CHAPTER VIII.
THE UPLIFT OF A BOY SCOUT.
They all listened, and heard the far-away howl several more times. Elieven declared that it was not the same beast that gave tongue, but adifferent one; and this seemed to bear out his statement that theanimals usually hunted in packs. If a bunch of them had crossed the St.Johns river, and taken to chasing deer in the forbidden territory ofMaine, the tidings would soon spread, and every guide be on the lookout.
"If so be ye run acrost ary wolves, knock 'em over like vermin," Eliremarked, during the discussion of the subject that followed.
"I guess everybody's got his hand raised against the poor old wolf,ain't they?" asked Bumpus; who often felt sorry for the underdog in afight, no matter if it happened to be a strange cur he had never seteyes on before.
"Why not?" asked Thad, immediately; "when the wolf is no respecter ofpersons, and will pull down anything that can be used for food? Theworld over, they are hunted, because they do so much harm. It has alwaysbeen so from the time the shepherds of Bible times tended their flockson the hills of Galilee. And as long as living things stay on this oldglobe, man and wolf will never agree."
"And in every State where they used to run, there has always beendeclared a fat bounty on wolves," Allan observed. "Why, right now, Maineis paying large sums of money to get rid of her vermin, such as wolves,wildcats, panthers and snakes. I've read that as much as four hundredthousand dollars has been paid out in bounties since nineteen-three."
"Yes," laughed Thad, "and that's where the joke comes in. I read thatsame article, which was mighty interesting too. It went on to state thatsome smarties are not content with getting the regular bounty. They growa gray cat that looks on the order of the wild article--shorten thetail, draw out the claws, and then send in the skin, claiming the sixdollars that is paid for each bobcat actually slain within the bordersof the State."
It was the turn of old Eli to laugh now.
"I heard tell o' a sharper as cut off the rattles from a lot o' tamesnakes he kept shut up, and send 'em in for the bounties each rattlebrings; and then he expects his pets ter grow new rattles, whichhowsumever, I don't guess they kin; but thet air story goes ter showwhat some men will try an' do ter beat the pore old government people."
"Whew! and I just can't stand for snakes at all," remarked Step Hen. "Ifever I felt one touch me, I believe I'd nearly take a fit."
"Ha! let Davy do that!" cried Giraffe, quickly; at which there was ashout that must have made the two guides stare, until the joke wasexplained to them.
It seemed that once upon a time Davy had been subject to sudden severecramps in his stomach, that used to double him up like a hinge, andrender him incapable of action. His teachers at school had been dulywarned, and many an afternoon had Davy been granted leave to go homebecause of a sudden attack; though it must have departed as suddenly asit came; since he was generally seen flying his kite on that sameafternoon. And the cramps never attacked him on a dull, rainy day.
When he joined the scouts Davy, wishing to shirk hard work, hadcommenced to have these queer cramps; but wise Thad, believing that theother must long ago have outgrown the disorder, and was only shamming,laid down a course of treatment so severe that, singular to relate, Davyhad ever since been utterly free from the infliction; which the rest ofthe boys considered simply wonderful.
And that was why there was a shout, with all eyes turned toward DavyJones, when by mere accident Step Hen mentioned the word "fit."
But Davy only colored up a bit, and grinned amiably.
"That's a dead issue, fellers, so you needn't stare at me that way," heremarked, composedly. "Never again. Thad cured me right off the reel.'Nothing like heroic treatment, when all else fails,' he said; and itdid the job, clean as a whistle. I never can have a fit again, if Itried."
"You'd better not," remarked Bumpus, solemnly winking his left eye atStep Hen, and significantly touching a good-sized club he had at hisside.
But that howling of the wolves, hunting their supper far away, did notkeep the boys from enjoying a good night's sleep. Of course there wassome sort of watch kept; but those who were not entrusted with the vigilhad no reason to bother their heads over it. All night long they sleptin absolute safety. If Eli, Jim, Allan and the scoutmaster took turnsbeing on deck, to make sure the camp was not raided, that fact did notkeep the other four from slumbering as peacefully as though tucked intheir beds at home, and under the parental roof.
