Uncle Elk turned around and stepped off with a moderate but firm tread,
using his staff more for pleasure than from necessity. He did not look
around, taking it for granted that his young friend was at his heels.
The ground was so high that the carpet of leaves and moss was dry, with
so little undergrowth that walking was as easy and pleasant as upon an
oriental rug in one’s parlor.
The two tramped silently for a half mile or more, and Mike was peering
ahead among the shaggy tree columns, wondering how much farther they had
to go, when the guide halted, turned and in his gentle voice said:
“Well, here we are, Michael, at last.”
They stood on the margin of a natural clearing of upward of an acre in
extent, every square foot of which was under fine cultivation. Corn,
potatoes, various kinds of vegetables and fruits grew under the training
of a master hand. The soft ripple of a rivulet of clear, icy water was
heard from the other side of the clearing, and was an unfailing source
of supply during a drought.
Rather curiously, however, there was not a horse, cow, dog, cat, pig,
chicken or any kind of domestic animal on the premises. Uncle Elk had
never owned anything of the kind. Such supplies as he had to have were
brought in his catboat from one of the near-by towns to a point on the
Sheepscott, where he landed and carried them overland to his home.
In the center of the open space stood a log cabin, some twenty feet
square and a single story in height. It was strongly made, with the
crevices filled with moss and clay and had a stone chimney running up on
the outside. The butts of the lower logs were a foot or more in
diameter, and the whole structure showed a compactness, neatness and a
certain artistic taste that pleased the eye at the first glance. It was
self-evident that some parts of the labor were beyond the ability of a
single man unless he were endowed with the strength of a Samson. It may
be added that Uncle Elk received the help of several sturdy friends who
were glad to do any favor possible for him.
The man paused on the edge of the clearing only long enough to give Mike
a general view of the picture, when he led the way over the short,
well-marked path to the single door that served as an entrance. It was
of solid oaken slabs, from which a latchstring dangled, as a perpetual
invitation to whoever chose to enter and find himself at home. At the
front as well as the back, two small windows, each with four square
panes, served to admit light.
If Mike Murphy was surprised by his first sight of the humble dwelling
and grounds, he was amazed when he stepped across the threshold. The
floor was of smooth planking, without carpet or rugs, but as clean as
the kitchen of one of the _vrouws_ of old Amsterdam. The broad fireplace
held a crane from whose gallows-like arm was suspended a kettle, while a
poker and pair of tongs leaned at one side. On a shelf to the right of
the fireplace inclined a number of blue-tinted dishes besides various
cooking utensils. From the wooden staples driven into the logs over the
hearth hung a long-barreled percussion rifle, with powder flask and
several other articles near. Three chairs, one with rockers, strongly
made and evidently of home manufacture, sat promiscuously around the
room, while a table or large stand of circular form stood in the middle
of the apartment and a number of fishing poles with lines winding
spirally around them leaned in one corner.
Perhaps the strangest feature of this lonely home was what may be called
its library. Three shelves of unpainted wood stood against the wall,
facing the door, and each shelf was compactly filled with well-bound
books, and on the top rested a dozen magazines and papers. Nearly all
the volumes were of a classical, scientific or theological character,
the names of the authors being wholly unfamiliar to the visitor.
When Mike had become somewhat acquainted with the curious interior, he
walked across the room and halted in front of the books, not to learn
their titles, but to read a printed slip tacked into the wood. And this
is what so impressed him that he committed the sentences to memory:
The Fourteen Errors of Life
To attempt to set up our own standard of right and wrong and
expect everybody to conform to it.
To try to measure the enjoyment of others by our own.
To expect uniformity of opinion in this world.
To look for judgment and experience in youth.
To endeavor to mould all dispositions alike.
Not to yield in unimportant trifles.
To look for perfection in our own actions.
To worry ourselves and others about what cannot be remedied.
Not to alleviate if we can all that needs alleviation.
Not to make allowances for the weaknesses of others.
To consider anything impossible that we cannot ourselves
perform.
To believe only what our finite minds can grasp.
To live as if the moment, the time, the day were so important
that it would live forever.
To estimate people by some outside quality, for it is that
within which makes the man.
There were two apartments of about the same size. The second was the
bedroom. It had a looped curtain in the doorway and was provided with
two of the small windows referred to. It was clear that Elkanah Sisum
was a person of taste and education, who, as he said, had taken up his
abode in the wilderness, not because he was soured against his fellow
men, but on account of some crushing grief that had fallen upon him long
years before. His words and what he had done proved his warm regard for
boys, and, hermit though he undoubtedly was, his nature was as sweet as
that of a devoted mother.
