The Banner Boy Scouts Afloat

OR

The Secret of Cedar Island

By GEORGE A. WARREN

1913

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

 I THE MYSTERIOUS BOXES

 II GLORIOUS NEWS

 III FOR CEDAR ISLAND--GHOST OR NO GHOST

 IV LAYING IN THE STORES

 V JUST AFTER THE CLOCK STRUCK TEN

 VI THE GREAT CRUISE OF THE SCOUTS BEGUN

 VII STUCK FAST IN THE MUD

 VIII WHAT THE WATER GAUGE SHOWED

 IX ON THE SWIFT RADWAY

 X DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES

 XI THE CAMP ON CEDAR ISLAND

 XII WAS IT A BURSTING METEOR?

 XIII THE FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

 XIV TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT

 XV ORDERED OFF

 XVI UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS

 XVII PITCHING TENTS IN THE "SINK"

 XVIII WHAT LAY IN THE BRUSH

 XIX LAYING PLANS

 XX THE EXPLORING PARTY

 XXI A MYSTERY OF THE OPEN GLADE

 XXII THE WIGWAG MESSAGE

 XXIII STILL FLOUNDERING IN THE MIRE

 XXIV THE DISCOVERY

 XXV TIME TO GO BACK

 XXVI HONORABLE SCARS

 XXVII ANOTHER THREATENING PERIL

XXVIII PREPARED FOR THE WORST

 XXIX LIFTING THE LID

 XXX GOOD-BYE TO CEDAR ISLAND

 XXXI A SCOUT'S DUTY

 XXXII CONCLUSION

PREFACE

Dear Boys:--

It is with the greatest pleasure that I present you with the third volumeof the "Banner Boy Scouts Series. " This is a complete story in itself;and yet most of the leading characters you, who have already read thefirst and second volumes, will easily remember. I trust you will heartilywelcome the appearance once more on the stage of Paul, Jack, Bobolink andall the other good fellows belonging to Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts. 

Those of you who are old friends will recollect that while the Red FoxPatrol was forming, the boys had a most strenuous time, what with a deepmystery in their midst, and the bitter strife resulting from theircompetition with rival troops belonging to neighboring towns. How thebeautiful banner was cleverly won by Stanhope, I related in the firstvolume, called: "The Banner Boy Scouts. "

In the succeeding story the Stanhope Scouts went on their first longhike, to camp in the open. The remarkable adventures they met withwhile enjoying this experience; as well as the stirring account of howthey recovered a box of valuable papers that had been stolen from theoffice of Joe Clausin's father, form the main theme of "The Banner BoyScouts on a Tour. "

And now, in this third book, I have endeavored to interest you in anotherseries of happenings that befell these wide-awake boys before theirsummer vacation was over. I hope you will, after reading this storythrough to the last line, agree with me that what the young assistantscout master, Paul Morrison, and his chums of Stanhope Troop enduredwhile afloat all went to make them better and truer scouts in every senseof the word. 

Cordially yours

GEORGE A. WARREN. 

CHAPTER I

THE MYSTERIOUS BOXES

"What are you limping for, Bobolink?"

"Oh! shucks! I see there's no use trying to hide anything from your sharpeyes, Jack Stormways. Guess I just about walked my feet off today, goin'fishin' with our patrol leader, away over to the Radway River, and aboutsix miles up. "

"Have any luck, Bobolink?" instantly demanded the third member of thegroup of three half-grown boys, who were passing after nightfall throughsome of the partly deserted streets on the outskirts of the thriving townof Stanhope; and whose name it might be stated was Tom Betts. 

"Well, I should say, yes. Between us we got seven fine bass, and apickerel. By the way, I caught that pickerel; Paul, he looked after thebass end of the string, and like the bully chap he is divided with me;"and the boy who limped chuckled as he said this, showing that he couldappreciate a joke, even when it was on himself. 

About everybody in town called him Bobolink; and what boy could dootherwise, seeing that his real name was Robert O. Link?

As the trio of lads were all dressed in the khaki suits known all overthe world nowadays as typifying Boy Scouts, it could be readily taken forgranted that they belonged to the Stanhope Troop. 

Already were there three full patrols enlisted, and wearing uniforms;while a fourth was in process of forming. The ones already in the fieldwere known as, first, the Red Fox, to which these three lads belonged;then the Gray Fox, and finally the Black Fox. But as they had aboutexhausted the color roster of the fox family, the chances were that thenext patrol would have to start on a new line when casting about for aname that would stamp their identity, and serve as a totem. 

An efficient scout master had been secured in the person of a young manby the name of Mr. Gordon, who cheerfully accompanied the lads on theiroutings, and attended many of their meetings. But being a travelingsalesman, Mr. Gordon often had to be away from home for weeks at a time. 

When these lapses occurred, his duties fell upon the shoulders of PaulMorrison, who not only filled the position of leader to the Red FoxPatrol, but being a first-class scout, had received his commission fromHeadquarters that entitled him to act as assistant scout master to thewhole troop during the absence of Mr. Gordon. 

"How did you like it up on the Radway?" continued the one who had madethe first inquiry, Jack Stormways, whose father owned a lumber yard andplaning mill just outside the limits of the town, which was really thegoal of their present after-supper walk. 

"Great place, all right, " replied Bobolink. "Paul kept calling myattention to all the things worth seeing. He seems to think a heap of theold Radway. For my part, I rather fancy our own tight little river, theBushkill. "

"Well, d'ye know, that's one reason I asked how you liked it, " Jack wenton. "Paul seemed so much taken with that region over there, I've begun toget a notion in my head he's fixing a big surprise, and that perhaps atthe meeting to-night he may spring it on us. "

"Tell me about that, will you?" exclaimed Bobolink, who was given tocertain harmless slang ways whenever he became in the least excited, asat present. "Now that you've been and gone and given me a pointer, I c'njust begin to get a line on a few of the questions he asked me. Well, I'm willing to leave it to Paul. He always thinks of the whole shootingmatch when trying to give the troop a bully good time. Just rememberwhat we went through with when we camped out up on Rattlesnake Mountain, will you?"

"That's right, " declared Tom Betts, eagerly; "say, didn't we have thetime of our lives, though?"

"And yet Paul said only today that as we had so long a time beforevacation ends this year, a chance might pop up for another trip, "Bobolink remarked, significantly. 

"Did, eh? Well, don't that go to prove what I said; and you just waittill we get back to the meeting room in the church. Paul's just burstingwith some sort of secret, and I reckon he'll just have to tell usto-night, " and Jack laughed good-naturedly as he still led his twocomrades on toward the retired lane, where his father's big mill adjoinedthe storage place for lumber; convenient to the river, and at the sametime near the railroad, so that a spur track could enter the yard. 

Besides these three boys five others constituted the Red Fox Patrol ofStanhope Troop. In the first story of this series, which appeared underthe name of "The Banner Boy Scouts; Or, The Struggle for Leadership, "the reader was told about the formation of the Red Fox Patrol, and howsome of the boys learned a lesson in scout methods of returning good forevil; also how a cross old farmer was taught that he owed a duty to thecommunity in which he lived, as well as to himself. In that story it wasalso disclosed how a resident of the town offered a beautiful banner tothat troop which excelled in an open tournament also participated in bytwo other troops of Boy Scouts from the towns of Aldine and Manchester;the former on the east bank of the Bushkill, about six miles up-stream, and the latter a bustling manufacturing place about seven miles down, andalso on the same bank as Aldine. 

In this competition, after a lively duel between the three wide awaketroops, Stanhope won handsomely; and had therefore been given the banner, which Wallace Carberry proudly carried at the head of the processionwhenever they paraded. 

The second book, "The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour; Or, The Mystery ofRattlesnake Mountain, " was given over almost exclusively to descriptionsof the wonderful things that came to pass when Stanhope Troop spent apart of their vacation camping out in order that those who were backwardin their knowledge of how to take care of themselves when in the openshould have a good chance to learn many of the secrets of Nature. 

So many strange things happened to the boys when up on RattlesnakeMountain that it would be utterly impossible to even mention them here;but if you wish to know all about the mystery they solved, and thenumerous other exciting events that befell them, you must get thesecond volume. 

There was to be a special meeting, which the acting scout master hadcalled for this evening; and Bobolink, Jack, and Tom Betts expected tobe back from their errand in time to answer to their names when the rollwas called. 

It was only to oblige Jack that the other two had left home half an hourearlier than was really necessary. Jack had asked them, over thetelephone, to drop around, as he had to go out to his father's millbefore he could attend the meeting in the church, where a room in thebasement had been kindly loaned to them by the trustees. 

"What's all this mean about you going to the mill at this queer oldhour?" Bobolink was saying, as the three boys continued to walk onabreast, the speaker carrying the silver-plated bugle which he knew howto manipulate so well when the occasion allowed its use. 

"Why, you see it's this way, " Jack went on to explain. "My father knows aman of the name of Professor Hackett, though what he's a professor ofyou needn't ask me, because I don't know. But he's a bright littlegentleman, all right; and somehow or other he looks like he's just cramfull of some secret that's trying to break out all over him. "

Bobolink laughed aloud. 

"Well, that's a funny description you give of the gentleman, I must say, Jack; but go on--what's he got to do with our making this trip to the bigmill tonight?"

"I just guess it's got everything to do with it, " replied the other. "Yousee, the professor had a number of big cases sent up here on the train, and they came today, and were taken to the mill; for my father promisedto keep them there a couple of days until the owner could take them away. What under the sun's in those big boxes I couldn't tell you from Adam;all I know is that he seems to be mighty much afraid somebody's going tosteal them. "

"Wow! and are we going there to stand guard over the blooming oldthings?" exclaimed Bobolink in dismay; for he would not want to miss thatspecial meeting for anything. 

"Oh! not quite so bad as that, " answered Jack, with a laugh. "But yousee, that professor wrote my father that he wanted him to hire a trustyman who would stay in the mill over night until he could get up herefrom New York and take the boxes away, somewhere or other. "

"Oh, that's it, eh? And where do we find the guardian of the treasure? Ishe going to bob up on the road to the mill?" Tom Betts demanded. 

"He promised father to be on deck at seven-thirty, and it'll be close onthat by the time we get there, I reckon, " Jack continued. 

"And what have you got to do about it?" asked Bobolink. 

"Let him in, and lock the door after he's on duty, " replied Jack, promptly. "You see, ever since that attempt was made to burn the mill, when those hoboes, or yeggs, thought they'd find money in the safe, andhad their trouble for their pains, my father has been mighty careful howhe leaves the office unfastened. He couldn't see this man, Hans Waggoner, who used to work for us, but talked with him over the 'phone, and toldhim I'd be there to meet him, and let him in. That's all there is to it, boys, believe me. "

"Only, you don't know what's in those boxes, and you'd give a cookie tofind out?" suggested Bobolink. 

"It isn't so bad as that, " replied the other. "Of course I'm a littlecurious about what they might hold, that they have to be speciallyguarded; but I guess it's none of my business, and I'm not going tomonkey around, trying to find out. "

"Say, d'ye suppose your dad knows?" asked Tom. 

"Sure he must, " came from Jack, instantly. "He'd be silly to let anybodystore a lot of cases that might hold dynamite, or any other oldexplosive, in his planing mill, without knowing all about 'em; wouldn'the? But my father don't think it's any of my affair, you see. Andbesides, I wouldn't be surprised if that funny little professor had boundhim not to tell anybody about it. They got the boxes in on the sly, andthat's a fact, boys. "

"Oh! splash! now you've got me worked up with guessing, and I'll never beable to sleep till I know all about it, " grumbled Bobolink. 

"You're just as curious as any old woman I ever heard of, " declared Jack. 

"He always was, " said Tom Betts, with a chuckle, "and I could string offmore'n a few times when that same curiosity hauled Bobolink into a peckof trouble. But p'raps your father might let out the secret to you, afterthe old boxes have been taken away, and then you can ease his mind. Because it's just like he says, and he'll keep on dreamin' the mostwonderful things about those cases you ever heard tell about. Thatimagination of Bobolink is something awful. "

"Huh!" grunted the one under discussion, "not much worse than someothers I know about right now; only they c'n keep a tight grip ontheirs, and I'm that simple I just have to blurt everything out. Both ofyou fellers'd like to know nearly as much as I would, what thatmysterious little old man has got hid away in those big cases. Of courseyou would. But you jump on the lid, and hold it down. It gets away withme; that's all. "

"All the same, it's mighty good of you fellows, coming all the way outhere with me tonight; and even when Bobolink's got a stone bruise on hisheel, or something like that, " Jack went on to say, with a vein ofsincere affection in his voice; for the boys making up the Red Fox Patrolof Stanhope Troop were very fond of each other. 

"Oh! rats! what's the good of being a scout if you can't do a comrade alittle favor once in a while?" asked Bobolink, impetuously. "But there'sthe mill looming up ahead, Jack, in the dark. Half a moon don't give awhole lot of light, now, does it; and especially when it's a cloudy nightin the bargain?"

"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Jack. 

"What is it; did you see anything?" demanded Tom Betts, hastily. 

"I'm not dead sure, " admitted Jack; "you see, just as Bobolink said, thelight's mighty poor, and a fellow could easily be mistaken; but Ithought I saw something that looked like a tall man scuttle away aroundthat corner of the mill, and dodge behind that pile of lumber!"

"Whew!" ejaculated Bobolink, showing the utmost interest, for excitementappealed to him. 

"Say, perhaps Hans has arrived ahead of the half hour, " suggestedTom Betts. 

"No, it wasn't Hans, because I know him well, and he's a little runt of aDutchman, but a fighter from the word go; and my father knows nobody'sgoing to get away with those boxes of the professor while Hans and hismusket, that was used in the Civil War, are on guard. That was a tallman, and he ran like he'd just heard us coming, and wanted to hide. Iguess somebody else is curious about those boxes, besides Bobolink. "

CHAPTER II

GLORIOUS NEWS

"Look! there he goes scooting away over past that other pile of lumber!"said Tom Betts, pointing as he spoke; and both the others caught aglimpse of a dim figure that was bending over while hurrying away, as ifanxious not to be seen. 

"Well, what d'ye think of the nerve of that?" ejaculated Bobolink, makinga move as though in his impetuous way he was sorely tempted to chaseafter the disappearing figure of the unknown; only that the more cautiousJack threw out a hand, and caught hold of his sleeve. 

"Never mind him, boys, " remarked the son of the lumber man. "Perhaps itwas only a tramp from the railroad, after all, meaning to find a place tosleep among the lumber piles. But I'm going to tell my father about it, all the same. Seems to me he ought to have some one like Hans stay hereevery night. Some of those hoboes will set fire to things, either byaccident, or because they are mad at the town for not handing enough goodthings out to suit their appetites. "

They walked on, and in another minute were at the office door. There theysat down on the stoop to rest and talk; but only a few minutes had passedwhen they heard the sound of approaching footsteps; and a small but veryerect figure appeared, carrying an old-fashioned musket of the vintage of'61 over his shoulder. 

"Hello! Hans, on time all right, I see!" called out Jack. 

"Dot is me, I dells you, every time. I am punctuality idself. I sets meder clock, undt figure dot all oudt, so I haf yust der time to valk here. Der sooner you obens der door, Misder Jack, der sooner I pe on der chob, "was the reply of the little man who had been hired to watch the mill, andthose strange boxes, during the night. 

Evidently Hans was "strictly business. " He had been hired to watch, andhe wanted to be earning his wages as quickly as possible. 

So Jack used his key, and the four entered the office. It was quite agood-sized room. The windows were covered with heavy wire netting, and itseemed strong enough to resist any ordinary degree of force. After thatattempt to rob his safe, Mr. Stormways had taken precautions against asimilar raid. 

The watchman also carried a lantern, which he now lighted. No sooner hadthis been done than Bobolink uttered an exclamation. 

"I reckon now, Jack, that these three big boxes are the ones theprofessor wants watched?" he observed, pointing as he spoke to severalcumbersome cases that stood in a group, occupying considerable space. 

Tom Betts, also looking, saw that they were unusually well fastened. Inaddition to the ordinary nailing, they were bound along the edges withheavy twisted wire, through which frequent nails had been driven. Whenthey came to be opened, the job would prove no easy one. 

"Yes, those are the ones; and Hans is to spend most all his time righthere in the office, " Jack went on to say. "I'm going to ask my father ifhe ought not to hire you to be night watchman right along, Hans. Thisplant of ours is getting too big a thing to leave unguarded, with so manytramps coming along the road in the good old summer time. I suppose you'dlike the job, all right?"

"Sure, " replied the bustling little man, his eyes sparkling. "I alwaysdid enchoy vorkin' for Misder Stormways. Undt it habbens dot yust now Iam oudt off a chob. Dot vill pe allright. I hopes me idt turns out so. Undt now, off you like, you could lock der door some. I stay me heretill somepody gomes der mornin' py. "

"Oh! you keep the key, Hans, " replied Jack. "You might want to chase outafter some one; but father told me to warn you not to be tempted to gofar away. You see, he's storing these cases for a friend, and it seemsthat somebody wants to either get at 'em, or steal them. They're whatyou're hired to protect, Hans. And now let us out, and lock the doorafter we're gone. "

Anxious to get to the church before the meeting could be called to order, the three scouts did not linger, although Hans was such an amusing littleman that they would have liked nothing better than to spend an hour inhis society, listening to stories about his adventures--for the Dutchmanhad roamed pretty much all over the world since his boyhood. 

"Shucks! I forgot to examine those boxes, " lamented Bobolink, when theywere on the way past the end of the lumber yard. 

Jack was glancing sharply about, wondering whether that tall, skulkingfigure they had glimpsed could be some one who had a peculiar interest inthe boxes stored in the office of the mill until Professor Hackett calledfor them; or just an ordinary "Weary Willie, " looking for a soft board tosleep on, before he continued his hike along the railroad track. 

But look as he would, he could see no further sign of a trespasser. Ofcourse that was no sign the unknown might not be within twenty feet ofthem, right then. The tall piles of lumber offered splendid hiding-placesif any one was disposed to take advantages of the nooks; Jack hadexplored many a snug hole, when roaming through the yard at varioustimes, and ought to know about it. 

"Oh! I took care of that part, " chuckled Tom Betts. "I saw you weretalking with Jack and old Hans, so I just stepped up, and walked aroundthe boxes. There isn't a thing on 'em but the name of the professor, andJack's dad's address in Stanhope. "

"And they didn't look much like animal cages to me, " muttered Bobolink;upon which both of the others emitted exclamations of surprise, whereuponthe speaker seemed to think he ought to make some sort of explanation, sohe went on hastily: "You see, Jack, I somehow got a silly idea in my mindthat p'raps this little professor was some sort of an animal trainer, andmeant to come up here, just to have things quiet while he did his littlestunts. But that was a punk notion for me, all right; there ain't anysmell of animals about those boxes, not a whiff. "

"But what in the wide world gave you that queer notion?" asked Tom. 

"Don't know, " replied Bobolink, "'less it was what Jack said aboutthe professor writing up from Coney Island near New York City; that'sthe place where all the freaks show every summer. I've been downthere myself. "

"Listen to him, would you, Jack, owning up that he's a sure enough freak?Well, some of us had a little idea that way, Bobolink, but we neverthought you'd admit it so coolly, " remarked Tom Betts, laughingly. 

"And the wild animal show down there is just immense, " the other went on, not heeding the slur cast upon his reputation; for like many boys, Bobolink had a pretty tough skin, and was not easily offended; "and Iguess I've thought about what I saw done there heaps of times. So Coneystands for wild animal trainin' to me. But that guess was away wide ofthe mark. Forget it, fellows. Only whenever Jack here learns what was inthose boxes, he must let his chums know. It's little enough to pay fordraggin' a lame scout all the way out here tonight; think so, Jack?"

"I sure do, and you'll have it, if ever I find out, " was the reply. "Perhaps, after they've been taken away by the professor, my fathermightn't mind telling me what was in them. And we'll let it rest atthat, now. "

"But you mark me, if Bobolink gets any peace of mind till he learns, "warned Tom. 

Chatting on various matters connected more or less with the doings of theBoy Scout movement, and what a fine thing it was proving for the youth ofthe whole land, Jack and his chums presently brought up at the churchwhich had the bell tower; and where a splendid meeting room had beengiven over for their occupancy in the basement, in which a gymnasium wasfitted up for use in the fall and winter. 

In that tower hung a big bell, whose brazen tongue had once upon a timealarmed the good people of Stanhope by ding-donging at a most unusualhour. It had come through a prank played upon the scouts by several toughboys of the town whose enmity Paul Morrison and his chums had beenunfortunate enough to incur. But for the details of that exciting episodethe reader will have to be referred back to the preceding volume. 

Jack Stormways never glanced up at that tower but that he was forciblyreminded of that startling adventure; and a smile would creep over hisface as he remembered some of the most striking features connected withthe event. 

In the big room the three scouts found quite a crowd awaiting theircoming. Indeed, it seemed as though nearly every member of the troop hadmade it an especial point to attend this meeting just as though theyknew there was something unusual about to come before them forconsideration. 

As many of these lads will be apt to figure in the pages of this story, it might be just as well to listen to the secretary, as he calls theroster of the Stanhope Troop. Once this duty had devolved upon one of theoriginal Red Fox Patrol; but with the idea of sharing theresponsibilities in a more general way, it had been transferred to theshoulders of Phil Towns, who belonged to the second patrol. 

RED FOX PATROL

1--Paul Morrison, patrol leader, and also assistant scout master. 2--Jack Stormways. 3--Bobolink, the official bugler. 4--Bluff Shipley, the drummer. 5--Nuthin, whose real name was Albert Cypher. 6--William Carberry, one of the twins. 7--Wallace Carberry, the other. 8--Tom Betts. 

GRAY FOX PATROL

1--Jud Elderkin, patrol leader. 2--Joe Clausin. 3--Andy Flinn. 4--Phil Towns. 5--Horace Poole. 6--Bob Tice. 7--Curly Baxter. 8--Cliff Jones, whose entire name was Clifford Ellsworth Fairfax Jones. 

BLACK FOX PATROL

1--Frank Savage, patrol leader. 2--Billie Little, a very tall lad, and of course always called LittleBillie. 3--Nat Smith. 4--Sandy Griggs. 5--Old Dan Tucker. 6--"Red" Conklin. 7--"Spider" Sexton. 8--"Gusty" Bellows. 

Unattached, but to belong to a fourth patrol, later on:

George Hurst. "Lub" Ketcham. 

Thus it will be seen that there were now twenty-six lads connected withthe wide awake Stanhope Troop, and more coming. 

After the roll call, they proceeded to the regular business, with PaulMorrison in the chair, he being the president of the association. It wassurprising how well many of these boyish meetings were conducted; Pauland some of his comrades knew considerable about parliamentary law, andlong ago the hilarious members of the troop had learned that when oncethe meeting was called to order they must put all joking aside. 

Many a good debate had been heard within those same walls since thescouts received permission to meet there; and yet in camp, when the rigiddiscipline was relaxed, these same fellows could be as full of fun andfrolic as any lads going. 

Tonight it had been whispered around that Paul had some sort ofimportant communication to make. No one could give a guess as to what itmight be, although all sorts of hazards were attempted, only to bejeered at as absurd. 

And so, while the meeting progressed, they were growing more and moreexcited, until finally it was as much as some of them could do to repressa cheer when Paul, having made sure that there was no other business tobe transacted, arose with a smile, and announced that he had a certaincommunication to lay before them. 

"Are you ready to hear it?" he asked; "every fellow who is raisehis hand. "

Needless to say, not a single hand remained unraised. Paul deliberatelycounted them to the bitter end. 

"Just twenty-four; and as that is the total number present, we'll call itunanimous, " he said, just to tantalize them a little; and then, with anair of business he went on: "Two splendid gentlemen of this town, by nameMr. Everett and Colonel Bliss, happen to own motorboats. As they havegone to Europe, to be away until late in the Fall, they thought it wouldshow how they appreciated the work of the Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts ifthey offered the free use of their two boats to us, to make a cruisewherever we thought best during the balance of vacation time. Now, all infavor of accepting this magnificent offer from our fellow townsmensignify by saying 'aye!'"

Hardly had the words fallen from the speaker's lips when a thunderous"aye" made the stout walls of the building tremble. 

CHAPTER III

FOR CEDAR ISLAND--GHOST OR NO GHOST

"Three cheers for Colonel Bliss and Mr. Everett!" called out Bobolink, almost too excited to speak plainly. 

Paul himself led the cheering, because he knew those delighted boys justhad to find some sort of outlet for the enthusiasm that was bubbling upwithin them. And doubtless the walls of that sacred building had seldomheard such cheers since away back in the time when a meeting was heldthere at news of the Civil War breaking out in 1861 and the patrioticcitizens had formed a company on the spot, to volunteer their services tothe President. 

"Where will we go?" called out one scout, after the cheering had dieddown, and they found time to consider ways and means of employing themotorboats that had been so generously given into their keeping. 

"Down the Bushkill to the sea!" suggested one. 

"I suppose you think these motorboats can jump like broncos?" declaredJud Elderkin, with a look of disgust; "else how would they ever getaround that big dam down at Seely's Mills? We could crawl a few miles_up_ the Bushkill, but to go down would mean only a short cruise. "

"Let Paul say!" cried Bobolink, shrewdly reading the smile on the face ofthe assistant scout master, as he listened to all sorts of wild plans, none of which would hold together when the rest of the scouts started topick flaws. 

"Yes, Paul's got a scheme that'll knock all these wildcat ones just toflinders, see if it don't, " remarked Tom Betts, waving his hands toenforce silence. 

"Go on and tell us, Paul; and I reckon I c'n give a right smart guessthat it's about that Radway River country, " declared Bobolink. 

"Just what it is, " said Paul. "Listen, then, and tell me what you thinkof my plan. I've figured it all out, and believe we could make it a go. If we did, we'd surely have the time of our lives, and find out somethingthat I've wanted myself to know a long while back. It's about a trip upthe Radway River, too, just as our smart chum guessed. "

"But, say, the boats are right here at Stanhope, and have been used inrunning up and down the Bushkill; then how in the name of wonder can wecarry them over to the Radway, which is some miles away, I take it?"asked William Carberry, soberly. 

"Wait and see; Paul's got all that arranged, " declared the confidentTom Betts. 

"Have 'em hauled over on one of his father's big lumber wagons, mebbe, "suggested Nuthin, who was rather a small chap, though not of quite solittle importance as his name would seem to indicate. 

"Oh, you make me tired, Nuthin, " declared Bobolink; "why, thosemotorboats weigh a ton or two apiece. Think of gettin' a wagon strongenough to carry one; and all the slow trips it'd have to take to get 'emthere and back. I reckon the whole of our vacation'd see us on the dryland part of the cruise. Now, let Paul tell us what plan he's beenthinking about to get over to the Radway with 'em. "

"Well, it's just this way, " the chairman of the meeting went on to say, calmly, with the air of one who had studied the matter carefully, andgrasped every little detail; "most of you know that there was a streamknown as Jackson Creek that ran into the Bushkill a mile belowManchester. That was once dredged out, and made to form a regular canalconnecting the two rivers. For years, my father says, it was usedregularly by all sorts of boats that wanted to cross over from oneriver to the other. But changes came, and by degrees the old canal hasbeen about forgotten. Still, it's there; and I went through it in mycanoe just yesterday, to sound, and see if it could be used by themotorboats now. "

"And could it?" asked Bobolink, eagerly. 

"I think there's a fair chance that we'd pull through, though it mightsometimes be a close shave. There's a lot of nasty mud in the canal, because, you see, it hasn't been cleaned out for years. If we had a goodrain now, and both rivers raised, we wouldn't have any trouble, but couldrun through easy enough. "

"Well, supposing we did get through, how far up the Radway would wepush?" asked Bobolink, determined to get the entire proposition out ofPaul at once, now that they had him going. 

"All the way to Lake Tokala, " replied Paul, promptly. "Some of you happento know that there's a jolly island in that big lake, known as CedarIsland, because right on top of a small hill in the middle, a splendidcedar stands. Well, we could take our tents along, and make camp on thatisland, fishing, swimming, and having one of the best times ever heardof. What do you say, fellows?"

Immediately there was a clamor of tongues. Some seemed to be foraccepting Paul's suggestion with a whoop, and declared that it took themby storm. A few, however, seemed to raise objections; and such was theracket that nobody was able to make himself understood. So the chairmancalled for order; and with the whack of his gavel on the table everyvoice was stilled. 

"Let's conduct this meeting in a parliamentary way, " said Paul. "Some ofyou must have thought it stood adjourned. Now, whoever wants to speak, get up, and let's hear what you've got to say. "

"I move that we take up the plan offered, and make our headquarters onCedar Island, " said Wallace Carberry, rising. 

"Not on your life!" declared Curly Baxter, bobbing up like ajack-in-the-box; "I've heard lots about that same place. It's troubledwith a _mystery_, and only last week I heard Paddy Reilly say he'd nevergo there fishin' again if he was paid for it. He's dreadfully afraid ofghosts, Paddy is. "

"Ghosts!" almost shouted William Carberry; "I vote to go to CedarIsland then. I've always wanted to see a genuine ghost, and never yethad a chance. "

"Now, I heard that it was a wild man that lived somewhere on that sameisland, " remarked Frank Savage. "They say he's a terror, too, all coveredwith hair; and one man who'd been looking for pearl mussels in the riverup that way told my father he beat any Wild Man of Borneo he'd ever seteyes on in a freak show or circus. "

"Oh, that's a fine place for honest scouts to pitch their tents, ain'tit--I don't think!" observed Joe Clausin, with a sneer. 

"H-h-huh! ain't there j-j-just twenty-six of us s-s-scouts; and ought web-b-be afraid of one l-l-little g-g-ghost, or even a w-w-wild man?"demanded Bluff Shipley, who stuttered once in a while, when undulyexcited, though he was by degrees overcoming the nervous habit. 

"Put it to a vote, Mr. Chairman!" called out Bobolink. 

"Yes, and majority rules, remember, " warned William Carberry. 

"But that don't mean a feller just _has_ to go along, does it?" askedNuthin, looking somewhat aghast at the thought. 

"Of course it don't;" Bobolink told him; "all the same you'll be on deck, my boy. I just know you can't resist having such a jolly good time, ghostor not. Question, Mr. Chairman!"

"Vote! Vote!"

"All in favor of trying to go through the old canal that used to connectthe Bushkill with the Radway, and cruising up to Cedar Island, campingthere for a week or ten days, say 'aye, '" Paul went on to remark. 

A thunderous response cheered his heart; for somehow Paul seemed verymuch set upon following out the scheme he himself had devised. 

"Contrary, no!" he continued. 

There were just three who boldly allowed themselves to be set down as notbeing in favor of the daring plan--Nuthin, Curly Baxter and Joe Clausin;and yet, just as the wise, far-seeing Bobolink had declared, when it cameto a question of staying at home while the rest of the troop were offenjoying their vacation, or swallowing their fear of ghosts and wild men, these three boys would be along when the motorboats started on theiradventurous cruise. 

"The ayes have it; and the meeting stands adjourned, according to themotion I can see Jack Stormways's just about to put, " and with a laughPaul stepped down from the platform. 

For fully half an hour they talked the thing over. It was viewed fromevery possible angle. Many objections raised by the doubters werepromptly met by the ready Paul; and in the end it was definitely decidedthat they would give just one day to making all needed preparations. 

They had tents for the three patrols now, and all sorts of cookingutensils; for frequently the scouts were divided into messes, there beinga cook appointed in each patrol. 

What was needed most of all were the supplies for an extended stay; andwhen it was taken into consideration that a score of boys, with ravenousappetites, would want three big meals each and every day, the question offiguring out enough provisions to see them through was no light matter. 

But then they had considerable money in the treasury, and a numbers ofthe boys said they would bring loaves of bread, and all sorts of eatablesfrom home; so Paul saw his way clear toward providing the given quantity. 

"Don't forget that the gasoline is going to eat a big hole into ourlittle pile of the long green, " remarked Curly Baxter, still engaged intrying to throw cold water on the scheme. 

"Oh, that makes me think of something I forgot to tell you, fellows, "declared Paul, his face filled with good humor. "One of the stipulationsconnected with the lending of these two motor-boats by the kind gentlemenwho own them was that they insisted on supplying all the liquid fuelneeded to run the craft. The tanks are to be filled, and each boatcarries in addition another drum, with extra gasoline. We'll likely haveenough for all our needs that way, and without costing us a red cent, either. So, you see how easy most of your objections melt away, Curly. Chances are, you'll fall into line, and be with us when we start the dayafter tomorrow. "

Several of the boys were feeling pretty blue. They wanted to accompanythe rest of the troop the worst way; but it happened that their folks hadplanned to go down to the sea-shore for a month, until school beganagain; and the chances were they would have to go along, though every oneof them declared they would choose the cruise up the Radway in the twomotorboats, if given their way. 

But it looked as though there was going to be a pretty fair crowd on eachboat. Paul counted noses of those he believed would be along, and foundthat they seemed to number eighteen. If two of the three timid onesconcluded to throw their fears to the winds, and come along, it wouldmake an even twenty. 

"Of course, it will be hard to sleep so many aboard, because the boatsare small affairs, taken altogether, " Paul observed; "but we hope to makethe journey in a full day, and be on Cedar Island by nightfall. "

"Whew! night on Cedar Island--excuse _me_ if you please!" faltered CurlyBaxter, holding up both hands, as though the idea suggested all sorts ofterrible things to his mind; but much as he seemed desirous of causingothers to back out, Paul saw no signs of any one doing so. 

"Meet here at noon tomorrow, boys, and I'll report what I've done. Thenwe can figure on what else we have to lay in store, so as to becomfortable. We must get everything down to the boats before evening, because we start early on Wednesday, you hear. At eight A. M. , Bobolink, here, will sound his bugle; and ten minutes later we weigh anchor, or cutloose our hawsers, as you choose to say it, for it means letting go arope after all. "

They started home in bunches, as usual, those who happened to live neartogether naturally waiting for each other. Paul, Jack, and Bobolinkwalked together. 

"And just as it happens so many times, " Paul was saying, as theysauntered on in the direction of home. "Mr. Gordon is away on the roadsomewhere, selling goods; so we have to go without having our finescoutmaster along to look after us. "

"Guess nobody will miss him very much, although Mr. Gordon is a mightynice man and we all think a heap of him; but you are able to fill hisshoes all right, Paul; and, somehow, it seems to feel better not to haveany grown-up along. The responsibility makes most of the fellers behave, and think for themselves, you see, " Jack went on to say. 

Paul heaved a little sigh, for he knew who shouldered most of that sameresponsibility. 

"But, " remarked Bobolink, as he was about to separate from Jack and Paulon a certain corner, where their ways divided; "I'd give something rightnow to just know what's in those queer old boxes Professor Hackett hasstored in your mill, Jack; and why they have to be watched, just likethey held money or something that has to be guarded against an unknownenemy! But I guess I'll have to take it out in wantin', because you don'tknow, and wouldn't tell till you got the consent of your dad, even if youdid. Goodnight, fellows; and here's hoping we're going to have the timeof our lives up and around Cedar Island!"

CHAPTER IV

LAYING IN THE STORES

Well, it was a busy day for the scouts of Stanhope Troop. 

There was the greatest running back and forth, and consultations amongthe lads, ever known. Where a parent seemed doubtful about givingpermission for a boy to take part in the intended cruise, influence wasbrought to bear on coaxing neighbors to drop in, and tell how glad theywere their boys were independent, as it was the finest thing that couldever come to them; and also what slight chances there seemed to be of anyaccident happening that might not occur when the lads stayed at home, where they would go in swimming anyhow. 

And owing to the masterly way in which the objections of certain parentswere met and overcome, long before noon every boy who had a ghost of achance of sailing on the two motor-boats reported that he had gainedconsent; even Curly Baxter admitted that his folks had been won over, and that he "could go along, if so he he chose to shut his eyes to facts, and just trust to luck, " which, be it said, he finally did, just as Paulhad believed would be the case. 

Meanwhile Paul and Jack were making their purchases of provisions, usinga list that had been found useful on their other camping trip; althoughseveral little inaccuracies were corrected. For instance, they had takentoo much rice on that other occasion; and not enough ham, and salt pork, and breakfast bacon. 

Eggs they hoped to buy from some farmer over on the mainland; andpossibly milk as well. Jack even hinted that they might feel disposed, ifthe money held out, to get a few chickens, and have one grand feed beforebreaking camp. 

"And this time we'll try and make sure that none of our grub is hooked, like it was when we camped up on old Rattlesnake Mountain, " Jack haddeclared, with emphasis, for the memory of certain mysterious thingsthat had happened to them on that occasion often arose to disturb someof the scouts. 

"Oh! it ought to be easy to look out for that part of the job, " Paul hadmade answer; "because, you see, we'll have the two boats to store thingsin, and they can be anchored out in the lake, if we want, each with aguard aboard. "

By noon the whole town knew all about the expected cruise. Boys who didnot have the good luck to belong to Stanhope Troop became greatly excitedover it; and by their actions and looks showed how envious they were oftheir schoolmates. 

