"Did you find 'em, Elmer?"
"What's the use asking such silly questions, when you can see right now from the grin on his face that he did."
"Huh! don't you be so sure, Red Huggins; perhaps he's laughing at the way the sun reflects on your hair!"
"Tell us what you saw, Elmer; we've passed an awful hour," said Mark, sighing.
"Worst ever; thought it was five times as long!" complained Toby.
They listened attentively as the returned scout related his adventures while taking a survey of the old logging camp at close quarters.
"Three of 'em—three husky tramps all in a bunch! Say, that's going some, now, fellows!" remarked Ty.
"Ain't gettin' cold feet, I hope, so soon?" scoffed Red.
"When I do, you'll never know it, 'cause why—you'll be about fifty miles away, scootin' for all you're worth toward home, sweet home," declared Ty, aggressively.
"Yes, you see!" remarked Phil Dale, wagging his head significantly.
"Now he's thinking of that popgun of his, Elmer, and thinks you'll be sorry because you emptied all the cartridges out," said Tom Cropsey.
"Oh! I'm not bothering my head a bit over that," declared the leader. "Fact is, I'd be afraid to have that gun around if it was loaded. We're not going to need such things to capture these fellows. Perhaps there may be plenty of other ways to scare them into giving up."
"But say, if it comes to a show-down, Elmer, you don't mind if I just point my cannon at 'em, do you, and threaten to blow the whole blooming lot into the next county if they don't up with their little hands?" Phil asked.
"Not a bit," replied the other. "Make as much use of an empty pistol as you want, but be sure the time is ripe. Only as a last resort pull it on the men. And now, draw in a little closer and we'll talk this thing over. Thirteen heads ought to be some better than one."
Every one had a chance to make suggestions. Elmer invited them to exchange views on the subject. He could pick up a clever idea once in a while by this means, for all boys do not think alike, and where he might overlook something, one of the others would be sure to strike it.
"First of all, remember that we are not up here to capture these tramps, though, of course, it may come to that before we're through with the thing. To get possession of little Ruth, that's our main idea," Elmer said more than once.
"But even if we do, won't they follow after us, and try to get the girl back again?" asked Red, who, it could be plainly seen, was just spoiling for action.
"Perhaps they will if they know where to look for us!" replied the leader.
"Oh! I begin to see; you expect to blind the trail; or send 'em off on a false scent! Ain't you the cute one, though, Elmer? I take off my hat to you every time," chimed in "Lil Artha," who had been strangely quiet during most of this discussion, though he was doing a heap of thinking.
Matt Tubbs had listened to what Elmer had said. His face had grown dark with one of his passionate uprisings.
"See here," he broke out with at this point, "why don't we just walk right into McGraw Camp, and up to that coward, Dolph Gruber? What's the use knuckling down in this way, I'd like to know? Thirteen of us ought to be enough to turn them three old maids down right smart. Let's just rush the place, and give 'em the lesson all kidnapers ought to get! Who's with me?"
He looked straight at Red, first of all, as if aware of his hasty temper. Indeed, that impulsive individual did make a little move as though tempted to step over to the side of Matt. Fighting had always come easy to Red in the old days before he joined the scouts, and it was mighty hard work conquering the spirit that had such a strong grip on his nature.
Then some magnet caused him to twist to one side, and send an appealing look toward Elmer, who shook his head in the negative. Upon which Red fell back again with a grunt. He had declined the plain invitation to rebel, which the stranger in the camp had thrown at his feet.
No one else stirred. They even frowned, as though astonished at the audacity of this one who had tried to raise the standard of rebellion among the scouts.
"Huh! afraid to risk it, hey?" sneered Matt. "Don't like the idea, of running up against a hard fist, is that it, fellows? Say, is that the sort of milksops this here scout business makes of boys? If it is, I reckon I ain't got much use for it in mine."
"Hold on!"
It was Elmer who spoke just those two words, and the bully of Fairfield turned to look in the face of the Wolf Patrol leader. He stopped sneering, and even dropped his eyes before the accusing ones of Elmer Chenowith.
"You forget yourself, Matt," said Elmer, quietly. "I always thought you were a fellow of your word; that you prided yourself on doing what you said you would. But I see I'm mistaken. You promised me that if we allowed you to come along you would obey orders. We scouts have subscribed to the rules of an organization that makes obedience to superior officers a thing of prime importance. These fellows believe in me, trust in me. They know I will not fail them purposely. And yet you have tried to get them to rebel, and do something I've positively forbidden."
Matt looked very uneasy.
"I reckon I was away off, Elmer; excuse me," he muttered; and that was more of an apology than any other boy had even heard Matt Tubbs utter.
"All right; but you must learn to look at things in another light," Elmer went on, severely. "Now, you know that there are boys here who have been accustomed to rough-house tactics almost as much as you yourself. A little while ago it wouldn't have needed a second invitation to coax Red, and Toby, and several others to trot along at your heels, and pitch into those tramps like hot cakes. But they have turned over a new leaf. Not that they can't fight, and fight hard, if necessary; but they are no longer looking for trouble."
