CHAPTER XI
CAUGHT NAPPING
"Silence!"
The tumult died away as quickly as it had sprung into being, when Paulheld up his right hand and made this request.
All being still again, he turned to the grinning old farmer, who wasdoubtless getting more solid satisfaction out of this new experience thanhe had obtained from any clever dicker or trade engineered in the lastten years.
"Mr. Growdy," said Paul, with considerable of feeling in his voice, "asthe present scout leader of Stanhope Troop No. 1 of the Boy Scouts, Iwant to thank you sincerely for your generous offer. We all appreciatethe kindly spirit that causes you to make it to us. But unfortunately ithappens that the rules of our organization will not allow us to accept."
Peleg's face fell several degrees at this.
"Say, couldn't ye jest make an exception this time, boys?" he pleaded."I'll feel right hurt if I ain't 'lowed to help on this business some.Wot's a hundred dollars beside the new speerit ye've managed somehow tostart up in me? If ye need more, by gum! ye kin hev it! I ain't no hog,if I hev let the people think so this long time."
"Sorry to say so, Mr. Growdy, but we can't accept. Besides, we have allearned enough money now to pay for what we need, and expect to send awayto-morrow to get our suits," Paul went on; and even while he was talkinga bright idea came flashing into his brain.
"Wall, now that's jest too bad, boys. I'd calkerlated to spend thathundred on doin' a good deed, an' ye make me go back home with the samehugged tight in my pocket. I'm sorry it cain't be did, I am, sure,"muttered the farmer, shaking his head, and acting like a child that hasbeen cheated out of some anticipated pleasure.
"That doesn't follow, Mr. Growdy," said Paul, in a low but thrillingvoice; "if you have set your mind on using that hundred dollars to do agood work, perhaps I might give you a hint where it would fit in mightywell, and make your heart feel warm."
"Hey! wot's that, Paul? I don't understand," exclaimed the man.
"Down just beyond the outskirts of Stanhope there lives a poor widowwoman who, I'm told, is in danger of being put out of her home any daynow because she has been sick and unable to work so as to pay her rent.If you went to her right now, Mr. Growdy, and put that wad of money inher hand, I'm sure you'd never regret it, sir; and every boy here wouldthank you just as much as if you paid for his uniform. Isn't that so,fellows?"
A chorus of shouts testified to the fact that Paul had hit upon a popularidea for turning the sudden generosity of the hitherto miserly old farmerto account.
"Who is the woman?" asked Peleg Growdy uneasily.
"Mrs. Jenks, who has three little children to support. Her husband waskilled in that blast some years ago, and she never recovered a cent fromthe mining company, for they burst like a bubble," returned Paul.
"By gum! wot d'ye know about that, now? I reckons as how she lives in oneo' my own cottages, which the real estate man, Stebbins, takes keer offur me. He was tellin' me about some tenant he'd have to put out; but Inever noticed more'n that the name was Jenks."
"But now?" ventured Paul.
"It won't be did! No, sir, not by a jugful. I got my team outside, an'I'm goin' straight over to see the widder. I knowed her husband oncttoo, an' I'm some 'shamed thet I didn't look her up afore," and Pelegstarted for the door.
"Hold on, Mr. Growdy!" called Paul.
"Hey! wot's doin' now, boys?" demanded the old man, turning to grin againat his new host of young friends.
"You oughtn't to leave here, sir, without giving every boy scout theprivilege of shaking hands with you. I'm sure I speak for each fellowwhen I ask that favor," returned Paul, stepping forward.
Peleg was agreeable, though he blushed like a schoolboy as the scouts,forming in line, walked past him, each seizing his horny hand eagerly,and doing his best to make the old farmer wince with the warmth of hissqueeze.
They gave him a parting cheer as he passed out, and the old fellow triedto return the military salute to the best of his ability.
"Well, what do you think of that?" asked Nuthin', when they were oncemore gathered around their leader for the purpose of further discussion.
"The finest thing that could possibly have happened. We had our frolic;and see what it hatched. After this Peleg Growdy will never be the samegrumpy man he was in the past. No boy need longer hesitate to call out tohim on the street; for Peleg, I take it, has seen a great light, eh,Jack?" and Paul slapped his chum heartily on the shoulder as he spoke.
"My idea exactly," replied his chum, quickly. "And do you know it made mefeel bad the way he spoke of Mandy and the kids. Some of you fellows maynot know that he lost his wife and children in a fire that burned hishouse down while he was away. I'm glad we did that job, and you deservethe praise, Paul, because it was your own scheme."
"Humbug! every one of you chimed in as soon as it was mentioned, and soyou're entitled to as much praise as I am. But about those uniforms,boys--hadn't the scout tailor better get to work, going over hismeasurements again? We want the suits to fit all right, you know."
And in this way did Paul direct the attention of his comrades in anotherquarter, because it was really unpleasant for him to be placed on apedestal, as though he were different from the rest of them.
Amid much laughter and joking the measuring went on. Wallace Carberrywielded the tape-line, and Bobolink put down the figures, being closelypatched so that no errors could possibly creep in.
So engrossed were they in this interesting business, that no one paid theleast attention to their surroundings.
And when a heavy shutter was slowly closed over the one large window ofthe tobacco barn, the fact went unnoticed.