I have been thus particular in my reference to him, because through one
of the strange freaks of fate his fortunes became involved with those of
the Boy Patrols and others, and resulted in a remarkable drama which can
never be forgotten by those who took part therein.
Mike had removed his hat upon entering the dwelling, and as he now faced
the old man, who was watching him, the youth made the Boy Scout salute.
“I would utter me admiration, Uncle Elk, but in truth I’m that plaised
that I’m unable to spake a single word.”
“A neatly turned compliment; suppose now I start the fire and we have
supper.”
“Show me some way by the which I can offer ye a little help.”
“There is none unless you choose to bring me a pail of water from the
brook beyond.”
“I’ll bring ye a barrelful if ye wish it,” replied the pleased Mike,
accepting the empty tin pail, which sat on the floor beside the door. He
strode along the path to the small stream of sparkling cold water, in
which was a cavity deep enough to make a dipper or cup unnecessary. When
he returned, Uncle Elk had the fire blazing on the broad hearth.
In a brief while the meal was placed upon the table and the two sat
down. The food consisted of slices of crisp, fried bacon, coarse brown
bread, clear, amber coffee with sugar and condensed milk. Mike could not
have asked for anything better and praised the culinary skill of his
host.
The old gentleman did not use tobacco, and after the dishes had been
cleared away, the guest helping, the two seated themselves in front of
the fire, for the night air was crisp enough to make the slight
additional warmth pleasant. Although the cabin was provided with a
kerosene lamp it was not lighted. The mellow illumination from the blaze
on the hearth filled the room and showed each one the face of the other,
as they talked of the Boy Patrols.
The hermit gently swayed back and forth for a few inches, as he looked
into the embers or the countenance of his young friend, who was keenly
interested in everything that was told him. Mike had an excellent
memory, and aware of the importance of the instruction he received,
treasured every word that was said, asking a question now and then when
the meaning was not clear. His teacher drilled him patiently, and when
necessary to illustrate some of the points, stirred the glowing logs
which sent up myriads of sparks and leaned forward in the yellow glow.
Now, instead of putting down everything, I shall adopt the plan of Uncle
Elk, who, when he had impressed upon the lad all that he could clearly
remember, said:
“I shall ask you no questions to-night, but give you your examination
to-morrow morning after breakfast, when you are ready to start for
Gosling Lake. All the knowledge you then possess you will carry with
you. It will crystallize while you sleep.”
“And the same would have been true wid me barring I niver had the
knowledge to crystallize during me dreams.”
With his fine-grained courtesy, the host insisted upon giving up his bed
to Mike, who of course refused the favor, declaring that before
consenting to such foolishness he would sleep in the woods with the risk
of being devoured by elephants and tigers. So a compromise was effected
by which the lad slumbered soundly upon a blanket spread on the floor.
Thus it came about after the morning’s meal—in which flapjacks took the
place of bread—Uncle Elk put his pupil “through his paces.” Here is a
condensation of the questions and answers:
“What are the twelve points of the scout law?”
“To be trustworthy, loyal, friendly, helpful, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.”
“Of what does a Patrol consist?”
“Of eight boys, all more than twelve years old, one of whom is patrol
leader and another corporal.”
“What is a troop?”
“Three or more patrols, whose leader is Scout Master; he must be at
least twenty-one years old and the assistant Scout Master cannot be
under eighteen years of age.”
“It isn’t necessary to go further into the details of the organization,
as it would confuse you. What is the Boy Scout motto?”
“_Be Prepared._”
“Pretty comprehensive counsel; suppose you give something in the way of
explanation.”
“He must be prepared in mind by learning obedience and by thinking out
beforehand what should be done in case of any accident or situation, and
in body by making himself healthful, strong and active.”
“It will be time enough to learn the various badges when you are ready
for them. That of the tenderfoot is of gilt and seven-eighths of an inch
wide, and it is made for the button hole or with a safety pin clasp. Now
reverently repeat the scout oath:
“On me honor I will do me bist:
“1. To do me dooty to God and me country, and to obey the scout laws;
“2. To hilp ither people at all times;
“3. To kaap mesilf physically strong, mentally awake and morally
straight.”
“Give the scout sign and salute.”
(These have been described. The sign is merely holding up the three
fingers in position, while the salute requires that the fingers shall be
raised to the forehead.)
“You glibly rolled off the twelve points of the scout law, but their
meaning should sink deep into the understanding. We all admit that it is
our duty to be helpful to others, but we neglect such duty shamefully. I
have often reflected that if certain rigid rules were laid down much
more would be accomplished. What is the wise provision of the Boy
Scouts?”