Another dawn found them awake, and only too anxious to get a good warmfire started; for the frost was surely around them, and at that earlyhour it bit severely, too. But they could always depend on Giraffe tocoax the wood to do its best in dispelling the cold atmosphere; and soonthey were no longer shivering, but fully dressed, and assisted ingetting breakfast.
Thad cast his eye upward several times during the progress of the meal.
"You seem to be anxious about something Mr. Scout Master?" remarked StepHen, who had been highly favored that morning, being chosen to accompanythe leader on a hunt for fresh meat; and Step Hen was therefore moreinterested than the others in what seemed to have aroused the attentionof Thad.
"I was wondering whether we mightn't get our first snow-storm beforeanother sundown, that's all," replied the other, with a smile.
"Now, however could you tell that, when everything looks bright, andoh-be-joyful to me up yonder?" burst out the wondering Bumpus.
"Well, there are some things one can know, partly by instinct, and findit pretty hard to explain," Thad went on to say. "I seem to feel asomething in the air that says 'snow' as plain as words. It may be justa sort of dampness; but that's the way about it. Then I notice thedirection of the wind, which is northwest; and the cut of those fewcirrus clouds lying low near the horizon. I can't exactly explain sothat you could understand, but if I was asked my opinion, I'd say we'llsee the snow flakes flying before many hours."
"How about that?" demanded Step Hen, turning on Eli and Jim.
"He's right, 'cause thar's agoin' ter be summat o' a fall. P'raps'twon't amount ter much, nobody kin tell that; but it sez snow, allright," the first guide observed, after taking a look all around.
"Me tew," was all Jim said; but he accompanied the words with a vigorousnod in the affirmative, that stood for a lot.
"That settles it," Step Hen declared. "I'm going out prepared forbusiness. Never did like to be snowed under, any way you take it."
"Too bad we ain't got a snow shovel along," remarked Giraffe,sarcastically.
"Oh! you can joke all you want to," snapped back the other; "you're solofty you needn't mind an ordinary snowfall. If it got up to your chin,you could still manage to stretch that rubber neck of yours around, andfeel comfortable. But I ain't in the same class, you see, with myordinary figure, and short neck. But all I meant to say was, that I'dkeep my sweater on under my coat, and stick my woolen gloves in mypockets."
"Loan you my earmuffs if you say the word, Step Hen," spoke up Bumpus.
"Well, now, that's decent of you, Bumpus," the other scout remarked;"but you see, this old corduroy cap of mine has earflaps that can beturned down. It's just a bully thing for a cold, windy day. But aftersuch a generous offer, Bumpus, why, I give you my full permission toturn over your badge. You've begun the day bright and early, by tryingto do a generous deed for a comrade."
Of course, what Step Hen referred to was the well-known rule by whichthe great body of members composing the Boy Scouts' organization ofAmerica has been governed, in order to teach the units of each patroland troop the benefits to be derived from making themselves useful toothers.
In the morning every scout is supposed to pin his badge upside-down, onthe lapel of his coat; and is not allowed to change its position untilhe has found an opportunity for helping some one, either by act, oradvice that is really useful. It may only be a very simple thing; but itteaches the lad, first of all, the useful attribute of observation; andafter that the still more precious one of service. Even though he butassis
t an old man across a street where vehicles are numerous; or take amarket basket from the hands of a housewife, who is staggering homewardunder the heavy burden, the effect is the same.
It makes his boyish heart thrill with a satisfaction that develops thetrait of generosity; and gives every lad a more manly sensation; for herealizes that small though he may seem, he is of some value to theworld.
"Oh!" said Bumpus, blushing, "I guess I hadn't ought to take advantageof such a little thing as that, so's to get my badge turned. I'll find achance to do something that's more worth while, before the morning's anhour old. And Step Hen, if you bring home the bacon in the shape of anoble six-pronged buck, you must let me take your picture, with yourfoot on the prize. Why, it will be the most valuable heirloom in yourfamily, years from now. Your great grandchildren will point to it inpride, and tell how you slew the Jabberwock in the woods of Maine."
