CHAPTER VII
PAUL TAKES A CHANCE
These sensible words spoken by Jack Stormways had an immediate effectupon the angry scouts, some of whom realized that they had been takingmatters too much in their own hands. Paul had remained silent all thiswhile, waiting to see just how far the hotheads would go.
"First of all," he went on to say in that calm tone which alwayscarried conviction with it, "let's go back to the meeting-room, andtake Jud along. I have a reason for wanting you to do that, which youshall hear right away."
No one offered an objection, although doubtless it was understood thatPaul did not like such radical measures as ducking the spy who hadfallen into their hands. They were by this time fully accustomed toobeying orders given by a superior officer, which is one of the bestthings learned by scouts.
Jud, for some reason, did not attempt to hold back when urged toaccompany them, though for that matter it would have availed himnothing to have struggled and strained, for at least four sturdyscouts had their grip on his person.
In this manner they retraced their steps. Fortunately the last boy outhad been careful enough to close the door after making his hurriedexit, so that they found the room still warm and comfortable.
They crowded inside, and a number of them frowned as they glancedtoward the broken window, through which a draught was blowing. Theyhoped Paul would not be too easy with the rascal who had beenresponsible for that smash.
"First of all," the scout-master began as they crowded around the spotwhere he and Jud stood, the latter staring defiantly at the frowningscouts, "I want to remark that it needn't bother us very much even ifJud tells all he may have heard us saying. We shall always be at leasttwo to one, and can take care of ourselves if attacked. Those fellowsunderstand that, I guess."
"We've proved it to them in the past times without number, for afact," observed Jack, diplomatically.
"If they care to spend a week in the snow woods, let them try it,"continued the other. "Good luck to them, say I; and here's hoping theymay learn some lessons there that will make them turn over a newleaf. The forest is plenty big enough for all who want to breathe thefresh air and have a good time. But there's another thing I had inmind when I asked you to bring Jud back here. Some of you may havenoticed that he lets his arm hang down in a queer way. Look closer athis hand and you'll discover the reason."
Almost immediately several of the scouts cried out.
"Why, there's blood dripping from his fingers, as sure as anything!"
"He must have cut his arm pretty bad when he fell through thatwindow!"
"Whew! I'd hate to have that slash. See how the broken glass cut hiscoat sleeve--just as if you'd taken a sharp knife and gashed it!"
"Take off your coat, Jud, please!" said Paul.
Had Paul used a less kindly voice or omitted that last word in hisrequest, the obstinate and defiant Jud might have flatly declined tooblige him. As it was he looked keenly at Paul, then grinned, and withsomething of an effort started to doff his coat, Jack assisting him inthe effort.
Then the boys saw that his shirt sleeve was stained red. Several ofthe weaker scouts uttered low exclamations of concern, not beingaccustomed to such sights; but the stouter hearted veterans had seentoo many cuts to wince now.
Paul gently but firmly rolled the shirt sleeve up until the gash madeby the broken glass was revealed. It was a bad cut, and still bledquite freely. No wonder Jud had run in such an unwonted fashion. Noperson wounded as badly as that could be expected to run with hiscustomary zeal, for the shock and the loss of blood was sure to makehim feel weak.
Jud stared at his injury now with what was almost an expression ofpride. When he saw some of the scouts shrink back his lip curled withdisdain.
"Get a tin basin and fill it with warm water back in the other room,Jack!" said Paul, steadily.
"What're you goin' to do to me, Paul?" demanded Jud, curiously, for hecould not bring himself to believe that any one who was his enemywould stretch out a hand toward him save in anger and violence.
"Oh! I'm only going to wash that cut so as to take out any foreignmatter that might poison you if left there, and then bind it up thebest way possible," remarked the young scout-master.
There was some low whispering among the boys. Much as they marveled atsuch a way of returning evil with good they could not take exceptionto Paul's action. Every one of them knew deep down in his inmost heartthat scout law always insisted on treating a fallen enemy withconsideration, and even forgiving him many times if he professedsorrow for his evil ways.