Matt scratched his head, and tried to appear as though he understood; but it was slow to penetrate his brain; all his life he had written only on one side of the slate; in fact, until lately he did not know there was another side.
"Obedience is a true scout's glory," Elmer continued, with a purpose in view. "That man is best fitted to command who has learned to obey. So you see, although tempted to join you, not a single one of the boys did so. I do not think you will ever look at things the same way again, or try to create a rebellion in camp where you have been received only on probation."
"That's right; I knows it, Elmer. I was dead wrong. And I'm goin' to do just whatever you say," declared Matt, looking grimly around, as though challenging any boy to dare throw up to him the fact that in doing this he must be showing signs of weakness.
"Then we'll forget all about the incident. Now, let's get back to where we were, and see if we can hit on some plan to get little Ruth away." Elmer went on as pleasantly as though nothing had occurred to ruffle his temper.
"I was wondering," said Chatz, "if given a little time, they mightn't do all the capturing themselves, suh."
"How is that, Chatz?" demanded Toby; "I know my skull is thick, but somehow I just don't seem to grab that idea on the jump."
"Yes, explain what you've got in mind, please," remarked Elmer.
"Well, I remembered that when you were telling all you had seen, suh, that you said the fat tramp and the tall thin one were taking a swig every few minutes out of a couple of big whisky flasks they carried in their pockets, and which you guessed Dolph must have fetched along for them."
"Oh! yes, now I begin to see," remarked Elmer.
"Supposing now, suh, they are allowed to drain those same flasks, do you believe they would be knocked out; and if we entered the camp it would be to find both of them fast asleep, and dead to the world?"
"That's an idea worth considering," Elmer declared. "But we shouldn't depend entirely upon it."
"If there was only some way of getting those two men away from the camp it would make it easy sailing for us," suggested Mark.
"They act as though they expected to stay around here for some time," Elmer answered. "In fact, from a few words I happened to hear them let fall, I wouldn't be surprised if they had done something or other that made them afraid that the police might be having an eye out for two fellows of their description. And that's the main reason they are sticking so close to this lonesome lumber camp."
"Suppose you outline your scheme, Elmer," Red said, humbly; "we'll fall in line, and endorse it, no matter what it is."
"Well, it's getting on toward the middle of the day right now, and since some of us had our breakfasts right early, suppose we take a snack before tackling this job," Matty suggested.
When the question of eating comes up among a party of hungry boys it is certain to take precedence, just as a motion to adjourn is said to be always in order.
"That gets me where I live," declared Red, nodding his head vigorously.
"All in favor hold up your right hands," said the acting scout-master; and immediately eleven hands shot into the air.
Every one present had voted in favor of the motion save the leader and Matt Tubbs. And even the latter looked happier than before, when, taking a good sized roll from his haversack, Elmer divided it in half and offered one portion to the uninvited guest.
Perhaps, after all, it was the part of wisdom for the scouts to partake of lunch before entering upon any more strenuous work. Boys never feel quite so venturesome on an empty as a full stomach. At least, after the long hike, they needed refreshments, every one thought.
"Look at Ted, will you; he's the disappointed one," whispered Mark in the ear of the scout master.
Indeed, Ted did continue to frown as if he had met with a severe loss; and yet as a rule he had never been known as a fighter.
"Don't you see what it is," answered Elmer, amused. "He was just beginning to believe there would be a rumpus and lots of bruises to be taken care of. Ted is getting more and more earnest in his liking for the profession of a surgeon."
"Huh!" grunted Toby, who chanced to be standing close enough to hear what passed between the two chums; "he's getting more and more cracked, that's what. Unless he curls that disposition of his, I'm afraid he'll get bounced from the scouts before long."
"Why, what's his desire to be a doctor and a surgeon got to do with it?" asked Mark, curiously.
"Well, I'm getting afraid of that fellow, for a fact. He just keeps thinking of those old operations he's been reading about, all the blessed time. Plague take it, fellows, I'm suspecting that unless Ted finds a subject to work on when the fit takes him, he'll make one! Anyhow, I'm going to be mighty careful how I let myself go out alone with him after dark."
Elmer and Mark looked at Toby to see if he might not be joking, but if so, he certainly managed to keep a straight face through it all.
"Oh! I guess there isn't any danger of that," said the patrol leader, soothingly; "and all of us have to admit that Ted certainly knows his business very well. He can dress a wound splendidly, and I'd be willing to trust him to set my arm if ever I was unlucky enough to get it broken. Don't worry about Ted, Toby; he's all to the good, and I suspect that pretty much all of that ferocious spirit is put on for effect. He can be as gentle as a woman when he's dressing a wound, for I've watched him."
As all the scouts were now through "feeding," as some of them called the process of eating their "snacks" carried along for the purpose, the plan of campaign proposed by Elmer was gone over carefully, so that every fellow might be sure he understood the part he was expected to play in the round-up.
"All ready, suh!" announced Chatz Maxfield, finally.
"Then we'll begin to advance, and this time we will do without the bugle, Mark. Remember your patrol calls, and keep your ears open for my signal. The whistle might arouse suspicions here, so I'll give the harsh cry of the bluejay three times. Then act! Now, be off, all of you; and Matt, you come with me!"
