CHAPTER XV
WOLF PATROL PLUCK WINS
It was no time for talking, and everyone realized that fact. If theywere close enough to the fugitives to catch the scent of burning wood,the camp could not be far away.
Elmer and Lil Artha seemed to hit upon the same idea at the same time.They took note of the prevailing direction of the wind, and guessedthat the fire must be in the quarter from which it was blowing. Thatwas not exactly straight ahead, but a little to the left.
Making motions to indicate extreme caution, Elmer led the way. Now wasthe time for the scouts of the Wolf Patrol to prove the value of theireducation. Many times in the past had they practiced this very samedifficult feat of creeping up on the camp of an unsuspecting enemy,just as a bunch of red Indians might do; and what they had learnedunder those conditions was going to prove of practical value to themnow.
No one tried to hurry. What was the use, when those they followed hadcome to a halt, and there was no longer any need of haste?
So they went on yard by yard, straining their vision all the while inhopes of glimpsing the column of smoke, or the crackling flames ahead.In making this advance they were careful to creep along as close to theground as possible. This was an easy matter for a thin fellow like LilArtha, but to stout Landy it was quite a different task, though hesucceeded in flattening himself out wonderfully well, all thingsconsidered.
When finally smoke was discovered, their caution increased, if such athing were possible. Fortunately, the nature of the ground provedfavorable to such work as creeping, there being a certain amount ofgrass that might be used to conceal their movements.
Pretty soon those in the advance could catch sight of a figure seatedon the edge of the bank at a place where the water extended. Back ofhim the fire smouldered, as though feeding on wood that had been thrownupon it some time before.
It was Hen Condit!
Imagine the thrill that passed through Elmer, Lil Artha and those otherfellows when they made this out to be a fact. Pretty soon as theylooked they saw that the missing chum seemed to be engaged inindustriously fishing, for he had a rude rod in his hand, and baitedhis hook with some worms even as they watched.
His back was turned toward them, so there was no opportunity for thenewcomers to open negotiations with the fellow-member of the WolfPatrol even should they want to.
And now stretching their necks a trifle more they made anotherdiscovery. The man in the case was lying on his back, and so far asthey could tell, sound asleep. Apparently, the master could takethings easy and rest himself, but the slave must keep constantlyemployed trying to take in something calculated to satisfy their hunger.
It made Lil Artha grind his teeth when he saw this; and Elmer had totouch him on the arm, as well as shake his head sternly in order towarn him that nothing desperate must be attempted. With victory almostin their grasp they would, indeed, be foolish to ruin things by toomuch haste.
As motions must from this time on take the place of speech, Elmer beganto make use of a beckoning finger to tell the others what their nextmove should be. This, of course, was a further advance. They mustcontrive in some way to push closer to the camp, so that when thecrisis came, they would be in a position to thwart any move the manmight make looking to carrying Hen off with him.
All this had been arranged beforehand, and each fellow knew exactlywhat part he was to play in the round-up. Lil Artha and Chatz had,indeed, been warned that it would be up to them to make sure Hen didnot run away, filled with a fear of the consequences should he betaken, even by his friends.
Advancing in this careful fashion, the scouts had covered many yards,and were now almost within striking distance of the camp. It was atthis particular moment that a sudden thing happened calculated to bringmatters to a climax.
After all that patient waiting, and rebaiting of his hook, thepersistence of the fisherman with the crooked rod was rewarded. He wasseen to give a quick jerk, and then with a mighty effort throw a fairlylarge, shining fish over his head.
No sooner had it landed with a thump on the ground, and commenced toflop furiously, than Hen gave vent to a cry of delight, such as anyhungry boy might utter when he found himself favored with a chance tobreak his long fast.
The sleeping man jumped to his feet as though at first he thought thepolice had found them out. Seeing the excited boy and the floppingfish, he hurried over to the spot. His first act was to strike poorHen over the head, and tell him to get busy again if he wanted a biteto eat for himself, because there was only enough in that fish to takethe edge off one person's appetite.
Lil Artha came very nearly upsetting all Elmer's plans when he saw thisbrutal act of the man, for he started to gain his feet, and had to bepulled down by violence, shivering with excitement.
Hen had gone back to his task again, looking thoroughly cowed anddisheartened. The man, taking the fish in his hand, held it up as ifto admire its looks; then he stepped down to the water as thoughmeaning to clean the prize without any loss of time, possibly spurredon by hunger.
