CAUGHT NAPPING
"Silence!"
The tumult died away as quickly as it had sprung into being, when Paul
held up his right hand and made this request.
All being still again, he turned to the grinning old farmer, who was
doubtless getting more solid satisfaction out of this new experience than
he had obtained from any clever dicker or trade engineered in the last
ten years.
"Mr. Growdy," said Paul, with considerable of feeling in his voice, "as
the present scout leader of Stanhope Troop No. 1 of the Boy Scouts, I
want to thank you sincerely for your generous offer. We all appreciate
the kindly spirit that causes you to make it to us. But unfortunately it
happens that the rules of our organization will not allow us to accept."
Peleg's face fell several degrees at this.
"Say, couldn't ye jest make an exception this time, boys?" he pleaded.
"I'll feel right hurt if I ain't 'lowed to help on this business some.
Wot's a hundred dollars beside the new speerit ye've managed somehow to
start up in me? If ye need more, by gum! ye kin hev it! I ain't no hog,
if I hev let the people think so this long time."
"Sorry to say so, Mr. Growdy, but we can't accept. Besides, we have all
earned enough money now to pay for what we need, and expect to send away
to-morrow to get our suits," Paul went on; and even while he was talking
a bright idea came flashing into his brain.
"Wall, now that's jest too bad, boys. I'd calkerlated to spend that
hundred on doin' a good deed, an' ye make me go back home with the same
hugged tight in my pocket. I'm sorry it cain't be did, I am, sure,"
muttered the farmer, shaking his head, and acting like a child that has
been cheated out of some anticipated pleasure.
"That doesn't follow, Mr. Growdy," said Paul, in a low but thrilling
voice; "if you have set your mind on using that hundred dollars to do a
good work, perhaps I might give you a hint where it would fit in mighty
well, and make your heart feel warm."
"Hey! wot's that, Paul? I don't understand," exclaimed the man.
"Down just beyond the outskirts of Stanhope there lives a poor widow
woman who, I'm told, is in danger of being put out of her home any day
now because she has been sick and unable to work so as to pay her rent.
If you went to her right now, Mr. Growdy, and put that wad of money in
her hand, I'm sure you'd never regret it, sir; and every boy here would
thank you just as much as if you paid for his uniform. Isn't that so,
fellows?"
A chorus of shouts testified to the fact that Paul had hit upon a popular
idea for turning the sudden generosity of the hitherto miserly old farmer
to account.
"Who is the woman?" asked Peleg Growdy uneasily.
"Mrs. Jenks, who has three little children to support. Her husband was
killed in that blast some years ago, and she never recovered a cent from
the mining company, for they burst like a bubble," returned Paul.
"By gum! wot d'ye know about that, now? I reckons as how she lives in one
o' my own cottages, which the real estate man, Stebbins, takes keer of
fur me. He was tellin' me about some tenant he'd have to put out; but I
never noticed more'n that the name was Jenks."
"But now?" ventured Paul.
"It won't be did! No, sir, not by a jugful. I got my team outside, an'
I'm goin' straight over to see the widder. I knowed her husband onct
too, an' I'm some 'shamed thet I didn't look her up afore," and Peleg
started for the door.
"Hold on, Mr. Growdy!" called Paul.
"Hey! wot's doin' now, boys?" demanded the old man, turning to grin again
at his new host of young friends.
"You oughtn't to leave here, sir, without giving every boy scout the
privilege of shaking hands with you. I'm sure I speak for each fellow
when I ask that favor," returned Paul, stepping forward.
Peleg was agreeable, though he blushed like a schoolboy as the scouts,
forming in line, walked past him, each seizing his horny hand eagerly,
and doing his best to make the old farmer wince with the warmth of his
squeeze.
They gave him a parting cheer as he passed out, and the old fellow tried
to return the military salute to the best of his ability.
"Well, what do you think of that?" asked Nuthin', when they were once
more gathered around their leader for the purpose of further discussion.
"The finest thing that could possibly have happened. We had our frolic;
and see what it hatched. After this Peleg Growdy will never be the same
grumpy man he was in the past. No boy need longer hesitate to call out to
him on the street; for Peleg, I take it, has seen a great light, eh,
Jack?" and Paul slapped his chum heartily on the shoulder as he spoke.
"My idea exactly," replied his chum, quickly. "And do you know it made me
feel bad the way he spoke of Mandy and the kids. Some of you fellows may
not know that he lost his wife and children in a fire that burned his
house down while he was away. I'm glad we did that job, and you deserve
the praise, Paul, because it was your own scheme."
"Humbug! every one of you chimed in as soon as it was mentioned, and so
you're entitled to as much praise as I am. But about those uniforms,
boys--hadn't the scout tailor better get to work, going over his
measurements again? We want the suits to fit all right, you know."
And in this way did Paul direct the attention of his comrades in another
quarter, because it was really unpleasant for him to be placed on a
pedestal, as though he were different from the rest of them.
Amid much laughter and joking the measuring went on. Wallace Carberry
wielded the tape-line, and Bobolink put down the figures, being closely
patched so that no errors could possibly creep in.
So engrossed were they in this interesting business, that no one paid the
least attention to their surroundings.
And when a heavy shutter was slowly closed over the one large window of
the tobacco barn, the fact went unnoticed.
