THE MYSTERY SOLVED--CONCLUSION.
"There!" exclaimed Thad, as he panted for breath after his supreme
effort which resulted in the toppling of the boulder over the mouth of
the rocky retreat of the two desperate characters; "if only there is no
other way out, I reckon we've got those birds safely caged till the
officers come."
"Well," remarked Smithy, who actually had some color in his usually pale
cheeks, and whose blue eyes were sparkling with excitement; "from
certain things they let fall when they were conversing, Thad, I am of
the opinion that this is the only exit, as well as entrance to the
place."
Smithy had been fed on big words, and very exact language so long, that
as yet his association with other boys less particular had failed to rub
away any of the veneer. In time, no doubt, he would fall into the
customary method among boys of cutting their words short, and saving
breath in so doing.
"Yes," remarked Thad, smiling broadly, "and from the way you can hear
those two fellows on the other side of the stone carrying on, I guess
you must be right; for they seem to be some angry I take it."
"You don't think they could upset this rock, do you?" asked Smithy, a
little anxiously.
"Not in a thousand years, without crowbars to help them. There they stay
till we get ready to invite 'em out. When the officers come, they'll
find a way to do the trick, never fear, Smithy. But how do you feel
about taking a trip across to the camp right now?"
Smithy started, and turned an anxious face out to the water, where the
waves were still running fairly high, though the wind had died down.
"I'm willing to do anything you say, Thad," he replied, with a sigh.
"Even if you never swam fifty feet in your whole life," remarked the
scout-master, admiringly, for the pluck of the tenderfoot appealed to
him strongly; "but make your mind easy, Smithy, for I don't want you to
swim, this time."
"But Thad, how else can I go?" pursued the other. "We have no boat; I
never did learn to walk on the water, you see; and so far, my wings
haven't sprouted worth mentioning; so how can I get over to our camp?"
"Why, I didn't think to mention it to you, and I really haven't had the
chance, to tell the truth; but I happened to discover where those men
hid _our_ boat in the bushes as I came along on the trail you left. And
Smithy, while I think of it I just want to say that was a clever dodge
of yours, making all the mess you could with your shoe every time you
came to a patch of dirt. It helped me a heap, and saved me a lot of
time."
Smithy fairly glowed with pride. A compliment from the scout-master was
worth more to this boy than anything he could imagine.
"I don't know what made me think of that, Thad; it just seemed to pop
into my mind, you see. And I'm delighted to hear you say it helped some.
As to my going over to the camp in the boat, I'm ready, as soon as we
can launch the canoe. While I have had only a little experience in a
boat, I've managed to pick up a few wrinkles, and ought to be able to
get ashore safely. What do you want me to do, Thad?"
"Explain the situation to the others, and then have Allan and Bob White
paddle over; yes, Step-hen might as well come with them to take back the
boat again, for the officers will need it when they arrive."
The canoe was easily carried down to the water and then Smithy with a
few directions from his chief, started across. He managed very well,
though once Thad had a little scare, thinking there was going to be an
upset.
In due time Smithy was seen to land, with the other boys crowding
around, doubtless plying him with eager questions. Shortly after the
boat started off again, this time holding Allan, who plied the paddle
with wonderful skill, Bob White, who might have done just as well if
given the chance, and Step-hen.
When they reached shore Thad breathed easier. If the two men should
break out now there would be four stout fellows to oppose them; but all
the same no one was anxious to have such a thing happen.
The boys had brought something to eat along, and they all sat down to
have a bite. Everything was quiet inside the old bear's den. Bob White
said he hoped the rascals had not been smothered; and Thad declared they
could get plenty of air through the crevices between the rocks. On his
part he was secretly hoping that the fellows might not be able to cut
their way out before help came.
The time dragged slowly. Again and again did some impatient fellow ask
Thad to look at his watch, and tell him how much longer they must wait
before the officers might be expected.
As the westering sun sank lower and lower, Thad himself began to grow
anxious; and could be noticed listening intently every time the faint
breeze picked up; for it was now coming exactly from the quarter whence
the assistance they expected would come.
