TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
"IWHAT'S the matter with you boys?" demanded the scout master, as Ted
and Lil Artha drew up in front of him.
"They've come in on Abe, sir, and are threatening to do all sorts of
awful things to him, the great beasts!" exclaimed the tall runner,
between pants.
"Speak plainer, please," Mr. Garrabrant said, sternly, so as to subdue
some of the rampant excitement that threatened to impede a clear flow of
words. "Who came in on Abe--was it animals you meant, or men?"
"Men, thir, and two of the toughest you ever thaw," Ted managed to
declare. "They were eating up all the stuff we've been at such pains to
carry over, and threatened the thick man with all thorts of trouble
because he thaid he didn't have thuch a thing as a drop of whisky in
hith place."
"Two hoboes, most likely," muttered the scout master, as his firm teeth
came together with a snap that meant business.
"That's what I thaid, thir, but Lil Artha, he theemed to think he
recognized the bullies as a couple of jail birds," Ted went on.
"You see, sir," Arthur spoke up as he saw Mr. Garrabrant look
questioningly at him, "I remembered seeing the pictures of those two
rascals that broke into some house near Rockaway last Spring. They had
it posted up in police headquarters at Hickory Ridge when I went in to
pay for our dog license. And I don't soon forget faces, sir, or names
either, for that matter. Unless I miss my guess these two ugly scamps
were Jim Rowdy and Bill Harris, wanted bad in Rockville, with a reward
offered for their capture."
"You may be right, Theodore," observed the scout master, seriously.
"They were never caught, I remember. The strange thing about it was,
that the house they entered and robbed was that of my friend, Colonel
Hitchens."
"The same gentleman who owned the lost monkey?" cried one of the scouts.
"Exactly. But this is a serious matter for us, boys," the scout master
went on. "Our new friends are in danger, for there can be no telling to
what extremes such unprincipled scoundrels might go, once they started.
Perhaps they may have an old grudge against Abe, for the boys say they
were threatening him. And it gives me a cold chill to think of these two
innocent children being in their power."
"Will you go over, thir, and try to do thomething?" asked Ted, eagerly.
"Surely," came the instant reply. "I would be unworthy to call myself a
man if I failed in my duty there. But tell us more, please, how did you
first learn of the presence of these ruffians there, and did you give
away the fact that you had discovered them?"
"Oh! no, thir, they didn't thee us a bit!" exclaimed Ted.
"We happened to hear loud voices, you see, sir, when we were close to
the joint," said Arthur, bent on having his share in the recital.
"Tho we crept up, as thly as any Indian could have done," added Ted.
"And peeked in at the window, just like we did that night we went over
in a bunch," the tall lad remarked.
"Then we thaw what it meant," Ted continued, catching his breath again.
"Those two big bullies had been eating, and made poor Little Lou cook
nigh everything we left there yesterday. Why, they were as hungry as
hogs, I guess."
"And they kept on shaking their fists at poor Abe, who was lying on his
cot, too weak to do anything," Lil Artha took up the narrative. "He
seemed to be atryin' to get them to let up on him, but he looked nearly
done for."
"Then we just crawled away again," Ted concluded, "and run pretty near
all the way back, because we knew you would want uth to report. Lil
Artha wanted to tackle 'em by ourselves, but it was thilly to think we
could do anything against a pair of desperate jailbirds like that."
"Under the circumstances I commend your discretion, Theodore," said the
scout master, "though the readiness of Arthur to take chances in a good
cause does him credit too. But let's hurry and eat supper. I can be
arranging my plans meanwhile, and selecting those I would want to
accompany me over the mountain."
"I hope you will take me, sir!" exclaimed Matty Eggleston.
"And me, too, sir!" exclaimed half a dozen others, in a breath.
Even the two returned scouts were anxious not to be left behind.
"I'm not tired a little bit, Mr. Garrabrant!" Lil Artha hastened to
declare, and Dr. Ted said ditto to that.
"Give me time, boys, to consider," the gentleman had said, waving them
away.
Supper was quickly announced, and they made record time in getting away
with a fine meal. No one even thought to remark upon the fact that it
tasted better than any meal ever eaten under a roof, which had come to
be a standing saying with the scouts by this time.
Many an anxious look was cast toward Mr. Garrabrant. They saw that his
eyes had been roving around the circle, as though he might be mentally
choosing those who were to be favored with a place at his side during
this new errand of mercy across the mountain that frowned down upon the
camp. And every scout was eager to be among the lucky ones, even the
usually timid Jasper Merriweather.
"I have decided upon the following to accompany me: Ginger will go,
because he is a man, and will be apt to inspire more or less respect in
the hearts of the two rascals. Then there are Elmer, Matty, Larry
Billings, Arthur Stansbury, Charlie Maxfield, and Theodore. I am taking
him because we may happen to have need of his professional services,"
and when Mr. Garrabrant said this as though he really meant it, who
could blame Ted for unconsciously pushing out his chest a bit with
pride?
There could be no demur to this ultimatum. So those who were fated to
remain did what they could to get their more fortunate chums ready for
the excursion. The stoutest cudgels possible were hunted up, and handed
over, with recommendations as to their convincing qualities if once
applied to a stubborn head.
