TheBoyScoutsinaTrappersCamp 10099112 PDF

HE SA W S O M E T H I NG M OV E
T he Bo y Sc o u t s
A T ra p p e r s C a m p
’
By
T h o rn to n W . Bu rg e s s
to
Au h rof
T he B o y Sot
c u s of W oo d ft C mc ra a p
!
“
The B o y Sot
c u s on S i t Ri
w f ve r
!
Th e B o y Sot
c u s on Lo t il
s T ra !
I ll u s t ra te d by F . A . A nders o n
T h e P e n n P u b li s hin g
C o m p a n y P hil a d e lphi a
6 4,
3
I n t ro du c t io n
To t hose who ha v e r ea d t he p re cedi n g

v olumes i n this se r ies , Th e B oy S c o u ts o f
“
W oodcra ft C amp , Th e B o y S co uts on S wi ft

”
R i v er ,a n d Th e B o y S c o uts o n Lo s t T rail ,
”
some of th e c ha r a c ters i n th e pr e s en t v ol u me
will be fa m i lia r To m e the y a r e o ld fri e nds
.
in W h os e st r ugg l e s an d adve n t ures I ha v e

t a ke n th e kee n est p er so n a l i n t er est
.
I n t h i s ,th e fou r th a n d co ncl ud i ng v ol u me ,

I h a ve en deav or ed to po r t r a y in so m e s ma l l
m easu re th e life o fthe t r appe r w ho i n s o li t u d e
an d l on eli n ess pi ts h i s skil l a g a i n st t he cun
n in g of th e fur bea r e r s ,a nd h is c o u ra g e a nd
-
fo r ti t ud e aga in st t h e fo rc e s of Nat ure i n h er

h ars hest a n d m ost r ele n t l ess m o o d ; t o bring
t o m y you n g r eaders a s e n se of the mys t er y o f
th e great li fe ete rn al that b ro ods o v er th e
W i l d e rn ess to an even gr e ate r deg r ee w he n i t s
wa te rs a r e fetter e d i n i ce ,a n d its waste pla ces
W ra pped i n s n o w th a n w h en i t r ej oi ce s i n i t s
s um mer v erdure ; t o s h ow t ha t t h e s t andard s
5
6 I N T R O D U C TI O N
a man or a b oy sets fo r h i msel f ar e a s bindin g
u p on hi m i n r e mo te pl ac es w h ere n on e m ay
see as i n th e mids t o f h i s fe l l o w m e n ; and

l a s tl y t o demons t ra te w ha t a p ow e r ful fac to r
i n th e de ve lo p m e n t o f charac t er and t rue
man h ood are t h e oa t h and law o f t he Boy
S co ut s o fA m e rica when s ubscri be d t o in s in
cerity and c o n s c i en t iou s ly o bs er ve d
.
Ma n or b oy i s n e v er so t rue t o hi msel f a s
w h en i n i n t i ma t e c o n ta c t w ith na t ure A d
.
ve n t ures suc h a s h e r e i n d es cr ibe d m a y no t

fall t o your lo t ,o h ,b oy read e r , b ut be a s ured
s
th at w hen eve r y o u h ee d t h e cal l of th e R ed

G od s an d h i t th e l o n g t r a il y o u wi ll find
a d ve n tu r e o f a d egree awa i t in g y o u ,and y o u
w i l l r etu rn st r onge r ph y sically an d m en tall y
fo r h avi n g com e i n close r c o n ta c t wi t h t h e
el e men t al forc e s whic h w e t e rm na t ure .
THE A U TH OR .
C o nt ents
A N I N TERR U P TE D D RE A M
PA T S EE S W H I TE MA G I C
T HE BL U E T O R T O I S E PA TR OL
HE L P
O FF FOR W OO D C R A F T
S N O W S H O E S A N D F I SH
-
O N TH E T R AI L
A L E c HI N TS A T D A R K T HIN GS
SN O W B O U N D
L I F E O N TH E F U R T R AI L S
C H R I ST M A S IN S M U G G L E R S HOLLO W
’
A D EER Y ARD
PO A C HE R S
T HE S I L V E R F o x
S P A RR E R S T E M P T A T I O N
’
T HE C O N F E R E N C E
T HE C A M P OF T H E PO A C HERS
SM O K I N G O U T THE I N D IAN
SP A RR ER SA V E S TH E SK I N
T HE BL A C K Fo x Is SOLD
7
I llu s tra t io ns
I I E SA W S OM ET HIN G
-
MO V E
HE JO TTED D OW N T HE NU M B E R
O NCE MO R E T HE Y BU C K L ED D O W N To TH E T AS K
NO T T E N F EET A W A Y W AS A BI G B UC K
FO R A FE W S E CO N DS HE S TO O D M O T I O N L E SS
The Bo y S co u ts in a T '
ra pper s Ca mp
T he Bo y S c o u t s in a Tra pper s
’
C a mp
CHA P TE R I
T T
A N I N E RR U P E D D R EA M
WA LTE R U PT O N p u sh ed a s id e book s a nd
p a pe rs , yawne d ,st r et c he d ,y aw n e d a g ai n , th e n
settl ed ba c k in his c h a i r c o m for t ably ,h is
ha nd s c lasped beh i n d hi s head .
I m gla d that v aca ti on is only o ne week

’
of f ,he m u rm u r ed .S c h o o l is al l r i ght ,an d

I k n o w I m goi n g to be m igh ty so r r y w he n
’
school d ays e n d fo r go od J ust the sa me ,

-
. th is
i n fer n al gri nd to get a s c hola r sh ip does get a
fell o w s goat so m eti m e s If I don t w i n i t I
’
.
’
do n t see ho w I c a n go to c ollege n ext ye ar

’
u n le s s I c a n fi n d so m e w a y to ear n th e m o n e y .
P o o r Old Dad i Th a t sl u m p i n sto c ks p r ett y

nearly bowle d hi m ove r L uc k y I tho u ght .
o f th i s schola r sh i p wh e n h e t ried t o tel l m e

t ha t u n less b usine ss pi c k ed u p he cou l dn t
’
11
TH E BOT S C O U TS
send me t o co l lege ne xt y ear I t s ure did me
.
good t o s e e the s h ine i n h is e y es w h e n I told

h i m a b ou t th i s and th a t I was goi n g to w i n i t .
He s a gre at Old sc o u t ,an d I m goi n g t o g e t i t

’ ’
n ow i f fo r n o t hi ng more tha n to se e that s h i ne

in his eyes a g ain . M y ,b u t i t s a tough Old
’
g r in d l W onder h ow i t wou ld see m t o g O t o

a pre p school li k e H al Ha rr is on a nd no t h a v e
to t hin k abou t m oney a n d w her e i t i s g o in g
t o come fro m I g ues s s c h o la r s hi p s don t
.
’
bo t her Ha l any W onder if h e is coming

.
”
home fo r t he Chris t m a s wi n t er v aca t i on.
I dly W al t er allowed hi s eyes t o wander o v er

th e walls O f hi s d e n . It was a snug li tt le
room ,s i m p ly furnished wi th a sp ring co t ,
which wa s a b ed by ni ght an d a couc h b y d a y ,
a d esk ,a d eep cu sh io n e d Mo rri s c ha ir ,a re
-
v ol v in g de s k c h a ir , a fo o t r est and t wo we l l
-
fi l led b oo k ca ses Th e w all s were c ove r e d

.
w i th ph o to gra phs Ne arly al l O f the m were

.
O f ou t d o or s c e ne s ,m o st o f th e m Of h is o w n
tak in g , fo r h e was an e x pe r t with the c a mera .
A n u m b er w e re e n l a r ge m e n ts n eatl y fra med .
A mon g th e se w as the fam ous flashligh t m a d e

d urin g h is fi rst s u mm e r at Woo dc raft Ca mp
which h ad furn is h ed t he e v id e nce t o p u t R ed
IN A TR d P P E R S
’
CA MP 1
3
Pete ,the o utl aw and poach er , beh i n d the bars .
There ,too ,were the splen d id portraits (they

w e re no th i n g less! of the bull m oose of S w ift
R ive r , a l ast ing t ri b u t e t o t h e n erv e O f
P l ym pto n ,th e t ender foo t comrade o f t ha t
m e m orable crui s e .
Th er e wer e st udies Of d e er a nd o t her w i ld

an i m als ,vi ews o f Wood c raft C am p ,o fs c e n es
a lon g S wi ft R i ve r ,and O f t h e v arious camp s
an d poi nt s of in te r est on Lost Trail , th e relo c a t
i ng of w hich by Wal te r an d h is fo u r fell o w
S co uts of th e Lon e Wolf Pa t rol had w o n fo r
the m the disti n ction of a specia l l ette r Of c o m
m e n da tio n fro m n atio n a l he a dqu ar t ers o f th e
B oy S c o uts OfA m eri c a .
Ab o ve the door h u n g a ha rd u s ed s e t o f
-
boxi n g gloves C rossed abov e o n e wi n do w

.
w e r e a pai r Of s n o w sh oes ,w h ile above th e

-
othe r wi ndow were a pai r Of fen ci n g foil s I n .
o n e corn er ,ea c h i n i ts case , were tw o fis hing

r ods ,a r i fle a n d a te n n i s ra c q u et I n th e
.
Oppos i te cor n e r lean ed a S co u t sta ff a nd a

couple Ofc ano e paddles A great ho rned owl
.
sta r ed u n bl i n k i n gl y do w n fr o m th e t o p O f
o n e O f th e pl ai n oak bookcases .O n th e wal l
j u st back a n d above i t was fast en e d a s ma l l
TH E
”
14 3 01 S C O U TS
ban ner h av i n g t he h e a d Of a w ol f w o rked in
b la c k a ga in st a w h i t e b ac kgro un d ,an d bea r
ing th e o ne w o r d Pe r siste n ce
“
I t w a s th e
Lo ne W o lf b an ner w h i c h had bee n c a rr ie d Op
th at n eve r t o b e fo rgo tte n sea r c h for Lost Tra il
- - -
.
By u n a n i m o u s vot e o f th e p a t r ol ,i t h ad b e e n
prese n ted to U pt on a t th e c o nc l usio n o f th e
t r i p i n re c og n i tio n o fs ucc e ssful lea d e r sh i p
.
S everal s m all sil ve r c ups o n th e boo k cases

and half a doze n m eda l s pi n n e d t o a l itt le
s qua r e Of bla c k v e lv et o n o n e wal l atteste d t o
wel l w o n vi c to ri es i n vario us l i n es o f sp or t
-
.
Th e b ooks on the shel ves w ere what o n e m igh t

ex pe c t i n s u ch surrou n di n gs ,we l l sele c te d
sto ri es o f ad v en tu r e a n d explo r at i o n ,t r e a tis e s
on h u n ti n g ,fishi n g a n d o utd oor sp or ts , a v ery
c o m p l ete n at u re l i bra r y ,h a nd bo o ks o n woo d
cr aft ,cam pi n g ,fi r st ai d ,fo r estr y a n d surve y
i n g ,a w ell th u m bed S co u t m a n u a l and o the r
-
bo oks w hi c h attested to th e o w ner s l ove o f ’
th e great o ut d oo r worl d B u t t he se were n ot

.
a l l A w h ol e sh el f w a s d evote d t o hi sto ry ,
.
an d an oth e r to selectio n s fr o m s ta nd ard

A m er ican a n d E ngl i sh a u tho r s ,includ i ng
se ve ral o fo u r best lo v ed p o ets .
A l to g eth er ,it w a s a roo m s uch as a kee n,

1 6 TH E B OT S C O U TS
al mos t a s m uc h fu n as g oi n g in to t he b ig
wo ods i n the w i n te r Fa c t i s ,I e n v y h i m
.
rig h t now , a nd I ll b e t he doesn t en v y me a

’ ’
”
pen ny s wor t h
’
.
S w i ft ly h i s th ough t s re v er t ed t o his firs t

me et ing wi t h P a t M alone ,c ho re b o y a n d
bu l ly Of a sa w mi l l v i llage i n th e No r th Woods ,
a n d o f t h e t h rash i n g h e h a d gi v en th e y o ung
wood s m a n i n spi t e o fth e l a tte r s a dv an t age in
’
wei g h t a n d st r e n gt h .
“
It w a s al l i n th e k now how I magine .
m e t ryin g to do i t n o w , he c h uc k led
”
.
“
W hy ,Pat c o ul d t a k e m e a cross his k nee
j u st a s h e did th e youn gst er w h o m ist oo k hi m
fo r a d e er a n d p u t a bul l et t hrou gh his ha t
last fal l I v e n ev er seen a nyb od y t a k e t o an
.
’
id ea as Pat d id to s c o u ti n g He j u st s oaked
.
i t u p I t was th e p r i nc ip le Ofth e th in g t h at
.
g ot hi m ri gh t fro m th e sta r t ,a nd no t j u st th e
fu n that goes w i th i t A n d j ust see wh at i t s
.
’
d o n e fo r h i m ! I d o n t k n o w o fany o n e i t s
’ ’
d o n e s o m u c h for ,u nl ess
A l mo st u nc o n s c i o us ly Wa l t er t urned t o
s t are t hro u gh th e gath erin g d u sk a t a ph o t o
g ra ph o n th e n eare r o f th e two bo okcases A .
p air o f fr a n k e yes ,k in dly b u t ke en ,looked

IN A TR A P P ER ’
S CA M P 1 7
d o w n at h i m fro m a fa c e g o o d t o see ,th e face
Of a bo y Of abo u t h i s o w n age It was a
.
h an dso me fa c e a n d th e beauty lay ,n o t i n

r egu l a ri ty Of featu r es ,bu t i n th e st r e n gth Of
c ha r a c te r an d p u rp o s e w r itte n i n eve ry l i ne .
I t was th e fa c e of Hal Ha r r i s on ,son of a

m u l t i m illio n aire ,an d c omrade a nd fel l o w
-
S co u t i n th e fu n an d ad ve n tu res of th e last
th ree su m m ers It w a s the s udde n r em e m
.
b r anc e o f Hal that h ad c ause d th e abr u pt

break i n th e tre n d of h is tho ught Not e ve n
.
for th e poo r ,ro u gh ,tough yo u n g b u l l y o fth e

woods h ad sc outi n g do ne mo re than i t h a d
fo r th is othe r lad ,bro ugh t u p i n th e lap of
l u x u r y ,hi s every wh i m grati fied ,toadied t o ,
petted ,spoi led F ro m Opposi te ex tr e m es o f
.
th e so c ial strata it h ad brough t th ese t w o t o

gethe r o n th e com mo n g r ou n d of tru e b ro t h e r
—
hood th e br o th erhood o fdemo c r acy I t h a d
.
disco v ere d to th e yo u n g sa v age ,fo r P a t w as

l ittle more th a n th at ,h is ow n man h oo d I t .
had stri ppe d fro m Hal ,th e cad ,the ve n e er Of

false social ra n k based on weal th and fo und
there also a m a n An d n o w th ese two — th e
.
on e who m h e h ad fough t a n d th e o n e wh om
—
he had d espised U pt on r eg a r de d no t o n l y as
TH E B OT S CO U TS
c omr a des an d b r oth er S c o u ts ,bu t al mos t a s

ch u ms .
S o m e s uc h th o ugh ts as th e s e were fl oa t in g
t hr ou g h hi s mi n d as h e sat the r e i n th e s o ft
d u s k Ofw i n te r twi lig h t I t was j ust th e ho u r
.
for dr e am i n g th e d r ea m s w h ich e v e ry bo y
lo v es t o drea m ,half tho ugh t ,h a l f i dle fa ncy .
H e t r ie d to pi c tu r e w hat the futur e m i gh t

h ol d fo r h i m self an d fo r th ese two c o mr ades .
Hal w ould be a captai n o fi nd ust ry It c oul d .
h a rdly b e oth erwis e He wou ld i n heri t vast

.
we a l th He wou l d i n ti m e take c h arge Of

.
th e gr eat en terpr i ses wh i ch h is fathe r ha d

buil t u p W o uld h e appl y to th ei r m a n ag e
.
m e n t th e pri n ci pl es Of w h i c h a s a S c o u t he
w as n o w so ea rn est a c h a m pio n ? Pat d a red
to dr ea m o f so me d a y beco mi n g a n atu rali st .
Wo uld h e s u cceed ? R em e m be rin g wh at Pat

h a d bee n an d w h at h e n o w w as Walter so me
h o w fel t th at h e w ou l d A s fo r h i mself he
.
could n ot see h i s o w n c aree r wi t h a li ke clear

n ess He wo ul d l i k e
.
T in g al i n g li n g ! It was th e te le p hone i n
- -
t he hall W i th a start W alte r c a m e ba c k t o

.
e a r t h an d th e presen t He w en t t o a n s w e r
.
th e c al l Pi c k i n g up the r e cei ve r he c al led ,

.
I N A TR A P P E R ’
S CA MP 1 9
Hello . For a m o m en t the re w a s n o re
spo u se ,b u t h e c au ght a s o u n d as O f vo ic e s
a n d someth i ng that so u n ded l i ke a laugh .
Th en o v e r th e w ire came a ric h b r ogu e th a t

caused W alter to n early dr o p th e phone ’
.
Hello ,Mis th er Lea d er I h ave to re

.
rrt the dis c ove ry av th e c i ty av N 0 0 Y o r r k

p o - -
an d the losi n g av m es ilfen to irely .
Pat i Yo u b ig red h eaded so n O f E r i n !

A re y o u real ly i n New York ? W hen did yo u
get i n ? W h ere are y o u ? Are y o u
Ais y ,ai sy n o w Ha v e ye n ot learn e d th o t
.
y e c a n m ake but wa n bul l s eye at a shot ?’

-
S h ur e I be i n NO O Yor r k , an t is p r o u d the
’ ’
- -
c i ty ough t to be a v th e hon or I be do in u t ’
.
Q u it y ou r kiddi n g , ,
Pa t an d tel l m e w h ere
y ou a r e an d wh en y o u c a m e a nd al l a bo u t i t ,”
in terrupted W alte r .
“
S h ure , was n t I afth e r tell i n g y e th o t I
’
be i n NOO Yor r k - -
protested Pa t i n a griev ed
ton e . Tis at th e illiga n t home av an i ll i
’
ga n t gin tle m a n thot I be ,bu t begorra I for

got en to irely to blaze th e trai l a n d I do n t ’
”
k n o w ho w I got here at all ,at a ll .
There w a s a sou nd o fa scu ffle a nd a s m o th

er e d l a u gh , the n another voice b r ok e i n
TH E BOT S CO U TS
H ello , O ld S cou t l
T h e re w a s no m ist a k in g th at voi c e , and

U pt on grinned more b road l y t h a n b e fo r e as he
re pl ied
H ello ,H al I t sure does me g o o d t o hear
.
your v oic e I mig h t h a v e k n ow n w hos e i l li

.
gan t h om e Pat i s ho n o r i n g W h er e did y o u

.
fi nd h i m , a nd w h y d id n t y o u tell m e ? ’
Did n t expe c t y o u h o m e u n ti l th e en d o fn ext

’
wee k Fu n n y th in g ,b u t I w a s th i n k in g o f
.
you t wo fel l ow s w he n the pho n e r an g S a m e

’
.
old P a t,i s n t h e ? Gee ,bu t it s go o d t o hea r

’ ’
t he v oices Ofy o u t wo fel lows ! N ow wh e n d o

I see y o u an d wh ere ?
“
R igh t afte r dinn e r We l l d ri v e around
’
.
and pi c k yo u u p and the n gi v e Pat a gl im ps e

o f th e G r eat Whi te Wa y ,r epl ie d Ha l ,
”
a nsw e r
in g t h e la st q u estio n s fir st I ve h ad th i s al l
.
’
pla n ned for a mon th b y way Ofa su r p r i se I .
ha v e a we e k m or e v aca tio n th a n you do an d

I go t i n j u st i n t i me to m eet P a t s t rain ’
.
Ha d h a r d w o r k t o pe rs u a d e h i m to come , bu t
I go t h i m at l ast S a y ,g o t a ny pla ns m ad e
.
for y o u r v acatio n ?
Na ry a plan Be e n wai t in g t o hear from
.
y ,
o u re p l ied Wal ter .
4
’
IN 1 TR A P P E R S CA MP 21
Good ! I v e got th e greatest littl e st un t

’
y ou eve r hea r d of to tel l y o u abou t to n igh t -

.
Pat sugges t ed i t ,a n d I had t o prom ise t o tr y

t o put i t th ro ugh befo r e h e wou ld ag r ee to
c om e dow n he re We ve got to go clea n u p
.
’
fo r di nn er n o w , b u t we ll be a r o un d ab ou t
’
”
e igh t O c l o ck S O l on g u n ti l then
’
. .
”
“
S O lo n g , r eplied Walte r , a n d ha n gi n g u p
th e r e ce i ver h e w hoope d j o y o us ly a nd pro
c eeded t o exe c ute a w a r d a n c e that e n d e d wi th
a cr ash as a r u g slippe d un de r h is feet a nd h e

c a m e dow n i n a heap I t happe n ed th a t a t
.
that very i n sta n t his fathe r ,j ust h o me fro m

th e O ffice ,Open ed the h a ll doo r b r iskl y a nd a
s ec o n d late r lan d e d on Wa l t er w i th a fo rce
th a t b ro ugh t a gru n t fr o m ea c h H e h a d .
t r i pped ove r on e Of th e boy s spra w l i n g le g s ’

.
As qu i c kl y as h e co uld dise n tangl e h i m s e l f

Walte r sc r a m bled t o h is feet Conc e rn w as .
e tt e n i n eve ry l i n e Of his fa ce as he ex t ended

a he lpin g ha n d to Mr U pto n . .
O h ,D a d ,ar e y o u h ur t ? h e cried a u x
io u s ly .
Mr U p t o n s ey es twi n kle d good h u m o redly

.
’
-
a s he replied “
O n ly i n my dign i t y B u t .
t e ll m e ,so n ,w h y a ll th is h i la r i ty t ha t led to
TH E B OT S CO U TS
th e u tt er d o wn fa ll O fth e house of U pto n ? I

hear d y o u b rea k lo os e ,a n d was h u rr y i n g t o
s h are i n i t .
“
It s a sha m e , d e c lared Walte r con t ri t ely
’
as h e b ru sh ed O ffhi s fathe r s coat I o u ght ’

.
to k no w bette r tha n to be ac ti n g l ik e a wi l d
I nd ia n i n th e hou se Fa c t is ,I ha d j ust got
.
s om e m igh t y good n e ws o v er th e p hone ’

.
G u es s Wh at .
“
Hal i s com i ng ho me fo r the va ca t ion ,
h aza rd e d Mr U pt on pro m ptl y ,fo r th ese tw o ,
.
fath e r a n d so n ,we r e c h u m s ,a n d h e k new j u st

h o w eage rly Walt er h a d h op ed f o r Hal s h ome
’
c o min g .
R igh t a n d wron g ,bo th I w ho ope d Wa l t er .
Yo u r e a good li t tl e g u esse r ,
’
D ad ,b u t you
di d n t gu ess en o u gh th i s t i me H e s home
’
.
’
”
a lr ead y ,a n d Pat s w ith h i m ! ’
Pat 1 Pat w h o ? A p u zzl ed frown w rin

k l e d M r U pto n s fo rehe a d
’
. .
“
Pat Malo n e ,Of co u rse ! A s i f t here was
m o re th a n o n e P a t l Th e y g o t in hal f an
ho u r ago ,a n d th e y re c o m i n g a ro u nd here
’
”
a fte r d i nn e r to get m e .
Mr U pto n s fa c e ligh ted w ith a s m il e of

.
’
”
pl e a s ur e .Th a t s sple n did , h e d e clared
’
.
24 TH E B OT SCO U TS
Wa l t er ac tu a l ly gaped Ope n mo u the d a t

Pa t . There was n o t a t r a c e of ac c e n t P a t .
c augh t the look an d h i s bl u e eyes twi n k l e d .
S u dde n l y h e w h i r led a n d h i t U pto n a re

s o u n di n g wh a c k betwee n th e sh ou lders with
hi s ope n pal m “
Did I n o t tell y e thot
.
w h i n I g o t th e le a ves o u t av m e h a ir a nd th e
I ri s h o u t av m e s h pa c h I w o u ld come ?
A n d here I b e Tel l m e n o w ,
. do y e w a n t t o
fO igh t ? Tw as t h e r ecept i o n I w a s aft h e r
’
gi v in g ye w h in ye fi r st c a me t o th e woo d s ,
and t i s n o more th an ro igh t th o t ye sh ou l d
’
t ra t e me th e same w h i n I land i n NOO

”
Y or r k - -
.
Wa l t er ran a calcu l a t ing eye o v er t he

b raw ny y o un g w oo d s m a n , si x feet i n h is st ock
in gs a n d b r o ad i n p r opo r tio n ,an d ba c k ed
a wa y .
—
I wai ve th e pri vi leg e ou t O fp ol it e
”
ne ss , s a i d h e w i th a lo w b o w .
“
T i s l oi k e NOO Yo r r k t o b e ge n tl e wi t h
’
- -
t he h elpless S h ur e ti s a foi n e s ettle m in t an d

.
’
”
f oin e peopl e i n u t, r eto r ted P a t .
I am i n tereste d to lea rn h o w Hal i n d u ce d

”
y o u t o c o m e h ere , ,
Pat sai d Mr U pton as h e.
ushered th e m i nto the l i bra ry .
H al c h u c kl e d “
I trapped h i m ,said h e
. .
IN A TR A P P E R S
’
CA MP 2
5
I set a t r ap an d bai t ed i t an d he wal ked
ri gh t i n to i t Do n t y o u th i n k I m so m e l i ttle
.
’ ’
”
t ra ppe r ?
“
Yo u c er tai n ly ar e , decl ared Mr U pto n , .
”
w h ile Pat gri n n ed Let s hear al l abou t i t
.
’
.
“
Wel l ,fi r st I m ade s ure that I could get
passes fro m Da d Yo u k n o w h e c on t rols t he
.
ra il r oad to U ppe r C h a i n Dad w a s ti c kled t o

.
d e ath wi th the ide a E ve n O ffered to sen d u p

.
h is p ri vate c a r Y o u k n o w he s a great
.
’
ad m ire r Of Pat Then fo r a bai t I a rr an ged

.
th r ough a fr i en d to get a n i n tro d u c tion fo r

Pat to s o m e Of the h ea d people out a t Bronx
P ar k an d at th e Ameri c an M useu m of Natu r a l
History I k n ew that h e j u st c o uld n t pas s
.
’
that c hanc e u p ,bu t to m ake s u re I w r ote to

Doct or Me rr ia m at Woodcraft C am p ,an d O f
c o u r se h e j oi n ed the c o n spi r ac y r ight a w a y .
Fo r a cl i n c her I p r o mi sed Pat th at W alt a n d I

wo u l d spen d Wal t s vacatio n w ith h i m u p i n
’
”
the w oods .
Walte r c a me ou t Ofh is ch ai r w i t h a b ound .
”
Wh a t s th at ? h e cr i e d
’
S a y i t aga i n I
.
I sai d t hat to get Pat dow n h e r e I p rom

ised h im th at w e— yo u an d I —wou l d spe n d
a w eek i n the w oods with h i m thi s w i n t e r .
TH E B OT S C O U TS
”
Is that p er fe ct ly cl ea r ? Ha l spok e s l o wly
an d w it h emphasi s .
I t s o u n ds c le a r ,b u t i t i s n t , re p l i ed
” ’
W al te r , gla nc i n g at hi s fathe r w i th a r ueful

s m ile H e w as th i n ki n g o f th e e x pe n se a nd
.
that a s th ing s th en were he co uld n o t a ffo rd

th e t r i p .
Hal i n t erc ept ed t he gl ance and u nd e rs to od .
”
O h ,y es ,i t is , sa i d h e .
“
I t i s pe r fe c tl y
cl e a r We l ea v e h e r e n e x t w eek Frida y n ight
.
An d y o u a n d Pat ar e m y gu ests u n til we r ea c h
Upp er C h ai n the n ext m o rn i n g .The n th e

th ree o f u s becom e the gu e sts o f Do c t or
Me rri am a t Woo d craft C a m p fo r a d ay or t wo ,
a n d afte r that y o u and I will be t he gues t s
nf — guess w h o ? ”
W al te r sh o ok h i s h e ad H e was a t ri fl e
.
da zed b y th e w ay i n wh ich H al t ook e v ery

th in g fo r gra n te d .
“
Pat an d h i s pa rtn er l cried H al , W hile
Pat gri nn ed broa d ly .
“
P a t s t r app ing th is
’
w i n te r i n st e ad o f l u m beri n g ,a n d w e r e go i n g
’
to spen d a week i n a real t r appe r s cam p ,a n d

’
s no w sh oe a n d h av e n o e n d Of fu n Wo n t i t
-
.
’
be g rea t ? Wal t m a y g o ,m a y n t he ,Mr ’

.
U pt on ?
TR A P P E
’
IN A R S CA MP 2
7
M r U pto n laughed al o ud
. I would n t
.
“ ’
da re sa y n o i n the fa c e Of su c h completely
o r gani z ed pl a ns , h e c on fessed “
O f course
.
he m ay go I t s a splendid i dea ,an d I sus

.
’
p ec t that w he n h e co mes ba c k for th e n ext

te rm of th e s c h o ol y ea r he w i ll be feeli n g so
fi n e that n oth i n g c a n stop h i m fro m wi n n i n g
that scholarshi p h e has set hi s hea r t o n , an d
”
has bee n w orki n g so hard fo r .
”
“
The n i t s all s e ttled ! cr i ed Hal
’ “
Pat .
is goi n g t o sta y an d go back wi th u s ,and

Wh i l e h e i s h ere i t is u p to u s to show h i m
w hat New Y or k i s l i ke We ll begi n b y.
’
showi n g h i m th e Great W h ite Wa y to n igh t -