"There, that was sure an auto horn, tooting!" he exclaimed about
half-past four in the afternoon.
Every one of them listened, and presently sure enough they agreed that
it could be nothing else, though the loon out on the lake started his
weird cry about that time, as though he considered it a challenge from
some rival bird.
"Get aboard, and pull for the shore, Step-hen," ordered the
scout-master; and as he had been expecting this, the long-legged scout
pushed off.
They watched him paddling, and when he had almost reached the spot where
Smithy and Bumpus, together with Davy Jones stood, a car came in sight,
loaded with some four or five men in blue uniforms; Giraffe, and
another, wearing ordinary clothes.
Step-hen brought two of the officers, and the extra man over, and then
went back for another pair, while Thad talked with the Chief of the
Faversham police, and the man whom he recognized as the guest they had
given a cup of coffee to at the time the owner of the bear claimed his
property.
The story was soon told, and it thrilled the scouts as they had seldom
been stirred before. It seemed that the two men were notorious
counterfeiters, known to the authorities as Bill Dalgren and Seth Evans.
They had been surrounded by officers a month before, at a place where
they were engaged in the manufacture of bogus half dollars; but had
cleverly managed to escape with some of their dies and other material.
One of them had been injured in the fracas accompanying this failure to
catch them at work.
Since then their whereabouts had become a matter of considerable moment
to the authorities at Washington, and one of the cleverest revenue
officers was put on the case. He had disguised himself, and hiring the
owner of the dancing bear, had gone around the country trying to get
trace of the men, one of whom he knew wore a shoe with an oddly patched
sole.
This gentleman, Mr. Alfred Shuster, assured the scouts that they were
entitled to the heavy reward offered by the Government to any one giving
information leading to the capture of the two bold rascals; and he
declared that he would see to it that this amount was paid into the
treasury of the Cranford Troop of Boy Scouts, as they had certainly
earned it.
When the big rock was finally rolled away, with the aid of heavy wooden
bars, the trapped men came meekly forth when ordered. All the fight
seemed to have been taken out of them. Indeed, the one with the lame leg
declared he was glad that he might now have the assistance of a doctor,
for he had of late begun to fear that blood poisoning was setting in. In
the place plenty of evidence to convict the two men was found.
So by degrees everybody was ferried over to the camp, Bob White taking
turns with Allan in wielding the paddle. Afterward the big auto whirled
away, taking the wretched prisoners, as well as their exultant captors
along. Then the camp of the Silver Fox Patrol settled down once more to
its usual peace.
Until late that night, however, the boys, unable to sleep after all this
excitement, sat around the blazing camp-fire, talking. From every angle
the story was told until each fellow knew it by heart. And all united in
praising Smithy for the part he had had taken in the capture of the men
for whom the officers of the law were searching.
For two more days the scouts remained in camp, and during that time many
were the things Allan and Thad showed them. No one ever missed the real
scout-master for a single minute. And when the hour arrived for the
tents to come down, since a wagon had arrived to bear them back home,
the eight members of the patrol united in declaring that they had had
the time of their lives; and did not care how soon the experience might
be repeated.
On the way back Thad ordered a halt at the identical spot where that
little spring bubbled up, and ran away with such a cheery sound. While
the fellows were drinking and sitting around, Thad called the attention
of them all to some peculiar sort of fruit the small tree close by
seemed to be bearing, in one of the lower crotches, where three limbs
started out, forming a sort of cup.
"Why, I declare, if it isn't my compass!" cried Step-hen, turning very
red in the face, as he eagerly reached up, and secured the little
aluminum article.
"Yes," said Thad, severely, "I saw you put it there, carelessly, when we
were all here, and said nothing at the time; for I wanted to teach you a
lesson. And now, all the time we were in camp, you've been accusing
Bumpus here of losing, or hiding your compass. I think you owe him
something, if you're a true scout, Step-hen."
"You're right I do," said the other, jumping up, and hurrying over to
where the fat boy sat, his eyes dancing with delight over being cleared
so handsomely; "and right here I want to say that I humbly apologize to
Bumpus, who is the best fellow in the whole lot. I hope he'll forgive
me, because I really thought he was playing a joke on me. You will,
won't you, Bumpus? I was just a silly fool, that's what."
