee tree; and the secret of his failure to return to -camp was not hard to guess. - -Teddy seemed to have finally made up his mind, for he approached his -friend. - -“Well, have you found out what happened?” asked Dolph, eagerly. - -“Yes, he’s a prisoner, all right,” the other replied. - -“Gabe and Crawley responsible, I take it?” questioned Dolph. - -“No other. They shot this deer out of season. Amos happened to see them -do it. Because they’re afraid he’ll inform the game warden of this -district, or because of some other reason, they concluded to take our -chum along with them.” - -“But what business have they making any respectable person a prisoner? -Why, those men would rob a trapper’s _cache_ of his pelts—they’d steal -the pennies from a dead man’s eyes. They’ve got some sort of a game up -their sleeve, I guess and you’re on to it, Teddy; I can see it in your -face.” - -“Yes, I think I can see through a millstone that’s got a hole in it,” -replied the lumberman’s son and heir, grimly. “It’s a risky one too all -right. I knew Hackett was getting down grade pretty fast but I never -thought he’d be so desperate as to try and kidnap a fellow, to hold him -for ransom. He must be pretty near the end of his rope.” - -Dolph laughed, as though amused. - -“What, is that their little dodge?” he exclaimed. “Well, they sure have -gone and barked up the wrong tree, that time. Why, Amos hasn’t got a -relative in the wide world that he knows about, you told me. It’s your -good dad that’s going to send him to school, and give him the chance -to study for being a doctor later on. What silly notion possessed them -to ever lug him off? That Hackett must be going into his dotage, I just -guess.” - -“Hold on, Dolph, perhaps not, when you look into their nice little game -a bit further. Amos hasn’t any cash, himself, but he’s got a friend who -thinks a heap of him, and whose daddy might put up ransom money. That -friend is myself, you know?” - -“I see,” muttered Dolph, a little uneasily, “not so dull a game after -all.” - -“They may have even a better card up their sleeve,” continued Teddy, -“I notice that when they left here those men took no pains to cover up -their tracks. Fact is, it looks to me as they might be just _inviting_ -us to follow. That would indicate just one thing—that Amos was carried -off to hold him as a bait to trap somebody else—you and me. Once they -had the lot of us, you see they could send Amos to make terms for our -surrender.” - -“Whew! you give me a bad feeling, Teddy; but honest now, it does sound -reasonable like. I wouldn’t put it past that big Gabe Hackett. I -remember now, how he kept looking at me, queerlike, out of the comer of -his eye. But this is a desperate affair. Do you think they’d dare try -such a job? If caught it would mean a long jail sentence.” - -“That’s so, but Hackett is getting more reckless about consequences, -right along. Like enough he figures on skipping across to Canada once -he gets hold of a good bunch of the long green. You can be sure, Dolph, -this is a trap laid for us.” - -“Then we’d be silly to fall into the same, I take it,” declared the -other. - -“We certainly won’t, if we know it,” declared Teddy. “We’ll take up -the trail, and see if we can get our chum out of their hands; but let -us never forget that we ’re up against a pair of prime woodsmen, who -know pretty much all the tricks of the trade. And while we follow the -trail we must arrange it so they can’t lay hands on both of us. You’re -the one they want most, I take it, Dolph. I rather think Gabe would -hesitate a little to hold me, because he knows what my dad can be, once -he’s roused up. It’s getting dark, and we’ll have to use the lantern. -So while I go ahead, to follow the trail, do you hang back, just so -far, with your scatter gun ready to pepper the rascals, if they show -up.” - -“All right,” said Dolph, seriously, “I want to say right now that I -think your little plan’s a good one. The sooner we start the better. -Amos, poor fellow, will be thinking we mean to desert him. Lead on, -Teddy, and tell me just how far you want me to fall back.” - -Now, in all probability Dolph had never fired a shot at a human being -in all his young life. The idea was more or less abhorrent to him; it -did not appeal to him at all. But he came of soldier stock. Some of his -people had borne an illustrious part in all the wars of the country -from the time of the Revolution down to the unpleasantness with Spain, -in which his father had served as a colonel. - -When the test really came, doubtless Dolph would not be found lacking -in those essential qualities that had distinguished his forebears. - -As soon as Teddy called out the one word “come,” he started after him, -and managed from that moment to keep just so far in the rear that his -presence could not be easily discovered by any observer. - -In this way, then, was the pursuit taken up. - -Teddy had little trouble about sticking to the plain trail. He could -have covered the ground twice as fast, had he not been keeping an eye -constantly ahead, fearing some sort of ambush. - -So the better part of an hour passed. By this time an idea had come -to the one who was doing the trailing. It happened that the old, long -abandoned cabin once used by fur gatherers, was known to Teddy Overton. -And now he began to feel confident that the trail was leading toward -that spot. - -Accordingly he signaled to Dolph to approach. - -“I feel dead sure I know where they’re heading for,” he said as the -other drew up. “And it might save considerable time if we struck out -straight for the old cabin instead of following their trail. And -besides,” he added, “perhaps we’ll escape a trap by springing this -surprise on Gabe and Crawley.” - -“Old cabin, you say?” repeated Dolph, “whoever lived there, Teddy?” - -“Some trappers, many years ago. There’s a dark story told about a -tragedy that happened there. One trapper went crazy, they said, from -too much strong drink. He killed his companions, and froze to death -himself. They were found there in the Spring by some timber cruisers, -looking for new lands up here. Nobody has ever lived there since. Now -and then some wanderer has put in a night in the cabin, but they say -it’s haunted; and that those trappers’ spirits come back to fight over -again their long ago battles. I was at the cabin once, in the day time, -though. A lot of ugly bats flew out. We didn’t see any spirits, either. -But then, I don’t think I’d care to stay a week in that ramshackle old -hut.” - -“Well of all things, a haunted cabin take the cake,” declared Dolph. -“Now, I’d just like to play ghost, for once, and give those fellows a -scare that’d make their hair stand up on end.” - -“Shall we make a bee line for the hut, as I said?” asked Teddy. - -“Sure. You’re the captain of this relief expedition. Whatever you say -for me to do I’ll try and carry out, you understand, Teddy.” - -“Good enough. And I’ll warrant you never dreamed of such a business -as this when you helped me map out our little canoe trip across the -neck of Michigan to White Fish Bay and perhaps the Pictured Rocks, eh, -Dolph?” - -The other fairly snorted his disgust. - -“Well, I should think not,” he remarked; “and who would? Why, if -I’d been over in Greece, or Spain, or Italy, I might have guessed -that something of the kind would have turned up; but away up in this -Michigan wilderness—well, it faizes me, all right. But then, I reckon -human nature’s pretty much the same all over the world. The temptation -to get hold of the mighty dollar makes men do heaps of queer stunts, I -don’t care whether they’re white, red, black or yellow. Now, I guess -you’re intending to sneak around, and creep up to this same haunted -cabin by the rear route?” - -“Yes, that’s the game,” replied Teddy. - -“That is, while these two poacher chaps are lying in a snug little -ambush at some point along their own trail, why, we can be spying on -the cabin on our own account?” Dolph went on to remark. - -“You’re on, I see,” chuckled the other. - -“It looks good to me,” Dolph continued, reflectively. “As I said -before, tell me what to do, and I’ll carry it out to the letter.” - -“I hope we won’t have to get to the fighting stage of the game,” Teddy -remarked, as they kept pushing forward in a direct line; “but if we do -I know I can depend on you to back me up. There are other ways to win -out. Well, here goes to douse the glim.” - -He blew the lantern out and hung it on the branch of a tree he marked. - -“I can find it again given half a chance,” he said; “and now we’ve got -to do the rest of it in the dark.” - -Through the silent pine woods they crept like shadows, flitting from -tree to tree. - -Now and then Teddy would pause to listen, for caution had become -second nature with the boy and he did not mean to lead his friend into -trouble, if he knew it. But no sound came to their ears, at least -nothing that would indicate the presence of human beings near. - -Then through the trees they caught the gleam of a light, which, from -its steady character they believed must come from the small window of a -cabin. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE POWER OF MUSIC - - -Dolph could not but watch the actions of his camp mate with -considerable curiosity and satisfaction, at this stage of the game. - -Teddy had had more or less experience in woodcraft, and long ago -learned many of the lessons so essential in the make-up of a clever -still hunter. To him the leaves of the forest spoke as eloquently as -printed pages in a book did to the other canoe cruiser. He could read -the language of the trail, and discover a score of valuable things, -from signs that would never be noticed by ordinary eyes or at least -deemed of no importance. - -When an observing lad has spent considerable time in these Northern -woods, the voices of Nature speak to him in the wailing of the wind -whispering secrets as it stirs the branches of the pines; he hears -another story in the thunder tones of the rushing rapids; the crash of -the summer storm; the whisper of sunrise; the chatter of the little -woods folks excited over his presence in their favorite haunts—he -learns by degrees to match his wits against their cunning, and to -discover every secret connected with their mode of living, so that the -curtain of mystery is rolled away for his eyes, and he lives in a world -totally unknown to many others of his kind. - -Teddy had practiced this art of creeping silently through the woods, -when stalking the timid deer, and perhaps also the lordly caribou -over in Canada. He certainly had all the little wrinkles down -pretty fine—at least Dolph thought so, as he followed in his wake, -endeavoring the best way he could to imitate these noiseless movements. - -So, foot by foot, and yard by yard, they drew nearer the strange cabin. - -As yet not a sound had been heard, to indicate that the place had any -inhabitant; though the light shining from the small opening that might -be called a window, must be set down as conclusive evidence on that -score, since lights ordinarily do not spring into existence without the -aid of human hands. - -Twice Teddy halted until his chum came alongside. Then he would whisper -a few words in his ear, after which the forward movement would be -resumed. - -All at once both boys came to a sudden pause, and crouched there, -listening to certain sounds that had broken loose. - -Plainly these sprang from a fiddle—a violin is unknown by any other -name than this, in the backwoods country, where the “fiddler” is always -in great demand at the husking bees and barn dances. - -Undoubtedly some one was sawing a bow across the catgut strings of -an instrument and it was evident from the chords resulting from this -effort that the player was no greenhorn. - -Teddy pinched the arm of his chum when the latter came alongside, and -whispered, “Amos.” - -He had heard the woods boy scrape a bow more than a few times, and -recognized his “touch” instantly. Indeed, Teddy had more than once -regretted that he had decided against the other bringing his old fiddle -along. With it in camp Amos would have been enabled to make many an -evening around the fire seem more sociable. - -Apparently then, Amos must have discovered some sort of old instrument -in the cabin occupied by Crawley, the trapper and poacher. Overtaken by -an irresistible inclination to make music, he had eagerly pounced upon -the same, tuned up, and started in. - -The music stopped several times, and a twanging followed. Amos -evidently was having more or less trouble in making the old fiddle -behave. - -Somehow the sounds thrilled Teddy, and he found himself wondering what -the result would be. Would the two scoundrels, possibly in hiding close -by, rush upon the scene, and demand that the noise stop forthwith? - -After all, why should they do this? It was an object with them to have -the other two boys believe that Amos was being suitably entertained, so -that with suspicions wholly disarmed they would walk innocently into -the trap? - -Ah! now the woods boy seemed to fancy that he had tuned the old violin -as well as might be done; either that, or else he could no longer hold -his desire to play under bonds. - -With a sudden swing of the bow he started into “Money Musk,” always a -prime favorite among the loggers in the winter camps, who, in their -times of leisure, danced for an hour, and usually to some of these good -old tunes. - -Amos was a “good one” with the bow. He could make that fiddle fairly -laugh and weep by turns, as he coaxed the vibrating strings. - -Dolph had heard many kinds of music in different corners of the -wide world, whither he had traveled with his father. He had sat and -listened to the most famous artists of Europe, and eagerly drank in the -sounds as only a true lover of melodious combinations can. He had felt -his soul aroused by the grand crash of orchestras led by celebrated -composers. He had sat through scores of operas, and