IN ALABAMA CAMP
Fritz was no longer sitting there taking things comfortably, and cooling
himself off by using his hat as a fan.
With the terrific crash the scout was on his feet, ready for further
flight, as he saw the head of the cow not ten feet away from where he
stood.
This time he made straight for another section of the fence, and passed
over it "like a bird," as Seth declared. But evidently fences had little
terror for the aroused cow, since she immediately proceeded to knock
down another section in about the space of time it would take to read
the shortest riot act ever known.
This prompt act again placed her on the same side as the fleeing Fritz.
The loud shouts of his chums warned him of her coming on the scene
again, even if that suspicious crash had failed to do so.
Fritz was becoming used to clambering over fences by now; in fact it
seemed to be something like a settled habit.
The cow saw his lead, and went him one better, for a third crash told
how the poorly constructed fence had gone down before her rush, like a
pack of cards in the wind.
All the while Fritz was changing his location. He calculated that if
only he could hold out for say three more "climbs," he would be in a
position to make a run for the border fence, which was made much more
stoutly then the division one, and would probably turn back even a
swooping bull.
After it was all over, Fritz would demand that his comrades give him
full credit for his cunning lead. Meanwhile he was kept as busy as any
real beaver; getting first on one side of the crumpling fence, and then
on the other; while the cow kept on making kindling wood of the barrier.
Paul took advantage of the animal's attention being wholly centred upon
Fritz, to run out upon the field, and pick up the cast-off staff of the
busy scout. His intention at the time was to render all the assistance
in his power; but discovering that Fritz was rapidly approaching a point
where he could work out his own salvation, the scoutmaster thought
discretion on his part warranted a hasty departure, unless he wished to
take the place his comrade vacated.
The boys on the fence were shouting, and waving their hats, and doing
all manner of things calculated to attract the attention of the "gentle
cow," and cause her to ease up in her attack; but apparently she was not
to be bought off so cheaply, and meant to pursue her advantage to the
bitter end.
Then came the chance for which the artful Fritz had been so
industriously working, when he made one more fling over the remnant of
the enclosure fence, and upon reaching the outside, galloped away toward
the road as fast as his legs could carry him.
Of course the cow chased after him again as soon as she had knocked down
another section of fence; but Fritz seemed to have pretty good wind,
considering all he had been through; and he showed excellent sprinting
powers that promised to put him among the leaders at the next high
school field sports exhibition.
And the other five scouts gave him a hearty cheer when they saw him
nimbly take the high fence on the bound, with those wicked horns not
more than five feet in his rear.
They soon joined the panting one, who greeted his mates with a cheery
grin, as though conscious of having done very well, under such
distracting conditions.
"But you've yet to know whether that milk is as rich as you hoped?"
remarked Paul, smilingly, as he handed Fritz his staff.
"And chances are, you went and lost that blessed nickel you meant to tie
to one of gentle Bossy's horns; what a shame, and a waste of good coin!"
said Seth, pretending to be very much disappointed.
"Huh! getting off pretty cheap at that!" grunted Fritz. "Ketch me tryin'
to milk any cow that's got a calf up in the barn. I'd rather face two
bulls than one like her. Don't ever mention milk to me again; I know
I'll just despise the looks of it from now on. Whew! but didn't she mean
business; and if ever those sharp horns had got attached to me, it would
have been a hard job to break away."
"If you feel rested, and have changed your mind about that same splendid
milk," remarked Paul, "perhaps we'd better be getting along now. Three
miles--why, Fritz, I wouldn't be much surprised if you covered all of
that in the little chase you put up. All you needed to beat the record
for flying was a pair of wings."
Fritz was wonderfully good-natured, and they could not make him angry.
When other boys were apt to scowl and feel "grouchy," Fritz would come
up smilingly after each and every round, ready to take punishment
without limit.
And so they continued to walk along the road, chatting among themselves
as cheerily as footsore and weary scouts might be expected to do when
trying to encourage each other to further exertions.
Every step really meant a good deal to their success, for in the course
of ten minutes Paul declared that another mile had been duly covered.
When they saw another cow inside a fenced enclosure the boys tried by
every argument they could devise to tempt Fritz to try his hand once
more, but he steadfastly declined to accept the dare.
"Say what you like, fellers," he remarked firmly, "me and cows are on
the outs, for this trip anyway. It's somebody else's turn to afford
amusement for the bunch. I've sure done my duty by the crowd. Let me be,
won't you? Tackle Seth there, or Babe Adams. I happen to know that they
like milk just every bit as much as I do. Water's good enough for me,
right now; and here's the spring I've been looking for a long while."
At that they all hastened to discover some spots where it was possible
to lap up a sufficient supply of the clear fluid.
This cooling drink seemed to invigorate the boys, so that when they
started off again it was with a somewhat quicker step, and heads that
were held up straighter than of late.
It enabled them to reel off another mile without any great effort.
"Only one more, and then we've just got to let up on this thing," said
Paul.
"I really believe you're getting tired of it yourself, Mr. Scoutmaster?"
ventured one of the boys, eagerly; for if Paul would only confess to
this, they felt that they could stand their own weaknesses better.
