CHAPTER XIII--A Bit of Detective Work
Less than half a mile farther brought the troop of Boy Scouts to thehome of Elkanah Sisum, their Instructor in Woodcraft. Naturally he tookthe lead, with Scout Master Hall next and the youths straggling afterthem.
Expressions of pleased surprise followed the sight of the log structurein the midst of the neat patch of cultivated ground. Mike Murphy was theonly lad who was familiar with the place and he held his peace. Whilehis waggishness was generally irrepressible, he knew when good tastesuggested that others do most of the talking.
The party had stood only a few minutes feasting their eyes, when Mr.Hall asked:
"How long have you lived here, Uncle Elk?"
"Some fifteen years, which have been years of quiet meditation andserene enjoyment. While I do not wish to cut myself wholly off from thesociety of my fellow men and I make occasional visits to Boothbay Harborand even to Portland, yet my comfort is here among my books with my ownthoughts and in communion with my Maker, tending the piece of ground,fishing, and hunting for the smaller game that is found in this part ofMaine."
A slight but significant fact must be recorded. It was at this time thatScout Master Hall noticed a vague peculiarity in the manner of the oldman which he would have found it hard to describe. It appeared in hismanner and very faintly in his voice. The leader was the only one whodetected it and he made no reference to it until long afterward.
The survey was brief when their guide walked forward to the open spacein front of his dwelling, where he again halted and spoke to thosegathered about him:
"When I finished building my cabin, the only lock I placed on the doorwas the old-fashioned latch. I shoved the leathern string through theauger hole above it, so that it hung outside, and never since then bynight or day, in sunshine or storm, through winter or summer, has itbeen drawn inside. I keep open house and every one who chooses to honorme with a call is welcome."
"Do you have many visitors?" asked Alvin Landon.
"Weeks have passed without bringing one; then I have had as many as twoin twenty-four hours. I have lately had that number. The first wasMichael last night and the second a stranger whom I have never seen, butwho called this forenoon after I left home."
The old man enjoyed the astonishment of his visitors.
"If you have never seen him how do you know he has been here?" was thenatural question of Patrol Leader Chase.
"I saw the proof in the same moment that I reached the clearing. He cameacross the lake in a canoe, walked up the path, entered the house,stayed a little while and then left. You being strangers in this sectioncould hardly be expected to discover the shadowy impressions of his shoehere and there, especially since your failure a little while ago to findthe trail of the wild animal prowling in your neighborhood."
"Ye will not forgit, Uncle Elk, that it was mesilf that told ye aboutthe beast that took a promenade by the spot," reminded Mike Murphy.
"No; I am not likely to forget that, but I _am_ forgetting the claims ofhospitality. I can't offer you the elbow room you have at the clubhouse,but you are none the less welcome."
He twitched the latchstring, the door being so balanced on its hingesthat it swung inward of itself. He stepped across the threshold to themantel where Scout Master Hall was sure he saw him take a small article,glance at it and then shove it into his pocket. Facing about he calledto his friends to enter.
They crowded into the room. The host did not draw aside the curtainwhich shut off the other half of the lower floor and which was hissleeping quarters.
You have read a partial description of the home of the hermit,--the mostsurprising feature of which was the well-thumbed volumes of scientificand scholarly works, in addition to several high class magazines andpublications. Mr. Hall noticed that while the visitors were gazingaround with natural curiosity, Uncle Elk stopped for a moment in frontof his book shelf, glanced at the volumes and then quickly stooping,picked up what seemed to be a speck of dust from the bare floor. It wasall done so quickly that the Scout Master would never have recalled itbut for that which followed.
There were not enough seats for a third of the company and the youthskept their feet. Perhaps it was a harmless touch of vanity, with whichall of us are more or less endowed, that led Uncle Elk to make a displayof his skill as a detective.
"Yes," he added a few minutes later; "there has been a caller hereduring my absence this forenoon."
Scout Master Hall had the tact to humor the harmless weakness of the oldman.
"Can you tell me whether he was an Indian or a white man?"