applauded the -famous song birds, with voices worth thousands of dollars a night to -the fortunate possessors. - -And yet this boy could not remember of ever having been so thrilled by -the sound of music in all his life, as when crouching there in that -thicket, just outside the “haunted” cabin, listening to the weird -playing of his camp mate, Amos. - -Say what you will, the surroundings have everything to do with the -effect produced by music. A wild, barbaric crash of tom toms appeals -more effectively to sentiment if heard among the queer lodges of a Zulu -“Kraal” in South Africa, than the same strain could ever do under the -towering roof of a London music hall. - -So it was in this case. The danger that hovered over them, the state of -Nature by which they were surrounded; and the fact that this lonely -cabin in the pine woods was said to be haunted by spirits of the dead -trappers—all these things united to thrill the nerves of an excitable -boy like Dolph Bradley, and give him the sensation of his life. - -The fiddle seemed to moan and laugh and even sob, as the delighted Amos -drew his magic bow over the strings, until the whole vicinity appeared -to be filled with strange spirit voices. - -Had any wandering basket-making Chippewa Indian, or nomad timber -cruiser, his mind filled with an ardent belief in ghosts, chanced -to pass within hearing distance of those ramshackle walls on this -particular night, the chances were he would have fled in abject terror, -upon hearing such strange sounds. - -When Amos had reached the end of his tune, after repeating the refrain -in a minor key, he immediately struck up “Dixie,” and from this whipped -off upon the well-known strains of the “Arkansaw Traveler.” - -That air has aroused wild enthusiasm in many a concert hall, but it -certainly never thrilled human hearts more than on this occasion. - -Dolph could hardly keep his feet still; while Teddy was drawing himself -along in the direction of the little window, as though bent upon -investigating, and seeing for himself if it could be Amos producing -those wondrous strains. - -When Teddy presently reached the wall of the old cabin, he raised his -head until his wondering eyes took in the strange scene beyond. It was -so that Dolph found his chum when he, too, reached the spot, to also -stare. - -Amos was in plain view, squatted on the floor. He held the end of the -old instrument tucked under his chin, regulation fashion, with the -most caressing air imaginable. For the time being Amos had apparently -forgotten his surroundings, forgotten everything else in the world, -perhaps, save that after a long lapse he was again happy in being able -to coax those sobbing strings to give out the music he loved so well. - -Indeed, just then his eyes were shut, as though he might be in a -half trance; but Teddy knew this was a favorite habit with the young -lumberjack, indicating that he was wrapped up in his playing, and in -the seventh heaven of delight. - -But this was not all. - -Sitting on a low three-legged stool close by, and leaning forward, with -her chin held in her hand, and her big blue eyes fastened upon the -fiddler in wonder, was a girl of ten or twelve years of age. She seemed -actually fascinated by those wonderful strains which now sprang from -the instrument that was doubtless often sadly racked by her uncultured -father, in his endeavor to play. - -Now, Teddy knew full well about the old story of mermaids tempting -luckless mariners to their doom. He also understood that many a trap -has been baited with music or a pretty face in times gone by. But -everything went to tell him that Amos was playing just because he had -discovered an old fiddle, and not that his captors wanted him to do so. - -Indeed this fact was immediately proven, for even as Teddy looked into -the place he detected a movement in the direction of the door, which -swung open, to admit the burly figure of the game poacher, Crawley. - -Teddy’s first thought was that the man had become enraged at this -unwarranted outburst of sound from the boy prisoner, and that he had -rushed to the spot to hoarsely demand that the noise cease, on pain of -punishment. - -He even anticipated seeing Crawley foaming at the mouth knowing what -a vile temper the greasy old wretch was said to possess. Fearing that -Amos might be in danger of rough handling, Teddy gripped the gun he -held, and instantly resolved to block that little game, if it were -tried. - -Never was he more mistaken. - -Crawley, it is true, came into the cabin with the impetuosity of a -hurricane, and his hard face was indeed working with some sort of -emotion, but it was far from anger. - -Indeed, the man seemed to be quivering with eagerness, and the hand -he stretched out toward the boy on the floor was more indicative of -pleading than wrath. - -Crawley was at that moment fairly transformed. Deep down in his rough -soul he must have had a natural love for music which, owing to his -clumsiness and lack of education could never find an adequate outlet. -Old sinner that he was, probably he had stood many a time and listened -as if charmed, to some song bird in the brush; and even the cheery call -of the bobolink, heard in the early Spring, may have had the power to -make him look up and listen, when in the act of taking a mink or a -muskrat from his traps. - -Teddy saw this, and greatly marveled. He realized that every day he -lived it was possible for him to learn something new. Because a man -might be rough and uncouth, and perhaps even lawless in his way of -living, was no evidence that he might not have a streak of good deep -down in his nature. - -In Crawley it was perhaps this passion for music; but Teddy guessed it -was so very deep down, that it was hardly likely to do himself, or any -one else in the world, any good. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WHEN CRAWLEY LOST HIS HEAD - - -Teddy did not move, nor did Dolph. They could not have done so, even -had they wanted, so enthralled did that strange scene hold them. - -No one looked toward the window, fortunately, and consequently the -presence there of the two peeping canoe boys was not discovered. - -Of course, this sudden coming of Crawley upon the scene had created a -diversion. The girl started up with a little cry of grief, as though -bewailing the possible finish of her pleasure. Hearing all this, Amos, -too, ceased to draw his bow across the strings, and as the music -abruptly ceased, he opened his eyes. - -“Go on, consarn ye!” exclaimed Crawley, in a voice that fairly trembled -with eagerness, “keep right along wid yer fiddlin’ I tell yer. Don’t -yer _dar’_ ter stop jest thar—finish that piece like ye was a-doin’! -By glory! ain’t I been a-tryin’ ter git the second part o’ that -Traveler tune this ten months, an’ allers swingin’ right around inter -the fust half agin. Go on, boy, play it all ther way through, I tells -yer! I’m jest fairly wild ter hear how she goes. By gum—but ye _kin_ -make thet ole fiddle o’ mine talk some. Ye jest fair seem ter burn the -strings wid yer bow. I ain’t never herd sech music. Go on! Go on, boy, -play!” - -Crawley was so excited that he fairly shouted these words at Amos, -who hardly understood what it all meant, but sat there with his bow -upraised, staring. - -Teddy came very near laughing out loud at the singular coincidence. He -remembered hearing his father tell of an old Italian professor of music -in Cincinnati, Tosso by name, who, whenever he played this favorite -selection in public used to tell a humorous story in connection with it. - -This was to the effect that once upon a time he was riding horseback -through the backwoods of Arkansas, and asked for accommodations over -night of the owner of a cabin, who was sitting on a bench sawing -away at a fiddle. So while he kept on going over and over the same -melody, in his rude way, he shook his head as if he did not like to be -interrupted, and just took time to say he had no room or food to spare; -after which he harked back, and began the same old strain over and -over. - -Thereupon the music master had asked for the loan of the battered -fiddle a few minutes, and he would show him how the Arkansaw Traveler -should be played all the way through. The settler’s delight was -unbounded. He declared the traveler must stay over night, even if he -and the old woman had to sleep in the loft; and he was welcome to all -the food and whiskey they possessed; for he said that for ten years he -had been constantly trying to catch onto that second half, which always -eluded him. - -So history sometimes repeats itself. - -Amos finally seemed to comprehend what was wanted, and that he was not -to be made a victim of violence. With a satisfied grin, he once more -tucked the end of the old fiddle under his square chin, and began to -draw the bow squeakingly across the taut strings, presently starting -off upon the desired tune. - -And when he jumped from the first to the second part it was simply -amazing to watch the manner of the greasy old game poacher. - -His face lighted up with ecstacy, his hand twitched, as if drawing the -bow back and forth, the fingers of the other worked convulsively as -if engaged in touching the strings, while even his moccasined feet -started to tread a measure—so great is the power of music over the -human soul. - -Teddy wondered what effect this new peculiar incident might have upon -the relations existing between Amos and his captors. - -Would Crawley allow his gratitude to the boy to interfere with the -scheme which he and Big Gabe were endeavoring to put through? - -Remembering that Gabe would have to be reckoned with in the matter, and -that no love of music was apt to sway him from the course he had mapped -out, Teddy felt very doubtful on this score. - -Crawley would not let the boy stop playing when he reached the end of -the tune. - -“Play her some more, boy, play her frequent-like! I’ve been awaitin’ -ter git thet same chune complete so long now, seems like I never could -hear it enuff. It’s great, that’s what, ain’t it, Sallie, girl? Don’t -yer feel glad now to see yer ole dad lookin’ so happy like? Play on, -Amos, play right along! Don’t ye _dar’_ stop—it’d be nigh as much as -yer life was wuth to disapp’int me now.” - -And Amos played, with a humorous look on his face, and perhaps a sly -wink in the direction of the girl, who had resumed her former rapt -pose, with her chin buried deep in the cup of her hand. - -Crawley could not have been drinking, at least to excess, so it was not -liquor that influenced him; but as the music proceeded, his feet began -to move in unison, and his arms took to swinging. Almost before Teddy -realized it, the bulky form of the trapper was gyrating around the -room; he was so wrought up that he could not keep still. - -Crawley had a pretty hard name among the loggers, and those who sought -the pelts of the various wild animals of the Northern pines. He was -known as a quarrelsome man, and a fighter who had wrought more or less -trouble wherever he roved—in the camps of timber cruisers, among the -lumberjacks, and with other trappers; but he certainly did not look -like a dangerous citizen at that particular moment, while circling -around the shanty, snapping his fingers, trying to keep on whistling -the recovered air, so as to impress it on his memory, and otherwise -conducting himself after the manner of a happy, carefree squatter, -regardless of the morrow. - -While Teddy was trying to make up his mind as to what the eventual -outcome of this strange situation might be, he saw another form appear -in the doorway. - -Big Gabe Hackett! - -The timber cruiser strode into the cabin, his red face filled with both -astonishment and anger. - -Plainly the weird strains of the “Arkansaw Traveler” did not appeal -to any emotion in _his_ soul. Music might have charms to soothe the -savage, but it failed to awaken any responsive chord in the breast of -this giant of the pine woods. - -Crawley had now seized upon his child, and was holding her to him while -making ungainly attempts to keep time with the rhythm of the music. -Sallie actually smiled for the first time since Amos had entered the -place; and it was a smile that lighted up her elfin features until in -the boy’s mind they looked almost angelic. - -Imagine the disgust of the scheming Big Gabe to come rushing into the -cabin and discover such a remarkable thing as this going on. - -His heavy voice sounded above the music, and the beat of Crawley’s feet -on the floor. - -“Stop it! Say, Crawley, hev ye gone clean crazy? What sorter kerryin’ -on d’ye call this here, anyhow? Quit it, I say and act sensible. Hoy -dye ’spect we’re a goin’ ter work out our game if ye play the big baby. -Stop fiddlin,’ boy!” - -Amos, of course, obeyed, and with the inspiration of the music gone, -the traveler also ceased capering around the room. - -He did look a little shame-faced as he turned upon his confederate; but -at the same time there was a triumphant glow in his eyes as he burst -out with: - -“Why, hang it, Gabe, the boy kin play Arkansaw _all the way -through_—what d’ye know about thet? Here I been jest wild ter ketch -the hang o’ thet second half fer a coon’s age. P’raps yer don’t jest -understand what thet means ter me, Gabe. Blame yer games—what do I -keer, so long’s I lerns thet chune. Why, I’d risk my bones ter git hold -of it.” - -“Wall, if ye keep on a goin’ like I seen ye jest now, chances be ye’ll -resk more’n yer bones; fer I’ll be tempted ter fill yer full o’ holes. -What d’ye think I’ll stand fer, Crawley? I ain’t playin’ this game fer -the fun of it. Money talks, and purty loud too, sometimes. Now’s one o’ -’em. S’pose ye let all this monkey-shine business drop fer the present, -an’ play the game fer what it’s worth. Put that fiddle down, boy, drat -ye, and don’t tech it agin, ’less ye want ter feel the heft o’ my hard -fist. Crawley, come with me, back ter whar we was lyin’ in ambush.” - -Big Gabe