CHAPTER XV
A DISASTROUS JOURNEY
Several days had passed, finding the Pony Rider Boys in the same campwhere Cale Vaughn had left them. They had got along very well,indeed, and though Charlie John was not much of a talker, he haddone his work well, taking the boys out every day for long jaunts, onwhich the Professor had formed the habit of accompanying them.
Professor Zepplin was finding much to interest him in the greatforests, and especially in the methods pursued by woodsmen in makingtheir way through the forests. The trees, the bushes, the foliageand the birds and animals had taken on a new meaning, a new interestto the Professor, just as these things had taken on a new andabsorbing interest for the boys under his charge.
Of course Cale Vaughn was greatly missed by everyone. He was themost interesting guide that had ever accompanied them. For onething, they had learned more from Cale than from any other guide.The only way they could learn from Charlie John was by observation,as he never deemed it necessary to explain anything to them, forwhich reason they pressed him hard for information and drew him outby frequent questionings.
The Pony Rider Boys finally decided that they would like to move, sothe camp was struck, their equipment packed and loaded on to theponies. Then one morning they started out on a two days' journey,finally locating in a new camp some thirty miles from the old camp.The country had become more rugged, the rocks were higher, thecountry cut up by deep valleys and narrow passes. But the bracingfragrance of the spruce woods was still in their nostrils. It was acountry of evergreens, of mossy silver birches and watery maples.The ground itself was sprinkled with small red berries, strewn withdamp and moss-grown rocks, with the songs of the birds filling theair overhead. The Pony Rider Boys voted it the most entrancingenvironment in which they ever had been. They were glad they hadmoved on. Now they were eager to explore the new country, so a startwas made on an exploring trip on the following day, but traveling wasslow owing to the rugged nature of that part of the forest.
On the second day in the new camp they journeyed so far to the norththat they decided to make a temporary camp and spend the night,returning the next morning. The night was passed uneventfully, butupon their return to the permanent camp they were met with a mostunpleasant surprise.
"Someone has been here," cried Tad the moment he came in sight of thecamp.
"Thieves!" yelled Chunky.
"What--what?" demanded the Professor.
The contents of the tents lay strewn about the camp; everything wasin disorder.
"Plenty bear come here," grunted Charlie after a glance at thecondition of the camp.
"Bears!" cried the boys.
The Indian nodded.
"Him get plenty eat."
"Oh, pshaw! Our provisions are ruined," groaned Tad.
"Even the canned goods have been ruined," added Ned.
"Are--are my canned peaches gone?" wailed Stacy.
"You may see for yourself," answered Tad.
"This is most disconcerting," muttered the Professor. "How about themeat?"
"All gone," answered Tad.
"I reckon we shall have to live on spruce bark for the rest of ourjourney," averred Ned.
"We can't very well do that," answered Butler. "Let's go over theoutfit and see what we really have left."
What they had was not enough to cut much figure in the face of theappetites of the Pony Rider Boys. A few of the canned things wereuntouched. There was coffee, though they had to scrape it up fromthe ground after it had been pawed over by the marauders, but theboys were glad enough to have the coffee even in such a condition.Tad said he guessed the bears had not made it unfit to drink.
Of course they had some provisions in their packs, left over fromtheir trip into the mountains, but a careful inventory led them tothe conclusion that, with the most rigid economy, they would be ableto get along not longer than three days with what provisions theystill had.
"I reckon I had better go out and kill another moose," decided StacyBrown.
"You have done quite enough in that direction already," answered Tad."We are fortunate if we don't get into trouble over that killing ofyours."
"This is serious," spoke up the Professor. "What shall we do,Charlie?"
"Me kill deer," said the Indian.
"Deer are out of season. We don't want to do anything of that sort,except as a last resort," replied Butler. "We simply must have somemore provisions."
"Send Stacy around to the corner grocery for a fresh supply,"suggested Rector.
No one laughed at Ned's silly jest. Their situation was too seriousfor joking.
"Charlie, how far are we from a town?" asked Tad.
"Mebby twenty, mebby thirty miles," answered the Indian, counting upon his fingers.
"What town is it?"
"Matungamook."
"That's a funny name," chuckled Stacy.
"Your name will be more funny if we don't get something to eat prettysoon," returned Tad, at which Chunky's face grew solemn. When itcame to a question of food, the fat boy was deeply interested.
"That's so," nodded Rector.
"Professor, it is my opinion that we should send Charlie to--to--theplace with the unpronounceable name for fresh supplies," said Tad,turning to Professor Zepplin.
"How long will it take?"
"Can you make it in two days, Charlie?"
The Indian nodded.
"Mebby more, mebby less."
"Then I guess we had better send you."
"I want to go, too," piped Chunky.
"It might not be a bad idea," agreed the Professor.
"Do you need any one, Charlie?" asked Tad.
"Me take fat boy. Fat boy help carry grub."
"He will carry the large part of it inside of him if you don't watchout, and that won't do us any good," declared Ned Rector.