Just about then, if the assistant scout master had called for volunteers, he could have filled two complete additional patrols with candidates; forthe fellows began to realize that the scouts were having three times asmuch fun as any one else. 

But Paul was too wise for that. He believed in selecting the right sortof boys, and not taking every one who offered his name, just because hewanted to have a good time. These fellows would not be able to live up tothe iron-clad rules that scouts have got to subscribe to, and which arepretty much covered in the twelve cardinal principles which, each boydeclares in the beginning, he will try and govern his life by--"to betrustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. "

Some of the scouts were at Headquarters, as the room under the church wascalled, getting the supplies there in order, to take down to the boatslater on, when they were surprised to have a visitor in the shape of oldPeleg Growdy. 

This man lived just outside the town limits, on the main road. He hadonce kept his wagon yard in a very disgraceful condition, much to thedisgust of the women folks of Stanhope. The boys, too, looked upon Pelegas a crusty old fellow, who hated their kind. 

He had done something to offend one of the scouts, and it was proposedthat they play some sort of trick on the old fellow in order to pay himback; but Paul ventured to say that if the scouts went in a body to hisplace, when he was asleep, and cleaned up his wagon yard so that itlooked neat, he would have his eyes opened to the debt he owed thecommunity. 

Paul, it seemed, had learned the main cause of the old man's holdingaloof from his neighbors. It came from the fact that some years back hehad lost his wife and children in the burning of his house; and eversince had looked upon boys as especially created to worry lone widowerswho wanted only to be let alone. 

Well, the scouts certainly made a great friend of Peleg Growdy. He hadeven tried to induce them to let him purchase their suits to show that hewas a changed man; but of course they could not allow that, because eachtrue scout must earn every cent of the money with which his outfit in thebeginning is bought. But in many ways had old Peleg shown them that hewas now going to be one of the best friends the boys of Stanhope Troophad ever possessed. 

He had heard about their intended trip, when he came to town with someproduce; and rather than go back home with some things for which theredid not seem to be any sale at the price he wanted, he had come aroundwith his wagon to ask his boy friends to please him by accepting them ashis contribution to the cause. 

They could not disappoint the generous-hearted old man by refusing; andbesides the half-bushel of onions, and double the quantity of newpotatoes, looked mighty fine to the lads. 

About two o'clock, when it seemed that their list was about complete, even though they would doubtless think of a lot of things after it wastoo late to get them, Paul decided to send for the wagon that was to haulthe tents and other things, including blankets for the crowd, broughtfrom various homes to the meeting place, down to the waiting boats. 

"I wanted to get Ezra Sexton, but he was busy, " Jack explained, when hehad carried out the errand given into his charge; "fact is, I hear, Bobolink, that Ezra came early this morning with an order from theprofessor, and took all those big cases away in his two wagons. "

"Well, that was quick work now, wasn't it?" grumbled Bobolink; "reckon Iwon't ever have a chance to see what was inside those boxes. Say, seehere, d'ye happen to know where Ezra hauled 'em? Not to the railroad, Ishould think, because they only came that way yesterday. "

But Jack shook his head. 

"Some distance off, I reckon, because the trucks don't seem to be backyet, so I couldn't get to see Ezra, " he remarked; "but when we come homeagain, I'll ask my father about it, and relieve that curiosity of yours, Bobolink. "

"Huh! that means mebbe two weeks or so I'm to go on guessing, I s'pose, "the other remarked, in a disconsolate way that made Jack laugh. 

"Funny how you do get a notion in that coco of yours; and it'd take acrowbar to work it loose, " he observed, at which the other onlygrinned, saying:

"Born that way; must 'a made a mistake and left the wrong article at ourhouse for the new baby; thought it was a girl; always wantin' to knoweverything, and never happy till I get it. But Jack, I'll try and keepthis matter out of my mind. Don't pay any attention to me, if I lookcross once in a while. That'll be when it's got me gripped fast, and I'mtryin' to guess. "

"I've known you to do the same when you had one of those puzzles, tryingto work it, " chuckled Jack Stormways. "Fact is, I remember that once youtold me you sat up till two o'clock in the morning over that ringbusiness. "

"But I got her, Jack--remember that; won't you? If I hadn't I'd beenburning the midnight oil yet, I reckon. 'Taint safe to make _me_ apresent of a puzzle, because I'm just dead sure to nearly split my poorweak brain trying to figger it out. And Jack, I'll never be happy till Iknow what was in those boxes; and why did that sly little professorbelieve someone wanted to steal his thunder and lightning?"

It took several loads to carry all their traps down to the boats. Butfinally, as the groceries had also been delivered, the scouts took countof their stock, and it was believed they had about everything, save whatthe boys might bring in the morning from home. 

Paul advised them to go slow with regard to what they carried along, asthey did not expect to be gone six months. If any garments gave out, why, there would be plenty of soap and water handy; and the fellow who did notknow how to wash a pair of socks, or some handkerchiefs, had better takea few lessons on how to play laundry woman in an emergency. 

"If things keep on multiplying much more, " the scout master remarked, ashe looked around at the tremendous amount of stuff which the boys werenow beginning to stow away systematically; "why we won't be able tonavigate the boats through that shallow canal at all. They'll just stickfast, because they'll be so low down in the water; and chances are we'llhave to spend all our vacation slobbering around in that mud trying tocoax them along. Go slow, fellows; bring just as little as you possiblycan in the morning. If there's any doubt about it being a real necessity, why leave it at home. We're all scouts and true comrades, ready to shareand share alike; so, no matter what happens, no one will go without. "

Of course there were many persons who came down to watch the loading ofthe supplies, for half of Stanhope was interested in the expedition; andgroups of envious boys could be seen in various nooks, taking note of allthat went on, while they wished they had such good luck. 

No one was allowed on board who had no business there. Of course when anyof the fathers or mothers of the boys who were going happened along, theywere only too proudly shown through both boats, and had everythingexplained by half a dozen eager scouts. But a couple of guards stood atthe gangplank, and no boy was allowed aboard unless accompanied by hisparents; and even then a strict watch was kept, because there were somepretty mean fellows in town, who believed in the motto of "rule orruin. " When they were not allowed to play, they always tried their bestto see to it that no one else played, either. 

"There's Ted Slavin and Ward Kenwood sitting up on the bank over there, Paul, " remarked Jack, about half an hour before the time when the scoutswould have to be going home to their suppers. 

"I've been watching them, " replied the scout master; "and from the waythey carry on, laughing when they put their heads together, I had justabout made up my mind that they were hatching up some mischief. "

"Mischief!" echoed Bobolink, who was close by at the moment, and heardwhat was being said; "say, that's too nice a word to use when talkingabout the pranks of that combination. Ward, he supplies some of thebrains, and all of the hard plunks; while that bully, Ted Slavin, doesthe work, or gets some of his cronies to do it for him. Now, I wonder ifthey'll try to come aboard here, and play hob with our stuff, like theydid once before when we were all ready to hike off on a jaunt?"

"Don't bother yourself about that, Bobolink, " said Paul, quietly. "I haddecided, even before I noticed Ward and Ted, that we must have a guardstay on board all night. I'm going to see right now what fellows can bespared. They can go home to supper, and some of us will wait for them tocome back. "

"Let me be one, Paul; won't you?" pleaded Bobolink. 

"But you are so quick to act, and it might bring on trouble, " objectedthe other. 

"Oh! I'll promise to think five times before I act once; and besides, there'll be some fellow along, like Jack here, who can keep me quiet. Ofcourse, though, if you believe I'm not fit to do the work, why--"

"That'll do for you, Bobolink, " Paul broke in, "if your folks say you canstay, come back ready to camp on board. I'll find you one or twomates--four if possible--so you can sleep in relays of twos. And I'llalso try to fix up some dodge that will cool those fellows off, in casethey try to jump aboard between sunset and daylight. "

"Huh! I'd rather _warm_ their jackets for 'em, " growled Bobolink; who, having suffered before at the hands of the meanest boy in Stanhope, TedSlavin, had only the poorest opinion of him, and of those who trained inhis company. 

"When I come back tonight, after supper, " continued Paul, "I'm going tofetch my shotgun along. It might come in handy on the cruise in case weran up against a wildcat, or something like that. And I've known such athing as a double-barrel to be mighty useful, when fired in the air, tomake sneaking boys nearly jump out of their skins with alarm--but alwaysin the air, remember, Bobolink. "

"Oh! don't worry about me; my bite is not half as bad as my bark. I liketo make out I'm just fierce, when all the while, if you could lookinside, you'd find me chuckling to beat the band. I wouldn't shoot a gunat anybody, unless it was to save another fellow's life; and then I'd tryto pepper his legs. Fetch the gun, Paul; it'll come in real handy. "

So, when Paul did come back after dark, he carried the weapon under hisarm in true hunter style; for Paul had been several times up in Maine, and knew a good deal of woodcraft, having had actual experience, which isbetter than theory, any day. 

These four scouts were left in charge of the two boats, when finally Paulwent back home to get some sleep before the eventful day that was towitness the sailing of the motorboat expedition:

Bobolink; Tom Betts; Spider Sexton, of the Black Fox Patrol and AndyFlinn, who belonged to the Gray Foxes; and firmly did they promise Paulto keep a bright lookout to make sure that no harm came to the boatsduring the long night. 

CHAPTER V

JUST AFTER THE CLOCK STRUCK TEN

"Here we are, monarchs of all we survey, " remarked Bobolink, as the lastof the other scouts went off, leaving the four guards to their task oftaking care of those two fine motorboats for the night. 

It was nine o'clock. 

The well-known sounds from the church steeple had told them that; andsomehow every fellow counted the strokes aloud, as though on this nightin particular they meant far more than at other times. 

Stanhope, not being a manufacturing town, like Manchester, was, as arule, rather quiet of nights; except when the Glorious Fourth was beingcelebrated; or some other holiday kept the younger element on the move. 

Bobolink had been given the post of "Captain of the Guards;" while TomBetts was to be considered the second in command. They were to divide theduties in such fashion that there would be two of them on deck at a time. 

"I'll take Andy for my mate; and you can have Spider to help out, "Bobolink had told Tom, when they were arranging the programme. 

"And how long will the watches be?" demanded Spider, who liked to sleepabout as much as any fellow in the troop; he had gained that odd name notbecause he was artful and cruel; but on account of his slender legs, which long ago some smart boy had likened to those of a spider; and itonly requires a hint like that to establish a nick-name. 

"Two hours each, divided into four, " replied the chief, feeling theresponsibility of his position; for this was really the first timeBobolink could remember being placed over any of his fellow scouts--Paulwished to "try him out, " and discover what sort of reliance could beplaced in the lad. 

"That's an awful short time to get a snooze, " complained Spider, yawning. "Why, you'd hardly get asleep before you'd have to wake up. "

"Then what's the use going to sleep at all, at all?" remarked AndyFlinn, with a broad smile. "Let's draw lots to say who'll stand guardthe whole night"

"Well, I guess not, " objected Spider, vigorously. "Half a loaf is somebetter'n no bread, they always say; and four hours ought to make afellow feel as though he hadn't been shut out altogether from hisneeded rest. "

"Needed rest is good for you, Spider; the only trouble is you need toomuch, " Bobolink remarked. "But here's the way we'll fix it: Andy and me, why, we'll be the pioneers on the job, starting in right now, while youothers curl up somewhere, and get busy taking your forty winks. Ateleven-ten we'll give you the foot, and take your places. Jack left mehis little watch, so we could tell how time goes; but sure, you can hearthe clock in the church steeple knock off the hours. And for the lasttime, listen to me; not one wink must any sentry take while on duty. Sleeping on post is the most terrible thing you can do. They shootsoldiers in war time who betray their trust that way. Get yourinstructions, fellows?"

"I'm on to what you mean, all right, " said Spider; "and I guess I know myweakness, as well as anybody. To prove that I want to do the right thing, I'm going to fix it up with my mate to give me a jab with this pin, everytime he gets a notion in his head that I'm drowsing. "

"Say, that sounds heroic all right, " remarked Bobolink, doubtfully; "butyou don't want to get too gay with that same pin, Tom. It'd be a shame towake Andy and me up every ten minutes, making Spider give a yelp. Betterjust shake him if he acts sleepy. And above everything else, keep abright watch along the shore. "

"Think they'll be apt to come from that direction, do you?" asked Spider. 

"Just as like as not, " the other returned; "but that isn't saying youought not to keep an eye on the other side, and all around. I wouldn'tput it past that Ted Slavin to swim down this way from some place above, thinking he could do his little trick by fooling us, and coming aboard onthe water side. "

"Whew! do you really think, then, he'd dare board these boats, knowingthat they belong to two of the richest and most prominent citizens ofStanhope?" asked Spider, who occasionally liked to air his command offine language. 

"Well, you ought to be on to the curves of that Ted Slavin; and if youjust look back to things he's been known to do in the past, why, lotsof times he's played his pranks on people that had a pull. Why, didn'the even sneak into the loft over Police Headquarters once, and rig up ascare that came near breaking up the force. Ted fixed it so the wind'dwork through a knot-hole in the dark, whenever he chose to pull astring over the fence back of the house, and make the awfullestgroaning noise anybody ever did hear. It got on the nerves of ChiefBillings and his men. They hunted that loft over and over, but ofcourse the groans didn't come when they were up there. Why, he had 'emso badly rattled that they all just about camped out on the pavementthe rest of that night. "

"Sure, I remember that, " declared Andy Flinn, laughing. "Three nights didhe play the same joke, and then they got on to him. Wan officer do besneakin' up to the loft, while the rist pretended to be huntin' arounddownstairs. He discovered the sthring, cript downstairs again, wint outon the sly, and, be the powers, followed it to the fince. Then he wintaround, and jumped on Tid while the bhoy was a pullin' his sthring likesmoke, makin' worse groanings than any time yit. Sure they thried to hushthe joke up, the police was that ashamed; but it cript out some way. "

"Well, get off to bed, Spider and Tom;" said Bobolink, "we'll wake you upwhen it's time to change the watch. And remember what a nice littlesurprise we've got ready for anybody who thinks he can meddle with thingsthat don't belong to him. Skip out now, both of you. "

The two motorboats had been lashed side by side. They were about of asize, and something like twenty-four feet in length, with a rathergenerous beam, because their owners went in for pleasure and comfort, rather than racing. Still, one of the boats, the _Speedwell_, was said tobe capable of doing a mile in seven minutes, if pushed, on flat water;while the other, called the _Comfort_, being broader, could not doanything like that. 

It was easy to pass from one boat to the other, as they lay there. Eachhad a canopy top, and curtains that could be dropped, and buttoned, during a wet spell, or if the owner chose to sleep aboard; but on thisoccasion Paul had believed it best that these latter should remain up, soas to allow of free observation all around. 

A stout hawser secured the boat nearest the shore to a big stake thathad been driven deeply into the earth. Thus the boats lay close besidea short dock that was called a landing stage. As the current of theBushkill was always pretty strong there must be more or less of astrain on that hawser; but since it was comparatively new, the boysfelt that there could not be the slightest danger of its breaking, unless some outside influence were brought to bear on it, such as akeen-edged knife blade. 

In that case, as it was very taut, it would naturally part readily; andwith consequences disastrous to the safety of the two boats, which mustbe carried off down-stream in the darkness, possibly to be driven ashoreon some rocks below. 

And so Bobolink, having been duly warned with regard to possible troublein connection with that same hawser, had mentally called the rope his"dead line;" and he watched the shore above that point three times asmuch as any other place. 

He and Andy had planned not to talk while on duty. If they found itnecessary to say anything at all, which was hardly likely, thecommunication would be in the lowest whisper. 

Bobolink was not greedy, but he really hoped that if any sort oftrouble did come it would come along while he and Andy were holding thepost of guards. He had a little fear that Spider Sexton might not bedepended on, no matter what his good intentions, while Tom Betts was anunknown quantity. 

In case Andy happened to be sitting in one boat, while Bobolink wasoccupying the other, they had fixed it up so that by taking a leadpencil, the "commander" could give a few little light taps on the side ofthe craft, using his knowledge of the Morse code to send the message, andin this way ask whether his assistant were wide awake, and on the job, when Andy would send back a reply along the same order; for he aspired tobe a signal man of the troop, and was daily practicing with the wigwagflags, as well as smoke and fire signals. 

The town clock boomed out the hour of ten. 

Bobolink had himself begun to feel rather sleepy, and more to arouse hisdormant faculties than anything else, he sent a message along the woodentelegraph line. The reply was a bit slow in coming, which made him thinkAndy might also be inclined to fall into a doze. 

So Bobolink decided that he must bestir himself, and give the signal morefrequently. He would not have this, his first important commission, turnout poorly, for a good deal. Perhaps his whole future usefulness as ascout who could be depended on in emergencies rested on the way heaccounted for the safety of the motorboats this night. 

When he found himself letting his eyes shut, even for a minute, he wouldimmediately try to picture the consternation that would ensue should afire suddenly envelope the boats that had been placed in the hands of thescouts, and for which they would be held responsible. 

He knew Ted Slavin of old, and felt that the town bully would nothesitate at even such a thing as that. 

Then there was such a thing as cutting the hawser, and letting the boatsdrift down-stream, to bring up against some rocks that might stave a holein the delicate planking. Who could tell but what the rope had partedunder a strain? Sometimes a break may look like the work of a sharpknife; and anyway, as darkness lay upon the scene, with a cloudy skyoverhead to hide the young moon, the identity of the vandal could neverbe absolutely known. 

All these things Bobolink was turning over and over in his mind as he satthere trying to keep awake. 

It is one of the hardest things to do, and especially when the subject isonly a half-grown lad, with but a dim idea of the responsibilitydepending on the faithful discharge of his duty. 

Hello! what was that? Bobolink thought he surely heard a sound likemuttered conversation. But then, even in steady old Stanhope, there werea number of happy-go-lucky chaps who tarried late in the saloons; andwhen they finally started homeward, used to talk to themselves along theway. Perhaps it was only one of these convivial fellows trying to findthe way home, and getting off his course, coming to the open place alongthe river bank, intending to lie down and sleep his confusion off. 

Bobolink was thrilled, however, a minute later, when he felt sure hecould again hear the low mutter of voices. It struck him that severalpersons might be urging each other on, as though inclined to feel theneed of backing. 

It came from up-river, too, the point he meant to watch more than anyother; and this fact increased the suspicious look of the case. 

"Oh! it's coming, " whispered the eager boy to himself; "and I only hopethe water will be hot enough, that's all. "

His words were mysterious enough to suit any one; and even while he wasspeaking in this manner Bobolink started to crawl under the canopy thatsheltered him from the dew of the night. He allowed the end of his pencilto throb against the side of the boat, giving the one significant word:"Come!" An immediate answer assured him that Andy heard, and understood. Another minute, and the Irish boy came shuffling over from the otherboat, trying to keep from making any more noise than was necessary. 

"Take hold, " Bobolink whispered in his ear, pulling the other's head downclose to his lips; "They're coming! Be ready to go at it licketty-splitwhen I say the word. Get that?"

"Sure!" came in the faintest tone from the other; whereupon Bobolink, feeling that his hour had arrived, started once more to crawl back to hisformer position. 

But now he had something in his hands that looked very like a snake; orsince Bobolink was known to fairly detest all crawling creatures, itmight be a rope, although there are still other things that have thatsame willowy appearance--a garden hose, for example. 

CHAPTER VI

THE GREAT CRUISE OF THE SCOUTS BEGUN

When Bobolink again reached the bow of the _Comfort_, and peered abovethe side, he glued his eyes to the spot where he knew the rope lay thatheld the boats moored to the shore. 

And as the half moon condescended to peep from behind the dark cloudsthat had until now hidden her bright face, the scout could make out aflattened figure, that seemed to be hugging the earth, while creepingslowly forward. 

Not only one, but three more, did he see, all in a line, as though inthis way the conspirators had arranged to keep their courage up to thesticking point. Each fellow might watch his mates, and see that no onelagged behind. 

Bobolink was quivering with eagerness and excitement. He figured thatthese night crawlers had only five more feet to cover before they wouldbe as close to his "dead line" as prudence would dictate that he allow, since it might require only a single sweep of the knife to cut that rope. 

They kept on advancing as though anxious to get the job over with, nowthat they had keyed their courage up to the proper pitch. 

Another foot was all that Bobolink meant to allow, and then his timewould come to act. Those last few seconds seemed fairly to crawl, sowrought-up was the waiting scout; but finally he concluded that it was nouse holding off any longer. So he suddenly called out the one word:

"Now!"

Instantly a new sound broke the silence. Bobolink elevated the objecthe was hold in his hands. There came a queer, whizzing noise, likewater squirting from the end of a nozzle; which was exactly what itwas, and _hot_ water in the bargain, not actually scalding, but of sucha temperature to make a fellow wince, if it happened to sprinkleover-his face. 

It was all Bobolink's idea. He had brought a little garden pump aboardduring the afternoon, with the hose that went with it. There was akerosene cookstove aboard each boat, used when going ashore might beunwise on account of rainy weather; and on this the artful schemer hadheated his water. Every time he went back to that quarter he tested itstemperature, to see whether it kept up to the pitch he meant it shouldbe. And Andy's part of the job was to manipulate the handle of the littlepump with all his vim and power. 

Imagine the consternation of four plotters, who, when just about tocarry out their pleasant little scheme, suddenly and without warning, found a spray of hot water touching every exposed part of their skin!

Do you wonder that they immediately let out a few yelps, and scramblingto their feet, rushed headlong away, followed by the laughter and jeersof Bobolink and his hard-working assistant. 

"Go it, you tigers! My! what sprinters you can be, when you only halftry! Come again, when you cool off a bit! Plenty more of the same kind ontap! Don't be bashful, Teddy; let's hear from you again, and often. Whee!just listen to 'em howl, would you?"

Perhaps some of those who were with Ted Slavin in his little game weremore frightened than hurt by the hot water, but they certainly didchatter as they kept on up the river bank. Little danger of them makinganother try to injure the boats again that night!

Of course Spider and Tom Bates had jumped up at the first outbreak, readyto help repel boarders. Their assistance was not needed; but they enjoyedthe joke as much as their chums and for the next half hour all sataround, talking, and comparing notes. 

But finally silence again rested over the scene; Spider and Tomcondescended to crawl under their blankets again for another "cat-nap, "as the former dubbed it, while Bobolink and his able assistant resumedtheir duties as sentries. 

The night, however, was disturbed no more by any outbreak. Those would-bejokers seemed to know when they had taken hold of what Bobolink termedthe "business end of a buzz-saw;" at any rate they were only conspicuousduring the remainder of the night by their absence. 

Of course every one of the boys on board the two motorboats was glad whenthe first peep of dawn came. It had seemed about "forty-eleven hourslong, " Spider admitted; though he also triumphantly asked Tom Bettswhether the other had had occasion to jab that pin into him even once, which the second scout laughingly admitted he had not. 

"See there, " Spider had declared, "can't I keep awake when dutycalls me? You needn't be afraid to trust a Sexton, when you need afaithful watcher. "

Before the sun appeared Paul and Jack were on hand, to make sure thateverything was in shape for an early start, for they hoped to get away bynine o'clock. 

Others of the scouts began to drop around, and from the appearance oftheir eyes Paul was of the opinion that a full night's sleep had not beenenjoyed by many of the members of the troop. Of course, it was theexcitement of starting out on such a glorious cruise that kept themawake; for it is not given to scouts very often to enjoy such a prospect, afloat, with staunch motorboats given over into their keeping. 

Since so many things had been looked after on the preceding afternoon, there was really little to be done that morning. Every fellow wassupposed to be on hand at a certain time, ready with his little blanket, and his haversack, in which he would carry a towel, some soap, a brush, an extra shirt, some socks and handkerchiefs; and if he could find aspare bit of room, why, he was entitled to cram in all the crullers orother dainties he could manage; for after that supply was gone therewould be only plain camp fare until they got home again. 

Paul was kept busy seeing that everything was stored away in the rightplace. Of course the supplies of food and the tents, as well as thenumerous blankets, had to be divided as equally as possible, so that eachboat would have its fair cargo. 

When the roster of those who could go was taken, just before the timecame to start, and the others were ordered ashore, it was found that alltold there were just eighteen fellows lucky enough to be in the lot. 

Some of the boys who could not go looked pretty doleful as they watchedthe preparations. There were the twins, William and Wallace Carberry, whose parents insisted on their going to the sea-shore; and Horace Poole, as well as Cliff Jones, of the second patrol, also compelled to obey theparental injunction; when, if given their choice, they would ten timessooner have remained at home, and had the chance of starting out on thiswonderful cruise with their chums. 

Sandy Griggs, the butcher's son, was laid up with a lame leg; whileGeorge Hurst happened to develop a touch of malaria, and his parentswould not hear of him going on the water at such a time. As for RedConklin and Lub Ketcham, for some reason or other which they did not careto explain, they had been positively refused permission to go along;perhaps they were being punished for some misdemeanor; and if so, tojudge from the long faces they showed, the like would not be apt tohappen again very soon; for it pained them dreadfully to think that theywere to be debarred from all that glorious fun which the fortunateeighteen had ahead of them. 

With nine to a boat there was considerable crowding; but this came mostlyon account of the tremendous amount of material carried. Why, one wouldalmost be inclined to think those boys were going off for a whole threemonths, instead of not more than two weeks at most, to judge from thestuff they carried. It takes boys a long time to learn to plan such tripsas this in light marching order, doing without everything save absolutenecessities. 

Why, there was Bobolink, who ought to have known better, actually tryingto get Paul to allow him to take along that little garden pump, with itsline of hose. Just because it had come in so happily when those jokersmeant to cut the hawser, and set the two boats adrift, Bobolink declaredthere could be no telling how many times it would prove a blessing; butPaul utterly refused to carry such a burden; and so in the end it wasput ashore, and given in charge of the twins to return in safety to theLink garden. 

When nine o'clock struck, everything seemed to be ready. 

"I can't think of anything else; can you. Jack?" Paul asked his second incommand, and who was to take charge of the _Speedwell_, while Paulhimself ran the other craft. 

"I see you've got the extra gas aboard, and that was one thing I had onmy mind, " replied Jack. "There's nothing else that I know. Look atWilliam Carberry, will you? I honestly believe he's figuring in his mindright now whether he dares go, against his home order, and jump aboard, to sail with us. "

"I wouldn't let him, now that I know he couldn't get permission, "remarked Paul, promptly. "We want to make a start with a clean record. Nofellow is going without the full permission of his folks. I'd hate tothink that any scout sneaked off, and came anyhow. He wouldn't have agood time, because all the while he'd be thinking of what was coming whenhe got back. "

"Bobolink is rubbing his chin every time he looks at that little gardenpump, " Jack went on, chuckling mightily, as though he enjoyed watchingthe faces of his comrades, and reading all sorts of things there. "Hejust can't see why you wouldn't let him carry it along. I heard him tellhow it would be good for giving us all a clean-off shower bath, when wewent in swimming; and all that sort of thing. When he can't have what hewants, Bobolink is a hard loser; isn't he, Paul?"

"Well, he beats any one else in hanging on, " replied the other. "Nowtake those boxes that little old professor stored one night in yourfather's mill--Bobolink just can't get them out of his mind; and henever will be happy till you find out what was in them. After that he'llforget all about the things. But if everything is ready, I guess wemight as well start. "

When the _Speedwell_, being on the outside, started to "popping, " andthen moved off, there was a cheer from fully five score of throats;and counting the girls who had also come down to see the beginning ofthe motorboat cruise, there must have been nearly double that numberon the bank. 

Then the roomier _Comfort_ also made a start, and following in the wakeof the pilot boat, turned until her nose pointed down-stream. Flags wereflying from fore and aft of both boats; and the boys waved theircampaign hats, while they sent back hearty cheers in answer to the manygood wishes shouted after them by the crowd ashore, while Bobolink blewcheery blasts on his bugle, and Bluff Shipley would have beaten a livelytattoo on his drum, only it had been decided best to leave thatinstrument at home. 

And with all this noisy send-off, the two boats began to chug-chug downthe Bushkill, bound for that far-away island in Lake Tokala, about whichso many strange stories had from time to time been told. 

"Well, we're off at last, Bobolink, " said Jack, who had that individualaboard with him. 

"That's right, and everything seems lovely, with the goose hanging high, "replied the other. "But seems to me the troop owes us guards a vote ofthanks for serving as we did. Just think what a lot of grunters we'd havebeen this fine morning, if our boats had been set adrift, and brought upon the rocks down below, with chances of holes being knocked in thesides! Say, we've got a whole lot to be thankful for, Jack; and my oldgarden pump stood up to the racket first-rate, too. "

"That's true, Bobolink; and as soon as we're settled in camp I'm going tomake sure that the troop acknowledges its indebtedness to you fourfellows by a vote of thanks, see if I don't. "

"Oh say, now, I didn't mean to hint that way, " objected the other, turning a little red in the face with confusion. "We only did our duty, after all, if we did lose a lot of sleep. But then, I guess we got asmuch as a lot of the fellows that went to bed at home. Yes, we're off atlast, and things look great. I'm as happy as a lark, and that free fromcare--well, I would be, that is, if only somebody could up and give mejust a hint what those boxes had in 'em. It was so funny to have thatqueer professor store 'em with your father in his mill; and then to havesomebody sneakin' around, wantin' to steal them. Needn't grin at me thatway, Jack; you know I'm a little weak in that quarter. I sure _do_ wantto know! Don't suppose you've heard anything new since I talked with youlast about it?" and as Jack shook his head in the negative, Bobolinklooked disappointed, and turned away. 

CHAPTER VII

STUCK FAST IN THE MUD

"About three mile's below Stanhope now; aren't we, Paul?" asked JudElderkin, the leader of the second patrol, who, with Bluff, Nuthin, Joe Clausin, Gusty Bellows, Old Dan Tucker, Phil Towns and LittleBillie, constituted the crew of the _Comfort_, commanded by the scoutmaster himself. 

Jack had been given charge of the other boat, because Frank Savage wasnot feeling any too well, though probably he had not let his folks knowabout it, lest he be kept at home. 

"More than that, Jud, " answered the other; "and in the most ticklish partof the river, too. I ought to signal the other boat to slow up some more. You see, while there are no rocks around here, the eddies form sandbarsthat keep changing, just as I understand they do away out in the bigMississippi, so that a pilot on his way up-river finds a new channel cutout, and bars that were never there when he went down a week before. "

"And notice, too, that Jack's given over the wheel to Bobolink, while heis back looking after the motor. Now, Bobolink is a cracker-jack of afellow to get up all sorts of clever schemes for sprinkling creepers inthe night; but he's a little apt to be flighty when it comes to running aboat. There! what did I tell you, Paul; they've run aground, as sure asyou live!"

"You're right, Jud; and it looks like the _Speedwell_ might go over onher beam-ends, the way she's tilted now. Good for Jack; he's orderingthem all over on the upper side! That may keep her from toppling over!"Paul exclaimed, as he gave the wheel a little turn, and headed straightfor the boat in peril. 

"Wow! that was a right smart trick of Jack's!" cried Jud, in admiration. "If he'd lost his head, like some fellows I know might have done, nothing'd ever kept that boat on her keel. And just to think what a nastyjob we'd have on our hands, trying to right her again, and before ourgreat trip had hardly started. "

"Yes, " added Old Dan Tucker, who happened to be close to them, "thatain't the worst of it. You know the main part of the grub's aboard theother boat Think of those juicy hams floatin' off down the Bushkill, withnot a single tooth ever bein' put in 'em; and all that bread and stuffsoaked. Oh! it gives me a cold shiver to even think of it, " for Dan lovedthe bugle call that announced dining time better than any other music. 

The greatest excitement prevailed aboard both boats. Jack seemed to bekeeping his crew perched along the upper rail, where their weight had theeffect of holding the boat with the narrower beam from toppling over onher side. It looked like a close shave, as Jud Elderkin said, with thatswift current rushing past on the port quarter, and almost lapping therim of the cockpit. 

Of course, as soon as she struck Jack had shut off power, so that theboat was now lying like a stranded little whale. 

Paul brought up alongside, looking out that he did not strike the sameunseen sandbar. 

"Take this rope, some of you, and make fast to that cleat at the stern, "Paul called out, giving a whirl that sent it aboard the tilted motorboat. 

"What are you meaning to do, Paul; give us a pull back?" asked Jack, whodid not seem to be one-half so "rattled" by the mishap as some of theother fellows; simply because he had the faculty of keeping his witsabout him in an emergency. 

"That's the only way I can see, " came the reply. "And as the sternis under water, Jack, what's the matter with backing when we startto pulling?"

"Not a thing, that I can see, " answered the skipper of the _Speedwell_;"But I hope she slides off all right. "

"Have your crew get as far aft as they can, " continued Paul. "That willlighten the bow, more or less. And keep them all on the side they're on;only as soon as she drops back on an even keel, they must get over, soshe won't swing to starboard too much. All ready, now?"

"Yes, the rope's tied fast to the cleat, and unless you yank that out bythe roots, the boat's just _got_ to move! Say when, Paul, " with whichJack again bent over the three horse-power motor with which the fasterboat was equipped. 

Paul took one look around before giving the word. He wanted to make surethat everything was in readiness, so there might be no hitch. A mistakeat that critical stage might result in bringing about the very accidentthey were striving to avoid, and as a consequence it was wise to makehaste slowly. That is always a rule good scout masters lay down to theboys under their charge. "Slow but sure" is a motto that many a boy wouldbe wise to take to himself through life. 

And when Paul had made certain that everything was in readiness hestarted the motor of the _Comfort_, reversing his lever; so that everyounce of force was exerted to drag the companion boat off its sandy bed. 

Jack complied with the requirements of the situation by also startinghis motor the same way; and with the happiest results. 

"Hurrah! she's moving!" cried little Nuthin, who was not in danger, butjust as much excited as though the reverse had been the case. 

"There she comes!" yelled several of the anxious scouts, as the_Speedwell_ was seen to start backward. 

"One good pull deserves another; eh, fellows?" cried the delightedBobolink, who was wondering whether Jack would ever entrust the wheel tohis care again, after that accident; but he need not have worried, forsomehow the skipper did not seem to feel that it was his fault. 

And Bobolink, when he was again placed in charge of the wheel, felt thathe had had a lesson that would last him some time. In this sort of workthere could be no telling what was going to happen; hence, each scoutwould be wise to remember the rule by which they were supposed to alwaysbe guided, and "be prepared. " That meant being watchful, wakeful, earnest, and looking for signs to indicate trouble, so that should itcome they would not be caught napping. 

After a little while they came in sight of Manchester, with its smokingstacks, and its busy mills. Possibly the news of the expedition of theStanhope Troop had been carried to the boys down here. At any rate, therewas a group of several fellows wearing the well known khaki-uniform, whowaved to them from the bank and acted as though wishing the expeditionsuccess. They were pretty good fellows, those Manchester scouts, and theStanhope boys liked them much more than they did the members of theAldine troop up the river. Everybody knows there is a vast difference inboys; and sometimes even the fellows in various towns will seem, to bebuilt along certain lines, having pretty much the same leadingcharacteristics. The Manchester lads had proven a straight-forward set inwhat competitions the several troops had had so far. And hence everyfellow aboard the two boats swung his hat, and sent back hearty cheers. 

"What's the matter with Manchester? She's all right!" they called, inunison, as Gusty Bellows took upon himself the duties which, on the ballfield, made him invaluable as the "cheer captain. "

His name was really Gustavus Bellows; but that was easily corrupted intoGusty when the fellows learned on his first coming to Stanhope what atremendous voice he had. 

About a mile or so below Manchester, Paul had said, the mouth of whathad once been Jackson Creek, might be found. Several of the boyscould remember having heard more or less about that abandoned canal;perhaps the Manchester lads knew about it, since it was closer totheir home town. 

Everybody, then, was anxiously scanning the shore on the left, becausethey knew it must lie somewhere along there. 

"I see the mouth!" exclaimed Phil Towns, who had very keen eyesight. "Just look on the other side of that crooked tree, and you'll glimpsea little bar that juts out. That must be on the upper side of thecreek's mouth; because Paul said bars nearly always form there. Howabout that, Paul?"

"Go up head, Phil; you've struck the bull's eye, " replied the other, witha laugh, as he began to head in toward the crooked tree mentioned, andwhich doubtless he took for his landmark when in search of the creek. 

The _Comfort_ was in the lead now. Jack was content to play "secondfiddle, " as he called it. As Paul had gone through the disused canal inhis canoe, exploring it pretty thoroughly, he must act as pilot. 

Once they had pushed past the mouth of the creek they found a ratherdisheartening prospect. The water seemed very low, so that they could seebottom everywhere. Even Paul frowned, and shook his head. 

"It surely must have lowered several inches since I was here yesterday, "he declared, in dismay. 

"Think we'll get through safely?" queried Jud Elderkin, anxiously. 