Elmer again began to advance a foot at a time, meanwhile keeping closewatch on all that was going on ahead. They had the situation well inhand, their line covering the ground, with the water cutting off escapein one quarter.
Even without those serviceable guns the seven boys might have proventhemselves master of the game, for clubs could serve in lieu of betterweapons. As it was, Elmer felt positive things must go their way.
Just then, Hen, in turning to reach his supply of bait, chanced to seethat line of creeping figures in khaki. The mingled expressions thatcrossed his face told what a flutter the sight must have brought to hisheart.
Elmer instantly put a finger on his lips, and made a gesture warningHen not to betray them. Perhaps it was just as well, for the poorfellow seemed on the point of crying out in his mixture of joy andfear. He did succeed in making some sort of sound that attracted theattention of the man, who raised his head to growl:
"What ails you now, you young fool? I'm almost sorry I went to thebother of trying to save you from the clutch of the law. What are youcomplaining about, I'd like to know? Get another fish, if you expectto stave off your hunger; the first of the spoils always goes to theboss."
"I caught my finger on the hook, that's all, Joe," stammered Hen,perhaps telling the truth, too, for in his sudden shock of excitementat seeing his chums he could very well have done such a thing.
"Well, suck it, and get busy doing your work, that's all, while I cookthis fish, and perhaps another you may take. Yes, and while you'reabout it just pray that my appetite will be stayed with this one; forif it isn't, you'll have a small chance for a bite unless they come infaster than they've been doing."
Well, the crisis had passed, and there had been no discovery; but thenElmer was really caring very little now. He only wanted to post hisbackers a shade better so as to cut off all chance of escape, when heintended opening up the game himself by springing a surprise on the man.
One thing he did mean to look out for, and this was a possible move onthe part of the escaped jail bird to lay hold of Hen. Such a man wouldthink first of all how he could use the boy for a shield, while he madeterms with the enemy. It was an old trick, which Elmer had known to beused with more or less success when up on that Canadian cattle ranch,where bad men were occasionally met with, who gave lots of troublebefore they were rounded up.
Two, three minutes passed.
Elmer did not believe it would be good policy for them to continue toadvance any further. He did not wish to get so close to the man thatthe other could by a sudden rush reach them before they were able to doanything.
By a low hiss he warned his comrades that the critical time hadarrived, when every scout would be expected to do his duty.
Then slowly he got up, first on his knees, and then on his feet. Everyfellow duplicated his move, so that the entire seven were now standingthere, forming a line slightly inclined to resemble the new crescentmoon.
And there was Hen Condit turning his head around to stare at them, hisface as white as the chalk they were accustomed to use upon theblackboard in school. His eyes were as round as circles, while uponhis strained countenance hope, fear, expectation, almost a dozenemotions struggled for the mastery.
"Hello! Joe!" called out Elmer, without the slightest warning.
Up rose the head of the man who was busy cleaning the fish. When hesaw those seven khaki-clad figures standing there, with two shotgunsbearing directly on his person, he was to all appearances struck dumbfor the moment. His eyes stared and his mouth fell open. Fish andknife dropped from his nerveless hands.
"Caught, by thunder! and by a bunch of boys at that!"
These words burst from his lips, after which he started to use somepretty strong language until Elmer put his foot down sternly.
"Stop that kind of talk, Joe!" he ordered. "We've got you rounded up,and there's no use kicking. If you make a move to run, or jump thisway, we'll fill you full of bird-shot, do you hear?"
"Both barrels in the bargain, Joseph, mind you!" added Lil Artha, stillburning with indignation as he recollected how they had seen the beastcuff poor Hen; and perhaps deep down in his boyish heart actuallyhoping the other might take a notion to try and get away, when theywould be justified in peppering him, after he had run possibly thirtyor forty yards.
"Oh! I guess the jig's all up with me, boys," said the man, with alook of sheer disgust on his face. "I've had a little run for mymoney, but the stone jug seems to be yawning for me. I was a fool tobother with the kid, it seems; but when the scheme came to me at firstI thought it too fine to drop. Here's where I get paid for being asilly gump. What do you want me to do, boys? I'll obey with as muchcheerful alacrity as I can, seeing that I'm starving to death just now."
"First of all," said Elmer, who had it all mapped out, "lie down onyour face and put both hands behind you. We're going to tie you up,and wait for the Chief with his posse to come along. Do you get that,Joe?"
