FOUND AT LAST.
ELMER was thinking about the car that had started from Fairfield an hour
before Toby and Nat learned about the scheme to waylay the leader in the
great hike, in case he proved to be a representative of Hickory Ridge,
and prevent him from carrying out his intentions not to ride a foot of
the way to Little Falls.
It could have easily overtaken Lil Artha long before this. Possibly the
four reckless young fellows in the car may have gone on ahead, to pick
out a favorable place for the ambush, from which they meant to pounce on
the walking Lil Artha and play their mean game.
He was looking on either side of the road as he went, as though the
thought had come to him that perhaps he might discover the car in
hiding; the plotters having decided to wait until dark before overtaking
the leader.
Then another idea flashed across Elmer's mind, and he no longer bothered
looking either to the right or the left. Instead his eyes sought the
road in front of his motorcycle.
It was now beginning to grow a trifle like twilight. The glowing sun had
sunk in the west, and left a legacy of red and gold to paint a few
fleecy clouds that hovered there in the heavens.
So it was not as easy as one might wish, to discover signs on the road,
especially when going at the pace they held. But here and there the
conditions became a little more favorable. Perhaps it was because the
trees were farther back, allowing more of that glow from the west to
reach them; or else the shading branches had prevented the sun from
drying the mud entirely, so that such a broad mark as that made by a
poorly inflated automobile tire might be detected.
And this was just what Elmer was looking for. He found it presently,
too; and was even able to tell that the car had been going at a pretty
good clip in the same direction in which they were even then headed.
This he did by noting that the mud had been splashed _forward_, so that
it struck trees ahead of where it had formerly rested on the roadbed.
And the distance it had been thrown was proof of considerable speed on
the part of the passing car.
So Elmer constantly found his previous experience in following a trail
of considerable benefit when filling the position of a scout leader.
Little things that others would have neglected to notice, or which, if
seen, might be looked upon as mere nothings, assumed an importance in
his eyes just as they would to an Indian born to reading signs when
following a trail in forest or on the desert.
There was no especial need of shouting all this out for the information
of the two fellows following after him. They were quite satisfied to
leave the arrangement of things in his hands. All Toby and Nat wanted
was a chance to have a say in the wind-up; and if the opportunity arose,
to put in a good lick for Hickory Ridge.
All the while Elmer was trying to figure distances. He had taken note of
the cyclometer at the time he passed Felix Wagner. It stood at just
thirty-five miles then. And if, as they suspected, Lil Artha, the
gallant Hickory Ridge representative, was some three or four miles ahead
of his closest rival, it was now about time they were sighting the
long-legged boy pedestrian.
Indeed, unless they soon came upon him, Elmer would begin to worry, lest
those reckless blades in the Fairfield car had declined to wait for
darkness to come in order to hide their actions, and had already carried
their plan into execution.
It was therefore with a purpose that Elmer shaded his speed down until
they were not moving along much more than twice as fast as a walker
would go.
"Keep tabs on the road to the left, boys, as we go," he called back.
"What for?" demanded Toby, eager to do whatever the leader wished, and
yet not able to see for himself.
"Notice any signs that might stand for a struggle," Elmer went on.
"Good gracious! Elmer, do you think they've jumped Lil Artha already?"
demanded Toby; and from the rear Nat called out:
"Didn't you say you thought they'd hold over till it got dark enough so
he couldn't recognize 'em, Elmer?"
"That's right, I did; and I still believe so," replied the leader,
confidently. "When I ask you to help me look for any signs of a
free-for-all scrap, I don't believe we'll find such a thing; but I'm
just insuring the correctness of my ideas."
"Oh, that's it, eh?" said Toby; though from the manner in which he
uttered the words it could be plainly seen that he failed to fully grasp
Elmer's true meaning.
But with three pairs of young eyes on the watch, it was not very likely
that anything in the nature of marks indicating a scrimmage would
escape. A lot of boys engaged in a wrestling match would be apt to leave
many traces on the road; for knowing Lil Artha as they did, the three
chums felt sure he could not be hauled into that Fairfield auto without
a desperate resistance.
Once Nat sang out something that sounded as though he had made a
discovery; and instantly Elmer gave the signal for a stop. With his
heart beating like a trip hammer he dropped his machine and hurried
back.
"Where is it, Nat?" he asked, eagerly, ready to attempt the reading of
such signs as might be found on the dirt of the road.
Nat's eyes opened wide.
"Where's what?" he asked, as if astonished.
"Didn't you sing out that you'd seen something that ought to be
investigated?" asked Elmer.
"Why, not that I know of," replied Nat, seeming rather confused.
"But you did call out something?" went on the other, hardly knowing
whether to feel provoked or to laugh.
"Sure I did; but it was only to tell you I was feeling as empty as a
sugar barrel that's been scraped clean. When do we get a snack, I'd like
to know?" Nat replied, rubbing the pit of his stomach as if to indicate
its state of emptiness.
"Well, if that ain't the worst cheek I ever struck," growled Toby; "to
stop us just when my machine had got into its best stride, and was
humming most beautifully!"
"Oh, come off your perch!" cried Nat. "I didn't stop you--never dreamed
of such a thing. It was an accident, that's all."
"Never mind," remarked Elmer, as he prepared to mount again. "Not much
time lost, and I've made sure that Lil Artha has gone along here, _with
the car in front of him_!"