"He was of the same race as ourselves and is about forty years old. Hecarried no weapon,--nothing more than a fishing tackle. He is well offin the world's goods, has been three days in the neighborhood and isfriendly toward me."
"I could have told ye the last, Uncle Elk," said Mike, "for there isn'tanybody who doesn't feel that way."
"Well said," commented Scout Master Hall, "and it is true."
The old gentleman bowed in acknowledgment of the compliment.
"You may suspect I am guessing, but I am not. When the man entered andsaw that the owner was absent, he made himself at home, as I wish everyone to do while awaiting my return. I suppose it was natural that heshould be struck by my little library. He examined some of the books,and while doing so used the fingers of his right hand to scratch hisbeard, as a man often does unconsciously. He withdrew four of thevolumes from the shelf, but was not much interested in them, for hereplaced them, lighted a perfecto cigar, sat down in my easy chair,smoked a little while, with the chair gently rocking, then with hiscigar half consumed, he passed out of the door and down the path towhere he had left his canoe and paddled across the lake."
Even with the assurance given by Uncle Elk, some of his listeners foundit hard to credit all he said. He looked calmly into the array of faces,well aware of what was in the minds of his callers. He expected aquestion and Mr. Hall asked it:
"We know that all you have told us is true, because you said it was.They recall so vividly some of the 'deductions' of Sherlock Holmes thatI hope you will enlighten us as to your methods."
"What doubt has occurred to you?"
"You detected the faint disturbances made by the visitor's feet, wherehe did not keep to the middle of the path. These told you the shoes werethose of a white man, because, I presume of their fashionable make, andthey showed that he came from and returned to the lake, but what warranthave you for saying he carried a rod?"
"He leaned it against the front of the house at the side of the stepswhere the imprint plainly shows. It was natural for him to do thatinstead of carrying it inside."
"Why do you decide that he is a man in middle life?"
Uncle Elk was manifestly pleased by the chance to display his ingenuity.
"Let me explain several deductions of rather evident facts. At the righthand end of the upper shelf of books are four volumes: Fiske's 'CosmicPhilosophy'; James' 'Pragmatism' and 'Pluralistic Universe,' and HenriBergson's 'Creative Evolution.' These books are a trifle out ofalignment,--just enough so to show it was caused by some one else.Therefore he took them from their places. In returning the books to theshelf, he changed the places of Prof. James' two works,--another proofif it were needed of the accuracy of my deduction. He must have stoodexactly in front of that side of the book shelves, for on the floor tothe right of such position are several short hairs, some black and somegray. They would not have fallen of themselves and must have beendisplaced by his fingers. They tell me his beard was grizzled or mixedand consequently he was in middle life."
"Your explanation is based on the theory that he is right handed," saidthe Scout Master; "are you not guessing there, Uncle Elk?"
"No; standing directly in front of the four volumes, the few threads ofhair fell still further to the right. Their texture shows they came fromhis beard and not the crown of his head. They would not have fallen asthey did unless they were displaced by the hand on
that side of theman."
"It seems to me," continued the Scout Master, "that in so trifling amatter a person would make no distinction in the use of his hands.Besides, some persons are ambidextrous."
"In certain circumstances he would use either hand, but the position ofthe outermost volume shows that it was shoved back by the same hand thatloosened the two or three strands from his beard. When a man uses thesame hand to do both of those things, it is good proof that he is righthanded."
"I am at a loss to understand how the position of the books shows thatyour visitor employed his right hand in restoring them to their places."Uncle Elk's eyes twinkled as he grew more subtle.
"You may think my explanation fine spun, but it is absolutely logical.It happens that 'Pragmatism' is the least interesting volume to me. Ihave not opened it for several weeks. A slight film of dust has gatheredon the upper gilt edges. In withdrawing the book I rest my thumb againstthe upper part of the back and my first two fingers on the top; so everyone does. Observe."
Uncle Elk illustrated his words. With the book in his hand he shifted itabout so that the sunlight was reflected from the bright yellow.
