BAITING OLD PHIN, THE MOONSHINER.
THAD himself managed to retain his self-possession under these trying
conditions. What he believed he had to fear most of all, was that one of
his chums might give the secret away by some ill-advised remark, uttered
under the spur of the moment. He knew that they must have shrunk back,
appalled, when the moonshiner made such a threatening move, accompanying
his fierce words. But for the life of him Thad could not tear his eyes
away from the face of the man himself.
It was just as well. Phin Dady looked to Thad, as the leader of the
scouts, for an answer to his demand. Had the boy shown any evidences of
confusion or weakening just then, it might have confirmed the sudden
ugly suspicions that had flashed into the other's mind, and just when he
was growing more or less interested in the wonderful stories he had been
listening to concerning the aims and ambitions of these uniformed lads.
"There are eight of us, just as you say," Thad remarked, trying to look
surprised at the change of front on the part of his caller; "but the
other one, White his name is, has gone to see Reuben Sparks on business.
We expect him back inside of an hour or so. If you'd care to wait you
can meet him."
His air was so candid, and his face so free from guile that the
moonshiner could find no further cause for suspicion. Besides, had he
not heard in the beginning that the scouts had already made the
acquaintance of Reuben Sparks; who, like himself had displayed more or
less interest in their aims and ambitions.
Phin Dady even began to feel a little ashamed of his sudden threatening
attitude. The fierce look on his thin face, that with his gleaming
wolfish eyes, had made him appear so savage, gradually vanished. It
gave way to a rather stupid grin; as though the man realized how silly
it was of him to suspect that these half-grown boys could do injury to
one who for years had defied all the forces of the United States
Government.
"So, thet's it, younker, is it?" he said; "wall, I'm right glad ye c'd
'xplain ther thing right off'n the reel. Course Mister Sparks, he's
int'rested in byes, even ef he beant the father o' any hisself. An' he
'vited yer pal over ter see him, did he, so's ter tell him a heap more?"
"He was very much taken with the idea, and showed it by asking a great
many questions," Thad went on; trying to keep within the lines of the
truth, and yet allow the other to draw his own conclusions, to the
effect that Reuben had given one of the patrol a pressing invitation to
call upon him, and continue the interesting recital of the Boy Scouts'
ambitions.
"Yuh war sayin' right now, thet these hyar byes hain't never 'xpectin'
ter be sojers; an' thet they don't kerry arms; air thet a fack?"
When the mountaineer made this remark he was looking straight toward the
tree, against which rested the shotgun. Evidently he was a little in
doubt concerning the truth of what the patrol leader had said; or it may
have been, wise Old Phin was desirous of learning just what he and his
followers would have to go up against if ever they attacked the camp of
the invaders.
Thad laughed good-naturedly.
"That's the only firearm in camp, just at present," he declared. "It
belongs to me, you see. We knew there would be little or no hunting on
this trip, as the season for protection in North Carolina is on. But not
wanting to be without some sort of arms, it was decided to carry just
one shotgun. Later on we expect to spend some time up in Maine; and then
it'll be all right for us to carry rifles for big game shooting. One of
our members comes from Maine, and knows all about it up in that region."
Thad talked at length, because he saw that somehow the sound of his
voice seemed to have a soothing effect on the rough mountaineer.
Evidently Phin Dady had taken more or less of a fancy to the leader of
the scouts. He had known many boys in his day, and perhaps had one or
two of his own; but they were like bear cubs in comparison with this
frank-faced youth, with the winning smile, and a whole dictionary of
words at the tip of his tongue.
By now the balance of the boys had managed to recover from their fright.
They even began to show an interest in the conversation, though not
venturing to say a word unless Thad appealed directly to one of them; as
he did occasionally, to corroborate something he had declared.
It was a scene they would none of them be apt to forget in a long
time--this untamed old mountaineer sitting there by their camp-fire,
asking questions in connection with a subject that had aroused his
keenest curiosity; while they lounged around, listening, and drinking in
what was said.
Would he never go? Had he then determined to wait for the return of the
eighth scout? Perhaps he suspected already the identity of Bob Quail.
This was a matter that gave Thad considerable concern, for it meant
immediate trouble for their comrade; since the moonshiner might have his
old-time enmity for the Quail family revived, under the impression that
Bob's coming meant danger for himself.