spoke in a determined way, and evidently possessed -considerable power over his weaker-willed companion. For Crawley, -although scowling, took a step forward, as if to obey. - -It was then that little Sallie caught hold of the hand of her rough -father, and sought to detain him. She understood what these men had in -view, and taking advantage of the temporary softening of her parent, -due to the power of the music on his soul, he hoped she might persuade -him into refusing to take part in the attempted abduction of the -millionaire’s son. - -“Stay here with me, daddy, won’t you?” she pleaded. “He knows ever so -many more tunes, and he’ll play ’em all, if ye wanter hear ’em, won’t -you, Amos? Don’t go out again, please don’t? Let Big Gabe alone; he’ll -only get you into trouble. Stay here with your little Sallie, won’t -you, daddy?” - -The man seemed to hesitate. He looked doubtfully in the face of the -child, whereupon Hackett broke out in harsh language. He also made a -suggestive motion with the Marlin repeating shot gun, which he had -taken possession of; and whatever the spasm of better feeling that had -dominated Crawley lately, it was speedily vanquished by his love of -gain. - -He suddenly muttered some words, and flung the detaining hand of his -child from him. The conflict between the elements making up his nature -had not lasted long. - -So Crawley, with a scowl toward Amos, as though blaming the boy for -bringing about all this trouble, strode out of the door after his -companion, and the two in the cabin were left alone again. - -Teddy had pulled his companion down alongside him before this happened; -indeed, when Hackett first appeared upon the scene; for he feared lest -the restless eyes of the big timber cruiser, like unto those of the -red fox which he had often been compared with for craftiness, might -in roving around, discover the two who were peeping in at the small -window, and trouble of a serious nature ensue. - -While Teddy did not actually fear the rascal, still, he believed it -wise to remain hidden from those they meant to hoodwink, as long as -possible, at least. - -Indeed, it was still a question in Teddy’s mind whether or not Big Gabe -had discovered their presence. He was as cunning as the fox itself, and -might have refrained from betraying any evidence of his discovery, but -once beyond range of the boy’s vision, was apt to start some shrewd -flank movement calculated to encompass their capture. - -Under these conditions Teddy considered it the part of wisdom to crouch -down in the shadows and wait for some little time, until they could be -positive the men had returned to their ambush. - -They could hear Amos and Sallie talking, as though they had become -great friends in the short time they had known each other; though Teddy -guessed that the magic fiddle had drawn them both together, more than -anything else. - -He had swept his eyes around the interior of the cabin when first -peering in through the little window, and beyond a few rusty traps, -some furs used for sleeping purposes, a few moth-eaten blankets and -several cooking utensils, it did not seem to contain much else, yet -things were as clean as Sallie could make them, and even a broom -fashioned from twigs showed that the child swept the old floor -regularly. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE HOLE IN THE FLOOR - - -When Teddy had waited a certain length of time, he whispered some words -to his companion, and immediately departed. - -Undoubtedly his intention was to scout around a bit, in order to make -sure that the coast was clear before they proceeded to attempt getting -Amos to leave the cabin. - -Undoubtedly the two men had secured the door on the outside when they -departed, so that the boy could not leave the place. The window was -merely a slit in the log walls, and too small to admit the passage -of one the size of Amos, so that it would seem as though they felt -reasonably secure about leaving him. - -Dolph waited patiently. - -The minutes glided past, and all he could hear was the murmur of voices -just beyond the slit in the wall; which, being continuous, seemed as -though Amos and the girl might be having a heart to heart conversation -discussing their various troubles. - -Finally Dolph could not stand it any longer. - -With Amos so close by, it seemed to him the height of foolishness to -delay longer, when the two plotters might give up their watching and -waiting in disgust at any minute, and return to the cabin. - -So Dolph once more raised his head until he could just manage to peep -over the lower edge of the narrow opening, and look into the room. - -It was a candle that was burning, a homemade affair, possibly fashioned -out of bear’s fat or tallow by the trapper; and of course, the fire -having died down meanwhile, it did not illuminate the whole floor of -the cabin any too well. - -Nevertheless Dolph was able to see into every corner, and could have -easily told had there been others present besides the two who still -sat there on the floor, Amos idly allowing his fingers to run over the -strings of the old fiddle. - -The boy was talking earnestly. From the manner in which he gazed into -the face of Sallie, it was evident he was endeavoring to convince her -that it was her duty to give up this nomadic life, traveling here and -there with her good for nothing father, and let the boys take her to -her grandmother’s house at the Sault Ste. Marie, known far and wide -simply as the “Soo.” - -She seemed to listen eagerly to what he said, and upon her thin little -face there crept a very wistful look. But whenever he stopped talking -she would shake her head sorrowfully, though with a determination that -would have well become a little heroine. - -Dolph caught some of the words she spoke. He could draw his own -conclusion from them, to the effect that Sallie had given her word to -her dying mother to stand by her father, no matter what befell until he -either reformed his ways or met the fate that continually hovers over -the heads of such evil men. - -Somehow Dolph was thrilled with admiration for the pluck of this frail -girl, who could resist all temptations, for which her heart must be -longing, and endure this wretched existence, simply because she had -promised the mother, who was gone; and the man she would try to shield -and save was her “dad” though most unworthy to bear that name. - -To others Crawley might appear only a drunken scoundrel, whose word was -not worth considering as an asset; but perhaps Sallie could look back -with gratitude to a few isolated instances when he had been “good to -her.” - -Dolph watched the two for a few minutes, and then, thinking that it -might be only right to let Amos know his chums were around, was just in -the act of making some sort of signal the other would surely recognize, -when something occurred that caused him to change his mind. - -The girl seemed to be pointing to the floor over in a corner. There was -an expression of alarm upon her face. Amos was bending forward too, -as if he too had caught the same thing that had attracted Sallie’s -attention so suddenly. Indeed, he looked astonished beyond measure, and -from his attitude one might believe Amos was not far from the border of -actual fright. - -Naturally Dolph was keenly interested. - -Whatever it could be that was having this strange effect upon these -two, he felt that he ought to share in the knowledge, and accordingly -Dolph immediately turned his eyes in the same direction. - -Dolph was conscious of a peculiar prickly sensation all over his scalp, -as though his hair might be feeling an inclination to stand on end. -When he came to reflect upon the circumstance later, he did not wonder -at having experienced this feeling, since the cabin bore such a bad -name, and was said to be haunted by uneasy ghosts. - -A section of the floor itself was slowly rising upward, as if propelled -by invisible hands. From its shape Dolph could readily guess that it -was really some sort of trap that had at some time or other been cut in -the heavy boards. - -If there were such things as ghosts, surely this must be some of their -work; but while Dolph was amazed beyond measure, and awaited the -outcome with eagerness, he was not yet ready to commit himself upon -this score, until he had seen the spirit with his own eyes. - -Higher rose the square, while little Sallie held her breath, and shrank -closer to Amos, who, unconsciously perhaps, put out an arm as though to -protect her. - -Then the section of flooring having attained a perpendicular position -began to lower; the trap was being dropped back towards the boards. - -Dolph gave a chuckle of delight when he saw the smiling face of Teddy -exposed. - -The lumberman’s son may have known of the trap before, since he had -visited this same cabin; or else he had prowled around just now to -advantage, discovering how to crawl under the old shack, and reach this -opening. - -He was holding up his finger at the surprised pair, as if to warn them -that silence was the best policy just then. - -Dolph fully expected to see his chum climb out of the hole, and greet -the prisoner; and he was about to chime in with hearty words on his own -account, when suddenly the boy bobbed back into the cavity under the -cabin; pulling the trap shut after him. - -At the same time Dolph himself heard the rumble of voices in the -open, and understood that for some reason or other, the two men were -returning to the cabin. - -Instantly, he realized that his position at the window was a precarious -one, for as his head would be outlined against the light within, they -must inevitably be attracted by any movement on his part, if close -enough at the time. - -Of course though, Dolph had to drop flat, and crouching there he -gripped his gun, almost holding his very breath with suspense. - -At least they did not come his way, which fact he considered pretty -good evidence that he had not been seen; instead, they unfastened the -door, and entered the cabin. - -Dolph wondered very much what had brought them back so soon, to disturb -the nice plans Teddy must have arranged. He listened, to discover -whether he could catch something of what was said, and which might -explain matters. - -Their voices being heavy, came distinctly to his ears. Dolph even -ventured to take another sly look. This revealed the fact that while -Crawley was rudely binding up the arm of his companion, Amos had taken -the job out of his hands, and was doing it as cleverly as any surgeon -might, considering the poor material at hand. - -From their talk it seemed that Big Gabe had caught his foot in a root -he failed to see in the darkness. In falling clumsily he had managed to -drop his hunting knife, and it pierced his arm, giving him a painful -wound that bled freely. - -Sometimes the fate of a nation hinges on a trifle. The listening lad at -the window wondered what effect this might have upon their destinies. - -At any rate, it seemed to put a different aspect upon the conditions -existing, for nothing could apparently be done looking to the release -of Amos while the men were hugging close to the cabin. - -And there was poor Teddy, snuggling down in that hole under the floor, -possibly afraid to even move an inch, lest he draw attention to -himself, and bring about discovery. - -Dolph hoped the two men might conclude to go on guard again when the -operation of binding up Hackett’s wounded arm had been completed. - -From words that floated to his ears he realized that Crawley declined -to make any attempt at capture alone; and the big timber cruiser seemed -to have lost some his vim with the flow of blood. He could not work -with one arm; and altogether Big Gabe now seemed satisfied to stay -indoors. - -He also made mention of the fact that perhaps their object could be -attained just as well be remaining there, and letting their prospective -victims come to them, a new view of the case in which Crawley was -willing to concur. - -It was certainly most aggravating to say the least, and must be doubly -so to Teddy, flattened out in an uncomfortable position under the floor. - -Dolph was pitying his chum all the while, never dreaming that Teddy -might himself be feeling very comfortable, and even planning mischief. - -If they had to remain indoors, at least Crawley was determined that he -must have Amos go on with his fiddling, so he ordered the boy to start -along, and tune up again. - -Big Gabe scowled at hearing this, but then Amos had done so well -in binding up his arm, and stopping the flow of blood, that he was -disposed to let it go at that. - -So once again the sound of the bow scraping across the strings was -heard in the old haunted cabin. Amos, given full swing, let himself out -in earnest, playing one air after another until he had really exhausted -his list of tunes; when Crawley sitting on the bench, his rough face -wreathed in smiles, ordered him to start all over again. - -What would be the end of this strange adventure? - -Dolph wondered if Amos would be kept at the playing business until he -fell over, utterly exhausted. - -And what of poor Teddy, who must be terribly cramped below the floor? -What, if unable to remain there any longer he suddenly threw up the -trap, and appeared before the two men as the original “ghost” of the -old cabin? - -Dolph wondered what would be the proper caper for him under such -conditions. He could see no other thing possible than that he should -thrust his head and gun through the narrow window, and threaten the men -into submission. - -Really this seemed good to Dolph; and grimly determined to act, he drew -back the hammer of his gun, resolved to appear as resolute as possible, -in order to strike consternation to the hearts of the two rascals, and -make then throw up their hands. - -But Dolph did not take into the consideration the fact that some one -else might have plans to work out, differing materially from those he -was figuring on. - -This party in fact was Teddy, whom last Dolph had seen hastily -withdrawing beneath the shelter of the floor. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -THE CABIN ABANDONED TO THE GHOSTS - - -Amos had just stopped, in order to draw out his red bandana -handkerchief, and wipe the drops from his forehead, because it was -pretty warm work, fiddling away for half an hour “like a house afire,” -as he expressed it. - -Just then a distinct and most dreadful groan was heard. - -Crawley jumped to his feet with an oath; and even Gabe raised his head -to listen, for to ease the strain on his arm he had been lying down on -a blanket. - -Upon both their faces astonishment, incredulity, and even a wild, -ungovernable fear could be detected, as they stared at each other, and -then all around. - -Another groan, even more terrible than before, seemed to well up out -of space, nor could the listening Dolph locate its source, even though -positive Teddy must be responsible for the sounds, which were intended -to alarm the two rascals. - -“Boy, air thet you a-makin’ thet n’ise?” demanded Crawley, seizing -hold of Amos’ sleeve; but it did not need the emphatic denial of the -lad to convince him, for another of the chilling sounds came, setting -his cowardly heart to beating madly. - -“It’s a trick!” yelled Big Gabe, turning white in spite of his words, -“Crawley, climb up into the loft, an’ see if they ain’t a critter -a-hidin’ thar! Ef ye find him, throw the measly skunk down fur me ter -tromp on.” - -Crawley evidently did not like the job, for he was slow to follow out -the plan suggested by his companion; but by dint of much jeering, and a -little flattery, he was finally induced to climb up the partly broken -ladder that led to a sort of loft, extending half-way over the room. - -In the past those who lived in the pine woods cabin probably stored -their pelts up there until the spring came, and it was time to get them -properly stretched and dried as they had been before packing away, to -market. - -He carried with him another candle that with shaking hands he had -managed to light from the first one. Upon gaining a position where he -could peer over the edge of the flooring of the loft, Crawley was heard -to give vent to a sigh of relief. - -“Ain’t nawthin’ doin’ up here, Gabe; the place is empty as all -git-out,” he remarked, and as if deeming his duty done Crawley came -down much faster than he had ascended. - -His arrival below seemed to be the signal for another outburst of -groans, this time more than ever of a nature to chill the blood of any -one given to superstition. - -Crawley had a failing that way, though how he ever came to take -lodgings in this said-to-be haunted cabin under such circumstances -would always be a mystery. - -Big Gabe had himself never taken much stock in such things as ghosts. -But then that may have been simply because up to now he had never -happened to run across anything bordering on the supernatural. - -He looked very much shaken, and seemed disposed to lay the blame on the -shoulders of poor Amos. - -“See wot yer pesky scrouchin’ hes gone an’ done,” he shouted, angrily. -“Even the ghostes hes ris’ up an’ howled agin sech n’ises. I knowed -sumthin’d happen, as sure as thunder, when ye let loose all them -caterwaulin’ sounds. Now we gotter vamose outer here right speedy, an’ -make a camp in the open. Crawley, it’s all yer fault, encouragin’ sech -crazy doings. Now! hear thet! would ye? Hole on thar Mister Ghost, -we’re a-goin’ peaceable like, if ye gives us harf a chanct,” as a -terriffic shriek rang through the cabin accompanied by a pounding that -seemed to make the floor tremble. - -Dolph could not keep out of the game; the temptation to join in was too -much for him. And so he began to kick upon the wall wherever a board -had been used to cover up some broad chink, where the dried mud between -the logs had fallen away. - -Taken in all, it was quite a tremendous racket; and even Amos began to -look uneasy, as though he found himself entertaining a suspicion that -after all there might be some grain of truth connected with that story -of the spirits of the trappers who had met a tragic fate, returning to -fight their battles over; while Sallie’s face was the picture of dismay. - -Crawley was already making for the door; with the evident intention of -fleeing from the wrath to come; nor did he stop give his devoted child -one thought in this time of alarm. Big Gabe did not mean to be left in -the lurch either, evidently. He had an excuse that with only one good -arm he was hardly in condition to wrestle with anything or anyone, -either human or of a ghostly order. - -The retreat became a scramble, with the whole four at the door at the -same time, trying to escape from the haunted interior. The groans had -ceased but that might only be a ruse to deceive them. - -Amos clutched the precious fiddle, and the girl only stopped once, to -possess herself of some article of apparel, for which she possibly -entertained fondness on account of certain memories associated between -it and her dead mother. - -So they streamed out of the cabin in a bunch. - -Dolph knew enough to hide, and keep very still. Teddy’s little game -had worked very well, only it chanced that in fleeing from the haunted -cabin, the two game poachers had gone and carried Amos with them. - -So far as the rescue of their camp mate went, Teddy and Dolph were no -nearer the goal of their ambition than before. - -True, the cabin had been abandoned, temporarily at least, to the -spirits, but it was an empty victory after all, since the work must be -done over again. - -There was always a chance that in the open Amos might slip away. But -even at that Teddy would refuse to be pacified; because the rascals -held possession of his highly prized Marlin gun, and he did not mean to -abandon that indispensable weapon without a fight for it. - -Dolph knew that Teddy would join him as soon as he could crawl out from -the confined space under the floor. Accordingly, he contented himself -with trying to note the direction taken by the fugitives. - -There did not seem to be much trouble about doing this, for they -certainly made a tremendous racket; indeed he was partly convinced -that Amos played the part of martyr, clumsily falling over about every -log he could find on the way, with sundry cries of pain or disgust, -calculated to reach the ears of his chums. - -Sure enough, in a couple of minutes Teddy came out of the cabin, -breathing hard. - -“They’ve gone, of course,” he observed, between his pants for breath. -“Scared ’em off, did I? Too bad they took Amos along, ain’t it? But -we’re bound to get after the thievy cowards, hot-footed. It’ll sure -be queer if we can’t make ’em give our chum up. Notice which way they -went, Dolph?” - -“Yes,” said Dolph, “Amos took pains to make all the noise he could. -Listen. I think you can hear him floundering around yet. Come, let’s -be on the jump. The way things are going, we must win out soon. But I -was sorry to see how you scared that girl. Think of that beast Crawley -being her father, poor child.” - -“Yes, I know Sallie,” the other replied, in a low voice, as they -started away. “She’s a wise little thing, older than her years because -she’s had the troubles of a grown-up. I reckon they won’t go far away, -but halt, and build a big camp fire to scare ghosts off!” - -“Well,” remarked Dolph, “I must say these two rascals are giving us a -run for our money, all right. Once we get Amos and the gun, and we want -nothing more from them. But I’d like to take that child out of this -horrible life. Say, do you really know whether she’s got any uncles or -aunts or cousins?” - -“A grandmother at the Soo, I was told, but you’d waste your time trying -to induce her to leave that Crawley. I tried it once, but she told me -she just _had_ to stick to him—that the last chance he’d ever have lay -in her, and she’d promised her mother never to give him up. I’m afraid -from her delicate looks, she’ll die from exposure one of these days, -following him around. He thinks she can stand whatever he can, the big -brute. I’d like to help him to a coat of tar and feathers, or give him -a cow-hiding, that’s what,” and Teddy’s indignation actually made his -voice tremble. - -While they moved along, as silently as possible, occasionally they -would hear one of the men call out to the other; for their gruff voices -carried far on the still night air. - -Perhaps Amos might himself have slipped away during this rapid retreat. -The chances were, however, that his stubborn nature would not allow him -to think of escape unless he could also carry off the gun that had been -entrusted to his charge. - -Big Gabe was holding greedily to the weapon; if he could not get -anything else out of the game, at least he was sure of this; and ever -since his eyes had first fallen upon that gun, in Teddy’s hands, his -fingers had fairly itched for it. - -At one time the adventure had threatened to develop into a tragedy, -but somehow, with the advent of that old fiddle on the stage, it had -changed to a comedy, bordering almost on a farce. - -The two pursuers presently decided that those they were following must -have come to a halt, for the sound of voices grew more perceptible and -then a light sprang up just ahead. - -This, of course, came from a fire that had been hastily kindled for -several reasons, chief of which might be set down the sudden dislike -both men just now entertained with regard to being left in the dark. - -Doubtless all thoughts of their plan against the liberty of the -Cincinnati millionaire-manufacturer’s son and heir was now abandoned, -temporarily, at least. Crawley was drinking from time to time, to -imbibe artificial courage; Big Gabe uttering ugly words, because in -his mad rush to escape he had struck his wounded arm against the door -frame, with much consequent pain. - -Teddy now led his companion closer to the camp, where the two men had -started a fire. He warned Dolph to be very careful, since Big Gabe was -in a surly temper, and would possibly shoot “at the drop of the hat,” -leaving all inquiries until afterwards. - -It was found that the fire burned on the bank of a small creek that ran -into the lake, presumably. - -This creek flowed through a sunken bed, some six feet or so below the -surrounding surface; and to Teddy’s experienced eye, the depression -presented the best possible opportunity for approaching unseen the spot -where the camp fire burned. - -By stooping low, and creeping along under the bank, they would be able -to actually invade the boundaries of the space illumined by the glow -of the fire—Crawley having hastily gathered together a mass of dried -wood, and fired the same, at the request of his wounded companion who -refused to let the captured gun out of his possession for a single -minute. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -TEDDY’S WOODCRAFT HELPS - - -Impulsive Dolph was for making the venture without delay. - -Fortunately Teddy had long since learned the value of caution and how -to apply the same in the ordinary affairs of life. - -He saw that Big Gabe, for instance, was in a particularly irritable -frame of mind, suspicious and exacting. To cross his will while he -held that many-shot Marlin in his hands would mean serious trouble all -around. - -If they could hold in until this cross-grained giant was asleep and -snoring, their chances for success would be much improved. - -That was the burden of the advice Teddy whispered in the ear of his -friend; and Dolph, while impulsive, being also amenable to reason, -agreed with him that it was best. Accordingly, they lay down upon the -ground to rest; for taken in all it had been a pretty strenuous day and -night to both of them, and they were beginning to realize that they -were feeling tired. - -Dolph, as he lay there, ran over in his mind the succession of stirring -events that had been passing before his eyes of late. - -Doubtless he would never forget the strange scene that demonstrated the -power of music; nor yet that which followed, and had to do with the -influence of fear and ignorant superstition, acting on the hearts and -minds of rough men. - -So Dolph lay there, and pondered in the half-dreamy way a boy may do -when he is very tired; until before he realized it he was asleep. - -A hand shaking him aroused Dolph. Before he could utter a sound the -voice of his chum whispered in his ear. - -“Sh! Don’t make any noise. You’ve been asleep more than an hour, and -it’s time we were moving. Sit up, and take notice!” - -Dolph did so. - -It all came rushing back to him in a flash, and without waste of time -he turned his eyes in the direction of the camp upon the creek bank. - -The fire had been allowed to burn low, but was still in evidence. -With his first glance Dolph could see several figures lying around, -which would seem to indicate that Big Gabe and the rest, overcome by -weariness, even as he, Dolph, had been, had thrown themselves on the -ground, and, to all appearances at least, were sound asleep. - -It looked as though the time might be favorable for the successful -carrying out of the plan of the young scouts. - -Teddy had not been asleep one single minute. - -On the contrary, while his friend lay there reviving his flagging -energies, Teddy had remained constantly on guard, and figuring out just -how they should presently proceed, in order to effect the rescue of -Amos, and the recovery of that gun. - -He first of all whispered in Dolph’s ear the ideas that had been -hatched during this period of fruitful guardianship. The other realized -that every point seemed to have been covered most beautifully, so that -if such a thing as failure did come, it must be laid to some other -cause than lack of preparation. - -Luck often enters such a game—just at the most critical moment one of -the men might suddenly sit up, as campers sometimes will, disturbed by -a bad dream or a belief that the fire needs