Jack came back presently. He not only bore the basin of warm water buta towel as well. Jud watched operations curiously. He was seeing whatwas a strange thing according to his ideas. He could not quite bringhimself to believe that there was not some cruel hoax hidden in thisact of apparent friendliness, and that accounted for the way he kepthis teeth tightly closed. He did not wish to be taken unawares andforced to cry out.
Paul washed gently the ugly, jagged cut. Then, taking out a littlezinc box containing some soothing and healing salve, which he alwayscarried with him, he used fully half of it upon the wound.
Afterwards he produced a small inch wide roll of surgical linen, andbegan winding the tape methodically around the injured arm of JudMabley. Jack amused himself by watching the play of emotions upon thehard face of Jud. Evidently, he was beginning to comprehend themeaning of Paul's actions, though he could not understand why any oneshould act so.
When the last of the tape had been used and fastened with a smallsafety pin, Paul drew down the shirt sleeve, buttoned it, and thenhelped Jud on with his coat.
"Now you can go free when you take a notion, Jud," he told the other.
"Huh! then you ain't meanin' to gimme that duckin' after all?"remarked the other, with a sneering look of triumph at Bobolink.
"You have to thank Paul for getting you off," asserted one scout,warmly. "Had it been left to the rest of us you'd have been in soaklong before this."
"For my part," said Paul, "I feel that so far as punishment goes Judhas got all that is coming to him, for that arm will give him a lot oftrouble before it fully heals. I hope every time it pains him he'llremember that scouts as a rule are taught to heap coals of fire on theheads of their enemies when the chance comes, by showing them afavor."
"But, Paul, you're forgetting something," urged Tom Betts.
"That's a fact, how about the broken window, Paul?" cried Joe Clausin,with more or less indignation. For while it might be very well toforgive Jud his spying tricks some one would have to pay for a newpane of glass in the basement window, and it was hard luck if theburden fell on the innocent parties, while the guilty one escaped scotfree.
It was noticed that Jud shut his lips tight together as though makingup his mind on the spot to decline absolutely to pay a cent for whathad been a sheer accident, and which had already cost him a severewound.
"I haven't forgotten that, fellows," said Paul, quietly. "Of courseit's only fair Jud should pay the dollar it will cost to have a newpane put in there to-morrow. I shall order Mr. Nickerson to attend toit myself. And I shall also insist on paying the bill out of my ownpocket, unless Jud here thinks it right and square to send me themoney some time to-morrow. That's all I've got to say, Jud. There'sthe door, and no one will put out a hand to stop you. I hope you won'thave serious trouble with that arm of yours."
Jud stared dumbly at the speaker as though almost stunned. Perhaps hemight have said something under the spur of such strange emotions aswere chasing through his brain, but just then Bobolink chanced tosneer. The sound acted on Jud like magic, for he drew himself up,turned to look boldly into the face of each and every boy present,then thrust his right hand into his buttoned coat and with head thrownback walked out of the room, noisily closing the door after him.
Several of the scouts shook their heads.
"Pretty fine game you played with him, Paul," remarked George Hurst,"but it strikes me it was like throwing pearls before
swine. Jud has ahide as thick as a rhinoceros and nothing can pierce it. Kind wordsare thrown away with fellows of his stripe, I'm afraid. A kick and apunch are all they can understand."
"Yes," added Red Collins, "when you try the soft pedal on them theythink you're only afraid. I'm half sorry now you didn't let us carryout that ducking scheme. Jud deserved it right well, for a fact."
"It would have been cruel to drop him into ice water with such a woundfreshly made," remarked Jack. "Wait and see whether Paul's plan wasworth the candle."
"Mark my words," commented Tom Betts, "we'll have lots of trouble withhim yet."
"Shucks! who cares?" laughed Bobolink, "it's all in the game, youknow. There's Paul getting ready to go home, so let's forget it tillwe meet to-morrow."