CHAPTER XIII.
When the acting scout-master thus asked the recognized bully of Fairfield to accompany him, he had several good reasons for the step, strange as it might seem to Mark and the others, who fancied that possibly Matt should be posted at some distance where he was likely to do no harm.
But Elmer preferred to have him under his own eye. Moreover, the scheme upon which he was embarked was tinged with more or less danger; and Matt was a husky chap, capable of giving a good account of himself.
But then Matt Tubbs was not the only one who accompanied the leader. Elmer had chosen to take with him Ted, Lil Artha, Toby, Mark, Landy and Tom Cropsey. This left five others, and they were also divided into two detachments, one consisting of Matty, Phil, Chatz, Ty; while Red Huggins made up the other all by himself.
As to the plan of campaign, it might be well to explain what Elmer had fashioned in his mind, as justifying their efforts.
He had noticed, when spying around the further end of the long log cabin, an odd tunnel underneath the walls. This, no doubt, had been made by some woodchuck or other animal, desirous of finding a snug winter home.
Elmer fully believed that the passage was amply large enough to allow a boy to crawl through. And as it was apparently situated at that end of the building least likely to be used by the tramps, he expected that he and his mates would be able to creep in without being discovered.
Supposing his expectations were fulfilled; then the second detachment was to hide as near the door of the cabin as they could. Finally, Red, at some little distance, was to play his part in the game.
Red had always been known as a most adroit "fox" in the games the lads of Hickory Ridge played. Once he started out to elude those hounds set upon his track, none had ever been successful in overtaking him. His methods of dodging and doubling on his track were famous throughout all the region, and in selecting him for the part of fox Elmer knew just what to expect.
Red was to "toll" the tramps out of the cabin and lose them somewhere in the depths of the woods. Meanwhile, with perhaps a clear field before them, Elmer and his scouts could easily accomplish the balance of the affair.
Of course there was always the question as to whether it would work.
Following the lead of the scout master, the little squad of boys slipped around so as to come upon the long cabin from the rear. Everything seemed peaceful. No one was in sight, the men having apparently stepped inside again after Dolph and little Ruth had been fed.
This was as it should be, and Elmer had indeed figured on it when laying his plans. In single file they approached as near as was deemed safe; then, at a signal from the leader, the scouts dropped flat behind some bushes. From this point on, their progress must be much slower, since they would have to do considerable crawling.
Before making a move, however, Elmer gave the signal that was to start the other detachments. This, as agreed on, consisted of the harsh cry of the bluejay, and which in the still air of the woods could be easily heard for a long distance.
After that things were to happen in regulation order. Elmer had calculated just how long it might take his band to obtain entrance to the cabin; also for the other detachment to find a hiding place near by. Red was scheduled to commence operations just half an hour after he heard the bluejay cry three times. And to make sure, he carried the nickel watch of Chatz with him.
"Come on, fellows, and be careful, every one," was the low whisper which Elmer allowed to float back over his shoulder.
Having been over the ground once before, and with his customary sagacity memorized every little point that could be used to advantage, Elmer was not in the least dismayed at certain obstacles that from time to time had to be surmounted.
Ten minutes after the signal had been given he led his line of creeping scouts up to the further end of the long, low cabin. And so far as they knew no hostile eye had taken note of their coming.
The tunnel was close at hand. Its smooth walls told of the many times the animal responsible for its presence had crept in and out. And Elmer noted with considerable satisfaction that his former conception of its capacity had not been amiss. Yes, even the stoutest of the scouts could pass through, with a little assistance.
Even here the shrewdness of the young scout-master showed itself. He had arranged his schedule so that this individual, who chanced to be Landy, always known as a fat youth, though fond of all outdoor sports, should come last. This, it may be noted in passing, was done so that in case he did stick in the tunnel he might not block the passage of others whose presence was vital to the success of the plan.
Elmer never forgot anything he heard or read, and it happened that not so very long before he had been interested in an account of the escape from Libby Prison of a large number of Union prisoners during the dark days of the Civil War, and vividly remembered how there might have been many more follow the same route only that an ambitious fat man closed the passage, since he could neither go on nor return.
Of course it was the intention of the scout-master himself to lead the way. He could not think of delegating that important function to any one else. And Lil Artha was to follow at his heels, to be succeeded by others, Matt Tubbs coming just before Landy, on account of his size.
Lying on his back, Elmer started in head first. This he did because the tunnel performed a quick curve upward, after once passing under the lower log; and as most boys are not as supple as gymnasts and contortionists, and cannot bend backward the same as forward, he knew this was the only way of passing through.
Using his heels to help propel his body forward, and being gently assisted by little pushes from his mates, Elmer readily went through the ceremony of imitating the woodchuck that had used the hole during the past winter.
As he raised his head above the level of the earthen floor he took a quick observation. The boys outside gave an inclination of continuing the pushing movement, so that it became necessary for him to kick in a way they would understand meant a temporary halt.
It was not very light inside the long cabin, because there were only a few openings that had served as windows, and even some of these had become clogged with stray rubbish in the years that elapsed since the logging camp knew life and bustle.