"There are the marks made by the first two fingers of a man's hand, butthe disturbance of the fine layer of dust clearly shows that the fingerto the right was longer than the other. That is to say, it was the righthand: do I make myself clear?"
"You do how do you know the man sat down in your chair and rocked backand forth?"
"That is the simplest matter of all. I suppose that living as I do Ibecome more or less a crank. One of my notions is never to leave thehouse without seeing that the left rocker of my chair is exactly overand in a line with that crack in the floor. Notice now and you will seethat it rests diagonally across the crack. Do you ask anything plainerthan that?"
It was Bobby Rice who made the natural remark:
"I don't see why a rocking chair should shift about."
"Arrah now, have ye no sinse?" asked Mike Murphy reprovingly; "Uncle Elkdidn't say _why_ a rocking chair kicks up its heels, but ye ought toknow that the craturs always do so without giving any raison or excuse.Haven't I tried to use me mither's chair at home wid the result that italways hitches through the dure whin I'm not thinking and gives me aback somersault? Ye surprise me by your stupidity, as Jim Hooligan saidwhin his taycher remarked he could not see what plisure a lad found infighting two ither lads."
"Why were you so quick to say your visitor is a man in goodcircumstances?" asked Scout Master Hall.
"Because he smokes fifteen-cent cigars. Most campers out are fond of thebrier-wood pipe, but when they use cigars they don't buy expensive onesunless they can afford it, and not always then."
"What fact gives you so much confidence in their quality?"
"I know the brand, for I have smoked them myself; I caught the fragrancethe moment I opened the door; the silken ashes which he flipped off inthe fireplace is another proof if you wish it. Michael, are yousatisfied?"
"I couldn't do better mesilf, but ye haven't completed yer rivelations."
"What is lacking?"
"I demand that ye give us the name of the gintleman that ye niver met orheard of and that spint a part of to-day at yer risidence."
"He is a physician named Wilson Spellman."
The boys stared at one another, with expressions of incredulity. Itsounded as if Uncle Elk was presuming too far upon their simplicity. Byway of answer he drew a card from his pocket and held it up so thatthose nearest readily read the name engraved thereon. Below it were thepencilled words:
"Come and see me at my camp on the upper side of the lake."
Scout Master Hall recalled the crossing of the floor by Uncle Elk, whenhe opened the door, as well as his quick scrutiny of the book shelves.
"The message written below shows the doctor's friendly disposition, andis a further proof--which was not needed--that he is a white man. Sincehe has waived ceremony and called upon me, I shall not wait long beforereturning the courtesy."
"He has been in the neighborhood for three days?" said the Scout Masterinquiringly.
"Yes; I saw the smoke of his camp-fire three mornings ago. We shouldhave seen him paddling across the lake this morning, had we not all beenso far in the woods."
The Boy Scouts now wandered over the grounds, under the direction oftheir owner, who suggested that as it was near noon, they should usetheir lines and prepare a fish dinner as his guests. The Scout Masterthanked him but amended by proposing that they should all go back to theclubhouse, where they had abundant supplies and every neededconvenience, and that he should favor them with his presence. He finallydecided to stay in his own home until late in the afternoon, when hewould join them for supper. He agreed to this the more readily since itwas understood that Mike Murphy was to be initiated as a TenderfootScout,--that is provided he could pass the necessary examination. No oneexcept he and Uncle Elk knew the thorough instruction he had receivedand the boys, including the Scout Master, thought it hardly possible forthe youth to answer the questions, unless they were made specially easy.It was the self-confidence of Mike himself that permitted the test to goon.
"Don't let up aither," he said to the leader; "soak it into me the bestye know how. If I'm to be squashed, I want to be squashed fair andsquare, as Pat Rooney said whin three automobiles ran over him."
The balmy afternoon passed rapidly, with several of the boys fishingfrom the canoes along shore and others wandering through the woods,brightening their knowledge of the different trees and studying thebirds, of which only a moderate number were observed.