"I hope we may, " replied the scout master; "but we've just got to creepalong, and be mighty careful. You see, most of the bed of this canal ismud, and not sand. Once the sharp bow starts to rooting in that, there'sno telling how far we'll explore before letting up. And it's surprisinghow that same mud clings. I could hardly work my light canoe loose two orthree times. Just seemed like ten pair of hands had hold of her, and weregripping tight. Easy there, Jack, take another notch in your speed, oldfellow! Crawl along, if you can. And have the poles ready to fend off, ifwe get into any bad hole. "

The boys were strung along the sides of the slowly moving motorboats. Every fellow came near holding his breath with nervousness. 

"Excuse me from getting stuck here in this nasty mess, " remarked NatSmith, on board the roomier boat with Jack, Bobolink, Tom Betts, AndyFlinn, Curly Baxter, Spider Sexton, Frank Savage and Bob Tice. 

"Why, we might stay here a week, " observed the last mentioned, in a voicethat told plainly how little he would relish such a mishap, when they hadplanned such splendid times ahead. 

"All summer, if it didn't rain, because the creek would get lower allthe time. " Paul himself observed, with emphasis, wishing to make everyscout resolve to avoid this catastrophe, if it were at all possible. 

"Who'd ever think, " remarked Jud, "that there was such a queer oldplace as this not more'n seven miles away from home? And not one of usever poked a boat's nose up this same creek before Paul came down, tospy out things. "

"Oh! well, there's a reason for that, " replied Phil Towns, who knew allabout everything that had ever happened in and around Stanhope. "Untillately, when the scouts organized in these three towns, the boys ofStanhope and those of Manchester never had much to do with each other. Many's the stone fight I've been in with those big mill chaps. Sometimeswe whipped them; and then again they chased us right home. So no Stanhopeboy ever dared go far down the river in the old days. That's the reason, I guess, why none of us ever tried to explore this place. Say, we seem tobe getting in worse and worse, Paul. It isn't more'n a foot deep overthere on the right, and less'n ten inches here on the left. "

"I know it, Phil, and I'm beginning to be afraid we'll have to back outof this the best way we can, " replied the scout master, reluctantly; forhis heart had been set on carrying out this plan, and he hated to becompelled to give it up. 

Hardly had he spoken than the boat brought up with a jolt that came nearthrowing several of the scouts into the water and mud. They had runaground after all! Paul turned the motor to the reverse, and the littlepropeller fairly sizzled in its mad efforts to drag the craft back intoclear water, but it was just as Paul had said--there seemed to beinnumerable hands clinging fore and aft that refused to let go. And inspite of all the work of the motor they did not move an inch. 

"Rotten luck!" exploded Jud Elderkin, as he looked helplessly around, asif to see whether a fellow could at least jump ashore; but since ten feetof that ooze lay on either side, he failed to get much encouragement. 

"Ahoy, _Speedwell_, you'll have to give us a lift!" called Paul, making amegaphone out of his hands. 

"Y-y-yes, t-t-turn about's f-f-fair p-p-play, " added Bluff, waving hisbugle. "We p-p-pulled you off, and n-n-now you g-g-got to return thef-f-favor. "

"Listen!" said Paul, sharply; "Jack's calling something. "

And as they all lined up along the side of the _Comfort_ they heardJack's voice come across the forty feet of water and mud, saying:

"Only wish we could, Commodore; but sad to say, we're stuck about as fastin this lovely mess as you are, and can't budge her an inch!"

CHAPTER VIII

WHAT THE WATER GAUGE SHOWED

"Well, here is a pretty kettle of fish!" grunted the disgusted Jud. "Weseem to take to sandbars and mud flats today to beat the band. "

Paul had stopped the motor, since it seemed useless. But of course he didnot mean to give up trying to get the boat off. 

"One thing's sure, " he said, positively, when the others gathered aroundhim, as if in this emergency they looked to the scout master to inventsome method of beating the sticky mud at its own game; "every minute westay here makes it all the worse for us. "

"Yes, because our weight is sure to make the boat sink deeper in hernest!" declared Little Billie, leaning far over the side, as if to seehow far down in her muddy bed the boat lay. 

"Yes, that's one thing, " added Paul; "but another is the fact that thecreek is falling all the time. Unless it rains, there'll soon be nothingbut mud around us. Now, every fellow crowd back here, and leave the bowas free as we can. That might loosen the grip of the mud; and when Iturn on the motor at full speed again, let's hope she'll move. "

It was a sensible suggestion; and indeed, about the only thing possible, since the other boat, being in the same fix, could not come near, eitherto give a friendly tug, or take off the _Comfort's_ crew. 

When he had them all as far in the stern as they could get, with awarning not to allow themselves to be shaken loose, unless they wanted amud bath, the skipper started his motor working. 

When it was going at full speed the boat quivered and strained, but didnot move, so far as any one could see; and they were all eager to detectthe first sign of motion. 

"No good!" sighed Jud. "Might as well look the thing in the face, fellows. Here we stay, and eat up all our grub, day after day. Ain't itfierce, though? How d'ye suppose we'll ever stand it? If anybody had apair of wings now, and could fly ashore, we might get help to pull usout. But we couldn't use our wigwag flags, even if we tried, becausewho'd see 'em? Oh! what tough luck!"

Paul may have felt somewhat discouraged himself, but he was not thefellow to betray the fact--so early in the game, at least. 

"Well, Jud, " he said, soberly, "perhaps we may have to stick it outhere for a while, but I hope it won't be as bad as you say. And makeup your mind that if we do, it'll be a mighty strange thing, witheighteen wide awake scouts to think up all sorts of schemes and dodgesthat we can try. "

"That's the stuff, Paul!" exclaimed Phil Towns. "Every fellow ought toget right down to hard pan, and try to think up some way of beating thisold sticky mud. What's the use of being scouts, if we let a little thinglike this get the better of us? If I could only wade ashore, I'd fix ahawser to a tree back there, and then by workin' the engine p'raps wemight pull the boat off. I've seen 'em do that with a steamboat, awaydown on Indian River, when I was with my folks in Florida last winter. And it worked, too. "

"Well, try the wading; it looks fine!" laughed Joe Clausin. 

"Don't think of it, " called out Gusty Bellows at that moment. "I stuckthis pole down in the soft slush, and my stars! it goes right through toChina, I reckon. Anyhow, I couldn't reach bottom. And if you jumped over, Phil, you'd be up to your neck at the start. Let's tie a rope under yourarms first, anyhow. "

But Paul quickly put an end to all this sort of talk. 

"There's no use trying anything like that, " he said. "Even if you didreach the shore, we haven't got a rope long and strong enough to do thebusiness. Besides, we may have help soon. "

With that all the boys began craning their necks, as if they expected tosee some kind of a queer craft that could pass over mud as easily asother boats did water, bearing down on them, with the design of draggingthem from the bank, "Say, what does he mean? For the life of me I can't glimpse anythingworth shucks; and the blooming old _Speedwell_ seems to be sticking tightand fast, just the same way we are. Loosen up, Paul, and put us wise;won't you?" pleaded Phil. 

"I didn't mean that any living thing was going to hold out a hand tous, " remarked the smiling scout master; "but look aloft, boys, and seewhat's coming. "

With that they followed his instructions. 

A general shout went up. 

"Whee! rain a-comin' down on us! Get the curtains ready to button fast, boys, or we'll have all our fine stuff soaked through and through. "Little Billie called, himself setting things in motion by seizing one ofthe rolled curtains, and letting it come down, to be fastened around thecockpit by means of gummets and screws. 

"But Paul meant something else, " declared Jud Elderkin, wisely. "You see, if only that rain does come, and it's heavy enough, there's going to bea lot more water in this old canal than we need to pull through with. Youknow how quick the Bushkill River rises; and I guess it's the same waywith the Radway. "

"Oh! don't we wish that there'll just be a little old cloud-burst!" criedGusty Bellows. "I could stand anything but staying here seven or tendays, doin' nothing, only eat, and stare at this mud, and wish I was backhome. Come on, little clouds; get a move on you, and let's hear you growllike thunder. "

They had by now called the attention of the others to the prospects forrain. Indeed, as soon as the first curtain fell, some of Jack's crew tooknote of the significant fact, and they could be seen looking up at theblackening heavens. There had been very few times in the past when thoseboys had hoped it would rain. Perhaps, when they were kept home from apicnic--for reasons--some of them may have secretly wished the cloudswould let down a little flood, so that those who had been lucky enough togo, might not have such a laugh on them after all. 

But certainly they never felt just as they did now, while watching theplay of those gathering storm clouds. 

"And the best of the joke is, " commented Jud, with a grin, "that lots ofthe good folks at home right now are looking up at those same blackclouds, and pitying us boys. They don't realize how we're just prayingthat the rain won't turn out a fizzle, after all. Wasn't that a drop Ifelt?"

[Transcriber's note: Beginning of sentence missing from original text]till that gray gets nearly overhead, " remarked Paul, pointing upat a line marked across the heavens about half-way toward the horizon, and in the direction of the wind. 

"It's getting dark, anyway, " remarked Nuthin, rather timidly; for truthto tell, the small boy had never ceased to remember how, earlier in theseason, when in camp up near Rattlesnake Mountain, a terrible storm hadstruck them and as he clung desperately to the tent they were trying tohold down, he had actually been carried up into the branches of a tree, from which position only the prompt work of his fellow scouts had finallyrescued him. 

"And look at that flash of lightning, would you?" echoed Joe Clausin. "Wow! that was a heavy bang; wasn't it? Tell you now, that bolt must 'astruck somethin'! Always does, they say, when it comes quick like that. "

"How's the cover; just as snug as you can make it, boys?" demanded Paul;"because we'll likely get a bit of a blow first, before the rain comes, and it'd be a bad job if we lost this whole business. Stand by to grabhold wherever you can. After that, if we weather it all right, there'llbe no trouble. "

"And say, she's coming licketty-split, believe me, " called Jud. "I c'nhear it hummin' through the trees over there like the mischief. Takehold, everybody; and don't let it get away from you!"

"We'll all go up together this time, then!" muttered little Nuthin; butwith the grit that seemed a part of his nature, once he started in to doanything, he also seized the canvas covering at the bottom, and set histeeth hard. 

With a roar the wind struck them. Had it come from the right quarter Paulbelieved it might have helped work them loose; but it happenedunfortunately that just the reverse was the case. If anything, they weredriven on the mud-bank all the harder. 

But at any rate the tarpaulin canopy did not break loose, and that wassomething to be satisfied with. 

The wind whooped and howled for perhaps three minutes. Then it died down, as if giving up the attempt to tear the boat's top out of the hands ofthe determined boys. 

"The worst's over, fellows!" called Paul, breathing hard. 

"Hurrah! that's better'n saying it is yet to come. How'd the _Speedwell_make out?" Jud asked, sinking back on a thwart, the better to find someplace to peep out. 

"Seems to be all there, " replied Nuthin, who had been quicker to lookthan the more clumsy Jud. "She's got her cover on, and I guess that meansthey're safe and sound; but she don't seem to be floatin' worth a cent. 

"No more are we; but listen, there comes the rain. Now for it, " observedPaul, as with a rush the water began to descend, rattling on the roof ofthe canopy cover. 

"Fine! Keep right along that way for a while, and something's boundto get a move on it, which I hope will be our two boats!" criedGusty Bellows. 

"Did you ever hear it come down heavier than that?" demanded Old DanTucker, as he looked anxiously around to see that none of the cargo wasexposed to the flood. 

"Wonder if this old thing sheds water?" suggested Jud, looking up at theheavy canopy as though he fancied that he felt a stream trickling downthe back of his neck. 

"You can bank on it, " declared Joe Clausin. "Anything Mr. Everett ownshas got to be gilt-edged. And he'd never stand for a leaky canopy. What're you lookin' at out there, Paul?" for the scout master was leaninga little out on the side away from their companion boat in misery. 

"Why, you see, " replied the scout master, drawing his head back, "Ifixed a little contrivance here, just before the storm broke, and I'mlooking now to see whether it shows the least gain in water. I markedthis pole with inches, and rammed it just so far in the mud. If the waterstarts to rising any, I can tell as soon as I look. "

"And is she going up yet?" asked Jud, eagerly, "Well, it wouldn't be fair to expect that for some time yet, " repliedPaul. "At the best I expect we'll have to stay here an hour or so, untilthe water up-stream has a chance to come down. I hope it may surprise me, and get here quicker than that. And boys, if we have to spend all thattime doing nothing, why we might try that little oil stove Mr. Everetthas, and see how it can get us a pot of coffee, with our cold lunch. "

"What time is it now?" asked Jud; while Old Dan Tucker pricked up hisears, at the prospect of "something doing" along his favorite line. 

"Going on eleven; and I had my breakfast awful early!" remarkedLittle Billie. 

"And I had hardly a bite--reckon I was too much excited to eat--so I'mmighty near starved right now, " declared Dan Tucker; but then the boyshad known him to put up that same sort of a plea only an hour afterdevouring the biggest meal possible, so they did not expect to see himcollapse yet awhile from weakness through lack of food. 

All the same, Paul agreed that it might serve to distract their minds ifthey did have lunch. He also asked Jud to get in communication with thoseon the other boat, if the rain had let up enough for them to exchangesignals, and by means of the flag, tell them what those on the _Comfort_meant to do. 

Just as Bobolink, who answered, had informed them that those under Jackwere about to follow the same course, Paul took another glance at hisrude water gauge. 

When he drew in his head, Jud, who had been waiting to tell what theothers reported, saw that Paul was smiling as though pleased. 

"What's doing, Commodore?" he asked. 

"The water has risen half an inch, and is still going up, " replied Paul. 

At that there was a roar of delight--only Old Dan Tucker was so busywatching the lunch being got ready, he did not seem to hear thejoyous news. 

CHAPTER IX

ON THE SWIFT RADWAY

"Let me work my flags a little, and tell the other boat the news!"suggested Jud; and as no one objected he got busy. 

It was good practice, and he had something worth while to communicate, soJud enjoyed the task. 

By the time he was through, lunch was ready, the coffee having boiledenough to please the most critical among the boys. 

"Rain seems to be letting up some, " remarked Gusty Bellows, as theygathered around to discuss what was to be their first meal of the trip. 

"Oh! I hope it isn't going to tantalize us, and raise our hopes only todash 'em down again, " said Gusty. 

"From the signs I don't think we're through with it all yet, " Paulobserved; and as they had considerable faith in the acting scout masteras a weather prophet, there arose a sigh of satisfaction at this remark. 

"Take a look, and see if she's still moving up the scale, Paul, " beggedthe anxious Phil Towns. 

When this had been done, there was a look of eager expectancy onevery face. 

"Over a full inch since the start, " Paul reported. 

"And that's nearly half an hour back, " complained Gusty. "Gee! if it goesup as slow as that, we'll be camping here at sun-down, sure, fellers. "

"Oh! I don't know, " Paul put in, confidently; "you must remember thatthe rain has fallen all over the watershed that supplies both theserivers; and this canal now serves as a link between the two. If eitherone rises a good deal, we're just bound to get the benefit of thatlittle flood. Even at an inch an hour we could be moving out of thisbefore a great while. And I expect that the rise will do better thanthat, presently. Just eat away, and wait. Nothing like keeping cool whenyou just have to. "

"Yes, when you tumble overboard, like I did once on a time, " chuckledJud. "I kept perfectly cool; in fact, none of you ever saw a coolerfeller; because it was an ice-boat I dropped out of; and took a headerinto an open place on the good old Bushkill. Oh! I can be as cool as acucumber--when I have to. "

An hour later Paul announced that the rise had not only kept up as hepredicted, but was increasing. 

"Here's good news for you, fellows, " he remarked, after examining hispost, "if it keeps on rising like it's doing right now, we'll be startingin less than another hour!"

"Whoopee! that suits me!" cried Gusty, enthusiastically. 

"Ditto here, " echoed Jud. "I never was born for inaction; like to bedoing something all the time. "

"So do I, " Paul observed, quietly; "but when I find myself blocked in onedirection I just turn in another, and take up some other work. In thatway I manage not only to keep busy, but to shunt off trouble as well. Tryit some time, Jud, and I give you my word you'll feel better. "

But that next hour seemed very long to many of the impatient boys. Theyeven accused the owner of the watch of having failed to wind it on thepreceding night, just because it did not seem inclined to keep pace withtheir imagination. 

The water was rising steadily, if slowly, and some of them declared thatthere was now a perceptible motion to the boat whenever they moved about. 

Urged on by an almost unanimous call, Paul finally agreed to start themotor again, and see what the result would be. So Jud sent the order tothe second boat by means of his signal flags. 

When the cheerful popping of the _Comfort's_ exhaust made itself heard, there was an almost simultaneous cheer from the scouts. 

"We're off!" they shouted, in great glee. 

"Goodbye, old mud bank!" cried Gusty, waving his hand in mock adieuto the unlucky spot where so much precious time had been wasted. "Seeyou later!"

"Not much we will!" echoed Joe Clausin. "I've got that spot marked with ared cross in my mind, and if this boat ever gets close to it again, you'll hear this chicken cackle right smart. It's been photographed on mybrain so that I'll see it lots of times when I wake up in the night. "

"How about the other boat?" asked Paul, who was stooping down to fixsomething connected with the motor at the time, and could not stop tolook for himself, although he could hear the throbbing of the_Speedwell's_ machinery. 

"Oh! she slid off easier than we did, I reckon, " remarked Old Dan Tucker, now snuggled down comfortably, and apparently in a mood to take thingseasy, since it would be a long time between "eats. "

"Tell them to go slow, all the same, Jud, " Paul remarked. 

"You don't seem to trust this creek as much as you might, Paul?"chuckled Gusty, who was handling the wheel, during the minute thatPaul was busy. 

"Well, after that experience I confess that I'm a little suspicious ofall kinds of mud banks. They're the easiest things to strike up anacquaintance with, and a little the hardest to say goodbye to, ofanything I ever met. Give her a little twist to the left, Gusty. Thatplace dead ahead don't strike me as the channel. That's the ticket. Iguess we missed another slam into a waiting mud bank. Now I'll take thewheel again, if you don't mind. "

"Rain's over!" announced Little Billie. 

"Looks like it, with that break up yonder, " Jud remarked, glancing aloft. "Hope so, anyhow. We've had all the water we needed, and if it kept oncoming we'd be apt to find things kind of damp up there at the island. "

The mention of that word caused several of the boys to glance quickly ateach other. It was as though a shiver had chased up and down their spinalcolumns. For Joe and Little Billie, and perhaps Gusty Bellows, were notquite as easy in their minds about that "ghost-ridden" island as theymight have been; although, if taken to task, all would doubtless havestoutly denied any belief in things supernatural. 

The _Comfort_ acted as the pilot boat, and led the way, slowly butsurely, with the _Speedwell_ not far behind. The latter had one or twolittle adventures with flirting mud banks, but nothing serious, althoughon each occasion the cries of dismay from the crew could be plainly heardaboard the leading craft. 

And so they came in sight of a river that had a decided current, afterthe smart shower had added considerably to its flow. By now the sun wasshining, and the rain clouds had about vanished, being "hull-down" in thedistance, as Jud expressed it; for since they were now on a voyage, hesaid that they might as well make use of such nautical terms as theycould remember. 

"That's the roaring Radway, I take it, " observed Gusty, as all of themcaught glimpses of the river through the trees ahead. 

"Just what it is, " replied Paul; "and as it has quite a strong current, we're going to have our hands full, pushing up the miles that lie betweenhere and our camping place. "

"But we c'n do it before dark; can't we, Paul?" asked Phil Towns. 

"Sure we can, if nothing happens to knock us out, " said Gusty, before theother could reply. "Why, we've got several hours yet, if we did have suchtough luck in the blooming old canal. "

"We ought to be mighty glad we got off as as easy as we did, that'swhat!" declared Old Dan Tucker, who was something of a philosopher inhis way, and could look at the bright side as well as the next one, always providing the food supply held out. 

Ten minutes later the _Comfort_ was in Radway River, headedup-stream. Just as Paul had said, the current proved very swift, andwhile the little motor worked faithfully and well, their progress wasnot very rapid. 

Besides, it kept them always on the watch. No one was acquainted withthe channel, and the presence of rocks might not always be detected fromsurface indications. Some of the treacherous snags were apt to lie outof sight, but ready to give them a hard knock, and perhaps smash a holein the bow. 

And so Paul stationed two boys in positions where they could watch forevery suspicious eddy, which was to be brought to his attentionimmediately it was discovered. 

An hour passed, and they were still moving steadily up the river. Paul, in reply to many questions by his impatient comrades, announced that tothe best of his knowledge they ought to arrive at their destination anhour and more before dark; which pacified the croakers, who had beensaying the chances were they would have to spend their first night on thebank, short of the island by a mile or more. 

"That's all right, " Old Dan Tucker had remarked; "just so long as we getashore in time to build our cooking fire, it suits me. "

Everything seemed to be moving along with clock-like regularity, theboat breasting the current and throwing the spray in fine style, whenJud gave a cry. 

"Something's happened to the _Speedwell_!" he announced. 

Of course every eye was instantly turned back, and they were just in timeto see something that announced the truth of Jud's assertion. 

Andy Flinn stood up in the bow of the second boat, which no longerchugged away as before, and he threw something out that splashed inthe water. 

"It's their anchor!" cried Jud. "Either somebody's overboard, or elsetheir motor's broken down!"

"It's the motor, I guess, " Paul observed. "Get out our anchor, andfollow suit. "

CHAPTER X

DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES

A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of theswift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart. 

"What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn thefacts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used. 

"Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time, " came in the voice of Bobolink. 

"Well, call on us if we can help out any, " Paul shouted; for the slappingof the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones oneither hand, made it hard to hear plainly. 

"What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope thatwon't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle ofthe river. "

"Oh I if it comes to the worst, we can tow her ashore; and then it's campon the river bank for ours, " announced Paul, cheerfully. He always seemedto have plans made up in advance, as though anticipating every troublethat could arise, and getting ready for it. 

"Huh! that mightn't be so bad, after all, " grunted Joe Clausin; and evenGusty Bellows and Little Billie nodded their heads, as if agreeing thatthere were things less desirable than camping on the bank. 

The minutes dragged along, until half an hour had gone. Even Paul beganto show signs of restlessness. He finally made a megaphone of his hands, and called to Bobolink:

"Tell Jack to step up; I'd like to ask him a question or two. "

"Ay, ay, sir, " replied the other, touching his forelock in trueman-o'-war style, and immediately the head of Jack appeared. 

"What's the good word, Jack?" asked the Commodore of the expedition. "Canyou make the mend, d'ye think; and just about how long is it going totake you?"

"Between five and ten minutes, not more, " came the reply; "I've got thehang of it now, and the end's in sight. "

"Whoopee! that sounds good to me!" shouted Gusty Bellows, waving his hat. 

Five minutes had hardly passed before they heard the familiar pop-pop-popof the _Speedwell's_ motor exhaust. 

"How is it?" called Paul once more. 

"Fine and dandy, " answered Bobolink, waving his bugle; and giving a fewvigorous blasts to indicate that victory was nigh. 

"They're hauling in the anchor, which is a good sign, " declared Nuthin. 

Presently both boats were again breasting the stream. Apparently noserious result had come from the accident, save that more than a goodhalf-hour had been wasted. But still Paul declared that he had hopes ofmaking their destination before darkness set in. 

The sun was getting very low, and the river looked desolate indeed. Itwas bordered by swampy land; and where the ground showed, there seemed tobe such a vast number of rocks that farming had never been attempted. 

"What d'y'e suppose is in those marshes?" Gusty asked, after they hadpassed about the fifth. 

"I understand that a lot of cranberries are gathered here every Fall, andsent down to the cities for the market, " Jud Elderkin replied. 

"And seems to me a bear was killed last year somewhere up here, " Nuthin'put in, rather timidly. "So I'm glad you brought that gun along, Paul. Weare not lookin' for a bear, because we never lost one; but if he _did_come to camp it'd be nice to feel that we could give the old chap a warmreception. "

"Huh! I can see the warm reception he'd get, " chuckled Jud. "Seventeen trees would each one have a scout sitting up in thebranches as quick as hot cakes. Guess Paul would have to be thereception committee all alone. "

"Don't you believe it, " remarked Gusty Bellows; "You'd see me making forthe axe in a _big_ hurry, I believe in an axe. It makes one of thegreatest weapons for defence you ever saw. I've practiced swinging itaround, and I know just how to strike. "

"Well, we'll remember that; won't we, fellows?" remarked Jud, with alaugh. "Plenty of axe exercise Gusty needs, to keep him in trim forbears; and I can see now how our firewood is going to be attended to. "

They kept pushing on all the while; and there was never a time that thelookout did not have to keep his eyes on the alert, because of the trapsand snares that lay in wait for the voyagers up the rough Radway. 

"Great river, I don't think!" Joe Clausin ventured to remark, after theyhad done considerable dodging, to avoid a mass of rocks that blocked theway in a direct line. 

"Still, you'll notice that there's always a passage around, " said Paul. "It's that way with nearly everything. Lots of times we don't see theopening till we get right on it, and then all of a sudden, there's thepath out. "

"I guess you're right, Paul, " observed Joe. "Things do happen to a fellowsometimes, in a funny way, and just when he feels like giving up, he seesthe light. You remember a lot of trouble I had once, and how it turnedout splendidly? And so I learned my lesson, I sure did. I look at thingsdifferent now. It showed me how silly it is to worry over things that youcan't help. "

"But all the same, " remarked Gusty, "I wish we had a squint at that sameold lake ahead. It's getting sunset, and beyond, Paul. "

"I know it, and we must be pretty near the place now, " replied the scoutmaster. "Unless we see it inside of ten minutes I'll have to give theword to turn in to the shore at the next half-way decent landing, wherethere seems to be enough water to float our boats. "

"There's a good place right now, " declared Joe, pointing; "and wemightn't run across as fine a landing again. "

"Ten minutes, I said, " repeated Paul, positively; because he believedthat there were certain signs to tell him they would come in sight ofthe big lake, from which the Radway flowed, after they had turned thenext bend. 

Somehow the others seemed to guess what he had in mind, and all wereanxiously watching as they drew near the bend. 

As the trees ceased to shut out their view, they gave a shout of delight, for the lake was there, just as Paul had anticipated. 

"Whew! she's a big place, all right!" declared Jud, as they looked towardthe distant shore, where the trees seemed lost in the shadows. 

"I never dreamed there was a lake like this so near Stanhope, " declaredJoe, as he stared. "That one up by Rattlesnake Mountain could be put in acorner of Tokala, and wouldn't be missed. And say, that must be theisland over yonder; don't you think so, Paul?"

"Look and see if you can sight a cedar growing on the top of the hillthat they say stands in the middle of the island, " suggested the scoutmaster, still busy at the wheel; for the danger was not yet all over, asthey had not entered the lake itself, though very near. 

"It's there, all to the good!" announced Jud. 

"Anybody could see that" added Gusty, who was a little jealous of thesuperior eyesight of several of his comrades, he being a triflenear-sighted. 

"Well, if we are going to make a job of it, the sooner it's over thebetter, " was the queer remark Joe made; but no one paid any particularattention to his words, they were so taken up with watching the island. 

And so the leading motorboat left the noisy waters of the Radway, andglided into the smoother lake, much to the satisfaction of the crew; forthe boys had grown tired of the constant need of watchfulness in avoidingreefs and snags. 

Paul shut off power, and waited to see whether the companion boatsucceeded in reaching the calm waters of the big lake as successfully asthey had done. As it was now pretty close to dark, in spite of thehalf-moon that hung overhead, seeing the partly hidden rocks was not aneasy task. 

And so he watched with not a little concern the progress of the_Speedwell_ during those last few minutes. But Jack was alive to thesituation; and managed to bring his boat safely through, being greetedwith a cheer from those on board the waiting _Comfort_. 

"Now it's straight for the island!" called out Bobolink, as the boatsdrew together, and the motors started as cheerfully as if they had notundergone a hard day's work from the time the voyagers left Stanhope. 

"We'll have to make camp by firelight, that's plain, " grumbled Gusty. 

"What's the odds, so long as we get fairly comfortable for the night?"Bobolink retorted, being one of the kind who can make the best of a badbargain when necessary. "All we want to do is to get the tents up and afire going, so we can cook something. Then in the morning we'll do allthe fancy fixing you can shake a stick at, and try out all the newwrinkles every fellow's had in mind since our last camp. This is what Ilike. A lake for me, with an island in it that nobody lives on, butp'raps an old wildcat or a she bear with cubs. "

"But they say something _does_ live on it, and that he's a terror too; areal wild man that's got hair all over him like a big baboon--I heard itfrom a man that saw him once, and he wouldn't lie about it either, " JoeClausin called out. 

Although the rest of the scouts mocked him, and pretended to jeer at theidea of such a thing as a wild man existing so near Stanhope, nevertheless, as the two motorboats gradually shortened the distanceseparating them from the mysterious island, they gazed long at the darkmass lying on the still water of the big lake and its gloomy appearanceaffected them. 

Just as Joe Clausin had said, it had a real "spooky" air, that, at thetime, with night at hand, did not impress them very favorably. 

CHAPTER XI

THE CAMP ON CEDAR ISLAND

It was with extreme caution that the two motor-boats crept along theshore of the island, with numerous eyes on the lookout for a goodlanding place. 

"Seems to be plenty of water right here, " remarked Jud, who was soundingwith one of the poles. "Eight feet, if an inch, Paul. "

Paul shut off the power immediately. 

"And this looks like the best sort of place to make our landing, " hesaid. "If we don't like it, or find a better for a permanent camp in themorning, we can change. Get busy with the poles, fellows, and shove theboat alongside that bank there. "

This was readily done, and Jud was the first to jump ashore. He wanted tobe able to say that of the whole troop he had landed before any one else, ghost or no ghost. 

Soon the others followed suit, even if Joe and Little Billie--and yes, Gusty Bellows also looked timidly around. There was Nuthin, alwaysreckoned a rather timorous chap, showing himself indifferent to spirits, and all such things. What bothered Nuthin concerned material things, likecats, and dogs, and wandering bears; he snapped his fingers at spooks, because he had never seen one, and did not believe in "fairy stories, " ashe called them, anyway. 

As the second boat came alongside, and her crew swarmed over the side, there were plenty of hands to do things, though they naturally looked toPaul for orders. 

"A fire, first, fellows!" called out the scout master; "so we can seewhat we're doing. Because it's getting pretty dark around here, withthese trees overhead. Jud, you take charge of that part, and the restgather wood. "

Many hands make light work, and in what Bobolink called a "jiffy" therecame plenty of wood of all kinds, from dead branches to small-sized logs. 

Jud, like every true scout, knew just how to go about starting a fire. True, the recent rain had wet pretty much all of the wood, so that atenderfoot would have had a difficult task getting the blaze started, though after that trouble had been surmounted it would not be so bad. ButJud knew just how to split open a log, and find the dry heart that wouldtake fire easily; and in a brief time he had his blaze springing up. 

Then others began to bring some of the things ashore, particularly thetents, in which they expected to sleep during their stay. 

Most of the boys were deeply impressed by the size of both the lake andthe island; since they had not dreamed that things would be upon such alarge scale. 

Then there was that strange silence, broken only by the constant murmurof the water passing out, where the Radway River had its source; andperhaps, when a dry spell lowered the water of the lake, even this mightnot be heard. 

It seemed to some of the scouts as though they were isolated from all therest of the world, marooned in a desolate region, and with many milesbetween themselves and other human beings. 

However, when the white tents began to go up, as the several squads ofworkers took hold in earnest, things began to look more cheerful. Thereis nothing that chases away the "blues" quicker than a cheerful fire, andthe sight of "homey" tents. 

"In the morning, if we feel like it, we can put up a flagstaff in front, and fly not only our banner, but Old Glory as well, " Paul observed. "Andnow, suppose some of you fellows give me a hand here. "

"What you going to do, Paul?" asked Old Dan Tucker, eagerly. 

"Begin to get supper, " came the answer. 

"I'll give you a hand there, " said the other. 

"Me too, " said Nat Smith, who was a clever cook. 

And when the odor of coffee began to steal through the camp, the boysfelt amply repaid for all they had undergone in the rough trip fromStanhope. They sniffed the air, and smiled, and seemed ready to declarethe expedition a great success. 

More than that, the cooks being blessed with healthy appetitesthemselves, had cut generous slices from one of the fine hams, and thesewere also on the fire, sizzling away at a great rate, and throwing offthe most tempting odors imaginable. 

It was a happy sight about that time, and showed the best side of camplife. All of the boys belonging to the Red Fox Patrol at least, had beenthrough the mill before, and knew that there was another side to thepicture; when the rain descended, and the wind blew with hurricane force, possibly tearing the canvas out of their hands, and leaving them exposedto the storm, to be soaked through. 

But of course they hoped nothing of that sort was going to happen to themon this trip. Once a year ought to be enough. 

If the season of preparation was delightful, what shall be said of thattime when the eighteen boys sat around in favorite attitudes, each with acup of steaming coffee beside him, to which he could add sugar andcondensed milk to suit his taste; while on his knees he held agenerous-sized tin pannikin, upon which was heaped a mess of friendpotatoes and ham, besides all the bread he could dispose of?

"This is the stuff; it's what I call living!" Bobolink remarked. 

"You never said truer words. " mumbled Old Dan Tucker, who was about asbusy as a beaver, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. 

"One thing sure!" declared Spider; "when Dan stops eating, he'llquit living. "

"Huh! guess all of us will, " added Curly Baxter. 

They were in no hurry to finish the feast; and when the end did arrive, it would take a microscope to discover any crumbs left over. 

"The worst is yet to come, " announced Jud, "and that's washing up. "

But all these things had been arranged for beforehand, so that in duecourse of time every fellow would have his share of camp duties. Today hemight have to assist in the cooking; tomorrow help wash dishes; the nextday be one of the wood-getters; and then perhaps on the fourth blissfulday, he would be at liberty to just loaf!

And no doubt that last day was the one most of them would be apt toenjoy above all else; for otherwise they would hardly have been fleshand blood boys. 

While those whose duty lay in cleaning up after the meal were engaged, some of the others joined Paul in bringing the blankets ashore, anddistributing them to the various tents. 

There were three of the latter, which would allow of six boys to each, perhaps a rather "full house"--but then they could curl up and not takemuch room. 

"Aren't we going to keep any watch, Paul?" asked Joe Clausin, when lateron some of the more tired talked of turning in. 

"Watch for what?" demanded Bobolink. 

"Guess Joe thinks Ted Slavin and his crowd might get over here, and throwstones at our tents, like they did once before, " suggested Nuthin. 

"Well, they do say there's a wild man around here, " declared Joe, in ahalf hesitating way; for he was actually ashamed to expose his belief insupernatural things for fear of being laughed at. 

"Let Mr. Wild Man come around; who cares?" sang out Bobolink. "Why, thecircuses are always wantin' wild men, you know; and I guess we'd get apretty hefty sum now, if we could capture this wonderful critter that'sbeen living here so long covered with the skins of wild beasts he's ateup. It's me to hit the rubber pillow I fetched along. And Joe, if youwant to watch, nobody is going to keep you from doing it"

And with these words Bobolink dodged into the tent that he knew his messbelonged to; in which action he was followed by numerous other scouts. Joe, finding himself left in the lurch, cast a fearful glance around atthe heavy growth of timber on one side the camp, the lake being on theother; after which he shook his head as though the prospect of sittingthere by the dying fire did not appeal very much to him--and crawledunder the flap, too. 

Perhaps it could hardly be said that silence rested on the scene; forwith a dozen and a half boys trying to get to sleep there is always moreor less horseplay. But an hour later, something like quiet settled down. The fire was dying out, too, since they had no reason for keeping itgoing, the night air being balmy. 

Midnight came and went, and it must have been toward two o'clock in themorning when every boy suddenly sat upright, as though a galvanic shockhad passed in and out of every tent. 

So it had, for the very earth trembled under them, as a terrificdetonation sounded, just as though a bolt of lightning had struck anearby tree. And some of the scouts were ready to declare that theshock had been accompanied by a brilliant electric flash, that almostblinded them. 

Immediately there began to be an upheaval, as blankets were tossed asideand the scouts crawled or scrambled from under, uttering all sorts ofexclamations, and apparently too dazed to account for the phenomenon. 

They began to swarm out of the tents, and loud were the outcries ofastonishment when they discovered not a cloud as big as a hand in thestarry heavens. 

CHAPTER XII

WAS IT A BURSTING METEOR?

"Who hit me?" exclaimed Bobolink, rubbing his eyes as he gained his feetand looked around at the dimly-seen forms of the other scouts; for themoon had by now sunk behind the horizon. 

"What busted?" demanded Nuthin. "I bet it was that bottle of raspberryvinegar my sister put in my knapsack. It's gone sour, and exploded, sureas anything. "

Strange to say, none of the others even bothered laughing at such afoolish remark as this. They stared at the clear sky overhead, and thetwinkling stars looking down upon them, just as though winking to eachother, and enjoying the confusion of the valiant scouts. 

Even Paul, who generally knew everything, seemed mystified. 