After a brief interval, however, Elmer was able to see fairly well. Just as he had anticipated, those who now occupied the place were down near the door at the other end.
First of all he made out that the three men and one little girl comprised the entire list of occupants. This pleased him, because as yet he had not been positive on this point; and if it proved that there were half a dozen tough characters assembled under the roof of the log bunk-cabin, the work which the scouts had laid out for themselves must have been considerably extended.
Ruth was by herself. She had eaten at the command of her stepfather, but not with any heart in the matter, and now she was huddled in a little bunch, possibly crying under her breath, for she did not dare do anything more to anger the man she feared.
The three men were sprawled out in some of the old bunks. A bundle of dried grass made a fair mattress for fellows unused to anything better, and they seemed quite satisfied with their surroundings.
Elmer knew that he must not linger too long. Behind him were seven impatient fellows, all anxious to do that great crawling stunt. So he once more got in motion and wriggled himself into the cabin.
Luckily the tall, thin tramp whom Elmer mentally called Skinny, even as Fatty covered the stout, happy-go-lucky chap, had a voice like a fog-horn; and a laugh that was as raspy as a file; so that when he got going there was little chance of any slight sound from the end of the long cabin being noticed.
And as the squirrels ran haphazard all over the roof of the building, any such sound would of necessity be attributed to them, for such a thing as a hostile force penetrating this far into the timber would never strike any of the men as possible.
A touch on the arm presently warned Elmer that the first of his followers had wormed his way through that crooked passage. Trust the angular Lil Artha for being able to navigate a zigzag tunnel with greatest ease. No doubt he slipped in and out with almost the handiness with which one might crack a whip.
Then came Toby, Mark and Tom. After that there was a slight hitch, as though perhaps Matt Tubbs might be having a little difficulty; but they could hear faint scratching sounds from the tunnel that proved he was coming along. As for Landy, it did not matter materially whether he arrived or not, so long as he did nothing to alarm the enemy.
Everything was apparently working just as Elmer, like a wise general, had figured on. The three men still continued to talk and argue, being worked up over some sort of proposition that Dolph seemed to be putting before the others.
Several words that came to the ears of Elmer from time to time convinced him that Dolph Gruber was fully as bad a man as he had suspected, for there could be no doubt but that he was now actually planning to lead his reckless companions on a raid of some sort, looking to robbery as a reward of their enterprise.
It must be getting on toward the time appointed when Red was expected to take up his part of the game.
Landy had not yet arrived, but he was heroically endeavoring to join his comrades. Indeed, during a temporary lull in the conversation of the trio of men at the other end of the cabin, Elmer could hear a gasping sound from the tunnel that alarmed him not a little, lest it attract the attention of the plotters, and lead to a search calculated to upset all their well-laid plans.
So he immediately pushed down into the mouth of the tunnel, and groping around until he came in contact with the clawing hands of the stout boy, began to gently but firmly drag him through.
It was a tight fit, but luckily Landy made it, though only for the assistance Elmer gave him he must have stuck there ingloriously until the end of the affair, and thus been unable to assume his proper share in the rescue of little Ruth.
All were now on hand, Landy panting in a way that made Lil Artha dig his elbow into his ribs as a warning that he was making altogether too much noise.
"Why don't Red start his bazoo?" whispered that long-legged worthy in Elmer's ear, as he lay flattened out on the ground in the gloomy far-end part of the loggers' bunk-house.
"Never fear, you can count on Red to do his part," was what the scout master managed to convey in the same sort of careful whisper; and fearful lest Arthur, who was known to be rather talkative, get fairly started, when it was most unwise to indulge in any conversation with those enemies so close by, Elmer gave a gentle "'sh!" to signify that silence just then was golden.
The impatient ones were counting the seconds, and wondering how they could ever hold out much longer. Elmer kept watching the three men, knowing that through their actions at least he could readily tell when the expected break had come.
Ruth still had her face hidden in her dress, and was doubtless filled with grief because of this cruel enforced separation from her own mother.
And as he thus waited, his heart beating faster than its wont, Elmer caught a faint cry. It came from some distance off, and seemed to be filled with the utmost distress.
"Help! oh! help!"
The time limit having expired, that was Red getting in his work as the crafty fox attempting to coax the hounds on a false scent.
The three men had started up. They were looking at each other, as though hardly knowing what to make of it. To hear a call for assistance in this lonely vicinity was certainly enough to bewilder, yes, and perhaps to alarm anyone; especially men whose past had been so very shady that they suspected everything which they could not fully understand.
CHAPTER XIV.
"Hey! what's that?"
The tall, thin tramp had jumped up from the bunk as he cried out in this fashion. His fat companion was also hastily scrambling out of his comfortable lodgings. Both of them looked alarmed, but Elmer noted with more or less satisfaction that the very one who might have been expected to be anxious showed the least sign of consternation. Indeed, a crafty look had come over Dolph's face, as though something pleasant might have struck him.
"What's the matter with you?" demanded Dolph, who, while he deserted his bunk, did so in a leisurely manner, as if to show his indifference.