"Sure I do, and since it's Hobson's choice with me here goes. Isuppose you fellows must be Boy Scouts. I once organized a troop ofthe same, but never dreamed I'd be arrested by the khaki crowd. It'sall in a day's work, though."
He, accordingly, stretched himself flat on the ground. When they couldsee that he had his hands held behind his back, and convenientlycrossed at the wrists, four of the boys advanced.
"Keep your gun aimed at him, Lil Artha," commanded the scout-master,"and if he tries any funny business let him have it in the legs. Here,Landy, you and Chatz sit on him while I secure his hands."
The man attempted no resistance, for he realized the folly of it. Hedid groan, however, when Landy squatted down on his legs, and the otherfellows could hardly blame him for grunting. It was like a thousand ofbrick dropping from a second story building, as Lil Artha afterwardsdescribed it.
The job was quickly and neatly dispatched, Elmer wrapping his cord manytimes around the wrists of the prisoner. By this time Joe seemed tohave recovered his nerve, and made out to consider the whole thing morein the light of a big joke than anything else.
Meanwhile, there was Hen standing near by, and hardly knowing whetherto look delighted at seeing his cruel boss thus being tied up, or showthe dreadful fear that was gripping his soul as he contemplated whatmust follow.
"Cheer up, Hen, old fellow," said Toby, stepping over to grasp hishand; but to his amazement Hen immediately broke down, and began to sobas if his heart were broken.
"You don't know the worst, that's what," he said, plaintively. "Thatstealing the money from my uncle was bad enough, but oh! will theyreally hang me for the other? I sure didn't mean to do such a terriblething when I threw that stone and hit the tramp that day! I've had nopeace of mind ever since he told me his pal had really died. He saidhe'd keep still about it if I'd go with him, and do everything he toldme to. And I've just had to, even when I felt sick enough to want tolay me down and die."
"What's this yarn you've been giving the boy, Joe?" demanded Elmer,sternly, as he faced the man, who with his hands tied behind his backhad been propped up against a convenient tree.
The man looked at Elmer and then burst into a derisive laugh.
"I knew he was a soft subject when I met him that day," he said, "and Imade up my mind I'd work him for fair. He did throw a stone and hit afellow I was with on the head. We chased after him but he was toospeedy for us. Later on when I was all alone I set up that slick gameon him, telling him my pal had actually died, and I'd buried him in thewoods. Oh! it was almost too easy. He did just whatever I wanted himto. You'll find every cent of the money in my pocket, because I neverhad a ghost of a chance to spend any of it. That's all, son. Now youunderstand what ails the silly fool."
Hen Condit had listened to this, at first with that look of abject painon his face. Then as the substance of the man's confession dawned uponhis mind he began to exhibit fresh interest that caused anotherexpression, that of wild hope, to swiftly take the place of despair onhis countenance.
"Oh! do you mean then, Joe, that your pal didn't die after all?Please, oh please, tell me that, and I'll forgive you for everythingmean you've done to me!" he begged.
"The last I saw of the tramp," the prisoner told him, "he was settledin an empty freight car, and bound for the city. He was as frisky asever then. I'd have joined him only I didn't want to pull up broke inthe city; and I thought there ought to be some rich pickings for aclever crook around these regions. That's where I made my one bigmistake. And now I'm going to take my medicine. That's all from me,you hear. Only I say, kid, you're lucky to have such a fine lot ofchums to help you out of a bad scrape!"
CHAPTER XVI
CONCLUSION
"I can hardly believe it's true," muttered Hen Condit, helplessly, ashe looked around him at the beaming faces of his seven loyal chums;"just seems to me as if I'd wake up and find it only a lovely dream."
"Well, it isn't, just the same, Hen," said Lil Artha, as he wrung theother's cold hand as though it had been a pump handle, and he thehonest milkman; "the money's been recovered, every cent of it, and likeas not there's some sort of a reward out for the recapture of this genthere, who broke jail with a pair of handcuffs on his wrists which hefiled off weeks ago up in this same swamp. And if there is, you sharewith us in that, Hen, remember."
"But I didn't do a single thing to get him, and that wouldn't be fair!"weakly protested the relieved boy, with his arm linked in that ofElmer, upon whom he seemed to lean in this dreadful crisis of his younglife.
"Didn't hey?" snorted Toby; "I guess you _lured him along_; then againand helped to blind his eyes while we crept noiselessly closer andcloser. Sure you deserve part of the reward, Hen, providing there isany up."