"I declare if I can tell what it was, " he said upon being appealed to bysome of the others in the group. "I was sound asleep, like the rest ofyou, when all of a sudden it seemed as if the end of the world had come. I felt the ground shake under me and as I opened my eyes it seemed as ifI was nearly blinded. The flash came and went just like lightning, andthat bang was what would pass for thunder in a storm; but for the life ofme I can't see any sign of trouble up there. "

"And we don't hear anything more; do we?" demanded Jud. 

"Sounded like a big cannon to me, " remarked Jack. 

"Couldn't be that the State troops are out, and having manoeuvres, with asham battle, could it?" questioned Gusty Bellows. 

"Well, hardly, without somebody knowing about it. And they generally takeup that sort of thing later in the year. There's only one explanationthat sounds a bit reasonable to me, " Paul went on. 

"Tell us what that is, then?" asked Bobolink. 

"I've heard about meteors falling, and exploding when they hit theearth, " the scout master went on to say. 

"That's right!" echoed Jack; "and say, they're always accompanied by adazzling light, as they shoot through space, burning the air along withthem. Yes, siree, that must have been a big meteor stone. "

"Then it struck the earth right close to our camp, mark me, " vowed Jud. 

"Ain't I glad it didn't pick out this spot to drop on, " crowedNuthin. "Whew! guess we'd have been squashed flatter than that pancakeyou hear about. "

"What are meteors made up of--they drop from stars; don't they?"asked Bob Tice. 

"Oh! there's just millions and billions of 'em flying around loose, " saidPhil Towns, who liked to read of astronomy at times. "Lots of 'em happento get caught in the envelope of air that surrounds the earth. Then theyfall victims to the force of gravitation, and come plunging down at suchspeed that they do really burn the air, just like Jack said. You see, they're made up for the most part of metals, and our old earth draws 'emlike a monster magnet. "

"Is that what shooting stars are?" Bob went on to ask. 

"Why, yes, they're really small meteors. We often pass through a mess of'em. I've counted hundreds in a single night, " Phil continued, alwayswilling to give any information he could along his favorite study. 

"Well, they say lightning don't strike in the same place twice; and thatgoes with your old buzzing meteors too, I reckon; so what's the use inour staying up any longer?" remarked Bobolink, who seemed quite satisfiedwith the explanation Paul had given of the queer noise, and the flash ofbrilliant light. 

So they crawled back into their snug nests, and tried to composethemselves for sleep. But it is extremely doubtful whether a single oneof those eighteen boys secured so much as a decent cat-nap between thathour and dawn. 

Despite their apparent belief in the explanation of the phenomenonadvanced by Paul, the boys could not get rid of the notion that thattremendous crash had something to do with the strange things told aboutthe haunted island, and which helped to give it its bad name. 

They were up pretty early, too. The first birds were beginning to chirpin the brush when figures came crawling out of the tents, with a greatstretching of arms, and long yawns. 

Then the lake tempted many of the boys, and a great splashing announcedthat those who could swim were enjoying a morning dip while others weretaking a lesson in learning the first rudiments in the art; for Paulwanted every scout in Stanhope Troop to be able to swim and dive beforethe Fall came on. 

The scout master himself watched the proceedings, hardly able to get hisown dip because of his anxiety concerning those who, for the time being, had been placed in his charge. 

This thing of being responsible for seventeen lively boys is not all thatit may be cracked up to be; especially if the acting scout master is aconscientious chap, alive to his duties. Paul felt the weight of theload; but he did not shrink. 

Breakfast was presently under way, and nobody found any fault whenBobolink announced that he meant to instruct Nat Smith and another boyjust how to go about making those delicious flapjacks for which hehimself had become famous. 

In the cooking contests, at the time the Stanhope Troop carried off theirbanner in competition with the troops of Manchester and Aldine, Bobolinkhad easily outclassed all rivals when it came to the science of campcookery, and his flapjacks were admitted without a peer, so that eversince, when the boys had an outing, there was always a shout when it wasfound that Bobolink was willing to get a mess of cakes ready for theirattention. 

Although most of the boys had looked a bit peaked, and even haggard, whenthey first issued from the tents, this had long since vanished. Thefrolic in the cool water, and now this feast in the open, proved thefinest tonics possible. 

They were now filled with new energy and pluck. Nobody dreamed of beingfrightened away from camp by such a little thing as a meteor burstingnear by, or any other strange happening. Perhaps, when night came aroundagain, this buoyant feeling might take wings, and fly away; but then, there would be fourteen and more hours before darkness again assailedthem, and what was the use fretting over things so far removed?

All had made up their minds to do a lot of things while up at camp, according to their various tastes. One began to look around for subjectshe could take snapshots of, having a liking for photography. Another gota companion to take up a station along the shore, so that they couldexchange messages, using the flags and the code. 

Then there were several who evinced a decided interest in finding thetracks of wild animals, like a raccoon, or a rabbit, or even a squirrel, when nothing better presented itself. These they minutely examined, andapplied all sorts of theories in forming the story of the trail. In manycases these proved very entertaining indeed, and Paul was always pleased, with Jack's assistance, to pass on such things, being adapted throughpractical experience to correct errors, and set the beginner straight oncertain facts that he had mixed. 

There were numerous other things to do also. One boy loved to hunt wildflowers, and as soon as he could coax a mate to accompany him, since Paulwould not allow the scouts to go off alone, he busied himself in theundergrowth, looking in mossy spots for some of the shy blossoms thatappealed to his collecting taste. 

Another seemed to have a love for geology. He wanted to find specimensof every sort of stone, and hinted of certain stories of mining havingbeen carried on in these regions a century or two ago. But as he did notfind any ore that contained precious minerals in paying quantities, during their stay on Cedar Island, the chances are that his father willstill have to go right along paying his bills, even after he gets intocollege later in life. 

The morning was slipping away fast, and they had not found any betterplace to settle on for a camp. It seemed that, by the merest chance, theyhad hit upon the best spot for a short stay on the island. 

Three of the boys wandered along the shore, fishing. Paul had seen thempull in several good-sized bass, and began to make up his mind that afterall they were going to have a fish dinner, if the luck held. He was evendebating whether he dared leave camp for a while, and taking his jointedrod, joined the trio who had wandered around the bend of the easternshore of the island; for Paul certainly did love to feel a lively fish atthe end of his line, and could not think of leaving Lake Tokala withoutgiving its finny inhabitants a chance to get acquainted with him. 

Just as he had about decided that he could be spared for the hour thatstill remained until noon, Paul thought he heard a shout. Now, thescouts had more than a few times given tongue during the morning, whenengaged in some boisterous game; but it struck Paul, whose nerves werealways on the alert for such things, while this responsibility rested onhis shoulders, that there was certainly a note, as of alarm, about thisparticular outcry. 

It seemed to come from around that bend, too, where he had seen the threeboys disappear. Even as he looked in that direction, he saw somethingcome in sight among the rocks that lay so thickly around. It was GustyBellows, one of the anglers; yes, and there was Little Billie just behindhim, taking great leaps that promised to speedily leave the other far inthe lurch. 

Paul's heart seemed to stand still. Where was Jud, who had been in thecompany of the two? What could have happened?

The scout master dropped his rod, which he had been in the act ofjointing, and started on a run to meet the two fishermen; for hecould hear them shouting, though unable to distinguish just what theywere saying. 

CHAPTER XIII

THE FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

Then Paul felt a sensation of sudden relief pass over him. He haddiscovered a third figure running, some distance in the rear of the otherscouts; and when he recognized this as Jud Elderkin, he knew thatwhatever might have happened to frighten the fishermen, at least none ofthem seemed to be in any immediate danger. 

Of course, by this time scouts were springing up all around, and allheading toward the common centre, which would be where Paul and thefishermen must meet. 

Little Billie was the first one to arrive, for, being possessed of longlegs, in spite of his name, he could get over ground at a prodigiousrate, given cause. And judging from his ashen face, he had plenty of thatright now. 

"What is it?" demanded Paul, as the other came panting along. 

"Wild man!" gasped Little Billie. 

"Whee!" exclaimed Bobolink, who had managed to get near enough to catchwhat was said. 

"'Fraid he nabbed poor Jud!" said Gusty, now reaching the spot, and justabout at his last gasp. 

"Not much he didn't, because there he comes now!" ejaculated Bobolink. 

"Oh! mercy!" exclaimed Little Billie, evidently thinking he meantthe wild man. 

"It's Jud, and all to the good; but even he looks white around the gills, too, Paul. They must have seen _something_, to give 'em all such ascare, " Bobolink went on to say. 

"You just bet we did; ask Jud!" declared Gusty, just as though heimagined the others might question their veracity, but would believe thepatrol leader, who was now coming along with great leaps and bounds. 

And presently Jud Elderkin halted at the group. He looked first at Gusty, and then at Little Billie. There was a question in his eye. 

"Sure, we saw it, too, Jud!" declared Gusty, holding up his quiveringhand just as though he were in the witness box; but then, as his fatherwas a lawyer, possibly Gusty often experimented on himself, since hemeant to either take up the same pursuit in life, or give his magnificentvoice a chance to earn him a living in the role of an auctioneer. 

"Me too; and say, wasn't it a terror, though?" the tall scout declared. 

"Well, I didn't wait long enough to have any words with the Thing, "admitted Jud. "You see, I happened to be further away from home than theother fellows, and I knew I'd have more space to cover. So, after lettingout a yell to sort of warn 'em, why I just put for cover. Never ranfaster even between bases. Thought he'd get me sure before I rounded thatbend; but when I looked back, blessed if he wasn't grabbin' up ourstrings of fish like fun, and making off with 'em. I don't know right nowwhether I'm just scared, or only boiling mad. Tell me, somebody!"

"A little of both, I guess!" declared Bobolink, grinning. 

"Say, then, it wasn't just a big yarn about that wild man, after all; wasit?" said Tom Betts. 

"How about that, Little Billie; did you see him?" demanded Jud. 

"Did I? Think I was runnin' for my health? Why, he looked all of sevenfeet high to me, and covered with long hair. Talk about your RobinsonCrusoe making him a coat of an old nanny goat, that feller was in thesame class; eh, Gusty?" loudly asserted the tall boy. 

"I saw him, all right, don't you forget it, " declared the oneaddressed. "And I certain sure thought he was after _me_. But if Judsays he took our nice string of bass, why that changes the thing, andmakes me mad as hops. Think of us workin' all that time, only to fillup a crazy crank. Next time I go fishin' I'm meanin' to sit home, anddo it off the door step. "

Paul was revolving many things in his mind and trying to understand. 

"I want several of you to go back with me, " he said, presently; "the resthead for camp or go about whatever you were doing. "

"Want to take a squint at his tracks; eh, Paul?" asked Jud. 

"No harm done if we do, " remarked Bobolink, thus declaring his intentionof being one of those who were to accompany the leader. 

Jack also went along, and Jud, making four in all; but the last mentionedrefused to budge a foot until he had obtained a healthy-looking club, which he tucked under his arm. 

"Now, I want to warn that same critter to keep his distance from me, " Judsaid, as he led off with long strides. "He gave me one scare, and Ipromise you that if he tries that game again there's going to be a warmtime around these regions. But I reckon he's satisfied with all our nicefish, and we won't see anything of him until he gets good and hungryagain. Wonder if he eats 'em raw, Chinese fashion, or has some way ofmaking a fire?"

"What's that over yonder?" asked Paul. 

"Where?" gasped Jud, brandishing his club. 

"Looks like a string of fish; and so, you see, the wild man didn't get_all_ you fellows caught. We'll just pick that lot up, and trot along, "observed Paul. 

"He got mine, all right; these must have been what one of the otherfellows had. You see, they were so badly rattled they just cut and run, and held on to their rods only. Yep, there's a second string of fish, andthat accounts for both; but you needn't think mine'll be laying around, for he got 'em. 

"Well, show me just about where he was when you saw him last, "Paul demanded. 

Jud could easily do this. They found the print of human feet in theearth. It must have been an unusually large foot that made the marks; andthis tallied with what had been said about the height of the wild man. 

"You're not goin' to try and follow him, I hope, Paul?" asked Jud, uneasily, as if he drew the line at certain things, ready and willing ashe might be to back the scout master in most ventures. 

"Oh! it wouldn't pay us, " retorted Paul. "As one of the boys said, wehaven't lost any wild man; and so far as I know there's no one missingaround Stanhope, so it can't be some man from there. I think we'd do wellto mind our own business in this affair; don't you, fellows?"

"Yes, I do, " replied Jack, "but I was wondering whether this thing willcrop up to give us a heap of bother while we're camping up here. "

"How's that?" asked Bobolink. "There's only one thing that gives me anycarking care, and you know what that is, Jack, old boy. If I only knewabout those boxes, I'd be so much easier in my mind. "

"Well, " said Paul, "if this crazy man would steal our fish, he'd just aslief take anything else we've got that's good to eat. When he smells ourcoffee cooking it'll call up some long-forgotten craving for the Javabean; and first thing you know he'll be invading our camp every night, hunting around for any old thing he can steal. "

"Now, I like that, " said Bobolink, satirically. "Nice prospect, ain't it, not to be able to step out of the tent of nights, without bumping noseswith that awful Man Friday in wild animal shows? P'raps in self-defensewe may have to do that grand capture act after all, Paul. "

"Well, there's nothing more to learn here, so we might as well turn backagain. As I don't see anything of your string of fish, Jud, I calculatethat he must have gotten away with 'em. We can add a few more to these, and have enough for a regular feast. Come on, boys, back to camp for us. "

Some way or other it was noticed that during the early afternoon most ofthe boys hung around the camp. It seemed to have an especial attractionfor them all. One busied himself sorting over the collection of themorning in the way of plants. A second was polishing up certain specimensof quartz he had found, after cracking some of the round stones that hadwashed on the island during a flood, possibly many years back. A thirddeveloped his pictures, having brought along his daylight tank. 

And so it went, until Paul smiled to observe what a busy colony he had inhis charge. On his part, he took a rod and line, with some bait, and wentoff with Jack to add to the number of fish, so that there would be enoughfor all at supper time. And as the others had fished in one direction, Paul and his chum decided to move in the other. 

They put in an hour with very fair success, considering that it was notthe best part of the day for fishing. 

Of course, as they walked along, keeping close to one another, occasionally Paul and Jack would chat on various subjects. They also kepttheir eyes open, not wishing to be taken by surprise, should that hairyindividual, who seemed to have a craving for fish, rush out at them. 

And more than that, Paul had copied the example set by Jud. It wasfashionable about that time not to walk forth without a nice little Irishshillelah under one's arm, with which a head could be made to singunmercifully, in case of necessity. 

Paul had just had a pretty lively time with a good fish, and hadsucceeded in bringing his prize to land, when he happened to look down atthe beach on which he was standing. Bobolink and Tom Betts were comingalong, as though curious to see how fast the stock of provisions forsupper was increasing. 

So Paul bent down to examine something that had caught his attention. Theother three coming up, Jack having joined Bobolink and Tom, found thescout master still on his hands and knees. 

"Hello! found something, have you?" asked Bobolink. 

"Mebbe the footprints of the ghost!" chuckled Tom, meaning to behumorous. 

But Jack saw that his chum was very serious; and as he dropped downbeside Paul, he let his eyes fall upon the sand. 

"What's this, Paul?" he remarked, immediately. "Looks like the prow of arowboat had been pulled up here--why, that's a dead certainty, becauselook at the plain prints of boots here, and several different kinds, too. Shows that somebody landed here on the island; and Paul, it musthave been _after_ that rain storm, for these marks don't seem to bewashed, as they would be if the rain had beat down on them. What in theworld d'ye suppose it means? Are there people on this queer old CedarIsland? If there are, who can they be, and why should they hide fromeverybody like this?"

As Jack said this he looked up. Bobolink and Tom were staring at theplain marks in the sand, with wonderment written on their faces; and evenPaul shook his head. 

CHAPTER XIV

TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT

"We'll have to look into this thing, " said Paul, finally, seeing that histhree chums were waiting for an opinion from the one they looked up to astheir leader. 

"But what I said was pretty close to the truth; wasn't it, Paul?"Jack asked. 

"Every word of it" came the ready response, for Paul was always willingto give every fellow his meed of praise. "The only trouble is, it stopsright where you left off. None of us can say a word after that. "

"How many men were there in the crowd?" asked Tom Betts. 

"I could make out four, " replied Jack; "you take another look, Paul, andsee if that's correct. "

"I know it is, " remarked the scout master, nodding, "because I countedthem before I called you. And they seemed to lift something heavy fromthe boat, which they carried away into the bushes here. "

"Whee! something heavy, eh?" burst out the impetuous Bobolink; "and theycarried it between them, two and two; was it, Paul?"

"Why, yes, two on each side; if you look close, you can see where theystepped into each other's footprints, " assented the patrol leader. 

"That's so, " agreed Bobolink, after bending down hastily; "justlike--er--you've seen the pall-bearers at a funeral!"

"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, turning a little white at the idea. 

"Of course, that isn't saying it _was_ a funeral, " remarked Bobolink, hastily, as he noticed that Paul glanced at Jack, and the two shook theirheads a trifle, as though the idea failed to impress them favorably. "Butwhatever it was, they seemed to find it heavy, the way their toes duginto the sand here. "

"Yes, it was heavy, all right, " admitted Paul. "I think, from the way therear men stepped into the prints of the one up head, that whatever theywere carrying could not have been very lengthy; in fact, it must havebeen short, but rather broad. "

"Well, that's a smart idea of yours, Paul, and I c'n see how you hit onit, " Bobolink was quick to say, with a look of sincere admiration. 

"But whatever do you reckon would bring four men up here to this lonelyisland, carrying some heavy object in a rowboat?" Tom Betts went on. 

"That's where we have to do our guessing, " Paul replied. "We don't know;and as they haven't been obliging enough to write it out, and fasten thecard to a tree, why, we've just got to put on our thinking caps, as mymother would say. "

"Well, we've had some experience in the past with hoboes; think theycould be a batch of Weary Willies, Paul?" remarked Tom Betts. 

"I'm not ready to say off-hand that they're not, " replied the other, slowly; "but it hardly seems likely. In the first place, every one ofthem seemed to be wearing sound shoes. Did you ever know four trampsto do that?"

"Well, I should say not, " replied Bobolink, scornfully. "It'd be a wonderif one out of four had shoes that'd hold on without a lot of rope. Youclinched that idea the first thing, Paul. "

"Then what'd you say they were?" demanded Tom. 

Bobolink rubbed his chin reflectively. 

"A heap of difference between plain tramps, and the kind they call yeggs;isn't there, Paul?" he asked, presently. 

"Everybody says so, " came the answer. "Yegg-men are supposed to be thetoughest members of the tramp tribe. They're really burglars orsafe-blowers, who pretend to be hoboes so they can prowl around countrytowns, looking up easy snaps about the banks and stores that ought to begood picking. And so you think these four men might belong to that crowd, do you, Bobolink?"

"It's barely possible, anyhow, " the one addressed went on, doggedly. "AndI was just trying to remember if I'd heard of any robbery lately. Therewas a store broke into over at Marshall two weeks ago, and the thievescarried off a lot of stuff. But seems to me, the men got nabbed later on. I'm a little hazy about it, though. But supposin' now, that these fourmen had made a rich haul somewhere, and wanted to hide their stuff in agood place, could they find a better one than up here on Cedar Island?"

The other three exchanged glances. 

"I guess that's about right, " admitted Tom. 

"It's certainly quiet enough to suit anybody; and chances are theywouldn't be disturbed in a coon's age, " declared Jack. "Our coming herewas a freak. It mightn't happen again in many years. "

"And this old island's already got a bad name; hasn't it?"Bobolink went on. 

"That would help keep people away, " admitted Paul. "I've heard of mencoming up in this region winters, trapping the muskrats that swarm in themarshes; but up to cranberry picking time it's almost deserted. "

"Jack, you must have had an idea, too?" remarked Bobolink. 

"Well, I did; but perhaps the rest of you'll only give me the laugh if Imention it, " replied Jack. 

"All the same, it isn't fair to keep anything back, " Tom declared. "Myguess didn't pan out much, and you couldn't have worse luck than that. So tell us. "

"Yes, go on, Jack, and give us the benefit of your think-box. I've knownyou to get away up head more'n a few times, when it came to a live race. And mebbe some of the rest of us mightn't think so badly of your idea asyou do yourself, " and as he said this Bobolink sat down on the sand tolisten, all the while eyeing those mysterious tracks as though he halfexpected them to give tongue, and tell the true story of their origin. 

"Oh! well, that seems only fair, so here goes, " Jack began. "Somehow Ihappened to remember that once on a time I read about some counterfeiterswho had their nest in an old haunted mill, away up in the country. "

"Whee!" Bobolink said, sitting bolt upright. 

"None of the country people would ever go near the place, you see; andwhen a light happened to be seen in it at night time, they talked aboutthe ghost walking, and all that, " Jack continued. 

"Huh! that must have been when the boss was paying off his hands, "chuckled Bobolink. "I always heard that was the time the ghost walked. "

"In this case the truth was only found out by some accident, " Jack wenton to say, without paying any heed to the interruption. "I think a hunterwas overtaken by darkness, having lost himself in the woods. He was astranger, and had never heard about the haunted mill. So, seeing a light, he went up to ask his way, or if he could get a chance of a bed thatnight, I forget which. He saw enough to give him a suspicion; and when hedid get back to the tavern he was stopping at, he sent word to theGovernment authorities. A raid resulted, and they caught fourcounterfeiters hard at work. "

"_Four, _ you said, Jack!" echoed Tom. 

"Yes, just the same number there seems to be here; but then that's only acoincidence, because those others are serving ten-year sentences in thepenitentiary. Now, you see, I guess the fact of Cedar Island being saidto have a real ghost got me into the idea of thinking about that story Iread in the paper. Of course it's a silly idea all around. "

"Well, I don't know, " said Paul, slowly. 

"You don't mean to say you think it might happen that way here?" demandedJack, seeming to be the only one desirous of "shooting holes" in theproposition he had himself advanced, as Bobolink expressed it later on. 

"It's possible, " Paul said, simply. 

"Huh! for my part, " spoke up Bobolink, "I think it's more than that, even. If you asked me straight now, I'd be inclined to say it'sprobable. "

"Same here, " remarked Tom Betts, eagerly. 

Jack laughed as if pleased. 

"I declare, I really expected to hear you knock my idea all to flinders, "he remarked. 

"But what under the sun could they be carrying in that big box?" askedTom Betts. 

"Box!" muttered Bobolink, frowning, as though the word recalled to hismind a matter that had been puzzling him greatly of late; but he did notthink to say anything further on that subject. 

"Well, sometimes machinery comes that way, " suggested Paul. "If thesestrange men did turn out to be what Jack said, they might be gettinga press of some kind up here, to do their printing with. I never sawan outfit, but seems to me they must have such a thing, to make thebogus bills. "

"That's right, " added Tom. "I read all about it not long ago. WallaceCarberry's so interested in everything about books and printing, that heclips all sorts of articles. And this one described a kind of press thathad been taken in a raid on some bogus money-makers. Yep, it must havebeen machinery they were lugging off here. Whew! just to think of usbein' mixed up in such a business. I wonder, now, if the Government everpays a reward for information about such things. "

"Oh! rats! that's the last thing a scout should bother his head about, "said Bobolink, scornfully. "He ought to see his duty, and do it. Though, of course, if a nice little present happens along afterwards, why, Iguess there's no law against a scout acceptin' it; eh, Paul?"

"Certainly not, " replied the other, "you've got the idea down prettyfine, Bobolink. But let's see if we can guess anything else. Then we'dbetter go back to camp, and start the rest of the fellows thinking aboutit. Perhaps Jud or Andy or Nuthin might dig up something that neveroccurred to any of us. "

But although they talked it over for some little time they did not seemable to conjure up any new idea; everything advanced proved to hinge uponone of the explanations already spoken of. And in the end they wereforced to admit that they had apparently exhausted the subject. 

"Let's pick up our fish, and stroll back, fellows, " proposed Paul, finally. 

"Lucky to have any fish, with that hog around, " remarked Bobolink. 

"Now you're meaning the wild man, I take it?" said Jack. 

"No other; the fellow that drops in on you when you ain't expectin'company, and just swipes your string of fish like he did Jud's. I might'a thought Jud was giving us a yarn to explain why he didn't haveanything to show for his morning's work; but both Little Billie and Gustysaw the same thing. Say, that's another link we got to straighten out. What's a crazy man doing up here; and is he in the same bunch that madethese tracks?"

"That's something we don't know, " admitted Paul. 

"But we mean to find out, " asserted Bobolink, with a determined snappingof his jaws. 

"Perhaps so--anyhow, we'll make a brave try for it, " Paul declared. 

"He wasn't one of these four, that's flat, " said Tom Betts. "We all sawwhat a big foot the wild man had; and besides, he goes without shoes. "

"Glad to see you noticed all that, " commented Paul, who always feltpleased when any of the troop exhibited powers of observation, since itproved that the lessons he was endeavoring to impress upon their mindshad taken root. 

They turned their faces toward the camp, and Paul made sure to pick upthe fish he and Jack had caught. 

"With what we'e already cleaned, they'll make a fine mess for thecrowd, " he remarked, pointing out an unusually big fellow that had givenhim all the fun he wanted, before consenting to be dragged ashore. 

"I notice that you both kill your fish as you get 'em, " remarked Tom. 

"I wouldn't think of doing anything else, " replied Jack. "It only takes asmart rap with a club on the head to end their sufferings. I'd hate tothink of even a fish dying by inches, and flapping all over the boat orthe ground, as it gasps its life away. That's one of the things scoutsare taught--to be humane sportsmen, giving the game a chance, whetherfish, flesh or fowl, and not inflicting any unnecessary suffering. "

"Wonder if anything's happened in camp since we came away; becauseBobolink and I have been gone nearly an hour, " remarked Tom Betts, tochange the subject; for his conscience reproved him with regard to thematter Jack was speaking about. 

"What makes you think that?" asked Paul, suspiciously. 

"Oh! nothing; only things seem to be on the jump with us right now; and afellow can't turn around without bumping into a wild man, or some bogusmoney-makers, it seems. P'raps the ghost'll show up next. Listen! wasn'tthat somebody trying to blow your bugle, Bobolink, that you left hung upin the tent?"

"It sure was, for a fact. Let's start on a run, fellows. Mebbe they'vegone and grabbed that wild man! P'raps he was bent on carryin' off thewhole outfit this time. You never can tell what a crazy man'll do next;that's the hard part of being a keeper in a queer house, where they keepa lot of that kind; anyhow a man told me that once who'd been there. Butlisten to that scout trying to sound the recall, would you? Whoop her up, boys; there's _something_ happened, as sure as you live!"

CHAPTER XV

ORDERED OFF

It was about four o'clock in the afternoon of this, the first day oftheir intended stay on Cedar Island, when Paul and his three comradescame running around the bend of the shore above the camp, and saw some ofthe scouts beckoning wildly to them. 

"They've gone and grabbed him, sure as shooting!" gasped Bobolink, exultantly. 

But Jack and Paul noted that while there teemed to be a cluster of theboys no strange form could be seen among them. In fact, they appeared tobe greatly excited over something Jud Elderkin was holding. 

And in this manner then did the quartette reach the camp. 

"Where is he; got him tied up good and hard?" demanded Bobolink, speakingwith difficulty, from lack of breath. 

Nobody paid the slightest attention to what he was saying; and soBobolink, happening to notice that it was Curly Baxter who had beentaking liberties with his precious bugle, quietly possessed himself ofit, and examined it carefully, to make sure that it had not been dented. 

"Take a look at this, Paul, " said Jud, as he held out the flutteringpiece of paper that had evidently caused all the excitement. 

Written upon this the scout master saw only a few words, but theypossessed considerable significance, when viewed in the light of thestrange happenings of the recent past. 

"_Leave this island at once_!"

Just five words in all. Whoever wrote that order must be a man who didnot believe in wasting anything. There was no penalty attached, and theywere at liberty to believe anything they chose; just the plain command toget out, and somehow it seemed more impressive because of its brevity. 

Paul looked at Jack, and then around at the anxious faces of the otherscouts. He saw only blank ignorance there. Nobody could imagine what thisstrange order meant. The island might have an owner, but at the best itwas only a worthless bit of property, and their camping on its shore fora week could not be considered in the light of trespass. 

"Where did you get this, Jud?" asked the scout master. 

"Why, Old Dan Tucker brought it to me, " replied the leader of the GrayFox Patrol, promptly. 

"And where did _you_ find it, Dan?" continued Paul, turning on the scoutin question, who seemed only too willing to tell all he knew--which, itturned out, was precious little at best. 

"Why, you see, I had a dispute with Nuthin about the number of hamsfetched on the trip. He vowed there was two, and I said three, countin'the one we'd cut into last night. So to prove it, I just happened to stepinto the tent where we've got some of the grub piled up. It was three, all right, just as I said. But I found this paper pinned to one of thewhole hams, which, you know, are sewed up in covers right from thepackers. I couldn't make out what it meant. First I thought Nuthin wasplayin' a joke on me; but he denied it. So I took the paper to Jud, seein' that you were away, Paul. "

"It was pinned to one of the hams, was it?" asked the scoutmaster, frowning. 

"Sure, and the pin's still stickin' in it, " answered Dan, positively. 

Paul looked around. 

"I want to settle one thing right at the start, before we bother any moreabout this matter, " he remarked. "Did any one of you write this, or haveyou ever seen it before Dan brought it to Jud?"

"He showed it to me, " exclaimed Nuthin; "but it was the first time Iever glimpsed that paper or writin', Paul, I give you my word. "

"If anybody else has seen it before, I want him to hold up his hand, "continued the scout master, knowing how prone boys are to play pranks. 

The boys glanced at each other; but not a single hand went up. 

"Well, that settles one thing, then, " declared Paul. "This note camefrom some one not belonging to our camp. He must have crawled into thetent from the rear, taking advantage of our being busy. Yes, there's abunch of scrub close enough to give him more or less shelter, if hecrawled on all fours. Let's see if one or two of the tent pins haven'tbeen drawn up. "

Followed by the rest, Paul strode over to the tent where a quantity ofthe provisions were kept. Entering this, he quickly saw that it wasexactly as he had suggested. Three of the tent pins, which the boys hadpounded down with the camp axe, had been pulled up, and this slackallowed the intruder to crawl under the now loose canvas. 

"I can see the place he shuffled along, and where his toes dug into theearth, " declared Jack, as he bent over. 

"We'll try and follow it up presently, and see where he got on his feetto move off, " Paul remarked. "I'd like to find out whether his shoesmake a mark anything like some of those we were looking at up theshore, Jack. "

"Whew!" exclaimed Bobolink, who was again deeply interested in what wasgoing on, since he had found his precious bugle unharmed. 

"Let's look at that paper again, " resumed Paul. "The writing was donewith a fountain pen, I should say. That seems to tell that the owner wasno common hobo. And the writing is as clear as the print in our copybooksat school. The man who did that was a penman, believe me. 'Leave thisisland at once!' Just like that, short and crisp. Not a threat about whatwill happen if we don't, you see; we're expected to just imagine allsorts of terrible things, unless we skip out right away. One thing sure, Jud, your wild man never wrote that note, or even pinned it on our ham, because the crawler wore shoes. "

"That's right, " muttered Jud, his face betraying the admiration he feltfor the scout master who knew so well how to patch things together, sothat they seemed to be almost as plain as print. 

"Now, the rest of you just stay around while I take Jack and Bobolinkwith me along this trail. We want to settle one thing, and that'll comewhen we hit the place where this party got up on his feet to move off. "

So saying, Paul himself got down and deliberately crawled under thecanvas the same way the trespasser had. Jack and Bobolink hastened tofollow his example, only too well pleased to be selected to accompanythe leader. 

It was no great task to follow the marks made by the crawling man. Histoes had dug into the soil, going and coming, for apparently he had usedthe same trail both ways. 

"Here we are, boys; now, take a look!" said Paul, presently. 

They were by this time in the midst of the timber with which this end ofthe island was covered. Glimpses of the tents could be seen between thetrees; but any intruder might feel himself reasonably justified in risingto his full height when he had made a point so well screened frominquisitive eyes. 

This man had done so, at any rate. The plain print of his shoes wasvisible in a number of places. Both Jack and Bobolink gave utterance toexclamations as soon as they saw these. 

"One of the four, that's dead sure!" the former declared, positively. 

"I'll be badgered if it ain't!" muttered Bobolink, staring at the tracks. 

"So you see, we've settled one thing right at the start, " said Paul. 

"That's what we have, " observed Bobolink. "It's those fellows who carriedthe heavy load from the rowboat, after landin' on the island, after therain storm, that want our room more'n our company. The nerve of thatbunch to tell us to clear out, when chances are we've got just as muchright here as they have--p'raps a heap sight more. "

"That doesn't sound much like you wanted to make a change of base, Bobolink?" remarked Paul, smiling. 

"No more do I, " quickly replied the other. "I'm not used to bein' orderedaround as if I was a slave. What if there are four of them, aren'teighteen husky scouts equal to such a crowd? No, siree, if you left it tome, I'd say stick it out till the last horn blows. Give 'em the defiright from the shoulder. Tell 'em to go hang, for all we care. We c'ntake care of ourselves, mebbe; and mind our own business in the bargain. "

"But it's something else that makes you want to stay?" Paul suggested. 

"How well you know my cut, Paul, " declared the other. "You reckon I nevercan stand a mystery. It gets on my nerves, keeps me awake nights, andplays hob with my think-box all the time. Now, there was those boxes--butI guess I'll try and forget all about that matter now, because we've gota sure enough puzzle to solve right on our hands. Who are these four men;what are they hiding on Cedar Island for; why should they want to chaseus away if they weren't afraid we'd find out _somethin_' they're a-doin'here, that ain't just accordin' to the law?"

"You've got it pretty straight, Bobolink, " admitted Paul. "But sincewe've learned all we wanted to find out, suppose we go back to the restof the boys. We must talk this thing over, and decide what's to be done. "

"Do you mean about skipping out, Paul?" Bobolink exclaimed. "Oh! I hopenow, you won't do anything like that. I'd feel dreadfully mean to sneakaway. Always did hate to see a cur dog do that, with his tail betweenhis legs. "

"Still, it might seem best to leave here by dark, " said Paul. 

Something in his manner gave Jack a clue as to the meaning back of thesewords. He knew the scout master better than did any other fellow in thetroop, and was accustomed to reading his motives in his look or manner. 

"I take it that means we might _pretend_ to clear out, and come backunder cover of the night, to make another camp; eh, Paul?" Jack nowremarked, insinuatingly. 

"That was what I had in mind, " admitted the other; "but of course it'llbe up to the boys to settle such a question. I believe in every fellowhaving a voice in things that have to do with the general business ofthe camp. But majority rules when once the vote is taken--stay, or gofor good. "

"Glad to hear you say so, " ventured Bobolink. "Because here's three votesthat will be cast for sticking it out; and if I know anything about Judand Nuthin and Bluff, together with several more, the majority will wantto stick. But I mean to give them a hint that we think that way. Severalweak-kneed brothers are always ready to vote the way the leaders do. Whenthe scout master takes snuff they start to sneezing right away. "

"And for that very reason, Bobolink, I don't want you to say a word inadvance to any of the fellows. When we have a vote, it should be the freeopinion of every scout, without his being influenced by another. But whatdo you think of the idea, Jack?"

"I think it's just great, " answered his chum. "And by the way, if weshould conclude to come back to the island again in the night, I know thefinest kind of a place where we could hide the motorboats. "

"Where is that?" asked the scout master, quickly. 

"You haven't been around on the side of the island where the shore curvesinto a little bay, like. The trees grow so close that their branchesoverhang the water. If the boats were left in there, and some green stuffdrawn around them, I don't believe they'd ever be noticed, unless someone was hunting every foot of the island over for them. "

"Yes, I think I know where you mean, " said Paul. "I wasn't down by thelittle inlet you speak of; but back on the shore there's a dandy placeamong the rocks and trees, where we could pitch a new camp, and keeppretty well hidden, unless we happened to make a lot of noise, whichwe won't do if we can help it But everything depends on how the boyslook at it. "

"Anyhow, " said Bobolink, resolutely; "I feel that we ought to put it upto them that way; tell 'em how easy it will be to screen the boats, andhave a hidden camp. You'll let me tell about that, Paul, I hope, even ifI mustn't say you mean to vote to come back?"

"I suppose that would be fair enough, because we ought to hold up ourside of the question, " the scout master replied, as they drew near theplace where the three tents stood, and several groups of chatteringscouts could be seen, doubtless earnestly discussing this mysteriousthing that had come about; for, of course, Tom Betts had already told allabout the suspicious tracks of the four men who had carried a heavyburden into the brush. 

They looked eagerly toward the advancing three, as though expecting thatPaul would now take them fully into his confidence. 

This he proceeded to do without further delay; and it was worth whileobserving the various shades of emotion that flitted across the faces ofthe listeners while the scout master was talking. Some seemed alarmed, others disposed to be provoked, while not a few, Bobolink noted withsecret glee, allowed a frown to mark their foreheads, as though they weregrowing angry at being so summarily ordered off the island by theseunknown men, who did not even have the decency to present their commandof dismissal in person. 

