CHAPTER XXXI
A SCOUT'S DUTY
"Seems like a dream; don't it, Paul?"
Jack dropped down beside the acting scout master as he made thisremark. He had just stepped out from the new camp on the mainland, andfound Paul sitting upon a log, looking across the water in thedirection they had come.
The sun was just setting, and a rosy flush filled the western heavens. Itseemed to fall softly upon mysterious Cedar Island, nestling there in themidst of the now tranquil waters.
Paul looked up with a smile, as he made room on the log for his chum, whohad always been so willing to stand by him through thick and thin.
"Well, do you know, Jack," he spoke, "that was just exactly what seemedto strike me. I was staring hard at the island, and wondering if I hadbeen asleep and dreamed all those queer happenings. Fact is, just beforeyou spoke I even pinched my leg to see if I was really wide awake."
The other laughed at this.
"Oh! you're awake, all right, Paul," he remarked. "You seemed to get offwithout any show of damage to your good-looking face. As for the rest ofus, if ever we begin to think we've been and dreamed it, we've got aremedy better than pinching. All we have to do is to bend down over astill pool of water and take a look at our faces. That'll convince us ina hurry we _did_ have a lively time of it."
Paul pointed across the lake to where the island lay bathed in thatwonderful afterglow that shone from the painted heavens.
"Did you ever see a prettier sight?" he asked. "It looks as peaceful asany picture could be. You wouldn't think a bunch of fellows could run upagainst such a lot of trouble over on such a fine little place as CedarIsland; would you, now?"
"I feel the same way you do, Paul; and I'd say we never ought to haveleft it, only after the flood it'd be a muddy place, and we wouldn't takeany pleasure getting around."
"Oh! well," Paul rejoined cheerfully, "after all, perhaps it isn't ourlast visit up this way. Who knows but what we may have another chance tocome over here and look around. It was a good scheme, I'm thinking, Jack,and we'll never be sorry we came."
"I should say not," remarked the other, quickly; "just turn around andtake a look back into our camp. See where Professor Hackett is lyingpropped up with pillows from the boats. Well, suppose we'd never comeover this way, what d'ye think would have happened to him? He says heowes his life to your skill, Paul, and that, try as they would, Mr.Jameson and the other assistants couldn't seem to stop the bleeding. Thatalone pays us for all we've gone through, Paul."
"I guess it does," Paul admitted, readily, "because he's a smart man, andhas done a lot to entertain the crowds that go to the seashore to restand forget their troubles. But I'm glad none of the boys seem to havesuffered any serious damage from the effect of the explosion or that madchase afterwards."
"Yes, we ought to call ourselves lucky, and let it go at that,"Jack remarked.
"When you think about all that might have happened, I tell you we've gotlots of reason to be thankful," Paul went on, with considerable feeling.
"Sure we have," added Jack. "Instead of that stick taking me in thecheek, it might have struck my eye and injured my sight for life."
"And where I got only a wrench that may make me limp a little for a fewdays, I could have broken a leg," said Paul.
"That's one of the rules scouts have to keep in mind, you know," Jackcontinued; "always be cheerful and look on the bright side of things. Ireckon there never comes a time when you can't find a rainbow of promiseif you look far enough. Things are never as bad as they might be."
"The boys seem to have settled down here just as if they meant to enjoythe rest of the stay," Paul observed, as he turned his head again, so asto look at the bustling camp close by.
"Yes, and even the very air seems to tell of peace and plenty," saidJack, with a little laugh, as he sniffed the appetizing odors that werebeginning to announce that preparations for the evening meal had started.
"You're right," agreed Paul, "I guess there's nothing more 'homey' thanthe smell of onions frying. I never get a whiff of it on the street of awinter evening but what I seem to see some of the camps I've been in. Andthen, just think how it gets your appetite on edge, till you can hardlywait for the cook to call out that supper's ready. But I was thinking ofsome other things when you came up."
"I reckon I could mention one of them," said Jack.
"Let's hear, then," the other demanded.
Jack swept his hand down the lake in the direction of the outlet.
"You're worrying about that," he said.
"Well, that's just about the size of it, Jack. We know the lake's gonedown to about what it was before the storm hit us; but what if a greatbig rock blocks the passage?"
"You know what Mr. Jameson said you could do?" Jack remarked.
"About the dynamite, to blast an opening big enough for our boats to getthrough? Yes, Jack, I suppose that could be done."
"And he says he'll stand by to see that it _is_ done," the othercontinued. "As Mr. Jameson is an expert at all sorts of explosives, youcan just make up your mind we'll have no trouble getting away. Besides,Paul, I've got a feeling that when we go down in the morning to take asurvey, we'll be more than pleased with the way things look."
"Which all sounds good to me," Paul hastened to declare. "Anyhow, I'mgoing to believe it's bound to turn out as you say. In spite of ourtroubles we've been a pretty lucky lot."