"Well," grinned Step Hen, "wait till I get the buck. I don't count mychickens before they're hatched. And I hope for one thing--that when wedo come back, there's going to be a little peace in the camp; and thatour friend Giraffe here, will have solved the riddle that's beenworrying him so long. Them's my sentiments."
Giraffe made a mock bow, as he remarked in his most amiable way:
"Much obliged for making that wish, Step Hen; and from presentindications I've got a sort of hunch that something is going to happenalong them lines. Woke up in the night after having a dream, and it allcame to me like a flash, where I'd been making a mistake. And as soon asI get through eating, I'm going to work trying to start things just likeI saw in my dream. Oh! I'll get there, sooner or later, by hook or bycrook. You never saw me give a thing up yet."
"Hey! what's that?" remarked Davy Jones, quickly. "How about that timeyou got in old farmer Collins' watermelon patch one night, and hooked anice big melon he had doctored, so as to teach the boys a lesson. Oh! Iknow, because I was along with the crowd; and seems to me you gave upeverything you owned, during that never-to-be-forgotten hour. I know Idid; and I've never eaten a melon since without shivering."
"Say, quit that melancholy subject, won't you?" demanded Bumpus. "Idon't like to be reminded of my wicked past, because I've turned over anew leaf since I joined the scouts. Why, you couldn't tempt me now withthe biggest grandfather watermelon ever grown. B-r-r! It makes me shake,just to remember some things that happened in those old days, when Iwent with Giraffe, and Davy Jones, and the rest of that lark-lovingcrowd."
Half an hour afterwards Thad and Step Hen started out, guns in hand.Knowing that the patrol leader was perfectly at home in the woods, noone bothered about giving them advice; or predicting all manner ofdireful calamities ahead. Let it snow and blow as it pleased, Thad wasenough of a woodsman to know how to make himself comfortable, and getback to the camp on the lake shore in due season.
Of course Bumpus had been more or less disappointed because he did nothave an early chance to prove the merits of his new gun, since he hadbeen taking private lessons from one of the guides in the way ofhandling firearms. But Thad had promised that the fat boy and Giraffeshould have the next chance for a hunt; they were canoemates, and seemedoften thrown together, perhaps because they represented the "fat and thelean of it," and as Bumpus was fond of saying, "extremes meet."
Half an hour later, and the two young Nimrods had managed to get acouple of miles from the camp. But as yet they had not sighted thatwonderful six-pronged buck which Step Hen was to lay low. They walkedalong about fifty feet apart, Thad generously allowing his companion tobe a little in advance of him. This he did really because he wished StepHen to have the advantage of the first shot; being confident that if theother failed to bring down the game he would still have some show beforethe deer could vanish from sight.
Then again, it was just as well to have Step Hen in front. He wasinclined to be nervous; and some sudden whirr of wings, as a partridgeflew out of a nearby thicket, might cause his finger to press on thetrigger of his gun a little harder than he intended. Thad believed inbeing on the safe side, every time.
Step Hen carried a lovely little repeating rifle of the thirty-thirtytype; and his ammunition was of the soft-nosed kind, which, as it"mushrooms" on striking, is just as serviceable as a ball three times aslarge; while Thad had his double-barrel Marlin shotgun, a twelve bore,with buckshot shells meant for big game.
As they were passing through what seemed to be a tangle such as isseldom met with in the pine woods of Maine, where they had to dodgetrailing vines, Step Hen, in trying to avoid one that threatened tocatch him by the neck, managed to stumble over a log, and go sprawlingforward, his gun flying from his grip, but fortunately not going off.But immediately Step Hen commenced to thresh around, as he shouted out:
"Thad! Oh! Thad, hurry up, and help me out of this! My legs are twistedin the vine; and something bit me! I know it must a been a rattlesnake,and I'm a goner!"