He knew these fellows could be counted on to vote the right way when thequestion came up as to what they should do. 

When the entire thing had been explained, so that they all understood it, Paul asked for a vote as to whether they clear out altogether, or appearto do so, only to come back again. 

And, just as the sanguine Bobolink had expected, it resulted in thirteendeclaring it to be their idea that they should come back, and try to findout what all these queer goings-on meant. When the result of the vote wasmade known, even the five who had voted to go moved that it be madeunanimous. 

Perhaps they came to the conclusion that since a return was decided on itwould be safer to be with the rest on the haunted island, than off bythemselves in a lone tent on the distant shore, where no assistance couldreach them. 

"Well, we'd better have an early supper, then, and get away; or since itis getting dark now, perhaps we'll have to put off the eating part untillater, " Paul suggested. 

"Any old time will do for that, " declared Bobolink, carelessly, whereuponOld Dan Tucker gave him a look of dismay, and sadly shook his head, asthough he did not indorse such a foolish theory at all. 

So, when the others were carrying things to the boats, and showingconsiderable nervousness while doing it, Old Dan managed to fill hispockets with crackers, which he hoped might stave off starvation for alittle while at least. 

Acting on the suggestion of Jack, the scouts gave all sorts ofexhibitions of alarm as they busied themselves taking down the tents, andloading their traps aboard the two motorboats. Every now and then one ofthem would point somewhere up or down the shore, as though he thought hesaw signs of the enemy coming, whereupon a knot of the boys would gather, and stare, and then scatter, to work more feverishly than ever. 

They really enjoyed acting the part, too. It seemed to appeal to theirfondness for a joke. And the best of it was, they always fancied thatsomewhere or other at least one pair of hostile eyes must be observingthese signs of panic with satisfaction. 

Just as darkness began to creep over water and island, clouds shuttingout the moonlight again, all was pronounced ready. And then the cheery"chug" of the motors sounded, for the boys purposely made all the noisethey could, under the impression that it might seem to add to theappearance of a hasty flight. 

In this manner did the troop of scouts break camp before they had been onCedar Island more than twenty-four hours; and, so far as appearanceswent, deserted the place of the evil name for good and all. 

CHAPTER XVI

UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS

Paul had settled it all in his mind as to what their course shouldbe. He drew a mental map of the island, and its surroundings; andalso remembered certain conclusions he had previously entertainedconnected with the depth of water on all sides, between their latecamp and the mainland. 

So the _Comfort_ set the pace, which was not very fast; for they wanteddarkness to settle fully over the lake, in order that they might movearound without being seen from the island. 

"Tell me when the island is out of sight, Jud, " remarked Paul; for someof the time the two boats were side by side, and nothing interfered witha clear view in the rear. 

"Why, it's swallowed up already in the night mist; I can just make outthat old cedar that stands on top of the little hill, " came Jud's reply. 

"Good. Then we'll have an easy time slipping back, I reckon, " said Paul. 

"Going all the way over to the shore; are you?" asked the other. 

"Might as well; though we'll have to feel our way. Pretty shallow; ain'tit, Jud?" for the scout master had set the other to work sounding withone of the setting poles, by dropping it over every little while. 

"Touch bottom every time but seems to be plenty of water. Guess thislake ain't near so deep as that other one up by Rattlesnake Mountain, "Jud remarked. 

"Oh! it's many times deeper on the other side of the island, " observedPaul. "I picked out this way across for a good reason. "

"I suppose you did, " Jud said, with a sublime confidence that wasrefreshing. 

"Because, you see, " added Paul, "when we start back again, we'll have todo without the help of our motors, for, muffle them as we might, they'dmake enough noise to betray us. "

"Oh! I see now, " declared Jud, chuckling. "In place of the motor businesswe'll use good hard muscle with these setting poles. And so long as wecan touch bottom right along, it ain't going to be a very hard jobgetting back to the island. You don't think it's more'n half a mile; doyou, Paul?"

"Not much more, and we can take our time, Jud. The one thing above allothers we've got to keep in mind is silence. Nobody ought to knock apole against the side of a boat under penalty of being given black marks. And as for talking, it'll have to be in whispers, when at all. "

"S-s-sounds g-g-good to m-m-me, " said Bluff, who somehow seemed to havegone back to his old stuttering ways; though it might be the excitementthat caused the lapse. 

Nothing more was said on the way over, though doubtless the boys kept upconsiderable thinking. They were tremendously worked up over thesituation. This scheme proposed by the scout leader seemed to appeal tothe spirit of adventure which nearly every boy who has red blood in hisveins feels to be a part of his nature. 

There was one among them, however, who was silent because of anotherreason; for Old Dan Tucker always declared it a very bad and injuriousplan to try and converse when one's mouth was crammed full; and crackers, too, being apt to get in the wind-pipe, may do all manner of chokingstunts. So he said never a word. 

They presently could see the other shore looming up, though it wasgetting very dark, just as though a storm might be threatening to againdemoralize them. 

"Getting more shoal, Paul, " warned the pole heaver. 

"How much water have you now?" demanded the leader, ready to give thesignal for bringing both motorboats to a stop, when it seemed necessary. 

"Eight feet, last time; now it's about seven, short, " announced Jud. 

"Keep on sounding, and when it gets down to three, let me know, "ordered Paul. 

They were creeping along at a snail's pace now, so even should eitherboat strike mud bottom, which Jud had declared it to be, no particulardamage would result. 

The shore was very close, and still Jud admitted that there wasplenty of water. 

"Keeps up in great shape, Commodore, " he remarked, "reckon we could goashore here if we felt that way. "

"Which we don't, " declared Gusty Bellows, in a low tone. 

And not a single voice was raised in favor of such a proceeding; if therewere any timid souls present, they failed to exhibit their weakness, either through fear of boyish ridicule, or some other reason. 

Then Paul shut off power, and when he no longer heard the sound of the_Comfort's_ exhaust, Jack followed suit. 

"We'll hang out here for half an hour, and then head back, "explained Paul. 

"The outlet isn't far away from here; is it?" Joe Clausin asked. 

"Not very far--on the right, " Paul replied. "I had that in mind whenchoosing to come this way. You see, if we were intending to only goashore, they'd expect to see a fire burning somewhere. As it is, they'llbe sure to think we've dropped down into the Radway, preferring to riskall sorts of danger from the rocks and snags there, rather than stay hereanother night. "

"Makes me think of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, " remarked Nat Smith inthe other motorboat. 

"Oh! come off, will you?" ridiculed Bobolink. "Napoleon was a good one, but not in the same class with _us_. He never came back, like we're goingto do. This retreat is only a fine piece of strategy, remember, while hiswas in deadly earnest. "

They talked in low tones that were cousins to whispers, and certainlycould not be heard half way over to the mysterious island, eventhough water does make the finest conductor of sound possible, asevery boy knows. 

Finally, when about half an hour had gone, Paul said it was time to makea fresh start. He had thought it all out, and while taking one polehimself, asked the expert, Jud, to handle the other in their boat. 

Jack and Tom Betts were to look after those in the _Speedwell_; for thescout master knew that Tom could be very careful, given a job thatrequired caution. 

They took their time, and by degrees Paul led the way across the shallowpart of the lake. Bobolink had aptly described their movement, when hesaid it reminded him of the words in the song: "He came right in, andturned around and walked right out again. "

Now it was so dark that most of the scouts found themselves confused asto their bearings, the minute they lost sight of the trees along theshore. Some wondered how Paul was going to go straight back over theirrecent course, when he did not have even the stars to guide him. 

But then, there were many other things he did have, one of which was theslight breeze that blew in his face, and which had been directly behindthem at the time they left the island. 

Slowly and laboriously, in comparison with their other trip, the scoutscrossed the stretch of water. And when finally those who were so eagerlywatching out for that cedar on the top of the little elevation in themiddle of the island whispered to Paul that it was dead ahead, theyrealized with wonder that the pilot had led them in a direct line backover their course. 

Now they altered the line of advance a little. This was in order toapproach the island about the place where the little bay extended intoits side, as described by Jack. And Paul allowed the other to take thelead, since Jack would be more familiar with the locality than he himselfmight feel. 

Noiselessly did the two boats enter that miniature bay, and glide alonguntil close to the bank, where the overhanging trees afforded theprotection they wanted, in order to conceal the craft. 

Landing was next in order, and then all their things must again be takenashore, from tents and blankets, to cooking kettles and eatables. 

By now the scouts had reduced many of these things to a system. Every boyknew just what was expected of him; and presently there was a processionof burden bearers carrying things into the brush along a certain trail, once in a while perhaps stumbling a little, but keeping strict silence. 

They seemed to enjoy it hugely, too. Their nerves tingled while carryingout this part of the programme--at least, Bobolink said he had such afeeling, and doubtless several more were in the same condition. 

Of course there were those who trembled with anticipation of some suddenalarm. And then again, others might be beginning to think they would soonnearly "cave away" with the empty feeling they had; that was what OldDan Tucker confided in a whisper to Joe Clausin, resting firm in thebelief that none of the others knew about the pocket full of crackers, that he called "life preservers"--which, alas, were all gone now, to thelast crumb. 

Paul led the line and picked out the easiest method of reaching theplace he had selected for the new camp among the rocks and trees. It wasin a depression, too, the others noticed, when he told them to droptheir bundles. That would enable them to have a little fire, since itcould not be seen as it would be if they were on a level, or anelevation. And really, a fire was necessary, if Paul meant they shouldhave any supper at all. 

"As we brought about all we need, there's no use of making another tripto the boats, " Paul remarked in a low tone; from which the others judgedthat conversation was not going to be entirely cut out, only they mustnot elevate their voices above a certain pitch, so long as things were asquiet as at present. 

Now began the task of getting the three tents in position again. And wellhad the scouts learned their lesson in this particular; some of them evengoing so far as to declare that they could do the job with their eyesblindfolded, so familiar were they with every part of the operation. 

"Like learning type-writin' by touch in school, " Bobolink had said. 

After all the tents had been raised, and the blankets placed inside, Paulgave permission for a small cooking fire to be made. 

To some boys a fire is always a fire, no matter what its intended use;but the scout who has camped out soon gets to know that there is a vastdifference between a camp fire, for instance, and one meant only forgetting meals over. 

The former may be composed of great logs and branches that send up acheery and brilliant blaze; but which is next to useless when the cookwants to get close in, and attend to his various kettles and frying pans. 

Sometimes a hole is scooped out of the ground, and the fire for cookingmade in that, especially when on level ground, and danger exists ofhostile eyes discovering the blaze, however small. 

As a rule, however, such a fire is made about after this fashion: Twologs may be used, if they have flat surfaces, having been more or lesssquared off; but when stones can be procured they are to be preferred. Two sides are fashioned out of flat stones, somewhat in the shape of theletter V, only not having the line quite so pronounced. Thus a coffeepotwill rest snugly over the smaller end, while the big frying pan cozilycovers the larger. 

The fire need only be small, but when the cooking commences, thereshould be for the most part red embers in the fireplace, capable ofsending up great heat, with but a minimum of blaze. And there a cookcan work in comfort, without dodging back every time a fierce blazedarts toward him, threatening to singe his eyebrows, and shorten hiscrop of hair. 

Jud knew just how to make such a fire, and as they would need several, inorder to cook for such a host, some of the other boys busied themselvesin copying what he did. They had seen him make such a stone fireplacebefore, any way, and some of them had practiced the art in private, beingdesirous of knowing how to do many of the things the leaders were soproficient in. 

Soon they had more light, when Jud got his fire started; and it wasthen that the boys realized just how fitting that spot was for a hiddencamp. Their tents could not be seen thirty feet away; and as for thesmall amount of light made by the three cooking fires, little danger ofit being noticed, unless some one were close by, and actually stumbledon the spot. 

In fact, the greatest chance they had of being discovered, as Paul wellknew, did not come from any sense of sight or hearing, but that of smell. Should the odors from their supper chance to be carried across theisland, and in the direction of where these men were staying, they mightbegin to suspect something was wrong, and start an investigation thatwould lead to the discovery of the new camp. 

But Paul had also noticed that the night breeze was doing them anothergood service; it had helped him find his way back to the island throughthe darkness resting on the big lake; and now, blowing toward the distantshore, the odors of cooking coffee, and frying bass would be takenentirely away. 

And anyhow, there were eighteen half-starved scouts who had to be fed, come what might. So the cooking went on apace, and in due time supper wasannounced as ready. At which more than a few of the waiting lads heavedsighs of satisfaction, and Old Dan Tucker, as usual, managed to be thefirst to sit down. 

CHAPTER XVII

PITCHING TENTS IN THE "SINK"

"This thing is giving us lots of good practice at making camp, and that'ssomething, " Bobolink remarked while he ate, always taking care to keephis voice down to a low pitch, so it would not carry far on the nightair; though for that matter the wind had increased by now and was makingquite some noise through the tops of the trees around them. 

"I'd like to see anybody put up tents faster and better than we did righthere, " declared Frank Savage; who had by now about recovered from thefeeling of sickness which came so near keeping him at home, when theexpedition was formed. 

"And as for fires, these couldn't be beat, " observed Spider Sexton, ashe began to catch glimpses of the bottom of his tin platter, aftermaking away with some of the food that had been piled high on it by thecook of his mess. 

"And talk about the grub--it just takes the cake, " admitted Old DanTucker; though no one seemed to pay the least attention to what hethought, for they knew him of old, and that the present meal was alwaysthe "best he had ever eaten, barring none. "

Of course it was only natural that while the scouts were enjoyingtheir meal in this fashion, many looks betrayed an uneasiness on thepart of some among their number. Possibly they were wondering whetherit could be that hostile eyes were fixed upon them then and there, andif so, what those strange, unknown men, who seemed to want to rule theisland, would do when they discovered that the scouts had disobeyedtheir order to leave. 

Would they resort to violence? It would not be an easy task to banish adozen and a half lively boys, they were thinking. 

Paul had made up his mind with regard to certain things that must bedone. First of all, they ought to get their heads together, and decide ona plan. Should they make any sort of attempt that night to explore theisland? He owned a splendid little hand electric torch, into which he hadslipped a fresh battery before starting out on the voyage along the tworivers; and this might prove very useful in searching dark and gloomyparts of the island. But on the whole, it seemed so foolish to think ofsuch a thing, Paul wanted the rest to settle the matter. 

So, still cautioning them to speak only in whispers at the most, heplaced the whole matter before them; much as might the chairman of ameeting, after which he asked in so many words:

"You've heard all I know about it; now, what is your pleasure, fellows?"

"So far as I'm concerned, " said Bobolink, always the first to speak; "I'mwilling to do anything the rest say, or go wherever they want to head;but to be honest, boys, I'd think we were off our base if we wentprowling around this queer old island at night time. There are a heap ofthings about it that some people don't want us to know, it seems; and weought to take daylight to spear such facts. "

Others were of the same opinion; and when Paul put the vote, it wasoverwhelmingly the sentiment of the meeting that they simply take thingsas easy as they could until dawn came, and then, with fourteen hours oflight ahead, do all the exploring they liked. 

That settled it, since there could be no going behind the returns when amajority favored any move. Accordingly, they made preparations forpassing the night as the conditions best allowed. 

"Of course, we must have sentries posted to keep watch?" remarked Jack. 

"All through the livelong night. They will have to be changed everyhour; and four can be on guard at a time. That'll give about twoturns to every scout, with a chance to get four hours sleep betweentimes on duty. "

And having said his, Paul, as the acting scout master, proceeded toassign each one to his post number. There was no confusion. They hadpracticed this same movement many a time, and now that it was to becarried out, the boys profited by their experience. 

It could be seen that there was a condition of almost feverish excitementunder the surface, try as they might to conceal the fact by an appearanceof coolness. A real peril seemed to be hovering over them, since they hadchosen to disobey the mandate of the unknown who seemed to claim theisland as his private property. And if they were discovered during thenight, there would be no telling what might happen. 

At the same time the boys were enjoying the novel experience. It seemedto give them a peculiar thrill, not unlike that of a daring skater whoshoots boldly over thin, new ice, that crackles under him, and bends in adreadful way, but does not break, because his passage has been too swift. 

In the morning Paul would pick out several of them, as he thought best;and with this exploring party set out to learn what the island contained. Meanwhile they would rest quietly in that rocky retreat, in the hope thattheir return had not been noted by any observing eye, and that theirpresence on the island was utterly unknown. 

The sentries had been selected, and every boy knew just when his turn totake a post would come around. Those who were ready to lie down and getsome rest were expected to arouse their successors, so that the thing wascalculated to run along as smoothly as though on a greased track. 

If anything out of the ordinary came to pass, and there was time toarouse the scout master, Paul wanted it done. He could not remain awakehimself more than any one of the others, much as he might wish to be onthe job all the time; but that need not prevent his keeping in touch withwhatever happened. 

Paul still had his shotgun, and had of course made sure to bring it fromthe motorboat when he led his column of burden-bearers trailing throughthe timber and rocks to that little sink in which the new camp had beenpitched. It had served him often and well, and he was accustomed toplacing the utmost confidence in the trusty little weapon. But he hopedhe would find no occasion to use it now, and against human beings. Onlyas the very last resort would he turn to this. 

Still, there are times when the presence of an empty gun has donewonders; since imagination invests it with all the attributes of a loadedweapon. And that was one of the many reasons why Paul kept thedouble-barreled gun close to him, even when he crept into the tent towhich he was assigned, and lay down on his blanket to try and get alittle sleep. 

Some of the other boys whispered for a while, as they lay with theirheads close together; but they were too sleepy to keep this up for long;so that one by one they dropped off, until from their regular breathingit was easy to guess that all had surrendered to the heavy hand of sleep. 

Those on guard duty were not supposed to move about very much. They hadbeen posted at what might be called the four corners of the camp. Herethey could, between them, about cover all the space around the sink, fortheir positions were on the more elevated ground. 

And as the clouds were breaking at the time Paul crawled under thetent, he felt pretty sure that before long they would have theassistance of the moon, now more than half full, and which would notset until after midnight. 

Those who were the first on duty fulfilled their part of the programmefaithfully. After standing out their "spell, " they proceeded to quietlyawaken those who were scheduled to follow after them. Each fellow knewwho his successor was, and it had been made a part of his duty to seethat this scout was not only awakened, but on the job; after which hehimself could crawl in under his blanket, and take it easy until hissecond turn came, hours later. 

Thus Bobolink was one of the second watch. In turn he would have thepleasure of arousing the commander, and seeing that Paul took up hisduty; for in laying out the schedule Paul had not spared himself inthe least. 

Bobolink was an imaginative boy. He could see many things that otherswere apt to pass by without discovering anything out of the ordinary. Itwas a weakness which Bobolink had to guard against; lest he discoverthings that had no foundation in fact. 

He sat there, listening and looking, for a long time. The music of thebreeze in the tree-tops made him a little nervous at first; but presentlyhe seemed to get more accustomed to the sounds, and then they made himdrowsy, so that he had to take himself sharply to task more than oncebecause his eyes found it so easy to shut. 

Wishing to have something to think about, so as to keep his wits aroused, Bobolink began to try and figure out just where his fellow sentinels werelocated and imagine what they were doing. Could they be struggling, as hewas, to keep awake, one of the hardest things a boy can battle with?

What was that? Surely something moved out yonder among the scrub!

Bobolink sat straight up. He was no longer sleepy. This thing seemed tohave made his eyes fly wide open; and with his heart pumping at atremendous rate, sending the hot blood bounding through his veins, surelyhe was now in no danger of sleeping on his post. 

He watched the spot from which the sound had seemingly come. The moonpenetrated the bushes only faintly, because it was now nearing thewestern horizon, its journey for the night almost done. Strive asBobolink might to see whether any one was crawling along there, he couldnot for a time make sure. 

Then he detected a movement that must mean something. And at the sametime he discovered what seemed to be twin glowworms in the darkness. 

Bobolink had had some little experience in such things, and had read agood deal on the subject. He knew that in the night time the eyes of manywild animals, particularly of the cat tribe, can appear luminous, sothat, seen in a certain kind of gloom, they seem to be like yellowglobes. And that was what these were. 

"Huh!" said Bobolink to himself, after he had watched these queer glowingballs of fire move several times, that proved in his mind they must bethe eyes of an animal: "Guess I better give Paul the high sign, and lethim figure out what it is. "

And with that he started to creep into the camp, leaving his post forthe time being unguarded; for with three other sentries on dutyBobolink did not imagine there could be any danger in his withdrawingfrom the line. 

CHAPTER XVIII

WHAT LAY IN THE BRUSH

"Wake up, Paul!"

Bobolink accompanied these whispered words by a gentle shake. He seemedto know instinctively just where the scout master was lying; or else itmust have been, that all this had been systematically laid outbeforehand; and every fellow had a particular place where he was to curlup in his blanket when not on duty. 

Paul was awake instantly, even though he had been far gone in sleep atthe moment that hand touched his arm. 

"All right, Bobolink, " he said, in a low tone, so as not to arouse any ofthe others. "I'm with you. Time up?"

"Not quite, Paul; but there's some sort of beast creeping around thecamp; and I thought you ought to know. "

Paul sat up at once. 

"You did the right thing, Bobolink, " he remarked, quietly. 

The sentry could hear him groping around, as if for something. PresentlyPaul seemed to have found what he sought. Of course it was his shotgun. 

Wildcats were to be found in some of the woods not many miles fromStanhope. The scouts knew this, because they had experience with thesebold pests, who had been attracted by the smell of food in their camp. Besides, there were sometimes packs of wild dogs roaming the woodsthat might need to be taught a lesson, in case they gave the campersany trouble. 

So Paul had been wise to bring that double-barreled gun along. In apinch it would prove a handy thing to have with them. And no doubt itgave Bobolink considerable satisfaction to realize that Paul had such aweapon handy. 

Immediately the sentry started to crawl out of the tent again, with Paulclose at his heels. A head was raised, and one of the supposed sleeperswatched the dim figures retreating. 

It was Nuthin, who had chanced to be restless, and was awake at the timeBobolink came in to arouse the scout master. He had heard all that passedbetween them, and of course felt a thrill at the idea of some ferociouswild beast prowling around the tents. 

Hardly had the other pair withdrawn before Nuthin started after them. Hemight be a rather timid boy by nature; but when there was anything goingon Nuthin could not rest content unless he placed himself in a positionwhere he could see or hear--perhaps both. 

Bobolink led the way back to the post he had been occupying at the timehe made his discovery. He hoped those luminous eyes would still bethere, because it might not look just right should he be able to show noproof of his story; and boys will take occasion to make all sorts ofjeering remarks about a fellow falling asleep on his post, and dreamingwonderful things. 

So it was with considerable anxiety that the sentry crept along to thevery spot which he remembered he had been occupying at the time. 

Considerably to his dismay he could see nothing. There was the patch ofbrush in which he had discovered those gleaming orbs, and from which hadarisen a low, threatening growl when he first moved off; but look as hemight Bobolink was unable to detect the first sign of a hostile presence. 

He felt disgusted with himself. Luck seemed to be playing him allmanner of tricks of late, and nothing went right. There was that affairof the queer boxes which had been bothering him so long; then themystery of the unknown men who had ordered the scouts to leave theisland in such a peremptory fashion, without giving the least reasonfor their churlishness. And now, here, even this little matter couldnot work straight. 

"It's gone, Paul!" he felt compelled to mutter, after striving severaltimes to detect some sign, however faint, of those terrible yellow eyes. 

"Just where did you see it, Bobolink?" asked the scout master, knowingfrom his chum's manner how disappointed the sentry must feel that he wasthus unable to prove his assertion. 

"Right in that brush yonder; you c'n see it looks darker than anythingelse, " replied Bobolink, eagerly; as if hoping that after all Paul's eyesmight prove better than his own, and pick up the lost glow. 

"Well, it seems to have gone away, then, " said the scout master. 

"I'm afraid so, " grumbled Bobolink, for all the world as though his wholereputation for veracity depended on his showing the other that he had notbeen imagining things when he gave his alarm. 

"What did you see?" continued Paul. 

"Two yellow eyes, and say, weren't they just awful, though? But seemslike the varmint has side-stepped, and vamoosed. Just my luck, hang it! Iwanted you to see 'em the worst kind, Paul. "

"A pair of shining eyes, eh? When you moved, did you hear anything, Bobolink?"

"Sure I did. It growled just like our dog does at home, when he's got abone, and anybody gets too near him, " the sentry hastened to explain. 

"Made you think of a dog, did it, and not a cat?" asked Paul, quickly. 

"Why, yes, I reckon it did, " replied Bobolink; "leastways, that's whatcame into my mind. But then a big cat, a regular bobcat, I take it, couldgrowl that way, if it felt a notion to. "

"You came straight in to wake me up, of course?" continued Paul, wishing to figure on the time that might have elapsed since Bobolinkleft his post. 

"Crawled right in, and we got back here in a jiffy; but you see it was nouse when that jinx is on my trail, meanin' to loco everything I do. Now, I reckon if it'd been any other feller in the bunch, the critter'd juststood its ground, and I'd be vindicated. But me--I'm hoodooed of late, and can't do a thing straight. "

"Listen!" said Paul, a little sharply, as though he had no sympathy withsuch talk. 

They strained their hearing for possibly a full minute. Then Bobolink, who liked to talk, could no longer hold in. 

"What'd you think you heard, Paul?" he whispered. 

"A little rustling sound just alongside the brush you pointed out, " thescout master replied. 

"But you didn't get it again; did you?" urged the other. 

"No. But that needn't be proof that something isn't there, and watchingus, even if we don't glimpse his eyes, " replied Paul. 

"Oh!" ejaculated Bobolink, with a sudden sense of relief in his voice. 

"You heard the rustling then; didn't you?" Paul demanded. 

"I sure did, and right over back of the brush it seemed to be. P'rapshe's givin' the camp the shake, Paul; mebbe he's made up his mind itain't as healthy a place as he thought, after all. "

"It couldn't be one of the other sentries moving around, I suppose?"ventured Paul, at which his companion gave a low chuckle. 

"With those glaring yellow eyes? Well, hardly, Paul. My stars! but ifyou'd only seen 'em, you'd never say that. And besides, the boys wereordered not to leave their posts, only to wake up the fellow thatcame after 'em. Oh! put it down for me that isn't any of our bunchstirring around. "

"Then I must find out what it is!" said Paul, with a ring ofdetermination in his voice. 

"Wow! d'ye mean to rush the beast, Paul, and try to knock him over with acharge of Number Sevens?" demanded Bobolink. 

"I've got something better than that to scare him off, " replied Paul. "You know we don't want to shoot a gun, if we can help it; because thereport would tell the men that we'd come back, and might bring trouble. I've got my little electric hand torch with me, and if I flash that intothe face of any wild animal the chances are it'll give him a scarethat'll send him off about his business. "

"Oh! I forgot all about that, " said Bobolink. "It's just the thing, too. How lucky you brought it along, Paul. "

Bobolink looked on a good many things as "luck, " one way or the other, when of a truth they were really planned ahead. The scout master hadrealized that such a useful little contrivance would be apt to come inhandy on many occasions, when camping out, and had made it a particularpoint to put the torch in his pack before leaving home. 

He had it beside him as he slept, but did not consider it wise to pressthe button when awakened, lest the flash arouse the others who weresleeping in the same tent. 

Bobolink could feel him moving away, and not meaning to be left behind, he started after. Bobolink possessed courage, even if he lackeddiscretion. The possibility of an encounter with this doubtless savageanimal did not deter him from following his leader. 

Again they heard that suspicious rustling in the bushes ahead, this timelouder than before. And quickly on the heels of this sound came a low, threatening growl that, strangely enough, made Bobolink chuckle softly, he was so pleased over having his announcement proven true to theCommodore of the motorboat fleet. 

"Look out, Paul, " he whispered; "he's laying for you in those bushes. Better keep your gun handy, and be ready to give him Hail Columbia!"

Paul did not answer. He had his gun held in such a way that it could befired with a second's warning. At the same time his left hand wasgripping the little electric torch, with his thumb pressed against thetrigger that would connect the battery, and send an intense ray of lightwherever he pointed. 

When he heard another rustle, and a growl even more vicious than before, he judged about the position of the sounds, and pointing the end of thetorch straight ahead, pressed the button. 

As the vivid flash followed Paul saw something that looked like acrouching panther staring at the dazzling glow of his torch--a hairybeast that had rather a square head, and a tail that was lashing to andfro, just as he had seen that of a domestic cat move with jerks, when ahostile dog approached too close to suit her ideas of safety. 

CHAPTER XIX

LAYING PLANS

"Whee!"

That, of course, was Bobolink giving expression to his feelings when hetoo saw the crouching figure of the ugly beast in the pile of brush. 

He fully expected that Paul would now feel it necessary to raise his gunto his shoulder, and fire, on the spur of the moment. Contrary to hisbelief, he found that the scout master did nothing of the sort. Instead, Paul took a deliberate step forward, straight toward the animal that laythere, staring at the blinding light. 

"Oh I my stars! he's going to scare him off with only that light!" saidBobolink, talking to himself; and yet, strange to say, he followed closeat the heels of the advancing scout master, clutching his club tightly, and doubtless fully determined that if they were attacked, he would makethe stout weapon give a good account of itself. 

For a brief space it seemed an open question whether the animal wouldturn tail and slink away, or openly attack the advancing boys. But therewas evidently something in that approaching dazzling light, and thepresence of human beings behind it, that proved too much for the beast. He gave a sudden turn, and bounded off, vanishing in the denser scrubbeyond; and for a short time the listening Bobolink could hear the soundof his retreat. 

"Whew I that was the stuff, Paul!" cried Bobolink. "He just couldn't lookyou in the eye; could he? That fierce little staring orb was too much forhim. But what was it, Paul, a panther?"

Some one laughed back of them, and turning, light in hand, Paulsaw Nuthin. 

"What ails you, and how did you get here?" demanded Bobolink. 

"Heard what you said to Paul in the tent, and wanted to see what was up, so I just crawled out, " answered the smaller scout, still grinning, asthough he had discovered something comical in the adventure. 

"Well, what ails you?" Bobolink demanded again, feeling irritatedsomehow. 

"Panther! Well, I guess he hasn't got that wild, yet!" ejaculated Nuthin. 

Paul began to understand something about it. 

"See here, Nuthin, " he said, sternly; "you know that was a dog, as wellas I do; have you ever seen him before? Do you know him?"

Nuthin laughed softly. 

"Guess you fellows must have forgot that old mongrel dog, Lion, we usedto have, " he went on. "Well, he disappeared a long time ago, and we neverknew what did become of him. There always was a sorter wild streak in thecritter. And now it seems that he's found, it nicer to live like a wolfin the woods, than stay at home and be tied to a kennel. Because that wasLion, I give you my word for it!"

"Mebbe he smelled you here, and wanted to make up again?"suggested Bobolink. 

"Don't you believe it, " retorted Nuthin. "He never did like me, and mydad wouldn't let me go near his kennel. When he skipped out we all feltglad of it. And to think he'd show up here, of all places! What d'yereckon he's doin' over here on this island, Paul?"

"Listen. When he got away from you did he have a rope around his neck, with six feet of it trailing on the ground?" Paul asked. 

"Did he? Not any that I know about. We always kept him fastened with achain; and when he broke away, it was his collar that busted. I've got ithome yet, " was the response. 

"Well, that dog had the rope, just as I described. He's been tied up, of late, and broke away, " the scout master observed, with conviction inhis voice. 

"Then he must have been in the keep of these men who're doin' somethin'queer over here on Cedar Island, and don't want a parcel of peepin'scouts around; looks that way, don't it, Paul?" Nuthin inquired. 

"I was wondering whether it could be that crowd, or the other, " Paulreplied, musingly. 

"D'ye mean the wild man?" asked Bobolink. 

"It might be, " replied Paul. "If your old dog, Nuthin, has taken to thefree life of the woods--gone back to the type of his ancestors, as I'veheard of dogs doing many a time--why, you see, he'd just seem to fit inwith a wild man who lived about like the savages used to away back. "

"Wonder if he'll come again to bother us?" queried Bobolink. 

"Honestly now, I don't think he will, " Paul made answer. "That littleevil eye of the torch threw a scare into him he won't forget in a hurry. I suppose he must have been roaming around, and got a sniff of ourcooking. That made him feel hungry, and he was creeping in closer andcloser, in hopes of stealing something, when we broke up his game. Andnow, if it isn't time for me to go on duty, I'll crawl in again, and geta few more winks of sleep. "

"Say, Paul, don't you think it'd be about right to leave that littleflashlight with me, in case the dog comes around again?" asked Bobolink. 

"I was going to say that very same thing; and when my turn comes you canhand it over again. Here you are, Bobolink; and don't go to fooling withit, unless you really hear something. "

"I won't, Paul, " replied the other. "But chances are, I'd better make therounds and tell the other fellers about what happened; because they musthave seen the flash, and heard us talkin' over here; which will throw 'eminto a cold fit, wantin' to know all about it. "

"A good idea, Bobolink, " observed the other, as he and Nuthin movedtoward the tents again. 

The balance of the night passed without any further alarm. If the wilddog came prowling around again, attracted by the presence of good thingsto eat, which may have reminded him of other days when he was content toremain chained up in the Cypher back yard, and take the leavings from hismaster's table, he certainly did not betray his presence nor could hemuster up enough courage to crawl into the camp, when it was guarded bysuch a terrible flashing eye. 

Morning arrived in good time, and the boys were on the alert. This novelexperience was having its effect on them all. They showed that theirsleep could not have been as sound as appearances might indicate, formany had red eyes, which were the cause of considerable comment, and nota little good-natured chaff on the part of those who betrayed no suchtelltale signs of wakefulness. 

Breakfast was prepared about in the same fashion as the supper had beenon the preceding night. Fires were carefully lighted, and such fuelchosen, which, in the opinion of the best judges, would be least apt tosend up heavy smoke, such as might betray their presence on the island. 

All these little things were supposed to be a part of their education asscouts and woodsmen. They aroused considerable interest among the boys, many of whom had never bothered their heads before to discover that kindsof wood burned in various ways; that one might give out only a lightbrown smoke, hard to discern, while another would send up a dense smudgethat could not fail to attract the eye of any watcher. 

Paul showed them that when they wanted to signal with smoke, as allscouts are taught to do when learning the wigwag code, they must becareful to select only this latter kind of wood, since the other wouldnot answer the purpose. 

He had been thinking deeply over the matter, and had about made up hismind as to what course they should pursue. Like most of his comrades, Paul was averse to being driven away from Cedar Island by unknownparties, without at least another effort to explore the mysteriousplace, and making an attempt to discover what sort of business these menwere engaged in. 

That it was something unlawful he was convinced, as much as any of hischums. Indeed, everything would seem to point that way. Men do not oftenhide themselves in an unfrequented section of the country, unless theyare engaged in some pursuit that will not stand the light of day. 

At one time Paul had even suspected that these men might be some speciesof game poachers, who wishing to defy the law that protected partridges, and all feather and fur-bearing creatures in the woods, during the summerseason, had taken up their dwelling on lonely Cedar Island. 

This was in the beginning. On thinking it over, however, he came to theconclusion that there was hardly enough game of all kinds within fiftymiles of Stanhope to pay several men to spend their time snaring it; andso on this account he had thrown that theory overboard. 

As they ate their breakfast the boys talked of nothing else but themystery of the island, and many were the expressions of opinion that theymust not think of leaving without doing everything in their power to liftthe curtain. 

They wanted to know who the strange men were who had brought some bulkyobject across from the mainland in a rowboat; what business they wereengaged in there; who the wild man might be, and last of all whether hehad any connection with the others. 

"You see, " declared Bobolink, in his customary impressive way of talking, "it looks to me as if they had him here to scare meddlers off. Who wantsto rub up against a wild man? Everybody would feel like giving the hairyold fellow a wide berth, believe me. But Paul, if you make up a bunch toexplore this bally old island, please let me go along. "

There were others just as anxious and then again some gave no expressionto indicate how they felt about it. So the wise scout master, not wishingto have any half-hearted recruits with him on such an errand, observedthese signs, and made sure to pick only such as had pleaded forrecognition. 

"You can go along, Bobolink, " he said, presently; "and I shall need fiveothers in addition. Jack, you're one; then there's Bluff, Tom Betts, Phil, and Andy. Jud Elderkin will be left in full charge here, and everyscout is expected to look to him as the chief while I'm gone. Is that allunderstood, fellows?"

Everybody looked satisfied--those who had been selected because theywanted to be with the party of exploration and the scouts who wouldremain behind because they had no particular desire to prowl through thatdense undergrowth, looking for what might prove to be a jack-o'-lantern. 

And as they continued to devour the food that had been cooked over thelittle fires they exchanged confidences, all sorts of queer theories andplans being suggested. For when eighteen wide awake scouts put theirheads together, it can be set down as positive that little remains unsaidafter they have debated any subject pro and con. 

CHAPTER XX

THE EXPLORING PARTY

Soon after breakfast was over, Paul began to make his arrangements. Likea wise general he wanted to have all the details arranged beforehand, sofar as he could do so. 

