CHAPTER XIV
SAFE AT CAMP BUFFALO
Riding triumphantly on the driver's seat with Chick-chick made thereturn journey very different from the miserable trip Glen had madeinside the car, bound and gagged, and horribly jolted at everyirregularity of the road.
"Shall we leave car at Buffalo Center, or run right on to camp an' showthe booty?" asked Chick-chick.
"We haven't made the trip yet," Glen reminded him. "If we're luckyenough to get all the way to Buffalo Center we'd better deliver it tothe first officer we see, sheriff or constable," counseled Glen. "Wedon't want to be arrested for stealing. It won't do for me to bearrested for anything."
"But don't you think we ought let scoutmaster see it? Let him have sayabout it. Don't you think?"
"Perhaps we ought," agreed Glen, who saw clearly that Chick-chick longedfor the honor of driving his captured car proudly into camp--anexciting honor which he was not reluctant to share.
"It certainly would be fine if we could make it."
But it was not to be. Daylight was still pretty good, so that they couldsee a long distance back along the road. And so, when they still hadseveral miles to go, they looked back and saw their nemesis overhaulingthem.
"That car's coming like fury," observed Glen. "I'll bet it's Jervice andhis friends hot after us."
"'Fraid so," sighed Chick-chick. "Gettin' all speed out of the old wagonI can."
"We'd better try to catch Apple and all get on the motor-bike,"suggested Glen.
"Can't catch Apple unless he takes notion to turn an' see we want him.Think we can hide, I do."
"Hide the car, too?"
"Hide the car. Saw place on way out. It's less'n mile from here. There'screek pretty near dry, and bridge over it. But there's ford by side ofbridge, too. We forded it coming out."
"Can you get the car down?"
"Think I can. Think can run down by ford an' get under bridge. They'llgo shooting by without seeing us, they will."
It was time to be taking some action. As they mounted the hill they wereevidently seen by the pursuers who sent a pistol shot after them, thoughnot with any possibility of reaching them. At the foot of this hill laythe creek.
Chick-chick slackened speed and scanned the bank eagerly to see if thecar could make the descent. Dusk was already present under the heavytimber by the creek, and he left the road slowly with the double objectof feeling his way and leaving as little track as possible.
Glen leaped from the car and bent back the brush flattened out by thewheels and kicked dust over the tracks left by the car in turning. Thenhe rushed down and found that by skillful driving Chick-chick hadmanaged to make the descent safely and drive the car under the arch ofthe bridge, so concealed by the abutments and by outgrowing bushes thatthere would be little likelihood of attracting notice from aboveexcepting from careful searchers.
A few seconds later the noise overhead told them that the pursuing carhad rushed on, still hot in the chase.
"What's to do, now, Brick?" asked Chick-chick. "Got old car down prettyeasy, we did. Don't know about getting back. Reckon I could cross overan' climb t'other side."
"I don't believe we want to try it," counseled Glen. "We are only acouple of miles from Buffalo Center. They'll be there in a minute ortwo. When they find we've dodged 'em they'll start back hunting for us.We'll meet 'em and there'll be real trouble. We don't want their car,anyway."
"Let's walk on an' catch Apple, then," suggested Chick-chick. "When hefinds we don't come he'll either wait for us or start back. We can allride into camp on the bike, we can."
"Leave the wagon just like this?"
"Why not? 'Tain't ours: All we've done is interfere with burglars. Ifthis car carries the burgling things to rob the bank they won't be ableto burgle to-night, anyway. Let's look for that chart they showed you.If it's anything about the treasure it's ours."
"He said he kept it on the shelf with his railroad guides. I'm afraid heput it in his pocket after they'd looked at it."
They found the shelf with the railroad folders, but no chart of anydescription was there.
"'Fraid you'd see more of it than they wanted," suggested Chick-chick.
"They need not," said Glen. "I don't care what's on their chart."
"Why not?" asked Chick-chick. "Why not? They got chart cave. Cave issomewhere between our camp an' top Buffalo Mound. They say Indian cavean' think Indians have hid treasure there; why not?"
"What makes you think the cave is between our camp and the top ofBuffalo Mound?"
