THE QUEER ACTIONS OF ZACK ARNOLD
ROOM was found for the newcomer later on in the half-circle before the
fire, and though Zack Arnold took no part in the conversation, he sat
there listening, and hearing things that must have given him many new
impressions. As a rule his eyes were fastened upon the beaming and
genial face of Uncle Caleb, who, however, made out not to notice this
attention he was receiving, though naturally he could not help knowing
it.
The boys told their host numerous things connected with the organization
of the troop of Boy Scouts in their town, and what wonderful things it
had already done for many of those who had signed the muster roll. He
was keenly interested, and asked questions so fast that it kept them all
busy answering; for Elmer would never consent that his chums simply sit
there while he spoke for all; he wished them to have a part in the
telling.
On his part, Uncle Caleb related a lot about his life in the past,
touching upon some of the remarkable things that had happened to him.
Strange as some of these might be reckoned, Elmer was privately of the
opinion that nothing more singular could ever have happened to the
traveler and scientist than the dramatic coming to his cabin door on
this bitter cold winter's night of one who believed himself to be the
old gentleman's enemy, sorely wounded, almost ready to die, and wholly
dependant upon Uncle Caleb's bounty for his very life.
When later on some of the scouts manifested signs of drowsiness and
exhaustion, by sundry yawns and nods, the host declared it was time they
thought of getting some sleep.
"I'd put you on the cot here, Zack," he told the guide, "only it isn't
as strong as it might be, and you're rather heavy. If it happened to
give way you'd get a bad wrench to that arm of yours that wouldn't be
very pleasant. So I'm going to fix you out with a bunk on the floor near
the fire. I happen to have some spare blankets, and here are some furs
that will make things feel easy for you. I don't suppose you object to
sleeping on the floor, do you?"
At that the man grinned, for the first time since entering the cabin.
"Won't be the fust time by a thousand thet I've slept on boards, suh,"
he went on to say, "an' right hyar I wants to tell ye how much 'bleeged
I am ter yer fur all ye done by me. I don't deserve a bit o' the same.
I'm a bad man, suh, I been thinkin' all manner o' rotten things 'bout
ye, sence ye guv me what I reckons I desarved, if ever a mean skunk did;
an' thet's what."
"Don't mention it, Zack," said Uncle Caleb, pleasantly; "I know you
looked at things from the wrong side, and at one time thought I'd done
you harm; but since then you've seen a better light; and I wouldn't be
surprised if you were coming out of your way to my cabin to tell me so,
when this accident happened."
The big guide's jaws worked several times as though he might be trying
to say something; but it was of no use, for not a word escaped him. He
did heave a deep sigh, however, and gave his kind benefactor a long look
before allowing his eyes to drop.
Elmer felt satisfied, for he believed the cure must be working. Indeed,
he could not for the life of him understand how any one could withstand
friendly advances from such a splendid old gentleman as Uncle Caleb. His
very eyes were full of benevolence and the kindly spirit that filled his
heart. The man who would take the keenest delight in binding up the
broken leg of a poor little rabbit that he found in distress, certainly
could not bear malice toward an uneducated woodsman, who had never had
half a chance to learn better things than entertaining an unreasonable
desire for revenge.
Under the direction of the owner of the cabin Lil Artha made up a mighty
comfortable bed on the floor. When it was finished the scout tested his
work, and declared he would not mind sleeping there all the rest of his
stay, if Uncle Caleb thought one of the bunks would be better for the
wounded guide.
Zack, however, would not hear of it. He declared that he preferred the
floor for many reasons. Lil Artha managed to shoot a suggestive look
toward Elmer, upon which the other shook his head in the negative. He
knew that the lengthy scout suspected Zack might be thinking of taking
French leave while they slept, and perhaps help himself to some of their
stores in the bargain. But Elmer had no such fear.
When the boys started to crawl into their respective bunks, partly
undressing, although none of them had dreamed of bringing their pajamas
along on this wintry expedition, Zack appeared to be asleep. At least he
lay there bundled up, and seemed to be breathing heavily.