.
Get y o u r c oat an d h a t,Wal t The ca r i s .
”
w aiti n g Wo n t yo u go W i th us ,Mr U pto n ?
.
’
.
“
Not this ti m e ,th a n k y o u ,Hal , r epl i ed
M r U pt on
. . I h ave an e n gage m e n t fo r th i s
ev e n i n g ,th o ugh I woul d m uch r ath er j o i n
you y o un gsters tha n keep it I feel that I .
am to lose so m eth ing re all y w o r th w h i l e—a

”
r a re p l e a s ure .
“
A nd th e l o ss i s eq u all y o ur s ,sir , said
P a t as th e y r ose to do n their c oats .
O n c e mo r e Walte r eyed Pat qui zz i c al l y It .
wa s c le ar th a t th e you n g Irish ma n ha d b e e n
8 TH E B OT S CO U TS
p ur su i n g h is st ud ies u n de r Doctor Me rr ia m to
good adva n tage W itho ut t h e ri c h b ro gu e i t
.
wa s a n ew a n d W h oll y d i ffere n t Pat B u t h e

.
fo r bo r e t o m ak e an y c o m m en t ,an d i n a fe w
m i n u t e s the y w er e o ff to sho w Pat o n e Of th e
mo st w o n derful scen es i n th e w or l d ,N ew
Y or k s famou s Bro a dw a y by n ight
’
.
C H A PT E R II
PAT SEES W H I TE M A G I C
M I ND FU L o f th e lasti n g e ffect o f fir st im
p r essions Hal h ad con t ri v ed to gi v e Pat n o
Opportu ni ty to ge t m ore than a fleeti n g
gli mpse of crowded s t ree t s an d gla r in g lights .
He had met Pat a t t he t rai n ,w h ich had n ot

a r ri ved u n t i l t he early wi n t er e v en i n g had
s et i n ,h urri ed h i m to a bi g tou ri n g car wi th
cu rtai n s dra w n a nd then wh irled h i m awa y
to the pala t ial Harrison ho m e o n R i verside
Drive wi t ho u t gi v i n g h i m a ch a nc e to se n s e
m ore than a glare o f ligh ts and that c o n
fusion of sou nds w h ich con sti t utes th e voi c e
of a great ci t y The same ca r h a d brou ght
.
the m to W al t er s modest ho m e W h il e they

’
.
had been maki n g thei r brief cal l the r e th e

c h au f feur ,u nder Hal s orders ,had p u t ba c k
’
th e top of th e machi n e ,so that as they de

s c e n ded t he steps Pat d id n ot re c og n i ze th e
car a t all I n fact ,u n ti l th at day Pat ha d
.
n e ve r so m u c h as see n a mo to r ca r , a bucke
29
30 TH E B OT S C O U TS
bo a rd b e i n g th e mo st sty li s h e q u i page Of
w h i c h U ppe r C h ai n co ul d boast .
A rr ah , t is bla c k m agic ! excla i m ed Pat

’ ”
as h e settl e d h i mself c o m fo r tabl y betwee n

H a l an d Walte r i n the to n n eau ,c on vi n ce d
at la s t that he was r eall y i n th e sa me car
wh i ch h ad b r o ugh t h i m there .
“
An d we re goi n g to sho w y o u so m e wh i te
’
m agi c , crie d Hal ,as h e lea n ed forward to

”
give o rder s to th e c h au ffe ur .
A q u i c k ru n th r ou gh si d e st re ets ,c o m par
a t ively dese r ted at th i s ho u r , brough t th e m
to B r oa d wa y at th e j u n c t i o n w i t h S i xth
Ave n u e T urn i n g n orth th e dazzli n g sp le n
.
”
d o r o f th e Great W h ite Wa y bu rst upo n
“
th e startled eyes o f th e y ou n g w oods m a n .
Hi s c o m pa n i on s h ea r d h i m cat c h his b r eath

w ith a l i ttl e gasp The n h e close d his ey es
.
for th e spac e of a few se c o n ds ,Ope n i n g t h e m

slo wl y as i f h e suspected th e m o fplayin g h i m
t r icks A n i n sta n t la t e r h e sei zed a leg Of each
.
o f h is compan ion s j u st abo v e t h e k n ee w ith a

gri p th at brou gh t both hal f way to th ei r feet
-
w i t h a l ittl e yel l o fsu rprised protest .
”
Tis true ,th e n ,an d n o dra me , sai d h e a s
he se tt l ed ba c k wi th a l ittl e sigh Of reli e f .
3 9
. TH E B OT S C O U TS
in g h o r s e s ,P a t l e a n e d fo rw ard w i t h t ense ,
e age r fa ce Th e n the pi c ture disapp e a red
.
a nd h e dropped ba c k wi th a l i ttle s igh .
I k n ew u t w as n ot tru e ,h e m urm ured

”
h alf t o h i m se l f,st ar i n g at th e blan k spa c e

betwee n th e l ighted pi llars A seco n d late r
.
th e pi c t ur e a g a i n fl ash ed o u t o f th e da r k n es s
an d th e y ou n g I r ish m a n r el apsed i n to a si
le nc e that w a s n ot b r oke n u n t i l ,h avi ng go n e
u p o n e sid e an d d ow n th e o t h e r Of th e G r eat
Wh it e Way , Hal proposed th e y sp en d th e re

m a in der o f th e e v en i ng at a t he ate r . But
th is Pat vetoed an d h e d id it s o ta ct fully a s t o
r emove all possi ble sen se o f di sapp oin t men t
w h ic h Hal mi gh t h a v e fel t .
Ye m ay fi ll a c u p n o mor e th a n full ,s ai d
h e , a n d on e drap more wo u ld be m ak i n g th e
cu p a v m e j oy r u n o v er . Ti s poo r s h c o u t
’
craft to be wasteful e v e n a v pleasure ,a n d b y

th e same toke n th e S co u t thot tries to s ee
e v ery t hi n g at w a n ce re m im b ers n oth i n g I .
h a v e see n th e wh i te m agic , an d thot be en o u g h

fo r wa n n o igh t Ti s j ust t h e two fa c es a v y ez
.
’
I wo ul d be s eein n o w ,an d h ear in g th e voices

’
av y ez to re m o in d m e th o t I be st ill P a t
”
Mal o ne av th e North VVOOdS .
’
IN A TR A P P E R S CA MP 33
W e l l gO back to my hou s e a n d spe nd th e
’
r est o f the ti me i n my den wi th th e pi ctures

an d o the r thi n gs to h el p mak e u s th i n k we
ar e back i n the woods , decl a r ed W alte r .
“
I m cr a z y to k n o w abou t this sche m e y o u
’
fello w s h a v e c ooked u p fo r the vacatio n ,a nd

a l l th e new s fr o m the w oods What do you
.
say
S uits m e to a do t , r eplied Hal promptl y .
I d r athe r h a v e a good old gabfest than see

’
the best sho w i n t he city ,a n d i f Pat feels th a t

”
way too it s all settled
’
.
Fiftee n m i n utes la t e r the th r e e bo y s w er e

lo u ngi n g co m fortably i n U p t o n s den an d Pat
’
w as u nde r goi ng a reg ula r bo mbard men t o f

q u estion s .
“
Ho w s Do c to r Me rr ia m ?
’
d ema nd e d
Walt er .
“
Th e B i g C hi ef i s j ust as fin e and a l i ttl e
”
fi n er than eve r , repl ied Pat ,d r oppi n g h is
brog u e. He s o n e gran d man Th e r e s
“ ’
.
’
n on e gran der blesses th e ear t h wi t h th e to uc h

of his feet I v e been li v in g wi th h im at
.
’
Woodcraft e v er si nce yo u fello ws left ,e x cept

for a week or t w o at a ti me o n t he trap l i n e ,
an d i f eve r I a m o un t to an y th i n g i t w ill b e
because OfDoc t or Me rri a m . T i s h e t ha t h as
’
take n th e Ir i sh fro m my t on gu e ,tho u gh n ot

from th e h ea r t o f m e S h u re I be as g ood
.
a n I ri sh m a n a s i ve r ,an d th e S ai n ts defin d
me if I i ve r b e a ny th i n g else , h e a dd ed ,
”
wi th a t w i n kle at thi s l apse in t o h is m oth er

t ong u e .
“
Yo u re a w o nd e r ,Pat ! b ro ke i n W alte r
’
.
I would n t h a ve beli eved that eve n Docto r

’
Me r ri a m co u l d h ave take n that bu r r Off y our

to n g u e Wh at di d h e do i t w ith a fil e ?
.
—
G i ves m e a fu n n y feeli n g ,as i f y o u we r e no t
o u at a ll, eve ry t i m e I h ea r y ou speak w ith
y
o u t it Feel sort Of— well ,y o u k n o w — l i k e
.
an o ld fri en d h ad di sappeared A n d a nd .
—
”
I d o n t th i n k I qu i te l i k e i t
’
.
Pat s fa c e s ud d en l y sober e d a nd ri si n g t o
’
h is feet h e strode o v er to w her e U pt on sat

t i lted back i n h is ch ai r ,h is feet o n th e desk ,
a n d s wu n g a big fis t ,h ard as n ails ,pe r ilo u sl y
c lose to U pton s n ose ’
.
“
Take Ut ba c k ,y e
”
l i ttle spalpee n , h e co m m a n ded .Take u t
“
b ack an d t ell m e ye loik e m e bett h er fo r w ha t

I am than for w hat I was
W alter d u c ked i n mock fea r The sudde n .
mo ve th r e w hi m o f fbala n ce , a n d wi th a cras h
A TR A P P ER CA
’
IN S MP 35
he a n d the c hai r we n t o v e r back wa r d O ne .
o f Pat s bi g h an ds cl u tc h ed h im b y the c olla r

’
an d li fted h i m to hi s feet A n exaggerated

.
sigh fro m the y o u n g gian t follo wed I do n t “ ’
”
k no w but that ye be ro igh t afthe r a ll , h e
said m our n ful ly “
Th e first to im e we m et y e
.
ga v e me the best t h rashi ng a v m e lOife a n d I

lo v e d y e for u t No w I h a v e bu t to sha k e
.
m e fi st to pu t ye d ow n fo r the co u n t S h u re .
’
ti s n ot I that was ,an d yet i f I be n ot I t hat
w as , w h o he I that I be ? Th e h u moro u s
bl u e ey es gre w t ense an d earnest The r e w a s
.
a n ew n ote i n th e deep V i bran t voic e as h e

c on ti n ued .
“
I a m sti ll Pat Malo n e ,a n d p r o ud of i t .
If I a m n ot the old Pat I am prou d o f th at

too A n d wha t I a m t o d a y i s d ue to W al t
.
U pton ,Doctor Merria m an d th e B oy S co uts

o fAmerica I t was W alt w h o first b la z ed t h e
.
trai l for me I t i s Doctor Merria m w h o i s

.
teachi n g m e h o w to follo w i t ,an d i t is th e

pri n ciples of the B oy S couts w hich h a v e
brough t o ut wh ate v er of good th e r e i s i n me .
I tel l y o u ,fellows ,i f t here i s a n y one thi n g

”
that I am proud O f i t is th at I am a S cou t .
“
S a me he r e , i n ter r upted Hal “
S cou t in g
.
3 6 TH E B OT SC O U TS
h a sn t done any more for y o u t h a n i t h a s fo r

’
”
me .
“
Y ou fe ll o ws are s ur p r i s e d b ecause I ca n
sp ea k the Ki n g s E ngl ish w i tho u t w ho l l y
’
m urd e rin g i t ,a s I u sed to ,an d as I h a v e a

s nea ki n g idea you l i ked to h ear m e , c o n t in
u ed Pat Let m e tel l you i t h as c ost me
.
some t h i n g I ve tal ked to th e trees al l da y

.
’
lo n g w he n I v e bee n alon e o n th e t r ap li n e
’
j ust p r a c t ic i n g ,a n d even n o w i t s easie r t o sl ip

’
i n to the o ld w a y th an to s t i c k to th e new .
Don t fo r a m i n u te th i n k th at I am ash amed o f

’
the Old I love i t ,

. a n d I al wa y s w i ll B ut I v e .
’
begu n t o u n dersta n d w h at ed ucation mea n s ,

an d th i s i s th e fi rst step I t i sn t easy Do n t
.
’
.
’
th i n k i t I h a v e to keep guard o n t h is sl ippe ry

.
ton gue e ver y m i n u te I believe i t s h ar de r

.
’
tha n i t wou ld be to lear n a for e ig n la n guag e .
It s U p to y o u fello ws to h el p m e wh ile I a m
’
h e re I v e u sed th e Ol d brogue to ni gh t b e
.
’
-
c ause I k n e w yo u li ked t o h ea r i t ,b u t I m n o t ’
goi n g to an y m ore u n less i t slips o u t wh en I

a m excited o r m y feel i n gs get the best Of me .
No w this i s enough abo ut m ysel f W h at a re .
”
th e pla n s for th e rest Of m y stay here ?
Hol d o n ,proteste d U pto n
”
Y ou ha ve n t
.
’
IN A TR A P P E R ’
S CA MP 37
t o ld u s a thi ng abo ut the woods or w hat l u c k
y o u v e h ad t rappin g ,or w hat has beco me Of
’
Alec S mith , o r wh at w e are goi n g to do if w e
go u p there ,o r w h o your partn er i s No w .
fir e awa y an d we ll make plan s a fte rw a r d

’
.
”
Wh at a r e th e woods lik e n ow ?
Two feet Of s n o w an d ten belo w zer o w he n
I left ,an d th e beau t y of the m is n ot fo r th e
t o ngue to tell ,bu t for eyes to see I t s eve n
.
’
w h ite r m agic tha n yo u have show n m e thi s

n i ght ,an d I a m not goin g to spoil i t by t ry i n g
”
t o tel l w hat it i s l i ke , r epl i ed Pat
.
A n d th e t r appi n g ?
”
Fai r to good .
Who s y o ur p ar t ner ? Y o u ha v en t said a

’ ’
”
wo rd ab ou t h i m .
“
A n Old w oods m a n a n d t r appe r I sc r ap ed
ac quai n ta n ce w i th He s a l ittle r ough ,b u t
.
’
w he n y o u get to k n o w hi m I th i n k yo u ll l ik e
’
”
him . The r e w a s a twi n kle i n Pat s ey es ’
wh i c h n ei ther Hal no r Walter ca u gh t .
“
N ow tel l u s abo ut Alec S mi t h ,a nd w e l l ’
le t you Off HO W is that b r oke n leg ,and

.
w h a t is h e doi n g ? S a y ,h e m ust have fe l t

good wh en B lack C h a rley con fesse d t o h av in g
k ni fed Th e Mick ! Look ed p r etty bad fo r
3 8 TH E BOT SC O U TS
A lec for a w h il e ,d i d n t i t ? Is h e l i v ing up to

’
all th o s e go o d r e so l utio n s h e m ade ?

”
Y o u bet h e i s ! Pa t a n s w e r ed t h e l as t
q u estio n first . A fte r B i g J i m a n d I got h i m
ou t to Wood cra ft Cam p he sta ye d there doi ng
o d d j obs a r ou nd th e c a m p u n ti l that leg w a s
s t ro ng e nou g h for h i m to go i n to a l u m be r
cam p as c oo k He w a s there a mo n th a nd
.
the n q u i t for th e t r ap l i n e Th e l ast I h eard

.
Of h i m he w a s so m ewhere u p i n th e S mu gglers ’
Holl ow c o u n t ry ,a n d I guess p ro babl y h e s ’
th ere y et Y ou re m e m be r h e h ad s om e traps
.
c a c h ed u p there Leg s as good as i t eve r w a s ,

.
’
and h e swears ,a n d bel ie v es i t to o ,th at Walt

he r e is th e greatest l ittl e docto r that eve r ca m e
in to th e woods H e l l tal k a ny o n e w h o w i l l
.
’
l isten deaf,d u m b an d bl i n d on th e B o y S cou ts ,

and I belie v e h e d c u t h is r ight h a n d O f
’
fany
”
ti m e for D octo r Me r riam Alec s al l ri gh t .
’
.
“
An d B ig J i m ! W h a t s J i m d oing and ’
”
how i s h e ?
He s th e sam e Old J i m He s th e b o s s Of
’
.
’
th e Atwate r l u m be r camp th is w i n t er , w i th
t w o c re w s u n der h i m a n d o u t to m ake a r ec o r d
ou t . I f the weath e r h o l d s good h e ll c o me ’
pre tty n e a r to d o ing i t J i m s the best lo g

.
’
4 0 TH E BOT S C O U TS
B r o n x P ar k a n d t ry a l i ttl e w i n t er woodcra ft
and
That set tles i t I f i t s Bron x Pa r k I m
.
’ ’
r igh t wi t h y o u ,my so n ,u n less H al h a s so m e

”
th i n g else plan n ed , i n ter r upted Pat In .
“
th at cas e ,wh y ,I b e i n th e h a n ds av m e frin d,

”
Ofc o u rse .
“
S ui ts m e ,decl a r e d Hal p r om ptl y We l l .
“ ’
tak e Pat do w n to w n i n t h e morn i n g a n d sho w

-
h i m th e si gh ts a n d take hi m i n to S c out h ead

q uar te rs The n w e l l go Ou t to th e pa r k a n d
.
’
sho w h i m t h at y o ur B l u e Torto i s es a re n ot s o
slo w as h e m a y th i n k fro m th e n a m e We l l .
’
fra m e u p so m e t hi ng else fo r th e eve nin g .
Th at s a bully sch em e I l l bet th at Pat w i l l

’
.
’
be j ealo us of that pa tr ol of y o u rs , Wal t ,

before
w e get th rough J u st y ou p u t e m o n th ei r
.
’
m et t l e an d gi v e h i m so meth i n g t o tel l that

patrol of h i s a t U pper C hai n abo ut I su ppos e .
”
y o u re stil l leader of th e B ul l Moose ,Pat ?
’
Pat shoo k h is h ead Yes a n d no , sai d

.
“
he . Yo u see I v e bee n away so m u c h that I

’
ha d to resig n A patrol to b e wh at i t sh oul d

.
be n eeds a l eade r o n th e j ob e v ery m i n u te ,

an d s O o n e of th e boys at th e saw m ill i s lea d e r
n ow , an d h e s a g o o d on e ,
’
t oo H e s a S c o u t o f .
’
S CA MP 4 1
the first class a nd i s work in g for m eri t badges

n ow He s got fi v e already — person al heal t h ,
.
’
physi c al developme n t ,taxidermy ,sign al i n g

—
an d stal ki n g an d has won a medal for sa v i n g
l ife Whe n I happen to be a t h o me I j ust gi ve
.
”
the m my val uable ad v i ce Pa t gri n n ed . .
O h ,we ve got so m e l i t t le pa t rol u p there

’
in th e woods ,an d I m j us t wai t i n g t o be sho w n

’
”
wh at yo ur c it y S co u t s h a v e go t on u s ,he c on
c l uded .
“
That takes c a r e O fto m or r o w ,the n ,sa i d -
Hal “
We ll pl an doi n gs n ex t week so that
.
’
Walt c a n be w i t h u s ou t O fs c hool ho urs The n .
F rid a y n ight we ll h ead fo r th e goo d old ’
w o o ds My ,bu t t h at does sou n d go o d to m e !

.
Te n da y s u p a mon g t he big trees ,wh ere th ere s ’
snow enough to make a footpri n t wi t hou t h av

i n g to photograph i t i n order to p r o v e i t isn t ’
a fak e ; w here th e foxes an d th e o t h er cri tte rs

w ith n i ce fu r c o ats are si t ti n g rou n d w ai ti ng ’
to pu t th e i r l it t l e footsi es i n o u r t ra ps ; w here
“
Th e R ed G o d s d w ell
Nea t h a m ys ti c s p ell
Th e red fl a me gl o w s,
A n d th e re d b l o o d fl o ws ,
A nd a ma n ’
s a ma n
li ttle ”
F or a s pa n .
TH E B OT SC O U TS
A so fa pi llo w ful l i n th e fa ce c u t sh o r t t his

p o eti c ou tbreak ,follo wed by a n i nq u i ry fr o m
Pat as to Hal s expe r ience o n sn ow sh o es
’
-
.
“
Nev er h a d e m o n i n my l i fe ,but I m
’ ’
”
c raz y to , r ep l i ed that ex u bera n t you th .
“
B o ugh t a pai r ye ste r da y p u rpose fo r th e
t r ip Do n t loo k to m e as i f i t can b e m uch
.
’
”
o fa tri ck t o w al k o n e m
’
.
“
Did y o u b u y a ny l i n i m e n t to go w i th
”
the m ? a s ked Pat .
Hal l o oked p u z zle d “

Li n i men t ? Wh a t
.
”
fo r ? h e dema n ded .
“
O h ,j u st t o be prepa r ed Y o u k now a .
good S co u t al w a ys i s p r epa r e d , repl ie d P a t

evasi v ely ,at th e sa m e ti me tippi ng W al t er a
wi nk .
Mea n i n g wh at ? p ers i s t ed Ha l .
It s a lon g ,lo n g w a v to Tipp erary ,es

’
”
p e c ia lly o n sn o w shoes , w-
a s Pat s E ni g ma t ic ’
r eply .
“
I d lay i n a good s u p pl y of th a t
’
l i n i me n t i f I were you .
Hal mad e a w ry face at Pat Q ui t you r .
”
k iddi n g , sai d h e We l l tak e a gal l o n O f
.
“ ’
l i ni m en t i f yo u say so No w t el l u s w h a t e ls e
.
W e ll n eed D O we take gu n s
’
.
P a t shook h is h ea d The n see in g a l ook o f

.
TR A P P E
’
IN A R S CA MP 43
d isappoi n t me n t i n both fa c es h e h a ste n ed to
say t hat the closed season w a s n o w o n for al l
ga m e ex c ep t in g rabbi ts an d hares ,an d if th ey
wan ted to h u n t these they m igh t take their 22
c aliber rifles I n fa c t he wasn t s ure bu t th i s
.
’
w o uld be a good idea ,as bu n n i es were plen ti

fu l and h u n t i n g the m o n s n ow shoes m ight -
a fford so me excellen t spo r t .
W hat abo u t fish ? W i ll the re b e a c h a nce

”
to d o so m e fi shi n g through th e i ce ? aske d
Hal .
Pat s m i led at Hal s eage rn ess

’
.The re are
j ust as bi g pi c kerel u nder t he i c e as ev er
”
swam , h e a v erred , an d i f y o u are wil li n g
“
to do some real wo r k a n d c hop o u t holes I

th i n k I ca n p r om ise yo u so me w hales wi t ho u t
”
the trouble Of swi m mi n g fo r th e m .
There w a s a gen eral laugh a t th is th ru st a t

Hal ,w hose ad ven ture w i t h a big picke r el ,
d ur i n g wh ich h e a n d Ply m pto n had bee n
capsi z ed fro m a r aft ,was on e of th e n e v er t o -
b e fo r gotte n i nc ide n ts o f t h e sea rc h fo r Lost

-
Trai l .
“
B u t yo u h a v e n t to ld u s y et j u s t w he r e we
’
are goi n g ,w here y o u r cam p is , you k now, !
Walter b ro k e i n .
44 TH E BOT S C O U TS
J u st the n the h o n k ,ho n k o f an a u to mo b ile
so un ded fr o m the fro n t Of the ho use .
“
The r e s th e c a r
’
c ried Hal . We ll
’
ha ve to be getti ng a m ove o n ,or Pat w ill l ose

h is beau t y sl eep a n d be i n n o sh ape fo r to
morr o w We l l be r o u n d at 9 30 sha r p i n
.
’
th e m o rn i n g ,Wa lt er I don t wan t t o g e t P a t

.
’
”
u
p too ea r l y
.
E arly ! P a t fai rl y s n o r t e d
. A rrah
n o w ! D O y ez pla y all ni gh t and s l ape a l l
day i n NOO Yo r r k — -
h e demanded .
C HA P T E R I I I
T H E B LUE T O R T O I SE PA T R O L
S PA R R E R , otherwise E d wa r d M u l d oon .
s m allest S cou t i n t he B l ue To r to i se Patro l ,

d arted bac k fro m t h e corn er to th e gro up
w aiti n g abou t t he u p tow n e n t r a n ce to the
-
su bway .
”
He s comi ng !
’
he sh r i lled A n tw o
.
’
guys w id hi m ,de on e w id de do u gh a n de ’
biggest r ube yer ever pu t ye r peepers o n

The an nou ncemen t was electri fyi n g a n d
there w a s a n i m mediate r ush t o look d o w n
the street .
It s Walt an d Harris on all r igh t ,b u t wh o

’
i n th e di cke n s i s th at wi th them , an d w he r e di d
”
they fi n d h i m ? exclai med Ned Patte r son .
“
Gee ,look at th e si z e of hi m ! He s a ’
ru be ,al l righ t ,by t h e looks of h i m ,b u t I d ’
h ate to tel l h i m so , m u t t ered C h ick Pa r so n s .
“
R ed h eaded an d Irish at t h at ! Say ,
f ell ers , we l l ha v e some fu n w it h hi m ,
’ ”
c ho r tled Ja c k Nor w ood .
45
TH E B OT S CO U TS
Q” u i t your k i ddi n g a n d fall i n for a
sal u t e ! s n app e d Assista n t Leade r Mc Nu lty

I n sta n tl y the patrol l in ed u p an d as W al te r
a pp ro a c h e d ,Hal o n o n e sid e an d Pat o n th e
o the r , s e ven h a n ds we r e r aised as o n e i n th e
S cou t sal u t e . I t w a s re t urn ed b y t he th ree
o lde r l ads.
“
S o m ebody s w i s ed h i m t o d e g am e ,a ll
’
”
ri gh t ,w hispere d th e i rr ep re ssi ble S parre r t o
h i s n eighbo r as h is s ha r p e y es took n ote Of
th e fac t that Pat h ad sal uted qu i te as i f a cc us ~
to m ed to i t Meb be he bel ong s t o so me

“
.
ru be pat ro l .
Th e r e w a s a n u dg i n g o f elbows a nd h e re and
t her e a h alf s m oth e r e d giggle as t h e y o un g
s t ers size d Pat u p a n d n oticed th e aw k wa r d
fi t a n d r ough m aterial of his store su it ,the

“ ”
c ell uloid c olla r a n d th e flam i n g r ed fo u r in -
h a n d cl um sily tied I n the e y es of h i s y o u n g

.
cr i ti cs he was bra n ded by th ese th i ngs qu i t e

as m u c h as i f h e h ad w o rn a pla car d J us t “
from th e C ou n t ry .
“
G r ee n goods r i gh t fr o m the fa rm ,w h is
pered C hi c k to S parr er “
.I da r e y o u t o ask
”
hi m h o w th e c a o w s are .
Wh e the r or no t S p arrer would ha v e t a k e n

4 8 TH E B OT S CO U TS
T he y ell was gi v en wi th a w il l a n d cause d

m a ny a h e ad to tur n i n t he h u r ry i n g th rong ,
a n d many a s m i le ,for t h e tri m u n i fo rmed
y o u n gs t ers ,faces aligh t w i th eager n es s fo r
thei r aft e r n oo n o u t i n g ,w e r e good t o see .
Laugh in g an d j o ki n g the patrol squ ee z e d i n to

th e crowded s ubwa y express a n d th e y w er e
of f for B ro n x Park , th e wo n derful great p l a y
gro u n d w h ere for a fi v e cen t fare o n e is lifte d
a s b y m agi c fro m th e hea r t o f th e city t o th e
h ea r t o f th e c o u n t r y
.
As the trai n roared th r ough th e great t un n el

P a t scan n ed th e i n di v i d u al m em bers O f th e
patrol wi t h m an i fest appro v al The y w e re a
.
clean c u t ,st u r dy look i n g lo t o f bo y s ran g ing

-
i n age fro m t h i rteen to si xteen ,MONu lty ,t he

a ssistan t leader ,bei n g th e on l y o n e o f th a t
age A n d t hey were a r ep r ese n tati ve lo t
. .
T wo were th e son s of well to d o m e rch a n ts ,

- -
o n e was the so n o fa broke r , a n othe r was fro m

th e modest ho m e of a pat r ol ma n on th e p olice
force ,a fi fth was th e so n of a su bway g uard ,
an d th e remai n i n g two w ere B ern stei n ,w hos e
features u n mis t akably stam ped hi m as a He
brew Oft h e u pper class ,a n d S pa rr e r M u l doon ,
n ewsbo y an d st r eet ga m i n .
IN A TR A P P E R S
’
CA M P 49
Pat s i n t e res t pro mp tly cen t ered i n t he lat
’
t er ,a n d h e t oo k t he fir s t oppor t u ni t y t o ask
a bou t h i m and ho w h e happen ed to be asso
c ia ted wi t h o t hers s e emi n gly so far above h i m
i n the social scale U pto n smiled

. .
There isn t any soci a l scale a mon g S cou ts ,

’
”
o u k no w , sai d he
y .
Pat nodded . I ough t to k n o w ,h e agree d .
If t here were Pa t Malon e wo uld n t be this ’
very mi n u t e t h e gues t of t h e son of a m i llion

aire B ut I wasn t on e of a regular pa t rol of
.
’
fello ws be tt er o f .f Tell me so me t hi ng abo u t

this i m p yo u c a l l S parrer ,an d ho w yo u dare d
take hi m i n t o t h i s bu n ch He seems to fit
.
a ll righ t ,so far a s I c an see .
”
S u re h e fi ts , repli ed W alter I p u t it
.
u p to t h e fe l lo w s t hemsel v es an d th ey i nvite d
h i m to j oi n First t i m e I ra n i n to S pa rr e r
.
m ade m e th i n k of th e first ti me I m et y ou .
He had j ust tri m med the l ife o u t Of a b u ll y

half a h ead taller than h i msel f fo r st e ali n g
the pape r s of a li t tl e J e w .
Pat s eyes began t o da n ce app r eciat i v e l y

’
.
”
G o o n ,h e com m a nded .
He had a black eye and a bloo dy n ose a n d

h e wa s as d i r t y a l i t tl e h eathe n a s e v er you
la i d eye s on B u t h e s ure packed a h e al t hy