At hearing that unique remark, the prisoner burst into a hearty laugh.Evidently, "Joe," having made up his mind that he was going back to theclutches of the law, could enjoy a good joke as well as the next one;he was undoubtedly a reckless sort of fellow anyway.
"That's fine for you, son," he told Toby; "luring the rascal on is agood one. That poor kid was almost too easy for me to work, for hefell into my trap as soon as I pulled the string. Why, I felt ashamedof myself sometimes, it was so much like taking candy from the baby.But he isn't a half bad sort of a boy; and let's hope this'll be alesson to him never again to throw stones at poor tramps. They'rehuman as well as the rest of us, and have their feelings. That lump onhis head pained Weary Willie Larkins as much as it would have done Henhere."
Having made sure that the desperate character whom they only knew asJoe could not escape, the boys built a jolly fire, and proceeded tocook something. Hen was so savagely hungry they had to lead him awaywhile the meal was in preparation, for he vowed he was dreadfullytempted to jump in and devour his food raw.
And when a supply had been made ready, the scouts did not forget tofeed their prisoner, who certainly seemed to enjoy it very much, indeed.
"You boys
are a great bunch," he told Lil Artha, who was looking afterhis necessities in the line of food; "and after all, I'm not sorry youwere the ones to get me, if it had to be. I'd never forgive myself ifthat fat Chief of Police down at Hickory Ridge managed to round me up,and him as ignorant about following a trail as a greenhorn."
You see, before then the man had guessed that Elmer must have spentsome time Out West, from various things he heard mentioned. Indeed, hehad asked plainly if such were not the case, and afterwards told theyoung scout-master a few interesting things connected with his owncheckered career.
His real name he declared would never be known, for he came of a goodfamily, which he would not wish to disgrace. He admitted that he hadhad every chance in the world to make a mark in the line of law or theministry, and had even been a professor at one time in a college; but,somehow, a love for dissipation dragged him down until finally he haddisappeared, assumed another name in a part of the country where he wasnot known, and commenced his career of vice.
The man told the scouts to take a lesson from his blasted career,though they hardly knew whether he really meant it or, as Lil Artha wasconstrained to say, was "talking through his hat."
The fire was kept burning, and fed with more or less green wood in thehope and expectation that the black smoke thus generated might draw thetracking posse to the scene the more rapidly.
It was almost two hours before they arrived, which would indicate thatJohnny might not be quite as expert at following a "man trail" as someof the scouts were.
Great was the astonishment of the Chief and his men when uponapproaching the fire by creeping up they discovered that those about itwere the eight scouts, and even recognized in the bedraggled figure ofthe last member none other than the wretched culprit, Hen Condit.
And there, seated with his back against a tree and his hands and anklessecurely bound scout-fashion, was the man they wanted. He greetedtheir coming, and the look of amazement on the Chief's red face withroars of amusement.
"Better late than never, Chief," he called out. "While you weresleeping over it, these smart scouts did the business, and took me in.All the cold cash that was taken has been recovered to a last red cent;and I've explained just how I forced this silly boy Hen to write thatletter, when it was really me who cribbed the money. So don't botherblaming a kid like that. He's had his lesson, Chief."
Elmer thought that was pretty handsome of Joe, and he did not hesitateto tell him so. He could see that the man was a strange mixture ofgood and evil, though it seemed that the bad elements in hiscomposition were generally on top.
As there was no need of remaining any longer in the swamp, they startedto leave. Johnny said he would go back and take the two skiffs out,towing one behind him. Later on he could come and mend the new boat byfetching a plank to replace the one that had been staved in by strikinga log at full speed.
"Hope we see you again down at Hickory Ridge, Johnny!" called out LilArtha after the bound boy.
"Yes, and we won't forget that clever chicken trap of yours," addedToby, "even if the man did cut his companion free before we reached thespot. By the way, Hen, here's something of yours that we found."
"My knife with the buckhorn handle!" exclaimed the Condit boy, lookingpleased. "I missed that, and thought I'd never see it again. Wheredid you pick it up, Toby?"
"Huh! you dropped it from your pocket once upon a time when your heelswere some higher than your head. That helped to give us a strong clue,and we knew we were on the right track up here near old SassafrasSwamp. Next time you're chicken hungry, Hen, button up your pockets;you never know what's going to happen these days."
Hen turned fiery red, and then laughed in a confused fashion.
