THE TRAP
Hugh heard his chum through, and then quietly went on to say:
"Yes, I have got a little plan that ought to teach them a lesson, and
cool off their ardor a bit. In the first place, we can easily rig up a
small platform just above this window here. I've got several
stanchions and a board. It wouldn't take us more than half an hour to
complete it, I reckon. But we must make it extra strong, you know."
"But I don't know," pleaded Thad, helplessly. "Why should this lovely
little shelf up there be so strong? Are we going to perch on it, and
drop down on top of the night birds after they let themselves in? Is
that the game, Hugh?"
"Not quite, Thad. It's the tub that must balance up there!"
"Tub! Great Scott! are you figuring on giving Nick and Leon their
usual Saturday night bath?" gasped the other, still groping in the dark.
"Something like that," chuckled Hugh, "only it will be _such_ a
surprise to those chaps, and cold, too, ugh! as cold as ice can make
it."
"Go ahead and explain a lot more," Thad demanded. "I'm beginning to
get just an inkling of the game. Whew! I believe you've been reading
of the pranks the fellows play in the boarding schools, with a tub of
water suspended over a door, so that when an unlucky boy opens it he is
drenched to the skin."
"That's about the idea," Hugh acknowledged. "Nothing particularly
brilliant or original about it, I own up, but the best we can do under
the circumstances."
Then he went on to explain the particulars, showing Thad how the tub
could be balanced nicely, so that when a cord attached to it was
jerked, it would tilt over beautifully, discharging its full contents
without itself falling down.
Thad listened, and grunted. Plainly he was a bit disappointed.
"It sounds pretty good, Hugh," he admitted, finally, "and will of
course give the rascals a great scare; but seems to me as if it's
hardly vigorous enough. According to my mind, we ought to make the
punishment fit the crime. When a couple of low-down scamps try to kill
the dumb pets of a fellow who has never gone out of his way to harm
them, and are caught with the goods on, they ought to be treated to a
dozen good wipes with a cowhide whip, something that'll make 'em yell
bloody murder. But just as you say, we can try this dodge, and
discourage them from any more funny business around your coop."
"Then the sooner we start in and get busy, the better," suggested Hugh,
whose motto had always been that of "strike while the iron is hot."
Thad was ready to do his share in any labor, so that presently the
sound of much sawing and hammering oozed out from the rabbit hutch,
where the chums continued to work for nearly an hour.
At the end of that time they had completed the job so far as the
platform over the window was concerned. Hugh had done more than this,
for by cleverly arranged boards he constructed a regular trap; so that
when the boys managed to climb through the window, they would naturally
crouch down directly in range of the coming water-spout.
"There," said Hugh, finally, "that is all done, and I think fills the
bill. I'll go after the galvanized iron wash-tub now."
"Be sure and fetch the biggest one you can," suggested the greedy Thad,
with a sly grin. "You see, we ought to deal generously with our
guests, even if they're uninvited ones. I believe in going the whole
hog when about it."
"Depend on me to do the right thing by Nick and Leon," Hugh assured
him. "When I have visitors drop in on me in this off-hand way, I
always want to be ready to treat them well. But I'm afraid they'll
think our reception committee rather frigid, eh, Thad?"
He soon came back bearing a massive tub that aroused the admiration of
Thad.
"That certainly is a jim-dandy wash-tub!" he declared. "I'm glad now
we made the shelf big enough. I reckon you had the dimensions of this
thing in your mind when doing your measurements, Hugh."
Next they lifted the tub on to the platform above. It could be readily
balanced on the edge so that a very slight pull from the cord would
tilt it forward, when the propensity for water to seek its own level
would do the rest.
They tested it a number of times, and it worked splendidly. "When
filled with water, it would only add to the gaiety of things," Thad
said, fervently.
"But where will we be all the time, Hugh?" he now asked.
"I've arranged all that," he was assured. "One of the objects of these
upright boards is to act as a cover for us, as well as to form a trap
for our guests. You see, I happen to know that Leon Disney owns a hand
electric torch like the one you showed me the other day that your uncle
in the city sent out, and which I want you to fetch over when you come
after supper. Just as like as not, he'll use it through the window
before they try to enter, so as to make sure the coast is clear.
That's why I've been so careful not to leave anything around that might
excite suspicion."
"Just so," laughed Thad, merrily, for as he was not going to get an icy
ducking, he felt as though he could afford to be happy; "after fellows
have worked so hard to jimmy their way into the premises of another,
it'd be a shame to discourage their efforts in the beginning. We might
paint a sign 'welcome,' and put it over the window, Hugh, just to let
them know everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high."