.
pu n ch i n each fis t an d k new wh ere to p u t

’
e m ,to j udge by t h e looks of t h e bu lly ,w h o
wa s s n eaki n g a wa y w ith a w hol e crowd of
n ewsi e s j eeri n g at h i m S pa r rer di d n t p ay
.
’
any atte n t ion t o the r est Of em ,bu t we n t ov er

’
t o th e l i ttle J e w and gave h i m half o fh is o w n

s to c k o f papers to m ake u p fo r th e on es t he
b u l l y h ad t aken ,an d w h i c h h a d bee n d e s
t ro y ed i n th e scrap Wh e n the y ou ng st er
.
t r ied to than k h i m S pa r re r sw or e at h i m ,a n d
he c o ul d s wear i n t h ose days ,b e l ieve m e !
Th a t w a s the I ri sh i n h i m ,tr yin g to co v er u p
”
a good deed .
“
A b y e aft her m e o w n h e ar t ,m urm ured
Th e w hol e a f fai r ,o r rather th e mo t i v e u m
dern ea t h i t ,struc k m e as s o S co u t l i k e that I -
t h ou gh t I d tr y to get acqu a i n t ed ,con t in ued

’
U pto n .
Go od b o y ,s a y s I
’
.
W ot s i t to yo u ? says h e
’ ’
Oi ll s ma s h
.
‘ ’
yer th e same way fer a n i ckel ,y er big d ude

Th a t ti c kled th e b u n ch , an d t h ey began to egg
hi m o n an d g u y m e u n t i l I saw tha t i f I d id n t ’
wan t t o be m i x e d u p in a co m mo n street s cr ap
N
’
I A TR A P P E R S CA MP 5 1
I d bet t er retreat ,w h ich I di d in gloriousl y

’
.
La t er I m a n aged to scrape acquai n t ance w ith

h i m ,and by maki ng so me i n quiries I fou n d
o ut th at h is mothe r i s a W ido w a n d h e w a s
he lpin g suppor t th e fam i ly ,that h e h ad
a r epu t a t i o n as a scrapper and t h at though h e
s w o r e li ke a pirate ,s moked a n d c hewed t o
ba cco ,as most of th ese street gami n s do ,h e
was stri c tly honest and was a te rr o r to th e
bul lies of h is n eigh bo r hood Also that h e d
.
’
rathe r figh t tha n eat J ust by cha nc e I d is

.
c ove r ed that hi s a m bitio n was to be c om e a

soldi e r ,bu t h e was wor r ied for fea r he never
wo u ld be big enough He s smal l fo r his age ,
.
’
stu nted fo r lac k o f good food whe n h e w a s a

k id ,I guess Next to goi n g i n to th e a rmy h e
.
wa n ted to be a pri z e figh ter I talked s c ou t

-
.
i n g to h i m a li tt l e ,bu t h e did n t se e m i n te r
’
es ted u n ti l o n e day I h appe n ed alo n g i n ful l
u n iform Th at got h i m I suppose i t loo ked

. .
n ext best to bein g a sol die r Then I tol d h i m

.
a l l abo u t m y patrol an d what we w e re doi n g

an d what sco u ti n g stands for , an d h e gulped i t
a ll dow n l i ke a hard r u n b u ck tr y i n g to d rin k
a l ake d ry .
G e e ,C i d li k e d a t ,b u t i t ai n t for poor
’ ’
blokes th e lo ikes o f m e , said b e ’

T ha t .
ga v e m e a n i dea The r e was a v aca ncy i n

.
t he pat ro l ,a n d at th e n ext m ee t i n g I p ut i t
r igh t straigh t to th e fello w s I told the m al l
.
abo u t S pa r re r a nd got e m i n terested ,a n d

’
th en I j u st k i n d o fh i n te d at th e bro t h erhood
a n d de mocrac y id e a of s c o u t i n g and wh at a
m i gh ty good tu rn i t wou ld be if S parre r co u l d
be gi v e n a c han c e to get i n to th e gam e ,a n d
th e n dropped th e su bj ect The h i n t wo r k e d
.
all r igh t Th ey re a pretty good bu nc h ,

.
’
th e s e fello ws Th ey tal ked i t all o v er a nd

.
th e n th e y c a m e aro u n d a nd aske d m e i f I
s u ppose d S pa rr e r wou ld l i ke to j oi n th e B l ue
Tortoise Patrol I told th e m th at I wa s s ure
.
h e w o ul d n t i f he s uspected th at t h e i n vit a
’
t i o n wa s ch ari t y o n th ei r part They c he wed .
this o ve r for a w h i le a n d th en ca m e a r o und

an d sai d that th ey r eal l y w o u ld li ke t o tak e
h i m i n ,an d there was n t a n y c ha r i ty abo u t
’
i t I t o ok th e i n v itati o n to S parre r a n d h e
.
w e n t u p i n th e ai r l ik e a r ocket ,j us t as I
k ne w h e wou l d .
Sa y , yer can t p u t n o st uffloi ke d at o v e r

’
o n m e ,said h e
’
. W ot do yer ti n k O i a m t o
f al l fe r a s t e er loi k e dat ? Dat b un c h o f high
IN A TR A P P E R S
’
CA MP 53
bro ws ai n t w a n tin me tra in in i n d ere c a m p
’ ’ ’
.
Youse has bee n o n de le v el w id m e ,now

—
han d i t te r me straigh t wo t s de ga m e ? ’ ’
I d id my best t o m ake h i m see th a t th e

in v it a ti o n w as si nc ere an d explai n ed a ll o ve r
a gai n ho w th e r e is n o social d isti nc ti on b e
tw een S co u ts ,and ho w m o n e y a n d that so r t
o f thi n g do e s n t c ou n t ,but I c o uld n t break
’ ’
th ro ugh h is prid e I d abo ut gi v e n u p w he n

.
’
I h ad a happy tho u ght S parre r , sai d I , ‘ ’

.
I th ou ght y o u we r e a dead ga m e spo r t ,b u t I

g u ess y ou ve got a strea k Of y ello w i n y o u
’
a fte r all S o m e of these fello w s a r e from fi ne

.
h o m es an d so me are n ot ,bu t th ey r e w h i te ’
r ig h t th r o ugh ,a n d they ve got m o re s a n d

’
tha n yo u h ave They da re t o tak e you i n on

.
th e sam e footin g that th e y a r e o n , an d yo u

h ave n t got the n e r ve to sho w e m th a t y o u
’ ’
are j ust a s g o od as th ey a re .
’
“
That got h i m Th e lo n g an d sho r t Of i t
.
w as h e agreed to co me arou n d to my h o us e
the n ext n igh t an d m eet th e bu n ch ,an d h e
d id The fello ws were good S co uts ,all r ight ,
.
and t r ea t ed h im o n t he l e v el j ust a s i f h e
w e r e o n e of em W h en h e saw t hose photos
’
.
o f min e an d th e sno w sh o es a n d pad d les a nd

-
54 TH E B OT SC O U TS
th e re st o f th e j u n k ,an d h eard ab o u t th e
goo d ti m e s th e b u n c h w a s h a v i n g ,h e w a s
eager to be a S co ut ,bu t h e wo u ld n t sa y that ’
h e wo ul d j oi n th e pat r ol I t wasn t u n ti l
.
’
abo ut th r ee weeks late r w h e n h e c am e a ro u nd

i n ful l u n i for m a n d sai d that he wo uld li k e
t o be a B l u e To r toise that I tu m bled to wh a t
th e t r o u bl e had bee n He w o u ldn t j o in u n
.
’
ti l h e co u ld at least l o o k as wel l as th e r est ,

an d h e d bee n work i n g ove r ti m e a n d savi ng
’
ever y pe n ny to get that u n ifo rm I g uess h e .
was right ,at th at Th e fellows w ou l dn t

.
’
h av e c a r e d ,b u t h e c ared ,a n d bei n g d r e ss e d
l i k e th e r est m ad e h i m feel mo r e a s i f h e b e
”
lon ged w ith th e cro w d .
Agai n Pat n odded h is ful l u nder sta nd i ng

o fth e yo u n gster s feel in gs
’
.
S parrer too k to s c o u ti n g l i ke a d u c k t o
”
w ater , U pto n con ti n ued He c u t ou t t o
.
“
bacco and s weari n g , an d bein g n a t ur all y

q u ick fro m h is l ife i n th e streets h e lea rn e d
qu i ckl y an d passed th e ten derfoot an d se c o n d
class tests qu icker than an ybody el se i n th e
patrol He s a first class S co u t n o w ,a nd a
.
’
m i ghty good on e He i s so ful l o f l i fe a n d

.
f u n th a t i t was n t a ny ti m e at a l l b e fore h e
’
an xious t o see I pro pose that w e sho w h im
.
aroun d ins t ead o f doing th e fiel d w o rk we

”
had pl an n ed .
M r Le a der !
. P a t s al u t ed as h e spoke .
Th e be a s ti es and t he b ur rd s w il l no t k now
-
wha t th e y a r e mi ss in g i f th e y h av e no ch a nc e
”
t o i ns p ec t gr ee n goods t o da y
-
.
C h i c k sta r ted v i ole n tl y ,r e mem b e ri ng his

rem a r k t o S par rer ,a nd th e l at t e r m al i c i ou s ly
p u n c hed h i m i n th e ri bs an d d u c ke d t o h i de
a g rin . B u t I k no w w hat I sh all m i s s i f
“
y o u do no t c a r r y o u t y o ur pla n s ,a n d I h av e
n o m i n d t o be h a n ded th a t k i nd o fa le m o n .
I h ave al l n ex t w eek to l oo k at t h e be a sti es

and o n l y th is aft e r n oo n t o se e ho w little a ci t y
pat r ol k n ow s o f s c ou tin g A rra h n o w ,ti s
.
’
m es ilf b ela v es y e be afraid t o be sh o w in g me

h o w m uch betth er th e S co u ts av Uppe r C h ain
be th a n th e S c o u t s a v th e gr e a t ci ty a v NOO
Y or r k
- -
“
That settle s i t ! c ri e d U pto n w hen t he
ge n e r al lau gh h a d su bsi ded . We ll S h o w h i m
’
that th e B l u e Tortoi se Pat r ol isn t afr a id t o ’
take a dare fro m a n y o n e,a n d we l l sh o w h i m

’
a few stu n ts t o m ake h i s B u l l Moose u p th ere

in th e wo o d s t urn gre e n w i th en v y Y ou re ’
.
A TR A P P E
’
IN R S CA MP 57
on y o ur m ettl e n o w , fe l lo ws W e ll go ov er t o
.
’
the w ildest a nd m ost lon esom e part o fth e park

an d d ivi d e in t o two c ompa n ie s Pat c a n tak e
.
one a n d b e th e e n e m y w hi ch has m ade a s uc

ces s f u l ra i d a n d m ade i t s get away -
Ha l c a n
.
g o w ith h i m be c ause h e k n ows th e c o u n t ry a s

w el l as a ny o fu s We l l giv e the m te n m i n
.
’
u tes start a n d t he n go i n pu rsu i t Th e r e s

’
.
’
en ough s no w i n patches to make s n ow balls .
A n y on e h it o n the a rm s o r legs is wou n ded .
A b it o n the throwi ng a rm p uts th at m a n o u t

o f th e fighti n g ,but he is sti ll at l iberty A b it .
o n e ither l eg pu ts a m an o u t of action ,but h e

m ay h ide i f he c an with i n a r a d i us Of a b u n
d r ed feet of the place w he r e h e was h i t A .
h i t o n the head o r any par t of th e body p u t s a

m a n wholly o u t of a c tion an d h e be c o mes a
fi r st aid m an to take care o fthe wo un ded .
Yo u fello w s have played the ga m e befo r e , and

I p r esu m e each o f y o u has a R e d Cr oss a rm
ba n d to pi n o n w h en y o u are h i t so th at y o u
”
wi ll be rec ogn ized as a n on com ba t an t
-
.
Th e re was a gen eral a ssen t an d U pto n c o n

tin u ed : “
O u r c amp wi l l be at t h e poi n t w e
s ta r t from If th e en em y ca n el ud e u s a nd
.
g e t bac k a n d c apt ure the cam p th e y w i n I f .

We r u n th em do w n an d defeat the m or de fea t
the m i n a ba t tle at th e c am p we w in A ny .
man take n pri son er beco mes a m em be r o f th e

oth er sid e S co uts se n t o u t b y ei t h er s ide
.
w ill m ake fu ll repo r ts n o t o n ly o fsi gn s o fth e

e ne my bu t o fthe co u n tr y an d its c o n spi cuo us
c h a r a c te r isti c s a n d a n i mals an d bi r ds wh i ch
a r e see n P a t,
.
y o u can pi c k your s ide Y
. o u
g et th r e e besid es Ha l ”
.
Pat s fir st c h o i c e w as S p arrer ,
’
t o t he young
s ter s se cre t d e li gh t
’
.H e the n cho se MONu lty
a n d B e rns tei n ,a n d th e tw o c o m pa n ies , Pa t a t
th e h ead of on e an d U pt o n a t th e h e ad o fth e
othe r ,st ar ted at th e S co ut p ac e fo r the s cen e
o f a c tio n . Ar r i v e d th ere a c am p was m arked
Of f a nd Pat a n d h i s c o m pa n y at once sta r t ed
o f f to m ake th e m ost o f th e te n min u tes
a l lotted th e m . Mean wh i le U pton laid o u t h i s
p lan O f c a mpai g n . Th e c am p h ad bee n ch os en
wi t h a V i ew to defe n se O n t wo si des wer e
.
d ense thi ckets o fbush es fro m wh i ch it wo u l d

be practically i m possi ble to t h ro w a sno wball .
Moreover ,to r each t h ese th ickets i t wo u ld be

n ecessa ry for the en emy to c ross a bare h i ll
to p ,w h ich me an t that su rpri se fro m th a t
q uar t er wa s vi r t ua l ly ou t of th e quest i o n On .
S CA MP 59
the thi r d sid e w a s an ou tcropp in g ledge of
r ock behi n d w h i ch th e defenders could take
shelte r Th e fo ur t h side was open ,b u t c ou ld
.
n o t be a pp roac hed w i thou t the ene my bei n g i n
sight for so me ti m e M o reove r ,in th e fl a t

.
Ope n co un t r y bey o n d there was n o s n o w ,

hen ce th e e n em y attacki n g fro m t hat d i r e c ti on
w o uld no t be able to replenish thei r a mm u n i
tio n U pto n decided that t wo me n wer e ampl e
.
fo r defen se , and at on ce set all h a n ds to wor k

m ak in g a supply of sno w balls fr o m th e
p at c hes o fsnow sti ll lin g e rin g in th e th i c kets.
Pr o m ptly at th e end of ten m in utes C h i c k Par

s o n s was se n t o u t as scou t to t r y to pick u p th e
en em y s trai l at th e poi n t wh ere th e y had dis

’
a ppeared fro m v i ew wi t h i n structions to sig n al
w h at h e sho u ld disco v e r .Nor wood was sen t i n

th e Opposite d i r ec t io n to look for sig n s on th e
ch a nc e that th e en emy h ad ci rcled as soo n as
they were ou t of si gh t Pat t erson an d C ha m

.
bers w e r e left t o gu ard c am p a n d U pto n

cl i m be d to the top Of the l i tt l e h ill wh i ch
fla n ke d th e camp an d fr o m whi c h poin t h e
c o u ld get sig n als fr o m b o th S cou t s Th e g am e
.
was on .
CHA PTE R I V
H EL P !
E V E RY member Oft he Blue To rto rs e P a t rol

was on ed g e ,e a ger t o s h ow Pat th at tho ugh
t hey wer e c it y b orn an d b re d th ey still k n e w
s o m eth in g Of p r a c tical woodc ra ft an d th e ar t
o f t r a c k i ng ; al s o of th e eve n mor e di fficul t
ar t o f c ove r i n g u p t rac k s B ut i t w as ord a ined
.
th at thi n gs sho uld b e o th e rw is e th a t d a y an d

t h at t he bi g woo d s m a n sho uld w i t n e ss a real
an d n o t a n a r t i fi c i al test o f S cou t resources
a n d pl u c k.
C h i ck ,st udyin g w h a t st ruc k h i m as a sus

i c io u s ly broad trai l leadi n g west fr o m t he
p
poi n t w he r e th e en em y h ad l ast bee n see n , and
s u sp ec ti n g a r use ,was sta r tled b y th e fai n t
so u n d o f a w h istle to th e n o r th It was th e
.
patrol sig n al fo r h el p an d w a s u se d o n l y i n
c ase of an e merge n cy o r w he n , as i n th e p r ese n t
game ,a S c ou t w a s i n da n ge r o fc aptu re b y th e
opposi t e si d e a n d wan ted t o s u m m o n aid .
His fi r st th ou gh t w as that one o f his own sid e

60
IN A TR A P P E R S CA
’
MP 61
ha d r u n o n to the en em y a n d was su m m o n i ng
help Then he re me m bered t hat h e was th e
.
o n ly o n e w ho h ad gon e o ut o n t h at side of
c a m p and so i t was m a n ifestly i m poss i b le that
this c o uld be .
W o n der i f that s a t r i c k t o l ead u s in to an ’
”
am b u s c ade ,h e m utte r ed , listeni n g w ith g ro w
i n g s uspicion Agai n h e heard the sig n al ,
.
a n d there was some t h i n g i n th e so u n d Of i t

that ba n ished al l idea o f t ri ckery So me .
“
”
t hin g s happen ed to o ne o f th e fello ws ! h e
’
exclai m ed ,a n d scra m bled u p a k n oll to h is

left where h e co uld get a fai r l y c l e a r vi ew .
Far i n the dis tan ce towa rd the o u te r bo und a ry

Of the park h e saw a figure w hi c h the i n sta n t
h e came i n sigh t began to sig n al wi th a w h i stl e
in th e Morse c ode .
M -
o -
t
-
o r
-
s -
m -
a s - -
h O n
-
r o a
- - -
d h -
e
-
lp
-
”
c o
-
p
-
,o
hse spel led ou t R aisi n g h i s o w n .
w his t le h e sign aled O K an d saw th e dis t an t . .
fi gure tu rn an d race a wa y at top speed .
Ph ew h e gasped Must be bad ifth ey .
ne ed the c ops Th at m ust m ea n the y n e ed

.
a n a m bulan ce He w hirl ed tow ard c am p ,

.
an d ca u ght s igh t o f a figu re on the h i l l j ust .
ba ck o fit I t was U pto n watch i ng fo r sig n al s ,

.
TH E B OT S CO U TS
a n d C h ic k k n e w th at h e m u st have h ear d h im
w h istle th e O K O nce m or e r aisi n g th e
. .
wh istl e h e r epeated th e m essage ,addi n g th e

l ocati o n o f th e acc i d e n t as n early as h e co uld
j ud g e H e h eard U pto n w hi s t le for No r wo od
.
an d th en saw h i m bo u n d do w n i n to th e hol low

w he r e t h e c am p l ay A m i n u t e late r Patte r
.
s o n, th e best r u n n e r i n th e patrol ,spra n g i n t o

v i e w hea de d for th e park ad m i n ist r ati on
bui l din gs a t top s peed S atisfied th a t he lp
.
wo u ld c o m e i n the shortest possi bl e t i m e C hi c k

pi c ke d u p h i s sta ff an d s t a r te d s wift ly for th e
poin t w h e r e h e h ad see n S parrer disappea r , fo r
i t was h e w ho h ad fi rst signaled .
Mea n w h ile Pat ,Hal a n d th e th ree mem b ers

o f th e B l u e Tortoise Patrol w h o h a d sta r t ed
o ut w i th t h e m were work i n g wi th mi ght a n d

m ai n at th e s c en e o fth e ac c iden t a nd i n th ei r
h earts pray in g th at h el p wou ld r ea c h th e m
spee d il y It w a s o n e of t hose di sasters w h i c h
.
i n th e se da y s h a v e becom e s o c om m on that
o ft e n th ey r e c ei v e n o mo r e tha n a par a graph
o r tw o i n the dai l y papers . T wo au to m obi le s
h a d c o m e togeth er o n a t u rn i n a r oad at th i s
t i m e o fy ea r l i ttle fr eq u e n ted ,a n d th e s m al ler
o f th e t wo had t urned t ur tle Th e othe r ,a
.
m a ny v i olators of t h e la w seeki n g t o es c a pe
th e co n sequen ces of thei r o wn acts n ot to gras p
t h e si tu a t io n i n sta n tl y.
Th ey are t ry i n g t o m ake a get aw a y

-
he
s n apped . Get d e n u m be r
Th is was Greek to Pat ,w h ose acqu a in ta nce
w i th a u to mobiles w a s too r ecen t fo r h i m t o
app r e c ia t e t h e i mpo r ta n ce o fa license n u m be r
at a ti m e l i k e th is B u t S parre r h a d no t
.
pra c ticed taki n g a uto mobil e n u m b er s i n th e

r u sh h ou rs at Madiso n S qua re fo r n o t hi n g I t .
h ad bee n o n ly fu n th ere ,b y way o f trai n i n g

h i s eyes to qu i ck an d sure Obse r vatio n No w .
as a r esu l t eye an d brai n worked i n u n iso n

a n d al most a u t oma t icall y an d despite t h e
speed of th e ca r h e got t he n u mbe r as s u re l y
as i f i t h ad been at a standstil l .
“
Jersey car ! D ey ll beat i t fe r a c r o ss de
’
”
r i ve r , sai d h e as h e j otted dow n th e n u m be r
i n h is n o t e b o ok
-
.
“
Did y e r pipe de r e m o ni
k ers ? O i d k n o w de m i n a to u s a n d ! N ow
’
”
l et s see wot h appe n ed to d e ot h e r s
’
.
Th ey st ar ted o n a r u n fo r th e overt urned

c a r a nd as th e y d re w n ear the sou n d of m oa n
i n g fro m th e wr ec k ga v e wi n gs to th eir feet .
A s m all to uri n g c ar wa s b o tto m u p at th e s id e

H E J O TT E D D OW N T HE N U M B ER
N
’
I A TR A P P E R S CA MP 65
o rt he r oad , a r ear wh eel o ffat o n e side Hal f

.
a mon g th e bushes an d h alf i n th e r oad la y

th e bo dy o f a y ou ng wom an ,wh eth e r dea d o r
si mpl y u nc on scious they di d n ot take ti m e t o
fin d out I f dea d there was n o t hi n g fo r th e m
.
to do I f u n con s ci ou s she cou ld recei ve a t

.
ten t io n late r Th e moa n s fro m beneath th e

.
wrecked c ar t o l d th em th at there w a s w he re
a i d was n e ede d fi r st.
The dri v er ,a m id dle age d m a n ,

-
w a s pi n n e d
un de r th e s t eeri n g post ,wh ich w a s ben t a nd
r ested a c ross h is ch est i n s uch a w a y that
W h ile t h e fu ll weight O f t h e ca r did n ot fal l
o n i t, s t ill it w a s cru sh i n g i n th e r i bs o n o n e
side O n e leg was d oubled u nder h im i n a
.
w ay tha t d en oted a bad break H is face w as

.
b adly cu t by t h e glass o f th e wi n d sh iel d a nd

-
wha t w a s worse ,the cri mso n strea m gush i n g i n

l ittl e spu r ts fro m a j agged gash on on e ar m ,
fortu n a t ely thrust beyon d the edge of th e c a r ,
proc lai med a se v ered ar t ery .
That m ust be s t opped i m mediately at all

c osts ,before an y a t temp t was m ade to get th e
m an ou t ,o r h e wou ld bleed to death B oth .
bo y s saw t hi s o n the i n stan t ,an d w ithout If

bov
w ord Pat stooped a n d g r ipped the a r m a e
th e c u t ,bri n gin g to bea r al l th e stre ng t h o f

h is pow erful fi n ge r s The e f
. fe c t w a s im m edi
a te ly appa r e n t The w ou n d s t i ll bled ,bu t n o
.
l o n ge r in those fatefu l j ets S parrer m ea n

.
w hi le had sn at c he d o ff h is n eckerch ief a n d

w as prepari n g a to u rn i qu et Fro m a sh ru b b y
.
th e r oadside h e c u t a sto u t s t ick a foot lo n g ,

th en hastil y mad e sea rc h for a sm ooth pebbl e .
Fi n di n g n o n e h e started to feel i n hi s po c ket s

for so me s m all Obj ect th at wo uld ser v e h is pu r
pose w he n his aler t glance fel l o n Pat s m ack ’
in a w. Wh ippi n g o u t h is kn i fe on c e m ore h e
c u t on e o f the big smoo t h but t on s fro m th e
mac k i n aw Tyi n g th e h an d k erchi ef l oosel y
.
aro u nd t he i nj ured arm j ust above w here Pat

was gri ppi n g i t h e sl i ppe d the b u tto n i n so
th at i t rested d i rec t ly o n th e a r te ry Then pu t
.
ti n g t h e s t i c k u n der t h e h a n d ker c h ief o n th e

o u ter side h e rapid l y twi sted i t u n ti l th e pre s
s u r e o ft h e bu t to n o n th e art er y w as s u ffic i en t
to stop th e flo w O fblood a n d Pat c o u ld r el ea se
h i s g ri p Th e s t ic k was th e n tied so that i t
.
cou ld n ot u n twis t , a n d the y we re r eady fo r th e

n ex t m o v e .
B y th is ti me Ha rr ison , Mc Nu lty a n d B er n
s tei n had c o m e u p . The y h a d n ot bee n s o
S CA MP 67
f
ar awa y b u t that the y h ad he ard th e c rash .
Then ,too ,S p a rrer h ad wh istled fo r help as

soo n as h e h a d se e n t he ex t e n t o f t h e disaste r
.
Th e qui c k wi ts of the n ewsboy ,trai ned to

a c u te sharpness i n the school of the streets , p e
c u lia rly fi tted h i m t o take co m ma n d of the
situation Also familia r ity wi t h su ffe r i n g a n d

.
w i t h scen es of v iole nc e made h i m less s u s c ep

tible to t h e shock of th e gri m spec t a c le befo re
them tha n w a s t h e case wi t h h is co mrades ,
and h e n o w assu med le a dershi p b y right o f
fit n ess I n deed ,
. he d id i t qu i t e u n conscio usl y
an d h is c omrades qu i t e as u n con scio usly a c
c ep ted th e situ a t ion an d tu rned t o h im for di
recti ons .
“
We got to gi t de c ops a nd a n a m b la nc e ’
.
Y ouse guys gi t de ma n o u t fro m u n de r de c a r

an d C i ll chase fe r de Cops
’
W i thou t wai t
i ng ano t he r se c on d h e pl u nged t h ro u gh th e
bushes an d started i n t h e direc t io n of t h e
c amp ,wh ich lay i n al m os t a direct li n e wi t h
th e par k ad m i n is t ration bui ldin gs , the n earest
poi n t at wh ich h e co uld be s ure of ge tt i ng
help He k new th e lay o f th e lan d per
.
f ec tly , a n d h e reason ed t h at by this t i m e

on e o r m ore Of the othe r party w o u l d be
out on th e t r a il a nd th at i f he c o uld
sig n al th em an d the y i n t u r n signal th ose b e
h i n d val uable ti m e wo ul d b e saved S O o n .
th e first h igh gr o u n d h e stoppe d to blo w t h e

h el p sig n al w i th th e r esu l t al ready n oted T o .
gai n t i m e h e m ad e hi s m essage as bri ef as

poss i b l e. Motor s ma s h told th e n atu re o f
“
t h e accid e n t —
Hel p co ps tol d th e u r
.
“
g e n c y o f th e c ase an d th e n ee d o f po l ic e aid .
H e coun t e d o n U pto n s k n o wle d ge Of the w a y

’
th i ngs are h a n dl e d i n a big c i t y to m ake th e

m e ss a ge as cl ea r a s i f h e to o k precious ti me to
spel l o u t t h e fu ll stor y ,a nd w he n he h ear d
C h ic k s O K h e t urn ed back c on fi den t th at
’
. .
h elp w ou ld reach th em in th e sho r test ti m e

p o ssi b l e
.
No r was hi s con fid e n ce m isp l a ced A s .
soon a s U pto n got th e m essage fro m C h i c k h e

u n d er sto o d th e si tu a tion exa c tly Getti n g .
d o w n in to th e h ollo w wh ere th e c a m p w a s h e
issu ed orde r s Th e oth ers h ad heard C h ick s
.
’
m essage a n d k n e w wh ere th e a c ciden t h a d

o c cu rr ed Get over to th e adm i n istratio n
“
.
”
bu ildin g as fast as y o u ca n ru n , h e ord e r e d
Patte r so n Tel l e m to n oti fy the pol i ce
“ ’
.
and p u t in a n a m b ul an c e call I f you m e e t .

