A CAMP BY THE ROADSIDE
"Let me have a tent, will you, somebody?" cried Jud Elderkin.
"Me for the cooking outfit!" sang out Bobolink, though his knowledge of
affairs connected with the preparing of food was extremely limited,
owing to lack of experience. But then Bobolink, as well as all the rest
of the troop, would be considerably wiser before they slept again under
a roof.
Many hands made light work, and the contents of the supply wagon were
soon distributed to the several patrols. There were two tents for each,
four fellows sleeping under each canvas shelter.
Paul was busy from the minute the procession turned into the woods
bordering the road. He had to see that the right situations were
selected for putting up the tents, in case a sudden downpour of rain
came upon them. A mistake in this particular might result in having a
pond around the sleepers, and add a soaking to their blankets and
clothes.
But Paul had figured on this during the previous visit made here. He had
even marked off the position he wished every tent to occupy, and this
made it easier.
Many of the scouts were really proficient in erecting the canvas
shelters, and in a very brief time the scene began to present quite a
martial appearance, such as half a dozen tents in a bunch must always
make.
Each had a waterproof fly over the whole, which was calculated to shed
rain _if let alone_. Besides there were a couple of other open covers
put up, which would be useful in case of rain, one for storing things,
the other as a mess tent, where meals could be partaken of in comfort,
despite the weather.
After that three fires were started, one for each patrol. These were not
of the big, roaring kind that usually serve campers as their means of
cooking. Later on they expected to have one such, around which to
gather, and tell yarns, and sing their school songs; but the cooking
fires must be built along entirely different lines.
A hole was dug in the ground, with a frontage toward the wind. When this
was pronounced deep enough a fire was carefully kindled in it, and fed
with small stuff until it could take stronger food. So by degrees the
depression became filled with red cinders, sending off a tremendous
heat, yet not showing more than fifty feet away. An enemy might pass it
by twice that distance, without discovering it was there.
Besides, one could cook over such a fire with comfort, and not scorching
both face and hands in the effort.
Paul had learned the trick from an Indian with whom he once camped; and
ever since that time he had never made a big, roaring blaze when he
wanted to cook.
That was only one of dozens of useful things those Stanhope boys would
pick up while on this wonderful hike into the wilderness. Wallace
Carberry had a lot of information packed away in that big head of his,
and there would be plenty of occasions when he could help Paul out in
accomplishing things in the proper way.
So eager were the boys to taste their first meal under canvas that they
could hardly be held in check.
"Why," said Paul, laughing when some of them pleaded with him, and
declared they were bordering on a state of actual starvation; "if we ate
now, a lot of you would be hungry again before we turned in. I figure on
three square meals a day; but four would upset all my calculations. Half
an hour more, boys. Suppose you get a few pictures of this first camp?
They'll be worth while."
In this fashion did he manage to keep them from dissatisfaction. At last
he gave the word that allowed the various cooks to set to work. There
was no lack of helpers, for every fellow hung around, watching the
peeling of the potatoes with hungry eyes; but when a delicious aroma
began to arise from the first frying pan set over the hot fire, some of
them backed away, unable to stand it longer.
William, as the champion flapjack tosser of the entire troop, was of
course in big demand at the fire of his patrol. He had brought along a
white cook's cap which he insisted on donning as he hovered over his
outdoor range, and gave his orders to willing subordinates.
That meal was one never to be forgotten by any of the boys. To a number
it proved the very first they had ever eaten under similar conditions;
and with ravenous appetites, whetted by the long tramp, and the cool air
that came with evening, it seemed as though they could devour the entire
mess alone.
But their eyes proved larger than their capacities, for there was plenty
for all, and no one complained of not being satisfied when the meal
ended.
Each patrol had a regularly-organized system whereby the work might be
divided up, and every fellow get his share. Hence there could be no
favors shown, and no chance for disputes.
One of the leading rules was that duty came before play. Consequently
the tin platters, cups, knives, forks and spoons, as well as what
utensils had been used in preparing the dinner, were cleaned and laid
away before Paul allowed the big fire to be started.