Lil Artha, when he thought he was not noticed, managed to deftly move
his Marlin gun closer to the bunk into which he meant to clamber
presently. He acted as if he more than half suspected he might find
occasion to make some sort of use of the weapon before dawn broke again.
But Elmer had seen him; indeed, it was very little that ever eluded
those wideawake eyes of the scout master, when out with his chums. He
managed to get a chance to whisper with Lil Artha when the others were
busily engaged making their sleeping quarters ready.
"I'd be mighty slow to think of using that gun, if I were you, Lil
Artha," he suggested.
The lengthy scout flushed a little, and looked somewhat confused.
"I might have known you'd glimpse me doin' that same, Elmer," he
confessed, "but when a wildcat comes down our chimney what's to hinder
its mate from doin' likewise? And if a fellow was waked up in the night
to find that a ferocious critter had taken possession of our bungalow,
why, a gun'd be a good asset, believe me."
Elmer looked at him, and then smiled grimly.
"Oh! well, if that's what you've got troubling you, it's all right, Lil
Artha," he went on to say, meaningly. "I kind of imagined you were
thinking of something else. And if some one should take a notion to skip
out, remember it's no business of yours. We wouldn't want to detain any
one against his will."
"Sure, I didn't mean to try to," acknowledged the tall scout, "'less,
f'r instance, he tried to loot the whole shebang, when I'd think it my
duty to cover him, and then call Uncle Caleb."
"I don't think you'll find any need of doing that, Lil Artha," continued
Elmer; "fact is, all the signs point just the other way."
"Hope so," grunted his chum; and this was all that passed between them.
Later on the cabin became quiet, except for the heavy breathing of those
who were sound asleep. Elmer dozed. Somehow, although he was desperately
sleepy, he did not appear to be able to lose himself for more than brief
intervals at a stretch.
Perhaps it was his strange surroundings, although Elmer could hardly
believe such to be the case, for past experiences were against it. He
could remember sleeping soundly on more than a few occasions when danger
threatened; he had helped guard the saddle band of horses on his
uncle's ranch when rustlers in the shape of horse thieves were operating
all through the vicinity; and on being given a chance to snatch an
hour's sleep had lost himself as soon as his head touched the ground.
The wind moaned through the branches of the trees without. Now and then
Elmer believed that he could hear faint sounds that might proceed from
certain of the four-footed denizens of that great snow forest around
them, possibly searching for food while the night lasted, since they
hugged their dens in the daytime.
Once he saw Lil Artha thrust his head out from his bunk, and stare at
the figure bundled up in those blankets on the floor. This told the
scout master that Lil Artha had not been able to quite get over the
suspicions he had formed, and which Elmer believed to be wholly
unwarranted.
It must have been long after midnight when Elmer, chancing to once more
awaken, on glancing out from his bunk saw that Zack Arnold was no longer
lying there on his well side, and wrapped in sleep.
The revengeful guide was now sitting up. He seemed to be intently
listening, as though to either discover whether all of the others were
sound asleep, or else trying to catch some signal from without.
A dreadful thought flashed into Elmer's mind, though he quickly
dismissed it as unreasonable. It was of course possible that Zack may
have coaxed others to accompany him on his mission of revenge; but if
he had company why should he appeal to his bitter enemy when in
desperate need of succor? That alone stamped the idea as next door to
absurd; and so Elmer put it out of his mind as impossible.
At the same time the actions of the guide were certainly queer, to say
the very least of it. He was now getting slowly and painfully to his
feet, repressing a groan while so doing; because with one arm tied up
and useless it is not always the easiest thing in the world to get up
off the floor, and out from a mess of clinging blankets.
Once he was on his feet the actions of the man became even more
suspicious. He crept toward the door, turning his head several times as
though to make sure that no one was watching him. Here he fumbled for a
brief time, managing presently to take aside the bar. Then he gently
opened the door, and as the wind was from the north, and the opening
faced the south, the cold air did not enter when he had done this.
Elmer, still watching, half expected to see the guide step out and
depart. He was even debating with himself as to whether his duty might
not compel him to raise his voice in protest against such an act, since
the chances were the man would not be able to survive the exposure in
his present weakened condition, without his rifle, and with no food to
sustain him.
