BAYLAY'S HOME-COMING--CONCLUSION
As Phil stood there, he saw the big man who had terrorized the Bodman
camp so recently, swiftly advance.
There was no evidence of braggadocio about Baylay now. He had a gun in
his hand, but this he held up as though to let those in the camp
understand that he came in peace.
Phil wanted the other to show his colors. Great was his amazement when
he caught a half-choked appealing emotion in the other's tones.
Evidently all the fight had been suddenly taken from Anson Baylay when
he arrived home and learned of his terrible loss.
"I'm acomin' to ask ye to help me," he started to say. "I can't find him
in the snow; an' ma says p'raps _somebody_ might a picked him up. I
hopes so, sure, 'cause we sets a store by the kid. Hev ye seen my
Kinney?"
"Are you the man they call the Terrible Baylay?" asked Phil.
"Anson Baylay is my name, but I ain't so terrible; seein' I feel as weak
as a cat, 'cause o' this thing that's happened; an' wi' ma acryin' her
head off. But ye ain't tole me yit if ye seen a sign o' my lettle boy
Kinney. Tell me the wost, stranger; I kin stand it; but I sure hate to
fetch the news hum to her."
"Is Kinney a little boy with yellow hair and blue eyes?" asked Phil.
"Yes, yes, that's him!" gasped the giant, thrusting out a trembling hand
and gripping the boy by the arm so that Phil winced.
"Don't squeeze my arm like that, Baylay," he said, hastily; "you may not
mean to hurt but all the same you do. Tell me, is Kinney tongue-tied, so
that he can't say a word?"
"That's what he is, mister; but the dearest little cub as ever was born!
Does you mean to tell me ye seen him?" cried Baylay.
"Kinney's safe and sound, Baylay, and I guess that's the best news you
ever had," Phil hastened to say, for he saw that the man was suffering
tortures in his hopes and fears.
With that the giant gave a sigh that must have welled up from his heart.
"Is he here with ye, mister?" he managed to ask, tremulously.
"He's sound asleep in our shack here," said Phil; "we ran on him in the
woods. He had gone out hunting, with his little popgun. When he found
himself lost and getting very cold the brave little chap tried the best
he knew how to start a fire, but the deep snow kept him from finding the
right sort of kindling. He had given up when we ran across him,
attracted by his moaning. But we came up just in time."
"Take me to him, mister, _please_ take me to him. I can't believe it
'less I see him, and 'less I feel him. I sure thought he was gone away
from us forever. And my heart is ahungerin' for Kinney. We got other
kids, but there be only one Kinney!"
Phil could not resist. He knew the big logger would have rushed into the
shack anyway, even if he had declined to wake the others up.
"Wait here, and I'll fetch the boy," he said.
First he threw on some more wood, so that the fire would start afresh.
Then, entering he bent over each of his comrades, saying:
"Wake up, and come out; he's here!"
As Lub started to crawl from under his blanket Phil reached over and
picking up the now wideawake little lad he said close to his ear:
"Daddy's come for you, Kinney; he's outside here waiting to hug you!"
They all came tumbling out in a bunch, eager to witness the meeting
between their little ward and his terrible father.
When Lub saw the man fiercely hugging the little mite, with the child's
arms pressed around his neck, he stood there staring, and Phil heard him
say to himself wonderingly:
"And they call that big-hearted man the _Terrible_ Baylay, do they?
Well, I guess after all he's only a bluff, and just the same as any
other fellow. Why, honest to goodness I do believe there are real tears
rolling down his cheeks right now."
But Phil knew it was the power of love making this giant as a child.
"You must stay the rest of the night with us," he told the giant, "and
in the morning some of us will go with you to your cabin. We want to
meet the mother of the boy, because we've got something to propose that
will be a blessing to you and to Kinney."
At first Baylay wanted to carry the good news to the mother. But Phil
told him he must consider the boy.
Then Baylay thought of going alone to take the joyful tidings to the
grieving heart in that lonely cabin; but he lacked the nerve to tear
himself away from the little chap whose arms were about his big neck and
whose kisses were pressing on his bearded cheek.
Consequently he finally agreed to remain, and since sleep would
doubtless refuse to come to any of them during the balance of that
eventful night they sat there by the fire and talked.
Phil believed he knew of a plan whereby a certain cherished scheme of
his own could be put through, with Baylay as the manager of the farm on
which Phil meant to try and breed the valuable silver black foxes, with
their pelts worth fortunes.
He even mentioned this to the former guide, trapper, and logger, and
discovering that Baylay was fully posted as to every detail, Phil made a
proposition to him, which was joyfully accepted.
When morning came Lub had plenty of assistance in getting a hurried
breakfast, and that finished they prepared to start forth.
However, in due time the whole party managed to reach the isolated cabin
where Anson Baylay lived.