"But you talked as though the getting away part of the business was onlya part of what you had on your mind," Jack went on.
"There was something else," the other scout admitted.
"Suppose you open up and tell me, Paul; because somehow I don't seem tobe able to get what you mean."
"It seems to me," the patrol leader remarked, seriously, "that while allof us scouts, and the professor's party in the bargain, have been shakinghands with each other over the lucky escape we had, we've pretty nearforgotten one poor chap."
Jack gave a start, and then whistled softly.
"That's right, Paul," he said, "for I take it you mean the crazyislander."
"How do we know what happened to him?" Paul continued.
"But Mr. Jameson seemed to feel sure he would take to the hill when theflood came," Jack replied. "And he also told us, you remember, that someof their food was at a higher point than the water could have reached.So, if the crazy man wanders about that camp, there's no need of hisgoing hungry long."
"I guess that's about so," Paul agreed, as though these words from hischum took away some of his anxiety. "From what they say, it seems as ifhe has come to look on them as friends. So, chances are ten to one he'dgo to their different camps after the flood went down."
"Queer how he came to be here," Jack remarked.
"Oh, I don't know," the other observed; "there's no telling what a crazyperson will do. His coming to this island must have been with the hazynotion that any one searching for him couldn't find him here."
"Searching for him, Paul?"
"Well, you remember Mr. Jameson said he had an idea the poor fellow musthave escaped from some institution," Jack continued.
"Yes, he did say that; and for all he looks so big and fierce, with hislong hair and beard, he's harmless. But, Jack, between us now, do youthink we could go back home when our little vacation trip is over andfeel that we'd done _all_ our duty as true scouts, when that poor chaphad been left up here--perhaps to starve on Cedar Island?"
"Whew! You're the greatest boy I ever saw, Paul, to get a grip on asituation and remember things."
"But--answer my question," persisted the other.
"Well, what you said must be so," Jack acknowledged; "and it makes mefeel pretty small to remember that, while we've all been feeling so merryover our wonderful escape, I'd forgotten all about _him_."
"Jack, it's too late to do anything tonight, you know."
"I reckon it is, Paul," replied the other, looking a bit anxiously acrossthe water to where the glow was commencing to give way to shadows alongth
e wooded shore of Cedar Island; "but if you thought best, I'd bewilling to take the lantern and cross over with you."
Paul thrust out his hand impulsively.
"Shake on that, old chum," he exclaimed. "Your heart's as big as a bushelbasket, and in the right place every time. But on the whole, Jack, Idon't believe it would be the wise thing for us to do."
"Just as you say, Paul; only I wanted you to know I was ready to back youup in anything."
"We're both tired, and sore in the bargain," continued the scoutmaster, steadily.
"Yes," Jack admitted, unconsciously caressing his painful bruises.
"The island is in a bad state just now, after being flooded," Paulcontinued.
"That's right, I can jolly well believe it," his chum agreed.
"And if the wild man hasn't been drowned, he'll surely be able to lookout for himself a while longer. Mr. Jameson felt sure he wouldn't starve,with all the food they left behind."
"Then it won't hurt to let it go till tomorrow, eh, Paul?"
"I had made up my mind that we'd organize another party, this time takingsome of the fellows who have been kept in camp, and comb Cedar Islandfrom end to end to find that man."
"A good plan, Paul," said the other scout; "but do you think he'll makefriends with us, even when we find him?"
"Mr. Jameson says he understands the peace sign," the scout mastercontinued, "and must really have had a bright mind at some time. He toldme he had an idea the man may have met with some injury that hadunsettled his reason. He seemed to be greatly interested in all they weredoing, and several times even made suggestions that startled theprofessor."
"I remember that much, too," said Jack, "and Mr. Jameson also said hemeant to try and learn if anybody knew about a John Pennington. That wasthe name the man spoke once in his rambling talk."
"Well, perhaps we may be able in some way to do the poor fellow a goodturn, Jack. I hope so, anyhow. My! how those boys are trying to beat therecord at getting up a grand supper. Seems to me my appetite is growingat the rate of a mile a minute."
"If it keeps on that way, good-bye to our stock of provisions," laughedJack; "but, to tell the truth, I feel pretty much the same. The mostwelcome sound I could hear right now would be Bluff calling everybody toget a share of that fine mess."
"Then you won't have to wait long, I guess," his chum declared,"because from all the signs of dishing out I imagine they're about readyright now."
Paul proved a true prophet, for immediately Bluff began to ding-dong upona sheet iron frying pan, using a big spoon to produce a discord that, inthe ears of the hungry boys, was the sweetest music in the world.
Gathering around, the scouts made a merry group as they proceeded todemolish the stacks of savory food that had been heaped upon their tinplates; and drink to each other's health in the fragrant coffee thatsteamed in the generous cups, also of tin, belonging to their mess chest.