He saw that Lil Artha had that long neck of his "rubbering," as he
himself would have termed it; doubtless his gun was alongside him in
the bunk, and even then he had hold of it.
To the astonishment of Elmer, however, the man did not pass beyond the
doorsill. He seemed to have drawn some object from a hidden receptacle
about his person, where it must have escaped observation when his
benefactors were helping him. And giving this a swift toss Zack Arnold
hurled it far out amidst the snow drifts; after which he backed into the
cabin, softly closed the door, glanced hurriedly around to see if he had
been observed, but seeing nothing, because Lil Artha had hastily drawn
his head back as might a cautious old tortoise when threatened with
peril; after which the guide replaced the bar.
Five minutes after all this queer happening had taken place Zack was
once more bundled up in his blankets, and apparently bound to go to
sleep, this time in real earnest.
After that Elmer seemed to find no difficulty whatever in getting asleep
himself. Why, it really seemed as though a great load had been removed
from his mind; and the first thing he knew George was calling him to get
up, because breakfast was almost ready.
It was a most unusual thing for the scout master to over-sleep. Some of
the others, notably Toby and George, joked him about it; but Elmer
noticed that Lil Artha did not say a word.
Later on, after they had all partaken of the fine meal that George
prepared, he doing his level best to show Uncle Caleb that there were
other cooks as well, Elmer caught Lil Artha making certain gestures in
his direction. He could manage to guess what it all meant, and believed
the other wanted a chance to talk with him outside.
"I wonder what the weather promises for to-day; and I think I'll step
out to see how things look," Elmer presently remarked carelessly.
"I'll go along and give you the benefit of my vast experience as a
weather prophet!" exclaimed Lil Artha, jumping up; "the rest of you stay
inside, because too many cooks spoil the broth, and two of us ought to
be enough to settle this job with the clerk of the weather."
It happened that George was still busy with some of his dishes, about
which he saw Uncle Caleb was unusually particular, in that he used two
separate waters in washing the same; while Toby was busily employed in
looking over some traps he had discovered hanging from a nail, and
evidently seldom used; so that neither of them dreamed of leaving the
comfortable cabin, and braving the outside air just then.
"What's all this about, Lil Artha?" demanded the scout master, after the
door had been carefully closed behind them.
"Why, I happened to know that you saw that ugly looking guide moving
around in the middle of the night, Elmer; and I thought you must have
noticed that he threw something away when he was standing there in the
doorway?"
"I did see him do that, and I knew you were on the job, too, Lil Artha,"
Elmer went on to say; "but if you've made a discovery, hurry up and
tell me what it is, because I haven't thought to put my sweater on, and
it's pretty chilly here."
"Well, I was that curious to know what it could be the fellow threw
away," continued the tall scout, "the first thing this morning, before
any of the rest of you had peeped an eye open, I got up, and came out
here to look around."
"And did you find anything?" asked Elmer, his own curiosity aroused by
now.
"I had to go back and forth a heap before I came on a little hole in a
snow drift that looked like something had dropped in there," continued
Lil Artha, in a highly mysterious fashion. "So I began to dig down, and
pretty soon my hand touched this!"
He thereupon drew something from its place of concealment, and held it
up before the eyes of his astonished companion.
"Why, it only looks like a piece of common gaspipe!" exclaimed Elmer.
"Just what it is," Lil Artha went on, in an awed tone; "but say, Elmer,
the same is crowded chock full of some sort of stuff that may be
dynamite for all I know. It's a sure-enough infernal machine, one of the
crude bombs that you read about in the New York papers, such as Italians
use when they want to make some rich merchant or banker hand over
blackmail money. Look at it yourself, and then you'll know what fetched
that skunk of a Zack Arnold up here to this region. He meant to blow
Uncle Caleb's cabin to flinders, that's what he did; and p'raps with
the owner inside of the same. Huh! no wonder he didn't want that thing
to be discovered on his person! I sure don't blame him a little bit!"
And Elmer, as he examined the miserable contrivance which would explode
with so great a power for harm, felt a thrill pass all over his body.