"Didn't you say Jervice man stuck his thumb over--so shut out your look.What he do that for if cave ain't there?"
"You jump too quick, Chick-chick. I'm not sure there's a cave at all. Ijust know that they talked as if they were looking for a cave or a holein the ground or some place where somebody had hid a lot of plunder."
"Sure you know it. An' why wouldn't it be a cave? An' didn't you say thebig man said he'd bet Indians had bullion hid in same cave they werehunting. Didn't you?"
"That isn't saying it's so," objected Glen.
"It's sayin' it's worth lookin'," affirmed Chick-chick. "Didn't one of'em say chart was drawn from description Indians gave?"
"Yes, but they might have been fooling 'em."
"An' they might not. If it's Indian cave it's got our treasure. Youdraw copy that chart from memory soon as we get back, you do."
"I can't draw," objected Glen. "Maybe I can remember enough about it totell you or Apple how to put it on paper."
"Here's Apple coming now," said Chick-chick. "He's the boy to draw.Draws better 'n flax seed poultice. You'll draw him all maps he wantswhen we get to camp, won't ye, Apple?"
"If we ever get back," said Apple. "It's getting dark. Father will beanxious. Why are you leaving the car?"
"Don't want it," explained Chick-chick. "Isn't ours. 'Fraid somebody seeus with it an' think our name is Jervice. We all get on little old bikean' hike along sudden, we do."
Three boys was no special load for the motor-bike. They were constantlyon the look out for the pursuing car which they expected to meet comingback, but nothing did they see of it. They rushed through Buffalo Centerand a few minutes later Chick-chick blew his horn for the camp.
Great was the excitement when it was seen that the search party not onlyhad returned but had brought the missing boy. Glen was almost mobbed bythe crowd of scouts who pulled him one way and another in vociferousand jovial greeting. It was an experience such as had never happened inall his life, and his heart throbbed with thankfulness, and unbidden andunexpected tears rushed to his eyes that he should be honored with sucha welcome by such loyal comrades. "God is good," came the thought, andhe knew that henceforth he would live a richer, deeper and more loyallife because of this experience.
Off to one corner Apple had a noisy audience and there were yet otherswho gathered about Chick-chick as he retailed to them in his jerkyfashion such things as he deemed proper for them to know. Loud andfurious discussions were heard from every group.
"There won't be any looting of the Buffalo Center Bank while the scoutsare in camp, that's a cinch," proclaimed big Tom Scoresby.
"Tom'll see to that," added Chick-chick.
"If Tom doesn't do it alone, the scouts will," insisted Tom. "Wewouldn't let robbers loot a bank with us in camp not a mile away, wouldwe, Mr. Newton?"
"We wouldn't expect to have anything of the kind going on," agreed Mr.Newton.
"Great yarn, this," Matt Burton, was saying to his own little group. "Ireckon we're expected to swallow it with our eyes shut. I never heardsuch stuff."
"What d'ye mean it's a yarn, Matt?" asked a scout.
"This story about those fellows being bank robbers. Why that scaredlittle old peddler would be afraid to rob a sandbank. If anybody gavehim a cross look, he'd die."
"You don't mean to say Brick Mason's lying?"
"Oh, no! He just has dreams."
"Did he dream himself tied up with cords cutting in so sharp they leftred
welts and took half hour to get circulation going?" demandedChick-chick who had overheard.
"Red welts nothing!" retorted Matt. "I could raise red welts all over mybody and never feel it."
"You keep makin' insinuations an' I know fellow'll raise red welts onyou so you won't feel anything for month," threatened Chick-chick. "Ifelt those welts. Saw 'em too. Plain as the ridges on a non-skid tire.Anybody's thinks Brick had 'em made for fun can get all that kind o' funhe wants."
"What's the trouble, scouts?"
It was Mr. Newton, his attention drawn by the angry tones.
"Explainin' 'bout Brick's body marks," said Chick-chick.
"I think you've talked long enough." Mr. Newton easily guessed thequarrel. "Go along with Corliss and Glen and work your tongue on yoursupper. You other fellows see they get filled up."