"I'll step outside, and take a peep in through the window to find out
how things look," suggested Hugh, which he proceeded to do.
"Nothing to excite anybody's suspicion that I can see," he announced.
"The tub is completely out of sight, just as I expected it would be,
and even the cord connecting it with our hiding place couldn't be
noticed unless you knew all about it beforehand. I guess our work is
done, all but filling the reservoir."
Procuring a bucket, they set to work. One carried and the other
poured, standing on the short step-ladder in order to better reach the
elevated tub.
"There, it's as full as I dare make it," Hugh finally announced.
"And for one, I'm not half sorry," Thad added, "because toting water
isn't altogether fun. That bucket is heavy enough to nearly pull your
arms out of their elbow sockets. You said something about _ice_,
didn't you, Hugh?"
"Yes, I had that in mind. After supper, when we come out here to take
up our vigil, I'll get a lot of small chunks from the ice-house and put
it in the water. It'll make it lovely and cold, I warrant you, unless
our guests delay their coming too long."
Nothing more being necessary, the boys adjourned to the house, where in
Hugh's den they talked various matters over with the customary
enthusiasm of live boys. Naturally, these affairs, as a rule,
concerned the athletic happenings just then on the carpet, and
particularly the baseball rivalry about to break out in a series of
hotly contested games between Scranton, Belleville and the formerly
victorious Allandale High team.
Later on, Thad went home to his supper, though Hugh had pressed him to
stay and share his meal, for they were often at each other's table.
"Like to," said Thad, shaking his head, "but it happens I've got a few
things I ought to attend to. Then again there's that hand-torch you
asked me to fetch over with me. Another time will have to do, Hugh."
Hugh laughed scornfully.
"Tell all that to your grandmother, Thad, will you?" he exclaimed.
"Just as if I didn't know that your folks religiously have corned beef
and cabbage every Thursday night, which is a favorite dish with your
dad, likewise with a certain fellow of my acquaintance. Now, _we're_
only going to have chicken pot-pie at our house, and of course that
doesn't appeal to you like your pet fare. Oh I well, I understand how
things go, and I'll let you off this time. I don't believe you've ever
taken a meal at my house on a Thursday since I've known you."
Thad laughed as though not at all abashed.
"I guess you're on to my weak spot, all right, partner," he hastened to
say in the boldest manner possible. "But really and truly, I have got
some things I want to do, though of course they could be postponed if
absolutely necessary. Some time perhaps you'll be having my plebeian
dish over at your house; then try asking me if you dare."
He turned up about seven o'clock, just after darkness had set in, for
the moon was getting very old now, and a late riser. The two boys sat
in Hugh's den for considerably more than an hour, talking and planning.
Both showed vague signs of nervousness, however. Thad in particular
frequently walked over to a window and looked out. Doubtless he was
thinking what a joke on them it would be if the marauders came much
earlier than expected, when all their fine work with that tub of icy
water would go for naught.
"Hadn't we better be making a start, Hugh?" he finally asked. "Don't
forget we have to handle that ice first, and get things ready."
"All right," the other replied. "We'll make for the rabbit hutch, and
here's hoping that we don't have a long watch all for nothing."
The ice was soon procured. Hugh cracked it in rather small pieces. He
did this for two good reasons. First it would chill the water more
speedily when in this condition; then again the chances of knocking one
of the interlopers on the head with a heavy lump of ice falling quite
some distance would be obviated. Hugh did not intend that this prank
should end in a tragedy, if he could help it.
When everything had been arranged to suit Hugh, the boys retired within
the rabbit hutch, and the door was fastened with the padlock, which
Hugh could undo when the time came by leaning far out of the open
window.
They took up their positions in the place already selected, and wrapped
in complete darkness awaited coming events. The time passed very
slowly, but since they had dressed warmly, they did not suffer from the
chilly air, for it was only April, and the warmth of summer still far
distant.
Nine o'clock struck. Bless that town clock, by means of which they
could tell the hour; for Thad was beginning to believe it much later
than it really was. He yawned, and stretched a bit, shifting his
position. Then Hugh touched him on the arm, and his low whisper came
in Thad's very ear.
"Sh! something stirring outside!"
Thad had heard it, too. Either the night wind had arisen; and was
sighing through the branches of the big oak that hung partly over the
rabbit hutch, or else some living object had moved; for what the boys
heard as they crouched there quivering with suspense and anticipated
victory was certainly in the nature of a creeping sound.
Yes, now there came to the ears of Thad what must be low whispers.
Nick and his fellow conspirator had undoubtedly arrived and were
scanning their contemplated field of operations!