"However," said the scout master, as they were ready to leave, "I am in
hopes that we can take the rascals by surprise, so that there will not
be any real necessity for violence. The rest of you stick by the camp
while we are gone. You can wait up for us, if you want."
"Sure we will, sir!" declared one. "We couldn't any more sleep than
water can run up hill."
"And don't any of you meddle with the little trap we've got set by the
store tent, remember, please," Elmer flung over his shoulder as he was
marching away.
Then they were off.
Counting Mr. Garrabrant and Ginger, they were eight in all, surely a
strong enough bunch to overcome two men, if only they might take the
ruffians by surprise. Ginger was far from being a coward when it came to
things he could understand. This fact was known to Mr. Garrabrant, which
was the reason he took the colored man and brother along. Besides, his
heft might have considerable influence in causing the two men to submit.
As before, they carried a couple of lanterns. The light from these came
in very handy to save the boys from many an ugly tumble, where roots lay
across their path or rocks cropped up in the way.
They conversed in whispers only. And as they finally drew near the lone
cabin, even this style of talk was stopped by order of Mr. Garrabrant,
so that they now crept along in absolute silence.
He had told the boys of his plans, so that each member of the little
party knew just what was expected of him.
Presently they caught sight of a dim light ahead. Then came the sound of
loud and gruff voices. This convinced them that the two rascals had not
left the cabin.
Creeping closer, they could finally see through the little opening. And
thus the scout master was enabled to complete the plan he had arranged.
When he gave the word, Ginger and the boys were to jump in by way of the
open door. Meantime he expected to thrust his arm through the window and
cover the pair of desperate rascals with the revolver he had brought
along. Mr. Garrabrant gave evidence of being in deadly earnest, for he
knew that was a serious matter that confronted them, and one not to be
handled with gloves.
When he heard Elmer give the cry of the whip-poor-will three times he
knew they were all in their places. Accordingly, he suddenly thrust his
arm through the small window that had no glass, and covered one of the
men with his weapon.
"Stand still, both of you! The hut is surrounded, and if you try to
escape or offer resistance it will be the worse for you! Seize them,
men!"
As Mr. Garrabrant called this out, and the two astonished scoundrels sat
there, utterly unable to collect their senses, such was the complete
surprise, through the doorway tumbled a crowd that hurled itself upon
them. Before they could grasp the fact that with one exception these
were only half-grown boys, wearing the khaki uniforms of the scouts, and
not regular soldiers, the men had their hands tied behind them.
As they realized how completely they had been caught napping both of
them started on a string of hard words, and looked daggers at their
young captors.
"Stop that, now!" Mr. Garrabrant exclaimed, as he made his appearance in
the hut, "or I shall be under the painful necessity of putting gags
between your teeth. Not another word from either of you, remember!"
Perhaps they recognized the tone of authority, or it may have been that
they had no desire to force him to put his threat into execution. At any
rate, they took it out in deep mumblings after that.
The scout master saw to it himself that their lashings were secure. Some
of the boys had carried along a new supply of food for Abe and his
family, understanding the inroads that had been made in their limited
stock.
The sick man was full of gratitude for this second rescue on the part of
his new-found friends. He told them how these two scoundrels had come to
his cabin and taken possession--that he knew who they were, but that
some years back they had been honest charcoal burners the same as
himself.
"Well," said Mr. Garrabrant, "they graduated from that honest class some
time ago, and have made names for themselves as yeggmen and thieves.
They are badly wanted right now in Rockaway, where some months back they
robbed a residence, and nearly killed a butler who caught them in the
act, and recognized them too. Boys, when you feel rested, we will be on
our way back to camp with our prisoners. To-morrow I shall take them
down the river in a boat, and deliver them over to the authorities."
All of which intelligence made the gloom gather deeper on the hard
countenances of Jim Rowdy and Bill Harris.
It took twice as long for them to make the march back to camp as when
they went toward the lone cabin. In the first place, some of the boys
were almost exhausted, particularly Ted and Lil Artha, who were covering
the ground for the second time since noon. Then again, the two men,
having their arms bound behind their backs, stumbled so often that they
had to be helped.
But along about eleven they came in sight of the cheery camp fire, and
how very welcome it did look too. The boys greeted it with a shout, that
was answered by those who had been left behind.
When it was seen that they were bringing prisoners back with them, Red
and those who had remained at home with the lame scout became thrilled
with eagerness to hear the full particulars. Of course the others were
just as ready to relate all that had occurred, and for some time the
clatter of tongues would have made one believe he must be somewhere in
the neighborhood of the Tower of Babel.
Mr. Garrabrant realized that they were dealing with a pair of hard
citizens, and he was resolved to leave nothing undone looking to their
remaining prisoners. So he personally looked to their bonds before lying
down, in order to make sure they could not break loose.
A double guard was to be stationed on this night, because of the unusual
conditions existing. It would be too bad, after all their trouble,
should any accident occur whereby these men regained their freedom.
So when the camp quieted down finally, there were just four boys
stationed at certain points, and with orders to keep the fire burning
brilliantly all the time. The balance "slept on their arms," as Lil
Artha called it--that is, they kept those handy cudgels close beside
them, where they could be readily found in case a sudden need arose for
their services. Because Mr. Garrabrant could not be entirely positive
that the two prisoners did not have friends of a like character
somewhere up here in the wilderness, who might attempt their rescue.