After supper the scouts sat around, and while some of them worked atvarious things in which they were particularly interested, such asdeveloping the films that would give a dozen views of the great flood,others sang songs or listened to Mr. Jameson tell strange stories.
The man had been to the corners of the world during a busy lifetime,often with scientific parties sent out by societies interested ingeography, natural history or astronomy. And hence it had fallen to thelot of Mr. Jameson to experience some remarkable adventures. The boysfelt that he was the most interesting talker they had ever met.
After several hours had slipped by, some of the scouts, notably thosewho had been among the bold explorers band, were discovered to be noddingdrowsily. Indeed, Andy and Tom Betts had gone sound asleep, just as theylay curled up before the fire. The warmth of the blaze, together with theunusual exertions of the day, had been too much for the boys.
And so the bugler was told to sound "taps" to signify that it was timethey crawled under their blankets.
A few chose to sleep aboard the motor boats, which, of course, relievedthe tents from overcrowding. Professor Hackett and his assistants hadbeen lodged in one of the tents, which fact had something to do with thelack of room.
But presently all these things had been arranged. Paul himself intendedto pass the night in the open. He declared he would really enjoy theexperience; and two others insisted on keeping him company--little Nuthinand Bobolink.
So Paul, who knew a lot about these things, showed them just how to wrapthemselves up like mummies in their blankets, and then lie with theirfeet to the fire. He said old hunters and cowboys always slept that waywhen camping in the open.
CHAPTER XXXII
CONCLUSION
Paul was awakened by feeling something nudging him in the ribs. It wasBobolink's elbow; and, thinking at first that it might be an accident,the scout master made no move.
But again he received a severe jolt. And at the same time came a whisperclose in his ear:
"Paul! Are you awake?" Bobolink was saying, so low that any one six feetaway could not have heard his voice.
"What ails you?" asked Paul.
He might have imagined that the other had been taken ill, from overfeeding, perhaps, and wanted Paul, as the doctor of the troop, to givehim some medicine. But on second thought Paul realized that there was toomuch mystery about the action of Bobolink to admit of such anexplanation.
"Listen, Paul," the other went on, still whispering, "there's some sortof wild beast goin' to raid the camp!"
"What's that?" asked the scout master, a little sternly, for, knowingthe weakness of Bobolink in the line of practical joking, he suspectedthat the other might be up to some of his old tricks.
And Bobolink must have detected an air of doubt in the manner in whichPaul spoke those two words, for he immediately resumed:
"Honest Injun, Paul, I ain't foolin'! Say, do they have panthers aroundhere? Because that's what I think it must be."
"Where'd you see it?"
As Paul put this question he was working his arms free from the folds ofhis blanket. When he lay down, more through force of habit than becausehe thought there would be any need of such a thing, Paul had placed hisshotgun on the ground beside him. And no sooner was his right hand atliberty than, groping around, he took possession of it.
"Up in that big oak tree," Bobolink went on. "You watch where that limbhangs out over the camp and you'll see somethin' move; or I've beendreamin', that's all."
Paul did not have to twist his head very far around in order to see thespot in question. He watched it as the seconds began to troop along,until almost a fell minute had gone.
And Paul was just about to believe Bobolink must have been dreaming, whenhe, too, saw the bunch of leaves violently agitated.
Undoubtedly some tree-climbing animal was up there. Paul felt a thrillpass through him. Unconsciously, perhaps, his fingers tightened theirgrip upon the shotgun, which was apt to prove a tower of strength in casethe worst that could happen came to pass.
Straining his eyes, as he partly lifted his head, Paul believed he couldjust make out a shadowy form stretched upon the large oak limb.
He was more than puzzled.
Wild animals were not altogether unknown within the twenty-mile limitaround Stanhope. A bear might be seen occasionally--or at least thetracks of one, for the timid beast knew enough to hide in the daytime inone of the numerous swamps.
But this did not seem large enough for a bear, which would have surelymade a more bulky object clinging to the limb. Moreover, bears were notreckoned bold, and no hunter had ever known one to come spying around acamp. As soon as the trail of human beings is run across by a bear, theanimal always takes the alarm and hastens to its den, to lie low untilthe danger has passed.
But Bobolink had mentioned the magic word "panther," and this caused theother aroused scout to look more closely at the dimly seen object Sureenough it did seem to be flattened out on the limb, much as Paulimagined a big cat might lie.
"What'd we better do about it, Paul--give a yell and jump up?" B
obolinkasked, his voice quivering, perhaps with excitement, or it might be understress of alarm; for it was not the nicest thing in the world to be lyingthere helpless with a hungry panther crouching above.
"Wait, and let's make sure," replied the careful Paul.
Some impetuous boys would have thought, the very first thing, of bringingthat double-barrelled gun to bear on the dark, shadowy figure, andcutting loose, perhaps even firing both charges at once.
