CHAPTER XIII.
BAITING OLD PHIN, THE MOONSHINER.
THAD himself managed to retain his self-possession under these tryingconditions. What he believed he had to fear most of all, was that one ofhis chums might give the secret away by some ill-advised remark, utteredunder the spur of the moment. He knew that they must have shrunk back,appalled, when the moonshiner made such a threatening move, accompanyinghis fierce words. But for the life of him Thad could not tear his eyesaway from the face of the man himself.
It was just as well. Phin Dady looked to Thad, as the leader of thescouts, for an answer to his demand. Had the boy shown any evidences ofconfusion or weakening just then, it might have confirmed the suddenugly suspicions that had flashed into the other's mind, and just when hewas growing more or less interested in the wonderful stories he had beenlistening to concerning the aims and ambitions of these uniformed lads.
"There are eight of us, just as you say," Thad remarked, trying to looksurprised at the change of front on the part of his caller; "but theother one, White his name is, has gone to see Reuben Sparks on business.We expect him back inside of an hour or so. If you'd care to wait youcan meet him."
His air was so candid, and his face so free from guile that themoonshiner could find no further cause for suspicion. Besides, had henot heard in the beginning that the scouts had already made theacquaintance of Reuben Sparks; who, like himself had displayed more orless interest in their aims and ambitions.
Phin Dady even began to feel a little ashamed of his sudden threateningattitude. The fierce look on his thin face, that with his gleamingwolfish eyes, had made him appear so savage, gradually vanished. Itgave way to a rather stupid grin; as though the man realized how sillyit was of him to suspect that these half-grown boys could do injury toone who for years had defied all the forces of the United StatesGovernment.
"So, thet's it, younker, is it?" he said; "wall, I'm right glad ye c'd'xplain ther thing right off'n the reel. Course Mister Sparks, he'sint'rested in byes, even ef he beant the father o' any hisself. An' he'vited yer pal over ter see him, did he, so's ter tell him a heap more?"
"He was very much taken with the idea, and showed it by asking a greatmany questions," Thad went on; trying to keep within the lines of thetruth, and yet allow the other to draw his own conclusions, to theeffect that Reuben had given one of the patrol a pressing invitation tocall upon him, and continue the interesting recital of the Boy Scouts'ambitions.
"Yuh war sayin' right now, thet these hyar byes hain't never 'xpectin'ter be sojers; an' thet they don't kerry arms; air thet a fack?"
When the mountaineer made this remark he was looking straight toward thetree, against which rested the shotgun. Evidently he was a little indoubt concerning the truth of what the patrol leader had said; or it mayhave been, wise Old Phin was desirous of learning just what he and hisfollowers would have to go up against if ever they attacked the camp ofthe invaders.
Thad laughed good-naturedly.
"That's the only firearm in camp, just at present," he declared. "Itbelongs to me, you see. We knew there would be little or no hunting onthis trip, as the season for protection in North Carolina is on. But notwanting to be without some sort of arms, it was decided to carry justone shotgun. Later on we expect to spend some time up in Maine; and thenit'll be all right for us to carry rifles for big game shooting. One ofour members comes from Maine, and knows all about it up in that region."
Thad talked at length, because he saw that somehow the sound of hisvoice seemed to have a soothing effect on the rough mountaineer.Evidently Phin Dady had taken more or less of a fancy to the leader ofthe scouts. He had known many boys in his day, and perhaps had one ortwo of his own; but they were like bear cubs in comparison with thisfrank-faced youth, with the winning smile, and a whole dictionary ofwords at the tip of his tongue.
By now the balance of the boys had managed to recover from their fright.They even began to show an interest in the conversation, though notventuring to say a word unless Thad appealed directly to one of them; ashe did occasionally, to corroborate something he had declared.
It was a scene they would none of them be apt to forget in a longtime--this untamed old mountaineer sitting there by their camp-fire,asking questions in connection with a subject that had aroused hiskeenest curiosity; while they lounged around, listening, and drinking inwhat was said.
Would he never go? Had he then determined to wait for the return of theeighth scout? Perhaps he suspected already the identity of Bob Quail.This was a matter that gave Thad considerable concern, for it meantimmediate trouble for their comrade; since the moonshiner might have hisold-time enmity for the Quail family revived, under the impression thatBob's coming meant danger for himself.