“That aich must do at least one good turn every day to somebody.”
“What little trick do many of the Boy Scouts adopt to keep this duty in
mind?”
“They lave the ends of their nickties hangin’ outside till the good turn
is done, though I’m thinking,” added Mike with a grin, “that it would be
as well to tie a string round his finger; that’s what me mither used to
do wid me.”
“How did it work?” asked Uncle Elk, yielding to the diversion.
“I can’t say it was a succiss,” replied Mike with a sigh; “me good
mither tied the cord so tight that it hurt that much I furgot what it
was there fur; so me wise mither adopted a better plan.”
“What was that?”
“She ixplained the matter to me dad and he——”
Mike with a grin pointed at his buckthorn which leaned against the wall.
“I understand, and now what of being courteous?”
“The Boy Scout must show courtesy to ivery one, espicially women,
childer, old people, the waak and hilpless and he must accipt no tip or
pay for such services.”
“What are the different classes of Boy Scouts of America?”
“They are the tenderfut, second-class scout and first-class scout.”
“For the present your interest lies in the tenderfoot or lowest grade,
which is the first step and in which grade you must serve at least a
month before you can advance to the next. You have given the scout law,
the sign and salute, and may now tell me something about our national
flag. How old is it?”
“It was born in June, 1777, and was first flung to the breeze at the
battle of Germantown, in Siptimber of that year. A star is added in the
blue field on the Fourth of July, nixt after a new State comes into the
Union. ’Tis fur this raison that the flag now has forty-eight stars.”
“What about the stripes?”
“They be niver changed; all the same, at the first off the government
added two stripes whin Kaintucky and Vermont were admitted, but they
were taken off in 1818.”
“I think that will be news to a good many of the Boy Scouts,” commented
Uncle Elk. “For an Irish lad who never set foot in America until last
year, you can put more than one of our youths to shame.”
Mike rose, bowed and made the Boy Scout salute, his red face as grave as
that of a deacon during service.
“Axcoose me blushes, Uncle Elk.”
“I am unable to see that you are blushing, since your face could not be
any redder than it seems always to be,” said the old gentleman with a
twinkle of his bright eyes.
“I am thrying me bist; angels could do no more, as Jim O’Brien remarked
whin he agraad to lick five men in five minutes and aich one got the
bist of him.”
“Now, Michael, as to showing respect for the flag: what can you tell me
of raising and lowering it?”
“It should be h’isted before sunrise and not be left aloft after
sunset.”
“What is the rule for ‘retreat’ at sunset?”
“Civilian spectators must stand at attintion and uncover while the band
plays ‘The Star Spangled Banner’; military spectators must stand at
attintion and give the army salute.”
“When the national colors are passing on parade or in review?”
“The spectators if walking should halt, and, if sitting rise, uncover
and stand at attintion.”
“You know that a flag is flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning: what
should be done at the close of the funeral?”
“The flag should be hoisted to full staff.”
“How should a flag be placed at half-mast?”
“It should be hoisted first to the top of the staff and then lowered to
position, and before lowering from half-staff, it should be first lifted
to the top.”
“We have a beautiful custom of observing Memorial Day on May 30 each
year. What is the law for displaying the flag throughout that day?”
“The same should fly at half-mast from sunrise to noon, and at full
staff from noon till sunset.”
“I repeat ‘Well done!’ All that now remains is for you to show your
skill in tying at least four out of eight knots known as square or reef,
sheet-bend, bowline, weaver’s or fisherman’s, sheepshank, halter, clove
hitch, timber hitch or two half hitches. When I was a boy we called a
few of these by different names. You have told me that some of the
seamen on the steamer showed you how several knots are tied. So I think
you will find no difficulty in meeting the requirements in this respect.
Let us begin.”
Uncle Elk brought forward several coils of small rope and handed them to
Mike, who grinningly set to work. He was absorbed for less than half an
hour, when he leaned back and looked into the kindly face.
“Fetch on what is lift, as me grandfather said whin he finished the last
of half a bushel of praties.”
“There is none left; you have tied every one; you’ll pass, young man.”
Every one knows how to tie a few simple knots, but I am sure you would
like to learn the method of tying the more complicated ones. They are
very useful and are easily learned, but I do not think I can make my
explanations clear by means of description alone. Mr. Samuel A. Moffat,
Field Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, in their official
handbook illustrates these various knots and has kindly given me
permission to use the same, so to Mr. Moffat belongs the credit of what
follows in the next chapter.