S p arrer h a d bu sie d h i m self e lsew h ere He
.
w en t al o n g the r oad fo r som e l i t tle d is ta nce

i n ea c h d i r ect ion ,st u d y i n g th e g r ou n d c are
full y Th e top s ur face o f th e grou n d ha d
.
softe ned a l i ttle i n th e s u n an d i n p laces th e

w h e el m a r k s w er e vi si ble Th is was esp e
.
c ia lly t r ue o fth e w re ck ed c a r , as th is h ad bee n

fi tted w ith c hai n s I t w a s com parativel y
.
eas y t o tr ac e t h e c ou r s e o f this c a r ,a nd
S parre r w a s s o o n s atisfie d i n r ega r d to it .
O n th e w h eel m a r ks o fthe oth er ca r h e spe n t

m ore ti m e ,a n d h e h ad j ust com pleted h is e x
a m i n at i o n as two m o u n ted pol ice da s h e d up
-
.
S wi ng i n g d o w n f rOm th ei r h ors e s th ey made
h asty e x a m i n atio n o fth e vi c t i ms.
”
“
Good work , boys , sai d o n e o f th e m .
Yo u v e d on e a l l th at can b e d on e ,so far as

’
I c an see ,u n ti l th e a mbulan ce gets he re .
No w th e n ,w h i ch o fyou i s th e leader ? ”
U pto n stepped for ward Tell u s wh at

“
.
y o u k no w abou t th e a c ci den t , c o mm a nded

th e O ffic e r .
“
I k no w n oth in g abo u t it , repl ie d U pto n
cur tly .
“
E v eryth i n g was prac t i cally as you
s ee i t n o w wh en I reach ed h ere Pat ,d id .
a ny of yo u r par ty s ee th e th i n g h appe n ?
I N A TR A P P ER ’
S CA MP 7 1
Pat shoo k h is head . No ne Of u s saw i t ,

b ut two o f u s were r igh t h andy w he n i t hap
pe n e d ,and were o n t he spot i n l ess th a n t wo
m i n utes ,said he ,addressin g the pol i c eme n
”
.
“
We heard the c r ash an d saw a c a r w hich
s eemed to be tryi n g t o get away ,an d the n w e
s a w th is car o v er turn ed . W h e n we got h e re
the yo u n g woman was lyi n g by th e side of
th e r oad half i n th e bushes ,an d o ut of h e r
se n ses ,j us t as she is n o w Th e m an w as
.
pi nne d u n der the ca r an d bleed i ng l i k e a

bu c k that has j ust felt th e k n ife We
.
s toppe d that as soon as we co u ld ,an d the n

got h i m ou t M uldoon t he r e c a n tel l you
.
mo re tha n I c a n ,because h e saw more th an I

did He proved h i mself a bette r S co ut
. .
S parre r fl ushed w ith p leasu re Prai se fr o m

.
this sou rce mea n t more to h i m t han i t wo ul d

h a v e fro m an y o n e else ,an d at a S ign fro m
o n e of th e Off i c e r s h e st e pped fo r ward to tel l
wh a t h e k n ew
W e was i n de bush es ,sai d h e , a b ou t a
h u ndred yards u p d e road ,wh en we hea r d de
sma s h an j u m ped o u t j us t i n ti m e to lamp a
’
b ig gray roadster wi d t wo guys i n i t maki n g

de r e ge t a w a y ,a n d day wa s b ea tin i t fe r fai r
’ ’
-
.
TH E
”
B O! S C O U TS
D on t suppose yo u tho ught to g e t th e
’
n u mber , i n terrupted o n e o fth e offi c e r s .
S pa rr e r gri n n ed as h e fish ed o u t h i s n ot e
bo o k “
. S u r e O i got i t said h e “
Jerse y
.
c a r ,a nd dey w a s b s ati n i t fe r d e fer ry lo ik e f
Ne w Y or k w a s bad fe r d e h eal t h No c op s .
”
a r o u n d ,sam e as u s ual S parre r w i n k ed at
.
th e oth e r bo y s P ro b ly dey th i n k d ey m ad e
.
’
de r e get a w a y an d dey wo u ld h ave ,

-
i f so m e r e al
”
S co u ts ha dn t h appe n ed to be aro u n d
’
.
O ne of th e Offi cers ha d r eache d fo r th e n ot e

book a n d hasti l y gl an ced at th e n u m be r .
“
I l l pho n e th i s n u m be r i n an d se e i f w e
’ ’
c a n t h ead o ff that car w h ile you take c a r e of

’
th i n gs h er e , sa i d he ,as h e vau lted i n to th e

sadd le ,and a sec o nd lat er w as Off at full
gall o p .
G O on w i t h your s t ory ,com mand e d t he

o th e r .
De y a i n t n o m ore c ept w hil e d e ot hers

’ ’
w a s getti n g th e m an o u t fro m u n der de ca r O i

sig n aled to de fello ws ove r a c ross d e park to
”
get wo r d to y o use ,an d dey do n e i t , r epli ed
S par r e r , q ui te as i f h i s qu i ck wi tte d h a n dl i n g
-
o f th e m atter w a s a s c o m mon pla ce a s h is

gr am mar w as b a d .
IN A TR A P P E R S
’
CA M P 73
Th e m a n did n t com e to ,a n d m ake any
’
st a te m en t ?
The bo y s shoo k thei r heads “
He s bee n
.
’
j u st as yo u see h i m n o w ,sai d Pat ,wi t h a

”
pi ty i n g gla n ce at th e i nj ured m an .
Th e office r shoo k h is head “

TO O ha d,
.
sai d he , that t h ere wasn t a wi tn ess If we

“ ’
.
n ab th o se fel lo w s t hey ll swea r that i t w a s this

’
fello w s faul t
’
. Thei r r u n n in g away wi l l
m ake i t look bad for t hem ,bu t the y l l fram e ’
u
p so me sort of c ock a n d bull story abou t
bei n g so fr igh t en ed that they did n t r eali z e ’
w hat th ey were doin g a n d w ithou t e v idence

thei r w ord will be as good as th e othe r m a n s ’
.
If th e latter does n t r eco v er sufficien tly t o

’
m ak e a s t atemen t , an d the yo u n g lady doesn t ’
e ither , the case wil l fall t h r ough W as t hat .
c ar righ t w he r e i t i s n o w wh e n y o u first
”
sa w it ?
S a y , d rawled S pa rr e r scor n full y , d o

“ “
y o u se t i n k we had n oth i n g to do but to p ic k

”
u p a to n or two of scrap an d l ug i t rou n d ?
’
Th e poli c e m an gri n ned . Yo u chaps see m

”
t o be eq u al to about anyth in g , sai d h e “
I .
did n t k no w but that yo u h ad mo v e d th e c a r

’
in getti n g that fello w o u t U nless he w a s

.
kn ock ed o ve r h ere by th e c oll isio n i t app ears

”
that h e wa s o n t he righ t side o fth e r oad .
“
S u r e th i n g , r e torted S parre r He wa s .
“
on de r igh t side o fd e r oad a n d d ri vi n g e as y .
D e othe r blok es w a s bu rn i n g u p d e r oa d a n d
tried to m ake d e tu rn w i de Dey skidde d .
a n d s ide s wi ped de l i ttle ca r ,an d i t t urn e d

-
”
t u r tl e Dat s all d e y is to i t
.
’
.
H e spok e w i th such a n ai r o ffi n a li t y t h at
th e o ffi ce r l ooked at h i m suspiciou sl y “
I .
tho ugh t y o u sai d n one o f you sa w t his

h appen , sai d h e .
No n e o f u s d i d ,b u t eve n a c o p or te r be
”
abl e te r s ee w hat ha s h appe n ed , r eto r ted
S par r er He w a l ked back u p th e r oa d a s h o rt
.
”
d ista nc e Here s d e m arks o f de c h ains ,
.
“ ’
he c alled , an d ey s al l o n de r ight side o f de

’ ’
r oad . Here s a pl ace wh ere d e ground i s

’
p r ett y s oft ,bu t de tra c ks a r e clea n c u t If d e -

.
c a r ha d bee n b ea tin i t de m u d w o u ld h ave ’
bee n t ro w n m ore N ow la m p d e t r a c k s
.
co m i n d e oth e r w a y
’
.
He led th e w a y a r o u n d th e c u r ve i n th e
opposi te di recti o n ,poi n ti n g o u t soft spots
w h e r e th e t r acks o f a h ea v y car w i th o u t
c h ai n s wer e c le ar l y v isi ble Li ttle glob u l e s o f
.
S CA M P 75
m u d h ad bee n throw n som e distan ce o n b o th
sides ,con cl usi v e eviden ce that t he ca r w a s
being d ri v e n at hi gh speed Th e c urve w a s
.
r ath e r sharp ,an d the tracks showed that th e

c a r ha d sta r ted to take i t wide ,but at th e
s c en e o f th e acciden t had bee n pu lled sha r pl y
to th e righ t a n d h ad sk idded ,s t ri ki n g th e
smaller m achi n e an d c ausi n g i t to tur n turtl e .
Fo r those wi th eyes to see t he w hole stor y w a s

written o ut o n t h e r oad su rface , an d yet th e
trac ks we r e com parati v el y fai n t ,because th e
surface h ad soft en ed on ly w here the su n had
lai n lo n gest , an d might easily h ave bee n o v e r
l ooke d b y those no t t r ai n ed t o clos e Obse r va
tio n .
The o ffic e r looked at S parre r c ur iou sl y .
H u rry u p a n d gr o w ,so nny , sa id he ; we

”
”
ne ed y o u o n th e fo r ce .
S pa rr e r s retort was in te r r u pte d b y t he

’
c lan g of a gon g as an ambu lan ce dashed u p .
The yo u n g su rgeo n made a hasty exam i n atio n

o f t h e tw o v ic t i ms a n d th e n as th ey were
l ift ed i n to th e ambula n ce h e tu r n ed t o th e
gr o u p of boys an d spoke cri sply .
“
Yo u fello ws h a v e do n e j u s t th e th i n gs t o
b e do ne a n d al l that cou ld be do n e h e re If .
thi s m a n l i ves h e l l o w e h i s life t o y o u I f
’
.
y o u h ad n t
’
k n o w n e n ou g h t o get a to u r n iq ue t
o n that a rm at o nc e h e wo uld h a v e bled t o
death b y th is ti m e O ffice r ,I hope y o u w i l l

.
r eport t h e good wo r k o f th ese S cou ts I f .
there w as n oth in g more to sco u ti n g than th e

teach in g o ffi r st ai d t o th e i nj ur ed i t wo uld b e
”
a g r eat thi n g .
He s w u n g u p o n th e r ear o fth e am bu l a nc e ,
an d as i t dash ed away raised h i s h a n d i n th e
S co ut sal u te , w h i c h was prom ptl y r et urn e d b y
th e pat r ol Mean whi le th e Offi ce r w a s taki n g
.
do w n th e n am es an d add resses of th e bo y s ,as

th e y wo u ld in al l probabi li ty be n ee ded late r
as wi t n esses i n cou rt Whe n h e h a d fin ish e d
.
U pto n o r dered th e patrol to fa ll i n .
”
I gu ess ,fe l lo ws , sai d h e , th at n o ne o f
“
u s feels m u ch li ke c o n ti n u i n g o u r gam e aft e r
w h a t s h appen ed
’
. W h at do yo u sa y i f w e
spen d th e r est of th e afte rn oo n showi n g P a t
”
arou n d th e park ? Th ose i n fa vor sa y a ye .
Th e v ote was u n an i mo u s As soo n as it h ad

.
bee n t ake n P a t s tepped forwa r d M r Leader ,

.
“
.
”
sai d h e , I wan t to sa y j ust a few words
“
.
“
S pee c h ! S p e e ch ! s hou t ed hal f a do z e n
togeth e r .
are H e th i n k s j u st th e sa m e wa y o f you
.
w hen yo u v is i t h i m i n the co u n t r y What .
I h ave see n t o da y h as tau gh t m e a le s

-
so n O ut i n th e woods I k n ow j ust wh at
.
to do ,ho w t o d o i t and w h en to do i t ,n o
m atte r w h at happe n s Whe n I sta r ted o u t
.
w i th y o u to d ay I s m i led d o w n i n si de at th e
-
idea o fy o u bei n g abl e to sh o w m e anyth i n g i n

th e way o fs c o u ti n g I wished I h a d t h e B ul l
.
Moose Pat r o l h ere t o s ho w yo u what real s c o u t

in g i s l i ke .
Th e n t h at a cc i d e n t happen ed ,a nd fo u n d
m e as h el pless as a n ew bor n b a be -
But .
S parrer h ere w a s righ t o n th e j ob fro m th e

j u m p . He h ad th e n u m be r o fth at car before
I had i t th r ou gh my h ead wh at ha d h appe n ed ,

a n d h e k n e w j u s t w ha t to do n ext I ex pe c t .
tha t i t wou ld h a v e been th e same wit h any of

th e r est Of yo u i n hi s pla c e An y way ,I v e
.
’
been sho w n the v ery fi nest ki nd of sco ut cr aft ,

an d th at l ittl e smi l e I started with has tu rn e d
to pride I m prou d to be o u t wi th th e B l u e
.
’
Tortoise Patrol ,as fi n e a bu n ch o fr eal S c o u ts

as I k n o w of A n d I am parti c ularly pro u d
.
o f my fr i e n d S parre r M uldoo n I m ig h t be
.
ab l e t o g i ve hi m s o m e p o i n ts o n tra c ki n g a
’
dee r o r a moose o r e v en a ma n i n the woods ,
but whe n i t co mes to t racki n g a cra zy mo t or
c a r S pa rr e r h as got my n u m ber I wo u l d l i ke
.
to propose ,Mr Leade r ,th r ee ch eers for S co u t

.
”
M ul d oon .
The chee r s were gi v e n w i th a w i ll an d w i th

a r ousi ng tige r at the en d,to th e con fusion of
S pa r rer
. Then U p t o n called for th e pa t ro l
y el l fo r Pat Malone ,and i n t ha t S parrer fou n d
ven t fo r hi s o w n feeli ngs Th ese preli mi n a
.
r ies o u t of t he way t h e pa t rol fell i n t o escort

Pat abo u t the park and sho w h i m th e h ard ie r
a n i mals w hich wi n ter o u t o fdoors Nor was
- -
.
thei r c ourtesy w ithou t gai n to themsel v es ,fo r

th e you n g n atu r alist s co m men t s as th e y
’
visited on e en closu re aft e r a n o t h er re v ealed a n

in ti m ate k n owledge of th e characteris t i cs an d
h abits ,n ot o n ly O f those species wi th whi ch
h e was familiar i n th ei r n ati v e wilds ,bu t O f
ma ny wh ich h e was n o w seei ng for th e fi rst
ti m e ,w h ich was a re v elatio n to hi s you n g
a d mirers C hi ck wasn t fa r w r on g wh e n he
.
’
w hispered to No r wood
“
W e ai n t sho wi n g h i m any th i n g ; h e s
’ ’
”
show i ng us .
It w as a n aft e rn oo n n eve r to b e forgo tt en b y

th e B l ue T or t oise P at r ol ,
a n d i t was an e q u ally
m e m orabl e o n e fo r Pat A n d w hen th e y
.
pa r t e d that n ig h t the re was a m u tual resp ec t

a n d l i ki n g wh ic h fo u n d e x p r ess ion i n t he
hear ty gr ip of S cou t b ro t her h ood .
C HA P T E R V
OF F F OR W OO D CR A F T
E D WA R D M UL D OO N ,oth e r wise S pa rrer, s ur
rep titio u s ly pi n ched h i mself to make sure that
he was n ot d r ea mi n g He ,n ewsboy fro m th e

.
lo wer E ast S ide of Ne w York ,who had n eve r

been far t he r fro m i t t han C on ey Islan d , r idin g
i n a brilli an t ly lighted P ull ma n coach o n h is
w a y i nto t h e great woods of w h i c h h e had
drea m ed so m uch s i n ce h e be c a m e a S c ou t ,
an d of w h ich h e ha d on l y the vaguest i d ea !
It co uld n t be
’
.
An d yet i t w as T he roa r o f th e wh eel s

.
told h i m that i t was The very feel O fthe

.
l ux urious sea t i n w h ich h e was si tti n g told

h i m that i t was A nd to cli n ch th e fac t a n d
.
at th e sam e ti m e make it h arder to beli e v e

there were h is th ree com pan ion s ,U pton ,h i s
patrol leader ,Har r ison an d Pat Malo n e , wh om
h e had secre t ly ma de h is h ero Yes ,i t w a s al l
.
t ru e ,a n d y e t h e cou ldn t get rid of th e id ea

’
81
82 TH E BO! S C O U TS
!
th at soon e r o r l ate r he wo u ld wake u p a n d fi nd

i t al l a bea u t i ful d rea m .
Th e fact i s ,th is trip w a s i n th e n at u re o fa

C h ri stm as p r ese n t Fro m t h eir fi rst m eeti n g
.
P a t ha d taken a great fa n c y to th e st r eet

gam i n He r ecog n i z ed a k i n dred spi ri t
. .
I ns t i n cti v ely h e r eal i z ed that the di fferen c e

betwee n S parre r a n d h i m sel f at th e sa me
age was m ai n ly on e o f e n v iron men t Th e .
y o un gster s stu r d y i n depen d en ce an d sel f

’
r elian ce ,h i s q u ic k w it,eve n h is i mpu d e nc e ,

s truck respon si v e chords i n the y o u n g woods
ma n . S parrer w a s w h at h e hi msel f wou l d
h ave bee n h ad h is n u rsery bee n a New Yor k
E as t S id e ten emen t i n st e ad of t h e log cabi n o f
a m i ll settl e me n t i n the l u m b er dist r i c t of the
Nor th W oo ds .
The n igh t after th e m otor ac c i d e n t th e th r ee

older boys h ad bee n d iscussin g S pa r rer an d
h i s prom pt reso urceful n ess Pat d ropped a
.
r emark th at h e w i shed wi t h all h is h eart th at

h e c ou ld h a v e t h e you n gs t er i n th e w oo d s
w i t h h i m for a coupl e of weeks .
“
Let s take h i m wi t h us ! I t wou l d b e no
’
”
en d of fu n , cr ied H a l on th e spu r o f an
in sp ira ti on .
S CA MP 83
U pto n sh oo k h is h ead I t wo u ld be b u lly

.
i f we could ,but I m afrai d we ca n t , said h e

’ ” ’
.
”
“
W h y n o t ? d emand ed Hal “
I ca n get .
a pass for hi m ,an d betwee n u s I gues s w e c a n

”
take c are of hi m I t won t cost h i m a c e n t
.
’
.
Tha t s j ust it , declared U pton

’ “
Th e re .
i s n oth i n g o n t wo legs i n New Yo r k more

i nd epe n den t th a n E dd i e M uldoo n He l l .
’
scrap for his righ ts as lon g as he ca n swi ng a

fist ,bu t the m i n u te yo u tr y to ha n d h i m an y
thi ng for n othi ng h e ll tur n you d o w n h ar d
’
a n d c old S parre r pays h is w a y ,o r h e do n t

.
’
go ,an d w il d horses cou ld n t drag h i m H e ’

.
woul d st a n d for t h e pass ,all righ t ,be c a u s e h e

would be o n t he sam e foo t i n g as th e r est o fu s ,
bu t i f w e tried to gi v e h i m a n yth i n g i n th e
way of a n o u t fi t ,an d i t goes wi t ho ut sayi n g
t hat h e h as n t anyth in g su i tabl e fo r th e w ea th er
’
w e are li kely to ha v e u p th ere , he w ou ld k ick

li ke B arn u m s tri ck m ule T h a t s o n e th i n g
’
.
’
I li ke abou t th e li t t le beggar A n d w he n y o u
.
com e r igh t do w n to i t ,i ndependen ce is on e o f

”
t h e funda m en tal pri n ciples o fscou tin g .
O nc e m ore Hal was i n spired “

I h a v e i t,
.
fellows ! h e cri ed W e l l m ake h i m a

.
’
C hrist m a s p resen t O ft he t rip He can t re fuse ’

.
a C h ris t m as gi ft ,i f i t i s pu t to h i m r igh t I ll
.
’
get th e passes a n d c hi p i n to ward wh ate v e r he

n eeds i n th e w a y Ofo u tfi t Yo u two can make
.
u p th e r est He l l be Pat s guest w hen h e g ets

’ ’
.
the r e , th e sa me as Wal t an d m y self, so he ca n t’
k i c k o n that Yo u re al l my guests on t h e
.
’
t r a i n any wa y ,so I d o n t s ee ho w S parre r s

’ ’
i nd ep endence i s going t o be h u r t a l itt le

”
bit .
T ha t w il l be grea t ,i f w e c a n p u t i t acro s s ,
dec l ar e d U pto n , a n d I fo r m y part w o u l d
l i k e no th i n g bette r th a n to ha v e the y ou n gste r
a l o n g I t wo ul d be the e ve n t o f a l ifeti me for
.
him .
S O i t was decid e d th at U pt on shou ld u s e all

h is d iplo m ati c powe r s to pers u ade S par r e r that
h e w a s n eeded fo r th e l argest suc c ess o fth e
pa r t y His s u ccess was th e r es u lt o fa gre a t
.
deal o farg u m e n t ,h el ped o u t by th e boy s o w n

’
lo n gi ng to k no w w hat th e woods li fe Of wh ich

h e s o ofte n dreamed r eally w a s l i ke S o .
n o w h e r e th ey were actually o n t h ei r w a y ,
fo u r as h appy bo y s as eve r set forth in q ues t

o fpleas ur e .
Th e w eek h ad be en a bu s y o n e Pat ha d
.
spe n t a g ood pa r t o f i t a t Bron x Park an d t he

L ucky t h e y cau gh t tho s e fe l lo ws a t th e
”
f e rry.
D O you su ppos e t h e r e s any t ru th i n that

’
clai m b y th e o w n e r o f t he c a r that i t w as a
j o y ri d e b y u n k n o w n pa r ti es w h o h a d take n
”
the car w i th ou t hi s con se n t or k n ow l e d ge ?
H al a sk ed .
L o ok s pr ett y fi sh y t o me ,replied U pt on .
S t i ll ,h e m a y get awa y w i t h i t . U n der

s ta nd t h at n ei the r o f th e v ic ti m s can i de n tify
th e m e n i n the othe r c a r You r e m embe r
.
th a t cur v e i s p re tt y sha r p ,and th e y we r e h it

al mo st be fo re th e y sa w the oth er c ar ,let alo n e
w h o w a s i n i t S parre r a nd Pat see m t o be
.
th e only on es w h o e v e n h a d a gli m pse o f th e

sc o u n drels ,a n d th at a m igh t y b ri ef o n e If
.
th e re is an y i den t ifyi n g d one I guess i t is u p

”
t o y o u two fellows Thi n k y o u ca n d o it ?
.
”
“
Not I I d eclare d Pat w ith e m ph a s is .
I c ould s h w ea r to th e n u m be r o f poi n ts o n
a j u m pin g b uck i n th e brush ,bu t n ar y a
th i n g c o ul d I s h w ea r t o abo u t th at in gi n e
a v dest ruc tio n .
“
Ho w ab ou t y o u ,S p arrer ? demanded
If O i was one o f the m ar t is t g uy s O i

’
c ou ld dra w y o u a pictu r e o f both o f th e m .
Let m e put m y peepers o n th em an d O i ll ’
”
s h w ea r to th e m i n a to u s a n d, repl ied t he
n ewsbo y wi t h su ch a n ai r o f fin ali t y that

the r e w a s n o do u bt i n th e m i n ds o fh is c o m
pan io n s that h e c o u l d do j u st w hat h e said h e
cou l d.
“
Well ,y o u re li kel y to h a v e a c h ance if
’
”
that c ase goes t o c ou r t , U pto n rem a r ked .
“
Fo r m y par t ,I hope y o u c a n do i t I d l i k e .
’
t o see thos e fellows get wha t s comin g to e m ’ ’

.
I move we turn i n n o w , fo r w e v e got to g e t’
u p at a n u n earth ly ho ur I t s bad en ough t o

’
.
tur n out before dayl igh t i n th e s u mm er ,but

i t m akes me sh i v er to th i n k w hat i t will be
”
at this ti m e of year B r r r r .
- - -
.
Pat laughed'
.If yo u re goi n g ou t o n th e
’
trap lin e sy o u may as well get broke n i n to

early risi ng at once W e Oft e n h a v e som e
.
”
m iles behi nd u s by t h e ti me the su n is u p ,
sai d he . Ho we v er , I g u ess y o u r e r ight
“ ’
”
abo u t tu r n i n g i n I m r eady ,for on e
.
’
.
I t seemed t o S parrer t h at h e h ad h a r dl y
c losed his eyes w hen som e o n e sh oo k h i m ,
a n d h e tu mbled o u t of h i s berth to fi n d th e
o t her s i n th e dressi n g r o o m h u r r iedly gett in g
i n t o th ei r c lothes Th ey had no m o r e t han
.
ti me to d r ess and gath e r u p th ei r baggag e

a n d va r i ou s pa rc els befor e th e trai n stopped .
Th e y ha d r ea c hed U ppe r C hai n .
As th ey stepped do w n i n to the n ig h t ,for

day h ad no t y et beg u n to b re ak ,U pto n re
c al le d his fi rs t ar r i val th e r e ,a r ather lonely
youn g s t er ,un c e r t a i n that th i s wa s th e r igh t
p la c e It had be en s u m m er th e n ,bu t e v ery
.
th in g h a d be en s hr ou de d in a h eav y n i g h t
m ist an d th e c h i ll o f th e h igh a ltitu d e h a d
str u c k clear t o th e m a rr o w i n h i s bone s H e
.
h a d been a te nder foot th e n ,hi s only k now l

edg e o f w ood craft w hat l i tt le h e h a d g leaned
fro m books He r em e m be r ed ho w th e my s
.
t ery of th e great wood s h a d s we pt o v er h im

a n d e n gulfed h i m e v e n as d id the nig ht
m ist , an d ho w i nsig n i fi c a n t h e had felt .
E ve n n o w ,aft e r th ree ye ar s o fexperi e nc e i n

cam p a n d o n th e trai l h e felt so m ethi n g o f
that same spi rit o f awe ,a n d h e k n e w that i t
wo ul d al ways be th u s It was th e tri bu te e x
.
acted by n a tur e fr o m th e t r u e dev o t e e en t er

in g h er te mples .
He gl a n ced c u r io u s l y at S p arrer ,wonder

in g wha t respons i v e c h ord s m i ght b e st ruc k
IN A TR A P P E CA
’
R S MP 89
in th e so u l o f this waif of th e g r eat city , bu t

i t w a s too dark to s e e hi s fea t ures clearly ,an d
h e c o u ld on l y di m ly s u r mise someth i ng of
the yo u n ge r lad s feelin g fro m S parre r s qui ck
’ ’
i n take Of br eath a s th e da r k ,h ea v y coa c h es

o f th e trai n ru m ble d o ff i n t o the n igh t ,l eav
in g the m sta n di ng betwee n two w alls Of
w h ite O ver h ead a my riad of sta r s b urne d
.
l i k e j ew e ls Neve r h ad the y see m ed so n ea r ,

.
so b r illia n t ,so aliv e Th e s n o w thro wn high

.
o n ei th er sid e o f th e t r a c ks , for th er e w as a
sidin g a t th is poi n t ,wa s ab o v e thei r h e ads .
Th e s t ill n e s s was al mo st oppr e s si v e now th a t

t he t r a in w as be yon d h ea rin g .
Pat st re t ch ed h is a r ms a nd drew a long

brea th o f th e c old ,ra rified ai r ,the n ex pelle d
i t i n a n a u di ble sigh o fsuprem e c on te n t .
A rra h n o w ,tis me foist breath a v r e a l a ir

’
i n a week ,a n d th e two l u ngs av me a c hi n g

fo r u t , s a id h e
”
. S h ure twi ll make the
“ ’
li kes av ye g r ow t o a m an s size i n a w eek ,

’
m e bant a m , a nd t h o t s mo r e t han NOO Yor r k

’
- -
”
w il l be d o i ng for ye i n a lo ifeto im e, gi v i n g
S parre r a hear t y slap o n th e back Hal ,I .
“
tho u gh t th o se passes read to U ppe r C h ain ,

and h ere w e b e dropped i n a snow b an k I ll -
.
’
b e a fter m ak i n g co m pl ai n t to t he man a ge
m e n t fo r i nco n v en i en ci ng fo u r ge n tle men
a n d r ed u cin g th e m to the ran ks Of com mon
”
l ab o re r s
.
Th e o th ers l a ug he d a s th e y foll o w ed P a t s ex
’
am pl e a nd sh ou ld ere d th ei r du ffi e t o t r a m p
th e h un d r e d y a rd s u p t o th e statio n ,fo r the y
h ad b een i n th e rear c a r I n a few min u t es
.
th ey w ere in th e b are li ttl e w ait in g r o om ,i n

the m i d d l e o fw hic h a big st o ve w a s r a diat ing
w el c o m e h eat ,a n d ex c h an gi n g greetin gs w i th
t h e n ig h t ope r ato r ,w h o hav i n g wir e d th e ar
ri v a l and d ep ar t ur e o f th e t r ai n w a s p r epa r i n g
t o g o h o m e ,fo r th ere w o u l d be no more t r af
fi c fo r m a ny h ou r s . He sh ook h a n ds w ar mly
w i t h Walt e r a nd Hal ,w ho m h e r e c og n iz ed at
o n ce as W oodcraft C a m p bo y s ,w a s i n t ro d uc e d
to S parrer ,a n d j ol lie d Pat o n w hat he w a s
”
pleased to te rm h is Ne w Yo r k ai r s .
I r e c ko n your m oth e r is waiti ng for you ,

Pat , said h e . I sa w a l ight ove r at th e
hou se w hen I c am e alo n g Yo u re w el c o me
.
’
t o stay h er e u n t i l dayligh t ,bu t I e xpe c t sh e s ’
”
loo ki n g fo r y o u over t h ere .
“
I wrote h e r w e d be th ere to break fast bu t
’
n ot to get u p any ea rl ie r o n that acco u n t ,re o

I N A TR A P P E R S
’
CA M P 9 1
plied Pat His e y es da nc ed

. S h ure the .
o uld lad y th i n ks he r s o n ha s bee n i n the

h ands av th e in imy a n d c a n no t r est a i sy ti l ’
she sees fo r h er sel f that n ot a hai r av h is red

h ea d h as be en l e ft i n NOO Y o r r k Go d bless
’
- -
.
h e r W e ll go o ve r the r e an d re l ieve her

.
’
mind .
I n s p ea k in g o f hi s m othe r as th e oul d
“
l ad y th er e w as n oth i n g dis r espe c tful o n th e

pa r t o f Pat I n reality i t w a s a t e r m of en
.
dear m e n t The stars were begi n n i n g t o pal e

