CHAPTER XI
THE COMING OF THE CIRCUS CARAVAN
"Hey!" cried Bobolink, as he rubbed his eyes, "wake me up, somebody,won't you? I've got the nightmare, sure; I'm seein' things I hadn'tought to."
"Gee whiz! it's sure an elephant, fellows!" ejaculated Joe Clausin.
"And what's that coming along behind the same? Get on to his curves,would you, boys? We're the gay defenders of Lucknow, for as sure as youlive the camels are coming, heigho, heigho!" sang William, striking anattitude.
"It's the circus that was billed to show in Stanhope this very day,"declared Jack, with sudden conviction.
"That's what it is!" echoed Jud, with a grin; "heard they gave a turnover at Warren last night. Say, I bet they've been on the tramp the restof the night, and the way that old elephant moves along proves it."
"They do look tired for a fact," admitted Paul; "I wonder if our horsewill get gay when the animals pass so close. Most horses are just crazywith fear when they smell a tiger or a lion near by."
"Huh! I'd just like to see some spirit in old Dobbin," laughed PhilipTowns. "He's a plugger at best, and I expect we'll have to help him upmany a hill with that big load. There come the people of the show, andthree cages of beasts. My! but don't they all look like they'd beendrawn through a knot-hole, though?"
The night march had indeed fagged both beasts and human performers.Horses walked with downcast heads, and some of the men limped painfully.Altogether it was not a sight to arouse much enthusiasm in the heart ofa boy, accustomed to seeing the outside glitter of a circus, withprancing steeds, gay colors, music, and the humorous antics of theclown.
Paul pushed to the front just then.
"I've got something to propose, fellows," he said; and the announcementwas as usual sufficient to rivet the attention of all his comrades; forwhen Paul made a suggestion they knew that as a rule it was worthlistening to.
"Hear! hear!" said several, nudging each other secretly, as they crowdedaround.
"I can see that there are a large number among us that so far to-dayhave not found a chance to do something to help another. Yes, I'm inthe same boat myself, for you see my badge is turned upside-down. Howmany are there who would like to wipe out that debt, and clean the slatefor the day?"
Paul held up his hand as he spoke. Immediately every fellow followedsuit, even those who had been fortunate enough to ease their conscienceso early in the day feeling perfectly willing to repeat the obligation.
As I have said before, it is a rule with most scouts to do some littlething of a helpful nature every day. Sometimes this takes the form ofassisting a poor widow with her firewood, running an errand for amother, helping a child across the street where horses act as a sourceof danger--there are a thousand ways in which a boy can prove his rightto the name of a true scout, if he only keeps his eyes about him, andthe desire to be useful urges him on. But of course some lads are alwaysblind, and they never make good scouts.
"Now you see how high up this fine spring is, fellows," Paul went on;"and then perhaps they don't even know about it, because they arestrangers here. The horses can't get up here any more than old Dobbincould. You carried two buckets of water down to him, and he thanked youwhen he drank it. See the point, fellows?"
"It's great, and we'll do it!" declared several at once.
"Once we put out a fire; and now we can quench a big thirst!" shrilledWilliam.
"Huh! if you expect to fill up that camel and elephant I see our finish.Why, my stars! they never could get enough!" lamented Bobolink.
"But do you like the idea, fellows? Every one agreeable say yes!"persisted Paul.
A thunderous response followed, during which Bluff managed to get in afew bangs at his drum, and Bobolink tooted his bugle shrilly.
Immediately there were signs of animation about the caravan. Heads ofwomen performers began to protrude from a couple of dingy-coveredwagons, and every eye was turned up to the rocky hillside where theflags fluttered in the morning air.
"Come on then, let's get down to the road, boys," remarked Paul,starting to lead the way.
"Bring on your buckets," said William, gayly, "we're the boys when itcomes to running a line of pails. Hey! you, mister with the bigelephant, don't you want a drink of the coldest spring water on earth?We've got it up yonder, and it won't cost any of you a cent either."
The man seated on the neck of the lumbering elephant brought the animalto a halt. Then he gave some sort of a signal that the animalunderstood, for immediately he sank on his knees, and allowed thekeeper to slide down from his perch, making stepping places of tusks anduplifted trunk.
"Fine!" cried the interested William; "a private performance for thebenefit of Stanhope Troop of the Boy Scouts of America. Where can I geta bucket handy, mister? I'm just dying to see that big beast scoop upthe water in his trunk."
By this time the camel had arrived, and presently some vehicles came toa stop close by, while men began to gather around.
Apparently every member of the circus company must be exceedinglythirsty, for as soon as it was known that a spring lay among the roughrocks where the flags floated, a number started climbing up, bearing allsorts of drinking cups.
"How about your animals, sir?" asked Paul. "You see we're looking for achance to do a good turn to somebody or other, and if you supplied uswith buckets we'd be glad to water your stock for you."
The big bearded man who seemed to be the proprietor of the travelingshow looked at the speaker as though he could hardly believe his ears.No doubt his experience with boys had been along quite a different line.He evidently fancied that they were only made to prove a thorn in theflesh of every circus owner, stealing under the canvas of the biground-top, annoying the animals, and throwing decayed vegetables at theclown when he was trying his best to amuse the audience.