When they saw little Kinney safe in the arms of his mother, who was
almost wild with joy, it was noticeable how each of the boys found it
necessary to turn aside and wink violently as they pretended to be
looking at something which had suddenly attracted their attention.
As they sat at the homely table in that cabin and the face of the
poacher's happy wife beamed with smiles, Phil gently took up the other
subject.
When those parents learned that there was a strong possibility of an
operation giving their afflicted child the blessed power of speech; and
that these splendid boys offered to stand all the expense, taking Kinney
and his mother with them to Montreal for the occasion, they could not
find words to express the deep gratitude that filled their hearts.
So it was settled, and when the time came for the Mountain Boys to
depart the Baylay family would go with them to civilization, where Anson
could keep in touch with his new employer from time to time. Then the
mother and Kinney would accompany Phil and his chums as far as Montreal.
Phil managed to get his striking picture of a great bull moose; and
Ethan on his part shot the monster later on, so that he could have the
horns as a trophy of his skill.
They no longer saw Mr. James Bodman and his party, as the Saguenay River
country had become too unpleasant for them.
Finally Tammis McNab came with his sledge and ponies. It was crowding
matters to take them all, but he landed them safely at the town, where
they could be transported to the St. Lawrence.
In due time the boys arrived in Montreal with Mrs. Baylay and Kinney. A
famous surgeon told them there would be no difficulty whatever in
performing a successful operation; and that inside of a few months no
one would ever know the child had had any difficulty in enunciating.
"Well," said Lub, when with his three chums he made himself comfortable
in the Pullman car at the Montreal station, and were about to enter upon
the last lap of the homeward journey; "I kind of think this has been the
most remarkable of all our trips. And I wonder where the next one will
take us."
"Nobody can say just now," laughed Phil. "Our vacation is near an end,
and we'll soon be hard at work again; but no matter where the Mountain
Boys go they know how to take care of themselves."
In this happy mood, then, did Phil and his chums go back to their homes
in Brewster, satisfied that they had a glorious time during their
snow-shoe trip to the wilds of Canada, and not regretting for a single
minute they had undertaken the long journey.
It was to be expected that the Mountain Boys would enjoy other outings
of a similar character; and the author only hopes it will be his
pleasing duty to chronicle their doings for the benefit of the many
young friends who have followed their fortunes through the pages of this
and the preceding books of the series.
THE END
THE MOUNTAIN BOYS SERIES
1. Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys
2. Phil Bradley at the Wheel
3. Phil Bradley's Shooting Box
4. Phil Bradley's Snow-Shoe Trail
These books describe with interesting detail the experiences of a party
of boys among the mountain pines.
They teach the young reader how to protect himself against the elements,
what to do and what to avoid, and above all to become self-reliant and
manly.
l2mo. Cloth, 40 cents per volume, postpaid
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
201 East 12th Street, New York
THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS
A Series of Books for Boys By Capt. Alan Douglas, Scout-master
The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol
Their first camping experience affords the scouts splendid
opportunities to use their recently acquired knowledge in a practical
way. Elmer Chenoweth, a lad from the northwest woods, astonishes
everyone by his familiarity with camp life. A clean, wholesome story
every boy should read.
Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good
This tale presents many stirring situations in which the boys are
called upon to exercise ingenuity and unselfishness. A story filled
with healthful excitement.
Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot
Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected way, greatly to the
credit of our young friends. A variety of incidents follow fast, one
after the other.
Fast Nine; or, a Challenge from Fairfield
They show the same team-work here as when in camp. The description of
the final game with the team of a rival town, and the outcome thereof,
form a stirring narrative. One of the best baseball stories of recent
years.
Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop
After weeks of preparation the scouts start out on their greatest
undertaking. Their march takes them far from home, and the
good-natured rivalry of the different patrols furnishes many
interesting and amusing situations.
Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day
Few stories "get" us more than illustrations of pluck in the face of
apparent failure. Our heroes show the stuff they are made of and
surprise their most ardent admirers. One of the best stories Captain
Douglas has written.
Under Canvas; or, The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost
It was hard to disbelieve the evidence of their eyes but the boys by
the exercise of common-sense solved a mystery which had long puzzled
older heads.
Storm-bound; or, a Vacation Among the Snow Drifts
The boys start out on the wrong track, but their scout training comes
to the rescue and their experience proves beneficial to all concerned.
Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge Boy Scout Series,
all illustrated:--
Wild Animals of the United States--Tracking--Trees and Wild Flowers of
the United States--Reptiles of the United States--Fishes of the United
States--Insects of the United States and Birds of the United States.
Cloth Binding, Cover Illustrations in Four Colors, 40c. Per Volume
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End of Project Gutenberg's Phil Bradley's Snow-shoe Trail, by Silas K. Boone