THE NIGHT ALARM
"Make him tell what happened."
"It's either that, or a douse in the creek for Jerry!"
"Hold on, fellows! Don't get rough, now! Sit down here and listen, only
pick a place where you can roll over with laughing, for it's sure the
funniest ever."
Then Jerry told them what he had seen that morning. He had kept the
recital until evening, wishing to make merry around the campfire. Of
course, the others knew he had seen something humorous, since he could
not keep from chuckling every little while; but all their hints and
entreaties had not availed to draw him out until he was good and ready.
Jerry was not disappointed with regard to seeing them laugh. Even little
Jed had to join in the merriment, for he could picture the rage of his
old tormentor, Farmer Dobson, as he straddled that limb and looked down
at the triumphant bull.
"That happened hours ago, you say?" asked Frank finally.
"Why, it was this morning, when I was out walking for my health,"
replied Jerry.
"Phew!" said the other, with a whistle. "What if they're still lodged up
in those trees, boys?"
No one looked particularly sorry. Indeed, Bluff even laughed again.
"In that case, they must be feeling pretty stiff by now," he remarked
carelessly.
"But I hardly believe the bull would stay this long at his post. The
farmer knew that when he told Pet to just keep still and wait. When the
beast grew hungry he would be apt to wander away in search of grass, or
perhaps go for a drink. Oh, I guess they got down all right," observed
Frank.
"All good things come to an end, they say. Those fellows couldn't expect
to keep up at the top all the time. But I'd like to have seen it,
Jerry," said Bluff.
"Think of me, the most unlucky of fellows! Another royal chance gone
glimmering! My rapid-action lens would have caught both of those
high-vaulters while they were in the air. Oh! what a loss to our
scrapbook! Jerry, if you would only get a little pocket camera, what
glorious things you'd capture!" sighed Will.
"Excuse me, if you please. One crank in the crowd is quite enough.
Frank, is it our last night in this camp?" asked the other.
"If our plans go right, it should be. Adolphus will start in the
morning, and I agreed to meet him at a certain point. We can pack up
after breakfast, and trail off into the mountains, taking our time,"
replied the leader of the outfit.
"Let's have a squint at that map again, please," observed Bluff.
The evening passed as usual. Each seemed to be busy after his fashion.
Even Jed had assumed charge of the fire, and kept up a cheery blaze,
while he had a heap of wood close by, ready for use during the night.
In due time the boys began to show signs of sleepiness--yawning and
stretching, after the manner of those who need rest.
"Who takes the first watch to-night?" asked Frank.
"I've spoken for that. You see, I hate to be waked up, once I get to
sleep. It sort of keeps me aroused, and I get to thinking of all my
troubles," said Will.
"Poor chap! Too bad you have such a load to carry; but then you must
expect a few good chances to slip past your machine. As it is, I think
you're doing famously, and that we'll have many a hearty laugh over the
results."
"Thank you, Frank. It's sure a pleasure to know that one of my chums
appreciates my humble efforts to satisfy the community, and lay up
ammunition for many a dull winter evening. Go to bed, fellows. I'm
_it_."
With Frank's gun in his possession, Will took up a position where he
could observe things without being too conspicuous himself.
"Talk to me about that, will you?" muttered Jerry, as he watched this
action on the part of his chum. "And notice how particular he is to sit
where he can keep an eye on that black hole in the rocks. Don't worry,
Will. We looked it over good and hard, and my word for it, there isn't
another bear inside, big or little."
"Oh, I'm not bothering about that. I only thought that perhaps the mate
of the one that was shot might come home, and I did so want to get a
snapshot of a wild beast going into its den, with the whole camp
asleep," avowed Will bluntly.
"And if the ghost should appear again, make him stand for his
picture--hear!"
"Don't you worry, Jerry. My watch only extends to midnight, and then
Frank comes on deck, you see."
"Wise boy, to fix it so," jeered the other as he crawled inside his
tent.