Once Allan arose, and stepped outside the circle of firelight. The
mountaineer eyed him with just a trifle of the old suspicion apparently
rising again; for Thad could see a nervous twitch to the brown hands
that caressed the stock of the repeating rifle.
But if this were so, Phin Dady must have realized that he could have
little or nothing to fear from one stripling of that species; for he
immediately relapsed into his former careless attitude.
Thad could give a pretty good guess what it was that caused Allan to
walk beyond the camp toward the place from which they had earlier in the
evening watched the lights appear in the home of Reuben Sparks, as well
as the few more humble cabins across the little valley.
Before Bob went away he had arranged a series of flash signals, by means
of which he could communicate with his comrades of the patrol. They
would not have been true Boy Scouts if they had not before now learned
how to wigwag with flags, or lanterns, as well as use a looking-glass in
the sun in heliograph telegraphy.
And so Allan, desirous of ascertaining whether all went well with the
absent chum, was now starting out, lantern in hand, to learn whether he
could get in communication with Bob.
Possibly some of Phin's followers might be in hiding close by, and
witness these maneuvers with astonishment, not unmixed with suspicion.
Thad concluded that it would be best to take the bull by the horns. If
he confided in Old Phin, the other was apt to discount the news when
told by his men.
"You remember that I told you," he remarked, "how Boy Scouts are taught
to send messages by waving flags, just as they do in real armies; and at
night time by means of lighted lanterns. Well, we never lose a chance to
practice; and the boy you saw go out just now arranged to talk with the
one who is across the valley."
"Huh!" grunted the mountaineer; and from that Thad concluded that he had
allayed any suspicions that may have arisen in his mind.
"If you'd care to see how it's done, why, we can walk out, and watch the
scout who has the lantern?" the patrol leader went on to say; though
secretly hoping Old Phin might not evince enough interest to disturb
himself.
Sometimes a bold move serves better than extreme caution. It seemed so
in this case, at least, for the moonshiner, after making a slight move,
as though to get up, appeared to think better of it, for he settled back
again.
"I kin understand jest 'bout how it air dun, younker," he said. "Now
tell me some more 'bout how yuh larn thet thar thing o' savin' a pal
thet's been nigh drownded, or else cut a artery in his leg with a ax. I
reckon now, that's 'bout the neatest trick I done ever heard on."
Being brim full of the subject, which always appealed to him more than
he could tell, the young patrol leader immediately launched out into a
description of the matters that seemed to have deeply interested even
this rough old mountaineer.
Then he went a step further, and told how the scouts entered into the
most amusing, as well as profitable, competitions among themselves. He
described a water boiling test, where those in competition are given
just three matches, and with an empty tin pail in hand, start at a
signal to see which one can build his fire, fill his tin vessel at least
two-thirds full of water, and have this actually boiling.
Perhaps that old moonshiner never spent a more interesting hour or so
than by the camp-fire of the Boy Scouts; at any rate he certainly could
not look back to one that must have been more profitable to him in every
way.
Finally he arose as if to go; and about the same time Allan returned,
with the lighted lantern in his hand.
"Did yuh git him?" asked Old Phin, with some show of eagerness.
"Yes, we held quite a little talk, and I guess he must have used up a
handful of matches telling me what a pleasant time he had. Right now
he's on his way to camp, and ought to get here inside of an hour."
Allan said this as though there could not be anything to conceal. He
took a leaf from the example set by Thad. The latter knew that in all
probability there had been more to the wigwag talk than Allan chose to
state; but he was willing to wait until a more propitious time to hear
it.
Taken in all, he believed they had come through the operation of baiting
Phin Dady much better than any one could have expected. The old man was
interested in what he had heard; and only for the fact that he bore a
deadly hatred for the family of young Bob Quail, they would have little
to fear from the king of the moonshiners, whose influence among the
other mountaineers was such that he could easily sway them one way or
the other at will.
Thad caught a wink when he looked into the face of the Maine boy. It
told him that Allan had news to tell, which Bob had sent on ahead,
knowing how anxious his chums would be to hear whether he had met with
any measure of success or not in his undertaking.
When Thad turned around again he found that Old Phin had slipped away,
taking advantage of their attention being directed for a minute toward
the scout who had just come into camp with the lantern swinging at his
side.
And Thad heaved a sigh of genuine relief when he found that this was so.