"Mebbe you were, Step-hen," said Bumpus, calmly, as he gingerly accepted
the other's hand; "and I hope that this will be a lesson to you, as our
patrol leader says. When a scout gives his word, he expects it to be
believed, Step-hen. But it's all right; and I hope you find right good
use for that fine little compass when we get off on that trip into the
Blue Ridge mountains."
And at that every scout snatching off his campaign hat, gave three
cheers, as though right then, with the coals of their first camp-fire
hardly cold, they were looking forward with eagerness to another outing
that would bring new adventures in its train.
THE END.
THE JACK LORIMER SERIES
5 Volumes By WINN STANDISH
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CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER; or, The Young Athlete of Millvale High.
Jack Lorimer is a fine example of the all-around
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There is a lively story woven in with the athletic
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JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS; or, Millvale High in Camp.
It would be well not to put this book into a boy's
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JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE; or, The Acting Captain of the Team.
On the sporting side, the book takes up football,
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JACK LORIMER, FRESHMAN; or, From Millvale High to Exmouth.
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For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the
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THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SERIES
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THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The Winnebagos go Camping.
This lively Camp Fire group and their Guardian go
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pile up more adventures in one summer than they
have had in all their previous vacations put
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THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL: or, The Wohelo Weavers.
It is the custom of the Winnebagos to weave the
events of their lives into symbolic bead bands,
instead of keeping a diary. All commendatory
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THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, In The Magic Garden.
Migwan is determined to go to college, and not
being strong enough to work indoors earns the
money by raising fruits and vegetables. The
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and the "goings-on" at Onoway House that summer
make the foundations shake with laughter.
THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along the Road That Leads the Way.
The Winnebagos take a thousand mile auto trip. The
"pinching" of Nyoda, the fire in the country Inn,
the runaway girl and the dead-earnest hare and
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* * * * *
For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
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A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23d Street, New York.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Page 6, "Granford" changed to "Cranford". (bugler for Cranford)
Page 9, "geniue" changed to "genuine". (a genuine scout-master)
Page 9, "Calikns" changed to "Calkins". (medicine with Dr. Calkins)
Page 13, "Sop" changed to "Stop". (Stop again, and)
Page 17, "examing" changed to "examining". (Allan were examining)
Page 34, "Omerga" changed to "Omega". (word Omega means)
Page 44, "week" changed to "weak". (of a weak mamma)
Page 45, "conneced" changed to "connected". (connected with a)
Page 51, "befel" changed to "befell". (that befell the)
Page 63, "Bumus" changed three times to "Bumpus". ("Bumpus! Bumpus, good
boy! here supper for Bumpus!")
Page 96, "Allen" changed to "Allan". (remarked Allan, as they)
Page 122, "emormous" changed to "enormous". (with that enormous)
Page 125, "sterness" changed to "sternness". (sternness in his)
Page 125, "draging" changed to "dragging". (along and dragging)
Page 144, "owuld" changed to "would". (would some day)
Page 149, "Allen" changed to "Allan". (Master?" asked Allan)
Page 158, "freigner's" changed to "foreigner's". (foreigner's native
country)
Page 173, "semed" changed to "seemed". (seemed tickled at)
Page 175, "arrnging" changed to "arranging". (arranging for the)
Page 186, "remarkd" changed to "remarked". (way," remarked the)
Page 199, "Haversham" changed to "Faversham". (get Faversham the)
Page 214, "the" changed to "he". (for he found)
Page 214, "Smihty" changed to "Smithy". (let Smithy know)
Page 230, "yeielded" changed to "yielded". (have soon yielded)
Page 231, "conforting" changed to "comforting". (that comforting cudgel)
One instance of both game-keepers and gamekeepers was retained, as was
makeup/make-up. The title and copyright pages both use Camp Fire, while
the remainder of the book uses camp-fire. This was retained.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Boy Scouts' First Camp Fire, by Herbert Carter