"Buckets?" he exclaimed, presently, "oh! yes, we've got lots handy; andthe animals are certain peeved with thirst. Boys, I'm going to snap thatoffer up, because you see, my canvasmen are pretty nigh done up, havingso little sleep. Here you are; just take your pick, and thank you!"
Every boy made haste to comply, so long as the supply of buckets heldout; and those who failed to secure one hung on the tracks of anothermore lucky, waiting to claim it for the second filling.
The scene became an animated one indeed, with those khaki-clad ladsclimbing up the hill, empty buckets in hand; and carefully loweringthemselves again when the wooden receptacles had been filled with theclear and cold liquid.
Of course the official photographer had to snap off several views of thebusy scene, and every scout who had carried his camera along followedsuit. It was a "dandy" picture, as William declared, and would hardly beequalled during the entire course of their tour.
"Say, just fancy that old elephant and that camel taken in connectionwith us scouts!" gurgled Bobolink, as he turned his camera loose, andonce more looked for a chance to seize some fellow's bucket.
"Not to mention the cages of _ferocious_ wild beasts yonder, and theladies of the circus taking cups of water right from our hands as thoughthey were really tamed. It's going to be the biggest card we ever met upwith," and William thumped himself proudly on the chest as he spoke.
But Paul was thinking of other things. That picture would be muteevidence of the new spirit that had taken lodgment in the breasts ofthose Stanhope lads, connected with the scout movement. There they wouldappear, as busy as beavers, doing a real good turn in quenching thethirst of all those poor animals that had been traveling over the dustyroad since the show closed in the other town.
It would need no explanation, for Paul believed any one could readbetween the lines, and understand.
Their half hour was lengthened to a full one, owing to this unexpecteddelay. When the caravan finally meandered along the road, and themembers of the circus gave a cheer for the boys on the hillside, Paulbelieved that the additional time had been well spent.
And not one single badge now remained upside-down, since every fellowfelt t
hat he had won the right to wear it in its proper position.
"Give them three cheers!" he called, as the caravan drew near the bendin the road that would shut it from view.
There was a lusty response from more than a score of healthy lungs,while both drum and bugle added to the racket. Presently, the dusthanging like a cloud at the turn was the only sign left of the passingof the circus. But the memory of the humane deed they had done wouldremain with the boys a long time.
Once again they were on the move. Dobbin had managed to survive the nearpresence of those unfamiliar animals, and seemed to put more vigor thanformerly into his work. Perhaps he was anxious to place as much distanceas possible between his own person and the terrifying beasts of thejungle.
When noon arrived the young scouts found themselves about five milesaway from town. This was really further than a number of the lads hadever been in this direction. Still, there had been no rush, and Paulknew that his command must be in pretty good shape thus far.
Most of them appeared to be merry enough, and joked as they walked.William especially seemed light hearted; and since nothing like orderwas maintained during the steady tramp, he enlivened the way with hissongs and squibs.
It was different with Paul. Pretty much all the responsibility weighedupon his young shoulders, since Mr. Gordon trusted to him to carry thetroop to the place selected for the camp, wherever that might be.
He had scores of things to think of, and must always be on the alert tokeep his finger on the pulse of the entire score of lads.
When they made their noon halt they had reached another spring known toPaul, though some little distance away from the road.
Breaking ranks, they followed the directions of their leader and madefor the water, each boy eager to get at the contents of his knapsack,wherein loving hands had so carefully stowed such dainties as the son ofthe house was known to favor.
"Don't we have a fire, and some cooked grub, Paul?" demanded William,eagerly, as he hovered about the wagon, ready to pounce upon the kettlesand pans that had been brought along to serve as cooking receptacles.
"Not here," replied the leader, smiling at the look of disappointmentvisible on William's face, which he could twist about in the mostcomical way ever seen outside of a clown's work in the circus. "To-nightwe'll make our first regular camp, you know, and that will be timeenough to break in."
"Oh! I'm wise now to the idea. You want the boys to get rid of a lot ofthe sweet stuff they've loaded in their grips. And I reckon you're justabout right. The sooner they get down to plain grub, the better. Cakesand such are good enough at home, but give me the bacon, the flapjacks,the hominy, the fried fish and camp fare when I'm in the woods."
William talked big, but Paul happened to know that pretty much all hisinformation with regard to what should be done during an outing of thissort had been gleaned from books, though he could cook quite well. Hisbrother Wallace was just the opposite, and knew from actual experiencewhat a camper should, and should not, do.
A rest of an hour was taken, during which time the scouts lightenedtheir bulging knapsacks considerably. Indeed, Paul had high hopes thatby the time another day had passed the supply of crullers and similardainties would have vanished completely.
During the afternoon they did not try to hurry. There were severalreasons for this. Already a number of the boys began to complain of sorefeet, and were noticed limping, although Paul had tried to make surethat each fellow started out with the right kind of shoes for tramping.
It kept him busy giving advice, and showing the wounded fellows just howto alleviate their suffering. Andy Flinn finally took his shoes off, andtrudged along in his bare feet. But then, Andy had known many a time inhis past when he did not own a pair of shoes, and his soles werecalloused to the point where small stones made no impression.
It was about four o'clock, and there had begun to arise a complaint ofweariness along the whole line, when Paul edged up to William.
He had been over this part of the road on his wheel lately, just to getan idea as to the lay of the land. Hence he knew that the ideal placefor the first camp was close by, and presently the cheery sound of thebugle electrified the entire detachment.