"Well," he said, boldly, "both of us were terribly hungry, and sinceI'd jumped in up to my neck you know, an inch further didn't seem tomind. I suppose that's the way with all boys who go to the bad; thefirst step leads to another until they don't care much what becomes ofthem. But oh! I'm hugging myself to know it's all going to be like anugly dream now. What don't I owe you fellows? All my life I'llremember it."
Once out of the swamp and they were soon at Farmer Trotter's place.Here it was found that the Chief and his posse had come in a bigtouring car that just held the party comfortably, though there wouldstill be room for Joe, of course.
The boys were invited to pile in and hang on; but respectfullydeclined. A ride of so many miles to the home town, going at a fastpace over a bumpy road, and hanging on outside the car in the bargain,did not seem to have any great attractions for them.
"We prefer to take our time, and use the big wagon, Chief," said Elmerafter consulting with his seven chums; "like as not half-way therewe'll make camp and have a jolly night of it, arriving home beforesundown again."
"Pleath tell our people we're on the way, and expect to turn up thooneror later," added Ted Burgoyne.
"And Chief, you promised to let my uncle know the whole story,remember," called out the contrite Hen Condit. "I'll be ashamed toface him, but perhaps he won't be so _very_ angry when he hears how Iwas deceived so terribly, and made to believe I had actually killedthat tramp when I threw the stone. And my aunt loves me, that I know.Don't forget to tell them every cent has been recovered from the thief,and that I'm bringing it back with me."
The scouts did camp that night in a wood alongside the road.Fortunately, the weather proved very kind to them. Lil Artha said the"wind was tempered to the shorn lamb," by which he undoubtedly meantthat since they had neither tents nor blankets it considerately did notturn cold, nor were they caught out in a heavy rain storm.
Their last outing of the vacation season had proved to be a fine one.They had passed through a novel experience when exploring the depths ofthe mysterious Sassafras Swamp; and better still had managed to savetheir poor, mistaken comrade from a fate, the very thought of whichwould often make him shiver even when months and years had crept by.
They had a great night of it there in camp. Even Hen tried to forgetfor a time what he must face on the morrow, and joined his chums intheir songs, as they sat cross-legged around the cheery blaze.
There was no longer any necessity for suppressing their boyishexuberance, for the gloomy swamp had been left behind, nor was thereany hiding escaped criminal to take alarm. So they laughed and talkedand sang to their hearts' content; nor did the sleepiest of them,meaning Landy, of course, get a chance to lay his head on hismake-believe pillow until nearly midnight.
"What's the use of wasting so much time in sleeping?" Lil Artha haddemanded, when the stout boy pleaded for them to desist, and give him achance to get some rest; "this is going to be our very last camp untilaway off in Thanksgiving week, even if we have one then. So let's makethe most out of it. You c'n sleep any old time, and lie abed till tenon Sunday, if you want to. Now for another song, fellows, and Landy,we want your fine tenor to help out, remember."
The morning found them astir, and after breakfast the horses were oncemore put to the pole so that a start could be made for home.
None of them were in a hurry, and it was really about the middle ofthat afternoon when the expedition entered town. The news had, ofcourse, been widely circulated, and everybody was on tip-toe, filledwith excitement, and watching for their arrival.
A great crowd had collected to greet them, and there was the brass bandof which Hickory Ridge was getting to be quite proud, playing asonorous tune which some of the scouts believed must be "Lo! theConquering Hero Comes," though none of them felt quite sure of it.
Well, Hen Condit was forgiven by his uncle, after he heard all aboutthe terrible time the boy had, and in what way unscrupulous "Joe"deceived the foolish boy. Elmer and his chums made it a point to seethat the story was widely circulated, and the balance of the scouttroop aided to the best of their ability, for Hen was well liked.
The consequence of all this was that most people decided the boy hadalready been sufficiently punished, and that his lesson was apt to beof lasting benefi
t to him during the balance of his natural life.Besides, it gave shrewd fathers and mothers a fine moral lesson to holdup before their own erring youngsters, and hence for a long time tocome the narrow escape which Hen Condit had had from going wholly tothe bad was used as a means of correction. In this way it doubtlessdid much good, if that could be of any satisfaction to Hen.
No doubt there will be other stirring events come up, with mysteries tobe solved, as the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts pursue their activities; andshould such interesting happenings take place, be sure they will notescape our notice. Until then we must say good-bye to the faithfulreaders who have accompanied us through the stirring adventures thatbefel our young friends in Sassafras Swamp.
THE END
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