"Then you had better take two ponies," suggested Butler.
"Me walk," answered the Indian.
"Just as you choose," agreed the Professor. "I would suggest, though,that you take a horse. You won't be able to carry enough provisionsotherwise."
"Me walk," insisted Charlie John.
"Let him walk," urged Ned. "He will carry as much as a horse, andStacy's mount will take care of the rest."
"I am not sure that we ought to let Chunky go," mused Tad. "He mayget into further trouble, and Charlie might not be able to get himout of it."
"Me take care fat boy," answered Charlie John confidently.
"All right, Charlie. We will hold you responsible. Get back as soonas you can. Shall you see Mr. Vaughn?"
The Indian shook his head. Mr. Vaughn, as they understood it, hadgone to another place. They hoped to see him back at the camp againere many days had passed.
"Get your packs ready, Stacy," advised Ned.
"I will look out for that, Ned," answered Tad. "I know what they needfor carrying the stuff. You and the Professor might make out a listof supplies needed while I am getting the other things ready."
This the Professor did, with the assistance of Rector and WalterPerkins, Stacy Brown changing his clothes so that he might be morepresentable upon entering a town. Frequent consultations with Tadwere had, however, as to what was needed for the outfit. Tad hadideas and he expressed them forcibly.
Finally all was in readiness, the Indian and the boy taking barelyenough provisions to last them until they should have reached theirdestination, probably on the following morning.
Good-byes were said and Stacy, with Charlie John striding ahead,leading the way, left the camp. They were quickly swallowed up inthe dense forest. Tad stood gazing after them, a thoughtfulexpression on his face.
"I don't know whether we have done the wise thing or not," he mused.
"I'll go you a new sombrero that Chunky gets mixed up in some sort ofa mess before he gets back to this camp," offered Ned Rector.
"He is in good hands," answered the Professor.
"I guess he will be all right," deci
ded Tad. "The guide has nothingelse to do except to look after Stacy until they get to town. Hesurely will not get into mischief there."
"Not get into mischief there?" jeered Ned. "I should like to see theplace in which Stacy Brown couldn't get into trouble."
"I am quite sure that Stacy will be careful," observed the Professorsmilingly.
"If you fellows will lend a hand we will try to put this camp torights," said Tad. "It looks as if it had been struck by a Kansascyclone, except that the trees are all standing in this locality."
"I agree with you. Where shall we begin?" asked Walter.
"You get the tent belongings back in place and I will gather up whatis left of the provisions. This is a fine mess of porridge."
"It wouldn't be so bad if we had some porridge," declared Rector.
"There is another thing to be taken into consideration," remindedTad, pausing in his work. "We must not leave the camp unguardedagain. We must also keep watch during the night. Those bears maycome back. They appear to like our grub."
"You think they may come back with some of their friends?" questionedPerkins.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they did," answered Tad with a smile."But they will get a hot reception if they do. I can promise themthat much."
"I hope they come back, then," laughed Ned. "Some nice bear steakwould not go so badly just now, in the present state of our pantryand pork barrel."
"That's so," agreed Tad. "One steak would be enough. We don't needquite as many bears as visited us the first time."
That day came to a close quickly. Tad remained up, staying on guarduntil three o'clock in the morning, when he called Ned to take hisplace. Ned could be depended upon to keep a vigilant watch. As itturned out, there was no need for a watch of any kind. No bearsappeared, nor was the camp molested in any other way.
That day was spent by the boys in making short excursions into thewoods, blazing their way, making trails, and putting into practicethe theories in woodcraft learned from Cale Vaughn. Fortunately noneof the party got lost. Tad saw to it that they did not get farenough away for that. Besides, he had agreed with the Professor, whoremained to watch the camp, to have him blow a horn once every hour.That would serve to guide the boys back in case they lost their way,which they did not.
The second morning arrived with no sign of the Indian or of Chunky.This did not cause serious alarm, but when three days had elapsed,and still no travelers, Tad Butler began to get uneasy. Thisuneasiness on his part was shared by Professor Zepplin, while NedRector's face wore an "I-told-you-so" expression.
It was somewhere about three o'clock on the morning of the fourth daywhen Tad, who was on watch, caught a sound that he thought was causedby a horse crashing through the bushes. The boy did not arouse thecamp, but stood waiting with rifle held at ready in the crook of hisright arm.
A few moments later Charlie John burst into the camp astride of apony, white lather standing out all over the body of the littleanimal. Charlie was alone.
"Where is Stacy Brown?" demanded Tad sharply.
"Fat boy Matungamook," grunted the Indian, slipping from the pony.He thrust a folded sheet of brown wrapping paper toward Tad. The boynow knew that something had happened to Chunky. Quickly opening thepaper and holding it down in the light of the campfire, Tad read whatwas written on the sheet. This is the message he read written in alead pencil scrawl:
"Come quickly. I'm in jail in 'Ugamook."
"STACY"
"Professor!" yelled Tad Butler excitedly.