THE FIRST CAMP-FIRE
"Help, he's going to eat us all up!" shouted Billy Button.
Felix and Rob Shaefer did not like the looks of the oncoming dog any
more than did Billy. Being more pugnacious by nature, however, instead
of making a frantic dash over the wire fence, and trying to crawl
through between the strands at the risk of tearing their clothes, they
hurried to snatch up some clubs which would serve them as a means of
defence.
The dog acted as if he meant business. They were trespassing on his
master's territory, and as the guardian appointed to defend this ground
he assailed the intruders without fear or favor.
They had quite a lively time of it, what with the shouting, the loud
bursts of laughter from those scouts who were safe on the other side of
the fence, and the agonized cries of Billy Button, caught fast in the
grip of the barbed-wire, and expecting to be devoured.
Both Felix and Rob had luckily managed to secure fairly strong pieces
of broken limbs from the trees. With these they boldly assaulted the
dog, and kept him from jumping on the helpless comrade until some of
the others came to Billy's assistance, and by raising the wires allowed
him to crawl through.
Tom and George hastened to join in the fray for it was evident that the
savage dog would have to be beaten off before those who were in danger
could find a chance to reach the road again.
With four enemies against him the dog concluded that he had done all
that could be expected of him, and that it was now no dishonor to beat
a masterly retreat; which he accordingly did.
The boys pretended to chase after him, with loud shouts; but seeing
their opportunity to escape made haste to put the wire fence between
themselves and the owner of those cruel white fangs. As long as he
could follow them from his side of the barrier the dog continued to
bark savagely; but did not offer to leave his own domain.
After all Billy Button was the only one to suffer, and he had a fine
big three-cornered hole in his coat.
"Going into the real-estate business, are you, Billy?" asked Josh, who
could always see a chance for a joke.
"Oh! am I?" retorted the other. "What makes you think that, Josh?"
"Because you've got a sign up 'to rent,'" is what the other told him.
"Didn't I see that dog take hold of you by the leg, Felix, at the time
you struck him so hard on the head with your club?" Mr. Witherspoon
asked.
"Yes, sir, but he only dented my leggings, you see," the bugler
replied, as he showed where the marks of the animal's teeth could be
plainly seen; "that's the good of having extra-thick canvas leggings
on; they save you from snake bites and all sorts of other things that
you don't want."
"It was a pretty lively skirmish while it lasted, let me tell you,"
admitted Rob Shaefer, who had seemed quite to enjoy the affair.
Another hour or more passed, with the column straggling along, and some
of the boys showing positive signs of fatigue. Mr. Witherspoon had been
consulting with the leader of the Black Bear Patrol, and evidently they
had reached a conclusion, for presently the welcome order was given to
turn into the woods, as the day's hike was at an end.
Gladly did those tired lads obey the call. And one of the first things
they discovered was that there was another cold spring nearby, the
presence of which, of course, had been known to those who carried the
chart of the region.
First of all they dropped down to rest themselves. Later on, when they
were feeling more like doing things, they would start to put the camp
in order, get the fires started, and perhaps erect some sort of rude
shelter that to a certain degree would take the place of tents.
Finally some of the more enterprising began to stir around. Josh took
it upon himself to provide a fireplace made out of stones which lay
conveniently near. It was to be built according to the best formula he
knew, something in the shape of a letter V, with the large end toward
the wind; and across the top of the stones they would lay their iron
rods, thus forming a gridiron on which would rest the frying-pan and
the coffee-pot.
"I'll duplicate your cooking fire, Josh," said Rob Shaefer, who meant
to show some of his new chums a few wrinkles he had learned when in
camp on other occasions.
Half an hour before the sun went down both fires were crackling at a
great rate; and when good beds of red embers should have formed
operations looking to supper would be started by those in charge of the
occasion.
Everybody took a deep interest in what was now going on. All sorts of
suggestions were called back and forth as the ham was sliced and the
potatoes put in the pots for boiling; while further along the fires the
two coffee-pots began to emit a most delightful and appetizing odor
that made the hungry boys wild with impatience.
The spot where they had determined to spend their first night out was
in the midst of the woods. Around them the forest trees lay on every
side, some being great oaks, others beeches, with drooping branches and
smooth silvery bark--as well as other species, such as sycamore, ash
and lindens.
Most of the scouts were bubbling over with enthusiasm concerning the
outlook before them; but several of the less daring ones might be seen
casting furtive glances about as though the prospect of passing the
night amidst such lonely surroundings had already commenced to make
them feel a little queer.
No doubt the pride of these fellows would carry them through the
initial night; and after that by degrees they would become accustomed
to their new experiences. Every soldier can look back to his first
battle, remembering how he trembled in his shoes, and feeling that he
would give all he possessed for the privilege of running away at top
speed.
And when supper was ready, with the boys gathered around, each bent on
doing the best he knew how to show his appreciation of the work of the
cooks, it seemed to be the fitting climax to a most wonderful day.
Would they ever forget that supper? Never had anything tasted so
royally good at home.
"This is the life!" declared Josh Kingsley, buoyantly, as he passed his
tin plate along for a second helping when he heard it mentioned that
there was still a further supply not distributed.
"It certainly does taste pretty fine to me!" admitted Horace Crapsey,
who had in times gone by been so finicky about his eating that his
folks had begun to wonder what was going to become of him--yet who was
now sitting there cross-legged like a Turk, wielding an ordinary knife
and fork, and with his pannikin on his lap, actually doing without a
napkin, and enjoying it in the bargain.
Mr. Witherspoon had the seat of honor, for the boys insisted that he
should occupy the highest place on the log that had been rolled near
the fires. He observed all that went on with satisfaction. Boys were
close to his heart, and he never tired of his hobby of studying them.
It was a constant source of delight to the scout master to listen to
them chatter, and he noticed that a perceptible change was taking place
in some of his charges since first joining the troop.
Finally when every youth admitted that he had had all he could eat,
Mr. Witherspoon got up.
"Now it's full time we started our _real_ campfire," he announced.
"That was why I had you gather such a big heap of wood. Here's the
right place for the blaze, as we must be careful not to scorch any of
the trees, the branches of which hang down over us, because this
property belongs to some one, and we must respect his rights."
He had no trouble about finding willing workers, because every one
acted as if anxious to have a hand in the building of that first
campfire, to be recorded in the annals of Lenox Troop as an event of
unusual importance.
When finally the pyramid had been carefully built the scout master was
asked to apply the match.
"Unfortunately I do not know the customary procedure on such momentous
occasions," he told the boys, as they formed a circle around the pile;
"and all I can say is that with this match I am about to dedicate this
fire to the useful purpose of bringing all our hearts in tune with our
surroundings. For to-night then, we will try to believe ourselves real
vagabonds, or children of the forest, sitting around the sanctuary at
which every camper worships--the crackling fire!"
Then the blaze began to seize hold of the wood, and amidst the cheers
of the enthusiastic scouts the fire got fully under way.
High leaped the red flames, so that presently there was a general
backward movement, on account of the heat. Had it been November instead
of June, they would doubtless have enjoyed the cheery warmth much more.
Each boy managed to pick out a comfortable place, and then the talk
began to grow general. Plans for the morrow and the succeeding days
were being discussed with much ardor.
It was while this was going on, and the scouts were all feeling most
happy that with but scant warning a discomforting element was suddenly
injected into Camp Content. Moving figures, harsh voices, together with
the half strangled barks of dogs held in leash startled the seated
campers. Two rough-looking men, evidently a farmer and his hired man,
armed with guns, and holding a couple of dogs by ropes, came in sight
close by.