"Didn't yuh hear that yell?" exclaimed the lean hobo.
"Sure I did; think I ain't got ears?" replied Dolph, sneeringly. "But what ails the two of ye? Look like ye wanted to skip out, and make tracks."
"But who'd be comin' away up here, 'cept they wanted tuh git us? Sense that leetle job over in Janesville a month back, me an' Pete don't feel jest as safe as we'd like!" went on the thin tramp.
"Aw! go chase yourself, Simsy," scoffed Dolph. "Listen again, would ye? D'ye mark what the cove's ayellin'? He sez he wants help as plain as can be. D'ye think if they was any cop around they'd be tellin' us about it? Wouldn't they rather creep up on us sly like, and nail us before we could run? Rats! jest use yer brains and figger it out!"
"But what is it, then?" demanded the fellow called Simsy; "if so be yuh know, tell us, Dolph? I ain't no coward, but I ain't no fool neither. An' if it comes tuh hangin' around, an' lettin' these jay cops git a strangle hold on me jest tuh show my grit, I tell yuh I ain't in it."
"Say, don't ye know the old loggin' road leads up here from the main line? I heard afore now o' fellers in cars mistakin' the way, or thinkin' they could cut off a heap of distance by startin' in on the side. All right, then; a fool is born every second, they say; an' one of 'em has just gone and got into trouble tryin' to foller that old loggin' road."
The tall tramp looked at his fat companion; and then both turned their eyes on Dolph as he finished speaking. Apparently his logic struck them as sound, for the expression of fear had already begun to vanish from their unwashed faces.
"D'ye really an' truly reckon that's what it be, Dolph?" asked the hobo who had answered to the name of Pete.
"'Cause we don't wanter take any chances, yuh see," added the tall one, shaking his little head to add emphasis to his remark.
"'Course it is," affirmed Dolph, with a laugh of scorn that did more to convince his mates than all his talking. "I tell ye that's some fool feller in a car. He's run into a tree, or some fool play like that, an' p'raps got hurted bad. Looky here, you two, how d'ye know this ain't jest the luckiest thing for us three coves that ever came down the pike?"
"What way?" growled Simsy.
"Yes, speak up an' tell us, Dolph," echoed the other. "Allers sed as how yuh had the brains o' the bunch. Me an' Pete likes the red licker too much. Right now we ain't all we orter be. How's it goin' tuh be lucky for us three?"
"Why," continued Dolph, with vehemence, "don't ye see, if so be this happens to be a rich guy what has got hurted, we can tote him in here, an' keep him along till he coughs up a nice little pile to his life savers. And if ye know a good thing when ye run across it, why both o' ye ought to put out to find him, and bring him back as quick as ye can."
At that Pete and Simsy again exchanged looks. The love of gain was rapidly overcoming their first fears; just as the artful Dolph had known it would.
"How 'bout you, ole feller; don't you jine us in this game?" asked the thin tramp, a little suspiciously.
"Sure I do," returned Dolph, with ready assurance; "but there ain't no need of the whole three of us goin' out to carry one feller here. 'Sides, you remember I got a mighty sore heel after my long walk."
"But—yuh ain't agoin' tuh clear out an' leave us?" questioned the tall hobo.
"Well, what sort of crazy questions are ye askin'? I'll stay right here, an' wait for ye to fetch the feller back. Then leave it to me to work him for the stuff. I'm some good at that sort o' thing, I reckon," and Dolph grinned in their faces.
"So yuh are, Dolph, so yuh are," replied Simsy. "What say, Pete, do we start out to do the great rescuin' act, and bring the poor bubble wagon fool here to get bleeded?"
"Ho! I'm willin' if yuh say so, Simsy," replied the fat tramp, promptly, the prospect of gain acting as a lure in his eyes that outweighed all other considerations.
Elmer had listened to all this with the utmost eagerness. One minute he fancied that the lovely little trap he had baited so cleverly was about to work; and then again he found himself beset with fears that it had been all for naught; and that if the alarmed tramps made up their minds to flee, Dolph would decide to accompany them, which in turn meant that little Ruth must be spirited away, and another long chase follow.
But, after all, it seemed now that things were moving along nicely. Dolph could be thanked for greasing the ways, though of course the fellow never dreamed how he was riding to a fall in doing so.
"Come along then, Pete; we'll take a look in at thet squaller, an' see how bad he's hurted."
The tall tramp made for the near-by door of the log cabin while speaking, and his fat mate trotted at his heels, for all the world like a little dog—but an ugly bulldog at that, for he had the face of a ruffian, did Pete.
Thus they passed out, stopping at the door to listen once more, while Dolph urged them to lose no further time.
Meanwhile Red had been duly busy. Every minute the sound of his voice, filled with wild entreaty, came on the breeze.
"Help! oh! won't somebody come and help me! This way! Oh! what a terrible fix I'm in! Help! help!" he would shout in the most dismal tone imaginable.
Of course Red was so situated that he could see the door of the cabin from a distance. Thus he would know when anyone sallied forth to try and rescue the one supposed to be in a peck of trouble. And once that occurred, the crafty "fox" was due to exercise his wonderful ingenuity by slipping away, and later on lifting up his wail for assistance in a new quarter.