Once Allan arose, and stepped outside the circle of firelight. Themountaineer eyed him with just a trifle of the old suspicion apparentlyrising again; for Thad could see a nervous twitch to the brown handsthat caressed the stock of the repeating rifle.
But if this were so, Phin Dady must have realized that he could havelittle or nothing to fear from one stripling of that species; for heimmediately relapsed into his former careless attitude.
Thad could give a pretty good guess what it was that caused Allan towalk beyond the camp toward the place from which they had earlier in theevening watched the lights appear in the home of Reuben Sparks, as wellas the few more humble cabins across the little valley.
Before Bob went away he had arranged a series of flash signals, by meansof which he could communicate with his comrades of the patrol. Theywould not have been true Boy Scouts if they had not before now learnedhow to wigwag with flags, or lanterns, as well as use a looking-glass inthe sun in heliograph telegraphy.
And so Allan, desirous of ascertaining whether all went well with theabsent chum, was now starting out, lantern in hand, to learn whether hecould get in communication with Bob.
Possibly some of Phin's followers might be in hiding close by, andwitness these maneuvers with astonishment, not unmixed with suspicion.Thad concluded that it would be best to take the bull by the horns. Ifhe confided in Old Phin, the other was apt to discount the news whentold by his men.
"You remember that I told you," he remarked, "how Boy Scouts are taughtto send messages by waving flags, just as they do in real armies; and atnight time by means of lighted lanterns. Well, we never lose a chance topractice; and the boy you saw go out just now arranged to talk with theone who is across the valley."
"Huh!" grunted the mountaineer; and from that Thad concluded that he hadallayed any suspicions that may have arisen in his mind.
"If you'd care to see how it's done, why, we can walk out, and watch thescout who has the lantern?" the patrol leader went on to say; thoughsecretly hoping Old Phin might not evince enough interest to disturbhimself.
Sometimes a bold move serves better than extreme caution. It seemed soin this case, at least, for the moonshiner, after making a slight move,as though to get up, appeared to think better of it, for he settled backagain.
"I kin understand jest 'bout how it air dun, younker," he said. "Nowtell me some more 'bout how yuh larn thet thar thing o' savin' a palthet's been nigh drownded, or else cut a artery in his leg with a ax. Ireckon now, that's 'bout the neatest trick I done ever heard on."
Being brim full of the subject, which always appealed to him more thanhe could tell, the young patrol leader immediately launched out into adescription of the matters that seemed to have deeply interested eventhis rough old mountaineer.
Then he went a step further, and told how the scouts entered into themost amusing, as well as profitable, competitions among themselves. Hedescribed a water boiling test, where those in competition are givenjust three matches, and with an empty tin pail in hand, start at asignal to see which one can build his fire, fill his tin vessel at leasttwo-thirds full of water, and have this actually boiling.
Perhaps that old moonshiner never spent a more interesting hour or sothan by the camp-fire of the Boy Scouts; at
any rate he certainly couldnot look back to one that must have been more profitable to him in everyway.
Finally he arose as if to go; and about the same time Allan returned,with the lighted lantern in his hand.
"Did yuh git him?" asked Old Phin, with some show of eagerness.
"Yes, we held quite a little talk, and I guess he must have used up ahandful of matches telling me what a pleasant time he had. Right nowhe's on his way to camp, and ought to get here inside of an hour."
Allan said this as though there could not be anything to conceal. Hetook a leaf from the example set by Thad. The latter knew that in allprobability there had been more to the wigwag talk than Allan chose tostate; but he was willing to wait until a more propitious time to hearit.
Taken in all, he believed they had come through the operation of baitingPhin Dady much better than any one could have expected. The old man wasinterested in what he had heard; and only for the fact that he bore adeadly hatred for the family of young Bob Quail, they would have littleto fear from the king of the moonshiners, whose influence among theother mountaineers was such that he could easily sway them one way orthe other at will.
Thad caught a wink when he looked into the face of the Maine boy. Ittold him that Allan had news to tell, which Bob had sent on ahead,knowing how anxious his chums would be to hear whether he had met withany measure of success or not in his undertaking.
When Thad turned around again he found that Old Phin had slipped away,taking advantage of their attention being directed for a minute towardthe scout who had just come into camp with the lantern swinging at hisside.
And Thad heaved a sigh of genuine relief when he found that this was so.