"I hope you'll take the gun along, Paul, " remarked Bobolink, when thosewho had been selected to accompany the leader were stowing some crackersand cheese in sundry pockets, so that they might have a little lunch, incase they were delayed longer than seemed probable. 

"Yes, because we're more apt to find need for it than those who stay incamp, " the scout master had replied; which fact seemed to give Bobolinkconsiderable satisfaction. 

He had not liked the looks of that big fellow which Nuthin claimed tohave recognized as his old Lion. If they chanced to run across the beastagain, it might feel disposed to attack them; and nothing would pleaseBobolink more than to have Paul bowl the creature over with a singleshot. Any dog that did not have the sense to stay at home, and feed atthe hands of a kind master, deserved to get the limit, he thought. 

"It isn't that alone, " Bobolink had protested, when Paul took him totask for showing such a bloodthirsty spirit; "I've been hearing latelythat some of the farmers up this way are complainin' about dogs killin'their lambs this last spring. And chances are, this same Lion's been oneof the pack that did the mischief. Once they start in that way, nothin'can cure 'em but cold lead. My father said that right out at table. Soyou see, when dogs take to runnin' loose, they're just like boys, an'get into bad ways. "

Paul thought this was a pretty good argument. He had himself made up hismind that should they ever meet that animal again, and he showed adisposition to attack any of the scouts, there was only one thing to do. 

"How about getting into communication with you while you're gone?" askedJud, who was naturally feeling the new responsibilities of his positionmore or less, and wished to be posted. 

"It might be found a good thing, " replied the scoutmaster; "and we coulddo it easy enough by flags, if we managed to get to the top of that hillwhere the lone cedar grows. So all the time we're away, Jud, be sure andhave a scout posted in a tree, where he can watch that cedar, keeping hisflag handy to answer, if he gets the signal. 

"Guess that can be fixed, all right, " declared Jud. 

"Have him keep his eye out for smoke at the same time, " continued Paul. "We might want to tell you something, even without getting up to thatcedar tree. And in case you felt like sending back an answer, you'dbetter have the boys collect a lot of that wood I showed you, that makesa black smoke. You know our smoke code, Jud; no danger of our failing tomake good while you're handling the other end of the line. "

That made Jud smile, and feel like doing everything in his power tosatisfy the scout master. A few drops of oil prevents a vast amount offriction. Paul knew there are few boys who do not like to be appreciated;and they will do double the amount of work if they feel that they possessthe full confidence of the one who has been placed in command over them. 

When the word was finally given for the little expedition to leave camp, and start into the unknown depths of the island, those who were toremain behind insisted on shaking hands all around, and wishing them thebest of luck. Bobolink pretended to make light of it, and to laugh atthe fellows. 

"Great Scott! you'd think we were going away off to Hudson's Bay, not tocome back again for many moons, if ever!" he scoffed. "Talk aboutStanley's farewell to Livingstone in the African jungle, why it wasn'tin the same class as this. Don't you dare try to embrace me, Dan Tucker. What d'ye think I am, the pretty new girl that's come to town, and whodanced with you at our class spread? Hands off, now! And don't any ofyou cry when we're gone. I declare if you aren't turnin' into a lot ofold women. "

So the seven scouts strode away from the hidden camp in the sink, plunging into the heavy growth of timber that covered most of the island. Once only did they turn, to wave a goodbye to their watching companions, who flourished their hats in response, but dared not give the cheer thatwas in their hearts, because Paul had enjoined the strictest silence. 

Paul and Jack had more than once tried to figure out what Cedar Islandmust look like; but at the best it was only guess work. None of them hadever been here before, and so far they had only roamed over a smallportion of one end of the island, so that they could not tell even itsgeneral shape. 

That was one of the reasons why Paul wanted to climb the little hill onwhich grew the cedar from which the island must have taken its name. Once they gained this point, he fancied they might be able to see allparts of the place, and in this manner get a comprehensive idea as whatit was like. 

They kept pretty well together as they pushed through the brush andtimber. Paul instructed them to watch constantly on all sides, so thatnothing might escape their scrutiny; and as the little band of scoutspushed deeper into the unknown depths of the mysterious island, they feltmore than ever a sense of the responsibility that rested upon theirshoulders. 

As one of the boys had remarked before, this was good training. Theycould look back to other occasions when they had roamed the woods, oncein search of a little chap who had been lost; but somehow these incidentslacked the flavor of mystery that surrounded them now. 

If these men should turn out to be what they already suspected, lawlesscounterfeiters, would they not be apt to show a revengeful spirit if thepersistent boys interfered with their business to any extent?

Just how far he would be justified in leading his companions on, whenthere was this element of danger in the affair, was a serious question, which Paul had as yet not settled in his mind. He was waiting untilsomething more definite turned up, and when that occurred he expected tobe governed by circumstances to a great extent. 

Of course they had frequent little shocks. These came when some smallanimals rustled the bushes in fleeing before them, or a bird started outof the thick branches of a tree. 

The boys were keyed up to such a pitch that their nerves were on edge. When a crow, that had been watching their coming with suspicious eye, gave a series of harsh caws, and flapping his wings, took flight, Andycaught hold of Bluff's sleeve, and gave it a tug. 

"Q-q-quit t-t-that!" exclaimed Bluff, in a shrill whisper. "G-g-guess I'mk-k-keyed up enough, without m-m-akin' me j-j-jump out of my s-s-skin!"

"Arrah but I thought it was that ould dog a-goin' to lape at us, so Idid!" muttered the Irish lad, shaking his head, and grasping his cudgelmore firmly. 

All of them had been wise enough to arm themselves in some way beforestarting out. And when seven fairly muscular boys wield that many clubs, that have been tried and found true, they ought to be capable of doingconsiderable execution. But in truth there were but six of the cudgels, for Paul carried his gun only. 

They had by now cleared quite considerable ground, even though theirprogress was in anything but a direct line. On account of dense patchesof thorn bushes Paul found it necessary to make various detours; but thenthis did not matter to any great extent; for while it added to the lengthof their journey, at the same time it promised to reveal more of theisland to their search. 

One thing surprised Paul. They found the trees so dense that most ofthe time it was possible to obtain only glimpses of the sky above. Fortunately the sun continued to shine. He thought it must be prettydingy here on a cloudy day. And the more he saw of Cedar Island theless he wondered that some of the ignorant country people believed itto be haunted. 

Bobolink must have been allowing his mind to run in a similar groove, forpresently pushing up alongside Paul, he remarked in a whisper:

"Gee! did you ever see a more spooky place than this is, Paul? Now, if afellow _did_ believe in ghosts, which of course I don't, here's wherehe'd expect to run across some of them. Look at that hollow over yonder, would you? There goes a woodchuck dodging back into his hole in the bank. Ain't it queer how all these animals ever got across from the mainland tothis island? Why, seemed like all of half a mile to me. "

"Wait till we get on top of that hill, and perhaps the thing won't seemso queer, after all, " replied Paul. "I was thinking the same way; andthen it struck me that the land might be a whole lot closer to the islandon the northern side. Why, how do we know but what it's only a narrowstrait there?"

"I wonder, now, " mused Bobolink, who always found much food for thoughtin what information he extracted from the scout master. 

They kept on for some five minutes longer, under about the sameconditions. Paul, however, began to believe that they must by now bedrawing somewhere near the foot of the little hill that arose near thecenter of the island, as closely as they could figure from their camp atthe southern end. 

The result of their watchfulness was made apparent when Tom Bettssuddenly declared that he had seen something that looked like ablacksmith's forge just beyond a screen of bushes ahead of them. 

Cautiously advancing, the seven scouts presently found themselves lookingupon the exact object Tom had mentioned, which proved that his powers ofobservation were good. It was a forge of some sort, with a bellowsattached, and a wind screen, but no shelter over the top; which factwould seem to indicate that it must be in the nature of a field smithy, used for certain purposes to heat or melt metal. 

There being no sign of life around, Paul and his six followers swarmedout of the brush, and surrounded the forge, which was about as unlikely athing to be run across, away in this forsaken quarter of the country, asanything they could imagine. 

And as Paul examined the portable forge closer he made an interestingdiscovery. 

CHAPTER XXI

A MYSTERY OF THE OPEN GLADE

"This has been used since we had that hard rain, fellows, " Paul observed. 

Some of the others had noticed him handling the ashes that marked wherethe fire had been. 

"Say, they are not warm, now, are they?" asked Phil, looking uneasilyaround, as if half expecting to see some rough men come swarming out ofthe bushes. 

"Oh! I didn't mean that, " replied the scout master. "But you can seefor yourselves that when it rains there's nothing to keep the waterfrom running down over this forge. In that case the ashes would besoaked. If you look again you'll see these are perfectly dry, and havenever been wet. "

Several of the scouts picked up some of the ashes, and found that it wasexactly as Paul stated. They were as dry as powder; and could certainlynever have been rained upon. 

"That means the forge has been used since the storm that helped us getthrough that muddy canal of Jackson's Creek; is that what you mean, Paul?" asked Bobolink. 

"Nothing else, " replied the other, still continuing his investigations, as if he hoped to make some further discovery, that might tell them whatthe field forge was intended for, when these unknown men carried it tothis secluded island. 

"Great governor, Paul!"

Bobolink had stooped, and picked something from the ground. This he wasnow holding in his hand, and staring at it, as though he could hardlybelieve his eyes. 

The other scouts crowded around him, and their eyes, too, widened whenthey discovered what it was. 

"A quarter of a dollar!" exclaimed Jack. 

"And a shining new one in the bargain, " declared Tom Betts. 

"What d'ye think of that, now?" said Phil. 

Paul reached over, and took possession of the coin. 

"Did you find that, Bobolink?" he asked, for sometimes the other wasknown to play tricks. 

"I sure did, Paul, right like this, " and stooping over, Bobolink wasabout to pretend to pick up something when he uttered a gasp. 

"Another one!"

He was holding a second coin in his hand, the exact duplicate, so far asthey could see, of the first one. 

"Must grow here in flocks!" exclaimed Phil; "let's see if we can dig up awhole bunch of 'em, boys!" But although they all started digging with thetoes of their shoes, no more shining coins came to light; and it began tolook as if Bobolink had been fortunate enough to pick up all there were. 

Paul closely examined the two bright quarters. 

"If those are queer ones then they'd fool me all right, let me tell you!"declared Bobolink. 

"I never saw better in my life, " Paul admitted. 

The boys were looking pretty serious by now. It began to seem as thoughthat guess made by one of their number could not have been so wide of themark as at the time some of them believed. Here was pretty strongevidence that these men were engaged in manufacturing spurious coins. 

Ought they to consider they had gone far enough, and give up theexploration of the island, returning home to sound the alarm, andsend word to the authorities, so that these men might be trapped asthey worked?

Paul was tempted to consider that his duty lay that way. Still, therewere some things that puzzled him, and made him hesitate beforeconcluding to follow that idea. 

Why should they keep the forge out here in the open, when some shelterwould seem to be the proper thing, if, as the scouts now believed, theywere using the fire to smelt metals, and blend them to the properconsistency for the bad coins?

That was something that puzzled Paul greatly. It caused him to lookaround in the neighborhood of the forge, in the hope that he might pickup some other clue. 

The ground was pretty well trampled over, as though a number of men hadbeen walking back and forth many times in their occupation, whatever itcould have been. Paul also saw a number of indentations in the earth, which made him think some heavy object had rested in that open space. 

"Whatever they brought here, " remarked Jack, presently, "it looks likethey must have used some sort of vehicle to carry it; because thesetracks have the appearance of ruts made by wheels. "

"Rubber tires, too, " added Phil. "I've seen too many of 'em not to know;for my father has a garage. "

"Is that so?" exclaimed Bobolink, shaking his head, as if to say thatwith each discovery the mystery, instead of getting lighter, only grewmore dense. 

"And look how close together they seem to be, would you; a pretty narrowbed for a wagon, don't it seem?" asked Tom Betts. 

"But they run off that way, " observed Bobolink, "and there are so many ofthe tracks you can hardly tell which are mates. There's Paul followin''em up; reckon we'd better keep with him, boys. We don't want to getseparated. "

Paul soon came to a stop, and was joined by the others. 

"Queer how the marks all seem to knock off about here, " he remarked, pointing to the ground. "You can't find one further on. And it isn't thatthe ground suddenly gets hard, either. This looks the queerest thing ofthem all. What do they run that thing with wheels up and down here for?Anybody know?"

But silence was the only answer he received, since every one of the sixother scouts seemed to be scratching his head, and wrinkling hisforehead, as though deep in thought, yet unable to see light. 

So they went back to the field forge, to look around again, though theirlabor was all they had for their pains. 

"Not even another lovely quarter to be picked up where it got spilledwhen they made 'em here, p'raps by the bushel, " grumbled Bobolink, scratching the earth with his toe in vain. 

He had recovered the coins from Paul, and jingled them in his pocket;though the envious Bluff warned him that they might get him into a peckof trouble, should he be caught by Secret Service men. 

"Huh! guess you think you c'n scare me into droppin' them, " declaredBobolink, thrusting out his chin at Bluff. "Let me know if you see medoin' it; will you? I c'n just see you falling all over yourself, tryin'to grab these dandy coins, if I let 'em slip by me. Shoot a ball upanother alley, Bluff. Go hunt a fortune for yourself, and don't want tograb mine. Hands off, see?"

"Do we go back now, Paul; or had we better keep on to the hill?" Jackasked, as though he knew the other must have been settling this importantmatter in his mind. 

"I think as we've come this far, with the hill just ahead of us, it wouldbe a disappointment not to get up to that cedar tree, " Paul replied; atwhich every one of the other scouts nodded his head. 

"W-w-want to s-s-see what the old p-p-place l-l-looks like, " remarkedBluff, in his positive way. 

"And there's no use in our staying around here any longer, either, Ishould think, " ventured Phil. "How do we know but what some of the menmay just happen to butt in on us, while we're looking their old forgeover? And if they did, I just guess they'd make things hum for us. So Isay, into the woods again for me--the sooner the better. "

"I hope we're doing the right thing by keeping on, " Paul observed, looking at his companions in a way they took as an invitation toback him up. 

"Who's got a better right to go where we feel like?" demanded Bobolink. 

"Honest men wouldn't have any kick coming, just because a troop of BoyScouts happened to camp on their island; and it only goes to showthey're doing something shady, that's what. I say go on, " Phil gave ashis opinion. 

Jack, Andy, Bluff and Tom were quick to declare themselves opposed to anychange of plan, at least, until after they had reached their goal, whichwas the foot of the cedar on top of the hill. 

This decision seemed to give Paul more heart, and when they left the openspace he cast a last glance back at it, as though still puzzled. 

The trees grew even more dense as they drew nearer the foot of thatpeculiar rise in the ground which went to make up what they called ahill. Indeed, the boys were astonished to find such an almostimpenetrable jungle. 

"Isn't that some sort of shack you can see over yonder?" asked Phil, presently. 

As the rest looked, they agreed that it looked like a rude shelter, madeout of branches, and some boards fastened together in a crude way. 

There was no sign of life about the place, and after making sure of thisthe scouts grew bold enough to advance upon it from what seemed to be therear, though this could be settled only by the fact that the entrance tothe rustic hut appeared to be on the other side. 

Creeping noiselessly up until they were alongside the shelter, the scoutsset about finding loopholes through which they might obtain a glimpse ofwhat lay on the other side of those frail walls. 

Then one by one they drew back, and the looks they cast at each otherindicated that what they had seen was not a pleasant sight. 

CHAPTER XXII

THE WIGWAG MESSAGE

The other side of the rough shack was partly open, so thatconsiderable light managed to gain admittance. This had enabled thescouts to see a figure lying on some old blankets, together with theskins of several animals. 

It was without doubt the wild man who had given some of their troop sucha bad scare when he turned up near the camp soon after their arrival onthe island. 

He seemed to be sound asleep, and none of them were at all anxious tomake any sound calculated to arouse him. Indeed, more than one put afinger to his lips to indicate that they were sealed, as he turned andlooked anxiously at his comrades. 

Paul made motions to let them know it would be just as well if they quitthe vicinity of that queer shack, where the crazy man, as they now deemedhim, had his home. 

A few minutes later, when they had put enough distance between themselvesand the rude shelter to permit conversation, Bobolink could no longerkeep his opinions to himself. 

"He was a jim-dandy, all right, and a genuine wild man of the woods!" heremarked. "What are the circus fellows thinkin' of, to let such a finechance slip by to get a real 'What-is-it, ' fresh from the jungles ofBorneo, half man, and the rest gorilla?"

"And he had Nuthin's dog, after all, " observed Paul, quietly. 

"What makes you say that, Paul?" asked Jack. 

"Because, in the first place, I saw a lot of bones, picked as clean as awhistle, lying on the ground over in a corner. Then there was a lair thatlooked as if an animal slept in it. And if that wasn't enough, I noticeda piece of broken rope fastened to a stake, close by that corner. Youremember I said the dog was dragging a piece of rope around with him, when he came creeping up near our camp last night? He broke away, allright; and I guess the wild man will be minus his dog after this. "

"Well, that's one thing settled, " asserted Phil "We know now, for sure, there _is_ a wild man up here; and some of the officers will have to comeand capture him. My father is one of the county freeholders, and he'soverseer of the poor in the bargain; so I suppose it'll be up to him tocarry out the job. They can't afford to have people say there's a crazywild man at large, in our district, you see. "

"Did any of you notice that there was a rude sort of table in the shack?"asked Paul, as they kept on moving forward, wondering if a thirddiscovery might be made at any minute. 

"Well, now, that's a fact, " replied Bobolink. "I did see that, butsomehow didn't think it queer at the time, not enough to mention it, anyhow. But come to think of it, it was kind of out of the way in theshack of a wild man, eh?"

"There was something on the table that would seem stranger, if you'dnoticed it. I saw a battered old coffeepot there!" observed Paul, smiling grimly. 

"What?" ejaculated Bobolink. "A wild man liking coffee! Where d'yesuppose he gets the roasted bean? It don't grow on the bushes up here;and he sure don't look as if he had the cash to buy it. Oh! p'raps theyuse him to pass some of this bogus coin they make! Mebbe he goes totowns, and buys their supplies, all the time they're workin' like beaversup here, makin' the stuff. "

"I don't just agree with you there, Bobolink, " said Paul. "In the firstplace, as Phil will tell you, if such a scarecrow ever came intoStanhope, or any other town in the country, the officers would be sureto arrest him, and examine him to see if he oughtn't to be shut up in theasylum. If he got the old pot and the coffee to go with it from thesemen, then it was in the nature of a bribe not to interfere with theirbusiness, as they wanted to stay here on his Island. "

"Great brain, Paul; you seem to hit the right idea every time. Andchances are, that's just what happened, " Bobolink remarked. 

"That dog didn't come back, " observed Tom Betts. 

"And therefore he's still loose, " added Phil, uneasily. "Hope we don'trun across the beggar again; but if we should, remember Paul, the countryexpects you to do your duty. You must bag him, no matter what noise youhave to make doing it"

"Leave that to me, " remarked the scout master. "Now that we know prettywell how the land lies, and whose dog it is, perhaps I won't be sosqueamish about shooting the beast if the chance comes along. "

"Here's the foot of the rise, " Jack broke in. 

"And the trees grow more thin as the ground ascends, you notice, " Paulwent on. He called their attention to all such things, because he wasacting as scout master of the troop, and it seemed to him that he shouldnot allow any chance to pass whereby he might enlarge the horizon ofscout lore of the lads under him. 

"Then it strikes me that we ought to be a bit careful not to showourselves too plain, as we go up, " Jack suggested. 

"You're right, " added Bobolink. "For all we know, these fellows mayhave a lookout in a tree, as well as we have, and he'd see us if we gotcareless. That means we must dodge along, taking advantage of everysort of shelter that crops up. Great fun, boys, and for one I'm justtickled to death over the chance to prove that we learned our littlelesson O. K. "

All were presently stooping at one moment, where the bushes grew sparse;crawling in among some sheltering rocks at another, and even getting downto wriggle along like so many snakes, when not even so much as a bushoffered a means of hiding from observation, in case hostile eyes happenedto be turned upwards toward the hilltop at the foot of the lone cedar. 

It was not a great distance to cover, and before long they foundthemselves close to their goal. 

Already could they see over the southern side of the island; and afterthey gained the cedar it would probably be easy to also survey thenorthern half, the part which doubtless held more of interest to themthan any other, since they had reason to believe that the mysteriousdwellers on the isle were somewhere there. 

"Five more minutes will do it, " remarked Paul, when they had gathered ina shallow depression which afforded shelter until they caught theirbreath again for another climb. 

Paul was looking hard at something far beyond the lake. Bobolink, ofcourse, being attracted by his scrutiny, also allowed his gaze to wanderin that quarter; but all he saw was what he took to be a buzzard, almostout of sight--a dim speck in the heavens, and about to pass out of sightaltogether where clouds hovered above the southern horizon. 

"I c'n see about where our camp is, " Phil was saying, "and I think I knowwhich tree the signal corps is stationed in. Anyhow, I seem to glimpsesomething white moving among the green leaves, which, I take it, is aflag being held ready to wave at us. "

"I reckon Paul will soon let 'em know we're still on the map, " observedBobolink. "But won't they be s'prised when they learn that we saw theterrible wild man in his own den; and ran across the plant where thoserascals make their bogus coin, that looks as bright and good as any UncleSam stamps out?"

Just then the leader gave the signal for another advance, and the sixscouts who followed set about completing the last leg of the climb. 

They finally found themselves at the roots of the cedar tree that crownedthe elevation, and which proved of a size far beyond what any of thescouts had imagined. 

"Well, here we are at last, " said Phil, breathing hard after hisexertions. 

"And, " added Bobolink, also badly winded, though he would chatter; "nowto see Paul get one of the other fellows on the line, to wig his wag atus, or do something that sounds that way. There he goes at it. And lookythere, they've been watching us climb, I reckon, because almost beforePaul made the first sign, that other fellow began sendin'. "

They watched the fluttering red flag with the white centre. Some of themhad taken more or less interest in sending and receiving messages; butthe boy in the tree proved too fast for any of them to follow. Theysuspected that it was Jud Elderkin himself; for outside of Paul and Jack, he was the best hand at that sort of thing. 

"My stars! he keeps right along doing it; don't he?" muttered Bobolink. 

"Must be some message, too, believe me, " added Phil. 

"N-n-now, what d'ye s-s-suppose has happened at c-c-camp since weq-q-quit?" remarked Bluff, anxiously waiting for the message to betranslated. 

Not once did Paul break in on the sending of the message. He sat there, close to the base of the big cedar which sheltered his back from thenorth side of the island; and seemed to be wholly engrossed intranscribing the various signs of the flag code. 

They could not see the boy in the branches of the tree; but from theirelevated position the white and red flag was in plain view. Up and down, and crosswise, it continued to write its message, that was doubtless likeprinted letters to Paul and Jack, while unintelligible to those who hadnever taken lessons in wigwagging. 

Finally came the well known sign that the message was done; and that thesender awaited the wishes of the party with whom he was in communication. 

Paul turned upon his comrades. They saw that the frown had come backagain to his usually smooth forehead, as though he had learnedsomething to add to the perplexities of the problem they were trying sodiligently to solve. 

"It's Jud, " he said, simply, "and he's just sent an astonishingmessage. This is the way it ran, boys: 'Presence here known. Man inaeroplane passed over camp. Went down lake half hour ago. Out of sightnow. Answer!'"

No wonder Bobolink fairly held his breath, and the other five scoutslooked at each other, as though they could hardly believe their ears. Fora full minute they sat there and stared; while Bobolink remembered thefar-away black object that, at the time, he had thought to be a buzzard. 

CHAPTER XXIII

STILL FLOUNDERING IN THE MIRE

"Whee!"

It was, of course, Bobolink who gave utterance to this characteristicexclamation. 

Like most of the others, he had been so stunned by the messageread by Paul, that for the moment he failed to find words toexpress his feelings. 

An aeroplane had passed over the camp! And heading south, which wouldtake it toward the quarter where Stanhope lay!

Here they had thought themselves so far removed from civilization thatthe only persons within a range of miles might be set down as a wild manand some lawless counterfeiters, who had chosen this region because ofits inaccessibility. 

And now they had learned that one of the latest inventions of the day hadbeen moving above the island, with the pilot actually looking down on thecamp, and so discovering the fact of the Boy Scouts having returned aftertheir banishment from the place. 

No wonder they all stared at each other, and that speech was denied themfor a time. 

Jack was the first to speak. He had read the message, being nearly asgood a signalman as Paul or Jud. 

"Things seem to be picking up at a pretty lively clip for us; eh, fellows?" was the way he put it. 

"Picking up?" gasped Bobolink; "Seems to me they're getting to the redhot stage about as fast as they can. An aeroplane! And up here on ourdesert island at that, which folks said was given over to spooks andwild men! That _is_ the limit, sure! Hold me, somebody; I think I'mgoing to faint!"

But as nobody made any movement in that direction, Bobolinkchanged his mind. 

"Let's look into this thing a little closer, fellows, " said Paul, alwaysprompt to set an investigation going. 

"That's what!" echoed Bluff, surprising himself by not stammering aparticle, even though he was still quivering with excitement. 

"Jud says an aeroplane passed over the camp; but he didn't tell whetherit rose from the island or not, though the chances are that it did, " Paulcontinued. 

"Why do you say that as if you felt sure?" demanded Tom Betts. 

"Yes, " put in Phil, eagerly, "you've got on to something, Paul; give usa chance to grab it, too, please. "

"Sure I will, " complied the scout master, cheerfully. "And I'm onlysurprised that one of you, always so quick to see such things, hasn'tjumped on to this little game as soon as I have. Look back a short time, and you'll remember how we were scratching our heads over the tracks ofwheels down in that big opening!"

"Wheels!" exclaimed Bobolink, with fresh excitement. "Well, I should sayyes; and looks to me like we had 'em in our heads too, where the brainsought to be. Wheels, yes, and rubber-tired wheels too! Remember how theyseemed to run up and down a regular track, and just went so far, whenthey gave out? Whoop! why, it's as easy as two and two make four. Anybodyought to have guessed that. "

"Huh!" remarked Tom Betts, scornfully; "that's what they said, yourecollect, when Columbus discovered America. After you know, everythinglooks easy. In my mind Paul goes up head. He's in a class by himself. "

"And that forge might have been used, among other things, for doing allsorts of mending metal pieces connected with an aeroplane, " Paul went on, smiling at Tom's tribute of praise. 

"Not forgetting these sort of things, " Bobolink observed, positively, as he took out a pair of bright new quarters, and jingled themmusically in his hand. 

"Well, we haven't had any reason to change our minds about thatthing, --yet, " said Paul. "But what strikes me as the queerest of all isthe fact that while we must have been pretty close by when that aeroplanewent up, how was it none of us heard the throbbing of the engine?"

They looked at each other in bewilderment. Paul's query had opened up avast field of conjecture. One and all shook their heads. 

"I pass, " declared Tom. 

"Me too, " added Phil. 

"Must 'a got some new kind of motor aboard that is silent, "suggested Jack. 

"J-j-just a-goin' to s-s-say that, when Jack t-t-took the w-w-words outof m-m-my m-m-mouth, " Bluff exploded. 

"No trouble doin' that, Bluff, " laughed Bobolink. "If that aeroplane didclimb up out of that field, while we pushed through the heavy timber, andnone of us heard a thing, let me tell you, boys, they've got acracker-jack of a motor, that's what!"

"But arrah! would ye be thinkin' that a lot of bog-trottin'counterfeiters'd be havin' a rale aeroplane?" burst out Andy Flinn, whohad up to now been unable to give any expression to his feelings. 

"I'd say these fellers must be a pretty tony lot, that's all, "Bobolink declared. 

"Whatever do you suppose they use such a machine for?" asked Tom. 

Again all eyes were turned upon Paul, as the oracle of the group ofwondering scouts. He shrugged his shoulders, as if he thought he had asmuch right as any of the others to admit that he was puzzled. 

"Well, we'd have to make a stab at guessing that, " he observed. "Any onething of half a dozen might be the truth. An aeroplane could be used forcarrying the stuff they make up here to a distant market. Then again, itmight be only a sort of plaything, or hobby, of the chief money-maker;something he amuses himself with, to take his mind off business. All menhave hobbies--fishing, hunting, horse racing, golf--why couldn't thischap take to flying for his fun?"

"That sounds good to me, " declared Bobolink; "anyhow, we know he must bea kind of high-flier. "

"Seems like our mystery bulges bigger than ever, " remarked Phil, frowning. 

"It does, for a fact, " admitted Tom; "instead of finding out things, we're getting deeper in the mud all the time. "

"Oh! I don't know, " Paul said, musingly; and although the rest instantlyturned upon him, fully expecting that the scout master would have somesort of communication to make, he did not think it worth while, at thattime, to explain what he meant. 

"Say, I wonder, now, if we could see anything of those fellows from uphere?" remarked Bobolink, suddenly. 

"That's so, " echoed Phil, perceiving what the other intended to convey;"we can see the whole of the island now; and if they're camped somewhereon the north end, perhaps we might get a glimpse of canvas. "

"What makes you think these men have their headquarters on the north end, rather than anywhere else?" asked Paul, quickly. 

"Why, when we got up here, I noticed that smoke was climbing up overthere; and smoke means a fire; which also tells that some person must bearound to look after it, " replied Phil, promptly. 

"Pretty good reasoning, " said Paul, nodding his head toward Phil; for ifanything gave him pleasure as scout master of the troop, it was to see aboy using his head. 

All now looked over the crown of the hill, toward the upper end of theisland. The first thing they saw, of course, was the thin column ofsmoke which Phil had mentioned. Then Bobolink burst out with:

"And you were right, Paul, when you said that the chances were the islandwas close to the north side of the lake, so animals could swim across. Why, only a narrow streak of water separates 'em there, sure enough. "

"Oh! that was only a guess on my part, " Paul confessed. "I saw about howfar away the mainland trended up there, and supposed that our island mustrun near it in places. I'm pleased to see that I hit the mark, for onceat least, in this mixed-up mess. "

Paul was evidently more or less provoked because he had been unable tounderstand many of the strange things that had happened since theirarrival on Cedar Island. And the others knew that he was taking himselfto task because of his dullness; but what of them, if the scout masterneeded to be wakened up--where did they come in?

"I can't be sure about it, " observed Phil, who had been looking intentlyat one particular spot; "but it seems as if I could make out the roof ofa shed of some kind, over yonder, close to where the smoke rises. "

This set them all to looking again. Andy, who had very good eyes, declared he could make it out, and that it was a roof of some kind; oneor two of the others, after their attention had been called to the spot, also admitted that it did look a little that way, though they could notsay for a certainty. 

"Anyhow, I reckon that's where these men live, " Paul declared; "and nowthe question is, are we going to turn back here; or keep right onexploring this queer old Cedar Island?"

Bobolink, who was busy cutting his initials in the bark of the big cedarthat topped the squatty hill, spoke first of all; for being an impetuousfellow, he seldom thought twice before airing his opinions. 

"Me to push right on, " he said. "What difference does it make to us thatsome other fellows chance to be camping on the same island? It's free toall. We aren't going to bother them one whit, if only they leave usalone. But they began wrong, you see, when they told us to get off theearth. That riled me. I never did like to be sat on by anybody. It justseems like something inside gets to workin' overtime, and all my badnessbegins to rise up, like mom's yeast in a batch of dough. Count my vote togo on ahead, Paul. "

"Well, who's next?" asked the scout master "and remember, that whenit comes to a matter like this, I always try and do what themajority wants. "

"I'm willing to do what the rest say, " came from Jack. 

"Go right on, and make a clean job of it, " said Tom Betts, grimly. 

"S-s-same here!" jerked out Bluff. 

"That spakes my mind to a dot, so it do, " Andy followed. 

Paul threw up his hand. 

"Enough said; that makes four in favor already, and settles the matter. Iwon't tell you which way I would have voted, because the thing's beentaken from my hands. And besides, I would only have considered yourwelfare in making my decision, and not my own desire. "

"Which manes he would have said yis for himsilf, and no for the rist ofus, " declared the Irish boy, exultantly; "so it's glad I am we've made upour minds to go on. Whin do we shtart, Paul, darlint?"

"Right away, " replied the one addressed. "There's no use staying anylonger up here, unless you think I'd better get Jud again, and wigwag himall that we've learned up to now. "

"It'll keep, " said Phil, hastily, for he wanted to see the faces of thoseother scouts when the several astonishing pieces of news were told;especially about the finding of the real wild man asleep, the discoveryof the field forge in the open glade and the picking up of the two silverquarters, which last he felt sure would give them all a surprise. 

"A11 right!" the scout master announced, "I think pretty much the sameway; and besides, it would take a long while sending all that news. But perhaps I ought to let the boys know we're going on further; andthat they needn't expect us much before the middle of the afternoon. That'll give us plenty of time to roam around, and perhaps come backanother way. "

So he started once more to catch the attention of Jud, perched high up inthat tree above the sink near the lower end of the island, where he couldhave an uninterrupted view of the cedar on the top of the hill. 

Then there was a fluttering of the signal flag and briefly the scoutmaster informed the other as to what their intentions were. 

"That job's done, " Paul remarked, presently, when Jud replied with agesture that implied his understanding the message; "and now to movedown-hill again. We're taking some big chances in what we're expecting todo, fellows, and I only hope it won't prove a mistake. Come along!"

CHAPTER XXIV

THE DISCOVERY

"There's one thing that I think we haven't bothered our heads much about, Paul, " remarked Jack, just before they quitted the vicinity of the bigcedar on top of the hill. 

"What?" asked Bobolink, cocking his head on one side to see how well hisinitials looked in the bark of the tree from which Cedar Island took itsname; and which would tell later explorers that others had been thereahead of them. 

"Why, it seems to me those clouds down there on the southern horizon havea look that spells storm, " Jack continued. 

"Wow! wonder if we will strike another rainy spell?" said Bobolink, soquickly that none of the others had a chance to get a word in; "that lastone helped us get out of the mud in the canal; if another comes will itbe as accommodatin', or turn on us, and whoop things up, carrying ourtents away over the island, and losing 'em in the swamps beyond there?"

"Oh! say, don't imagine so much, Bobolink, " interrupted Phil. "You'rethe greatest fellow I ever saw for figuring all sorts of bad things outlong before they ever get a chance to start. What Jack means is, will webe apt to get caught in the rain, and be soaked?"

"That's the main thing, " added Tom Betts, who was rather particular abouthow his khaki suit looked on him, for Tom was a bit of a "dresser, " assome of the others, less careful with regard to their looks, called it. 

"I've noticed that it's grown pretty close and muggy, " Paul went on. 

"I should say it had, " added Bobolink. "I kept moppin' my face most ofthe way up the rise. Thought we'd sure get a fine breeze after reachin'the top; but nixey, nothing doing. It's as dead as a door nail; or JuliusCaesar ever was. Yes, that spells rain before night, I'd like to risk myreputation as a weather prophet in saying. "

"Still, we go on?" Paul asked. 

"Well, we'd be a fine lot of scouts, " blurted out Bobolink, "if thechance of getting our backs wet made us give up a plan we'd decided on. "

"Lead the way, Paul; they're bent on finding out something more aboutthese men. And feeling that way, as Bobolink says, a little rain stormwouldn't make them change their minds, " and Jack, while speaking, startedafter the scout master, who had commenced to descend the hill. 

They did not immediately turn toward the north side. There seemed no usein deliberately making their presence known to any one stationed over atthe north end of the island, providing the mysterious men were notalready aware of it. 

Paul, when doing his wigwag act, had been careful to keep the crest ofthe hill between his flag and that suspicious quarter where the smokecolumn was lazily creeping up, as smoke has a habit of doing just beforerain comes. 

Of course it might be possible that the man in the aeroplane, afterdiscovering the tents in the sink, may have made some sort of signalthat would tell his comrades the fact of the scouts having returned inthe night. 

Paul wished, now that it was too late, he had thought to ask Jud aboutthat point. It might be of some benefit to them to know whether the menwere aware of their presence; or rested serene in the belief that theywere the only occupants of the island, besides the wild man. 

After the scouts had gone down a little way, Paul began to change hiscourse. He was now turning toward the north. The trees grew much morethickly here, and would surely screen them from observation. 

The boys had resumed their former habit of observing everything that camein their way, as true scouts always should. They turned their heads fromright to left and Bobolink even looked back of him more than a few times. Perhaps he remembered that there was a wild man at large who might take anotion to awake from his sleep, and, discovering the scout patrol, thinkit his business to follow them. 

And then, to be sure, they ought to keep in mind the fact concerning thatwild dog that had gone back to the habits of its ancestors, preferring tolive by hunting, rather than take food from the hand of man. It would befar from pleasant to have old Lion suddenly sneak up on them, and givethem a scare. 

But everything seemed peaceful around them. Now and then a bird would flyout of a thicket, or give a little burst of song from the branch of sometree. A red-headed woodpecker tapped boisterously on the dead top of abeech near by, trying hard to arouse the curiosity of the worms thatlived there, so as to cause them to poke out their heads to see who wasso noisy at their front doors; when of course the feathered hammererstood ready to gobble them up. 