.
as th e bo y s m ade t hei r w a y i n si ngle file al on g

a n a rr o w path th ro ugh the s n o w t o w ard the
y ello w glea m Of a ligh t set i n th e wi nd o w o f
o ne o f th e r ough frame houses that m ade u p
th e v illage Pa t led straigh t fo r th i s
. .
Hello ! exclai m ed U pto n i n su r pris e .
”
H av e y o u d eserted the O ld cabi n ?
”
S ure , repl ied Pat ,a n d there was j u st a
s uggestio n o f pride i n h i s v oice “
Th e .
m othe r w a s a lo n g t i m e betwee n log wal ls , but

no w , t h e sai nts be praised , sh e do be l i v in g i n
o n e O f the illiga n t m ansi on s of U ppe r C hai n ,
a n d b y that token is a m ember of th e a ris to c
”
r ac y Moved in last fall
. .
B y th i s ti m e th ey h a d r each ed t h e house
9 2 THE B OT S CO U TS
an d at th e so u n d o f vo i c e s th e d oor was
th r o w n Ope n an d Mrs Mal on e stood i n th e
.
do or wa y lo o ki n g o u t e agerl y I t w as a warm
.
I r ish g r e e ti n g that the bo y s r e c ei ved a n d Hal ,

who n ev er h a d me t her b e for e ,u n de r st oo d
w h ere P a t got h i s h u m o r an d ready t ong ue .
H e a t onc e d r opp e d i n to his Old b ro g u e en

t irely and w h il e Mrs Malo ne b u stle d a b ou t
.
p utti n g a hot b rea kfast o n the tabl e Pat to l d

h er of h is ad ve n t ure s i n th e great c i ty as o n l y
h e co u l d Fro m t i me t o ti m e s h e i n te rru pt e d
.
wi th com m e n ts s o l i k e Pat s own r ea dy repa r

’
t ee th at bet we e n th e t wo th e boy s were ke pt

i n a gal e o f l au gh te r
.
“
E ati n g b re akfast b y lam p li g h t is a n ew
”
ex pe r i enc e t o m e , d ec la re d Hal a s th ey s at
d ow n to ba con , c o rn b r ea d j ust from th e o v en ,
fl a pj a c k s w i th th ick m apl e s yr up , a n d c offee
.
Tis p w h a t y ez w il l b e doi n g eve ry da y for

’
the n ext w e ek ,a n d l ucky i f y ez get th e b rea k

fast ,as goo d a wa n as th is ,a ny w ay ,dec l ared
Pat .
The y h a d j u st fi nish e d th e me a l whe n P at s’
y o u n ger b r oth er a n d two l i t t le si ste r s sh y ly

j oi n ed th em The y w ere n eatly d r esse d ,a n d
.
W a lt er was i m men se ly ti c k l e d w i t h P a t s ’
wi t h a m agi c wa n d an d al l th e so r d id u g lin ess

ha d bee n t r a n sfo rm ed to bea u ty O v e r e v e ry
.
thi n g l ay th e w h ite man t le O fs n o w I t h alf .
b ur i e d th e s mal ler cabi n s I t h id completely

.
th e st u m p s of t h e c leari n gs I t h a d b ur i e d
.
th e li tt er Of th e m i l l ya rd I t gli t t er e d a n d
.
S p ar kl ed i n th e ra ys O fthe s un B eyo n d th e .
c l e a r i n g the evergreen s rose i n great p yr a m i d s

o f w hi te .No ,U ppe r C hai n was n o lo ng e r a
bl o t o n th e lan d scape I t was bea u ti ful
. .
As for S parre r ,h e was d u m b Whi le h e .
cou ld n o t appreciate the wo n der o fth e tr a n s
fo r mat i o n h e c o uld an d di d appreci ate t h e

w o nd e r of the scen e , an d for th e ti m e bei n g
h is to n gu e was t i ed .Fro m th e m ill offi ce
t h e y call ed u p W oodcraft C am p to tel l D o ct o r
Merriam of t h eir arri v al an d that the y w ould
be w i th h i m o n th e followin g day .
“
Gee ,did n t i t seem good to hear th e B ig
’
”
C h ief s voi ce agai n ? said Hal as th ey wen t
’
o u t i n to th e m i ll to sho w S parrer ho w logs
a r e t r a n sfor med i n to boards , ti m bers a n d

sh i n gles . S par r e r ,to morro w y o u are goi n g
-
to m eet o n e of th e fi n est m e n i n th e whole

w o r ld , b a r no n e He s a great Old S cou t
.
’ ”
.
M r s Malo n e w as na t ur al ly di sapp oi n t ed
.
’
CA MP 95
that Pat w a s n o t to be home for C hristmas ,
but sh e sai d l it t le and busied h erself i n help
i ng t h e boys prepare for th ei r holiday He r .
m o t herl y Irish so ul warmed at o n ce to S parrer ,

and she fussed o ve r h is o utfi t an d com fort i n
a way that was n ew to th e yo un gs t er ,for h is
o w n mo t her ,worki n g fro m dayligh t to dar k
an d oft en late i nto the n igh t ,had had l i t tle
ti m e for mo t h eri n g The boys had b r ough t
.
so m e gi ft s for th e c hi ldren ,an d t hese thei r

moth er hi d agai nst t h e arri v a l o f good S t .
Ni c k A part of S parrer s o u tfi t as a C hrist

.
’
mas gift fro m h is comrades had been a war m

m acki n aw ,an d t o th is Mrs Malon e i nsisted
.
o n addi n g a pai r O fth ic k wool e n stocki n gs of

h e r ow n k n i tti n g Pat s co n tri bu tion was a
.
’
pai r o f s n o w shoes ,w hich h e brough t out a t

-
th e last mo m en t as the y were star t i n g for the

trai n ,a n d as h e too k th e m a l u mp rose i n t h e
you n ger lad s th roat an d c ut o ffspeech B u t
’
.
t h e shi n e i n h is eyes expressed more than hi s

to n gue coul d h ave S uch k i nd n ess w a s a
.
n ew experi en ce i n h i s l i fe ,a n d he ha r dl y
k n ew h ow to m eet i t .
The shor t ru n by trai n to Lower C hai n w as

q u ickly m ade , a n d t h e boys piled o u t,
eage r t o
be o n th ei r w a y P a t h ad p r ovi ded a s t ou t
.
tobogga n w h i c h sh owed th e e ffects o flo n g us e ,

a n d o n th is h e deftly loaded thei r du tfie a nd
s upplies ,lashi n g th e m se c u r el y i n to p lac e .
S par rer w atche d h i m w i t h t r o u ble d fa ce .
E ve r si nc e the m e n t i o n o f skates th e d a y
befor e h e h ad w o rr ied ove r th a t twel v e m i l e
t r ip do w n the lake . He k n e w that U pt on
a n d Harriso n h a d b r ou ght skates , b u t h e ha d
none ,a n d if h e had h a d he c ou ld n t h av e ’
us ed th e m He h ad n eve r bee n o n a pai r i n

.
h is life S kati ng i s n o t a n a cc om pl i sh men t

.
o fth e l o wer E ast S i d e Of N ew Y or k .
S o S par rer h ad worried If i t had be e n

m erel y a m atter o f a twel ve m i le h i ke h e
w o ul d h a v e been o n edge to S ho w th e o th e rs
that h e c ou ld keep u p , bu t h e k n e w that wi t h
th e o th ers on skates for h i m to t ry t o k eep u p
w a s as absu rd as for a t r u c k t o tr y t o k ee p
pace w i th a raci n g car , an d i t h u rt h is p ri d e to
feel th at h e wo u ld be a d r ag o n th e o th e rs .
Hal a n d Wal ter a l ready had th e i r sk a t e s on

and were cu tti ng c i rc les ,figu r e e i gh t s and
grape v i n e twi sts o n the s m oo t h i ce W i th
-
.
th e fasten i ng o f t he las t las h P a t p u t on his

own s k a t es .
ze r o th at morn i n g ,fo r th e ai r was d r y a n d d id

n ot penet r ate as wo ul d th e m oist ur e laden a ir
at h o me at a te m pe r atu re many deg re e s a b o ve
th e zero m a r k .
“
I j ust c a n t beli eve th at th e rm om ete r w a s
’
”
on i ts j o b , protested Hal ,as the y stopped fo r
a b r eathi n g spell h al f w a y do w n th e l ak e
-
.
“
W h y ,I m so wa rm I W ish I w a s rid o fthi s
’
”
m a c ki n a w .
Me too , adde d W alte r .
Pat s udde n l y w h irled Ha l ar o u nd and

loo k e d keen ly at h i s left ea r Th e r i m w a s
.
a dead w h ite “
. If y o u can t beli e v e th e’
”
th e r mo m ete r perh aps yo u c a n bel ieve th i s ,
said h e drily as he to uch ed the ea r W h at .
d i d I t ell y o u abou t keepi n g yo ur c ap d ow n

o ve r y o u r ears ? S h u re ,tis a te n derfo o t an d
’
at al l ,
n o t a first c lass S c o u t at all , thot y e be .
”
W h at do y o u m ea n ? d e m an ded Hal as
h e sli pped a gl o v e O ffto feel o fthe ea r At .
th e look O f blan k aston i sh m e n t th at s wept

a cross h is face as h e disco v ered th at th e ed ge
of h is ea r was sti ffan d w hol ly wi tho u t feeli n g
the oth ers r oared wi t h laugh te r .
“
I m ean th at yo u re fr ost b i tten a l re a dy ,
’
-
r ep li e d P a t, an d I h o p e that th i s w ill b e a
’
CA MP 99
lesso n to the whole bu n ch o fyo u Y o u m a y .
n ot feel h i m ,bu t o ld Jack Frost is righ t o n

the j o b j u s t t he same ,and i t do n t do u p he r e
’
to n eedlessly expose yourself I t i s because.
the ai r is so d ry th a t yo u do n t fe el t h e frost ,
’
but yo u free z e j ust t h e sa m e W e l l r u n o v er

.
’
to t hat poi nt a n d th a w yo u o u t ,
a n d t hen I guess
”
y o u ll keep yo ur cap dow n wh ere i t belon gs
’
.
A t the poi n t Pat r ubbed t he frosted ea r

v igorousl y wi th a h andful of sn o w u n ti l th e
fr ost was ou t a n d fo r a few mi n utes Hal dance d
w i th th e ach e of i t ,wh i le t he o t h ers gri n ned .
“
That s o n e o n m e ,all ri gh t ,an d yo u re wel
’ ’
c o me to laugh ,bu t li tt l e Hal Harrison has

l earn ed hi s l es s on No more fros t bi t es fo r
.
-
m e ,than k y o u , h e growled
”
. I don t wish
“ ’
y o u fellows a ny hard l u ck ,bu t I hope you l l ’
get a taste of i t y o u r selves j u st to kn o w what

”
it feel s l i ke .
W al t e r and S par r e r took warn i n g from Hal s ’
e xperienc e an d saw to i t th a t t hei r ears were

wel l c o v ered before th ey started on As t h ey .
drew n ear t he en d of th e lake O ld B aldy an d

Mo u n t S eward loom ed u p wi t h a grandeu r an d
forbiddin g aus t eri ty t ha t w a s al most m e n a c
in g ,a n d wh ich w as y et gra n dl y h e roic Th e .
TH E B OT S CO U TS
lo n g p i e r OfW o od cr aft C a m p j u tti n g ou t i n t o

th e l ak e was n o w clea r ly v isi ble a nd o n th e
en d o fi t w ere two fig ures w avi n g greeti n gs .
It s t h e B ig C h i ef a n d M o th e r Merria m l
’
L e t s gi v e th e m th e old yel l
’
cr ied U pt on .
The y stopped a n d w i t h U pto n to lead se n t

t he Ol d Woodc r aft y ell r i n gi n g do w n th e lak e
W h oop y i y i yi l Wh oop y i y i y i l Wh o op
- - - - - -
i
y y y
-
i i
-
! Woodcraft ! A n d eve n a s th e
e c hoes fl u n g i t back fro m O ld B ald y i t w a s
r et u rn ed to the m in th e m i n gled voic es o f a
ma n an d a w om a n Th e do c to r a nd M r s
. .
Me rr i a m w ere sen di ng the m wel c o m e .
A few m i n u tes late r th e y r eached th e pie r

a n d were ex c han gi n g wa rm g r eeti n gs S par r e r .
h ad fel t a n atu r al diffi den c e at th e though t o f

m eeti n g th e m a n o f w ho m h e h ad h e a r d s o
m u ch ,bu t i t va n ish ed i n th e fi rst ha n d c lasp -
a n d b y t h e ti m e h e h a d r each ed th e s n ug
c abi n he fel t as i f h e h ad al wa y s k n ow n th is
great h earted ,ki n dly m an an d th e s w eet faced
- -
wo m a n w ho m th e othe r s c alled Moth er “

.
I n a d i m way h e u n d erst oo d th e loyalty a n d

a ffectio n of hi s co m rades fo r th ese two w h o
w ere de v o t i n g th ei r l i ves to th e m ak in g of
s t rong m e n fr o m we ak b oys .
a hand t ow a r d t h e book li n ed wa lls , a r e m y
-
“
fr ie n ds r ead y t o gi ve m e of i n spi ra t ion ,co m

fo r t ,ad vi c e ,k n o wl e d ge ,wh a t ever I de m a n d
or m ay ne e d Th e y are n o t dead th i ngs ,
.
th ese b oo ks Th e y a r e l i vi n g person ali ties ,

.
w h i ch h av e e n ri c h ed an d a r e en rich i n g th e
w orld Whe n yo u boy s l is t en t o m e y o u are
.
n ot liste n i n g j ust to a n aud i ble voice Y o u .
are l iste n i n g to a n e x pressio n o ft hat i n visi bl e

—
someth i n g that w e call th e S piri t th e tr ue
perso n al i ty A n d so i t i s th at th e w riter of
.
a great o r good book n e v e r di es His sp ir i .
tu a l exp r essio n i s there o n the pri n ted page

j us t as m u ch a s i f h e w e r e gi vi n g expressio n
to i t i n au di bl e speech S o wi th all t h es e
.
great a n d wo nderfu l m e n an d wo m e n co n
s ta n tly abo u t m e ho w ca n I e v er be l o n el y ?
A n d th e n w h en I step o u t o fd o o rs i t i s d i
- -
rec tly i n to th e te m ple o f G o d His n ea rn e ss

.
a n d p re se n ce a r e m a n i fest i n e v er y phas e o f
n at u re The t r ees a r e al i v e ,s o m e o f t hem
.
s leep i n g ,b ut al i v e n e v er t h eless ,an d ot hers

n ot e ve n sl eepin g S o meti m es I wo n de r i f
.
th e ve ry r ocks are n o t ali v e Th e ele m e n ts

.
see m i n gly w a r wi th o n e an oth e r ,b u t th ere i s

no t h i n g m ea n o r pe tt y o r bas e i n th e m igh ty
A
’
IN TR A P P E R S CA MP 1 6
3
struggle ,as th ere i n v ariably i s i n th e con flict
o f h u ma n passion s Th e I ndi an sees t h e
.
Grea t S pi ri t i n t h e ligh t n in g ,a n d b ea rs h im
i n th e r ush i n g wi nd an d t h e t h u n der ,an d i s
n ot afraid ,bu t bo ws i n re v e r en ce He has a .
s e n se of n earn ess to t h e creator an d loses it

w he n h e i s confi n ed i n th e m an mad e worl d -
o f bri ck an d sto n e an d s t eel an d is eager t o
get back I t is ele m e n tal i n h i m I n n atu r e

. .
h e sees God made ma n ifest W e call h i m a .
s avage ,but I s o m e tim es wo n de r if h e i s n o t

m ore n early a t ru e ch i ld of t h e Fathe r of a ll
th a n m any s o cal led ci v ili z ed me n wh o wi n
-
the plaudi t s of the worl d an d see m to forget

w hen c e they came a n d w hither th ey wi ll go .
“
B u t I did n t m ean to preach a se r mon ,
’
b u t j ust to gi v e yo u an idea O fwhy Pat a n d

I prefer to be savages ,i f yo u pl ease ,an d
spen d our li v es wi t h n atu re Now ,Pat ,
.
w h at are you r pla n s ? W hen do y o u start

i n for cam p ? Ha v en t h eard a word si n c e
’
y o u left from — h e paused at a wa rnin g

w i n k from Pa t ,an d t hen fi n is h ed yo u r
partn er B ig Ji m w a s dow n from th e l u m
.
b er camp this w eek an d reported see in g a

si lve r gray If yo u coul d cat c h a cou p le o f
.
1 6 4 TH E B OT S C O U TS
thos e fel l ow s that p ro b l e m o f g oin g aw ay to
”
school wo uld pretty n earl y s ettle i tself .
Wh at s a si lve r gray ? as ke d Ha l,w h o s e

’ ”
k n o wledge o ffur bear e rs wa s r ath er l i mited .
“
A c olo r ph ase of th e co m m o n r ed fox ,
re plied the do c t or , a n d i f n o t w orth i t s
w eigh t i n gold i t i s worth s o m uch th a t a
si n gle ski n i s ofte n w o r th tw i c e o v e r th e
w hol e o f a seaso n s cat c h o fo th e r furs Wh y
’
.
i t sh o u l d be c al led silver I d o n t k n o w ,
’
fo r the
o n l y s i l v er abou t i t i s th e ti p o f th e tail .
Th e c olo r i s black , a n d si n g le sk i n s h a v e sol d

as h i gh as an d m ore an d $ 8 00 to
i s n o t at al l u n usual S o v al uable are th e
.
sk i ns th at bl a c k fox farm i n g h as b ec o m e an
establ ishe d i n d ust r y an d a pai r o fbla c k fo xes
for breedi n g p u rposes are wor th from
U p S o y o u see ,J i m saw considerable m o n e y
.
”
r u nn i n g loose w h e n h e sa w that fo x .
Ph ew exclai med Hal w ith a lo w w h is

tl e of asto n i sh m e n t .
“
I d id n t suppose t he r e
’
was anyth i n g o n fo u r l egs e x cept bloode d

l i ve stock wo r th s o m u ch m o n ey W o ul d n t
.
’
i t be g r eat i f Pat c o uld catch th r ee o r fo u r

”
th is w i n ter !
P a t th r e w b ac k h is h e ad a n d laugh ed h ea r t
1 06 TH E BOT SCO U TS
o n e s h oe wi th th e toe of th e o th er a n d o ve r
y o u go No w I l l sh ow y o u h o w ,a n d y o u
.
’
fello ws c an pra ct ic e a w h il e o u t here in fro n t

w he r e th e s n o w h as bee n c l ea red a wa y u n ti l
y o u get th e h a n g o f th e th i n g .Th e n w e
’
l l
m ake a l i tt le tri p o u t in to th e woo d s a n d v i si t
so me o ft he o ld places , s o y o u c an see h o w d i f
fere n t th e y a re fr o m w h a t t h e y w e re l ast
su m m e r .
“
I h ave a s ug g estio n t o m ak e , s a i d t he
d octo r . W h ile Mothe r p u ts u p a l u n c h ,y o u
get th ese y o u n gsters so th at the y c a n ke e p
rig h t si d e u p Th en we ll al l tak e a short h i k e
’
.
a n d sho w M uldoon ho w r eal woo d me n c a n

h ave a h ot m eal w h en th er e i s th re e fee t o f
”
s n o w i n th e woods .
”
“
H u r r ah ! sho ut ed Hal .
“
Th a t w ill be
bully ! C o m e o n ,Walt ,an d le t s see your ’
”
paces .
For th e n ext fi fteen m in u tes t he t hree b o y s

t r am ped back an d for t h in fr on t o f th e c ab i n ,
th e shoes c la c ki n g m errily am id a run n i n g
fi r e o f c ha f f a n d com m en t fro m Pat . O nc e
S pa r rer steppe d o n on e of U pton s sh oes a nd
’
Sen t h i m headlo n g , to th e h uge d elight o fth e

o the r s A gai n Ha l d i d j u st wh at Pat h a d
.
S CA MP 1 6
7
w arn ed the m agai n st , to o k a short step an d
tripped h i mself u p B u t at th e end o f a
.
quarter o f a n ho u r they had pre tty well got

t he h an g o f t he thi n g ,as Pat express e d i t ,
”
an d were eage r to try i t o n deep sn o w .
”
The r e s nothi n g to it , declared Hal
’
I .
though t there were som eth i n g to l earn ,l i ke

skatin g ,bu t th is i s a cin ch I c o uld keep i t
.
U p a ll day , an d b y w ay of emphasizi n g h is
r em arks on ce more trippe d hi mself u p,a nd
s a t do w n ab r uptly .
S u re ,i t s n o trick at all , c h a ffed Walte r

’
.
W he n yo u c an t keep up si t do wn ,
’
an d when
y ou re do w n stay do wn The r e s n o t hi n g to
’
.
’
it.
”
For Hal , forgetti ng th e W i dth Ofhis p r es
en t u nderpin n i ng ,ha d n o soo n er scra m bled
to h is feet than h e had gon e do w n agai n ,b e
c ause o fth e o ve r lappi n g webs .
The docto r an d Mrs Me rr iam n o w j oi n e d

.
th em ,fo r th e latter was a n exper t on shoes

a n d h ad n o mi nd to miss th e ou t i n g Pat a n d .
th e do c to r sw un g to th ei r backs th e packs
w he r ei n were th e su ppl ies a n d dishes ,an d
th e y we r e o ff,th e docto r i n th e lead ,Mrs .
Merriam n ext ,th en S parrer ,Hal ,U pton a nd

P a t i n th e rea r to k eep th e te n de r feet from
1 08 TH E B OT SCO U TS
s t ragglin g an d to p u l l the m o u t Of th e s no w ,
h e expl a in ed .
Fo r a sh o r t d ista n ce a broke n t r a il w as fo l
l o wed Th e n th e docto r abr u ptl y s w u n g o ff
.
a m on g th e t r ees w h ere th e s no w l a y d eep an d

u n b ro ke n Th e th ree n o vi c es soo n fo u nd
.
that p r og r ess h ere was a ver y d i ffere n t m att er

fro m wal ki n g o n th e com parati v ely h ar d s ur
face o f the packed trail Th e sh o e s s an k in
.
perhaps a cou ple o f i n ch e s and i t w a s u s ee s

sary to l i ft th e feet m ore ,to step high ,w h i ch
p u t mor e o f a strai n o n th e m u s.c l e s Als o
th er e w a s a ten d en cy to step h igh e r tha n wa s
at al l i n good form ,a n d t o sh orten the stri d e
by so d oi n g ,l osi n g th e s m oot h eas y fo rw a rd
ro ll fro m th e h ips .
S til l ,
al l t h i ngs c o n s i dered , th e th ree n ov ices
were doi n g th em sel v es prou d u n ti l i n a n n u
guarded m o m en t Hal stepped o n the stu b o f
a broke n b r a n ch o fa fal le n tree bu ried i n th e
sno w It cau gh t i n th e ta i l o f th e s h o e j u s t
.
e n o u gh to b r eak hi s stride He took a short

.
step to cat c h h is ba l a n ce , s t u m bled a n d took a

beau ti fu l h eader At Pat s roar o f laught er
.
’
the oth ers turn ed to see two big w ebs w ildl y

w avi n g a b o ve th e s n o w a n d no th i n g m o re o f
len gt h i n th e s no w Fall i n g at full le n gt h
.
h e d i d n o t d isappea r as Hal had do n e ,b u t h e

w a s ha r dly less h elpless E ver y e ff
.o r t to h elp
h i m self b y p utti n g h is h a n ds dow n was futil e .
H e si mply buried h is arm s to the sho ulder s i n

th e y ieldi ng s no w w itho ut fi n di n g anyth i n g
o n wh i ch t o get a p u r ch ase Hal w a s j ubil an t
. .
W he n y o u r e d ow n sta y d ow n
’
he
”
ye lped .
“
Laugh at m e ,w il l y ou ?
Walte r h ad b y th is ti m e m an a ge d to k ic k
h is shoes o ff an d o n ce fre e o fthese w a s soo n
on h is feet a nd w a s e nj o yin g th e j oke as mu ch
as a ny o n e B oth h e an d Hal we r e u p to
.
their h ips i n th e sn o w ,fo r h ere amo n g th e

eve r g r een s i t h a d n o t pa c ked an d flou nd e r as
th ey wo ul d t h e y c ou l d n ot get out .
Th e d o c to r s e y es twi n kled as he p ic k ed U p
’
Hal s sh oes a n d h a nd e d th e m to hi m
’
Well , .
”
bo y s , sai d h e , i t s high ti m e w e we r e hi tt i n g
’
th e tra i l agai n S u ppose y ou p ut yo u r s h oe s

.
”
o n, an d we l l make u p fo r lost ti m e
’
.
Hal too k th e shoes an d th e n look ed he lp

l essl y across at W alte r ,wh o h ad j ust se cured
h is ,an d i t s udde n l y occu rred to h i m th a t pe r
h aps the do c t or s rema r k w a s no t so g u i leles s
’
a s i t seeme d .
’
CA MP 1 1 1
“
Ho w i n th u n de r are we goi ng to ? he
d eman ded ,vai nly tryi n g t o force a shoe do w n
to meet an u prais e d foot h alf way ,i n the -
doi n g of w h ich h e on ce more lost h is balan ce .
“
I tho ught I sh owed yo u fello w s j u s t h o w
to p ut yo u r shoes on thi s m orn i ng A goo d .
S co ut ough t not to h a v e t o be sho wn twice

ho w to do a si mple thi n g li ke t ha t , sai d Pat,
”
w i t ho u t cracki n g a smi le . What k i n d of

“
S c outs are you , any way ,cr yi n g for hel p th e

”
fi rst t i me y o u t u m ble i n a li ttl e bi t of sno w ?
Who s c ryi n g for help ? deman ded U pto n ,
’ ”
va i n l y stri vi n g t o get a shoe d ow n w here h e

c ould ge t hi s foot i nto th e fasten i n g . I
w o uld n t take an y help n o w i f I though t
’
I d got to sta y here all da y Take that and

’
.
”
that !
He bega n to d i g fu ri ousl y w i th th e sho e ,
t hrowi n g th e sn o w w ith m al ic e afore t ho u gh t
full i n Pa t s face Hal i n s t an tly took th e o ne
’
a n d there was a hasty re t reat on th e part o f

their torm en t ors , i n th e m idst o f wh ich
S parrer cam e to grief an d h ad h i s tu rn at
the sn o w sho e r s baptis m I n a few mi n u tes
-
’
.
W al ter h ad d ug away en ough s n o w to get

his shoes u nder h i m an d walk ed forth i n
t ri u mph ,fo llo w e d by Ha l S pa rrer ,
. an xious
to pr o ve h i mself a g o od spo rt ,refuse d al l ai d .
B ei ng s m al l a n d lig h t h e h ad n ot s u n k i n a s
the othe r s h ad a n d m an aged to get o n e sho e
u nde r h i m W i th th is fo r a s upport h e s o o n
.
h ad th e o t h e r fas t e n ed I t was the work o fa

.
m o m e n t to adj ust th e first o n e a n d h e w a s

re ad y to tak e h is pla c e i n l in e .
Th er e w e r e n o mor e m ish aps an d as th e y

t r a m pe d o n th ro ugh th e grea t still woodla n d
th e w on de r an d the beaut y of i t si le nc e d
the m ,fo r i t see med li ke a V ast c ath edral i n
w h i c h th e h u man v oi c e wo ul d b e a profa na
ti o n o f th e solem n h u sh U pto n k n ew e v e ry
.
foo t w ith i n a radi us o ftwo m iles o fW o o dcraft

C am p ,a n d for fi v e mi les i n th e di rectio n i n
w hi c h the y were h eadi n g ,an d y et n ot e v e n
to S pa rr e r d i d th e su rrou nd i n gs seem m o re
stran ge ,su ch i s th e alch emy o fth e sn ow k i n g
to make the famili ar u n fam il iar ,the co m mo n
pla c e beau ti ful S O i t was th at w he n at th e
.
en d o f three m iles t h e y e m erged o n th e sh o re

o fa frozen shee t o fwate r W al t er at first fai l ed
u tterly to r e c ogn i ze i t ,an d i t was n o t u n ti l

Pat ma d e som e refere nc e to th e h u ge pi ck e r e l
Walte r h ad c a ug ht d ur i ng h is fir st s um mer a t
1 1 4 TH E B OT SCO U TS
doing t ha t I w i l l s ta r t a fi re and get t hi n gs

starte d fo r l u n ch .
S pa rr e r ,h avi n g n o ax e ,b u t a sto u t S c o u t
k n i fe ,v o l u n teere d to c u t th e alde r sapl i n gs
w hi le Hal an d Walte r atten de d to t h e hole s
i n th e ice Ha l w a s r ad ia n t Th is w a s o n e
. .
o f th e th i n gs h e h a d c o u n t ed o n , an d h e h a d
b r o ugh t fro m Ne w Yo r k a d oze n t y pe ,as th e
m od er n ti p u ps fo r fish i n g th r oug h th e i ce a r e
-
c a l l e d B ut w h e n t h e y h ad s t arte d o u t th at
.
morn i n g h e h ad n ot d rea med that he w o uld

h ave a c h ance to u se them o n a s n ow sho e -
tri p ,a nd s o t hey w ere n eatl y ro lle d i n h is

du flfle bag at th e cam p .
Wo nder w h a t k i n d of a r ig th e Bi g C hi ef
h as got , an d h o w h e s goin g to use those sti c ks ,
’
s ai d h e t o U p t o n a s h e cam e up to w h e r e Wa l te r
w as m aki n g th e i ce fl y i n gl itt erin g ch ip s .
Do n t k no w ,bu t wh a t e v e r i t i s y o u c a n
’
”
b e t yo ur l ast dollar i t i s al l righ t , r epl ied
”
Wal t e r . Ho w ma n y h ol es h a v e you cu t ?
“
Fi ve ; I m goi n g to chop o n e mo r e o v e r
’
th ere to ward th e n orth shore Ho w m a ny .
h ave yo u ? r eplied Hal .
“
S ix Th at o u gh t to be a goo d pl a c e o v e r
.
t here , a n d that wi ll mak e th e d o z e n H er e .

