SETTING THE TRAP
Of course when Andy made this surprising report the rest of the boys
were of a mind to rush over in a body to joke Dan, and perhaps make fun
of his labors. Mr. Holwell, however, dissuaded them.
“Better leave Dan to finish his trap, boys,” he told them. “He’s a busy
fellow these days it seems, and deserves success if anybody does. If
he needs any help you’ll hear him call for it. In the meanwhile don’t
thrust yourselves where evidently you’re not wanted.”
Accordingly, all dropped back into their comfortable seats, and took it
out in speculating as to what the worker could have in mind when his
ambition led him to want to trap a real wild man of the woods.
Dan did not show up in time to take part in the customary preparations
for dinner. There were plenty of recruits, however, for with hunger
urging them on the campers showed an eagerness to hasten the getting
of the evening meal. Sunny Jim grinned more broadly than ever when he
found his tasks so cheerfully lightened.
They managed to hold themselves in check until Mr. Holwell had asked
the customary blessing. Somehow this influence for good was felt even
by those lads who had never known such a custom in their own homes.
It seemed especially well suited to the leafy canopy overhead, the
gurgling waters lapping the shore near by, and the sense of freedom
around that brought them closer to nature and to God.
Dan made his appearance about the time they were half through, and
the twilight shadows were stealing timidly out of the recesses of the
mysterious woods.
Many curious looks were cast in his direction, but somewhat to his
surprise no one ventured to joke him about his ambitious labors. Dan
himself, when the edge had been taken from his appetite, introduced the
topic voluntarily.
“Course you fellows are wondering what I’m up to,” he said, with a
grin. “Well, I got a little idea into my cranium, and have been working
the same out, with the aid of a hatchet, a hammer and some nails. In
fact, I’ve set a trap hoping to coax the escaped lunatic to go in,
after which it’ll drop and hold him for us.”
“But what will you bait it with, Dan?” demanded Peg, with seeming
innocence, “because you know my aluminum frying-pan is gone, and we
haven’t got another shiny watch in the camp nowadays.”
“Oh! that’s easy,” said Dan, carelessly. “I reckon now that even a
crazy man is liable to get hungry right along. I’m going to bait the
trap with some sort of food that I think ought to draw him on. Just
wait and see, that’s all.”
The evening passed in the usual occupations. Some of the boys busied
themselves in one way and some in another. Some had writing to do; some
worked with pictures they had taken during the day, and which were to
be developed at night time.
Already the keen spirit of rivalry had taken complete possession of the
campers. The prizes that had been offered to those coming in with the
best flashlight photograph, the cleanest score in nature study, the
highest marks in knowledge of woodcraft, and numerous other courses
laid out by Mr. Rowland, may have had something to do with their
perseverance.
There was more, however, than this desire for gain urging the boys on.
Most of them really yearned to improve themselves along certain lines,
and to be adjudged first in their class would be considered proof that
they had met with success.
So there was hardly a boy in the camp aside from Nat and his two sombre
cronies, Dit Hennesy and Alonzo Crane, but found himself entering into
the spirited rivalry that would act as a spur to achievement.
When finally “taps” was sounded on Mr. Bartlett’s cornet, Asa was given
a place next to Dick, Andy Hale being transferred to another tent,
though no one thought to ask why this was done. If the boys talked it
over at all they must have reached the conclusion that Asa was growing
nervous about sleeping in a tent further removed from the fire at a
time when there was a creature of an unknown species prowling about on
Bass Island.
By degrees the camp fell into an utter silence, though occasionally
some one, who may have been lying on his back, would begin to breathe
louder than his mates liked, whereupon he was punched in the ribs, and
made to roll over.
It must have been well on toward midnight when the sleepers were
suddenly aroused by a tremendous crash not far away; and immediately an
exodus from the several shelters began. Boys, clad in various patterns
of pajamas, all looking a bit frightened, gathered about in groups.