"Oh!" gasped Bobolink, when there was a sudden whirring sound of wings, and they had a furtive glimpse of something flashing through theundergrowth near by. 

"It's only a partridge; don't be worried!" remarked Phil. 

"Sure it was, " muttered Bobolink, with scorn; "any fellow with only oneeye'd know that _now_; but all the same, the thing gave me a bad turn, I'm that keyed up. "

"And that's a cotton-tail looking at us over yonder, so don't throwanother fit when he takes a notion to skip out, " Phil continued, pointingwith his cudgel to where a rabbit sat, observing the intruders, as thoughwondering what business any human beings had coming to the island thathad been left alone so long. 

Presently the little animal skipped off a few paces and then stoppedagain. As the scouts advanced, it repeated these tactics; indeed, sotame did it seem that any of them could have easily hit the rabbit witha stone, had they felt so inclined, which, as scouts, they could notthink of doing. 

"Looks like she's got a litter of young ones close by here, " saidBobolink; "and is playing lame just to lead us away from the bunch. I'veseen rabbits do that before now. The cuteness of the thing! Look at her, would you, just beggin' us to run after, and try to capture her?"

"I've seen a partridge act as if she had a broken wing, " Jack remarked, quietly; "and flutter along the ground in a way that couldn't help butmake one try to catch her; but if you chased after her, it would be tosee the old bird take wing pretty soon, and go off like a rocket. "

"Same here, " declared Paul; "and going back, I flushed a whole covey ofthe prettiest little birds you ever saw. They'd been crouching under abush while the old one played lame; just as if she'd told them all aboutit. But I heard her calling in the brush later on, and of course she gotthem all together again. "

"There goes your lame rabbit now, Bobolink; and say, look at the way shejumps over the ground, " remarked Phil, chuckling. 

"Not so loud, boys, " cautioned the scout master. "These things are allmighty interesting; but we mustn't forget what we're here for nor yet thefact that we've got a pretty good hunch there are some men close by whowould be just as mad as hops if they knew we meant to stalk their campand spy on them. If you have to say anything, whisper it softly, remember. "

At that they all fell silent. It was true that they had forgotten for themoment that they were doing scouting work; and under such conditionstalking was not allowed, especially above the lowest tone. 

All of them noticed that it was getting very close now, for they had touse the red bandanna handkerchiefs they carried, and quite frequently atthat, to wipe away the perspiration that oozed from their foreheads. 

"Lucky we left our coats in camp; isn't it?" remarked Phil. 

"Looks that way now, but if that rain does strike us, we may wish we had'em on, " Tom Betts replied; showing that he at least had not been able toput out of his head the possibility of a storm. 

"Seems to me we must be getting somewhere, " Phil observed. 

"It can't be very much further, " Paul answered, feeling that the remarkwas addressed to him as the pilot of the expedition. "

"I should say not, " came from Bluff, as chipper as a bird's song, andwithout the least sign of halt or break; "if we go on much more, we'llwalk off the end of the island. "

Bobolink patted him on the back, as if to encourage him in well doing. 

"That's the stuff, Bluff; you c'n do it when you try, " he whispered; "butas to steppin' into the lake, I guess we aren't that near the north endyet, by a good sight. "

Paul nodded his head, but said nothing; from that Bobolink knew the scoutmaster agreed with him. They could go considerably longer without beinghalted by coming to the water's edge. 

Jack called the attention of his chums just then to something ahead. 

"Seems to me I smell smoke, " he said, "and if you bend down here, so youcan look under the branches of the trees, you'll see something that's gotthe shape of a shed, or cabin, off yonder. "

The others, upon making a try, agreed with Jack that it did seem thatway. 

"Oh! we're right on top of the nest, all right" chattered Bobolink, butshowing his wisdom by keeping his voice down to its lowest note; "andnow, if we c'n duplicate that little dodge we played at the shack of thewild man, it's goin' to be as easy as turning over off a spring-board, with a ten foot drop. "

"But if we're caught we might get shot at, " suggested Phil, as if theidea had struck him for the first time that they were really playing withfire, in thus bearding desperate lawbreakers in their den. 

"We aren't going to get caught, " said Bobolink; "who's afraid? Not I. Lead along, Paul. I want to get this thing out of my system, so I c'nhave a little rest up here, " and he placed a hand on his brow. 

Although himself doubtful as to the wisdom of the move, Paul could notback down now, after allowing the boys to vote on the matter. Perhaps hewas more or less sorry that at the time he had not exercised hisprivilege as scout master to put his foot down on their taking any morechances, just to satisfy such curiosity as reckless fellows like Bobolinkmight feel, with regard to the unknown men. 

It was too late now. Until some of the boys themselves manifested adesire to call the retreat, he must go on; although it began to seem morethan ever audacious--this creeping up on a den of men who were hidingfrom the eye of the law in order to carry on their nefarious trade. 

And so they started to creep forward, now dodging behind trees, andcrawling back of friendly patches of bushes whenever the chance presenteditself. It was all exciting enough, to be sure, and doubtless gave theboys many a delightful little thrill. 

In this fashion they came upon a larger clump of trees and bushes, which, instead of trying to round, they concluded to pass through. 

It was just as they gained a point inside this clump that they werebrought up with a round turn by discovering a couple of objects standingthere, as though they had been left behind when the valuable contentswhich they formerly encased had been taken out. 

These were two large packing cases, of unusual shape, and made of heavyplaned boards!

Some of the scouts looked at them carelessly, for to them these objectsdid not carry any particular meaning. Not so Jack, Tom Betts andBobolink. Those three boys had received a shock, as severe as it wasunexpected. 

They recognized those cases as being the identical ones which had onlylately reposed snugly in the planing mill of Jack's father in Stanhope, and to guard which one Hans Waggoner had been hired by the man who ownedthem, Professor Hackett! And as they stood there and gaped, doubtlessamong the many things that flashed into the minds of those three lads wasthe fact that _somebody_ had been trying to get to see what the contentsof those mysterious cases might be; which person they now knew must havebeen a Government Secret Service man, a detective from Washington, on thetrack of the bold counterfeiting gang!

All these things, and much more, flashed through the minds of Jack andhis chums, as they stood there in that thicket, and stared hard at thetwo big cases bound around with twisted wire, but which had now beenrelieved of their unknown contents, for they stood empty. 

And the others, realizing that something had occurred out of the regularchannel, waited for them to speak, and explain what they had discovered. 

CHAPTER XXV

TIME TO GO BACK

"What is it, Bobolink--Jack?" asked the scout master. 

"The boxes yonder!" Bobolink managed to exclaim. 

"You evidently have seen them before; tell me, Jack, are they the onesyou said your father stored for that man?" continued Paul. 

"They certainly look mighty like them, " replied the other; "and you know, they were taken away that morning early. They must have been carriedacross country to the shore of the lake, and then ferried over in arowboat. That was what we saw the marks of, and the four men walked offwith these between them. "

"Whee! did you ever?" gasped the still bewildered Bobolink. "Yes, hereyou c'n see the markin' on the lid they threw away when they opened thisone--'Professor Hackett, In care of John Stormways, Stanhope, ' all asplain as anything. And to think how after all my worryin' the old boxeshave bobbed up here. Don't it beat the Dutch how things turn out?"

That seemed to be the one thing that gripped Bobolink's attention--thestrange way in which those two heavy boxes with the twisted wire bindinghad happened to cross his path again. 

But Paul was thinking of other things, that might have a more seriousbearing on the case. He turned to Jack again. 

"What do you know about this so-called professor?" he asked. 

"Me? Why, next to nothing, only that he comes from down near New YorkCity at a place called Coney Island, where lots of fakirs hold out; andplenty of men too, in the summer season, who would want to circulate alittle money that did not bear the Government stamp. "

"But your father seems to have known him; or at any rate believed he wasa law-abiding citizen, " pursued Paul; "otherwise he would hardly havegiven him the privilege of storing his cases in his mill over night. "

"Oh! my father is that easy-going, nearly anybody could pull the woolover his eyes. He believed the yarn this pretended professor told him, I've no doubt, and thought it next door to nothing to let him keep theboxes in the mill for a short time. You know, my father is thebest-hearted man in Stanhope, barring none. But I agree with the rest ofyou that this time he must have got stung. The professor is sure a badegg. I must put my dad wise as soon as I get half a chance. "

"Perhaps it's already too late to save him from getting stuck with a lotof the stuff they manufacture?" suggested Tom Betts. 

"Oh! that could hardly be so, " Jack replied, cheerfully. "When thesebogus money-makers want to get rid of some of their stock they alwayshave go-betweens do the job for them. It would be too easy tracing thingsif they passed the stuff themselves. So I guess my dad hasn't taken inany great amount of the counterfeits. "

Bobolink was down on his knees. He even crawled into one of theoverturned boxes, as though trying hard to ascertain from sundry markswhat could have been contained under that wooden cover. 

He came out, shaking his head, as though his efforts had not beenattended by success. 

"Looks like machinery of some kind, that's all I c'n tell, " he admitted. "But of course, they'd need a press of some sort to work off the papermoney on. Now, chances are, it's bein' put up right in that long shedyonder, that we c'n see. Question is, how're we goin' to get close enoughto peek through a crack, and find out what's goin' on in there?"

Again did most of the boys look uneasily at each other. Paul believedthat, now the great test had arrived, they were beginning to weaken alittle. No doubt it did not seem so glorious a thing when you got closeup, this spying on a band of lawless men, who would be apt to dealharshly with eavesdroppers, if caught in the act. 

Still, he would not give the order to retreat unless they asked for it. They had been allowed to settle that matter when they voted; it was up toBobolink, Tom, Bluff or Andy to start the ball rolling, if they began toreconsider their hasty conclusion of a while back. 

Bobolink looked toward the low, long shed, now plainly seen, in somethingof a rocky opening, with glimpses of water beyond which told how close tothe shore it had been built. But he did not act as though as anxious torush matters as before. 

"Why d'ye believe they ever landed those boxes where they did, and toted'em all the way up here, heavy as they were, when there's the water closeby?" asked Jack. 

"I was thinking about that a minute ago, " replied Paul; "and the onlyexplanation I can find is this: Perhaps the water is mighty shallow allaround up at the north end of the island. I can see that the shore isrocky, and if that's so, then no boat with a heavy load could get closeenough in to land the stuff. And so they had to get busy, and carry theboxes, one at a time. "

"Sounds reasonable, and we'll let her go at that, " commented Bobolink, who, as a rule, was contented to take Paul's opinion. 

Paul himself stooped down to take a look into the cases. He did not makeany remark as he straightened up again, nor did any of the others thinkto ask his opinion; which possibly may have been lucky, for perhaps Paulwould not have liked to commit himself just then. If he had foundanything that gave him a new clue, he was evidently keeping it to himselfuntil he could get more proof. 

"S'pose we ought to make a fresh start, " suggested Bobolink, but with alack of eagerness that was plainly noticeable; it was as though thediscovery of those two mysterious boxes under such strange conditions hadrather cooled his ardor. 

"That's so, " remarked Tom. 

"We've g-g-got so n-n-near now, we ought to f-f-finish!" Bluff declared. 

And yet none of them made the slightest movement looking to an advance, afact that Paul could not help but notice, and which warned him they wereclose to the point of a change of policy. A suggestion that they give upthe spy business at this stage, and retreat in good order to their camp, would doubtless have met with favor, and been sure of a unanimous vote. 

But still Paul, having his own notions of such matters, when dealing withboys, declined to say anything. If one of the four who were mainlyresponsible for their being there should take it upon himself to offersuch a motion, he would only too gladly put it to a vote. Until such timecame he must continue to remain silent. 

"Just as you say, boys; I'm carrying out your plans, " he remarked, quietly, wishing to let them know that they had it in their own power toalter conditions at any time they so desired. 

They all finally moved after the scout master, even if some feet did laga little. Bluff and Phil particularly were conscious of a strange sinkingsensation in the region of their hearts, which they mistrusted signifiedfear; and rather than have any of their comrades suspect that they had acold hand pressing there, they shut their teeth hard together, anddetermined that under no circumstances would they show the white feather. 

So Paul led them on. 

Again they tried to conceal themselves as best they might in deviousways. Here the wide and generous trunk of a friendly tree afforded thema certain amount of shelter; a little further on a small pile of rocksanswered the same benevolent purpose; but always the main idea was tohide from any curious eyes that might be on the lookout in thevicinity of that queer looking shed--newly made, if the fresh boardssignified anything. 

"Looky here! there's a man!" suddenly exclaimed Bobolink. 

The others had discovered the man at about the same time. They all layflat and hardly dared breathe, lest in some manner they attract theattention of the stranger, who seemed to be not only a big man, butrather a fierce-looking fellow in the bargain. 

He was glancing all around at the heavens, as though wondering whetherthe aeroplane was not coming back, whatever its mission in flying awaysouth could have been. Standing there, he shaded his eyes with hishands and continued to look toward the south for several minutes. Thenhe made a gesture as of disappointment, and vanished around the cornerof the shed. 

"Never looked down this way once!" Bobolink said triumphantly, as thoughtheir escape had caused his spirits to rise a little. 

"That leaves the coast clear again, anyhow, " said Tom Betts, as if he nowhad a rather disagreeable duty to perform, which, since it had to bedone, had better be gotten through with as speedily as possible. 

When leaving camp these brave scouts had never dreamed but thatspying upon the enemy would prove the most delightful task imaginable. Even later on, when they had voted to keep moving forward, with somuch assurance, the picture had not begun to fade; but now it did notseem the same. 

As the shelter grew less and less, however, it became evident thatpresently, if they continued to advance in this fashion, they must reacha point where, in order to make progress, they must expose themselves tohostile eyes, should any be on the watch. 

Would even this cause one of the four scouts to "take water, " as Bobolinkcalled it, and make the sign that he had had enough?

Paul knew them all pretty well, and he also realized the fact that everyfellow possessed a nature bordering on the stubborn. It was the dread ofbeing thought cowardly that kept them from taking the cue from Paul, andending this foolish advance. 

They had gone over fifty feet since the last stop, and passed the lastlarge tree which could be looked on to give them any shelter. 

It was just at this moment that once again the big man was seen cominghastily around the corner of the shed. 

At sight of him the boys stood still. There was no use trying to hidenow. Perhaps some faint hope took possession of them that they might beunnoticed if they did not move; just as the still hunter, stalking afeeding deer, will watch its short tail, and whenever he sees it twitchhe stands perfectly motionless; for he knows that the animal is about toraise his head, and that he will probably be taken for a stump if he doesnot move hand or foot. 

But evidently the man had sighted the seven khaki-clad scouts. He seemedalmost petrified with amazement at first, and stood staring at them. Asif awaking from his trance, he began to make frantic motions with hisarms, and at the same time shouted hoarsely at them:

"Go back! Get out of that! You're crazy staying there! Run, I tell you, while you have the chance! Get away! Get away, you fools!"

The scouts looked at each other in astonishment. What could it all mean?Were all the men on this queer island stark, staring crazy? He calledthem that, but it is always a rule for mad people to believe every oneelse crazy but themselves. 

"Say, what does the guy mean?" cried Bobolink, who seemed to be utterlyunable to understand a thing; "mebbe it's a small-pox hospital we've runon, fellows!"

But Paul was beginning to see a light. Possibly the excited gestures, aswell as the urgent words of the big man, may have assisted him to arriveat a conclusion. 

He no longer felt so decided about not speaking the word that wouldcause his little detachment to turn and retreat. There must be dangerhovering over them, danger in some terrible form, to make that unknownman so urgent. 

"Let's get out of this, boys!" he called, "every fellow turn, and streakit as fast as he can. And get behind trees as quick as you can, because--"

They had already started to obey the scout master, and possibly hadcovered a few jumps when it seemed that the very earth shook and quiveredunder them, as a fearful roar almost deafened every boy. 

Just as you have seen a pack of cards, made into tent shape in a curvingrow, go falling down when the first one is touched, so those seven scoutswere knocked flat by some concussion of the air. 

They had hardly fallen than one and all scrambled to their feet, and fledmadly from the scene, as if fearful lest the whole end of the islandmight be blown up behind them, and catch them in a trap from which therecould be no escape. 

CHAPTER XXVI

HONORABLE SCARS

So it turned out after all that the scout master did not have to changehis mind, and give the order for retreat. When that dreadful panicoverwhelmed the scouts, it was really a case of "every one for himself. "

Either by rare good luck, or some sort of instinct, the seven ladsmanaged to keep pretty well together as they ran. Not a single fellowdreamed of allowing himself to get separated from his comrades. It seemedto be a case of "united we stand, divided we fall, " or "in union there isstrength. "

If in their mad rush some of the boys collided with trees, or stumbledover obstacles that they failed to discover in time, they were not of amind to let such trifles interfere with their making record time. 

In such cases it was only necessary to scramble erect again, and put on alittle extra spurt in order to overhaul their comrades. 

What had taken them half an hour to cover when they were "scouting" insuch approved fashion, was passed over in about five minutes. 

It was Paul who came to his senses first. He realized that there was noone chasing them and that, to tell the truth, not one of the boys couldhave been seriously hurt by what had befallen. 

So he began to laugh, and the sound reaching the ears of the others, appeared to act on their excited minds like soothing balm. 

Gradually the whole lot slackened their pace until they were going at ajog trot; which in turn settled down to a walk. 

Finally Bobolink came to a full stop. 

"Whee! let's get a few decent breaths, fellows!" he managed to gasp. 

The others were apparently nothing loth, and so they all drew up in abunch. A sorry lot they looked just then, to tell the truth. It seemed asthough nearly every fellow had some distinguishing mark. 

Phil's rather aristocratic face had a long scratch that extended down theright side, and gave him a queer look; Jack was caressing a lump on hisforehead, which he may have received from a tree, or else when he wasknocked down without warning by that singular explosion; Andy was tryingto quench a nose-bleed, and needed his face washed the worst way; Bluff'sleft eye seemed partly closed, as if he had been too close to thebusiness end of an angry bee; while Bobolink had two or three small cutsabout his face that made him look as if he had been trying to tattoohimself--with wretched success. 

So they looked at one another, and each thought the balance of the crowdhad the appearance of a set of lunatics on the rampage. 

Hardly had they stared at each other than they set to laughing. 

"Oh! my stars! but aren't you a screamer though, Andy, with all thatblood smeared over your face; and Bluff, why he looks as if he'd been ina prize fight!" was the way Bobolink expressed his feelings, bending overas he laughed. 

"Huh! you're not so very pretty yourself!" replied Bluff, with not theslightest sign of an impediment in his speech--evidently it had beenfrightened out of his system for the time being. "Anybody'd think youwere a South Sea Islander on the warpath. And wouldn't they cross over tothe other side of the road in a hurry if they met you! Say, if MazieKenwood or Laura Carson could only see you now, they'd give you the cutstraight. "

"Look at Jack's bump, would you?" Tom Betts exclaimed. 

"Don't call attention to me any more than you can help, " Jack remarked, making a wry face, as he caressed the protuberance on his forehead; "itfeels as big as a walnut, let me tell you, and hurts like fun. The soonerI'm back in camp, so I can slap some witch hazel on that lump, the betterit'll please me, boys. "

After a little more laughing and grumbling, Paul, who had escaped withoutany visible hurts, though he walked a little lame, remarked:

"Well, do we start right back again, and take a look-in on those men?Don't everybody speak at once, now!"

All the same they did, and the burden of the united protest was thatcircumstances alter cases; that they had arrived at the conclusion thatwhat those men were doing on the island could be no affair of honest, law-abiding scouts; and that as for them, the camp in the sink offeredmore attractions at that particular moment than anything else theycould think of. 

Of course that settled it. The scouting was over for that occasion. Theyhad done themselves credit, as far as it went; but then, who would everdream that they would come within an ace of being blown sky-high with thewhole upper end of the island?

As if by common consent, they started to move forward again, and everyfellow seemed to know, as if by instinct, which was south, andwhereabouts the camp was, for they needed no pilot now. 

And as they journeyed they talked it all over. Every boy seemed to havean opinion of his own with regard to what had happened, and they differedradically. 

"Tell you what, " said Tom Betts, who had also escaped with only a fewminor injuries, because he was as quick as a cat, and must have fallen ona soft piece of ground besides; "tell you what, I thought that old hillhad turned into a volcano, and just bust all to flinders. "

"Well, now, " Phil admitted, "I somehow had an idea that storm had chasedup when we didn't chance to be watching, and lightning had struck a treeclose to the place where we happened to be standing looking at that crazyman wave his arms. "

"Me?" Bobolink remarked; "why, I was dead sure what we guessed about awar game bein' played up here between two pretended hostile armies wasright; and that one of 'em had blown up the fort of the other. You see, that aeroplane had a sorter military air about it, even if I didn't seeit. And I'm not sure yet it isn't that. "

"One thing sure, " remarked Paul; "the man was trying to warn us to keepback, for he knew some sort of mine was going to explode, and that wemight be killed. As it was, we got off pretty lucky, I think. This sprainwill heal in a day or two; but if a rock weighing a ton or two haddropped down on me, I guess the chances of my ever seeing Stanhope againwould have been mighty slim. "

"But tell me, " Bobolink asked, "what in the world would counterfeiterswant with exploding mines, and doin' all that sort of thing? Justremember that big bang we had the other night, that woke everybody up. Shows it's a habit with 'em, and that this wasn't some freak accident. Gee! my head's buzzing around so I can't think straight. Somebody do myguessin' for me; won't you, please?"

"That's right, " said Tom Betts, suddenly; "who are these men, anyway?P'raps we didn't size 'em up straight when we made up our minds they werebogus money-makers. Mebbe they happen to be a different sort of crowdaltogether. How about that, Paul; am I off my trolley when I say that?"

"I've been beginning to believe something was crooked in our guess for alittle while, Tom, " replied the scout master; "but all the same, you'vegot me up in the air when you ask who and what they are. I'm rattled morethan I've been in many a day, to be honest with you all. "

Bobolink took out something from his pocket. He stared hard at the twoshining quarters, and jingled them in his hand. 

"Look good to me, " he was heard to say; "I'd pass 'em any time forgenuine. But what silly chump'd be throwing good money around likethat, tell me?"

"Or bad money either, Bobolink, " remarked Paul; "so you see, it was anaccident in any case. You've lost money many a time out of your pocket;well, this man was in the same boat. Chances are, that's straight goods. "

Bobolink grinned. 

"If that's so, " he remarked calmly, "I'm in a half dollar, and that'ssome satisfaction. But say, what a time we'll have tellin' the boys. Wow!I can see the eyes of Little Billie, and Curly, and Nuthin just stickin'out of their heads when they hear all we've run up against. "

"And we'd better move along a little faster while about it, "observed Paul. 

"Why? Hope you don't think any of those men are chasin' after us; or thatwe'll run up against that wild man, or the big yellow dog again?"Bobolink inquired, glancing fearfully about him. 

"No, I was considering the feelings of the boys, " replied thescout master. 

"That's a fact, " Jack went on, "they'll be worried about us, afterhearing that terrible report, and think something has happened to ourcrowd. But we're not a great way from camp now, Paul. "

"No, and if the distance was greater, I'd stop long enough to send up asmoke signal that would tell Jud we were all right. But that'd take time, and perhaps we'd better hurry along, " and the scout master set a newpace, even though limping slightly. 

"Got hurt some yourself; did you, Paul?" Jack asked, solicitously. 

"Oh! only a little sprain, but it happens to be on a muscle that I haveto use when I walk, and you know a fellow favors such a pain. But I cansee where the sink lies now; we'll be there in ten minutes, perhapshalf that. "

They continued to push on. For the time being most of them forgot abouttheir personal troubles, in their anxiety to join their comrades. AndBobolink, as he walked beside Jack, spoke what was on his mind:

"It was a grand old scare, all right, and one we won't ever forget, believe me; but there's one thing that tickles me half to death, Jack. Weknow _now_ where the queer old boxes went to, even if we are up in theair about what was in them. And the chances are we may find that outbefore we're done with this business; because those men ought to comedown and ask if anybody got hurt by their silly Fourth of July fireworksdisplay. There's the camp, boys. Whoopee!"

CHAPTER XXVII

ANOTHER THREATENING PERIL

Loud cheers greeted the appearance of the seven scouts, as they hurriedforward into the camp. And when those who had remained with the tents sawthe various scratches, contusions and bumps that adorned most of thereturned boys' faces, they were burning with eagerness to hear thedetails of the adventure. 

Such a clatter of tongues as ensued, as every fellow tried to tell hisversion of the happening. If half that was said were written down, itwould require many more chapters to give the details. 

Gradually, however, each stay-at-home scout began to get a pretty clearidea of the series of adventures that had befallen their mates in tryingto explore the mysteries of the island. They understood all about thewild man, and what the consensus among the seven explorers seemed to beconcerning the strangers who occupied the island, and were conductingsuch an amazing series of experiments, even making use of an aeroplane toaccomplish their ends. 

The guesses that followed were legion, yet Paul, who listened patientlyto the most astounding theories, shook his head in the end. 

"I don't believe any of us have hit on the right thing yet, fellows, " hesaid. "But there's meat in a number of the guesses you've made, andperhaps we'll get the story after a while. But how about grub; we're ashungry as bears?"

"Never expected to join you at lunch, for a fact, " grinned Bobolink; "butthen, we made better time than we ever thought we could on the returnjourney. Talk to me about a prize spurrin' a fellow on to do his levelbest--the whip that does it is to put a first-class scare in him. Thenyou're goin' to see some runnin' that takes the cake. Wheel didn't wesprint, though? Bet you I jumped clear over a log that stood six feethigh from the ground--more or less. "

It happened that the stay-at-home scouts had just prepared their noonmeal at the time the explosion occurred that made the whole islandtremble. That had startled them so much that they had not had theheart to think of sitting down because of anxiety about the fate oftheir chums. 

And so the dinner had remained untouched up to the time they heard the"cooee" of the returning warriors; and then caught the bark of the fox, that told them that Paul and his posse had returned. 

There was enough for all, because the cooks were very liberal in makingup their messes. And over the dinner more suggestions were made as towhat their future course ought to be. 

By now even the fire-eating Bobolink was ready to cry quits, andback down; nor did he seem at all ashamed to admit the fact that hewas afraid. 

"If those sillies mean to blow up the whole island, some way or other, why, what's the use of us stayin' here, an' goin' up with it, I'd like toknow?" he said. "Tell you what, I've got another guess comin', and it'sthis: P'raps they're meanin' to get rid of this island and lake, and havestarted to do the job. Mebbe some big railroad wants a short line acrosscountry, and this thing is right in their way. I've heard of 'em doin'bigger things than just blowing up a little island; haven't you, Paul?"

He always appealed to the scout master when one of his brilliant thoughtscame along. Paul nodded his head. 

"That sounds more reasonable than a whole lot of things I've beenlistening to, Bobolink, for a fact, " Paul admitted. "Still, we don'tknow, and there's no way to find out the true story, right now. Listen, fellows!"

"Thunder, away off, Paul; guess we've all got explosions on the brain, because it gave me a start, too, " said Jack, laughing. 

"And if a storm's coming along, " observed Jud Elderkin, who seemed vastlypleased when he heard that his signalling had been so easily understood, "why, I reckon we ought not to think of pulling down our good tents, andgetting out of here, till she's over. "

It was plain from this that the scouts had determined to abandon theirdangerous island, and spend the balance of the outing by making a camp onthe mainland, where at least there was a reasonable expectation of notbeing blown sky-high by some explosion. 

"And since we're done eating perhaps we'd better take another look at thetent pins, to make sure they'll hold when the wind strikes us. Some ofthese summer storms have a lively advance breeze, you know, boys, " Paulsuggested. 

"Little Billie and I'll go over to the boats, and see that the curtainsare buttoned down snug. Some of us can stay inside while its rainin' andthat'll give more room in the tents, " Bobolink remarked, jumping to hisfeet, with a return of his customary lively Way. 

"And in this sink we'll be protected from any wind coming from the south, don't you think, Paul?" Jack ventured. 

"Couldn't be better, " was the reply. "Those trees and bushes, as well asthe rise in the ground, will help a lot. But get busy, fellows, withthose tent pins. I'll take the axe, and go the rounds myself, to makedoubly sure. It's not the nicest thing in the world to have your canvasblow away--eh, Nuthin?"

"You're right, it isn't, " replied the little scout, "'specially when itlifts you right up with it into a tree, and has you tied up there in thesnarls of a clothes line. I know all about that, and none of the rest ofyou ever tried it. Excuse me from another balloon ride like that. "

In a short time everything was done that could be thought of to renderthings storm-proof. Then the boys went over to the edge of the water towatch the advance of the black clouds, which those at the boats in thelittle cove declared was a sight worth seeing. 

And it certainly was, all the scouts admitted. Some of them were filledwith a certain awe, as they saw how inky the clouds looked. But what boy, or man either, for that matter, is there who has not felt this sensationwhen watching scurrying clouds that tell of an approaching storm?

By degrees the boys began to drift back to the camp. Every sort of excusewas given for leaving the beach. One fellow suddenly remembered that hehad left his coat hanging on a bush, another had forgotten to fasten hisknapsack, while a third wished to tie his blanket in a roll, in case thewater did find a way to get into the sink. 

Paul, Jack, Bobolink and Jud remained until they saw the rough water awaydown near the southern shore of the lake, and understood that the firstsquall must be swooping upon them. Then they too gave up the vigil, forthe chances were the rain would come with the first breeze. 

With a howl and a roar the storm broke upon them. Cowering in the tents, about four in each, as the others had taken to the boats, they waitedwith more or less suspense what might happen. 

The wind made the canvas shake at a lively clip, and the fastenings onthe southern side were sorely tried; but they had been well taken care ofand Paul called out that he believed they were going to hold. 

For half an hour the rain beat down in torrents. None of them rememberedever hearing such a deluge descend, but perhaps their imaginations wereexcited on account of the peculiar conditions that surrounded them. Allthe same it rained, and then rained some more, until a very largequantity of water must have fallen, all of them decided. 

With Paul and Jack in the tent that was nearest to the lake wereBobolink, Tom Betts and Nuthin. 

"Seems to me it's gettin' kind of damp in here, " remarked Bobolink, when the clamor outside had died down somewhat, and they could hear eachother talk. 

"That's a fact, " declared Paul; "and after all it's just as well that wemade sure our blankets and other things were tied up and hung away fromthe ground. But seems to me I hear one of the fellows in the boatshouting to us. "

When he opened the flap he found that the rain had almost stopped, aswell as the wind to a great extent. Perhaps the storm was over. 

"Hello!" Paul called out. 

"Hey! that you, Paul?" came in a voice he recognized as belonging to Jud, who had been one of those in charge of the nearby boats. 

"Yes, what's wrong?" asked the scout master. 

"Can't you come over here? Going to be the dickens to pay, I reckon. Thebally old lake's rising like fun. Looks like the outlet must have gotstopped up somehow. You're sure going to have to move your tents mightyquick. Coming, Paul?"

"All right, " answered the other, as he crawled out, and started under thedripping trees for the spot where the two motorboats lay in the cove, sheltered from the waves that had been dashing against the shoreelsewhere. 

When he reached the spot he found that all of the boys who had beensheltered in the boats were lined up on the shore, where they could seedown the lake. Jud himself seemed to be watching the water steal up astick he had thrust into the sand. 

"Gee! she's mounting like fun!" he exclaimed. "Water must be pouring intothe old lake from every side, and little gettin' out. Say, if this keepson, the whole island, except that hill up yonder, will be under waterbefore night. It sets rather low, you understand, Paul. "

The scout master was naturally thrilled by these words. He knew that theleader of the Gray Fox Patrol was no alarmist, and that he seldom losthis head in times of excitement. 

And so it was with considerable apprehension that Paul stooped down so hemight see just how fast the lake was rising. And when he noticed that itactually crept up the stick before his very eyes, he knew that what Judhad said about the whole island being covered might not be such a sillyassertion after all. 

It began to look as though the adventures of the scouts had not yetreached an end, and that they were in for another thrilling experience. 

CHAPTER XXVIII

PREPARED FOR THE WORST

"She's just walking up hand over fist; eh, Paul?" asked Jud. 

"No question about it, Jud, " came the reply as the scout master cast anapprehensive look across the half-mile of water that separated them fromthe outlet of the lake. "I'd give something to know what's happened downthere, to dam this water up, and just how far it's going to rise on us. "

"Tell you what, " said Bobolink, who had followed Paul when he left thetent, as had also the rest of the occupants, "I wouldn't be a bitsurprised if that awful explosion shook the shoulder of earth and rockdown, that we saw hanging above the mouth of the Radway River where sheleaves the lake. "

"You've hit it, I do believe!" cried Paul, exultantly; "and that's justwhat did happen, chances are, fellows. "

"But if the outlet is filled up, " said Jud, "and this water keeps pouringin on four sides, it's dead sure the blooming lake will fill up in shortorder. What had we better do, Paul?"

"That's just what I'm trying to figure on, Jud, " answered the other;"it's one of two things--either hike out for the hill, where we'll besafe until the water goes down; or else get our things aboard the boats, and stay here. "

"That last strikes me as the best of all!" declared Jack. 

"Besides, " broke in Nuthin, "we don't want to lose those boats, you know. They were loaned to us and if we let 'em go to smash, wouldn't it take usa long time to pay the bill, though? Besides, we'll need 'em to get awayfrom here. "

"That isn't the worst of it, " remarked Paul, who was very serious. 

"Why, what is there besides?" demanded Bobolink. 

"Suppose the water does get up so as to cover the island, all but thehill, " the scout master went on deliberately, as though making sure ofhis ground as he talked; "and then, all of a sudden the weight of itbroke through the dam; don't you see the suction, as the water rushedout, would be something _terrific_. No rope ever made, I reckon, couldhold these boats back. They'd sure be drawn through the gap, and carriedon the flood, any old way, even upside-down, maybe. "

"Whew!" whistled Bobolink; and as for some of the other fellows, theybegan to lose their usual color as they realized what Paul was saying. 

"Now, that's just an idea that came into my mind, " Paul went on, seeingthat he had alarmed some of the scouts. "It may never happen, youunderstand. But you know the motto we believe in is 'be prepared!' Thatmeans never to take things for granted. Keep your eyes and ears always onguard, and see lots of things, even before they swoop down on you. So, it's up to us, fellows, to get our tents and other fixings loaded up assoon as we can. After that we'll go aboard ourselves, and try to prepareagainst a sudden break in the dam. "

"And lookin' at that water creeping up, " remarked Jud, "the sooner we getbusy, the better. "

Accordingly, they all hastened back to the camp. It was found thatalready the water seemed to be creeping into the sink. Those in the othertwo tents were talking it over, and wondering what was about to happen. 

When they heard the latest news, their faces indicated both astonishmentand not a little alarm. But under the direction of the scout master, theystarted to convey all their belongings to the boats. 

First the blankets and clothes bags were taken over; then the food andcooking utensils; and finally the tents came down in a hurry, for theboys were working in water almost up to their knees when this last partof the job was concluded. 

Once out of the sink, they found plenty of high ground to walk on, whilecarrying the wet tents to the landing where the boats were lying. 

After they were all aboard, the scouts packed the stuff as best theycould, so that it would take up as little space as possible. MeanwhilePaul and Jack, with both the other patrol leaders, were trying to figureout just what would be the best course for them to pursue. 

"Makes me think of old Noah, when he went aboard the ark, and the animalsthey followed two by two, " said Bobolink, with a chuckle. 

"Huh, call yourself a kangaroo, or a monkey, if you like, " spoke up OldDan Tucker, "but as for me I'd rather play the part of Ham, or one of theother sons. "

"Sure thing!" assented Bobolink, cheerfully; "never saw the time yetwhen you raised any kick about takin' the part of Ham. Sounds good, don't it, Dan?"

It was pretty hard to keep the spirits of Bobolink from sizzling andgushing forth like a fountain when the water is turned on. He could joke, even while the several leaders of the expedition were consulting gravelyabout their chances of holding the boats against the frightful suction ofthe current, when the obstructions in the outlet of the lake gave way, which they hoped would not be suddenly, but by degrees. 

It was certainly a condition that confronted them, and not a theory. Paulwas really more worried than he showed; for he kept his feelings undercontrol, knowing that if some of the others realized how much he wasconcerned, the fact might create a panic. 

"If I really thought the worst would come, " Paul said, in a low tone, toJack, after it had been concluded that they would stay by the boats, anddo the best they could, "why I'd be tempted to give the order to just cutfor the hill, and leave everything but some food behind. Once up there, we would be safe, and that's what we can't say is the case now. "

"But even if the water goes out with a rush, it can't tear a tree likethis one up by the roots; can it?" asked Jack, pointing to where thecables of the boats had been secured as strongly as possible. 