At such close range, less than thirty feet, a shell containing even birdshot is apt to be projected with all the destructive qualities of a largebullet. Paul knew all about this, and also had faith in the hard-hittingqualities of his long tested gun; but he was not the one to be temptedinto any rash action.
"Be sure you're right; then go ahead," was a motto which Paul alwaystried to practice. He had certainly found it worth while on more than oneoccasion in the past, and it was likely to serve him well now.
And so he waited, ready for a sudden emergency, but not allowing himselfto be hurried.
He soon had reason to feel very thankful that his good sense hadprevailed, for presently the leaves were again set to shaking and, asthey parted, Paul saw something that gave him a shock.
"Oh! what d'ye think of that, now? It's the wild man of Cedar Island!"gasped Bobolink, actually sitting up in his excitement.
And Paul had already made certain of this fact as soon as his eyesfell upon the hairy face seen among the branches. The shudder thatpassed through his frame had nothing to do with fear. Paul was onlyhorrified to realize what might have happened had he taken Bobolink'ssuggestion for the truth, and fully believed the figure in the oak tobe a savage panther.
"We'd better let Mr. Jameson know," Paul remarked, as he also sat up andcleared his legs of the blanket.
"Yes, he'll know how to get him down. I bet you, Paul, the feller wentand swam across from the island. But how would he guess we were here?"
"Oh! he could see the boats in the day time; and don't forget we've had afire burning all night, so far," said the scout master.
When Mr. Jameson came out of the tent, in answer to Paul's low summons,and learned what had happened, he readily agreed to influence the wildman to come down. The poor fellow had learned to look on Mr. Jameson asa friend, and, realizing that he had abandoned the island, doubtless itwas his desire to see him again that had induced this visit.
He proved to be harmless, and upon being given food ate ravenously. Lateron it was discovered that he had launched a log and made his way to themainland by means of this crude craft, with a branch for a paddle.
Mr. Jameson declared that he would take the stranger to Stanhope when thevehicle came for the professor, and do all in his power to learn just whohe was, as well as get him safely back among his friends.
To dispose of the wild man of Cedar Island once and for all, it might besaid right here that Mr. Jameson kept his word. The name John Penningtonserved as a clue, and in the end he learned that was his name. He hadlost his mind through an accident and, though his case was deemedhopeless, occasionally he was apt to have little flashes of his formercleverness. He was returned to the sanitarium from which he had escaped,and the boys never heard of him again. But the memory of the wild manwould always be associated with Cedar Island.
On the following day Paul and Jack managed to get around to the outlet,for the scout master was anxious to learn what the chances of theirleaving the lake, when they were ready, might be.
They found that, just as had been believed that shoulder of rock andearth had been shaken loose by the tremor of the earth at the time of thebig shock, when the professor was experimenting with some new explosive.
In falling, it had indeed dammed the outlet, and the storm coming so soonafter, of course the water in the lake had risen at a frightful rate. Inthe end the obstruction had commenced to disappear; but luckily for allconcerned, it had held fairly well until much of the water had escaped,when finally it had given way.
The channel was as good as ever; indeed, Paul seemed to think thatit offered fewer impediments to a passage now than before all thishad happened.
That eased the minds of the scouts, and they could go back again to theircamp with good news for the others.
A carriage came that day for the professor, and his assistants managed tocarry him across country to the road; just as they had undoubtedly donethe two big boxes of material that came from Mr. Stormways' mill thatother day.
He shook hands with each and every scout before leaving, and promised toremember them always for what they had done. When he came to Paul, heclung to his hand, and there were tears in the eyes of the littleprofessor as he, said:
"I honestly believe that you saved my life, my boy, and I trust thatthrough your ability I may be spared a few more years. And depend on it,I'm never going to let you get out of touch with me, Paul Morrison. Ihope to live to see you a great surgeon, some day."
The scouts filled out the balance of their vacation at the lake, andconsidered that they had had some of the strangest experiences that couldhappen to a group of boys; but although at the time they could notsuspect it, there were still more interesting things in store for Pauland his comrades of Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts. What these were, youwill find related in the next volume of this series, to be called, "TheBanner Boy Scouts Snowbound; Or, A Tour on Skates and Iceboats."
When the time came for them to start back, it was with more or lessanxiety that they came to the canal connecting the waters of the tworivers flowing parallel for a few miles, and only a short distance apart.
But they need not have borrowed trouble, for the Bushkill was stillhigher than usual at this season of the year and all through thedisused canal they found plenty of water, so that neither of the boatsstuck in the mud.
In good time, then, the Banner Boy Scouts arrived home, to thrill thelads who had not been fortunate enough to accompany them on their tripafloat, with wonderful accounts of all the remarkable things which hadhappened to them while in camp on Cedar Island.
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