Glen had rushed to Will Spencer at his first free moment, but the suppertable gave him his first real chance for conversation with him. Will hadhis billy cart pushed up where he could clap Glen on the shoulder andtell him again how glad he was to see him safe and sound.
"Nice, comfortable day you've given your Uncle Bill," he said incheerful accusation.
"Did you worry about me?" asked Glen.
"Not so much about you," explained Jolly Bill. "But I had a terribletime making my mind easy about that poor peddler and worrying about whatwould happen to him when you found he'd run off with you."
"I didn't believe there was anything J. Jervice could do to me, but Ifound people worse than him. I believe he's one of a robber gang--"
"I don't understand these references to robbers," interrupted Mr.Newton. "Perhaps you'd better make it clear to us."
So for the benefit of the two men, Glen went over the whole story,telling them all about his capture, his suspicions of the gang, thechart he had seen, and the way they had treated him when he refused toacquiesce in their plans.
"That sounds very grave," said Mr. Newton, busy already penciling anote. "I'll get you to take this letter to town, Henry, just as soon asyou have finished your supper."
"You think they intended to rob the bank to-night?" asked Spencer.
"That was their original plan, I am sure; but I don't know--"
He was interrupted by a very earnest and eager delegation of scouts,with big Tom Scoresby at its head. Tom saluted and asked permission toaddress a request to the scoutmaster.
"We want to go out and capture these bank robbers before they get faraway," he explained. "According to what Chick-chick says, the peddler'scar is within three miles of here. Our plan is to go after it and use itto catch the thieves."
"How many scouts are in for this?" asked Mr. Newton.
As with one voice fifteen scouts shouted "I." Others came running toswell the number.
"Let us think this over quietly, scouts. It would be a great thing forus to capture this gang of thieves, wouldn't it?"
There was no doubt that the sentiment met with unanimous favor.
"Why would it be such a fine thing?"
Dead silence prevailed for a moment after this direct question; then allmanner of answers filled the air.
"Show what scouts can do!"
"Put an end to bank robbing!"
"Protect our fellow citizens!"
"Glory for troop 3!"
"A scout is helpful!"
"Great sport to catch robbers!"
"A scout is brave!"
"Show we're good as men!"
These were some of the answers that were shot at the scoutmaster.
When quiet prevailed Mr. Newton resumed his talk.
"A man asked me once if I didn't think the National Council made amistake in its decree that every organization of scouts must have ascoutmaster.
"'You baby your boys,'" he said. 'You ought to put them on their ownresponsibility.'
"But he forgot that certain things, such as a tempered judgment, comeonly by experience. A scout is brave and a scout is helpful, trueenough. But a scout must learn how to use his bravery and when to behelpful.
"Now suppose I allowed you to organize for a robber hunt, and supposethat, during that hunt, some robber was so unfair as to fire realcartridges and hit some member of our expedition. What good would it doto tell the boy's mother that her son was brave, or helpful, oradventurous, or daring? What would it avail to tell her that inpreparation for manhood scouts must develop daring and courage?"
He paused, but the silence was broken by no reply.
"I can conceive of circumstances in which the risk of your lives wouldbe your duty, and I hope that, should they come, no scout of this troopwill count life dearer than honor. But this is not one of them. This isa plain case for plain handling, and I want to tell you how I havehandled it.
"There is a deputy sheriff in the village and I have sent word to him ofthe circumstances and of our suspicions. He, being a regularly appointedofficer of the law, will take such steps as seem best to protect thebank and to apprehend the robbers. He is not likely to call for helpfrom this camp for he knows that there are but two citizens here whocould legally be enlisted in his posse. One of them is crippled, and theother has a squad of young boys in his care; but if the sheriff shouldfeel a need to call upon these men, I venture to say that neither willhold back."
The boys moved away in rather an unusual silence. It was broken by avoice from a distant group, speaking loudly in heavy sarcasm.
"No need to bother about what the sheriff will do. He won't do a thingbecause he'll know that the whole thing is a plant."
The words rang out quite distinctly above the rather subdued hum of theother voices.
"The Great an' Only Matty!" exclaimed Chick-chick in disgust. "He sureknows all about it if it's _plant_."