Thus he would coax the two tramps hither and thither, arousing their hopes only to dash them to the ground by a new appeal from another section. In the end, of course, such fellows would begin to believe they were being hoodwinked—that there must be something uncanny about the mysterious calls, and they would be seized with a small panic that must wind up the hunting game.
But meanwhile ten, perhaps fifteen, minutes might have elapsed; and surely that space of time would be enough for Elmer and his fellow scouts to accomplish the end they had in view.
The young scout leader always did his work with more or less system. He had decided that they ought to let at least three minutes elapse after the departure of the men, before attempting any move. This would take them far enough away from the bunk-house so that any ordinary outcry from within would hardly reach their ears. Having no other way of determining upon the passage of time, Elmer began to count under his breath as soon as the bulky figure of Pete had vanished from the open door of the building.
Three minutes does not seem a long time under ordinary conditions; indeed, in many instances it just slips past like magic. And yet try counting the seconds contained within that short space of time—one hundred and eighty of them, all told—why, it seems enormous. But steadily Elmer was putting them over, determined not to change his plans, and give way to his natural impatience, since he had in the beginning figured on that three-minute leeway.
He could feel the uneasy movements of his impatient chums. Lil Artha even went so far as to nudge him in the ribs, as though he had begun to suspect that their cautious leader might have gone to sleep. But Elmer gave back an answering dig that convinced the other of his being on the alert.
When he had finally reached the end of the probation, Elmer himself began to make a forward movement. All the while he counted those passing seconds he had been closely watching the figure of Dolph, so as to be ready for action. That was the motto of the scouts, "Be prepared," and he certainly believed in living up to it.
Dolph had come back into the cabin. He appeared to be listening from time to time, as though a little anxious himself concerning the nature of that strange call for assistance; for all he had pretended to treat it so lightly when his allies were present.
Dolph had dropped down upon a block of wood, and was examining something which he had taken from his pocket. Elmer was not able to get a good look at this article, but, knowing the desperate character of the man who sat there, and how he had now burned his bridges behind him when he kidnaped the child of the woman he had married and tortured, the boy could easily guess its nature.
It was what Lil Artha would call a "gun," otherwise a revolver of the bulldog type, dangerous enough in the hands of a reckless scoundrel who feared arrest.
Elmer was conscious of a new little thrill, but he mentally scorned the thought of this being any indication of fear. Indeed, to thoroughly disprove such a silly thing he even increased the pace with which he was creeping across the earthen floor of the cabin.
Dolph still sat there, his head bent low over the tool he was fondling, as he listened for any change in the cries from outside. If he would only kindly continue to hold that attitude for another full minute, Elmer believed he might be in a position to make an aggressive move.
Just then the scout leader became aware of something that gave him a momentary spasm of acute alarm. Ruth no longer had her face buried in her dress. Something had caused her to stop her silent weeping, and look up. Perhaps she, too, had been attracted by those wails for help which the Boy Scout fox was using as a means for "tolling" the two dangerous tramps away from the cabin.
But in raising her head Ruth had been made aware of some strange movement back of the bent-over figure of her stepfather. She was now staring with round-eyed wonder at the string of crawling figures that extended from the rear wall of the cabin.
Elmer raised his hand, and held up a warning finger. He hoped by this means to convince the girl that they were friends, and nothing was to be feared. But he also hoped that Matt Tubbs, whom he knew to be close at his side, might be doing something of the same kind; and that little Ruth would recognize her cousin.
Whether the child could have given utterance to some low bubbling cry of fear or joy, which reached the ears of the man, or he just happened to look up, and noticed how she was staring past him, no one ever knew.
Elmer became suddenly aware that Dolph had whirled around on his stool, and was looking in sheer amazement at the peculiar spectacle of eight figures worming their way across the earthen floor of the bunk-house and headed straight for the spot where he himself was seated.
He certainly could not mistake the danger that accompanied the presence of all these strangers. And, given just three seconds in which to collect his wits, the desperate fugitive and kidnaper would of course do something looking toward one thing or the other—flight or resistance.
Elmer did not mean to allow of either. He had been nerving himself for just this crisis, and his muscles were ready primed for a quick leap.
But, prepared as he was for the action that meant so much toward the carrying out of his plans, there was one ahead of Elmer. This was Matt Tubbs, who, crouching there like a tiger beside the leader of the Wolf Patrol, had reached the limit of his endurance and submission to orders.
Even as Elmer started to throw himself forward, meaning to clasp his arms about the man before he could rise, or do any damage with his weapon, a figure shot past him. Then he saw Matt Tubbs hurl himself bodily upon Dolph Gruber. At the same time the pistol fell to the ground, struck on a stone, and was discharged!
CHAPTER XV.
Such a scene of wild confusion as followed.
Six other eager lads besides Elmer and Matt Tubbs strove to get a chance to have "a finger in the pie," as Lil Artha called it. They even pushed among themselves, in their eagerness to land somewhere upon the squirming figure of the struggling victim.