’
CA M P 1 1
5
c ome S parre r an d the B ig C h ief,an d I guess
w e ll soon see w hat the i dea is
’
. Pat m ust
ha v e fo un d th e spri n g Open ,fo r S pa rr e r ha s
”
th e pai l
.
The guess w a s a good o n e,fo r w h e n h e

p e epe d i n th e pai l W alt er fo u n d that i t c o n
ta in ed a Oouple of do z e n m i n nows . Togeth e r
the three walked o v e r t o wh ere Hal was j ust
fi n ish i ng t h e last hol e Th e doc t or took fro m
.
u n der his ar m a bun dle of shor t pie c es of lath ,

e ach abo ut eightee n i n ches lon g ,taperi n g
toward on e end ,to w hic h was fas t en ed a bi t o f
red flan nel . Two i nches fro m the other en d
w as a h ole big eno ugh fo r on e of t h e alder sticks
to pass thro ug h freely Fasten ed close to th e
.
e n d ,an d nea t ly wo u n d aro u n d i t ,w a s a short

length of s t o u t li n e on t h e en d of wh i ch w a s a
b o o k wi th wi re sn ell
. U n wi n di n g on e o ft hese
l i n es the doc t or passed on e of t he alder sticks
th rough th e h ole i n t h e la t h ,bai t ed the hoo k
w ith a li v ely m i n no w an d dropped i t t h roug h
th e hole i n th e i ce Th e alde r stick w a s
.
placed across th is so th a t th e la t h came i n th e

m i ddle an d lay o n the i ce at ri gh t an gles A .
pull o n the li n e wo uld drag th e e n d o fth e

la th do w n ,m aki n g i t stan d uprigh t w i th its
l i tt le red si g n al o n th e en d ,and th at was all
there was to i t .
I t was s i m pl e i n th e e x t r e m e ,b u t q u ite as
effective a s Hal s m ore elab or ate ty pe c o uld
’
h ave bee n ,as w a s p re se n tl y d emonstrate d .
They were j ust prepa ri n g to set th e last ti p U p -
wh en Hal ,glan c i n g o ver to th e fi rst o n e set ,

saw th e red sig n al a n d w i th a w ild y ell o f
We ve got o n e ! We ve got o n e ! starte d
’ ’
for i t at to p spe ed Th e oth ers pau se d to se e

.
w h at th e r esu lt wo u l d be , and s a w h i m y a n k
ou t a flappi n g pri ze .
”
I t s a bea ut !
’
h e pa n ted as h e rej oin ed
th e m , hold i n g o u t a h an d so m e pickerel B et
.
“
i t weigh s fi v e po u nds if i t w eigh s a n o unc e .
”
Say , th i s is great !
Th e fi sh was al r ead y sti ff, but m u ch t o th ei r
s u rprise th e d oc to r told the m i t w a s n ot dead ,
frozen fish oft en retai n i n g l ife fo r som e t i me
aft er bei n g ta ken fro m th e water H e n ow .
l eft th e tip u ps to th e care of the th r ee b o ys ,

-
w ar ni n g th e m to m ake frequ en t r o un ds o fth e

h ol es to b reak t h e i ce as i t for m ed an d k eep
th e l i n es free Th e fish h e too k wi t h h i m to
.
w h ere Moth e r Merri am was bu s y besi d e t he

fire ,for which Pat wa s c h op p in g wood .
hu ngry b o y s wi th appeti t es w h etted by e x
c r o ise i n th e keen air ! Th e s n o w h ad be en
sh o veled aw a y n earl y to the g r o u n d fo r the
bed log s fo r th e fi re a nd a m pl e spa c e c lea r e d
i n fro n t an d spread w i th b a lsa m bo u gh s o n
w hich to s i t Th ere w a s a stea mi n g k ettle o f
.
pea so u p an d a pot o f h o t c hocolate Th e .
pi ckerel h ad bee n S pl i t an d ,broi l e d i n h al v es

pi n n ed t o pi e c es o fh emlo c k bark , stoo d befo re
t h e fi re an d baste d w ith baco n d ri ppi n gs .
The re w a s a v e n iso n steak do ne to a tur n , for
th e d oc t or had h un g a d ee r i n hi s i ce ho u se
at the e nd o f th e open season . The re were
p ot a t o es boil e d i n t h ei r j ackets
. There w a s a
br o w n j oh nn y cake baked i n a reflecto r oven ,
-
an d to cap all a pla t e of th e dough n u ts fo r
wh i c h Mo t h e r Merri am was fa m o us .
An d you cal l th is a l u n c h c ried Wa l t er

wh en h e h ad ea t en u n ti l h e had to let o u t h is
bel t .
“
NO won der i t req u i red t w o packs to
bri n g i t h ere W ell ,is th ere an y th i n g t o
.
beat this i n New York ? ”
“
Not i n a tonsa n d y ea r s O i m go in g t o
.
’
ru n a way an d li v e h e r e , d eclar e d S parre r ,

”
an d wh il e the others lau gh ed h e sta r ed w i t h

d r e a my ey es i n t o t h e l eapi n g fla me s o f t he
IN A TR A P P E R S
’
CA MP 1 1 9
h uge fi re P a t h a d bu il t ,an d w h o sh al l sa y b u t
that i n t hem h e saw t h e sy m bols o fn ew hopes
a n d ambi t ion s spri n gi n g fro m th e c olo r less ,
sor di d dru dge ry whi c h u n ti l th is t i me h ad
been h is li fe.
Afte r th e m ea l w a s fi n is hed and t he dishes

wa sh e d th ere w a s a n ho u r Of sto ry t e l l in g b y
-
t he doc t or ,e n di n g wi th the si n gin g of Am e r

ica un de r th e to weri n g sno w lade n sp ruc e s
-
an d th e n th e hom eward trip Tha n ks to thei r

.
e x p er ie nc es o n th e o u twa r d t r ip and th e
wa tch ful ness r esultin g th e r efrom th e r e w e re
n o furth e r m i sh aps ,an d w he n th ey r ea c hed
c am p a n d k icked o f f th e bi g webs o n ce more
t h e bo y s were r eady to v ote their first day i n
wi n te r woods al l t hat t h ey had drea m ed i t

w ould be an d more . Al so they w ere quite
willi n g to seco nd an d carry by u n an i m ou s vot e
th e motio n th at they seek their beds ear ly i n
prepar atio n fo r a n ear l y s ta r t th e ne xt day.
C HA PTE R V I I
ON T H E TRA I L
DAY was j us t br e a ki n g w h en t he boys bade
far e well t o D oc t or an d Mothe r Me r r i a m , and
w i th a h o t b r eakfast u n de r thei r bel ts sta r t ed
fo r th e t rappin g ca m p As y et Pa t h a d g i v en
:
.
n o h i n t a s t o w he re i t w as locat e d , a n d Wal te r
an d Hal ,r espe c ti n g h is re ti cenc e ,forb ore t o
ask q uesti on s W a lte r di d v en t ur e t o a s k i f
.
the y wo uld r each th ere befo r e da r k .
”
N O ,r eplied Pat . W e l l h av e t o m ak e a
’
c amp to n igh t , a n d adva nc e d no fur t her in

-
for mation .
Al l th ei r du fl le a n d th e su ppl ie s whi c h P a t
f
was taki n g i n were loaded o n th e tobogga n ,

an d to th i s Pat h ad ri gged a sort o f h arn ess
s o that tw o wal ki ng si n gle file coul d d r ag i t .
Th is r eli e v ed th e m of packs W alt er a n d Hal

.
e ach carried h is r i fle on th e c h a nc e o fpi c ki n g

up a r abbi t o n th e wa y Th e s no w shoes
.
-
wer e s l un g o v er th ei r ba c ks , P a t e x p la i n in g
1 20
cr ie d . Th is my ste r io u s ca mp o f yours is
“
th e c abi n i n S m u ggl ers Hollo w ,and we re ’ ’
goi n g to c a m p t o n ight at Li ttle Go o s e P o nd .
M ore th an that ,y o u r partn e r i s Ale c S m it h .
Wh y di d n t I gue s s i t b e fore ? O w n u p now ,

’
o ld Cra ft y !
Q “ui t e u naba s hed , P a t bes

”
t owed a g rin on
U pt on Th re e b u ll s e y es , he com m e n te d
’
-
. .
I v e b een wonde ri ng h o w l o n g i t w o uld t a k e

’
y o u f ellows t o c at c h th e scen t B e gan . t o

”
t h in k I d h av e t o ru b yo ur n oses i n i t
’
.
“
H urra h ! i n t err u pt ed H al ,
”
w ho h ad been
a n eage r li st en e r I n e v er th ough t o f th e
“
.
Ho llo w ,and y et t here is n o p l a ce I s h ould

li ke to go t o s o m u ch as t ha t S a y ,Wa l t ,
.
t h ese h ea d s o f o u r s s ure a re th ic k D o n t .
’
yo u rem e m b er th at Pat tol d u s th at fi rs t

ni gh t i n Ne w York th at Ale c w a s t ra ppi n g ,
an d th e last h e h eard O f h i m h e was o ve r i n
th e Hol l o w ? Well ,we d m ake good de t ec t ’
i v es ,we wo ul d I ve d o n e a lot o fwo nd e ri n g

.
’
a bo u t Pat s pa r t n e r an d w h at sort o f a fe llow

’
he wo u l d p r o v e to be an d wh eth er o r no t
w e d l i k e hi m An d to thi n k i t s A l e c ! I f
’ ’
.
y o u w ere n t su c h a you n g an d te n de r i n n o
’
«
cen t I d th ro w yo u i n th e sno w and gi ve y o u

’
’
IN A TR A P P E R S CA MP 1 2
3
a sh am po o W h a t d o y o u s a y ,
. Wal t , t o d o i ng
i t a ny wa y ?
“
Co m e o n ! cried Pat , th e t wo o f you ,
“
or all th r e e
“
Upt on s h oo k h is h ead mo u rn fu l l y Id ’
.
l i k e to ,b u t i t w o u ld n t b e r ight He i s n t as
’
.
’
big as th e t w o o f us ,an d so i t wo uld n t d o ’
a t all It w o u ld be th e sa m e a s a big fe llo w

.
pi cki ng o n a li t tle o n e Yo u k n o w I thrash e d

.
h i m on c e for doi ng that ver y th i n g ,an d now

i f we sho u ld tu rn a r o u n d a n d do i t I m afraid ’
t h e force o f m y beau tiful e x am ple wo uld be

wh o ll y dest r o ye d . I tell yo u w h a t ,you do i t
a lo n e , Hal .
“
He s too smal l , d e c l a r ed Hal
’ “
Th at s
.
’
wh y I w an ted y o u to help Th en my c o n
.
s cien c e wo uld be o nly h alf gu i lty I m goin g ’

.
to let hi m off this ti m e w ith j u s t a snow ball .
S ui ti n g h is acti on to t h e word h e l anded a

bi g soft snowball full o n th e side of Pat s head ’
.
Pat made a r ush for h i m ,bu t W alte r th r ust

o u t a foot an d sen t h i m headlon g i n to the
s n o w ,an d before h e co uld r egai n h i s feet Ha l

w a s o n h i m e n deavo r i n g t o wash his fa ce w ith
sn o w I n a se c on d t h ere w a s the l i veliest k ind
.
o f a s n o w figh t ,U pto n an d S p ar r er y e llin g en e

c o u ra gem en t w i t h ab sol u t e i m pa r tial i t y I t .
”
en ded w ith H al s sm oth er ed cry o f e nou g h
’ “
a n d Pat s all ow i n g h i m u p j u s t i n ti m e to see

’
Walte r and th e n S pa r re r u n c ere mon i o u s l y

p it c h e d i n t o th e sn o w ,b y wa y o f show ing th a t
a l l S cou ts are e q u al ,P a t ex plai ned ,a s he
ru bb ed th e i r fac e s .
P an t in g and glo w i n g f rom t h e frolic t hey

p u t ou t th e fi r e bu ilt to b ea t th ei r soup an d
were r ea dy t o h i t th e t r ai l a g a in F r o m th i s
.
po in t on t he sn o w shoe s w er e an abso lu te n e
-
c es s ity , fo r t hey le ft th e l u m b er t r a il for
ano th er t en m i les th ro ugh th e w o od s Th is .
ti me th e y w ere n o t d epe n de n t o n the blaz e d

trees as th ey h ad bee n w h e n th e y w e n t that
w ay i n th e fall ,fo r so me o n e had be en o v er th e
trail si n ce th e last s n owfall ,e viden tl y co min g
o u t fro m Li t tl e Goose Pat s t u died th e t r a c ks
.
fo r a few m i n u tes Then hi s face c lea r e d

. It.
”
w as B ig Ji m ,said h e .I wo n de r n o w i f h e
“
too k a l o o k i n t h e Hol lo w to see h o w Al ec w as

getti n g o n He m ay h ave bee n ove r t o th e
.
G illic u ddy c am p ,th e trai l fro m wh i ch c o m es

i n at th e po n d ,yo u re m em ber ,b ut I h av e a n
i dea h e s w u n g aro un d to s ee A l e c I w on d er.
no w where h e s a w th a t fox I j u st to o k i t fo r
.
1 26 TH E B OY S C O U TS
i t w a s B ig J i m a s I a m that i f w e do n t ge t a ’
h u stle o n w e ll h ave to c a m p i n th e s no w ,
’
an d
i t l l be a lo t m o r e c o m for t abl e at th e po nd
’
.
W e ve got an oth er l o n g h i ke to m o rrow ,

’
-
and
”
w e wa n t to b e i n s ha pe to d o i t .
F o r som e mi le s th e goi n g w as fa i rly l ev el ,

an d o n c e th e y ha d got i n t o th e swi n g o fth e
th i n g th e bo y s fo u n d it c om parati vel y ea s y .
Th e re w e r e t w o o r th ree m ishaps ,bu t thes e

w ere c o un ted part o f th e spo r t Ab ou t tw o.
m il e s fr o m th ei r d est in at i o n t h e y cam e t o a
sp u r o f a m o u n ta i n o v er w h i ch th e t r ai l l e d .
I n fact ,i t w as th e v ery sp u r o n th e o th e r si de
o f wh i c h S pu d E ly had o v e r r u n the tra il a nd
got lo st th e fall pre v ious Pat called a h al t

. .
I t s goi n g t o be n o sm all j ob t o get this

’
l oa d u p th ere , sai d he . W e ca n g o aro u nd

th e spu r ,bu t to do th at w il l add a g oo d thre e
m i les ,an d i n th e v all ey i t wi ll be dark before
w e c a n r each cam p . What do y o u th i n k ?
Are yo u gam e to try t h e hi l l ?
“
T h e h il l ! The b ill ! Follo w m e ,c o m
r ades , U p yo n d er h ei gh ts ,a n d dri v e th e en em y
”
f r o m th ei r gu n s ! sh ou te d Hal ,st ri ki n g a
h ero ic attitud e and p r ete ndin g t o fl ou r ish an
i maginary s word .
IN A TR A P P E CA
’
R S MP 1
“
W h ere li ves th e S co u t, b y di fficu l t i es p res s ed ,
W h o w i ll a d m i t a c hi c k e n h ea rt p o s s es s ed ?
Wh o w ill n o t ra th er b ra v ely fa c e t h e w u s t
A nd do a n d d a re a n d c o n q uer o r go b us t ! “
B ra v o c r i e d Walte r .
“
Wh e n d a res o u r co m ra de co i n a nd u se a w o rd
li k e w u s t
W e ll t a k e h is d a re
’
a n d s ee w ho ll sca l e
’
y o n
hill s id e fu s t
Lead o n ,M r Malon e W e ll m a k e i t or die
. .
’
in th e attempt .
All righ t ,me bra v e S c o u ts ,r eplied Pat .
U p we go ! Ti s a chan ce to se e t he k i n d o f
’
stu ffth at s i n th e li kes of y o u ,fo r twi ll be n o

’ ’
chi ld s p l a y gettin g t hi s load u p the r e An d

’
.
w hen we get up th ere whe r e y o u see th e ba r e

r ock w atch you r footi n g That rock i s slip .
”
pery ,an d a fal l th ere wou ld be seriou s .
Th e n e x t h al f ho u r was o n e o f pan ti n g ,
s wea t i n g toi l I n the fi rs t place ,as soon as
.
th e g ra de bega n to rise sh arpl y t h e boys fou n d

th a t t h e on ly way th ey could progress was by
diggi n g t h ei r toes i n t o th e sno w t hrough th e
toe hol es i n th e shoes ,wh ich b r o u gh t a n
added s t ra in o n t h e already weary m u scles of
t he c al v es I t wou l d h ave b e e n ba d e n o u g h
.
i n V iew o f the ir i n expe r ie n c e ift h e y h a d h a d

n oth i n g else t o co n si de r ,b u t th ere was that
h e a v y l o ad ,an d i t gre w h ea vi e r e v er y m i n u te .
As they got h igh er wh e r e th e w i n d h a d h ad

ful l s weep t h e re w as c omparativel y l i t tle
s no w ,a n d i n so me pla c es th e bare r ock was
e x posed He r e th e y fo u n d i t easie r goi ng
.
W i tho u t th e s n o w shoes tha n w i th the m

-
.
Ha u li n g a n d pu sh i n g th e y w or k ed th e to
bo gga n u p u n ti l at last th e sp ur w as cr ossed .
”
Gee w h iz ! ex c l ai m e d Hal “
I m s w eat
.
’
i n g li ke a b u t c h er Th at s what I c al l w ork
‘
’
.
”
A n d we re doi n g i t fo r fu n ,a dd e d U pto n
’
.
F u n ny wh at a d i fferen ce th e view poi nt -
m ak es I su ppose i t s al l i n t h e way y o u look

.
’
a t i t wh eth e r work i s fu n o r fu n i s wo r k I .
c a n tel l yo u o n e t h i n g ,an d th at is that I fo r

o n e a m m igh ty glad that the re i s n t ano th er
’
o n e o f those t h i n gs to c r oss to da y I m afrai d’

-
.
I d l i e d o w n an d holle r qu its What a re you

’
.
r u bbi n g yo u r legs for ,S pa rrer ?

J ust feel i n g of e m t o get w i se i f dey s a ll
’ ’
”
d er e , r eplied S parre r .
The r ema in de r o f th e t r ai l to L i tt l e G oose

w a s co mparati v ely eas y a n d th e y r eached t he
f a m ilia r ea n t o j ust a s d u sk was se tt li ng
j
-
1
Hal got to h i s feet w ith a groa n a nd a g ri ~
m a c e a n d follo w ed U pto n w ho ,w ith a n othe r

a xe ,had alread y s t ar t ed fo r th e wood pi le -
.
“
Yo u re a slave d r i ver ! That s wh at y o u
’ ’
ar e , a fl in t h ea r ted slave d r ive r ,h e gr u m bled ,

-
”
al b e i t wi th a twi n kl e th at bel ie d h i s w o rd s .
“
My t u
,,
m m y Oh my tu mmy !
I t g i v es m e s u c h a p a i n
I w o n d er w ill it ev er
F eel rea lly fu ll i

a ga n 1 ”
Tha td epen ds o n h o w soo n you g e t th at

”
w ood spli t , gri n n ed Pat If y o u do n t get
.
’
a m ove o n i t w il l be so d ark y o u ca n t se e ’
w hat yo u are d oi ng ,a n d I give y o u fai r w a rn

—
i n g n o wood , n o d i n ner .
“
L et i t n ev er b e s a id I a m ev er a S h i rk
W h en a di n n er d ep en d s o n th e w a y th a t I w o rk ,
”
r et or te d Hal a n d forth w i th fel l to h i s t as k

h
w i th a v i m t ha t pu t U pto n o n h i s m ett l e to
b r eak even wi th h i m ,fo r Hal w a s n o me a n
ax ema n ,as Pat wel l k n e w Th e h a n d li n g o f .
a n a x e w as on e of th e th i n gs w h i ch Hal h a d
l ea rn e d ,a nd le arn ed wel l d u r i n g h is th r e e
s u m m e r s i n th e woods To th e tho r o u gh .
wood s m a n an ax e i s a com p lete t ool ches t -

.
N CA
’
I A TR A P P E R S MP 1
3 1
Wi th i t h e c an d o al most anyth i n g that n eeds

to be do ne fro m t he cu tti n g o ffi re w ood t o the
-
buildi n g of a log cabi n .
S parre r w a s pu t to work p u ll in g do wn th e
hemlock boughs wh i c h h ad bee n piled i n
fron t of the lea n to to keep o u t the sno w ,
-
w hil e Pat u n packed thi n gs ,started th e fi r e

an d m ade prepara t io n s for th e e v en in g meal .
Th is w a s S parrer s firs t experie n c e i n a

’
lea n to ,an d w h en t he bough s were o ut of the

-
w a y h e exam i n ed i t wi t h i n t eres t Th e back

.
an d two en ds were of logs ,the fron t bei n g

ope n i ts who le wid t h Th e roof was of big
.
sheets o f h emlock bark laid overlappi n g an d

w ith a sharp pitch to t h e back .
O n th e gro un d abo ut se v e n feet fro m th e

rea r wal l two si x foot logs abou t eigh t i n c h e s
-
th r ou gh h ad bee n s taked en d t o en d s o th at
th ey r ea c h e d fro m o n e sid e wal l to the othe r .
Mid way a si mil ar log h a d been laid across to

th e rear wal l ,maki ng two pens ,as i t were .
Th ese h a d been fil led wi t h smal l ba lsa m

boughs t h rus t at an an gle ,bu t ts dow n ,s o
”
that th ey sh in g led , an d packed c l o se ly
“
.
Th e resul t was two beds fi ft een i n ches th i c k

a n d so spri ngy an d c om fo r table that i t mad e
1
o ne s le ep y j u st to l o ok a t t h e m I t w a s pe r
.
!
h aps th ree feet fr o m t he b e d s to th e ope n

fron t I n th is spac e a t o n e e nd w a s a tabl e
.
tw o feet sq u a r e m a de b y d ri vin g fo u r stak es

i n to th e g r o u nd a n d n a i l i n g o n a top made
o fa flatte n e d sh e et o fc e d a r bark .
A l ittle s n o w had si fted i n th ro ugh th e p r o

te eti n g boughs an d th is S p a r r e r swept o u t
w i th a fi r b o u gh fo r a broom Pat ,m ea n .
w h il e ,h a d a k ett le o f s n o w m el t in g fo r wat er
f o r s o u p and w as m ix i n g u p a j oh n ny c a ke -
.
Th e r efle c to r ove n w a s set befor e th e fi re to

g et h eated an d w hi l e S p arr e r h elpe d bri n g in
th e w o od w h i c h th e t w o choppers h ad spl it
P a t sli c e d baco n a n d pu t i t o n to parboil i n
th e fr y i n g pa n ,h avi n g m el t e d s no w t o m ak e
-
w ate r e n ou gh to cove r i t .
“
Wot y o use do i n g th a t fo r ? a sk ed S p arrer .
”
O i though t y ous e al wa y s fri e d ba c o n .
To get so m e Of th e sa l t o u t o f i t ,son ,re

pli e d Pat .
“
I l l fry i t all r igh t w h e n th e
’
t i m e c o m es Ju st yo u l ay ou t t h e pl ates a nd
.
”
c ups wh ere th ey wi ll k eep w a rm .
S par r er ran ged th e fou r agate war e p l ates ,-
w hi ch we r e r eally sh allo w pa n s so th at so u p
co u ld be ser ved in th em as w e ll a s dry fo od ,
1
S ome t hing wor t h sa vi n g y o ur a pp e t i t e
o r, r epl i ed
f P a t ,re g r easi n g th e pa n a n d
-
po u rin g in th e r e m a ind e r o fhi s ba tte r fo r a n

othe r c ak e H e po ur ed o ff a l l bu t a little of
.
th e ba con fat fro m t h e bi g fr y i n g pa n ,a n d -
th e n d r opp ed i n t o i t a slice o f m eat w h i c h h e

ha d kept h idde n u nd e r a to wel .
“
V eni s on ,b y a l l that s g r eat ! sh o u te d
’
Hal as th e m eat b egan to si z zle o n th e h o t

ir o n . Wh y d i d n t y o u tell u s y o u h a d ve n
’
i s o n ,s o that th e tho ugh t o f i t w o ul d h av e

”
h e lped us u p that pesk y h il l ?
T is th e do c th o r s c o n tri b u ti on t o t he j o y
’ ’
a v l ivi n g , r esp on ded Pat ,d eft ly fl ippi ng

”
th e steak o v er to sea r th e ot her s i d e But .

“
I m ist ru st y ez h a v e eaten s o m u ch a lr ea dy
thot t is no t th e lo ik es a v y ez w i ll be wan ti n g
’
m o r e th a n m a y be a w ee bite B ut n ev er ye .
m o in d Tis m es elfwi l l do j u st ice t o t he doc

’
.
”
t h o r a nd h is gift .
“
Do n t yo u beli ev e i t ! roar e d t he t hree
’
i n un iso n .
Th e s t eak an d t h e seco n d j oh nny ca k e w e re -
d one together an d were fin ished togeth er to

t he l ast scrap an d c r u mb ,a n d alo ng wi t h
t h e m w e n t h o t c h o co l a te Th e r e w as a gen
.
’
35
e r al l oosen i n g of belts ,and the n Hal brok e th e
silen c e o f conten tm en t w h ic h had fal le n o n
the l ittl e group .
“
My t u mm y, Oh , my t u mm y !
I t h a s n o w a n o t h er p a i n
I w i s h t h a t i t w ere em p t y
Th a t i t m i gh t b e fi ll ed a gai n,
”
s ai d h e ,g azi n g m ou r n full y i n t o h i s em pt y
plate .
“
Them s my se n ti men ts too ,sai d Walt e r ,
’
w h e n the laugh that followed had s u bside d .
“
B u t a n y fello w who spri ngs a th i n g li ke
that has to p ay fo r it I m o ve th a t Hal w as h
.
”
the dishes All in favo r s a y aye
. .
Three a y es m ade th e woods r i n g .
o pposed say n o I
Hal s No w a s shou te d at the to p o f his
’
l u n gs .
’
Ti s a vote ,decla r ed Wal te r M r Ha r . .
r iso n will n o w atten d to h i s d uties a n d c a r r y

”
o u t th e actio n of this assem bl y .
Aft er th e dishes were o u t o f th e w a y Pa t

bui l t a h uge fi re wi t h t hree great backlogs
on e above anoth er an d slan t i n g back to k eep
the m fr o m r oll i n g down The y w ere held in
.
p l a c e b y b r a c es at th e back I n fro n t o fth ese
.
smalle r logs were pi led ,t h e backlogs refle c ti ng

th e heat for wa r d i n t o t h e lean to The n th e
-
.
bla n ket s w e re spread o n th e r ough beds ,an d

w i t h a l l the i r c loth i n g on ,i n cl udi n g m oc
c a s in s ,four w ear y y o u n g woo d s men tu r n ed in
fo r th e n i g ht .
Pat wa s a s lee p a l m ost a s soon as b e tou c h e d

th e bed ,and Hal an d U p t o n w ere not fa r
beh i n d h i m B u t to S par r e r ,tired as h e w a s ,
.
th e n o velt y o fh i s su r r o u n d i n gs w a s too g reat

fo r i m m edi ate sleep ,an d fo r a lon g ti m e h e
l a y stari n g o u t a t th e fli ck erin g flames an d
abov e th em a t th e bril lia n t stars ,h i s acti v e
i m agi n atio n k e y ed to a hi gh pi tch I t w a s .
l i ke fa i ry l a n d to h i m Noth i n g see m e d r ea l
-
. .
He h a d r ead a n d h ear d o f th ese th i n gs ,bu t

t h at h e ,E ddi e M uldoon ,c ou ld ac t u all y b e
expe r i e nc i n g th em ,sleepi n g i n a real h u n ter s ’
cam p i n th e dea d of w i n te r ,tram pi n g o n

sn o w sh o es th r o u gh g r eat lon ely forests ,eati n g
-
su ch meals as h e h ad n e v e r k n ow n before i n a l l
—
hi s sho r t l i fe m eals cooked ove r open fi res i n
the g r eat w o n de r ful o u t o fdo or s ,c ou ld n t b e
- -
’
.
A n d y et h ere h e was .
Th e fi re di e d d o wn u n til only a d eep g lo w,

CHA PTE R V I I I
A L EC H IN TS AT DA RK T H I NG S
HA L wi lli n g to sw ear th at h e had no t
was
be en asl eep m ore th a n te n mi n utes w h e n h e
w a s awake n ed b y t he beati n g o fa pa n w i th a
s t ic k a n d Pat s roar of B reakfast Al l h an ds
’ “
”
o u t fo r b r eakfast ! H e r olled ove r sleepi l y
so as t o look o u t P a t w as la u gh i n g a t
.
h i m B e y o n d the fireligh t a n d fr o m th e
.
ti n y st r i p of sk y a bove the da r k tre e t 0 ps

h e co u ld see a fe w pale st ars bli n ki n g a t h i m
w e a kl y .
A w, Pat ,th a t s n o j o ke Y o u m a y th i n k
’
.
”
i t s fu n ny ,b u t i t i s n t , h e g r ow led ,a n d th e r e
’ ’
w as a n ot e o f r e a l a n ge r th i s ti m e .
”
Wh at ? dema n de d Pat w it h a deep
th r o a ty ch uc kl e .
—
Y o u k n o w w hat wak in g a fel le r u p w h e n
h e s j ust got t o sleep a n d is d ead t i r e d a n d got
’
a h a r d d ay c o mi n g flared Hal .
“
Ais y ,aisy ,so n 1 Do ye th i n k I w ou ld
be fryin g b acon i n th e m iddle o fth e n igh t fo r
1 38
IN A TR APPE R S
’
CAMP 1
39
a j oke ? Tis m es elf has bee n u p th is goo d
’
ho u r an d t is si x o clock th is ve ry min u t e
’ ’
.
’
Twi ll be dayligh t by the to im e we b e re ad y
”
to sta r t ,r etur n ed Pat good h u m o redly
-
.
Hal had i t o n the tip of h is t ongue t o s a y

th at he did n t believe i t ,but by t h is t i m e h e
’
w a s su f fi cien tly a w ake to s m ell the ba con a n d

h ear i t siz z l e a n d sp u tte r i n the pa n Mor e .
o v e r ,hi s c ompan ions we r e al r ead y k ick i n g

of f t hei r bla n kets ,a n d he had the go o d sense
to rea l ize that Pat mean t j ust what he said .
S till ,i t w a s h ard to believe ,a n d i t was n ot

u n ti l he had rea c hed fo r h i s watch t ha t he
was c on vi n ced that i t reall y was t i m e to pre
p a r e fo r a noth e r day s tramp The n h e has t il y
’
.
c r awled fro m h is bla n kets ,h is good h u mo r

fully r est or ed ,fo r Hal w a s a good sport ,an d
the r e w as n othi n g of the sh i r k abou t h i m .
I beg p a rdon ,Pat , said h e ,as h e j o in ed