looking after; and thus -discovery be brought about. - -All these things had to be taken into consideration; and while -provision might not be made against them, some way of meeting the -emergency could be arranged. - -Teddy left no possible loophole uncovered, in making his arrangements; -and by the time he had finished telling the other the many details, -Dolph realized just how busy his chum’s mind must have been at the time -he himself slept. - -So Teddy led the way, crawling down into the depression made through -erosion, as the creek wound its way toward the lake. - -Between the bank and the water, as a rule, there was plenty of surface -to allow of a safe passage, though occasionally the boys might find it -necessary to wet their feet; but such a trifle as this did not worry -either of them; they were too much in earnest. - -Again was Dolph forced to admire the clever tactics of his guide and -mentor, as he moved noiselessly along, passing over yard after yard -of territory without giving the slightest indication of his presence. -Surely one could learn much by contact with so smart a woodsman, -and that was really one of the Cincinnati boy’s best qualities—his -willingness to be shown. - -Occasionally Teddy would stop and hold out his hand to restrain the one -who was tagging along at his heels. Dolph was reminded of the familiar -gesture used by city drivers and chauffeurs, when about to turn aside. - -At such times Teddy would raise himself up, and peeping over the edge -of the creek bank, take a cautious observation, that covered the -adjacent camp and territory. - -Apparently on each of these several occasions he found things -satisfactory, since their forward progress would be immediately resumed -after every halt. It seemed to Dolph that presently they would have -reached a stage in the game where perhaps a different system of tactics -must be employed. - -Between the fire itself and the edge of the bank of the creek extended -a space about thirty feet in width. While creeping across this, Teddy, -on his way to cut Amos free—for before now the boys had learned that -their chum was tied hand and foot—would have the sparse shelter of -only a few small scattered bushes. - -Teddy did not mean that his chum should make this last gap of the -venture; but it had been arranged that Dolph crouch just under the rim -of the bank, his eyes fastened upon the two men; and in case one of -them aroused at a critical time, it was to be his duty to pop up like -a “jack in the box,” cover them with his gun, and threaten to shoot -unless they remained submissive. - -Dolph had really keyed himself up to the point where he was ready to -proceed to extreme measures, if pushed; he entertained a pretty poor -opinion of both these scheming rascals, and believed they would be -getting only their just desserts if necessity compelled him to “pepper” -them with the contents of his scatter gun, at thirty yards distance. - -But then, that was going pretty far ahead, and Dolph was ardently -hoping for a bloodless victory, with both Amos rescued, and the Marlin -gun recovered. - -“When Teddy had taken one of his observations for the third time, he -seemed ready to call a halt. It was evident that they must have arrived -at the point nearest the camp fire of the fugitives—that seemed rather -a queer name to apply to these hardy rovers of the pine woods; but -since they had really fled in alarm from the ‘supposed-to-be haunted’ -cabin, it might be very appropriate after all.” - -Without saying a word, and only through touch, Teddy indicated just -where the other was to stand. At this point a convenient little “dip” -allowed of a sweeping survey of the camp, and Dolph would be in prime -condition to carry out that threatening part of the game, if it became -essential, which he sincerely hoped might not be the case. - -He could thrust his gun over the top of the creek bank, and cover the -sleepers; at the same time have his foot upon a friendly knob of stone -that projected from the soil, allowing a sudden upheaval, should he -feel it necessary to show himself. - -All these arrangements were speedily settled; indeed, they did not take -more than a minute or so of time. - -Then Teddy was ready to pull himself up over the edge, get down flat on -the ground and wriggle along one way or another, like a creeping cat -perhaps, in the direction of the spot where they could plainly see the -stocky form of their chum, Amos, stretched out. - -Dolph, having settled himself in his appointed position, made ready to -watch the advance of his friend. - -He could feel his heart beating almost with the rapidity of a trip -hammer; and even feared that its wild pulsation might awaken the -sleepers; but on second thought Dolph realized the absurdity of such an -event, and from that time on became much more calm. His hands indeed, -were perfectly steady, as they pushed the gun up, and rested it on the -soil, in the desired position for immediate use. - -Teddy was tightening his belt, and making sure that everything about -him was in apple pie condition for the little venture. After he had -once salied forth, there would be no time to give any thought to these -matters. - -Then he squeezed Dolph’s hand once more, perhaps forgetting that he had -already performed this operation two other times already. But then it -was a time of such tremendous importance, that after all Teddy could -be excused. Perhaps he was excited but if so, he managed to hide the -fact pretty well. Why, Dolph thought the other as cool as any icicle -that ever hung down from the woodshed gutter after a thaw in February. -Doubtless he compared Teddy’s manner with his own when deciding this -fact. And that tumultuous heart made him only too conscious of his own -shortcomings. - -Then Teddy climbed silently out of the sunken creek channel, and -started, low down on his chest, in the direction of the fire. - -He had not made more than two hunches than Dolph noticed something. -Why, Teddy had abruptly stopped. More than that, he was flattening -himself out upon the ground as if the one object of his life just at -that particular moment was to make himself seem as small as possible. - -Now Dolph knew what this must signify. He hastily turned his troubled -gaze in the direction of the smouldering camp fire and the sleepers, -for only in that quarter could there possibly be any chance of -interruption. - -Had one of the men chosen to get up and stretch himself at this most -inopportune moment? If so, then Teddy’s mission must of necessity be -postponed. - -What Dolph saw almost took his breath away, it was so entirely -different from anything he had expected; and immediately his feeling of -alarm and dismay gave way to one bordering on expectancy. - -Someone was slowly and cautiously getting up near the half-dead fire; -but it was neither of the rough men. On the contrary, he could see the -slight figure of the girl, Sallie; and from the manner in which she -peered at the recumbent figures of her father and Big Gabe, it was -evident that she did not wish either of them to know of her action. - -There was evidently about to be put upon the boards, a feature of the -game that neither of the boys had counted upon entering. No wonder then -Dolph held his breath, while Teddy raised his head much as a tortoise -might protrude his from its shell, as their eyes remained glued upon -the camp of the game poachers. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -WHAT SALLIE DID - - -Sallie seemed a long time in getting up on her knees. All the while, -too, she was keeping that watch upon the two men, as though the poor -little heart might be throbbing like mad for fear lest one of them -suddenly raise his head, and demand to know in gruff tones, why she was -leaving her blanket at that hour. - -There could be only one explanation of her suspicious actions, Dolph -concluded; this was, that she had deliberately resolved to brave the -wrath of Big Gabe as well as her own ruffianly father, and help Amos -escape. - -Dolph fairly held his breath with suspense when he grasped all that -she seemed bent upon accomplishing. At the same time he was saying to -himself in a whisper over and over again: - -“Good for you, Sallie! Bulliest little girl I ever saw; don’t this beat -all, though!” - -Sallie was now creeping away from her blanket. She certainly headed -straight for the spot where Amos was lying. - -Turning his eyes in that direction Dolph saw the prisoner raise his -head. He seemed to be intently watching the silent advance of the girl, -as though, bound as he was, Amos understood what Sallie meant to do. - -Something glittered in the hand of the child, as a tongue of flame -licked up a small bit of fuel that had dropped into the fire when a -log partly turned over. Dolph quickly guessed that it must be a knife, -though just where Sallie could have obtained the same he could not -imagine. - -Here was a situation, dramatic enough to please the most critical. - -No wonder, then, that the two boys hardly dared to breathe properly -as they watched the slow advance of the child of the lawless former -mink trapper, and now game poacher. No wonder Dolph, yes, and Teddy -too, blessed her mentally over and over, as she thus took her courage -in both hands and dared the wrath of the two rough men. She evidently -fully determined to assist the lad who had found the way to her poor -little heart through the fairy touch of his bow on the strings of the -old fiddle. - -Perhaps she fancied that one of the sleepers moved, for suddenly Sallie -sank down flat upon the ground as though stricken with death, and lay -there while several full minutes passed. - -Amos bobbed his head up again and again, as though he could not -understand just why the little girl had halted in her rescue work. He -seemed to have been expecting her coming, from which Dolph guessed that -Amos must have earlier in the night received some hint as to what he -might expect. - -The alarm, however, proved to be without foundation, it seemed; for -presently Sallie was once more on the move, approaching now the -sprawling form of Big Gabe, who chanced to have cast himself down near -the prisoner, though perhaps after all it had been design on his part -that caused the timber cruiser to do this. - -These sort of wood voyagers are accustomed to waking by instinct when -the fire burns low, and a chill pervades the air of the camp; the soft -footfall of a cat might arouse them. - -And Sallie knew it. - -Dolph remembered what his instructions had been. He was to make use -of his gun as a gentle persuader in case of trouble while Teddy was -creeping forward. Now that the task of setting Amos free had been -transferred to the shoulders of another there was just as much reason -for vigilance. - -Accordingly, Dolph brought his gun to bear upon the burly figure of -Big Gabe. If that worthy had reared up at that particular moment, the -chances were the timber cruiser would have found himself precipitated -into a peck of trouble. - -But now Sallie had managed to creep past the man who snored, as he lay -flat on his broad back. She was very close to Amos, who appeared to -be more or less nervous. Dolph could guess why. He understood that it -galled the woods boy to be compelled to lie there, incapable of helping -himself, and just wait to be set free by a small, weak girl. - -Amos was proud and would feel the humiliation of this for many a day. -But of course he was too sensible a boy to refuse to profit by the -opportunity. - -When the girl bent down beside the prisoner Dolph gave vent to a sigh -of genuine relief; for he had watched her slow and laborious progress -over the intervening ground with his heart almost in his throat, as -they say, with suspense. - -She now seemed to be sleeping alongside Amos, but Dolph knew full well -that her knife must be diligently at work, sawing at the boy’s cruel -bonds. - -Two, three minutes passed, and Dolph was beginning to grow impatient -for a movement to be made, when he saw Amos raise his head again, as if -for an observation. - -This probably meant that he was free, so far as bonds went. - -Would he hasten to slip quietly out of camp and leave the two rascals -in possession of the coveted Marlin repeater. - -Dolph thought not. - -He knew something of the stubborn disposition of his camp mate, and -would have been willing to risk considerable on his ability to guess -the next move of Amos. - -As soon as the woods boy rolled gently over, it could be seen that he -was moving toward Big Gabe and not in the direction where freedom lay. - -A couple of turns proved quite enough to carry Amos close up to where -the husky timber cruiser lay. - -Big Gabe had an abiding faith in his ability to awaken should anything -amiss come about in camp. At the same time he possessed a still greater -confidence in the value of the up-to-date repeating gun that had so -fortunately fallen into his possession just when he wanted such a -weapon very much. - -When he lay down to sleep, therefore, he had clutched the precious -Marlin as though he meant to make it his bed fellow. - -While he slept, however, in tossing about uneasily, as men are apt -to do when suffering from a wound, for Big Gabe’s conscience never -troubled him the least bit, he had lost something of his grip on the -gun. It was now lying close to his person, but was not in his grasp. - -It was possible by a deft movement, to lift the weapon without -disturbing the sleeper; and this was just what Amos meant to do. - -When Dolph saw Amos thrust out an eager hand toward the gun, he thought -he should almost smother, and there was a ringing in his ears, as -though all the blood in his body rushed to his head. - -And when the weapon was actually lifted, and clutched in the hands of -the backwoods boy, Dolph felt ready to almost swing his hat and shout -for joy. - -Now things were beginning to look somewhat more rosy. - -Big Gabe was shorn of his power; for even should he awaken