Nor was this all. Four other fellows had been hiding without, screened by some friendly bushes from the sight of Pete and Simsy when they issued forth in search of the unfortunate who was so beseechingly calling for help. These chaps, hearing the beginning of the racket within the bunk-house, looked upon it as a signal for their advance.
Through the open door they came in a confused bunch, ready to lend any assistance in their power. But just at that moment it looked as if there were already quite enough hands clustering around the astonished and disgusted Dolph Gruber to attend to his case. And as Lil Artha said, "Too many cooks sometimes spoil the broth."
Dolph possibly as yet did not understand what it all meant. He had had a glimpse of khaki uniforms, and may have suspected that the authorities had summoned a company of the militia from some neighboring city to search for the kidnaper and the missing child.
He struggled desperately; but when some six or eight pretty husky boys hurl their united weight on one person that individual has a slim chance of throwing off the burden. And so Dolph had to take it out in wriggling and grunting.
Lil Artha had made preparations looking to this condition of affairs. Indeed, had he been a duly elected sheriff of the county he could hardly have been more in readiness to secure a prisoner.
"Hold him steady, fellows, while I tie his hands behind his back!" he exclaimed; "there, turn him over a little more; and Matt, twist that left arm further back. That's the ticket, boys. Watch me fix him up in a jiffy, will you?"
He started to wrap some stout twine around and around the wrists of the prisoner. By this time Dolph seemed to become aware of the fact that these mysterious fellows, who had crept in through some back entrance, and pounced upon him with such scant ceremony, were a pack of half-grown boys. He started to roar threats at them, filled with rage at the thought of such an indignity as being so rudely handled by mere lads. But despite his worst efforts he could not break loose from the grip they had upon his person.
"Whoop! that's the way to do it, fellows!" Lil Artha continued to declare, as he completed his job. "Talk to me about your football tackle, this takes the cake, sure! Now for another little splice around his legs. Sit on him, some of you! No matter if he does object; what right has a kidnaper got we're bound to respect? Let him bawl till he gets hoarse. We've got him, and we're going to hold him till he's shut up in the cooler at Hickory Ridge!"
Elmer meanwhile had not forgotten that Dolph had comrades. Doubtless his angry shouts must have reached the ears of the two tramps, who could not have gotten entirely beyond range of a loud voice.
"Here, you fellows," he called to the four boys who had come darting through the entrance of the cabin, "shut that door, and find some way to barricade it! We may have the other men attacking us yet; and you remember how we arranged our plans in case that happens. Quick, let's get ready for a siege!"
"Hurrah! that's the ticket!" cried Chatz Maxfield. "Lend a hand here, fellows, and we'll do the thing up in style. Yes, suh, we-all have armed ourselves with the nicest clubs you evah saw, and hope to find a chance to use them, dusting the garments of those two hoboes."
Every one of the quartette, besides Elmer himself, became as busy as the proverbial bee. The door was swung shut, even though it required more or less muscular persuasion to bring about this result, because of long disuse. Then every description of weighty article upon which they could lay hands was hastily piled up against the said door, until almost in a minute it was barricaded so sturdily that a battering ram would be needed in order to smash it in.
"Don't stop there!" cried Elmer. "The hole at the end of the place must be filled up and guarded. Then a couple of fellows must stand at each of these open windows, ready to give those tramps a warm reception if they try to force their company on us."
"Let some of the rest of us have a chance to help!" called Lil Artha, as he scrambled to his feet. "Oh! don't bother about Dolph; he's laced up as tight as any old yellow pigskin ball could be at the beginning of a game on the gridiron. This way, Toby, Mark, and Landy—bring some of those blocks along. Everybody get busy, and prepare to resist boarders. Reckon these are a different kind of boarders than the ones that used to eat their grub here winters. Whoop! we can do it, and not half try!"
Elmer believed that he had by this time managed to get things in as decent shape as lay within his power. Supposing the shouts had reached the ears of those two tramps—would they dare turn back and make for the cabin at their best speed?
He thought not. What he had seen and heard concerning both Pete and the tall hobo caused him to suspect that their first thought would be in connection with their own safety. They had shown this before when desirous of running, and only giving heed to Dolph's suggestion that there might be some pecuniary profit for them in trying to find the unfortunate who called for assistance.
And now, after being "tolled" from place to place by that strange voice, until their suspicions were once more aroused, should they hear the dreadful clamor accompanying the capture of their companion, the possibility of their taking chances in making a bolt back to the bunk-house were small indeed.
Elmer was more inclined to believe that both tramps must be in full flight at that very moment.
But he had looked ahead for even the worst that could happen. Red Huggins had his orders. Should the two men return to the camp, and attempt to break in, bent on doing the boys serious hurt, his was to be the duty of seeking help—of managing to reach some town, and bringing the officers to the old logging camp.
"The tunnel is filled up, Elmer; even a rat couldn't crawl through that hole right now!" reported Mark, presently.
Elmer was looking out through one of the small openings. If he felt any anxiety concerning the possible coming of the two tramps his face failed to show it as he turned upon his best chum, saying:
"Are all the windows guarded, and do the boys understand what they are to do if anybody tries to get in?"
