Then the wagon came along, with all the other boys aboard, and the bed of the vehicle pretty well filled with their camping outfit; so Elmer got in his seat, wondering what Doubting George would have to say when he learned how a good action may set even the worst boy in town to thinking, and changing his ways.
CHAPTER IX
THE CAMPING OUT EXPEDITION
THIS time there was a load for Nancy to pull, since besides the five scouts who had made the nutting trip three additional fellows were along.
First of all there was a lanky boy who long ago in a spirit of derision had been dubbed "Lil Artha" by his Comrades; and although he stood fully a head taller than any of his intimate chums, he still answered cheerfully to this silly name. Arthur Stansbury was a good scout, and well liked, though at critical times he showed a disposition to get what boys call "rattled," and on more than one occasion this weakness had resulted in his getting those long legs of his twisted in a knot, resulting in trouble all around.
Landy Smith was a cousin of George Robbins. Philander was rather fat, belonged to the Wolf Patrol, and had been known to walk in his sleep, so that often the others, whenever any mysterious thing happened in camp at nighttime, accused Landy of doing it while under the influence of this strange wandering spirit, that made him get up while asleep, to play tricks, and disturb his mates.
The third boy was Tyrus Collins. His specialty as a scout, if he had any, was his recognized ability as a cook; and Ty's weakness might be said to be a fondness for wearing a sweater of a pronounced fiery hue.
Once a garment of this type had gotten Ty into a lot of trouble with a furious bull, when he was caught in a pasture, and forced to take refuge in a lone tree. He had only escaped in the end by sacrificing his red sweater, which the bull stopped to rend while the fleeing boy managed to gain a friendly fence.
But Ty could not always be expected to remember this danger, and at present he boasted of another garment of a sanguinary hue, which he wore when he believed there were no bulls around.
Here, then, were eight lively fellows seated "every-which-way" in that commodious wagon, and enlivening the time as they journeyed toward camp with much jabbering, and not a little loud singing of popular songs.
They appeared to be completely happy. Ty was wearing his "grand sweater"
right then, and treated the warnings solemnly uttered by some of his mates with abject scorn. Nancy certainly did have a pretty heavy load to transport, and after the first mile or so along the frosty road there were no further manifestations of gaiety on her part, only dull care, for she labored heavily.
But then these boys were merciful, and they generally jumped off, to walk up any steep hills, so as to relieve the beast of burden. Scouts early learn to think of the woes of dumb animals, and show a disposition to lighten their work all that is possible. If being a scout did not teach a boy a single thing more than that it would still have accomplished much; and posterity would have great cause to be grateful to General Baden-Powell as the originator of the organization that has long ere now circled the globe, and made converts in every clime.
The boys were of course all dressed in the familiar khaki uniforms associated with scouts everywhere; and they carried with them a couple of tents, as well as other necessary things connected with camping out.
There were no firearms visible, though possibly a gun or two might turn up later on, when the contents of that heavily laden wagon had been fully disclosed. Several of the boys were fond of hunting under favorable conditions; and besides, as there was always some danger to be encountered from wild beasts or snakes, Elmer thought it advisable to be prepared for an emergency.
He sat on the front seat with Toby and George; Chatz, Ty and Landy had managed to pre-empt the second one by virtue of early arrival; while Ted and Lil Artha, the "long and the short of it," made themselves fairly comfortable on the soft tents, and claimed to have the best of the bargain.
The tall scout dangled his long legs over the tail-board, and was frequently called upon to "quit dragging," whenever the pace of the animal between the shafts slowed down from any cause.
"How about going all the way in with the rig this time, Elmer; could we make the riffle, do you think?" Toby was asking, after they had gone three-fourths of the distance to the Cartaret place, and there was a brief lull in the general chaffing.
The others listened in order to catch the reply of the scout master, for of course they were one and all interested in what was being said.
"I don't see any particular reason why we shouldn't," Elmer answered; "we found it possible to take the wagon all the way to the nut grove when we wanted to load our sacks; and by watching out smartly I reckon we'll find a way to push through the woods there."
"I only mention it," continued Toby, as though he thought some explanation were necessary, "because we've got a raft of stuff along this time, and if we had to tote the same on our backs to and from the wagon, it'd mean a lot of hard work, all of which could be saved."
"And I think it a good idea too," chimed in George; "though of course I'm always willing to shoulder my share of the hard work when it's got to be done."
There was more or less chuckling and nudging among the other scouts when this broad statement was made, because George had a reputation a little bit along the line of a "shirk," when it came to hard labor, though always ready to do his duty manfully when a meal had to be disposed of.
"Well, we ought to get there in about twenty minutes more, if only Nancy doesn't drop dead with heart disease," Toby went on to say.
"Not much danger of that, Toby," ventured Ted, from the rear of the wagon; "I alwayth did thay that Nanthy wath the toughest thing that ever wore the iron on her hoofth. And I expect to thee her doing duty yearth after I come back with my diploma from college. And they tell me thereth only one hoth older than Nancy in the county, which ith owned by that Connie Mallon's dad, the mathon."
Somehow the very mention of that name which had been associated with considerable of tumult in the past history of the scouts' organization seemed to remind Toby and George of the remarkable events connected with their late nutting expedition. Elmer, therefore, was not in the least surprised to hear George immediately voice the feeling of detestation he entertained toward Connie Mallon.