Presently the camp was wrapped in silence. The fire had been so arranged
that it needed very little attention from time to time. Will sat there,
with the gun on one side, and his camera, ready for action, on the
other. It was a question as to which he would seize upon in case of a
sudden emergency; but the chances favored the snapshot arrangement, for
Will would rather secure a good picture than eat the best dinner ever
cooked, or shoot a prize buck.
But nothing happened, just as he had prophesied. At midnight, as he had
agreed, he crept over and aroused Frank. A touch on the arm was
sufficient, for the Maine boy was a light sleeper.
"All right, Will. Coming," he said in a whisper, not wishing to awaken
Jerry; but from the sound of his heavy breathing it would require a
cannon to do that.
Frank assumed the position vacated by his chum, but he noticed that Will
carried his camera, ready for instantaneous work, into the other tent
with him. Like a good soldier, Will doubtless believed in sleeping on
his arms, so as to be able to get to work at the call of duty.
Frank wondered whether anything would happen to bring about an alarm. He
settled himself down to watch with the determination to use his eyes to
some advantage if that ghost happened around again.
What he had heard only whetted his curiosity, and he wished greatly to
see for himself. So as the minutes glided along he remained wide-awake,
and waiting for he hardly knew what.
Perhaps those Peters fellows might come around, bent upon playing one of
their miserable practical jokes. He rather suspected, however, that by
this time they might have concluded that they had had enough, and were
headed back to town.
Well, how about Farmer Dobson and his hired man? Suppose they had
managed to get away from the sentinel bull, would they, too, go back
home, or continue to haunt the vicinity, spurred on by the hope of
capturing the bound boy?
Frank was inclined to believe that such might be the case. He knew that
Dobson seemed worried because of those welts on Jed's back, and which,
if seen just now by Bluff's lawyer father, might get him into trouble.
Hence, he would be apt to try still further in order to kidnap the boy,
who could then be kept secluded until all signs of his cruel treatment
had passed away.
Frank had also made up his mind how he would act in case the vindictive
tiller of the soil appeared in view, crawling into the camp. He even
smiled a little at the prospect of holding him up a second time, and
calling the others out to witness his humiliation.
Perhaps an hour had gone thus when he heard a slight sound.
"Something is moving over yonder, sure enough," he said in an undertone.
He sat perfectly still, his eyes fastened on the point where the
rustling in the bushes had caught his attention.
Presently he could see the dim outline of a huge bulk.
"It's no animal, but a man or boy creeping up," he concluded, after
watching this for another minute.
Then a head was cautiously raised. Frank felt glad that he had taken the
pains to sit in the shadows, where he could not be easily seen. Higher
arose the head.
"H'm! So it's the farmer, all right, bent on taking poor Jed home. He
seems to be a very persistent old codger. Just wait, and I'll give him
the scare of his life. Bulls won't be in it," muttered the watcher.
He moved his gun up inch by inch, so that he could discharge it at the
proper time. Not that he had the slightest intention of doing Dobson the
least bodily injury, beyond the fright that an unexpected shot would
bring.
Back of the moving figure of the farmer he could see a second form.
"His man Friday. Well, I'll include him in the performance, too,"
thought Frank, who was always generous by nature.
Sometimes the best-laid plans go wrong. The farmer doubtless believed he
could enter the camp in this brazen way, hunt around until he found Jed,
and then force the poor lad to accompany him home.
Frank, on his part, expected presently to take part in the performance,
and was even figuring on how high the farmer would jump when the flash
of the gun came, accompanied with the crash of the discharge.
Both were counting without their host, for it seemed that there was
still another element that meant to be taken into consideration.
Just as Frank had his finger pressing on the trigger, and felt sure that
it was time for him to let go, there was an unearthly shriek from the
direction of the rise to the right of the camp. Looking hastily that
way, Frank saw a sight that instantly riveted his attention, and caused
his nerveless finger to fall away from the trigger of his gun.
"The ghost walks! And just in time to get a large and select audience!"
he exclaimed, as he saw a shining figure rear up in full view,
glistening just as Will had said, with a phosphorescent glow, and one
hand waving in a commanding manner, as though urging upon the
trespassers the necessity of a quick departure.
Loud cries attested to the fact that Farmer Dobson and his hired man had
received the shock of their lives.