at this -juncture, it would be to hear a steady voice demand that he hold his -hands up, and find himself staring into the black and threatening tube -of that reliable repeater, with the determined face of Amos pressed -against the stock. - -Where would his forlorn old-fashioned Winchester be then, with a relay -of six shells to back the boy in his demand? - -In that moment Dolph felt that the game was as good as won. - -They might still have few minor difficulties to overcome, especially -if the two men happened to awaken before Amos quitted the camp. But on -the whole it looked as though a positive end had been put to Big Gabe’s -wonderful scheme to capture the millionaire’s son, and hold him for -ransom. - -Amos was again rolling over, only this this time he went in the -opposite direction, and away from the sleeping men. Having secured the -coveted gun, it seemed that Amos felt no further desire to seek the -society of the fellow who had held possession of it. - -When he reached the spot where the girl crouched, Amos paused. She had -watched his every move with deepest satisfaction, to judge from her -attitude as she knelt there. - -Amos when he halted, seemed to be saying something to Sallie. - -It was easy enough for Dolph to guess the nature of this whispered -communication, for the same idea had been in the mind of the watcher. - -He was again endeavoring to influence the child to desert her evil -father, and go with himself and chums. No doubt Amos had talked it all -over with Sallie before, and she knew full well that these kind-hearted -boys would see that she arrived safely at her maternal grandmother’s -home in the Soo, if she but consented. - -But from the emphatic way in which she shook her head it was evident -that Sallie had not changed her mind a particle, and could not be -convinced that her reprobate old “dad” was utterly beyond hope of being -reclaimed. - -Dolph felt his spirits fall, for somehow he had cherished a hope that -the child might give way to the pleading of Amos, for whom she seemed -to have taken such a fancy, and allow them to better her condition. - -It was hard indeed to leave her there in the midst of such discomfort, -and with only those two rough men for company, when if she but changed -her stubborn little mind she might live in a pleasant home. - -But she continued to refuse to go, and of course they could not think -of trying to carry her off against her will. - -All the while she was pushing Amos from her, and pointing toward the -gully through which the creek ran, as offering the best means of -leaving the camp without being observed; which showed that even this -child of Nature had in her short life picked up considerable knowledge -of woodcraft from association with her father, who at times was still -engaged in trapping fur-bearing animals. - -Teddy thought it just as well to rise up on his knees, so as to let the -girl know Amos had friends near by, who would see him through. - -She did immediately catch sight of him, and from her gestures it was -evident that she was calling the attention of the woods-boy to the -fact, for Amos suddenly turned his head, and waved his hand toward them. - -Both Teddy and Dolph thereupon beckoned wildly to him to make haste -because it seemed the height of foolishness for Amos to delay any -longer. - -They saw him bend down and kiss Sallie—kiss her just as reverently -as a mother might her child at parting; and the act stamped Amos as a -true-hearted fellow. Little though he had seen of Sallie, the poacher’s -daughter, he had in that short time come to be deeply concerned about -her gloomy future, and to care for her just as though she were a little -sister whom he should always remember. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE UPLIFTED HAND - - -Amos made the transfer without a hitch. - -He did not even look back once. It was as though he depended wholly -upon his chums to note any danger, and warn him of the same in good -time. - -Another thing Amos did, Dolph was quick to notice, and which showed how -an observing wide-awake boy may pay attention to small things. - -In making his advance toward the creek, Amos instead of pushing on in -a straight course seemed to choose a more roundabout one. Dolph was -at first a little puzzled to know why he did this when he might have -spared himself some extra labor. - -It dawned suddenly upon him that the backwoods boy knew what he was -about for by circling in this way he was really keeping himself out of -range so that if it became necessary for Dolph to fire he might not -stop a portion of the bird shot. - -Amos was nothing if not thoughtful, and while he may have been -ready to sacrifice much upon the altar of friendship, that did not -necessitate his accommodating Big Gabe and Crawley by sharing their -burdens. - -Sallie remained on her knees, with her hands clasped in front of her -child-fashion, watching the progress of the boy toward the point where -in her mind his safety seemed assured, for were not his companions -waiting to receive him? - -A very pitiful object the little girl looked just then, Dolph was -thinking. And then he felt his hand clutched by Amos, who had arrived -in company of Teddy. - -After all their adventures, the right thing had come about at last; -and there did not seem to be any reason why they should not strike out -at once for the camp on the shore of the lake, where their tents and -canoes awaited them. - -Undoubtedly, after the two ruffians awoke, and realized that their -prisoner had not only escaped, but carried off the precious Marlin gun -with him they would consider it too risky to remain in the neighborhood -of those whom they had been plotting against. - -And the chances were the boys would have no further trouble with the -pair of lawless characters. - -One thing alone worried Dolph. - -Would little Sallie be suspected of having assisted the woods boy make -his escape; and if so, would her brutal father treat her as he was -accustomed to serving those bold enough to cross his will? - -It was a galling thought, and made the lad grit his teeth because of -his utter inability to alter the complexion of things. - -So the three boys began to move along the creek bed, intending to leave -it at a point further on, and take to the shelter of the woods. - -The first thing Teddy did, however, was to exchange guns with Amos; and -the very touch of his recovered favorite seemed to send a thrill of -pleasure through the whole system of the lumberman’s son. - -With that gun in his possession Teddy felt doubly armed, and ready to -defy the forces of villainy that could be arrayed against him. - -They had gone only a short distance, after creeping out of the gully, -when a sound came to their ears that caused each of them to stop -instantly in his tracks, and listen eagerly. - -There could be no mistaking the nature of the eruption, for it was the -roaring voice of Big Gabe, calling upon his companions to get up and -see what a trick had been played upon them while they slept. - -Immediately the three lads sought places of observation, and the same -thought seemed to flash through the mind of each—what was about to -happen to Sallie? - -As they looked toward the camp they saw that the big timber cruiser had -tossed an armful of light wood upon the red embers of the fire, for -already a flame had commenced to shoot up, and the immediate vicinity -was illuminated. - -Crawley was on his feet also, prancing around, and evidently more or -less enraged because he could see nothing of the prisoner, who had been -there, safely tied hand and foot, when they lay down to sleep. - -Big Gabe was pointing toward the girl, and his act was full of -significance, for Sallie had not moved from her position, and she was -exactly in the spot where Amos had last been seen. - -Even duller-witted men than these must have been able to put two and -two together, when the conditions were so plain. Crawley of course -could easily guess where Amos had received his assistance, even before -he strode over, and clutched the child by the arm, savagely dragging -her to her feet. - -Dolph unconsciously leveled his gun at the man though of course he -would not have dared fired at that distance lest Sallie be injured, as -well. - -But the whole three boys were ready to spring to their feet and dash -forward, if it came to the worst. - -As Crawley thus dragged the girl’s arm up in that violent fashion, what -she held clutched in her hand was disclosed; this of course, was the -very knife, one used in her kitchen work perhaps, with which the bonds -of Amos had been cut a few minutes before. - -Big Gabe gave utterance to a howl, and immediately threw up his hands, -as if by that tragic gesture to intimate that he was ready to drop the -game then and there since there seemed to be a traitor in the camp. -But he evidently looked to Crawley to fit the punishment to the crime, -since it was a family affair. - -Crawley at first seemed a little stunned at this positive evidence -of Sallie’s guilt; but the pent-up evil in his nature broke out in a -volley of oaths. - -Carried away by the violence of his passion he raised his heavy hand to -strike the child down at his feet. - -Had he done so, the man would have had to reckon with three furious -lads, for all of them were ready to leap forward and finish him as he -deserved by forcing him to run the gauntlet of their shot guns. - -The fire leaped up into a fierce blaze at that moment, as if desirous -of allowing the angry man to plainly see the white face of his -daughter, as she stood there, bravely facing him, with words from her -mother about saving him, on her lips, and a look of calm resignation -set upon her face. - -It was a tableau for about ten seconds, with the brute’s hand raised -aloft, and the child standing there, looking straight into his eyes. - -Crawley simply could not stand it. Perhaps he saw again the look that -had been upon her mother’s face the last time he had struck her, before -she died; a smile that doubtless had haunted the guilty wretch ever -since. - -Shaking his ugly head, and drawing a long breath, he threw her from him -and turning, strode away. - -Dolph sighed. - -He felt relieved, and yet in a measure disappointed, for just then -when his blood was up, it seemed to the boy that the problem of little -Sallie’s future could best be decided by energetic action on the part -of himself and his chums. - -But it was not to be. - -One last look they cast in the direction of the fire, and then plunged -into the depths of the pine woods. - -Dolph wondered if fortune would ever throw them in contact with any -of these persons again. True, they had not wholly enjoyed their -association with the two men, but their thoughts must often go out to -the little lass who was struggling with one of the greatest problems -that can beset any of her sex, a task foolishly set her by the mother -who was gone. And bravely was little Sallie endeavoring to fulfill her -trust. - -Amos knew just about where they were, and which direction they must -head in order to reach the shore of the lake around the spot where they -had made in the camp. - -The genius of the Michigan backwoods boy for locating places was very -marked. And Teddy, who was a little bewildered himself, was glad to be -able to fall back on the one who was able to serve as a pilot. - -“I notice you saved one thing from the wreck,” remarked Teddy, as -they walked steadily forward, hoping to reach the camp, even though -exhausted, long before the hour of dawn. “I saw you pick it up on your -way out.” - -“Well, yes,” chuckled Amos. “It struck me I was entitled to something, -to pay up for all the bother they gave me. It is too bad to get away -with old Crawley’s fiddle just when he’s gone and learned how to start -on the second part of “The Arkansaw Traveler,” after waiting so long. -But I was just fiddle hungry, boys, and I felt I must have the thing.” - -“Glad of it,” said Teddy. - -“That’s right,” added Dolph, enthusiastically; “we can have music every -night now after this, and I give you my word, Amos, every time you play -I can just shut my eyes and see that crazy old rascal jumping around, -snapping his fingers, whistling and acting like he’d just broke out of -a lunatic asylum.” - -“And I’ll always see her a-settin’ there on that three-legged stool, -holdin’ her chin in the hollow of her hand and lookin’ at me with them -big blue eyes. Poor Sallie; poor little gal. She’s got a hard row to -hoe, pardners,” and Amos sighed heavily. - -“There’s one thing we must do when we get to the Soo,” said Teddy, -firmly. - -“I know what you’re going to say,” declared Dolph, “and you can just -bank on me backing you up in it, too.” - -“We’ll see Sallie’s grandmother and make her understand that when the -child comes back to her again to stay a spell, she must never let her -go away again. I reckon she don’t know what kind of a man Crawley is, -because Sallie would never say a word against her father. But this -thing has got to stop.” - -When Teddy spoke in that way, the others just knew he meant it, and the -chances were little Sallie would sooner or later find that she would -not be allowed to make the sacrifice of her health and happiness, in -the useless expectation that by so doing she might possibly reform that -hopeless, drunken rascal she called father. - -So the boys pushed on in a direct line. Tired as they were, they would -not let anything keep them from carrying out their plans. - -About two hours after midnight they came upon the shore of the lake, -with the battered old moon showing them the beloved khaki-colored tent, -just as they had left it. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -FLY FISHING FOR BASS - - -They were certainly a tired lot, all right. - -For once, at least, the rising sun caught the three boys fast asleep. -Indeed, it was fully two hours afterward before any one came creeping -out of the tent. Then it turned out to be Amos, wishing to build a fire -so they could get a pot of coffee and some bacon ready for breakfast. - -No one seemed anxious to stir far that morning. - -“And it isn’t that we need fear meeting up with those two hard cases, -either,” said Teddy, when the subject was laughingly referred to by -Dolph. “Fact is, we all of us feel pretty well done up, and satisfied -to just lie around and rest.” - -“One thing,” remarked Dolph, “I mean to do if I feel a little more -chipper this afternoon.” - -“I can guess it,” laughed Teddy, jerking his thumb toward the near-by -lake, “why they’ve been breaking water all morning, just jumping out -to see what ails the crowd. To think of the outfit for bass fishing -you’ve got along with you lying idle, when here they are at your tent -door, crazy to grab your flies.” - -“Hold on!” exclaimed Dolph, “that settles it. I thought I might make a -try, but now I know it.” - -And ten minutes later Teddy chuckled to see him jointing his rod, and -arranging what he believed might be an all-round taking cast of bass -flies, consisting of a Parmachene Belle, a Montreal and a Red Ibis. - -Teddy smacked his lips and as Amos looked up he remarked: - -“It worked all right. Knew he just could not stand it. Fresh fish for -supper, Amos.” - -But the day was warm, and Dolph knew the folly of going out to cast his -flies while the sun was high and the sky clear. - -Along about four in the afternoon the conditions changed, just as he -had expected would be the case, judging from his observation of the -weather. - -Some clouds came up and obscured the sun. A gentle breeze, and from the -right quarter, too, created a ripple on the surface of the erstwhile -smooth lake. - -So Dolph jumped into one of the canoes and set out. He dearly loved to -feel the thrill that came when he felt a sturdy bronze-backed finny -warrior tugging at the end of his line, now leaping wildly out of the -water, and then trying to find some sharp-pointed rock on the bottom of -the lake against which to drag the delicate leader, so as to weaken it, -and give him a chance to break away. - -There was no end of sport. - -Everything seemed favorable, and for some time Dolph had the time of -his life tempting the eager fish, playing them, sometimes two at once, -and capturing three times as many as the camp could use. - -But, like the true sportsman that he was, Dolph returned all his catch -to the water after the limit he set had been reached. - -Tiring finally of the fun, and Amos looking as though anxious to get -hold of the catch in order to prepare the fish for supper, Dolph came -in. - -“Give ’em a try, Teddy, just to see what fighters they have up here -in this cool water,” he remarked, as his chum came down to admire the -catch. - -“Guess I will,” returned the other. “I may not be as crazy over fishing -as you are, Dolph, but I always enjoy the feel of a two-pound fighter -like that one you got. Didn’t he keep you hustling, though? I thought -you were going to lose the sly dodger when he ran under the boat. But -you didn’t. You were on to all his tricks, old fellow.” - -So Teddy went out and had all the sport he wanted, up to the time the -shades of evening began to gather, and Amos, beating a big spoon on a -frying pan announced that supper was ready. - -But Teddy brought in only one fish, which he had accidentally hooked -so seriously that he thought best to knock it on the head, rather than -return it to the water. - -“Enough for breakfast, with that fine fellow,” Amos remarked, for he -had not cooked all of Dolph’s catch. - -They all united in declaring the fish gilt-edged. And it was decided -while eating supper, to put in just one more day in this lake camp. - -Then they would try and find the man who had the horse and wagon, and -with whose assistance they hoped to make the long portage over to the -railroad, and launch the canoes in the waters of the little Tahquamanon -River shortly beyond. - -Here at a place named McMillan, they expected to replenish their now -diminished stores, so as to be ready for the long dash down to White -Fish Bay, and then skirting the south shore of Lake Superior, bringing -up finally at Sault Ste. Marie, where the Government owns the great -canal and locks, through which much greater tonnage passes in a summer -season than goes through the famous Suez Canal in a whole year. - -That night the boys thought it best to keep watch. - -They really did not anticipate any trouble in connection with Crawley -and Big Gabe; but knowing the character of the two men they felt that -it would not be advisable to take any chances. - -Besides, Teddy was more than half inclined to suspect that the lumber -combine to which his father’s company was so bitterly opposed, was -partly responsible for the presence of the big and unscrupulous timber -cruiser being in the vicinity. - -They may have gotten wind of the expedition planned by the three boys; -and suspicious lest it might be only a cloak to hide some clever deal -of the wealthy lumberman, just because his son was in the party, Gabe -may have been hired to keep an eye on their movements. - -However this might be, there was no sign of any intruder in the camp, -and the night passed without an alarm. - -On the following morning Teddy paddled off all alone, his mission being -to find the settler living near the north-eastern point of the lake, -and making some arrangement with him, looking to the packing of their -canoes across country. - -It was going to be an all-day job, they figured; indeed they would -consider themselves fortunate indeed if nightfall found them fully -launched upon the stream that after numerous windings emptied into the -great White Fish Bay. - -The others amused themselves in various ways, Dolph having to strike -off some snapshots of the lake camp. How bitterly he regretted that -they would have nothing to remind them of all the strange things -happening in connection with the two poachers and little Sallie—only -the memory of it all, and a wretched fiddle, which Amos was tinkering -with every little while, trying to get it in better shape. - -When Teddy came back he was evidently in a good humor. - -“All fixed, fellows!” he called out, even before landing. - -“Then you found our man?” asked Dolph, quite relieved; for he yearned -to set eyes on new scenes and had not fancied going back over their -course, as must have been the case had a portage been found impossible. - -“Sure, we can bring our canoes nearly to his door. He lives up a creek, -too, which makes it all the easier. And in the morning bright and early -we strike camp here. No sleeping till after the sun’s up, hear!” Teddy -continued. - -“Well I should say not,” laughed Dolph. “But get out here, Teddy. I’ve -fixed my kodak so as to work it automatically at a distance. That gives -me a chance to get in the picture, you see, and makes it complete.” - -“Good for you!” declared Teddy. “I’ve always been sorry for the fellow -who carries a kodak along, because he has to make sets of pictures for -others, and hardly ever shows up in one himself. Then I want to go out -and say good-bye to the bully bass of this old lake. Get ready for -another fish supper, Amos.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -ALONG THE TAHQUAMANON - - -The boys must have been up before daylight on that next morning. -Certain it is that the sun could not have been half an hour high than -they stood on the little beach, waved their hats three times as they -gave that many vigorous cheers for Paradise Camp, and then entering -their loaded canoes, paddled blithely away. - -“A bully little camp, that,” declared Dolph, as they urged the light -boats along with sturdy sweeps of the spruce paddles; “we’ll never -forget it, or the gamey bass of Manistique Lake.” - -“Or a lot of other things that came to pass around this same neck of -old Michigan,” suggested Teddy. - -“I guess not,” Amos put in, and they knew very well that he was -thinking right then of little Sallie, also how she had stood there -without flinching, while that half-drunken brute of a father held his -fist half raised. - -Would any of them forget that picture as long as they lived—Teddy and -Dolph felt sure they never could. - -In due time they found where the man lived who was willing, for a cash -consideration, and a pretty stiff one, to convey the empty canoes and -the packs that would embrace all the duffel across the miles of pine -woods, to McMillan. - -The boys knew how to pack things to good advantage. The canoes were -laid on top of all, and upside down, being secured thus so no accident -could befall them. - -As the sun was shining brightly, of course Dolph could not rest -satisfied until he had snapped off a picture of the queer load those -horses were expected to haul across the country following a “tote” road -made long since by lumbermen. - -Sometimes the boys tiring of sitting, and with a view to relieving the -horses in the bargain, would drop off and walk. - -Noon came and found them still on the way. But the man was now -sure they would reach their destination by four o’clock, and so -they concluded to stop for an hour, bait the horses and have some -refreshments themselves. - -Amos built one of his speedy fires, and had that aluminum coffee pot -settled in place in an amazingly short time. - -After a good rest, the journey was resumed through the pine woods. And -sure enough the driver kept his word for it was not much after half -past three when they came in sight of the outskirts of McMillan. - -The boys had vowed not to sleep under any but a canvas roof during the -entire trip and so it was planned to launch the canoes immediately, -stow their goods, and drop down the river half a mile or so, in the -hope and expectation of discovering a good spot to put up the tent. - -Then, on the following morning they would pack again and go on down to -a place named Newberry, the county seat, where there would be larger -stores, the driver told them, and a better chance to lay in the kind of -provisions they wanted. - -There was no hitch in their plans, and they spent a fairly decent -night, marred only by the frequent barking of a pack of dogs from town, -that seemed to have banded together for a coon hunt, or something along -that order. - -On the next morning they followed the railroad for some time, passing -one or two small places, and waving their hats to the passengers on a -train. - -Arrived at Newberry they left Amos in charge of the boats, while Teddy -and Dolph sought the post office to mail letters, as well as to pick -up anything that may have been sent from the folks, with whom they had -left a copy of their plans, marking the time of their expected arrival -at such points as Newberry and the Soo. - -Afterwards the two boys took the list they had made out, of things they -needed, and visiting the best store in the town, purchased an abundant -supply. - -“Last chance to get anything,” warned Dolph, when Teddy asked if there -was any other article he could think of, “we pass no more places from -here to the bay, where we strike a small place named Emerson,” and on -the strength of this plea, Dolph took the liberty of adding a few more -things to the list. - -“Hope the canoes don’t sink with all that load,” chuckled Teddy, as, -having completed their purchases, which were to be delivered in an -hour’s time they sauntered down in the direction of the river. - -“Oh! they’ll bear up, all right,” declared the other “and besides, -remember that a few meals will lighten the cargo considerably.” - -“I guess you’re right,” admitted Teddy. “I never saw three fellows with -such appetites in all my life. I’d hate to board this crowd, believe -me.” - -“Well I don’t think any landlady would get rich doing it,” Dolph -remarked, with a good-natured grin. - -They left Newberry about two in the afternoon, and started down the -river which immediately entered among the pine woods and marshes that -make up most of the region for many miles along the south shore of -Superior east of the famous Pictured Rocks. - -At one time the boys had contemplated taking in that region after -reaching White Fish Bay. They concluded, however, that the open lake -was too dangerous a cruising ground for such frail mosquito craft. -Besides, they desired above all things, to visit the city on the famous -Soo Rapids, and enjoy some of the wonderful things to be met with there. - -The current of the Tahquamanon proved very acceptable to the boys. -After using the paddles in pushing up against the flow of the -Manistique, and then navigating the still waters of the larger lake -bearing the same name, it was certainly a pleasure to simply guide the -canoes, and allow the current to do the rest. - -They were in no hurry, and consequently went ashore rather early to -make camp, enticed by ideal conditions. - -Dolph managed to get a snapshot of a deer while here. The animal must -have been aware of the law’s protection for it stood knee-deep in -the water browsing upon some sort of of grass or lily pads while the -official photographer took several views, finally walking up closer in -order to make the animal leap, so that he might secure that variety of -picture for the collection. - -Dolph also found that there were trout in the stream, quite good-sized -fellows too, of the speckled variety that can be caught in Superior, -and at the mouth of the rivers along the north shore, as high as eight -pounds in weight. - -He started in to gather a mess for supper, and declared that he could -have taken enough to feed a whole troop of Boy Scouts, had he cared to -keep them. - -“Never saw fish so crazy to jump into a frying pan,” he remarked, -afterwards when, the trout having been cleaned, they were rolled in -cracker crumbs, and dropped in the hot compound secured by “trying out” -slices of fat salt pork. - -And when the beautifully browned fish were eaten, the pink meat looking -so dainty, every one declared that when it came to sweetness, the trout -raised in