"I hope that gang enjoyed the treat we fetched home for 'em the other day; and which I believe you and Toby here distributed like a pair of Thanksgiving Santa Claus," he remarked, with a vein of satire in his voice that was almost as natural to Doubting George as breathing was; "but I never did take any stock in the game, though I agreed to assist out, to please you, Elmer. And to my mind it was a flat failure in the bargain. We might as well have handed all that lot of good nuts to some poor family, or turned the same into the pig-pen for the porkers."
"Oh! I don't know," Toby said, with his favorite drawl. "Elmer here seems to be of the opinion that it's done _some_ good. Anyhow, none of us has had any trouble with that Mallon crowd since then. They seem to slide away every time they see us coming down the street, or across the campus at school."
"Good reason," piped up George, "because they're afraid that if they say a word we'll start the ball arolling, and everybody in town'll hear how they ran like Sam Hill, leaving their nuts behind, and thinking a ghost was chasing after 'em. Huh! don't you give that tough crowd credit for thinking anything decent, because it ain't in 'em."
"Listen," said Elmer, quietly, "and perhaps you'll find it best to change your tune, Old Question Mark. I had a little surprise this same morning when I came out of the house, just as dawn was breaking.
Something dangling there alongside the back door caught my eye, and what do you think it was?"
"Oh! give it up, Elmer," said George, with a shrug of his shoulders; while the others leaned forward eagerly, intent on hearing the answer; "couldn't guess in a year of Sundays, so open up and tell us."
"A brace of the fattest and biggest rabbits I ever saw, and fresh killed at that," replied the scout master, impressively.
"Oh! you don't mean to say it?" ejaculated Toby; "and, Elmer, as sure as anything I saw Connie Mallon coming home late last evening with four of the same hanging over his shoulder, and looking as proud as a turkey cock. He just grinned as he walked past, and even nodded his head, but I was too surprised to answer him, or ask where he struck such great luck.
But then everybody knows Connie is the best rabbit hunter around Hickory Ridge, and has got a boss hound in the bargain. So you think he left that brace hanging at your back door, do you?"
"I'm as sure of it as if I saw him sneaking in late at night, and fastening the pair there," said Elmer, positively; "and he divided evenly with me, you see, if he had just four. Now, George, what do you say to that? Was it a silly thing in our taking those four bags of nuts, and leaving them where we did? Don't you think Connie Mallon was set _thinking_, and that unable to express himself in any other way he carried out this fine thing to show me he understood the motive back of what we did?"
George died hard.
"Well, I wouldn't just like to say that much, Elmer," he admitted; "because I don't believe that tough case could understand a decent motive; but he evidently wanted to let you know he'd keep still, if you fellows only wouldn't blab on him and his crowd."
"I don't agree with you, George," the other told him, sharply. "I think you've got to rub your eyes some yourself, and get the scales off. It's my opinion that in his own crude way Connie meant to tell me he was holding out the olive branch. I've got a hunch he's in a humor to be approached, and met more than half-way; and when we get back after this camping trip I'm going to have a chin with him the first chance I get to see him alone."
"Huh! wish you luck then, that's all," grunted George; "but I give you my opinion for what it's worth, and the chances are ten to one you'll rub up against a stone wall."
"Well, there'll be no harm done, anyway," continued Elmer, nor did he insist on carrying the argument any further, for he knew how persistent George could be, and that although possessed of many sterling qualities, being broad-minded was not a cardinal virtue of the doubting scout.
A short time later and those who had been up in this region recently began to call the attention of their companions to certain features of the landscape, and comment on the same.
"I'd give a heap," said Chatz, "to own a picture of that other rig coming whooping out of the woods somewhere around here, and turning down the road in the direction of town. Well, suh, I reckon the fellow who held the whip was using the same on the backs of those hosses like fun, and the lot of them shouting to him to make the team go faster, because they believed the ghost would overtake them."
"It sure must have been a glorious sight," called out the long-legged Lil Artha, from the rear of the vehicle; "and just like you, Chatz, I'd give a heap to see a photograph of the same. Do we turn in here, Toby?"
"Yes, and you fellows hang on now, tooth and nail," replied the driver, "or there's a chance of you getting pitched out, because the old wagon joggles dreadfully most of the time over roots and stones. Steady, back there, everybody!"
What Toby said turned out to be the truth. He tried to pick the easiest trail possible, but in spite of this it proved to be so rough that presently Elmer called a halt.
"I'm going to walk the balance of the way, fellows," he declared, as he made a jump and landed on the ground.
"Me too!" echoed Landy Smith, following suit.
In another minute Toby was the only one left aboard, and he too might have gladly sought the ground only that it was necessary for some one to do the driving.
Old Nancy appreciated this lightening of her load by striving harder than ever to draw it; while George and Ted and Chatz continued to call attention to various features of the landscape.
"There's where we hid our wagon that other time," the last named declared, pointing to a thick cover of brush, into which the track of wheels led; "and Toby, you notice, is turning out, because this time we don't want to head direct for the nut grove, but the dense woods alongside. We saw a fine spring as we came by, and I reckon, suh, that our efficient scout master has it all fixed in his mind's eye to pitch our tents close to that."