In fact the meeting was about ready to disband, and one of the boys
started for the door to be in advance of his friends, when he made a
discovery.
"Who locked this door, fellows?" he called, as he tried in vain to budge
the barrier.
Of course this drew the attention of all the rest, and a rush was made
for the place of exit. One by one the boys tried to push the door open,
but even the stoutest of them failed to accomplish it.
"Who was the last one in?" demanded Bobolink, furiously, as he retired,
worsted from the encounter, to allow another a chance at the door.
"Old Peleg Growdy, to be sure; and the door wasn't fastened then. D'ye
suppose he did anything to it when he went out?" asked William, as he
tried to assist Jud, now straining and pushing in a useless endeavor to
move the heavy door.
"That's nonsense," said Paul, as he pointed to the fact that the door
could not be locked, since it gave an inch or so each time the boys
pushed.
"Ginger! it's got something braced against it outside, that's what!"
announced another fellow.
"As sure as you're born it has!" echoed Bobolink.
All doubt was dissipated just then, for a series of loud and derisive
shouts in boyish treble welled up from outside.
"Shucks!" grunted Bobolink, in sheer disgust; "we've gone and let the
Slavin fellers have another crack at us. A nice lot of scouts we look
like, not to keep sentries on duty when we have a secret meeting. And now
they've got us cooped up here like a lot of old hens! Shucks! I say
again!"
"Well, that's no reason we have to stay cooped up, is it?" demanded Jack,
as he turned to hunt around for some object which could be used for a
battering ram so as to force the barricaded door of the barn.
"T-t-try the b-b-big wagon doors, fellows!" whooped Bluff.
They did, but with no more success than had attended their puny efforts
against the smaller exit. Those who had been at work while they talked
must have done a good job, for the big doors were utterly immovable.
"Do we have to stay in here until morning?" wailed Andy Flinn, in mock
despair.
"Not much, if I have to climb up to the roof, and knock a plank off. Say,
those fellows must have been spying out here when I met them this
morning," said Bobolink.
"Listen now, what d'ye suppose they're doing?" demanded Nuthin'.
All remained in an attitude of expectancy, and could hear strange sounds
that seemed to come from under the boards forming the floor of the barn;
which building had not always been used for drying tobacco alone.
"Now what d'ye suppose the sillies are poking poles under there, for?"
ejaculated William; "and just when I was going to propose that we pull up
a board, and crawl through the hole."
"Whew! what's this mean? Say, fellows, if that don't make me think of a
blessed old skunk I don't know the odor when I meet it!" and Wallace drew
back as he was about to get down on his hands and knees to investigate
the meaning of the odd sounds under the barn flooring.
Others got it quickly, and various cries arose, as the boys began to hold
their noses, and look around at each other.
"It'll smother us, fellows, that's what!" gasped William, quite pale by
now; for the odor which a skunk leaves in its wake affects some persons
powerfully, though others hardly mind it at all.
"I know!" Bluff managed to gasp, with a great effort; "there's a
f-f-family of s-s-skunks have their h-h-home under here. I've seen 'em,
b-b-but I never b-b-bothered the b-b-beauties. Oh! ain't it j-j-just
awful, f-f-fellows?"
It certainly was.
Stirred up by the poles wielded by Ted Slavin and his cronies, who must
have discovered the presence of the polecats when visiting the barn that
morning, and laid their plans accordingly, the little animals were using
the only means of defence against an enemy granted them by Nature.
William actually keeled over, and his brother had to drag him to the
further end of the barn so that he might not get the full benefit of the
overpowering scent.
"Something's just _got_ to be done!" cried Jack, himself not feeling any
too well under the infliction.
"Here, help me lift this old beam, boys. We can make a battering ram out
of it, and burst a board off somehow. Never mind the damages; they can be
repaired easy enough. Two more get hold. Now, swing around this way. I
think the weakest place is in the rear. Keep back, the rest of you. Here
goes!"
Five others had been only too willing to lend a hand when Paul called for
volunteers. The beam that had been lying against the further wall was
good and heavy; but that made it all the better as an engine for ramming
a hole through the boarded side of the barn.
Amid the cheers of the scouts the novel battering ram was carried forward
with a will, and on the run. Some of the boys held up lanterns so that
those who were in the line of attack could see just where to strike. Even
poor overcome William managed to raise his head, and feebly wave a hand
of encouragement.
The beam struck with tremendous force, and nothing in the way of a plain
ordinary boarding could withstand the impetus with which it was driven
forward.
"Whoop!" yelled the scouts, as a big aperture appeared in the side of the
barn, and the route to liberty lay before them.
They were not slow to avail themselves of the privilege either, but
hastened to scramble through the gap, carrying the lanterns with them.
William managed to get up enough steam to crawl outside, where he could
breath air that was not fetid, and filled with overpowering odors.
Only Bluff looked back half regretfully at the haven of refuge they had
just quitted. For he was wondering how his father could ever manage to
efface that scent so that the tobacco, soon to be harvested, might be
hung up in that barn without detracting from its marketable value.
And once out of the trap the Boy Scouts began to chase around, with
vengeance in their eyes; but as on previous occasions the wary enemy,
after accomplishing their mischief, had been wise enough to slink away.