”
th e tw o sh i v eri ng figu r es cro wdi n g as c lose t o

th e fir e as they co uld com fortably get w h ile
they watched Pat sti r u p the pa n cak e batte r .
“
I hones t ly tho ugh t you w er e u p to on e o f
you r ol d tri cks a n d p u tti n g somethi n g ac r oss
o n us Doesn t seem a s i f I d more th an
.
’ ’
c l ose d my eye s Phe w ! b u t it s co ld 1

’
.
It w a s I t wa s t he h o ur j ust b efore t he
.
br eak o fd a y w he n , pe r haps be c a use th e bl oo d

h as no t ye t begu n to circ ulat e freel y ,th e c ol d
see m s to h ave r ea c h ed i ts m axi m u m o f
stren gth B e yond th e n ar r o w rad i us o f t h e
.
glo w fro m th e fi re i t s ee m e d to fai rly bit e t o

th e bo n e .
“
Get b u s y wi t h th e axe a nd you l l fo r get
’
i t , advised Pat ,addi n g , I t is th e co ur tesy

“
of th e woods t o l ea v e a l i ttl e wood r ea dy fo r

th e n ext fello w wh o m ay h i t cam p late ,as w e
d id yeste r da y Yo u ll h a v e j ust abo ut t i me
’
en o u gh to get wa rm ed u p befo re thes e fl a p

”
j a c ks a re read y .
G ood i dea l cried Wal te r ,sei zin g an axe .
“
C o m e o n ,yo u fel lows ! S pa r re r can l u g i t
”
in as we spli t i t .
A t th e e n d o fte n m i n u tes Pat c al led t h e m

t o eat ,a n d b y that ti me they had fo r gotten
th e c old ,fo r th e y we r e i n a war m glo w fro m
e xe rci se .
“
I l l b e t it w a s c old i n th e n i gh t , sa i d
’
U pt on as they sat do w n t o ba c on ,fl a pj a c k s
an d h ot c hocolate .
R igh t y o u ar e ,my bo y , r epl ie d P a t .
Wh en I go t u p th e s econd ti me i t w as col d
1 4 2 TH E B OT S CO U TS
fe llo w s ,and t he s oon e r we g et sta r te d t h e

”
b e t t er.
As soo n as b rea kfast was fi ni she d th e

tobogga n w a s packed ,th e b r ush piled o nce
m ore i n fro n t of th e l ean t o an d th e fire p u t
-
o u t by th e si m pl e p r ocess o fth ro wi n g s n o w o n
it . Th e col d ligh t o f th e s tars h ad gi ve n

w a y to th e colder gra y o fth e d awn as the y
o n ce mo re sl i pped o n th e shoes an d h i t th e
trai l a r ou n d Li ttle Goose Pon d I t w a s th e n
.
th at th e t h r ee n ov i ces r eal i z ed th a t th ey wer e

i n deed te n derfeet Th ey had n ot gon e h al f a
.
m il e befo r e it seem ed as i f e v ery m uscl e fro m

th ei r t hi ghs d o w n was m ak i n g i n di v id u al an d
v i go rous pr o test B ut th e y were gam e ,a n d
.
i f Pat gue ssed th ei r feel i n gs i t w a s n ot fr o m

a ny w o rd wh i ch th ey let dr op .
Gra d ua l l y t h e sti ffness wore o ff,a nd a t t h e

e n d of a cou pl e o fh o u rs th e y were travel i n g
w ith s om e degree o fc om fo r t Pat p urposel y
.
set a n eas y pace for th e first few m iles an d h e

k ept a w atch fu l eye o n S parrer ,for w ho m h e
fel t perso n al ly respo n sibl e A s a m atte r o f
.
fact the y o u n gster was stan di n g it ev en bette r

th a n th e o th e r two For o n e th in g ,h e was
.
c on s iderab l y li gh te r , an d hi s s h oes bo re h im
’
IN A TR APPE R S C A MP 1 43
up bette r th an was th e c ase w i th h is co m
pan io n s I n places wh ere the sn o w w a s packed
.
h e di d n ot si n k i n a t all ,whereas t h e o t h e r s
b r oke th r ough sligh t ly ,an d o n soft s n ow h e
did n ot begi n t o si n k a s far as they did Of .
course this mean t fa r less s t rai n on h is m us c les ,

a n d greater ease i n wal ki ng .
As they ro u nded th e end of th e po n d Pat

poi nted o u t th e pl ace w h ere h e had b ee n mi s
taken for a deer by tw o c i t y boys a nd got a .
bullet t hrough hi s h at A li tt l e beyo n d t his

.
poi n t th ey saw t h e fi rst sign of li fe si n ce the y

h a d e n tered th e woods , th e tracks o f a hare
o r s n ow sh oe rabbit ,an d
-
wi t h t h e m othe r
t r acks w h i c h at first gla nc e al l bu t Pat mis
took fo r thos e of anothe r r abbit .
Yo u fellows wai t here a m i n u te ,sa i d h e

an d followed th e trai l i n to a th icket o f you n g
hemlocks A few m i n utes later h e ca lled to
.
the m to j oi n h i m Th e y fou n d h i m a t th e
.
farthe r si de of th e thi cket A t h i s feet the

.
sno w h ad been co n siderably distu rbed ,an d

there were s om e blood stai n s an d torn scraps
-
o fwh i t e fu r B eyond a sin gle trai l led to the

.
foot of a t ree a n d t h ere ended .
Ma r ten ,explai n ed Pat bri efly i n r espo n s e

”
to th e lo oks of i nq u i ry . He r a n M r L ong .
l egs do w n h e r e , ate h is di n n er an d too k to th e

t r ees I v e had a h u n ch t h a t t h ere we r e m a r
.
’
te n in t hi s n ec k o f woods ,b u t h a ve n t h a d a ’
c han ce to trap the m y et .
Late r t he y p ut u p a fl o ck o f spr u c e g ro u se ,
b u t i t w a s o u t of seaso n an d the boys had too
m u ch respe c t for the spiri t as wel l as t h e l ette r
o ft h e law to be even tem pte d to sh oot Afte r
.
th e n oo n l u n ch Pat q u i cken ed th e pa ce so me
w h a t Th e te m pera t ure h ad mo derate d r ap
.
i dl y a nd th e sky was o v er c as t . It s a
“ ’
w eath e r b r eede r ,an d we re i n for m ore s n ow ,

’ ”
said Pat as b e scan n ed t h e s ky with so m e

appearan c e o f an xi e t y . I do n t l i k e the
’
l ook s o f i t We wa n t to r each th e c abi n

.
befo r e th e stor m breaks ,an d we v e go t to ’
h i t i t u p faste r i n order t o d o i t Ho w ar e
.
your legs
“
S til l doi n g bu si n ess , r epli e d Hal . Th e
sti ffn ess i s o u t,bu t I gu ess I wo n t obj e c t to
’
r ea c h i n g that l ittle old c abi n Ho w abou t

.
y o u ,W alt ?
“
S am e here , r epl ied U pton “
I m ga m e
’
.
for th e r est of th e d istan ce ,b u t th e cabi n wi l l

l oo k g o od to m e , al l r i g h t ,a l l right Ho pe
.
the m a nd c omple t e ly h id thei r s urro u n d in gs .
Pat ,i n th e lead , par t ly broke t h e fo rc e o f th e

sto rm fo r those beh i n d It seemed t o th em as
.
i f h e m u st be g oi n g b y bli n d i n sti n c t,b u t i f

h e w a s h e h ad a dogged c o n fid en ce that w as
at l ea s t r eassu r i ng At last wh en i t see med
.
to th e th r ee ci ty lad s that th e y si mply co u ld

n ot p ush o n an oth e r fo ot Pat stopped a nd
raised a warn i n g h a n d . Liste n 1 sai d h e .
W i t h st r ai n i n g ears they l isten e d ,b u t fo r a

c o u ple o f m i n u t es h eard n oth i ng The n .
s ee m in gl y o u t o f th e h eart o f th e st orm t her e

ca me a fai n t Hello o -
”
“
Al ec , sai d P a t br i efl y “
H e s gett i n g
.
’
”
worr ied .
Togeth er th ey ga ve a n a n sweri n g sho u t ,b u t

t h e w i n d seemed to sn atch th e so u nd fr om
the i r li ps an d w h i r l it beh i n d the m “
No .
”
u se ,sai d Pat . Wi n d s th e wrong w a y ,a n d
’
w e bette r sa ve o u r breath W e ll n eed it I t

.
’
.
i s n t fa r n o w ,
’
a nd h e l l k eep yelli n g to gu i de
’
us .
Once m o r e th ey b u ckled dow n to t he tas k

in h a nd Th e few m i n u t es r espi te h a d eased
’
.
th e w ea ry m uscl es ,an d th e sou n d o f Alec s ’
V oice wa s won derfull y sti m ul ati n g Fiftee n .

O NC E M ORE T H EY BU C KL ED DOW N TO T HE TA S K
1 4 8 TH E BOT SCO U TS
w ho spe n t o n e n igh t h e r e ,I h ave n t lai d eye s ’
o n a l i v i n g s o ul si n ce Pat left ,an d that w a s

three weeks go n e ,tho ugh I m ist r ust that t he r e
be others n o so v er y far a wa y
Pat lo o ked up q u i c k ly What s that ?
.
’
h e demanded sharpl y .
Ale c s face clo u d e d

’ “
. I ve see n sig ns ’
wh ich I d i n n a l i k e I l l b e telli n g y e mor e

.
’
aboot i t after di n n er ,sai d h e b r iefl y .
“
A n d th e ca t ch sinc e I ve be en away ? ’
asked Pat .
I s n o w h a t i t sh ou ld b e Th e r e s na d o o t
.
’
”
ab oo t t ha t ; i t s no wh at it sho u ld be
’
Th e .
fa c e o f th e y ou n g S cotch m an darken e d stil l

more P a t flashed h i m a look of u n de r sta n d
.
”
in g . W e ll tal k th at o v er b y a n d b y , sai d
’
he .
“
J u st n o w we re h al f fami sh ed M y ,
’
.
b u t th at ste w sm ells good I ll u npack wh ile.

’
y o u are getti n g th e stu ff r ead y W ith that .
tobogga n i n h e re ther e i s n t r oo m t o tu r n ’
”
a r ou nd .
Th e to b ogga n h a d bee n d ra gg e d i n wh e n
th e y fi r st a rr i v ed a n d i t oc c u pied m o st o fthe
a v ailab le r o om Wal te r helped h i m u n loa d ,
.
p i l in g th e st u ff o n o n e o f t h e bu n ks fo r t h e
t i me bein g P r es en tl y Ale c cal led fo r th e ir
.
IN A TR A P P E R S
’
C A MP 1 49
eati n g o u tfit ,con fessi n g that h is establish me n t
didn t possess dishes enough for so m an y At
’
.
len g t h he an no un ced di n n er ready an d bade

the fou r draw up t o th e li tt le rough deal tabl e
spread with a piece of whi te oil c loth Fo r .
sea t s there were t wo fi v e foot bench es m ade b y

-
spli tt i ng a log ,s m oo t hi n g th e flat sides a nd

i nserti ng fo u r sto ut birch legs i n t he c o n ve x
side of each Th ese w ere dra wn u p o n ei t he r
.
side of t h e t ab le , an d a t on e en d Ale c drew u p

a n empty b o x for h is sea t .
Ale c had ,as W al t e r expresse d i t ,lai d hi m

self o u t o n th at di n ner The r e w a s ve n iso n
.
s t ew w ith d u mpli ngs ,an d a ri ch thi ck gra v y .
There w ere baki ng po wder bis c u i ts as l ight as

-
feathers There were baked potatoes an d

.
can n ed strin g bea n s A n d l as t but not l east

.
the r e was a great bro w n loaf o f hot g i nge r

bread .
”
“
How s you r tu m my n o w
’
? asked Wal te r
as Hal at las t w as forced t o refuse a thi r d h el p
i n g of stew .
It s t oo s mall ,Hal complai n ed

’
I wa n t .
m ore I wan t a lo t more ,an d I ca n t e a t

.
’
an othe r m ou t h ful .
P a t insis ted on h elpi n g Alec do u p th e dishe s

a n d flatl y refused to allo w an y o n e else tak e

a ha n d ,so the o t hers spe n t the ti me i n sto w
i n g a way thei r du ffl e an d i n spect in g the in
t erio r of the c abi n . To S pa rr e r i t w as ,o f
c o u rse ,all n e w an d strange A s fo r t h at ,
. it
w a s hardl y l ess so to H a rr iso n a n d U pto n .
W he n the y h ad l ast see n i t i t h a d bee n w in

d owless ,doo r less a n d th e r oof at th e r ea r h a d
b ee n b u t temporari ly pat c h ed No w th e r e w a s
.
a sto u t d oor Fo ur s mal l w i n dows h ad bee n

.
fi tte d i n to th e Ope n i n gs left fo r th is pu rpose.
Th e te m po r ar y r epai rs wh ich Pat had m ade o n

th e ro o fa t the r ear end had been r eplace d wi th
a pe rm a nen t r oof I n fact ,the whole r oof h ad
.
b ee n p ut i n first class sh ape The side wal ls

.
h ad bee n repacked wi t h moss betwee n t h e logs ,

th e fo u r side bu n ks repaired a n d a n ew o n e
bu i lt at th e back ,a n d all fil led w i t h fresh l y
c u t balsam . Th e floo r had been repai r ed S o .
a lso h ad th e fi replace an d ch i m ney A s mal l

.
c u pboard an d sh el v es h ad bee n a dd e d O n
.
th e floo r were t w o big d eerski ns .
B ut the th i n g w hi ch caught a n d h eld th e

a tte n tio n o fth e boys m ost w a s a bi g b e arski n
w h ich h ad bee n th r o w n o n o n e o fthe upp e r
b un k s
bac k b on e ,b ut at that i t took two m o r e s ho ts t o
fi n ish h i m Yo u a 1 n t n eve r k illed a bar ti ll
.
’
h e s d e ad W hat do y o u th i n k that fel ler E ly

’
.
w i ll sa y w he n h e gi t s that s k i n ?
S p ud ? Is tha t fo r S p ud ? D o y o u m e a n
t o sa y that y o u are goi n g to s end th a t s k in t o
”
S p ud E ly ? c ri e d W al ter .
“
Ale c no dded I pro m ise d hi m a bar
.
ski n w he n h e left ,a nd I r eck on that t h at s ’
h is n Hope h e l l l i ke i t
.
’
.
“
L i k e i t ! Ale c ,h e l l b e t ic kl ed s illy He
’
.
”
wr ote m e th at y o u h ad pro mised h i m on e ,
cr ied Walte r “
I t s perfectly bully Good o ld
.
’
S pu d ! I w i sh h e c o uld be h ere w ith u s n o w

t o m ak e a l i ttl e s u n sh i n e No t that w e n eed .
i t , h e h aste n ed to add , b u t h e s ur e w o ul d “
e nj o y th is I b e t he s gree n wi t h e n v y i f h e
.
’
”
k n ows th at w e fello ws are u p h ere n o w .
”
“
He k n o ws , al l r i ght , Hal b r oke i n .
Wrot e h i m wh e n I fi rst though t o f th is

t r ip ,bu t h e co u ld n t get a wa y
’
.
I w an t ed t o get that sk i n to h i m fo r
C hristmas ,bu t did n t h a v e a ch an ce t o pack
’
”
i t ou t , e x plai ned Ale c Gu ess I l l send i t
.
“ ’
ou t w h e n yo u fellers go A l i ttl e o ld ba r .
s k i n don t begi n t o pa y w h a t I o w e th at b oy
’
.
’
IN A TR A P P E R S C A MP 1
53
If i t had n t been fo r hi m I d probably died
’ ’
u p the r e i n th at h ide o u t w here he fou n d me

-
.
A n d i f i t had n t been fo r t he li t tle docto r

’
her e I d l i kely h ave d ied any way Anyho w

’
.
I d have lost m y leg There s a b a rs kin c o m

’
.
’
”
in g to y o u too ,so me day .
Wal ter fl ushed I t m ade h i m unc o m fo r t

.
a bl e to be c al led t he l i tt le do c tor ,as Al e c pe r

s isted in c al li ng hi m ,yet at th e sam e t i me h e
was c onsci o u s of a war m glo w of pride whi ch
he t r ied h ard to s t i fle Pooh ,Al ec ,that
.
“
was no m ore t han any of the othe r fello ws

woul d ha v e do n e i f I had n t been here Yo u ’
.
k n o w all S c ou t s k n o w wh at to do for fi r st aid

”
t o the i nj ur ed , s aid h e .
J ust the sam e I do n t bel i eve the r e was ’
one o f us would ha v e h ad the n er v e to ta c kl e

that broke n leg of Ale c s I would n t for ’
.
’
on e , de c la re d Hal .
T o r elieve Wal ter s e mba r rassmen t Pat a b

’
ru pt ly c hange d the su bj ect W h a t was th at .
y o u hi n ted at w he n we first got here abou t

s igns of so m e o n e else i n these diggin gs ? h e
as ked ,t ur n i n g to Alec .
The S c otch ma n s fa c e darke n ed He th rew

’
.
a cou ple of big lo gs o n th e fi re an d th en as

th e oth er s m ade th em selves com for ta ble he
told hi s stor y b r iefl y Fo r th e last t wo w e eks
.
there had be en little fu r i n t h e t ra p s , e sp e

c ia lly o n the for ty m ile l i n e t o th e n o r th .
H e h ad m ade the r o u n d of thi s l i n e tw ice i n

this ti m e wi th on ly o n e m a r te n ,a fo x a nd a
few r ats t o s h o w fo r i t ,b u t he h ad fo u n d
si gn s w h ic h l e d hi m t o b e liev e th at so m e o f
t h e t r aps h ad bee n ro bbed He was mo r al ly
.
c e r tai n th a t s om e o n e h a d be en syste m at i call y

m ak in g th e r o u n ds o f th e traps ,t i m i n g th e
V i s i ts s o that th ere wo u l d be n o dan ge r o f
ru n ni n g i n to h i m a n d s o c un n i n gl y fol lo w i n g
h is t r ai l th at i t was on ly b y th e c losest stud y

o f th e t r a c k s th at h e h ad m ad e su re that a
s tran ge r h ad bee n o n t h e l i n e . At o n e u n
s pru ng ma rte n trap h e h ad fo u n d a cou pl e o f
drops o f blood w hi ch i n di c ated th at th e r e

h a d been so me t h i n g i n th e trap At a n o t h e r
.
there h ad bee n th e fai n t i mpri n t of th e body

o f an a n i m al lai d i n th e sno w o f fat o n e si de.
I n o n e t r a p h e h ad fou n d th e foot o fa m u sk
r at , n othi n g u n us ual i n i t sel f,b ut i t had b ee n
cut o f f w i th a kn i fe a n d n ot twisted o r gnawed
of
f .
Th es e th i ngs he had di s co v ered on his t rip

n ow , t is ti me I w as ba c k o n m e j o b , h e
’
g r o wled .Wa n c e I lay the two h a nd s a v

“
me o n the t h a fe tis the last ti m e h e w il l be

’
w a n tin to loo k w i d th e eyes av en vy o n f

’
ur
th o t don t belo n g to h i m A th a fa w h o wo u ld
’
.
s h ta le an oth er m an s fu r w o u ld ro b h is o w n
’
g ran d m othe r Th is sto rm w il l c o v er u p a ll

.
t rac ks , bu t tis li ke th er e w ill be a c ha nce for

’
some re al scou ti n g after i t i s o ve r Tis .

’
t h a v es we l l be tra pp in a nd n ot fu r fo r a
’ ’
w h il e D i d B ig Ji m sa y a ny th in g a b o u t a
.
”
sil ve r fo x w he n h e w as h e re ?
N o , r epli ed A lec ,his face ligh t in g
”
.
”
Wh y ?
H e t old Doc t or Me rriam th a t h e s aw o n e
o n h i s way ou t , a n d we v e bee n w on d e ri n g i f
’
”
i t w a s o v e r th i s way , H al broke i n eagerl y .
Li kel y h e saw i t o n h is w a y o u t o f th e
Ho l lo w , r epl i e d Al e c
”
Th e r e s o ne h e r e
.
“ ’
.
I ve s e e n h i m twi ce ,but d i d n t get a shot

’ ’
.
I ve got traps s et fo r h i m ,bu t h e s bee n to o

’ ’
s m a r t fo r me so fa r He s a big fel l er ,
. a n d h is
’
ski n w i ll g r ad e No 1 pri me I f w e c a n get

. .
h i m th e th iev e s are w e l c o m e t o a l l th e re st of
o u r fu rs .
No , t h ey re n ot re t or t ed P a t
’
Th ey re .
’
TR A P P E R S
’
IN A C A MP 1
57
goin g to fork ove r e v ery pelt they v e take n ,
’
to
t he smallest r a t ,o r Pa t Malo n e wil l k n o w th e
”
r easo n w h y . He shook a b ig fist by w a y o f
e m phasis . No w ,let s t urn i n a n d fo r g e t our
’
”
trou bles , h e e n ded wi th a m il dness t ha t
b roug ht a gener al la u gh .
C HA P TE R IX
S NO WB O U ND
AL L t ha t n i gh t th e s to rm r aged a nd in t he
m orn i n g th e s n o w w a s st i ll fa ll ing Pat .
and Ale c fro m force of habi t were u p earl y , but

see i n g that th ere wo u ld be n oth i n g doi n g o u t
s ide th e y forbo r e to wake n the th ree visito r s
a n d w e re n o t a v ers e to r etu r n in g to th ei r
bl an k et s fo r a c ouple o f ho u r s of ex tra sleep .
Ho w lon g th e th ree boys wo uld h ave slept is

a questi on h ad n ot Ale c dropped a pan wh ich
cl atte r e d noi sil y U pt on poke d a sleepy face
.
ou t fr o m hi s bu n k .
”
What yo u fellers d o i n g ? h e d e m an ded .
Pat gri n n ed . Getti n g d i n n er Will yo u

“
.
h a v e so me o r wi l l yo u w ai t fo r su pper ?
W alte r fel t for hi s watch an d loo ked a t i t .
Th en he t u m ble d o u t i n a h u rr y He y ,
. yo u
fel lo ws ! h e y elled Are y o u goi n g to sleep
.
all da y ? It s eleve n o cloc k a n d Alec is c ook

’ ’
ing d i nner W e ve mi ssed b r eakfast a n d

’
.
“
My tu mmy,
oh,my t u mmy ! ”
1 58
th e p r ev i ou s d a y ,a n d be y o nd so m e sti ffn es s
t h ey co n fessed th at th e y n eve r h a d fel t b ett er
i n thei r l i v es .
W hat a r e w e go in g to d o th i s afte rnoon

”
sta r t s c o u ti n g fo r thos e th iev e s ? Hal ask ed
as h e w ipe d the d ish es .
P a t laughed Not s o th at y o u d n otice i t ,

.
’
me b y e We r e g o in g to sta y ri gh t here Th e
.
’
.
sto rm s n ot o ve r y et ,a nd i f i t keeps o n I m
’ ’
th i n ki ng w e l l be b urie d co m pl etel y Ho w
’
.
eve r ,i t l oo ks to me as i f i t w il l b re ak awa y
sho r t ly , an d th en you ll have a c h a n ce to sho w
’
w h at g ood li ttle di gge r s th ey r ais e i n N oo

”
Yor r k - -
.
A n d i n t h e m ea n ti me ?
We l l e nj o y a l l th e com fo r t s a v home
’
.
P a t y a wn ed a n d stretch ed .
“
Wh i c h m ea n s ,I s uppose ,that we ll si t ’
ar o u nd an d pl a y S i mo n says t h u m bs u p,or
”
s ome t h i n g li ke that , al l th e a fte rn oo n ,
l augh e d Ha l .
“
Pe r hap s y e d l i ke t o sleep s ome more ,
’
s u gg e sted Al ec sly ly .
A n d perh aps y o u ve got a n oth er guess ’
c o min g , r eto r te d Hal “

W h at s th a t t h i n g
.
’
yo u re w h i ttl ing on
’
’
CA MP 1 61
“
A s t r et c h i n g board fo r m arte n , r epl ied
A lec .
“
Wh a t s a str e tch i ng boa r d ,an d ho w do
’
”
y ou us e i t ? Hal was all in terest .
To st r etch ski n s on . Di n n a y e k n o w th a t
”
al l ski n s h a v e to be stretch ed ? Alec tosse d
th e board o n e si de an d reached fo r another .
Do n t k no w a th i n g abo u t trappin g or fu rs
’
e xcept that Dad h as pro mised m e a n e w fu r

coa t whe n I get back , retorte d Hal . Im “ ’
pai n fu lly an d su b l i mely i gn oran t ,bu t willi n g

t o lear n ,and I h a v e a h u n ch th at t he r e a re
oth ers S uppose yo u el ucida t e the fac t s b y
.
”
way of ki l li n g t i me .
He r e ,h ere l That wi ll do for yo u , Hal

c ried U pton Yo u r alleged poe t ry is ba d
.
en ough wi thou t spri ngi n g an y t h i n g l i ke th at .
W h at h a v e y o u b een doi n g a t t hat prep school

— co n fab u la t i n g w i t h t h e p ro fs or fli rti n g w ith
the dictio n ary ? E l ucida t e ! I m o v e ,fe llows ,
th at i f h e spri n g s a ny t h in g m ore li ke t h at w e
th r o w hi m i n t h e sn o w I would suggest do
.
i n g i t a n y way i f h is ide a w a s n t so good G o

'
.
to i t ,Alec ,a n d tell u s abou t fu r ”

.
“
I d i n n a ke n w h ere t o begi n , protest ed
A le c as he c a r efull y r o u n ded th e smal ler en d
of h i s boa r d to a poi n t s o that i t looke d m uc h
l i k e o n e o ft he sh i n gl e boats ever y bo y k n o w s .
“
B egi n wi th that th i n g y ou re m a ki n g ’
s tretc h in g bo a r d ,I bel i eve y o u c al le d i t ,s aid

”
Hal .
“
Th a t w o u l d be hold i n g th e gu n b y th e
”
wr o n g e n d , p r oteste d Pa t “
Th e st ory al l
.
h appe n s before o n e of t h ese th i n gs is n eeded .
Pat was h i m self at w o rk o n a stret c h i n g board

l
B egi n wi t h th e ki nds o ffu r ,an d the ways

i n wh ich i t is t r apped ,an d the li fe of a trappe r
”
a n d al l t h at sort o fstu f f, s uggested U pto n .
J u st tel l u s wh at yo use do e v ery da y a nd

ho w y o use li v e al l al on e an d d e scraps you s e
gets i n te r w id de bears n t h in gs ,an d h o w
’ ’
y o use h as t fo igh t for l ife ,an pass i t o u t h o t

’ ’
righ t o f de fi re .
“
Tha t s th e stu ff,S par r e r ! Th at s wh at we
’ ’
w a n t , cri ed Hal , a s e v erybody lau gh ed .
“
Gi v e u s th e stor y o f trappi n g r i gh t o ffth e
”
gr i ddl e .
“
Y e d i n n a fi n d any t h i n g ve ry hot a bo o t
a t r appe r s li fe Alec pau se d i n h i s wo r k t o
’
.
gaze refl ec tively i n t o th e fi re “

I t s m ostl y
.
’
c old a n d lo n eso men e s s an d har d work .
The r e s no figh t i n g w i t h t he beasti es wor t h

’
Wh a t m akes e m wor t h s o m uc h ? Is i t
’
be c a u s e th e fur i s s o ex t ra fin e ? as ke d
U pto n .
”
Fi ne n oth in g ! P a t b r o k e in “
I f th ere
.
i s an y poore r w e ar i n g fu r th a n fo x I w ish
you d sh o w m e A la r ge pri m e red fox w i l l
’
.
b r i n g only fo ur dol lars to perh aps si x o r seve n

i n a y ea r wh e n fu r i s sca r ce an d h igh , an d th e
fu r of a bl ack fox i sn t an y di ffe r e n t or better
’
.
Al l t hat d i ffere nc e i n pri ce i s be c au se on ce i n

a bl ue mo o n Na t u r e gets tired of red an d tries
bla c k fo r a chan ge ,a n d peopl e w ith m o re
m o n ey tha n brai n s pay th e price because i t i s
r a r e a n d they ca n w ear so m eth i n g t h at m igh t y
few o t h ers c a n h ave It s fox , . j ust th e sam e ,
’
an d it w i l l wear o u t j u st as qu ickly as i f i t
we re c o m m o n e v ery day red I t s a fa d B ut
-
.
’
.
th e sai n ts defi n d u s fro m an y m ore brai n s til l

a fth er w e h ave the h i de a v th e black gin tle
m an thot Ji m a n d Al e c have see n h ere i n th e
H o ll ow I
”
“
M on e y d oes ta l k ,do es n t i t ,Pat ? ch u c k
’
l ed Hal . Here s h O pin g y o u get bot h th e fo x

’
a n d the l on g price B y the w a y ,wh at s a

.
’
”
c r oss fox ?
“
The p r ettiest ba s t e i n t he wood s ,r etu rn e d
IN A TR A P P E R S
’
C AMP 1 65
Pat promp t l y . He h as black legs a nd u n

“
derpa rts , b lac k tai l wi t h wh i t e ti p ,a n d g r ay

head an d body w i t h a dark cross o n t h e sho u l
ders . B u t h e s j ust a sport of th e r ed fox ,
’
a
variatio n i n be t wee n t he red an d black A .
perfect speci m e n is worth a lot of m on e y ,but

n owhere n ear wh at a blac k wi l l bri n g B e .
tween t he red an d all b lack there are a lot of

variation s of the cross ,an d the price varies
accordi ngly Bu t le t s get back t o regu la r
.
’
fur i ns t ead of freaks Ha v e yo u look e d ove r

.
”
th at price l is t I b r o ugh t i n ,Alec ?
Alec n odded I see otte r a n d fisher a re
.
“
quoted j ust t he sa m e ,$ 1 5 fo r No 1 pri m e I . .
thi n k the t w o o t ter an d the fisher we v e got ’
”
w il l grad e t h at all righ t U p here , h e con .
t in u ed, turn i n g to th e boys , m ar t en pay u s

best bec a use t hey bri n g u s fro m $ 6 for No 2 .
to $ 1 2 fo r l arge No 1 pri m e an d so me years

.
mo re tha n that Ly n x pay pre tt y n early as

.
w ell ,w he n we can ge t em The trou ble is ’

.
We d on t get en ough of em
’
We get so m e
’
. .
foxe s a n d so m e m i n k The la t ter a r e rath e r

.
dow n n o w ,bu t some years t h ey are high and

pay righ t well Las t an d l eas t ,bu t li ke th e
.
n e n n ies th at make t he dollars are the m usk .

ra ts . T hey r e b r i n g in g on l y th irty cen ts n o w ,

’
bu t I have see n e m as h igh a s a d ollar

’
.
“
I n o t her pa r ts o f th e co u n try are oth e r
furs C oon dis n a get u p as far as th is ,
. an d
A r cti c a n d bl ue fo x d i nn a get as fa r so uth .
We get so m e w easel w hi ch w h en p ure w hi t e

is qu i te wo r th th e tro u bl e o f s ki n n i n g ,l ittl e
a s the cri tte r s are Ye k e n it is th e e rm i n e
.
o froyalt y .
“
Ho w a bou t be ar sk in s ? I s uppose th e y
a r e w orth c o n s i d erabl e ,sa id Wal te r ,
”
gla nc i ng
o ver at S p u d s prize ’
.
“
L e ss than y e w i l l be th i n k i n g , r epl ie d
A l ec “
. Yo n ski n i s pri m e— a n d wil l grade as
la rge Wh at n o w w o u ld y e be th i n k i n g i t
.
would b e b rin g in g m e fro m a fu r buye r th i s

”
min u t e ?
“
Fi fty do ll ar s ,ve n t ure d Hal .
A l e c an d Pat s m i le d “
W h at do y o u say ,
.
”
li ttle doc tor ? Al e c tu r n ed to U pto n .
Wa l te r d i d so m e qu i c k th i n k i n g H e ha d
.
se t i n h i s ow n m i n d t h e same figure Hal ha d

g i v en ,bu t h e h a d ca u gh t t h at sm il e of t he
t wo t r appers an d h e su spected t h at Ha l was
ra t her w id e of th e m ark It did n t see m .
’
p os si ble to h i m th a t s uc h a bea u ti fu l g rea t

1 68 TH E BOT SC O U TS
I s uspect Ale c wi ll b ui l d o ne o r t wo mor e , eh ,

”
Alec ?
A c o u ple,I guess I ve m a r k e d s om e l i kel y
’
.
”
pl a c es , was th e r eply .
“
Wh at abou t s t eel t r aps ? asked U pton .
I h ad an i dea tha t m ost t r appe r s u sed t hos e

”
a l m ost al toge t h er t h ese da y s .
By w a y o f repl y Alec d ragged o u t fr o m

u nd e r o n e o f the bu n ks a c la n gi n g m ass o f
steel .Heft i t ,sai d h e b r i efly ,passi n g i t t o
”
Walte r .
“
M y ,bu t th a t s h e a v y ! h e e x cl a i med
’
.
What does i t w eigh

Ni n etee n po u n ds , r ep l i e d Ale c “
Tel l .
m e ,ho w wou ld y e l i ke to pa c k t h ree o r fo ur

o f th o s e i n additi on t o a lot o f sm alle r t r a ps
”
fo r te n o r fi ft een m i les ?
”
Not fo r m e ! decl ared U pton I begi n .
to s ee th e w h y of th e dead falls I t s easier to .