"What's that?" asked Toby, hardly understanding.
"Why, I've seen a place where our chum's footprint is marked _in the
tread_ the automobile tire made in the half-hard mud. That tells as
plain as print the car must have passed him back here a little; for if
he was not coming _after_ it he could not have stepped in the trail left
by the tire," Elmer went on, calmly.
"Oh, yes, I see now what you mean, Elmer; and as sure as you live it's a
mighty clever idea. Takes you to think up all those things. That's what
you learned when you were out there on the plains, didn't you?" Toby
remarked.
"Of course," was all the scout leader replied; but he could not help
thinking that in the case of some fellows it would be necessary for them
to have about fifty years' experience out West before they could grasp
the true meaning of clews and trails and such things.
"Is there any need now for us to look out, and try to find traces of a
scrap?" asked Nat, as he balanced his machine and prepared to start.
"You might as well keep it up," came the answer.
"But if those chaps have gone ahead, what's the use?" demanded Nat.
"Because, don't you see," put in Toby, anxious to air his knowledge,
"what's going to hinder them lying in wait, and jumping out on Lil
Artha. Shall we keep tabs of the left side as before, Elmer?"
"The left--yes; but I imagine we're going to come upon our chum mighty
soon now. That track was fresh, and I've an idea it wasn't made more
than ten minutes ago, at the most fifteen."
Both the other lads looked admiringly at the one who was able so
confidently to say such a positive thing. They could not imagine how it
was done; and as their glances met they shook their heads, as though
condoling with each other on their mutual ignorance.
Then pop-pop-pop, and they were all off in a line, with Nat, as usual
bringing up the rear, and Elmer in the van.
Ahead of them, about half a mile away, there seemed to be some sort of a
bend; although the shadows played around the spot so densely that even
the sharp eyesight of Elmer failed to make sure just what sort of a
curve the road took there.
He had what he called a "hunch" that once around this they would be apt
to sight the one in whose fortunes they were so vitally interested. So
away they tore, letting the engines out for all they were worth; and
Nat, as before, utterly ignoring the fact that he had a muffler
connected with his metal steed.
And as Elmer whirled around the curve he looked eagerly ahead. At first
he saw nothing save a long stretch of road that seemed to mellow as it
dropped a little in the distance. Was it possible that Lil Artha could
have passed beyond the extreme limit of observation? If so, then the
deduction he had made as to the length of time elapsing since that
footprint was made could not have been the true one.
Ah, what was that moving there under the trees about half a mile ahead,
and just before the road took its slight downward pitch? Surely he had
seen something rise and fall with regularity; and it could hardly be a
branch.
The object caught his eye again. It was red, and Elmer suddenly
remembered that Lil Artha always made it a point to carry a couple of
big red bandana handkerchiefs along with him when about to indulge in
any game, whether baseball, football or a fishing excursion that
entailed a long walk.
Yes, surely that must be their comrade, who, hearing the familiar
explosion of the motorcycle engines, and possibly guessing that some of
the Hickory Ridge boys were following on his trail, had stepped aside to
let them pass. And that waving of the red flag was not intended as a
signal of warning, but simply Lil Artha's method of greeting his mates
as they flew by.
He could see the tall figure plainly now, and even note how he carried
his khaki jacket over his left arm, as the evening was anything but
cool.
And Elmer felt a thrill of satisfaction as he realized that after all
their troubles on the way they had finally come to the point where they
were about to join forces with the gallant fellow who was on his
thirty-sixth mile and still set upon arriving at Little Falls long
before dawn closed the contest.
Lil Artha stood at attention. He had recognized in the leading figure
the assistant scout master of the troop, and, like a good scout,
believed in paying him the respect due his office. Under ordinary
circumstances they were chums and ready to indulge in any sort of
rough-and-tumble boyish wrestle, but when on duty it must always be a
different thing.
So, as his hand came up in the regular scout salute, Lil Artha was
surprised to see that the other was bringing his motorcycle to a slow
down, as were also those in the rear, whom he now recognized as Toby and
Nat.
Apparently, then, they intended to stop and speak with him, perhaps with
the idea of giving him fresh courage to plod along over the ten miles or
so that still remained between himself and his destination.
Nothing averse to having a little chat with his chums as he walked
along, the tall scout stepped out from under the overshadowing branches
of the tree.
"Hello, fellows!" he remarked. "Say, this is mighty nice in you, hunting
me up just to say howdy and wish me luck. What's the news back along the
line?"
"All pins down in this alley but one other besides you, Lil Artha," said
Toby, quickly.
"And I bet you I know who that chap is--he comes from Fairfield and his
name is Felix Wagner. How'd I get on to that? Why, what's the use of
telephones if you don't use 'em? I called up and found out, you see. But
don't you worry one minute. Why, I ain't near played out. Fact is,
fellows, I'm getting my second wind, and right now I'm good for another
thirty without stopping."
"Gee, you are a wonder, all right!" exclaimed Nat, admiringly.
"But listen, Lil Artha," said Elmer as they walked on in company, those
who had motorcycles trundling them along; "we've followed you all the
way from Hickory Ridge, which we left at four to-day, just to warn you
that you're in danger of being kidnaped!"
"What!" exclaimed the tall scout, evidently astounded. "Say that again,
won't you, Elmer? Me kidnaped! Say, are you joshing me now or what? Open
up and tell me."