"And that is no joke," laughed Paul, frankly. "You see, I haven't been
hardening my muscles as much lately as when the baseball season was in
full swing. But with two miles placed to our account, we shouldn't be
much worried about how things are coming out. Will we try for that last
mile, boys? It's for you to say!"
He received a unanimous shout of approval, which announced that the
others were of a united mind. And so they kept along the road though
some steps lagged painfully, and it was mainly through the exertions of
the mind that the body was whipped into obeying.
Finally Paul turned to Eben, and made a quick gesture that the bugler
was waiting for, since he immediately raised the shining instrument to
his lips, puffed out his cheeks, took in a tremendous breath, and gave
the call that was next to the "fall in for supper" signal, the most
popular known to the scouts.
"Alabama! Here we rest!" cried Seth, turning aside into the woods after
Paul, who evidently had his eye on a certain location, where he meant to
pitch the third night's camp.
"That's a good idea," remarked Andy, always quick to seize upon anything
that gave a hint concerning his beloved South, "let's call this Alabama
Camp!"
"Put it to a vote," called out Fritz, "all in favor of the same say aye;
contrary no. The ayes have it unanimously. Hurrah for Alabama Camp.
Seems like that's a good restful name; and I hope we sleep right good
here; for most of us are pretty well used up."
"Don't mention that same above a whisper," warned Seth, "because we've
got two awfully touchy chums along, who're always carrying chips on
their shoulders when it comes to the subject of being knocked out. Say,
Paul, did you know about this camp site before; because it's the
dandiest place we've struck on the big hike?"
"Just dumb luck," replied the other, shaking his head in the negative.
"I thought it looked good this way, when I called for a halt. And you're
just about right, Seth; it does fill the bill great. Here's our spring
of clear cold water; and there you have a splendid place to start your
fire, Jotham. Now, let's throw ourselves down for a little while, and
then when we feel rested, we'll get busy doing things."
All of them were only too glad to do as Paul suggested. And when
another ten minutes had slipped past, Jotham struggled to his feet to
wearily but determinedly gather together some material with which to
start a blaze.
When he had it going Noodles realized that it was now up to him to start
getting some supper cooking. They had come in very light marching order,
since Paul realized that if they hoped to win that lovely prize he must
not load any of the boys down with superfluous burdens.
As a rule they depended on the farmers to supply them with such things
as they needed, chiefly eggs and milk. The former they had along with
them, several dozen eggs in fact, purchased from an obliging farmer
earlier in the afternoon, and fortunately carried in other knapsacks
than that of Fritz, who would have smashed the entire supply, had he
been in charge of the same at the time of his exciting adventure with
the cow.
Upon putting it to a vote they decided that they could just as well do
without any milk for one night; especially after Fritz had shown them
how difficult it sometimes was to accumulate a supply.
Of course a coffee pot had been brought along, for somehow a camp must
always seem like a dreary desert without the delicious smell of boiling
coffee at each and every meal that is prepared.
So Noodles made a grand big omelette, using sixteen eggs for the same,
and the two frying pans that had been strapped, one to each pack of a
couple of scouts.
Besides this they had some cheese and crackers, which would help fill
the vacuum that seemed to exist an hour after each and every meal.
Several potatoes for each scout were duly placed in the red ashes of the
fire, and jealously watched, in order that they might not scorch too
badly before being thoroughly roasted.
On the whole, there was no reason for being ashamed of that camp supper.
Everything tasted just "prime," as several of the boys took pains to
say; for they were artful enough to know that by showering words of
praise upon the cook, they might secure his valuable services for all
time to come, because Noodles was open to flattery.
And what was better still, there was an abundant supply for all of them,
regardless of the difference in appetites; Fritz was not stinted in the
least, for he actually declined a further helping, and had to be urged
to clean out the pan just to keep "that little bit of omelet from being
wasted."
Having no tent along, and only a couple of dingy old blankets which they
expected to use for sending smoke signals, should the occasion arise,
the scouts were compelled to resort to more primitive ways of spending
the night than usual. But then Paul had shown them how to sleep with
their heads away from the fire; and he also arranged to keep the small
blaze going during the entire night, since it was apt to get pretty
chilly along about two in the morning.
All these things had been arranged on the first night out, so that by
this time the boys were pretty well accustomed to the novel way of
sleeping. And on the whole they had taken to it fairly well, no one
complaining save when the mosquitoes annoyed them in one camp near the
water.
An hour after supper had been disposed of some of the boys were already
beginning to nod drowsily. And when fellows are just dead tired it seems
a sin to try and keep them awake, especially when there is no need of
it.
So Paul announced that those who wanted to could turn in, while the rest
were enjoined to keep quiet, doing their talking in whispers, so as not
to disturb the sleepers; just as if the discharge of a six pound cannon
close by would bother those weary scouts, once they lost themselves in
the dreamland of Nod.
Babe Adams had just stepped over to get a last drink at the near-by
spring, when the others were surprised to see him come tearing back
again, evidently in great excitement.
"Paul, come over here with me, and you can see it!" he called out.
"See what?" demanded the scoutmaster, at the same time climbing to his
feet.
"Looks like some farmhouse might be afire; because you c'n see the red
flames jumping up like fun!" was the thrilling announcement made by the
tenderfoot scout.