"Well, I should smile," laughed Mark, a little hysterically, for he was filled with the excitement of the occasion. "Just let one of those rascals try to poke his nose in here, and he's going to meet up with the surprise of his life. Look at Lil Artha taking a fresh grip on that long wagon-tongue of his; I bet you he's just trying to imagine himself at bat, with two out, two men on bases, and a couple of runs needed to tie the score. Yes, siree, he means to send the ball out of the lot for a homer, and don't you forget it. Oh! don't I pity Pete if ever he comes tapping at that window with Lil Artha standing guard."
"I don't see or hear anything of the men, which looks good," remarked Elmer, as he once more turned to glance outside, to where the trees and the scrub adjoining the deserted lumber camp could be observed.
"But say, Elmer, didn't you tell Red something about letting us know what the men were doing? Wasn't he to send a signal of some sort?" Mark went on.
"Yes, that's so," replied the young scout leader of the Wolf Patrol; "but then, perhaps he hasn't been able to make sure yet. You see, he had to keep skipping around pretty lively in order to give them the slip. But all the same, I reckon it's about time we heard something from Red."
"Hark!"
Even as Mark uttered this one word, there came floating to their ears from some little distance away a strange sound. One who was unacquainted with the woods might have believed that it was an odd mixture between a dog howling and a baby squalling.
Elmer chuckled as if amused.
"Red hasn't got it down quite pat yet," he remarked, "but then, he wants practice. I've heard coyotes and big gray wolves howl lots of times, but that's a new one on me. Still, Red means well, and what he signals tells us the two men have lit out for all they're worth."
"Bully!" cried Lil Artha, who heard what Elmer had said. "We hold the fort, and the enemy has skipped out! Now, I opine that I'm some disappointed, because I did hope to try that nice club; but it's all right. I'm a peaceful chap, when I can have my own way. And we've got what we came for, fellows. Here, let's give a big three cheers for the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts."
They were given with a vim and a volume of sound that must have been heard fully a mile away. Doubtless it quickened the pace of the fleeing tramps, who might suspect that they were being hunted by a whole regiment of citizens, stirred to indignation by the stealing of little Ruth.
This made Elmer suddenly remember the girl. She had been watching the actions of the scouts, at first with wonder and awe, but by degrees even smiling. Perhaps the fact that they had made a prisoner of her tormentor, Dolph Gruber, may have had more or less influence along this line. Then again, she had of course seen Matt Tubbs by now, and knew the newcomers must be friends.
Elmer stepped over to the child. The smile on his face was enough to convince little Ruth that, with the coming of these boys in their drab-colored suits, her troubles were ended; and if she were possessed of any lurking doubts they must have taken flight with the first words he spoke.
"We've come to take you back to your mother, Ruth, and I hope you won't be afraid of us. Here's your Cousin Matt along, too; you know him, don't you? It's all right now, Ruth; nobody can hurt you while the Boy Scouts are here," was the way Elmer spoke; and when he held out his hand the child readily put her own little quivering one within it, showing her utter confidence.
Then Matt Tubbs came up, his face wreathed in smiles. Matt was tickled to realize that he had been along when the rescue of the kidnaped child had been effected. More than this, Matt had seen a lot of things that would give him occasion for much serious thought later on—things that must have a bearing on his whole future. He had been given a practical object lesson concerning the other side of life, the decent side, which, up to now, had been pretty much of a sealed book to this pronounced bully of Fairfield.
Elmer, looking at the gentle way Matt was fondling the little girl, nodded his head and seemed well pleased.
"I guess I didn't make any mistake when I said there was some good in that big hulk of a fellow," was what he said aside to Mark, who was also watching Matt.
"Well," replied the other, "I kind of had my doubts when you said all that, but the way things look now, I'm beginning to believe there may be a heap of truth in your theory. But then, everybody can't see as far as you can, Elmer. That's the truth of it. Most of us just skim along the surface, but seems like you dig down deep. I hope it turns out that way. If Matt Tubbs changed his nature, and began to do the right thing, it'd be the best job ever for the boys of Fairfield, because you know he's the big boss over there. And say, wouldn't it make our chance for a warm session of baseball a little later on look pretty good?"
"That's a fact," declared Lil Artha, who had joined them in time to catch what was being said. "That Matt Tubbs sure is a crack-a-jack when it comes to playing ball, and the nine he had last year was as stiff a proposition as the Hickory Ridge fellows ever tackled. Yes, siree, I certain hope he'll be on the square after this; because it'd mean a lot for us."
Matt himself must have heard what they were saying, for at this juncture he turned and grinned as he remarked:
"Just you wait and see what comes out o' this, Lil Artha. I've got a hunch it's time the Fairfield fellers get busy and ketch up with your crowd. And mark my words, once we get started, you've got to do your level best to climb up out of our reach, for we c'n go some, we Fairfield fellers. I got a few idees since hitchin' up with this crowd. There's goin' to be some changes right away, and Hickory Ridge has got to look out, if she don't want to be beat at her own game. Yes, sir, this ain't goin' to be the only troop of scouts around here. There's another town on the map—and they call her Fairfield!"