AFTER THE TRAMPS
It was pleasant for Jack and his chums to have the Fords with them, and
all spent an agreeable hour together, while waiting for the meal and
during the repast. The pies and fresh rolls proved highly acceptable.
The cake Stuffer wanted to cut, too, but the young major said that must
be kept for supper.
“He’d put on everything in camp, if I let him,” Jack explained to the
girls. “He’s the greatest eater in the school, and that’s why we call
him Stuffer. But he’s a good fellow all the same,” he added, hastily.
During the meal the boys told Mr. Ford of the tramps, and what was to be
done that afternoon to capture the fellows. The gentleman was much
interested.
“We have lost fowls over to my place,” he said. “Perhaps these men are
guilty of the depredations. If so, I think I ought to have a hand in
this round-up,” and he smiled faintly.
“You can go along if you wish, Mr. Ford,” answered Jack, readily.
“Then I will. The girls can drive home with Michael.” And so it was
arranged.
“Papa, I want you to keep out of harm,” said Laura, on parting. “And you
boys had better take care, too,” she continued.
“We’ll be on our guard, don’t fear,” answered Pepper, and then he and
Andy saw the girls to the carriage, and saw Michael the coachman drive
off with them.
While the cadets were awaiting the arrival of Landerson the butcher and
Peters and Robinson, two farmers who had lately lost chickens by
stealing, the young major gave some of them directions where to go and
establish a new camp. This was a spot known to but a few, and he felt
certain that Reff Ritter would not be able to follow them to it.
“Take the horse and wagon along over the stones,” he said, “and then
drive them down Baker’s brook. Water leaves a mighty poor trail.”
“All right, we’ll do the best we can,” said Bob Grenwood, who was placed
at the head of the cadets to superintend the removal.
About half-past two the butcher and the two farmers arrived, in company
with a small, fat man who gravely announced himself as one of the deputy
sheriffs of the county.
“Great Cæsar! Has he come to arrest us!” whispered Bart Conners, as the
deputy sheriff eyed the boys in a suspicious manner.
“No, he has come to arrest the chicken thieves—if he can find them,”
answered Jack.
It looked as if a storm might be brewing, so no time was lost in
starting in the direction of the tramps’ camp. Andy and Stuffer, knowing
the trail, led the way, and the men from Cedarville and Mr. Ford and six
of the cadets followed. The deputy sheriff and the two farmers carried
shotguns, and the butcher boastfully exhibited a pistol of the old
“hoss” variety, and nearly two feet long.
“We may as well arm ourselves,” suggested Rossmore Ford. “There is no
telling what may happen, if those rascals show fight.” And he cut
himself a stout stick, and the cadets did likewise.
The deputy sheriff being fat was also short of wind, so the party had to
move slowly. Once they came to a halt, Andy and Stuffer being a little
doubtful of the trail.
“Don’t—er—take us off the road,” panted the deputy sheriff. “This
walk—er—is bad enough as it is,” and he gave a deep sigh. Walking had
never been his strong point.
At last they came in sight of the hollow and Andy pointed out the rude
shelter and the remains of a campfire. Not a soul was to be seen.
“Perhaps they have deserted the spot,” said Jack. “If they have it’s too
bad.”
“Ha! don’t tell me you have brought me here on a fool’s errand!” puffed
the deputy sheriff.
“If you are fooled, Mr. Nugg, so are we,” answered Rossmore Ford.
“I think I see somebody sleeping under that shelter,” said the butcher.
“Yes, I do! It’s a man—and a tramp, by the looks of his ragged
clothing!”
“Then some of them must be on hand,” answered Pepper.
“I hope the man I am after is there,” put in Andy. He was thinking more
of the things he had lost than of capturing the rascals on account of
the chickens that had been stolen.
“Hadn’t we better surround the place?” suggested Jack, with true
military instinct.
“Just—er—what I was going to suggest,” said Mr. Nugg, quickly. “But
don’t do any shooting unless I give the command,” he continued
warningly.
“I doubt if it will be necessary to do any shooting,” said Rossmore
Ford. “Tramps are usually cowards and give up at the sight of firearms.
If we do any shooting somebody of our own party may get hurt.”
They spread out in a circle and with caution drew closer to the tramps’
camp. As they approached they saw that three men were resting under the
rude shelter. Presently one of the men raised his head, looked around
and uttered a cry of warning. Then all leaped to their feet, gazing at
the approaching men and boys in consternation.
“Surrender, in the name of the law!” shouted the fat deputy sheriff.
“Wot’s dis anyhow?” demanded one of the tramps, trying to retreat, and
finding himself hemmed in.
“Do you surrender, or do you want to be shot?” asked the butcher.
“Surrender?” asked a second tramp. “Wot’s dis? We ain’t done nuthin.”
“Up with your hands!” went on the deputy sheriff, who was bound to make
the capture as dramatic as possible, and up into the air went three very
dirty pairs of hands.
“Any more of you around here?” asked Andy, quickly, for he saw that not
one of the fellows present was the individual he had met at the jewelry
store.
“De udders have——” began the third tramp, a nervous looking young
fellow.
“You shut yer mouth, Bug!” cried the first tramp who had spoken,
warningly.
“Let him speak if he wants to,” said Jack, stepping forward. At the
sight of the military uniform the rascals looked much worried.
“So youse is bringin’ de soldiers here, hey?” said one.
“Da ain’t soldiers, da are cadets from a school,” said one tramp. “Don’t
yer know Flatnose told us about ’em?”
“Where is Flatnose?” asked Andy eagerly. He remembered that the tramp he
was after had a somewhat flat nose.
“He’ll be back in about——” began the younger of the three tramps, when a
warning look from both of the others halted him as before.
“When will he be back—answer me?” said Rossmore Ford sternly.
“Don’t youse say a word more!” growled the largest of the tramps.
“Here comes some men now—over yonder hill!” cried Dale, who chanced to
look back.
“Yes—and there is the rascal I want to catch!” returned Andy. “Come on,
Jack and Pepper, will you help me?”
“We will!” answered his two chums.
“There are four men!” cried the butcher.
“I know one of ’em!” yelled one of the farmers. “I saw him around my
henhouse one evening! He’s the chap I want to catch!” And away he went
with his shotgun.
“Hi! Wot’s dis?” cried one of the tramps in the distance.
“I know wot’s up,” answered another. “Da are after us! Our hangout has
been discovered! Say, boys, we have got to dust if we want to keep out
o’ jail!”
And then off they ran, in several different directions, and after them
went Andy, Jack and Pepper, and two other cadets, and Mr. Ford and one
of the farmers did likewise.