Each patrol cook was allowed to have what he thought would best please
those for whom he labored. Paul exercised only a general supervision
over the whole matter, in order to make sure that there was no
unnecessary waste. Consequently there would always be more or less
rivalry between the three patrols, and much good natured "joshing" with
regard to what they had to eat.
Once that bonfire was started, the scene assumed a different aspect. The
glow lighted up the encampment, and filled the Banner Boy Scouts with a
feeling of pardonable pride, because each one felt that he had a
personal ownership in the camp under the wide spreading oak.
After a time they grew merry. William joked, another told a story that
sent them into fits of laughter, and then songs were sung.
"How different they sound out here in the woods!" declared Wallace, as
the last notes of a favorite air died away.
He was possibly the most satisfied member of the troop, for his love of
the open air life had always been profound.
"Say, fellows, how about settling down to the prosy life after this gay
old jaunt; tell me about that?" demanded William.
There was a storm of disapproval.
"Don't make us feel bad, old fellow!" pleaded one.
"Me for the gay life of a gypsy!" declared another.
"Why, I'll have to run away, and join that circus, I just guess!"
laughed a third.
But Paul only smiled. He knew a change would come over the spirit of
their dreams presently. They were now tasting the joys of outdoor life.
Everything was delightful around them. The air was fine, the sky filled
with stars, plenty of good food near at hand, and the first night on the
road yet to be endured.
Wait until the rain came down in buckets, drenching them to the skin;
see what sort of enthusiasm would show up when perhaps their supply of
food gave out, and they were hard put to get enough to appease their
savage appetites; given a week away from the loved ones at home, and how
many of these bold spirits would still be able to declare with all their
hearts that the life in the open was the real thing?
"Of course we put a guard out to-night, Paul?" asked Jack, as he crept
close up to where his chum sat on a blanket, watching the fun going on
around the fire.
"That is a sure thing. We must never forget that, while a peace
organization, we wear uniforms, and are acting under military rules.
Besides, perhaps it wouldn't be just right for me to say this to the
rest, but I can whisper it to you, Jack--somehow I seem to have a dim
suspicion that we may entertain visitors before morning."
Jack started and looked at his chum anxiously.
"Now you sure can't think any of those circus canvasmen would take the
trouble to follow us?" he muttered, shaking his head in bewilderment;
"because they know mighty well we haven't got a thing they'd want,
outside of our grub. Oh! that makes me think of something. I begin to
smell a rat now, Paul. You mean Ted and his crowd."
Paul nodded in response, and smiled mysteriously.
"Any reason for thinking that?" Jack went on, "or are you just saying it
on general principles, like?"
"I'll tell you," replied Paul, readily enough; "but please say nothing
to the boys. It may be I'm too suspicious, you see, and I wouldn't like
to be called a false alarm. But just think how particular that bunch was
to stay back until we had left town. They claimed they weren't ready;
but I chance to know that was all a fake."
"You mean so they might follow, and give us all the trouble they could?"
asked Jack, indignantly.
"Just so," Paul went on, in a low voice. "Another thing; they expected
to make use of their wheels in coming up here. Ted laughed at the idea
of having a tent. True woodsmen, he claimed, never had any need of such
a thing, being able to make a good shelter that would shed rain out of
leaves and branches."
"But they said they didn't expect to leave until afternoon. That would
give us a long lead, Paul," Jack ventured.
"Shucks! what would nine miles be to fellows on wheels? They could just
eat up that distance, and not half try," answered his chum.
"But somebody said they meant to take the other road that winds around
so, and joins this one ten miles further on. Do you believe that, Paul?"
"I just think that was said to pull the wool over our eyes. Those chaps
have started out with the one idea of bothering us all they can,"
answered the scout leader.
"Now look here; what's the use of beating about the bush like that,
Paul? You've got some reason for being so dead sure. You've seen
something, haven't you?" and Jack pressed still closer to the other as
he waited for a reply.
"Well, yes, I have," came the low response.
"Please tell me what you saw then!" asked Jack, almost holding his
breath in suspense.
"Just before dark a boy on a wheel came around the bend, and then,
seeing our tents, dropped off to hide in the brush along the side of the
road," replied Paul.