"That's so, " replied the scout master; "but then, think of the ropes, andwhat a terrible strain would come on them. I'm afraid both would snaplike pipe-stems. To hold tight, we'd need a big chain; or a hawser likethat one the switching engine on the railroad uses to drag cars on aparallel track. But then, the water may be nearly as high, right now, asit will get We'll hope so, anyhow. "

That was Paul's way of trying to look on the bright side, although henever failed to prepare for the worst, even while expecting the best. 

"If we could only think up some way to help ease the strain, it would bea good thing, " observed Jack, thoughtfully. 

"I wish you could. It would ease my mind more than I care to tell you, "was Paul's answer. 

"One thing, the storm is over, " called out Jud, just then; "see, there'sa break in the clouds, and I reckon the sun will be peepin' out soon. "

"But the water will keep on rushing down the sides of the hills away offyonder, " Paul remarked, "and filling up this cup until it runs over. Theysay that the Radway River drains three times the amount of country thatour own Bushkill does. And by the way the water comes in here, I believeit. Look out there on the lake, will you; it shows that it's gettingwider right now. "

"Why, in another half hour, if it keeps on the same way, it's going tolap over pretty much all the lower part of the island, " Jack declared. 

Everything else was neglected now, and the scouts gathered along the sideof each boat, watching the lake. It was as if they half expected to seethe water suddenly take to rushing toward the spot where they knew thepeculiar outlet lay, not more than twenty feet across, and with abruptsides, one of which had been partly overhanging the water at the timethey entered. 

It was, of course, this section which must have been dislodged by theblast which shook the surrounding territory, filling the bed of thestream, and causing the rapidly accumulating waters of the lake to backup, since they could find no place to discharge, as usual. 

It was while they were moodily watching the waste of waters that one ofthe scouts, who had wandered across to the other side of the _Comfortt_suddenly sounded a fresh alarm, that sent another thrill to the hearts ofthe already excited boys. 

"Hey! here's a lot of men comin' down on us, fellows I They're meanin' tocapture our boats, just like pirates. Boarders ahoy! Get busy everybody. Clubs are trumps!"

As they rushed to the other side, some having to clamber over the heapsof duffle that took up so much room aboard, the scouts saw that it was nofalse alarm. A number of men were hurrying toward them, splashing throughwater that was in places almost knee deep, even when they took the upperlevels. Should they make a blunder, and stray off the ridges, it waslikely they would speedily have to swim for it. 

Paul was considerably aroused at first. They did not know very muchabout these mysterious people of the island; and after their recentrough experience, most of the boys were decidedly averse to knowinganything more of them. And yet, here they were hurrying toward thetwo motor-boats, as though they might indeed have some desperateidea in view. 

Perhaps they meant to capture the boats, so as to insure their escapefrom the rising waters. And then again, it seemed at least possiblethat they might want to keep the scouts from telling what strangethings they had seen. 

So the first thing Paul did when he had that glimpse of the oncoming men, was to hasten to possess himself of his double-barreled shotgun. Not thathe expected that there would be any necessity for firing it, but it wasapt to inspire a certain amount of respect. 

And the balance of the scouts had made haste to arm themselves withwhatever they could find that would help hold the enemy at bay. Some hadbrought their clubs aboard, others seized upon the push poles, while onegrabbed up the camp axe, and another seized upon the hatchet. 

When eighteen husky and determined lads line the sides of two boats, prepared to give a good account of themselves, it must needs be brave menwho would dare try to clamber aboard. 

And it was about this time, when things were looking rathersqually around the floating homes of the scouts, that Paul noticedsomething singular. 

CHAPTER XXIX

LIFTING THE LID

Three men could be seen splashing desperately through the water; and theyseemed to be carrying a fourth, who was lying on a rude sort of litter, as though he might either be sick, or badly hurt. 

And so it flashed through Paul's mind that perhaps after all theirmission was not one of conquest, or even hostility, but that they wereseeking help. 

"Hold up, fellows, " he hastened to say; "we'll have to let them comeaboard now, because they never could get back to the hill again, with thewater rising so fast. Besides, I think they've got a wounded man along, and need help. Don't forget we're scouts, and always ready to hold out ahelping hand. "

"That's the ticket!" declared the impulsive Bobolink, forgetting hiswarlike disposition when he saw the man on the litter. 

So Paul beckoned to the men to approach. He had already made thediscovery that one of those who bore the litter was the big man who hadwaved them away with such violent gestures, just before the terribleexplosion, when they happened to get too near the mine that was beingfired for some strange purpose. 

Two minutes later, and still splashing through water that came almost upto their hips, those who bore the injured man arrived close to the boats. 

"Why, it's Professor Hackett who's being carried!" exclaimed Jack. 

The small man on the litter, who looked very white, lifted his head withan effort, and tried to wave his hand. 

"Yes, that's who it is; and you're Jack Stormways; aren't you? Oh! I hopethat chum of yours can do something to stop this bleeding; I made themcarry me down here as a last chance. My man who was sent for a doctor inour aeroplane, has not come back, and we're afraid he had an accident. Can some of you boys help lift me aboard? I'm very weak from loss ofblood, and nearly gone. "

His voice was as faint as a whisper; and indeed, it was a wonder that hemanaged to speak at all. 

The scouts had quite forgotten everything but that there was some one introuble. Tender hands immediately were forthcoming to assist in raisinglitter and man over the side of the boat. Then the three attendantsclimbed aboard, and strange to say the scouts seemed to have forgottenall their fear of the men they had believed to be lawbreakers. For nowthey saw that they were an intelligent lot of men, who bore littleresemblance to such criminals as they had seemed to be. 

Paul had long been interested in surgery. His father was the leadingdoctor of Stanhope, and had always encouraged this fancy in the boy. Itseemed that the professor chanced to remember that he had been told aboutthe ability of Jack Stormways' chum; and when matters began to lookdesperate, since none of his assistants could seem to stop the flow ofblood that followed his accident, as a last resort he had forced them toput him on a litter, and make for the spot where they knew the scouts hadtheir camp, the man in the aeroplane having signaled the fact back tothem, just as Paul suspected. 

Of course they had not dreamed of such a thing as the lake rising, untilthey had gone too far to retreat; and then they took desperate chances offinding the boys still there, where they had boats with which they couldgo to the mainland. 

Paul busied himself immediately. It was a pretty bad wound that thelittle man had received, and his left arm would be practically uselessthe balance of time; but he cared not for this, if only his life mightbe spared. 

Jack and Jud assisted whenever their services were needed and in the endPaul had not only stopped the flow of blood, but had the injured armneatly bandaged--as well, the professor weakly declared, as any surgeoncould have done. 

"And now, " said Paul, turning on the big man, who had hovered aroundanxiously, watching what was being done, as though he thought a greatdeal of the professor; "in return for what we've done, won't you pleasetell us who and what you are, and why you're doing all these queer stuntsaway up here on this lonely island, where nobody can see you? We're allmixed up, and don't know what to think. At first we believed you must bea lot of counterfeiters hiding from the Government agents; but what withthese explosions, and such things as aeroplanes, I'm getting it in myhead that it means you're trying out some big sensations that are goingto be sprung on the Coney Island public next season. "

"And that's where you made a pretty clever guess, my boy, " said the bigman, as he settled down to take it a bit more easily after his recenthard work; "Professor Hackett has invented most of the biggest sensationsseen at seaside resorts these last ten years. He expects to excel hisrecord next season, and then retire; and I tell you, now, I began tothink he'd retire another way, if he lost much more blood from thatwound, which he got by accident this morning. "

The scouts looked at each other, and a broad smile appeared on many aface that only a short time before had been pale with apprehension. 

When a thing that has seemed a dark mystery is finally explained, itoften looks so easy and simple that all of us wonder how we ever couldhave bothered our heads over such a puzzle. And so it was in this case. Why did it come that no one had guessed the true explanation before, whenit was so easy?

They began to tell the big man all about their experiences, and how somany things seemed to make it appear that the strangers were hidingfrom officers. 

"How about that fellow who was hanging around my father's mill that nightyou had your two big boxes stored there?" Jack asked. 

"He represented a rival inventor, who has always been jealous ofProfessor Hackett, and is forever trying to find out what he has on thestocks, " replied the big man, whose name they learned was Mr. Jameson, anable assistant to the inventor of aerial bombs, brilliant explodingmines, and a dozen other wonders that thrill audiences at the seashoreeach season. 

"But wouldn't he be likely to follow the wagon when it took the boxesaway in the morning?" the boy continued to ask. 

"Oh! we put him on a false scent, by shipping two other boxes away on atrain, " was the reply. "He must have gone two hundred miles before hediscovered his mistake; and I doubt very much if he knows yet, but iswatching those cases to see what we do with them, away out in western NewYork State. "

"Er, how about these?" asked Bobolink, jingling the two shining quartersin his hand. "I picked 'em up close to that field smithy you have on theisland. We thought they were the best counterfeits we ever saw. I guessthey are. "

"I lost a bunch of small change through a hole in my pocket, " laughed theman, "and so I judge those are a part of it. But keep them as souvenirsof your wonderful adventures on Cedar Island. Every time you look at themyou'll remember that narrow escape you and your friends had when you camenear stepping on a mine, the fuse of which had been lighted; forProfessor Hackett, even while he was wounded, would not hear of usstopping our work. "

"Thanks, " replied the gratified Bobolink, again pocketing the quartersthat had been the cause of so much speculation among the seven scouts;"I'll be glad to accept your kind offer. But there's another thing we'dlike to know. "

"Speak up, then, and I'll be pleased to accommodate you, if theknowledge is in my power to bestow. This flood bids fair to bring ourexperiments to an end for the time being, even if the professor'sweakness hadn't made it necessary that we get to some place where he canreceive the right kind of care, to build up his strength. What'sbothering you now, my boy?"

"How about the wild man?" asked Bobolink. 

"Oh! he was here when we came, and we made friends with him, " the otherreplied, promptly. "You see, some of us have been up here for a month. Wehad some new stuff shipped in those big cases; but it'll all be rustednow by this water. The poor fellow is harmless, for all he looks sofierce. Why, at the smell of coffee the tears trickled down his dirtycheeks like rain; it seemed to be just one last link that bound hisflitting memory to something in the far-away past. We gave him an oldsaucepan to cook it in, and showed him how. Ever since he's visited usoften, and we supplied him with food, because it seemed as though he wasthe one who had first right to this island. "

"I hope the poor old chap has the good sense to climb that hill, and getaway from the rising water, " remarked Jack, with some feeling. "Have youany idea who he can be, or where he came from?"

"We made up our minds that he had been out of his head a long time, andperhaps had escaped from some institution. He mentioned the name of JohnPennington once, and we think it must have been his. The professorintended to make inquiries, later on, and if possible have him returnedto his home, wherever it might be. "

"Did he have a big yellow dog tied up at his shack?" asked Nuthin, eagerly, as though he wished to settle that point, because the animal inquestion had once belonged to the Cypher family. 

"Yes, " answered Mr. Jameson, "but it got away from him one night, bybreaking the rope, and he's been making a great fuss about it ever since. But from the ugly looks of the beast, I'd sooner put a bullet in him thantry to make friends. "

"Well, that about finishes the list of questions we've been nearly dyingto ask somebody, " remarked Bobolink, "and seems like everything's beenexplained. What we want to know now, and there isn't a livin' soul c'ntell the answer to that, I reckon, is, how high is this old lake goin' toget before she commences to fall again? And how in Sam Hill are weexpectin' to ride those motor-boats over that pile of rocks and mud, thatlies in the outlet? Anybody know the answer? I'd like to hear it. "

But they shook their heads. Nobody could say, although all sortsof guesses ran the rounds, for the scouts were good hands at thatsort of thing. 

The water was still rising, and apparently just as fast as ever. Alreadyit had encroached upon the main part of the island; and Mr. Jamesondeclared that he was sure it must be all around the shed where they kepttheir machinery, that had been brought secretly to this isolated spot, where they hoped to complete the greatest marvel in the way of sensationsever known to curious crowds at watering places. 

"It'll be badly hurt, unless the water goes down soon, " remarked thebig man; "but that doesn't seem to be the worst thing that can happen, if what your Doctor Paul here, says, turns out to be true, and thewater goes out of the lake in a raging torrent that may drag boats andall with it. "

CHAPTER XXX

GOOD-BYE TO CEDAR ISLAND

They passed a most anxious hour, after the coming of the professor andhis assistants. The lake kept on rising until pretty much all of theisland except the hill was under water. Of course the trees stood out, but most of their roots were under ten feet or more of water. 

It would not last much longer, that they knew, for the supply must befalling short, and besides there was always a chance that the fearfulforce exerted by such a mass of pent-up water would break away theobstruction that clogged the outlet. 

Paul had done everything he could think of to add to their security incase the worst came. Some of the scouts were even perched in theneighboring trees. These were the more timid, who Paul knew wereshivering from anxiety, and watching the spot where the lake waterordinarily escaped, as though dreading lest at any second they should seea sudden heave that would mean the beginning of the end. 

"Good news, Paul!" sang out Jud Elderkin, to whom had been delegated theduty of keeping watch on the rise of the flood. "She's stationary at lastNever rose a bit the last ten minutes. And believe me, I honestly thinkshe's begun to go down just a little. "

The other boys let out a cheer at this news. That was what they were allhoping for--that the water would go down gradually, so as not to endangerthe motorboats. 

Just how the craft were to get out of the lake, if the exit remainedclosed, no one could say; but then they might look to Paul to open a waysomehow. He could make use of some dynamite to blow up the obstructions, so Mr. Jameson had suggested, and it sounded all right. 

Five minutes later Jud was quite positive that the tide was on the ebb. 

"Two inches lower than she was at the highest point. Paul!" he calledout, jubilantly. 

"Hurrah! that sounds good to me!" exclaimed Bobolink, swinging hiscampaign hat vigorously about his head, as he sat in the bow of the_Comfort_, it being a part of his task to watch the cable, and if theworst came to ease up on it so that there would be less likelihood of asudden snap. 

"But we're not out of danger yet, remember, " cautioned the scout master. 

Presently the water was lowering at a still faster rate. 

"Looks like the opening might be getting larger, " said Jack, when thisfact was made clear beyond any doubt. 

"Watch over there, " said Paul, "and see if there's any sudden rush, though already the water is escaping so fast that I begin to believe wemight hold on here, even if the whole pile of earth and rocks were washedaway, leaving the channel clear. "

Five, ten, fifteen minutes crept along, and all the while the water keptgoing steadily down until much of the island could be seen again underthe trees. 

"Oh! look, there she goes!" cried Bobolink, without warning, and therebycausing some of the fellows who had descended from the trees to wish theywere aloft again. 

Over in the vicinity of the outlet they could see something of acommotion. The water seemed to be running down hill, as it struggled topour out through the now cleared passage. 

Immediately the boats felt the suction, which must have been very strongindeed. They strained at their ropes, and those who had the cables incharge obeyed the instructions given to them, allowing a certain lengthof line to slip, thus easing the fearful drag. 

"Whoop! they're going to hold!" exclaimed Bobolink, in great glee. 

Paul believed so himself, and a smile came to his face that up to now hadlooked careworn and anxious; for a dreadful catastrophe had been hoveringover them, he felt certain. 

And the ropes did make good, holding in spite of that fierce drag. Thewater soon got down to about its normal level, when the pull upon thehawsers ceased, and everything seemed to settle back into the old rut. 

But the boys had had quite enough of Cedar Island. It was water-soakednow, and offered little attraction to them for camping. Paul suggestedthat they leave the cove and head for a certain section of the main shorewhich, on account of being much higher than the island, had not beenoverflowed. 

There was not a single voice raised in opposition, and so they startedthe motors and with a series of derisive sounds that seemed almost likechuckles the boats said goodbye to Cedar Island. Landing they found asplendid spot for the erection of the tents, and before the coming ofnight the scouts were as snugly fixed as though nothing had happened todisturb them. 

The injured professor declared that he meant to stick by Paul until hismessenger arrived with a carriage and a doctor by way of the road, whichran only a half mile away from the lake. 

He expressed himself satisfied with the work Paul had done on his arm, and believed it to be the right thing. 

They hoped to spend a quiet night. There would be no bomb explosions inthe heavens to disturb them, at least. Mr. Jameson had alreadyexplained to the boys that, if they had happened to be awake at thetime of that first tremendous shock, they must have seen by the glarein the heavens that it was a new kind of aerial bomb that had beenfired; and possibly under such conditions some one of the scouts wouldhave guessed the truth. But when they crept out of the tents there wasnothing to be seen aloft. 

Luckily, these wide-awake boys could accommodate themselves to theirsurroundings. Their former experiences had made most of themquickwitted, resolute and cheerful under difficulties that might havedaunted most lads. 

Although they had received a tremendous shock because of the numerousremarkable occurrences that had taken place since their landing on CedarIsland, now that their troubles seemed to have departed, most of thescouts were just as full of life and good-natured "chaff" as ever. 

Bluff seemed to never tire of entertaining those who had not beenfortunate enough to be among the valiant band of explorers withwonderful accounts of all they had seen. He had them holding theirvery breath with awe, as he described, in his own way, how they firstof all crept up to the shack in the thicket and looked in upon thewild man asleep. 

But when Bluff told of how he and his comrades had been warned off insuch a dramatic manner by the unknown man, and immediately afterwardsfound themselves knocked down by that tremendous concussion, as theexplosion took place, he had them hanging on his every sentence. 

But words failed Bluff when he tried to picture the wild scene that hadfollowed. That furious scamper through the wooded part of the island mustremain pretty much in the nature of a nightmare with the boys. 

Phil and Bobolink and Andy all eagerly chimed in, trying to do thesubject justice, but after all it seemed beyond their powers. They couldonly end by holding up both hands, rolling their eyes, shrugging theirshoulders, and then mutely pointing to the various cuts, scratches andcontusions that decorated their faces. The rest had to be left to theimagination. 

Fortunately there was an abundance of witch hazel ointment along, so thatevery sufferer was able to anoint his hurts. The whole bunch seemed tofairly _glisten_ from the time of their arrival at the boats. Indeed, there never had been such a wholesale raid made upon the medicaldepartment since the Stanhope Troup of Banner Boy Scouts was organized. 

But after all was said and done they had come out of the whole affair atleast with honor. And now that the peril was a thing of the past theycould well afford to laugh at their adventures on Cedar Island. 

CHAPTER XXXI

A SCOUT'S DUTY

"Seems like a dream; don't it, Paul?"

Jack dropped down beside the acting scout master as he made thisremark. He had just stepped out from the new camp on the mainland, andfound Paul sitting upon a log, looking across the water in thedirection they had come. 

The sun was just setting, and a rosy flush filled the western heavens. Itseemed to fall softly upon mysterious Cedar Island, nestling there in themidst of the now tranquil waters. 

Paul looked up with a smile, as he made room on the log for his chum, whohad always been so willing to stand by him through thick and thin. 

"Well, do you know, Jack, " he spoke, "that was just exactly what seemedto strike me. I was staring hard at the island, and wondering if I hadbeen asleep and dreamed all those queer happenings. Fact is, just beforeyou spoke I even pinched my leg to see if I was really wide awake. "

The other laughed at this. 

"Oh! you're awake, all right, Paul, " he remarked. "You seemed to get offwithout any show of damage to your good-looking face. As for the rest ofus, if ever we begin to think we've been and dreamed it, we've got aremedy better than pinching. All we have to do is to bend down over astill pool of water and take a look at our faces. That'll convince us ina hurry we _did_ have a lively time of it. "

Paul pointed across the lake to where the island lay bathed in thatwonderful afterglow that shone from the painted heavens. 

"Did you ever see a prettier sight?" he asked. "It looks as peaceful asany picture could be. You wouldn't think a bunch of fellows could run upagainst such a lot of trouble over on such a fine little place as CedarIsland; would you, now?"

"I feel the same way you do, Paul; and I'd say we never ought to haveleft it, only after the flood it'd be a muddy place, and we wouldn't takeany pleasure getting around. "

"Oh! well, " Paul rejoined cheerfully, "after all, perhaps it isn't ourlast visit up this way. Who knows but what we may have another chance tocome over here and look around. It was a good scheme, I'm thinking, Jack, and we'll never be sorry we came. "

"I should say not, " remarked the other, quickly; "just turn around andtake a look back into our camp. See where Professor Hackett is lyingpropped up with pillows from the boats. Well, suppose we'd never comeover this way, what d'ye think would have happened to him? He says heowes his life to your skill, Paul, and that, try as they would, Mr. Jameson and the other assistants couldn't seem to stop the bleeding. Thatalone pays us for all we've gone through, Paul. "

"I guess it does, " Paul admitted, readily, "because he's a smart man, andhas done a lot to entertain the crowds that go to the seashore to restand forget their troubles. But I'm glad none of the boys seem to havesuffered any serious damage from the effect of the explosion or that madchase afterwards. "

"Yes, we ought to call ourselves lucky, and let it go at that, "Jack remarked. 

"When you think about all that might have happened, I tell you we've gotlots of reason to be thankful, " Paul went on, with considerable feeling. 

"Sure we have, " added Jack. "Instead of that stick taking me in thecheek, it might have struck my eye and injured my sight for life. "

"And where I got only a wrench that may make me limp a little for a fewdays, I could have broken a leg, " said Paul. 

"That's one of the rules scouts have to keep in mind, you know, " Jackcontinued; "always be cheerful and look on the bright side of things. Ireckon there never comes a time when you can't find a rainbow of promiseif you look far enough. Things are never as bad as they might be. "

"The boys seem to have settled down here just as if they meant to enjoythe rest of the stay, " Paul observed, as he turned his head again, so asto look at the bustling camp close by. 

"Yes, and even the very air seems to tell of peace and plenty, " saidJack, with a little laugh, as he sniffed the appetizing odors that werebeginning to announce that preparations for the evening meal had started. 

"You're right, " agreed Paul, "I guess there's nothing more 'homey' thanthe smell of onions frying. I never get a whiff of it on the street of awinter evening but what I seem to see some of the camps I've been in. Andthen, just think how it gets your appetite on edge, till you can hardlywait for the cook to call out that supper's ready. But I was thinking ofsome other things when you came up. "

"I reckon I could mention one of them, " said Jack. 

"Let's hear, then, " the other demanded. 

Jack swept his hand down the lake in the direction of the outlet. 

"You're worrying about that, " he said. 

"Well, that's just about the size of it, Jack. We know the lake's gonedown to about what it was before the storm hit us; but what if a greatbig rock blocks the passage?"

"You know what Mr. Jameson said you could do?" Jack remarked. 

"About the dynamite, to blast an opening big enough for our boats to getthrough? Yes, Jack, I suppose that could be done. "

"And he says he'll stand by to see that it _is_ done, " the othercontinued. "As Mr. Jameson is an expert at all sorts of explosives, youcan just make up your mind we'll have no trouble getting away. Besides, Paul, I've got a feeling that when we go down in the morning to take asurvey, we'll be more than pleased with the way things look. "

"Which all sounds good to me, " Paul hastened to declare. "Anyhow, I'mgoing to believe it's bound to turn out as you say. In spite of ourtroubles we've been a pretty lucky lot. "

"But you talked as though the getting away part of the business was onlya part of what you had on your mind, " Jack went on. 

"There was something else, " the other scout admitted. 

"Suppose you open up and tell me, Paul; because somehow I don't seem tobe able to get what you mean. "

"It seems to me, " the patrol leader remarked, seriously, "that while allof us scouts, and the professor's party in the bargain, have been shakinghands with each other over the lucky escape we had, we've pretty nearforgotten one poor chap. "

Jack gave a start, and then whistled softly. 

"That's right, Paul, " he said, "for I take it you mean the crazyislander. "

"How do we know what happened to him?" Paul continued. 

"But Mr. Jameson seemed to feel sure he would take to the hill when theflood came, " Jack replied. "And he also told us, you remember, that someof their food was at a higher point than the water could have reached. So, if the crazy man wanders about that camp, there's no need of hisgoing hungry long. "

"I guess that's about so, " Paul agreed, as though these words from hischum took away some of his anxiety. "From what they say, it seems as ifhe has come to look on them as friends. So, chances are ten to one he'dgo to their different camps after the flood went down. "

"Queer how he came to be here, " Jack remarked. 

"Oh, I don't know, " the other observed; "there's no telling what a crazyperson will do. His coming to this island must have been with the hazynotion that any one searching for him couldn't find him here. "

"Searching for him, Paul?"

"Well, you remember Mr. Jameson said he had an idea the poor fellow musthave escaped from some institution, " Jack continued. 

"Yes, he did say that; and for all he looks so big and fierce, with hislong hair and beard, he's harmless. But, Jack, between us now, do youthink we could go back home when our little vacation trip is over andfeel that we'd done _all_ our duty as true scouts, when that poor chaphad been left up here--perhaps to starve on Cedar Island?"

"Whew! You're the greatest boy I ever saw, Paul, to get a grip on asituation and remember things. "

"But--answer my question, " persisted the other. 

"Well, what you said must be so, " Jack acknowledged; "and it makes mefeel pretty small to remember that, while we've all been feeling so merryover our wonderful escape, I'd forgotten all about _him_. "

"Jack, it's too late to do anything tonight, you know. "

"I reckon it is, Paul, " replied the other, looking a bit anxiously acrossthe water to where the glow was commencing to give way to shadows alongthe wooded shore of Cedar Island; "but if you thought best, I'd bewilling to take the lantern and cross over with you. "

Paul thrust out his hand impulsively. 

"Shake on that, old chum, " he exclaimed. "Your heart's as big as a bushelbasket, and in the right place every time. But on the whole, Jack, Idon't believe it would be the wise thing for us to do. "

"Just as you say, Paul; only I wanted you to know I was ready to back youup in anything. "

"We're both tired, and sore in the bargain, " continued the scoutmaster, steadily. 

"Yes, " Jack admitted, unconsciously caressing his painful bruises. 

"The island is in a bad state just now, after being flooded, " Paulcontinued. 

"That's right, I can jolly well believe it, " his chum agreed. 

"And if the wild man hasn't been drowned, he'll surely be able to lookout for himself a while longer. Mr. Jameson felt sure he wouldn't starve, with all the food they left behind. "

"Then it won't hurt to let it go till tomorrow, eh, Paul?"

"I had made up my mind that we'd organize another party, this time takingsome of the fellows who have been kept in camp, and comb Cedar Islandfrom end to end to find that man. "

"A good plan, Paul, " said the other scout; "but do you think he'll makefriends with us, even when we find him?"

"Mr. Jameson says he understands the peace sign, " the scout mastercontinued, "and must really have had a bright mind at some time. He toldme he had an idea the man may have met with some injury that hadunsettled his reason. He seemed to be greatly interested in all they weredoing, and several times even made suggestions that startled theprofessor. "

"I remember that much, too, " said Jack, "and Mr. Jameson also said hemeant to try and learn if anybody knew about a John Pennington. That wasthe name the man spoke once in his rambling talk. "

"Well, perhaps we may be able in some way to do the poor fellow a goodturn, Jack. I hope so, anyhow. My! how those boys are trying to beat therecord at getting up a grand supper. Seems to me my appetite is growingat the rate of a mile a minute. "

"If it keeps on that way, good-bye to our stock of provisions, " laughedJack; "but, to tell the truth, I feel pretty much the same. The mostwelcome sound I could hear right now would be Bluff calling everybody toget a share of that fine mess. "

"Then you won't have to wait long, I guess, " his chum declared, "because from all the signs of dishing out I imagine they're about readyright now. "

Paul proved a true prophet, for immediately Bluff began to ding-dong upona sheet iron frying pan, using a big spoon to produce a discord that, inthe ears of the hungry boys, was the sweetest music in the world. 

Gathering around, the scouts made a merry group as they proceeded todemolish the stacks of savory food that had been heaped upon their tinplates; and drink to each other's health in the fragrant coffee thatsteamed in the generous cups, also of tin, belonging to their mess chest. 

After supper the scouts sat around, and while some of them worked atvarious things in which they were particularly interested, such asdeveloping the films that would give a dozen views of the great flood, others sang songs or listened to Mr. Jameson tell strange stories. 

The man had been to the corners of the world during a busy lifetime, often with scientific parties sent out by societies interested ingeography, natural history or astronomy. And hence it had fallen to thelot of Mr. Jameson to experience some remarkable adventures. The boysfelt that he was the most interesting talker they had ever met. 

After several hours had slipped by, some of the scouts, notably thosewho had been among the bold explorers band, were discovered to be noddingdrowsily. Indeed, Andy and Tom Betts had gone sound asleep, just as theylay curled up before the fire. The warmth of the blaze, together with theunusual exertions of the day, had been too much for the boys. 

And so the bugler was told to sound "taps" to signify that it was timethey crawled under their blankets. 

A few chose to sleep aboard the motor boats, which, of course, relievedthe tents from overcrowding. Professor Hackett and his assistants hadbeen lodged in one of the tents, which fact had something to do with thelack of room. 

But presently all these things had been arranged. Paul himself intendedto pass the night in the open. He declared he would really enjoy theexperience; and two others insisted on keeping him company--little Nuthinand Bobolink. 

So Paul, who knew a lot about these things, showed them just how to wrapthemselves up like mummies in their blankets, and then lie with theirfeet to the fire. He said old hunters and cowboys always slept that waywhen camping in the open. 

CHAPTER XXXII

CONCLUSION

Paul was awakened by feeling something nudging him in the ribs. It wasBobolink's elbow; and, thinking at first that it might be an accident, the scout master made no move. 

But again he received a severe jolt. And at the same time came a whisperclose in his ear:

"Paul! Are you awake?" Bobolink was saying, so low that any one six feetaway could not have heard his voice. 

"What ails you?" asked Paul. 

He might have imagined that the other had been taken ill, from overfeeding, perhaps, and wanted Paul, as the doctor of the troop, to givehim some medicine. But on second thought Paul realized that there was toomuch mystery about the action of Bobolink to admit of such anexplanation. 

"Listen, Paul, " the other went on, still whispering, "there's some sortof wild beast goin' to raid the camp!"

"What's that?" asked the scout master, a little sternly, for, knowingthe weakness of Bobolink in the line of practical joking, he suspectedthat the other might be up to some of his old tricks. 

And Bobolink must have detected an air of doubt in the manner in whichPaul spoke those two words, for he immediately resumed:

"Honest Injun, Paul, I ain't foolin'! Say, do they have panthers aroundhere? Because that's what I think it must be. "

"Where'd you see it?"

As Paul put this question he was working his arms free from the folds ofhis blanket. When he lay down, more through force of habit than becausehe thought there would be any need of such a thing, Paul had placed hisshotgun on the ground beside him. And no sooner was his right hand atliberty than, groping around, he took possession of it. 

"Up in that big oak tree, " Bobolink went on. "You watch where that limbhangs out over the camp and you'll see somethin' move; or I've beendreamin', that's all. "

Paul did not have to twist his head very far around in order to see thespot in question. He watched it as the seconds began to troop along, until almost a fell minute had gone. 

And Paul was just about to believe Bobolink must have been dreaming, whenhe, too, saw the bunch of leaves violently agitated. 

Undoubtedly some tree-climbing animal was up there. Paul felt a thrillpass through him. Unconsciously, perhaps, his fingers tightened theirgrip upon the shotgun, which was apt to prove a tower of strength in casethe worst that could happen came to pass. 

Straining his eyes, as he partly lifted his head, Paul believed he couldjust make out a shadowy form stretched upon the large oak limb. 

He was more than puzzled. 

Wild animals were not altogether unknown within the twenty-mile limitaround Stanhope. A bear might be seen occasionally--or at least thetracks of one, for the timid beast knew enough to hide in the daytime inone of the numerous swamps. 

But this did not seem large enough for a bear, which would have surelymade a more bulky object clinging to the limb. Moreover, bears were notreckoned bold, and no hunter had ever known one to come spying around acamp. As soon as the trail of human beings is run across by a bear, theanimal always takes the alarm and hastens to its den, to lie low untilthe danger has passed. 

But Bobolink had mentioned the magic word "panther, " and this caused theother aroused scout to look more closely at the dimly seen object Sureenough it did seem to be flattened out on the limb, much as Paulimagined a big cat might lie. 

"What'd we better do about it, Paul--give a yell and jump up?" Bobolinkasked, his voice quivering, perhaps with excitement, or it might be understress of alarm; for it was not the nicest thing in the world to be lyingthere helpless with a hungry panther crouching above. 

"Wait, and let's make sure, " replied the careful Paul. 

Some impetuous boys would have thought, the very first thing, of bringingthat double-barrelled gun to bear on the dark, shadowy figure, andcutting loose, perhaps even firing both charges at once. 

At such close range, less than thirty feet, a shell containing even birdshot is apt to be projected with all the destructive qualities of a largebullet. Paul knew all about this, and also had faith in the hard-hittingqualities of his long tested gun; but he was not the one to be temptedinto any rash action. 

"Be sure you're right; then go ahead, " was a motto which Paul alwaystried to practice. He had certainly found it worth while on more than oneoccasion in the past, and it was likely to serve him well now. 

And so he waited, ready for a sudden emergency, but not allowing himselfto be hurried. 

He soon had reason to feel very thankful that his good sense hadprevailed, for presently the leaves were again set to shaking and, asthey parted, Paul saw something that gave him a shock. 

"Oh! what d'ye think of that, now? It's the wild man of Cedar Island!"gasped Bobolink, actually sitting up in his excitement. 

And Paul had already made certain of this fact as soon as his eyesfell upon the hairy face seen among the branches. The shudder thatpassed through his frame had nothing to do with fear. Paul was onlyhorrified to realize what might have happened had he taken Bobolink'ssuggestion for the truth, and fully believed the figure in the oak tobe a savage panther. 

"We'd better let Mr. Jameson know, " Paul remarked, as he also sat up andcleared his legs of the blanket. 

"Yes, he'll know how to get him down. I bet you, Paul, the feller wentand swam across from the island. But how would he guess we were here?"

"Oh! he could see the boats in the day time; and don't forget we've had afire burning all night, so far, " said the scout master. 

When Mr. Jameson came out of the tent, in answer to Paul's low summons, and learned what had happened, he readily agreed to influence the wildman to come down. The poor fellow had learned to look on Mr. Jameson asa friend, and, realizing that he had abandoned the island, doubtless itwas his desire to see him again that had induced this visit. 

He proved to be harmless, and upon being given food ate ravenously. Lateron it was discovered that he had launched a log and made his way to themainland by means of this crude craft, with a branch for a paddle. 

Mr. Jameson declared that he would take the stranger to Stanhope when thevehicle came for the professor, and do all in his power to learn just whohe was, as well as get him safely back among his friends. 

To dispose of the wild man of Cedar Island once and for all, it might besaid right here that Mr. Jameson kept his word. The name John Penningtonserved as a clue, and in the end he learned that was his name. He hadlost his mind through an accident and, though his case was deemedhopeless, occasionally he was apt to have little flashes of his formercleverness. He was returned to the sanitarium from which he had escaped, and the boys never heard of him again. But the memory of the wild manwould always be associated with Cedar Island. 

On the following day Paul and Jack managed to get around to the outlet, for the scout master was anxious to learn what the chances of theirleaving the lake, when they were ready, might be. 

They found that, just as had been believed that shoulder of rock andearth had been shaken loose by the tremor of the earth at the time of thebig shock, when the professor was experimenting with some new explosive. 

In falling, it had indeed dammed the outlet, and the storm coming so soonafter, of course the water in the lake had risen at a frightful rate. Inthe end the obstruction had commenced to disappear; but luckily for allconcerned, it had held fairly well until much of the water had escaped, when finally it had given way. 

The channel was as good as ever; indeed, Paul seemed to think thatit offered fewer impediments to a passage now than before all thishad happened. 

That eased the minds of the scouts, and they could go back again to theircamp with good news for the others. 

A carriage came that day for the professor, and his assistants managed tocarry him across country to the road; just as they had undoubtedly donethe two big boxes of material that came from Mr. Stormways' mill thatother day. 

He shook hands with each and every scout before leaving, and promised toremember them always for what they had done. When he came to Paul, heclung to his hand, and there were tears in the eyes of the littleprofessor as he, said:

"I honestly believe that you saved my life, my boy, and I trust thatthrough your ability I may be spared a few more years. And depend on it, I'm never going to let you get out of touch with me, Paul Morrison. Ihope to live to see you a great surgeon, some day. "

The scouts filled out the balance of their vacation at the lake, andconsidered that they had had some of the strangest experiences that couldhappen to a group of boys; but although at the time they could notsuspect it, there were still more interesting things in store for Pauland his comrades of Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts. What these were, youwill find related in the next volume of this series, to be called, "TheBanner Boy Scouts Snowbound; Or, A Tour on Skates and Iceboats. "

When the time came for them to start back, it was with more or lessanxiety that they came to the canal connecting the waters of the tworivers flowing parallel for a few miles, and only a short distance apart. 

But they need not have borrowed trouble, for the Bushkill was stillhigher than usual at this season of the year and all through thedisused canal they found plenty of water, so that neither of the boatsstuck in the mud. 

In good time, then, the Banner Boy Scouts arrived home, to thrill thelads who had not been fortunate enough to accompany them on their tripafloat, with wonderful accounts of all the remarkable things which hadhappened to them while in camp on Cedar Island.