In fact the meeting was about ready to disband, and one of the boysstarted for the door to be in advance of his friends, when he made adiscovery.
"Who locked this door, fellows?" he called, as he tried in vain to budgethe barrier.
Of course this drew the attention of all the rest, and a rush was madefor the place of exit. One by one the boys tried to push the door open,but even the stoutest of them failed to accomplish it.
"Who was the last one in?" demanded Bobolink, furiously, as he retired,worsted from the encounter, to allow another a chance at the door.
"Old Peleg Growdy, to be sure; and the door wasn't fastened then. D'yesuppose he did anything to it when he went out?" asked William, as hetried to assist Jud, now straining and pushing in a useless endeavor tomove the heavy door.
"That's nonsense," said Paul, as he pointed to the fact that the doorcould not be locked, since it gave an inch or so each time the boyspushed.
"Ginger! it's got something braced against it outside, that's what!"announced another fellow.
"As sure as you're born it has!" echoed Bobolink.
All doubt was dissipated just then, for a series of loud and derisiveshouts in boyish treble welled up from outside.
"Shucks!" grunted Bobolink, in sheer disgust; "we've gone and let theSlavin fellers have another crack at us. A nice lot of scouts we looklike, not to keep sentries on duty when we have a secret meeting. And nowthey've got us cooped up here like a lot of old hens! Shucks! I sayagain!"
"Well, that's no reason we have to stay cooped up, is it?" demanded Jack,as he turned to hunt around for some object which could be used for abattering ram so as to force the barricaded door of the barn.
"T-t-try the b-b-big wagon doors, fellows!" whooped Bluff.
They did, but with no more success than had attended their puny effortsagainst the smaller exit. Those who had been at work while they talkedmust have done a good job, for the big doors were utterly immovable.
"Do we have to stay in here until morning?" wailed Andy Flinn, in mockdespair.
"Not much, if I have to climb up to the roof, and knock a plank off. Say,those fellows must have been spying out here when I met them thismorning," said Bobolink.
"Listen now, what d'ye suppose they're doing?" demanded Nuthin'.
All remained in an attitude of expect
ancy, and could hear strange soundsthat seemed to come from under the boards forming the floor of the barn;which building had not always been used for drying tobacco alone.
"Now what d'ye suppose the sillies are poking poles under there, for?"ejaculated William; "and just when I was going to propose that we pull upa board, and crawl through the hole."
"Whew! what's this mean? Say, fellows, if that don't make me think of ablessed old skunk I don't know the odor when I meet it!" and Wallace drewback as he was about to get down on his hands and knees to investigatethe meaning of the odd sounds under the barn flooring.
Others got it quickly, and various cries arose, as the boys began to holdtheir noses, and look around at each other.
"It'll smother us, fellows, that's what!" gasped William, quite pale bynow; for the odor which a skunk leaves in its wake affects some personspowerfully, though others hardly mind it at all.
"I know!" Bluff managed to gasp, with a great effort; "there's af-f-family of s-s-skunks have their h-h-home under here. I've seen 'em,b-b-but I never b-b-bothered the b-b-beauties. Oh! ain't it j-j-justawful, f-f-fellows?"
It certainly was.
Stirred up by the poles wielded by Ted Slavin and his cronies, who musthave discovered the presence of the polecats when visiting the barn thatmorning, and laid their plans accordingly, the little animals were usingthe only means of defence against an enemy granted them by Nature.
William actually keeled over, and his brother had to drag him to thefurther end of the barn so that he might not get the full benefit of theoverpowering scent.
"Something's just _got_ to be done!" cried Jack, himself not feeling anytoo well under the infliction.
"Here, help me lift this old beam, boys. We can make a battering ram outof it, and burst a board off somehow. Never mind the damages; they can berepaired easy enough. Two more get hold. Now, swing around this way. Ithink the weakest place is in the rear. Keep back, the rest of you. Heregoes!"
Five others had been only too willing to lend a hand when Paul called forvolunteers. The beam that had been lying against the further wall wasgood and heavy; but that made it all the better as an engine for ramminga hole through the boarded side of the barn.
Amid the cheers of the scouts the novel battering ram was carried forwardwith a will, and on the run. Some of the boys held up lanterns so thatthose who were in the line of attack could see just where to strike. Evenpoor overcome William managed to raise his head, and feebly wave a handof encouragement.
The beam struck with tremendous force, and nothing in the way of a plainordinary boarding could withstand the impetus with which it was drivenforward.
"Whoop!" yelled the scouts, as a big aperture appeared in the side of thebarn, and the route to liberty lay before them.
They were not slow to avail themselves of the privilege either, buthastened to scramble through the gap, carrying the lanterns with them.William managed to get up enough steam to crawl outside, where he couldbreath air that was not fetid, and filled with overpowering odors.
Only Bluff looked back half regretfully at the haven of refuge they hadjust quitted. For he was wondering how his father could ever manage toefface that scent so that the tobacco, soon to be harvested, might behung up in that barn without detracting from its marketable value.
And once out of the trap the Boy Scouts began to chase around, withvengeance in their eyes; but as on previous occasions the wary enemy,after accomplishing their mischief, had been wise enough to slink away.