IN CAMP ONCE MORE
The boys imagined the man was not well and they dropped their game and
set to work to get breakfast for him. They took the venison steak and
warmed it up, and also warmed the few crackers which still remained
from the lunch. The man ate greedily, and then consented to drink a
little water.
"Where are you going?" he asked, while eating the last of the venison.
They had found out that, in spite of being a tramp, he was fairly well
spoken. Evidently drink had brought him down in the world.
"We are bound for our camp," answered Whopper.
"Oh, so you've got a camp around here?"
"We have one on the other side of the cove--over yonder, where you can
see the smoke drifting above the trees."
"I wish you'd take me over to it, boys. I can't stay here--I feel too
sick."
"What's the matter with you?"
"I don't know--only I get sharp, shooting pains now and then across my
back."
Whopper and Shep looked at each other. They had no desire for the
companionship of such a disreputable looking person, yet they did not
wish to see the tramp suffer.
"What's your name?" questioned Whopper. "And where do you belong?"
"My real name is Kidlaw Leech, but most of my friends call me Kiddy
for short. I came from--er--New York, but I have been up to Fairview
and other places looking for work. Yesterday I started to walk to the
next town, but I reckon I got lost on the road, and I fetched up
here."
"You must have tramped a good distance," answered the doctor's son. He
was far from being favorably impressed by the tramp.
"I did," answered Kiddy Leech. "But, say, you'll help me to your camp,
won't you?"
"Yes. I have some medicines over there, and one of them may do you
good. I'm a doctor's son."
"Got any liquor? That's the best medicine for my back."
"No, but I can give you some peppermint and some ginger."
Again the tramp's face fell. He got up slowly and prepared to
accompany the boys. There was nothing more to say, and kicking out the
fire, the young hunters told Kiddy Leech to follow them. He came
slowly, and caught hold off Shep's arm to steady himself. His breath
still smelt of liquor, something that disgusted both lads.
The ice reached, Shep and Whopper cut a long bush and on it placed the
deer.
"What's that for?" asked Kiddy beech, in curiosity.
"It is easier to drag the deer than to carry it," answered Whopper.
"The branch will act as a kind of sled."
"Wish I had a sled to ride on, my back is pretty lame."
Both boys looked at the tramp closely, wondering whether or not he was
speaking the truth or shamming. For all they knew he might be as lazy
as he was good for nothing. Then Shep whispered to Whopper.
"All right, it won't be for far," whispered Whopper in return.
"You can sit down on the branch beside the deer," said the doctor's
son to Kiddy Leech. "We can easily pull you along."
"Thanks, boys, that's kind of you," answered the tramp, and dropped
down with a deep sigh of satisfaction.
With their double load the two young hunters did not make very rapid
progress across the lake cove. When they came in sight of the flag,
which still flew from the sapling, they set up a loud and ringing
shout.
"Hullo!" came back from Snap, as he rushed from the shelter, followed
by Giant. "Back at last, eh? Are you all right?"
"Yes," answered Whopper. "But we've had quite an adventure, I can tell
you. And we've got a deer!" he added, with pride.
Snap and Giant came to the shore to help pull the load up to the camp
and then noticed the tramp.
"Hullo!" cried Giant. "How is it you are getting a free ride?"
"Do you know him?" questioned Shep, quickly.
"Not exactly. He came to our house begging--the day before we left
home," answered the smaller member of the club, in a whisper.
"We found him half frozen, in the snow," said Whopper. "He says there
is something the matter with his back."
The shelter gained, Shep and Giant were glad enough to go in and rest
and so was Kiddy Leech. The tramp gazed around the cozy place with
keen satisfaction.
"This is a bang-up bunk," he observed. "A fellow could stay here a
long time and enjoy himself."
While the three newcomers rested, Giant and Snap bustled around and
prepared them a substantial meal, with plenty of hot coffee, for the
trip across the cove had been a cold one and they wanted something for
"thawing out purposes," as Shep said. Kiddy Leech was not backward in
eating a big meal, washing it down with all the coffee offered him.
"Coffee is the next thing to liquor for warming a fellow," he
observed.
"We think it is far better," answered Snap. "We carry no liquor of any
kind, only a little alcohol for special purposes."
"Humph!"
After the meal Shep got out some liniments for the tramp, but he said
he would try a good sleep first. He sought out a comfortable corner of
the shelter, and in a very few minutes was snoring away lustily.
"He certainly takes things easy," said the doctor's son.
"I believe he is thoroughly lazy, and a heavy drinker," answered
Giant, and hit the nail squarely on the head.
"What are we to do with him?" questioned Snap. "We certainly don't
want him to stay at this camp."
"Not much!" cried Whopper. "As soon as it clears off, we'll fix him up
some provisions and start him on his way." And this was decided upon
unanimously.
During the afternoon it cleared off to such an extent that Snap and
Giant determined to go out for a short walk.
"Let us put on our snowshoes," said Giant. "It will give all of us a
chance to get used to them."
Snap was willing, and soon the boys had fastened on their snowshoes,
which were long and narrow and first-class in every particular. Both
had worn snowshoes before, but not sufficiently to feel thoroughly at
home on them.
"Come on!" shouted Giant, who was the first ready, and off he started
in fine style, and soon Snap came after them. Shep and Whopper watched
them depart and then returned to the shelter, feeling still too tired
out to do, more than sit around and take it easy.
Snap and Giant walked on through the woods until they came to a place
that showed quite a cleared spot.
"Come on--I'll race you!" cried the smaller lad, and away he went as
fast as he could on his snowshoes, and Snap came after him.
The two boys thought they were going over a level sheet of snow, but
it was down grade and soon they struck a small hollow. Over went Giant
on his face into the snow below, and an instant later Snap followed.
"Whow!" spluttered the small youth, when he could make a sound. His
nose and mouth were filled with snow, and some was also down his
sleeve. "I say, this isn't so pleasant, Snap."
"Pleasant! I should say not, Giant. Ugh! but this snow is cold!"
"I can't get up!"
"We'll have to do the best we can."
With a great effort, Snap managed to rise to his feet again and then
he went to Giant's assistance. After that the two boys were careful
how they stepped out and so got along fairly well.
"I don't think I'd care to travel more than a mile or two on
snowshoes," remarked Giant, as they turned back towards the Inn. "It
is too tiring on the ankles."
When the two lads arrived at the shelter they were tired out and glad
enough to take off the snowshoes and hang them up. Shep and Whopper
wanted to know how it had felt to walk on snowshoes and they related
their experience.
"We'll all have to go out to-morrow," said Whopper. "Just wait till
you see me walk! I'll wager I'll walk ten miles with ease."
"Make it a hundred while you are at it," answered Shep. "I am not
saying what I shall do."
"If we go out what is to be done with that fellow?" whispered Snap,
pointing to the sleeping form of Kiddy Leech.
"I don't know," replied Whopper. "I don't like the idea of leaving him
alone in camp."
When night came on they put some fresh logs on the fire and cooked
another meal of venison steak. Then, later on, they sat around the
blaze, talking and eating nuts and apples. The tramp slept on soundly
and they left him where he was, even when they retired.