the clear cold waters of Lake Superior had no rival. - -But then that is what hungry campers are saying up in Maine, in the -Adirondacks, and in various other places where trout abound—they are -always the finest in the whole world, when you have your appetite along -with you and the odor of supper is wafted to you on the wind that -shakes the foliage of the pine and hemlock. - -Another day the boys dropped still lower down the Tahquamanon and in -doing so drew nearer the place where they would finally launch upon the -bosom of the largest body of fresh water in all America, the mighty -Superior, well named by the early explorers. - -Of course, there were occasionally things that served to break the -monotony of the voyage, Teddy and Dolph for instance, managed to bring -up on a partly submerged rock at a place where the current was pretty -bracing. They came very near having a spill too, that might have been -disastrous in so far as losing things was concerned, though they hardly -felt as though their lives had been in danger because both boys -chanced to be good swimmers, and would have clung to the canoe, which -had air compartments fore and aft, and was believed to be unsinkable. - -But by dint of some clever work the boys managed to save themselves -from this dire disaster, though both called it a narrow escape. - -“And after this,” declared Teddy, “me to tie my Marlin to the ribs of -the boat with this piece of strong cord. Then if we do go over I won’t -have to lose the gun I think so much of. After snatching it out of Big -Gabe’s hands, I’d call it a shame now if it went to the bottom of the -Tahquamanon River.” - -“Huh!” added Dolph, “honest now, I don’t believe I’ll go to all that -trouble about my repeater. To tell the truth, I’m not so much stuck on -that fine foreign-made gun as I was when my dad made me a present of -it. Paid a hundred dollars or so for the thing over in Germany, too. -But I’ve sort of lost faith in the thing. Perhaps it was my fault the -mechanism didn’t work well; but when a fellow begins to look on his gun -with suspicion, he never can enjoy it again. He’ll always be afraid -something is going to go wrong.” - -“Better keep it until the end of this trip, anyhow,” advised Teddy. - -“Guess I ought to, seeing it was a present anyhow but another time -you’ll find me on deck with a different make of gun,” Dolph declared; -and his chum only smiled. - -Another time the camp was invaded by a wandering hog with a whole troop -of partly grown pigs; and they had no peace during the balance of their -stay there. Whether the porkers scented food, or “just wanted to be -friendly” as Teddy put it, they were hardly driven away in one quarter -than another detachment turned up in another place. - -Dolph was full of dark threats as to what he would do pretty soon, if -the invasion did not let up. He even handled his gun in a ferocious -manner, and asked all kinds of questions of Amos as to how best they -could roast a small pig in an earthern oven, made after the manner of -the old hunters. - -But this must all have been said just in the hope of the old sow -scenting danger to her brood when she whiffed the odor of burnt powder, -might call the invading army off. Certain it was that Dolph was not -called upon to fire his gun; and they positively did not have roast -pig for supper, or breakfast, or any other meal, for that matter. -And at nightfall their troublesome visitor, grunting their disgust, -departed. - -And so it came that about three in the afternoon of their last day on -the Tahquamanon, while they were all plying their paddles briskly, -Teddy gave vent to a loud shout and pointed ahead: - -“Look! yonder lies Lake Superior. Tonight we camp on the shore of the -Big Water!” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -DOWN THE SOO RAPIDS—CONCLUSION - - -Teddy’s prophecy came true. - -They did camp that night on the shore of White Fish Bay. A suitable -place was found where above a sandy beach a high bank offered good -inducements. - -But the boys were not taking chances. While the sun went down in a -golden and rosy mass of color, who could say that they might not be -visited by one of those sudden electrical storm which during the summer -sweep over the great lake, making it dangerous for any small boat to be -out. - -So the boys not only took extra precautions to fasten their tent down -securely; but with considerable trouble they even brought both canoes -up the high bank and fastened them, bottoms up, with ropes. - -Never did they feel better repaid for their labor. - -About half way between midnight and dawn a crash of thunder aroused -them. Hurrying out, after dressing they found black clouds sweeping -down from the northwest. Already the little waves were breaking on the -beach below. Had they simply drawn the canoes out of the water and left -them there, doubtless this would have been a period of more or less -anxiety concerning the welfare of the small craft. - -As it was, all they had to do now was to rope down the canvas a little -more securely, and then await the coming of the squall. - -It was what Dolph called a “screamer.” - -The rain was carried on a howling wind that must have come across that -big body of water from the Canada side at the rate of fifty miles an -hour. - -Fortunately the tent had some protection from this fierce wind, since -they had erected it just back of a large granite rock. And while the -rain beat down in a flood not to speak of the spray that dashed twenty -feet in the air, as the great waves slapped up against the rocks back -of the now covered beach—in spite of all this the Khaki colored tent -did not leak a single drop. - -Whoever was responsible for the waterproofing, must have done a fine -job; for if ever canvas was put to a severe test, that tent was. - -The thunder roared, the lightning flashed, and the wind and waves -howled; but while the three canoe boys made no attempt to capture -any sleep while the summer storm was at its height, they felt no -uneasiness. With those firm rocks underneath, the billows of the -biggest of all lakes could do them no damage. - -They supposed they might be marooned there for twenty-four hours -because the lake would be too rough for their small craft. - -In this, however, they were pleasantly disappointed, when the storm -went off muttering and growling toward the south, and the boys thought -to try and get some sleep, the giant waves were still battering away -at their old enemies the rocks, and sheets of spray fell upon the tent -from time to time. - -When Teddy awoke he missed all this row; and making his way outside, -for it was morning, with the sun shining brightly, he was surprised and -gratified to discover that the sea had gone down as if by magic, owing -to a change of wind. - -“That looks as if we might get away this morning,” remarked Dolph, -joining him. - -“It certain does. But where is Amos?” demanded Teddy. - -“Listen!” - -The sound of chopping came from a point near by. - -“Why, of course it wouldn’t be Amos if he didn’t think of a fire the -first thing,” declared Teddy. - -“And it won’t feel at all bad this A. M.,” said Dolph. “That storm sure -did purify the air and sent the mercury tumbling down the tube. Whew! -my fingers are actually _cold_, and this a summer day, too.” - -That day they paddled a good many miles along the shore. The wind -being now in the south, favored them, for as a rule the water was very -calm. It warmed up at noon, so that they were glad to strip down to a -sleeveless jersey. - -And when it was finally decided to camp again for the night they -had made such good progress that Teddy, after consulting his chart, -declared another such day ought to land them at the Soo where they -expected to spend several days ere going down the St. Mary’s river to -the head of Lake Huron, where they would put their boats on the steamer -bound for Mackinac Island. - -The first part of the program was carried out on the following day, -thanks to the favorable weather, which kept the waves from heading in -on the southern shore. - -Late that afternoon they sighted the electrical building and tower -that marks the wonderful locks of the great Soo Canal. Here they found -a congestion of whaleback steamers and barges bound east with ore and -grain, while others were going the other way laden with coal and other -things needed around Duluth and the vast grain region beyond Superior’s -farther boundary. - -There was almost constant whistling day and night. - -Making camp outside of town, the boys spent their first night at the -Soo in their own reliable tent. - -On the following morning they hired a man to look after things, and -started out to see the sights of the place. - -Of course, they spent most of their time for two days at the great -lock, watching the vessels come and go. The grand rapids also -fascinated them. And there was the government fish hatchery on a little -island between the canal and the river, where the boys were interested -in many things connected with the artificial raising of fish. - -In the pools belonging to the hatchery they saw scores of monster -speckled trout of a size to make Dolph’s mouth water—fully eight -pounds. They would even rush at and seize upon a blade of grass when he -tapped the water with it, as an insect might do. - -Of course, these fish were kept in order that eggs might be secured by -millions, and placed in the jars to hatch out. - -The boys early made the acquaintance of some stalwart, dark-featured -fellows who had long canoes over twenty feet in length in which for -half a dollar each, two of them would take a party of four or six down -the whirling rapids. - -And of course the boys quickly took that trip. The guides who piloted -them claimed to be the grandsons of old John Boucher the Indian whom -tens of thousands of tourists knew as the most daring and skilful guide -of all the canoe men at the Soo. Old John some years ago took another -pilot aboard, and started on the longest voyage he ever undertook. But -from what he told the writer, just two years before he lay down in -his last sleep, with the familiar roar of the Soo Rapids sounding in -his ears, the way was fully charted and buoyed to him, and he had the -utmost confidence in his pilot. - -In sweeping down the rapids where the outlet of Lake Superior drops -nineteen feet in the mile, the boys noticed the terrible gaping -whirlpool over to the left. They saw their guides avoided it sharply, -and upon questioning later as to why this was done learned that only -one man had dared to always pilot his canoe close to the edge of that -seething vortex, to be sucked into which meant death. - -“Since Old John is gone, no guide cares to take chances,” was the reply. - -Of course, the boys also hunted up the grandmother of little Sallie. -They found her living in comfort, with a son who had some office -connected with the electrical department of the great locks. - -The old lady was shocked when she learned what kind of a man Crawley -really was. She declared that if the girl came back again as usual -after a summer with her father she should never go out into the pine -woods again. - -And she never did. - -Some months later Teddy, who had left his address with the old lady, -received a letter from her that really eased his mind greatly, as it -did also those of Dolph and Amos, when they came to hear about it. - -Sallie was home again, sad, but fully satisfied that she had carried -out the last injunction of her mother to stick to her father to the -end. - -Crawley was no more. He had been killed by a stroke of lightning, and -the girl rendered unconscious at the same time. Recovering, little -Sallie had made her way to the camp of a party of Chicago people, whom -she knew were on the other side of the small lake. - -These people had buried Crawley, and seen to it that the wise little -girl was put in charge of a conductor on a train who would deliver her -to her folks. - -Sallie wanted to be remembered too—as if any of them would ever forget -her. - -Taking their smaller canoes right into the big ones, the boys again -shot the rapids and then leisurely made their way down the St. Mary’s -River, camping several times and taking their toll of the fierce bass -for which certain stretches of this river are noted. - -At the mouth of the river they waited for the daily steamboat from -the Soo, which took boys and canoes aboard, landing them at Mackinac -Island. After a day at this loveliest of all islands, having a week -more on their hands, the boys boarded the steamer Islander, which -carried them, also their canoes, in among the Snow Islands. - -Here they passed the balance of their vacation, devoting some time to -fishing, more to taking snap shots, and most of all to satisfying the -clamorous demands of their healthy young appetites. - -Finally they got in touch with civilization, had their boats shipped -out, and in the end landed at Teddy’s home in Grand Rapids. - -Dolph declares that another summer will find him up in Michigan again, -with his two staunch and true camp mates. And in return, by letter, -Teddy has confided his belief that Amos, who is attending school with -the prospect of studying medicine when he graduates, only hopes to go -along with them so that he may run over to the Soo and pay his promised -visit at the home of the old lady who is the grandmother of Sallie. - - - THE END - -[Illustration: DECORATION] - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: - -—Obvious print and punctuation errors were corrected. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Camp Mates in Michigan, by St. George Rathborne - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP MATES IN MICHIGAN *** - -***** This file should be named 50253-0.txt or 50253-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/2/5/50253/ - -Produced by Giovanni Fini and The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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