Scout Master Hall saw in Mike Murphy the making of a model Boy Scout. Itmay be said that when the troop convened that evening, chiefly by theglow of the oil lamp suspended overhead from a beam in the middle of theceiling, the meeting was a special one, called for the purpose ofhelping a young tenderfoot along the trail. The proceedings may not havebeen strictly regular, but no criticism could be made upon their spirit.
Uncle Elk was invited to occupy the seat of honor as it may be called,but he preferred to remain in the background as observer and listener.The night was cool enough to make enjoyable the crackling logs on thebroad hearth and to add to the illumination of the spacious apartment.There was considerable rain and cool weather in August that year.
At about eight o'clock, Scout Master Hall opened the session with acommendation of the Boy Scout organization and a compliment to those whowished to join it. As it was impossible to have the examinationconducted as prescribed by the Court of Honor, the Scout Master assumedthe duty himself.
The second step would have been the collection of observation lists forfuture use, but this was omitted, as was the call for drill formation.The National Flag was displayed and the scout salute and sign followed,winding up with two good yells which made the rafters of the bungalowring.
Mike was now questioned as to his knowledge of our banner. He wasentitled to a written examination, but declined it and again urged hisexaminer to show no mercy. Standing in the middle of the room thecandidate amazed his listeners. Not only did he promptly answer everyprescribed question, but he interjected many facts that were new tonearly all who heard them. I have already hinted of several, such, forinstance, as that our flag throughout the War of 1812 bore fifteeninstead of thirteen stripes, and that Congress restored the originalnumber in 1818, knowing that otherwise the beautiful symmetry of theemblem would be destroyed by the increase in the number of States.
"Michael," said the Instructor from where he was sitting; "can you tellus to whom the credit belongs for the present pattern of our flag?"
"To Captain Samuel C. Reid--God bless his memory!"
"And who was Captain Samuel C. Reid?"
"He commanded the American privateer, _General Armstrong_, which knockedthe iver-lasting stuffing out of a British squadron of three vessels andtwo thousand men, while he had liss than a hundred heroes. Worra, worra,what a shindy that must have been!"
And then Mike impressively repeat
ed the lines that Uncle Elk had taughthim:
"Tell the story to your sons Of the gallant days of yore, When the brig of seven guns Fought the fleet of seven score. From the set of sun till morn, through the long September night-- Ninety men against two thousand, and the ninety won the fight-- In the harbor of Fayal in the Azore."
By this time, the Scout Master and everyone of the boys were convincedof the truth. They knew the theme that had engaged Uncle Elk and Mikethe evening before, and had they felt any doubt on that point it wouldhave been quenched by the sly glances that flitted between the couple.
The next requirement was for the candidate to step to the table in themiddle of the room, where two pieces of hempen cord had been laid, andto tie at least four of the eight knots which have been alreadyexplained. He held up the pieces, like a magician about to give anexhibition of his skill, and tied every one with a deft quickness thatbrought a hum of admiration.
Then he took the scout oath, explaining all its provisions in his ownlanguage or rather in that of his brilliant teacher, not forgetting thesignificance of the scout badge and that which is worn by thetenderfoot. The Scout Master pinned the badge over the left upper pocketof his coat. The whole company clapped their hands.
"I am delighted, Mike," said Mr. Hall; "I never knew any one to acquithimself so admirably. If the opportunity presents itself, you will makeas creditable a Second Class and finally a First Class Scout, with noend of merit badges. You know you must serve a month before you areeligible for the next grade. Our stay in Maine will be no longer thanthat and I shall not have the pleasure, therefore, of witnessing youradvancement. Your home is in this State and you will probably demit fromour Patrol and join some other more convenient. I understand that Rev.Mr. Brown, the Methodist minister at Boothbay Harbor, has organized afine company of Boy Scouts, and they will be glad to welcome you totheir ranks. I wonder, even when I know the circumstances, how youacquired such a knowledge of the duties of a tenderfoot."
"Begging yer pardon," replied Mike with a grin; "there's no cause furwonder. The knowledge of which ye spake and which passed through menoddle, come from _him_."
And he pointed at Uncle Elk, sitting behind the others, who so far ashis beard permitted one to see, smiled and said nothing.