’
bu i ld a few of those t h an to lu g t h ese h eav y

thi n gs a r ou n d I di dn t su pp o se t h ey were as
.
’
”
h eav y as th is Are al l of em l i ke th is ?
.
’
No , there are so m e t h a t weigh on ly a li ttle

o v e r ele v e n pou nds ,bu t t h ose are fo r s m al l
ba r s I don t n o ways fa v or e m myself b e
.
’ ’
cau se , ye ke n ,I n ev er y et have fou n d a w a y

IN A TR A P P E R S
’
CA MP 1 69
o f bei n g certai n wh a t si z e bar wo uld be step

pin g in on e ,leastways n ot u n t i l h e w a s
caught A big fel ler wil l som e t i m es get o u t
.
o f th e smaller trap , bu t a l i tt le feller n eve r

gets o u t of t he bi g trap S o I sets on ly th e .
big on es Th is i s a No 5,and bi g e n ough fo r

. .
a n y ba r s a r ou n d these parts There s a big .

’
ger on e made fo r gri zz ly bar and lio ns an d

tigers an d su ch l i ke cri tt e r s ,bu t that weighs
forty tw o pou nds W e v e got two o f th ese
-
.
’
No 5 s t o set i n the spri n g If I was i n good

.
’
.
ba r c ou n try ,wh ere t he c r i tters are plen t y ,I d ’
u s e more of these , but as lon g as the y ai n t ’
ple n t y a n d I m aft er o t her fu r I d rather u s e th e

’ ’
deadfall I n th e fi rst place i t kills th e critter ,

.
an d i f h e s caugh t yo u k n ow righ t wh e r e to
’
fin d h i m He s right th ere B u t i f h e gets

.
’
.
c aught i n o n e of t hese th in gs h e may be a

co uple of h u ndred yards away and h e m ay be
i n th e n ext co u n t y ,w h i c h is mighty in c o n
v en ie n t ,spe c i al l y i f y e v e got a lot o f traps
’ ’
t o t en d to .
H o w s that ? I thou gh t yo u faste n ed th e

’
”
t r aps . Hal was plai n ly pu zz le d .
S ure we fas t e n em , re t u rn ed Alec , b u t

’ “
do y e n o see th at i f i t was to an y thi n g sol id

li k e a t re e th e c r i tter w o u ld be b r eak i n g t he
t r ap o r the ch ai n ,may be ,or teari n g h i msel ’
loose ? S o we c u t a log s mall e n o ugh at o n e

e n d fo r th e r i n g o n t he end of th e c hai n to
j ust ba r ely sli p o v e r i t and do w n to th e m id
dl e w h ere i t i s fasten ed w i th a spi ke Th e .
c l o g is si x o r se v en feet lon g an d o f h a r d
wood Th e n wh en Mr B ar gets ca u gh t h e
. .
h as n o thi n g sol id to p ul l agai n s t to tea r h im

sel f free He m arch es o ff wi t h n i n etee n
.
pou nds of trap an d th e c log d raggi n g fr o m

h is fo ot The c log c at c h es i n th e br u sh a n d
.
bet w ee n trees a n d u s uall y h e dis n a get ve ry

fa r , be cau se th e h ea v y drag t i res h i m B esi d es
.
that ,ever y ti me h e s pu l led u p sh o r t i t m u st

’
h ur t li ke t he mi sch ief an d take th e h eart o u t

of him S o me t i mes w e fi n d w h ere h e h as
.
s t o pped to figh t the c l og O n ce i n a w h ile a

.
s wi v el breaks or so m e t h i n g else gi v es wa y an d
h e gets r id o f t h e clog ,but sti ll h as th e trap
f ast to h is foot Then h e s li kely to dig o u t
.
’
fo r par t s u n kn o w n I v e k n o w n a trappe r to
.
’
c am p two o r th ree n igh ts o n t h e trai l of a b ar

'
that h ad go n e o fl wit h a t r ap before h e co u ld
ca tch u p wi th th e cri tter Mos t ly th ey w il l
.
go a w a y s a n d th en m ak e a b e d ,lie dow n
1 7 2 TH E BOT SCO U TS
He b ro ught fo r th tw o s c rew clam ps a nd a d

j u sted th e m to th e do u ble spri n gs o fth e t r aps
.
B y tu r n i n g t h u m b screws t he spri n gs w er e
-
c o m pressed an d h eld so th at the j aws o f th e

t r ap c o u ld be open ed a nd th e pa n set to h old
the m The b o ys n oti c ed th at i n doi n g th is h e
.
w orked fro m u n dern ea t h ,s ur e sig n o f t he

c areful a nd experi en ced t rappe r I n th e ev en t
.
o f th e cl amps sli ppi n g t h ere w ou ld be n o

c ha nc e o f his h a nd o r ar m bei n g c augh t i n th e
j aws .
“
Ho w do e s th e bear get ca u gh t ? asked
S p arr e r ,t o w h om t r ap s w e r e a n u n k now n
q u a n ti t y .
“
By st e pp ing on th a t pa n , explai n e d Pat.
”
I l l sho w yo u
’
.
H e r e m oved th e c l a m ps a n d th e n w ith a
l o n g stick to u c h ed th e pa n I n sta n tly th e
.
j aws fle w u p an d closed wi th a v iciou s sn ap ,

bit in g i n to t h e soft wood so that p ul l as th e y
w o u l d th e b oy s we r e u n able to get the s t i c k
out
Huh exclai med Hal , I d hate to h ave

’
th at th i n g get m e by t h e leg ! I sho u l d

”
t hin k i t wo ul d break t h e bo n e .
I t ver y l i kel y wo ul d u n less you r leg was

TR A P P E
’
IN A R S C A MP 1
73
p r etty well pr o tected A bea r s bones are n ot so
.
’
bri t tle an d do n ot b r eak easil y , but onc e th at

th i ng has got a gri p i t s th ere to stay ,said Pat
’ ”
.
“
I suppose y o u co v er th e trap up so that
”
th e bear won t see i t , v en tured U pt on
’
.
“
R ight ,son That i s j us t w hat we do ,
.
r eplied Pat .We co v er i t w i t h l e aves or

”
m oss ,accord i ng to wh ere t h e set is made .
”
“
Where does t he bai t go ? i n q ui r ed Hal .
Do you put i t righ t o n th e trap o r hang i t

”
o v er it ?
“
Nei t her , laughed Pat W e bu il d a .
bait pen of brush or ol d logs ,r oofi ng i t over ,

a n d set the t rap j us t at th e en tran ce i n su ch
a w ay th at Mr B ear m ust st ep i n i t i n orde r
.
to get i nto the pen o r c u bby wh ere t h e bai t

is staked at th e rear S om eti mes we lay a
.
sti c k a c ross the e n tran ce c lose to t he trap an d

si x o r eigh t i n ches fro m the gro u n d so that
th e bea r w il l try to step o v er i t and i n doi n g
so h e w il l be sure t o pu t o n e foot i n t he trap .
A n old bear who has los t a toe o r t wo i n a

t r ap a n d s o h a s l earned h is lesson wil l some
ti m es tear the bai t pen do w n fro m t h e rea r
and so get the bai t A dead fall i s abo u t th e
.
”
o n l y w a y of cat c h i n g one of that ki n d .
1 74 TH E E OT S CO U TS
I sh ou l d t h i n k oth e r a ni ma ls would
s p r i n g the t r ap ,v e n t ur ed Hal
”
.
Th ey do so m eti m es ,e special l y y ou r fri e n d

P ric kl y Pork y th e por c u pi n e , repl ied P a t .
B u t w he n w e are afte r bea r w e tr y to s e t

th e t ra p s o th at n oth i n g less t h a n a b ear will
spri n g i t S ho w e m t he tri ck ,Al e c
.
’
.
Good n atu redl y Ale c o nc e m or e set t he

-
t r ap The n h e too k a s m all sp ri n gy sti c k a nd

.
faste ne d i t u prigh t i n a c ra c k i n th e floo r .
The n h e ben t i t ove r u n ti l the oth e r e n d wa s

h ooke d u n de r th e pa n o f th e trap Th e .
sp r i n g o f i t hel d th e pa n i n pl ace eve n wh en

c o n side r abl e wei gh t w as placed d i re c tly o n
th e pa n .
“
That woul d al lo w smal l a n i mal s
t o pas s ov er it fre ely ,ye see , h e explai n ed ,
”
“
b u t t h e weigh t of a ba r wou ld spri n g i t .
We d o th e sa m e th i n g wi t h oth er traps ,u si n g
sm al l er sticks accor d i n g t o w h at we ar e a fte r .
At th i s poi n t Pat we n t to i n vesti gate c o ndi

t i on s o utsi d e .
“
Hi ,you fellows l h e c al l e d .
S to rm s o ve r ,a n d i t s ti m e t o get b u s y a n d
’ ’
d i g o u t It s bee n r ai n i ng ,b u t i t s c lea r i n g
.
’ ’
of f c o ld ,a n d b y m or n i n g th ere l l b e a cr u st
’
th a t l l h ol d a h orse W al t ,yo u a n d Ha l
’
.
k now wh ere t he sp ri n g is ,so y o u fellows

1
bur ied i n s n o w ,w h ich w a s m or e tha n hal f
w a y to the lo w ea v es I t had d r i fte d qu i t e
.
o ve r th e l i ttl e sh a c k wh ere Pat an d Al ec were

a t wo r k All t r a c ks had b ee n obl iterate d
.
a n d fo r a fe w m i n u t es i t w as d i fficult fo r
th em t o get thei r beari n gs ,so c h ange d w a s
th e l a ndscape Th e n o n e by o n e th e y pi c ke d
.
o u t t h e la n d marks th ey had learn ed t o k n o w

s o well i n th e fall ,bu t w hi ch n o w w e re s o
c h an ged as to be h ardl y r ecognized .
Th e y stood i n si lence ,so me t h i n g v er y l i k e

a w e s t eali n g o v er t h e m as th e gri m bea ut y ,
c o m b in ed wi t h pi ti less stren g t h ,of th e m aj es
ti c scen e i m p r essed i tsel f upon t hem .
J ust th i n k o fa m an l i v i ng here al l alo ne

fo r weeks at a ti m e Th at s w hat I call n erve
.
’
.
I believe I d go di ppy i n a w eek , m ur m ured

’
Hal h a r dl y abo v e a wh isper as i f h e we r e afr ai d

t o trust h is voice i n t h e great sol i t ude .
An d y et there i s som eth i n g fascin at ing

”
abo u t it I c a n feel th e cal l o fi t mysel f,re
.
pl ie d U pto n . I suppose w hen o n e get s

“
u se d t o i t i t isn t so bad I t s — i t s — well ,I

’
.
’ ’
s uppose it s wh at yo u wou ld cal l e lem e n tal ,

’
an d there i s so meth i n g h eroi c abo u t th i s

battl i n g w it h the ver y h i lls an d elem e n ts to
N
’
I A TR A P P E R S C AMP 1
77
w r est a l ivin g fro m th em Hel lo. Pa t s
’
”
calli n g us .
They h u rri ed back to the cabin ,w h ere Pat

promptly sho v e d a pail i n t o t h e hands of each
an d ordered t hem bac k t o the sp r i n g for water .
W hen they re t ur n ed Ale c had begu n p r epara

tion s for supper .
This e v eni ng , an nou n ced Pa t , Alec wi ll

fi nish his yarn abo u t t rappin g an d the n we l l ’
pl an for t o morro w W il l yo u fello ws h a v e

-
.
bakin g po w d er bisc u i t or co rn b r ead fo r su p

-
per ?
Co rn b r ead I w as th e u n a n i mo u s sho u t .
Corn b r ead i t is t hen , declared Pat

”
.
A n d h o w w ill y e z h a v e t h e m u rph ies ?

Fren ch fried cried Ha l .
Y ez be heari n g th e orders a v the gin tle

—
m i n c orn bread an d Fren ch fried pra t ies ,
”
Mis th er C ook ,said Pa t , t urn i ng to Alec I ll .
’
be mi xi ng t he corn bread w h o ile ye cu t t he

spuds The res t a v y ez can bri n g i n wood a n d
.
set the tabl e ,an th e wan w h o loafs most gets

’
”
the least to ea t .
At once t here was a gran d sc r am bl e to see

w h o could do the mo s t ,i n v ie w o fs uch a di re
t hrea t .
C H A P TE R !
L I FE ON THE FUR T R A I LS
S U PP E R o ut o fth e w a y the bo y s m ad e t hem
s el v es com fortable a n d gave Al e c the w o r d t o
take u p hi s y a rn .
To begi n w i t h , sai d Alec , th r o w i n g a lo g

o n th e fi re , w h en a t r appe r i s thi n ki n g o f
goi n g i n to n ew co u n tr y he ge n erall y p r osp e cts

it fi r st ,sam e as a p r o s pe c to r for gold , o n ly h e
lo ok s i t o v e r fo r signs o f fu r i n stead o ffor
m i n e r als S o meti mes h e does th is i n s u m mer
.
o r e a rl y fall ,a n d so me ti mes h e does i t i n w in

te r ,plan n i n g for the n ex t wi n te r F r i e n d 0
.
’
m i n e wen t u p i nto B r u n swi ck last w i n ter ,a n d

l ooked o v er so me c o u n try w hich n e v er h as
bee n trapped to a m ou n t to anyth i n g a n d th is
y ear h e s u p the r e w i t h a l i n e o v e r o n e h u n dred
’
m i les lo n g .
“
Je r usale m wh e r e di d h e sta y n i gh ts
”
w h en h e was looki n g i t o v e r ? asked Hal .
“
Wh ere v er h e happe n e d to be , r epl ie d
A le c .
W h e n a m an s pro s pec tin fo r fu r h e no t

’ ’
o n l y looks fo r sig n s of th e beast i es b u t he looks

th e l ay of t h e lan d over an d gets th e la n d
ma r ks fi xed in h is m i n d , con ti n ued Ale c
”
.
“
H e picks o u t a plac e fo r h is m ai n camp ,
lo c ati n g i t w here h e c a n get h is s u ppli es a n d
stuff i n an d h i s furs o u t at t he e n d 0 th e ’
season w i t ho u t to o m u c h d ifficul ty If i t i s.
i n l u m bered co u n tr y h e pick s ou t a pla c e t h at

c a n be r ea c h e d b y s om e o ld t rai l w ith a l it t le
c lea rin g o u t so that a te am can get i n Mor e .
ofte n ,though ,h e l o c ates o n a ri v er wh ere h e

c an get h is stu ff i n by ca n oe ,and c a n g e t o u t
ag ai n the same way i n t h e spri n g .
“
A t th e sa m e ti m e h e tries to choose a
loc atio n that w i ll be to h is bes t ad v a n t age i n
w ork i n g h i s trap l i n es If h e s go t a lo n g
.
’
l i n e laid o u t h e also pic k s o u t li k ely places

fo r te m porary cam ps ,pla c es h an dy to spri n gs
a n d fire wood E arly i n th e fal l h e gets h i s
-
.
stu ff togeth e r an d goes i n to bu ild h is c am ps .
T r appe r s m ostly wor k i n pai rs ,bu t som eti mes

o n e g o es i t alo n e l i ke my fri e n d u p i n Br u ns
w i ck He too k his traps an s tu ffin i n S ep

.
’
te m be r ,so s to g e t h is c am ps bui l t a n d b e
’
re ad y for b u s n es s a s s o on as fu r got p ri me
’
.
TR A P P E
’
IN A R S C A MP 1 81
“
Ca n man b u ild a log c abi n w itho u t
o ne
”
any help ? asked W al t er .
”
S ure , r epl ied P a t , i f h e s r e a so na bl y
“ ’
h usky ,an d most woodsme n a r e A sm a r t .
axema n can r oll o n e up in fou r days ,b u t of

c ou r se i t s easi er an d qu ic ke r i f th ere are
’
”
two .
“
Th e m ai n c am p i s m ad e sto u t a n d com
fo rta b le as possi ble ,sa me as t is he r e ,on l y
’
”
u sually tis n o so bi g
’
Alec r es u me d the
.
thread o f his story .Th e oth e r c amps are

“
j ust big enough fo r a b un k a n t o ca c he s om e

’
s u pplies ,a n d are o n e t o t wo day s j o u rn e y ’
apart ,a c co rdin to th e c o u n try

’
I n good .
w eather a felle r disn a mi n d sleepin g o o t o n e

n ight betwee n camps i f h e m us t ,t hou gh h e
d is na a i m to i f h e can h elp i t A few suppl ies
.
a r e left i n each cam p ,an d fire wood cut an d -
l eft h a n d y W h en this w o rk i s do n e i t s
.
’
u su ally bo u t ti m e to b e getti n afte r the

’ ’
c ri tte r s
.
“
A l on g l i n e i s usual ly pl an n ed o n a so r t
o f l oop wh en t h e cou n t ry will perm it ,so th at
t h e t r apper may go ou t on e way an d retu rn
ano th er Wh en two are trappi n g togethe r ,
.
pa rdn ers li ke Pat a n d m e ,o n e works the l i ne

o ne w ay an d o n e th e oth e r O f c ou r se t wo can
.
w o r k a l o n ger l i ne tha n o n e ca n ,an d c o v er i t

t he w a y i t o ugh t to be co v ered I v e p u t i n .
’
m o r e n o n e w i n te r alo n e ,
’
but y e k e n i t s m ic h ty ’
s atisfy i ng to h ae spee c h w i so m e o n e on c e i n
’
a wh i le W h e n I m alo ne it g e ts so th at I tal k
.
’
to th e v a rm i n ts j ust t o hear a h u ma n v oice ,

”
e ven tho ug h i t b e my own .
“
I sho uld n t th i n k i t w o uld be safe fo r a
’
m a n to b e a l l al o ne fo r so long , Upt on in
t erru p ted .
Tis n t
’
al tog e t h e r sa fe , r epl ied Ale c
’
.
Th ere was o ld B i l l B e n t ly Never w a s a .
be tt er w o o ds man tha n o ld B il l He used t o .
t r ap w a y u p n o r th of h ere U sed to go i t .
a lo n e m ostl y ,bu t o n e wi n te r h e took a

p a-
rdn e r Lu cky. th i n g for B i ll h e did They .
h a d a lo n g li ne that year an d B ill co v e r ed i t

o n e wa y an d h is pard n er ,B i g Fran k ,cove r ed
it th e other Th ey wo ul d m eet a t th e u ppe r
.
e n d a n d th e n agai n at t h e m ai n ca mp W ell , .
o n e ti m e B ig Fran k was a day late getti n g to

th e u pp e r cam p A big bar h a d bu sted a
.
s wi v el o n a tr a p an d gon e o ffwi t h t h e t rap .
Too k F r a n k a w hol e day to catch u p w ith h i m .
Wh e n he got to the cam p h e expe c ted t o fi nd

No . 1,b u t i f there are sig n s of fish e r o r l yn x w e
u s e N o I t so i f o n e h appe n s to get i n to a t r ap
.
i t w i l l h old hi m These cri tt ers are s o str o n g

.
th a t th e y w ou l d pul l o u t o f t h e s m alle r trap .
“
I t s m a r te n th at y o u are after m os t l y ,
’
isn t ’
i t ? I u nder st o od y o u t o s a y th a t , U pt on ”
i n t er p o s ed .
W e re a fte r any th ing we can g et ,bu t mos t

’
o f o u r s ets a r e fo r m a r te n , r etu rn ed Al ec
”
.
“
I n t he fa l l w e to o k a good m a ny ra ts a n d
w i l l agai n i n th e sp ri n g ,b u t at th i s ti m e 0 ’
th e y e ar wh e n e v e r y th i n g i s froze n ti s o n l y ’
a r o u n d sp r i n g holes th at we ca n get a r at n o w
an d th en si nc e th e law wil l n o l et u s trap
th e m at t hei r h o uses I d i n n a k en w h at th es e
.
l aw m ak ers wa n t to m edd le w i th a poo r ma n s ’
busi n ess for S o l on g as th e r at i s k illed I

.
d i n n a see w hat d i f fere n c e i t m ak es w h e r e h e s

’
k illed o r h o w W e u sed to get good fu r

.
w h en i t was n o agai n st th e l aw t o t r ap at th e
h o uses .
Wal t , h e r e s a su bj ec t for a l i t tl e m i ssionary

’
work Alec i s stil l an u n ci v i li z ed savage i n

.
s o m e th i n gs ,especially wh en wh at h e calls h is
ri gh ts to h u n t a nd trap ar e co n c e rn ed ,Pa t
b ro k e i n .
N TR A P P E R S C A MP 85
’
I A 1
U pton looked a bit pu zzled I do n t .

’
qui t e get the poi n t abou t the house t r appi ng ,

said h e .
“
You v e s ee n m usk r at ho uses a ple n t y ,
’
-
ha v en t yo u ? asked Pat
’
.
W alte r n odd e d .W el l , c o n ti n ue d Pat ,

“
before thi s la w w as mad e trappe r s u s ed t o

c hop a hole i n th e side of a house an d set a
trap on the bed in side O f c o u r se thi s d r ov e
.
the r at s o u t ,b u t they wo u l d soo n b e b ac k ,

be c a u se there w a s n o whe r e else to go By .
V isiti n g th e t r aps n i gh t and mo r ni n g it w a s
n o tri c k at all to get al l the ra t s No w th e .
l a w fo r b i ds this ki n d of trappin g Alec h ere .
do e s n t appr o ve o f th e law He thi n ks th a t

’
.
there ar e rats e n ough a n d to spare an d h e

c a n t see th at th at k i n d of work i s c u tt i n g hi s
’
o w n n os e o f f a n d k i lli n g th e goose that lay s

th e g o lde n egg S ays y o u c an clean al l t h e
.
r ats o u t o fa pl ac e a n d i n ti me m ore will come

to take thei r pla ce s ,a n d I c a n t m ake hi m see ’
”
i t a ny di f fe r e n t .
Ho w abo ut bea v e r ? ask ed Walter ,t urn

”
i ng to the S cotch man Nowh ere n ear as

.
“
”
p l en ti ful as th ey u sed to be ,are they ?
The trapper sho o k his head B ee n trapp ed
.
p re tt y n ea r o ut of th is c o u nt r y I m for pro
.
’
t ec tin g th e beaver , al l r ig h t ,but rats i s d i f

fer
en t Ye co u ld n t trap o u t al l th e r ats i n a
.
’
m ill i on y ea r s Th er e s r ats eno ugh a n d t here

.
’
a l ways w i ll be .
E ver h ea r o f th e passe n ge r p i g eon ?

a sked U pt o n .
Ale c sign i fied th a t h e n ev er h ad “

G u ess
.
the y di nn a li ve i n th is c ou n t r y , h e add e d .
”
I g uess they d on t , r eplied U p t o n drily
’
.
Fa c t i s the y do n t l i ve i n a n y c o u n tr y an y
’
more .W h at is s upposed to be th e v ery l ast

t p ec im e n d ied i n c apti vi ty i n C i nc i nn a t i l ast
yea r . A reward o f se v e r al thou san d dol lars

fo r p r oof of a si ngle pai r n e sti n g any wh e r e i n
Am e r i ca has stood for several years B ut th e

.
b i r d is bel ie v ed to be absol utely ex t i n ct An d .
y e t se v en ty-
fi v e yea r s ago they were n u m bered
“by m i ll io ns an d e x te n d ed o v er A mer i ca fro m
th e Atlan ti c t o th e R ocky Mo u n tai n s Prob .
a bl y billio n s wo ul d be n eare r th e tr uth Th e .
o rn i thologist Wi lso n on ce watch e d a flock

w h i ch b e esti mated to be a mi le wid e ,m o v i n g
at th e rate o f a m il e a m i n u t e ,an d i t t o o k
fo u r h ou rs to pass A llo wi n g th ree birds t o
.
each sq uar e yar d the r e m ust have been m o r e

sai d Walte r qu ietly I n a b ox i n g ma t ch it
.
”
i s a fo u l to h i t a ma n w he n h e s dow n ’
.
”
Tis n t i n a l u mber man s fight ,Ale c b r ok e
’ ’ ’
in . If a m an s d o w n so m uch th e bette r
“ ’
.
Th en y o u ve got h i m That s the th i ng t o do

’
.
’
—get h i m d o w n an d th en do h i m go od ”
.
A w say ,y o u se don t m ea n that ’

S p ar
rer s ey es we r e r o un d w i th i ndign ati on , for
’
e ve n a s t r eet ga m i n h as bett er eth ics tha n th i s .
It s th e wa y th ey figh t u p h ere , Spa r re r ,

“ ’
I m s o rry t o sa y ,sai d P a t
’ ”
I n a rou gh a n d
.
tu m bl e fi gh t h e re th ey k ic k ,b ite a n d go u g e ,
an d yo u m a y well pi t y th e un de r m a n B u t .
t hey re l e arn i n g bette r

’
.
“
Wo u ld y o u h i t a man w h o w a s b o u n d a nd
h e l pl ess ? asked W al ter q u i ckly .
”
“
C e r t ai n l y n ot ! cried Ale c i n d i g nan tl y .
Th a t s d i f fe r e n t
’
.
“
N o t so ve ry di ffere n t fro m y o u r rats i n
th e ir h ou ses ,protested U pton
”
They c o m e .
“
prett y n ea r to bei n g h el pless B eside s ,th ey .
h a ve no r easo n to s u spect ha r m th ere ,a n d

P u t i t u p to an y S co u t a n d he d
’
t h ey d o n t
’
.
sa y r i gh t o f f th e r eel th at i t i s u n fai r ,a nd th a t
is s o m e th i n g th at n o S co u t wil l sta n d f or B ut .
th is is no th i n g to do w ith m a r te n Yo u w e re .
TR A P P ER ’
IN A S C A MP 1 89
sayi n g , Alec , that y o u t r ap for mar te n ,

m os t ly.
“
Aye , replied Alec ,r ath e r glad to h a v e
th e su bj ect ch anged ,i f th e truth w ere k n ow n .
“
And i t s th e pret t iest a n d most c o m fo r table
’
ki n d of trappi n g i n t h e wi n ter Ye see th e

beasties are fou n d i n h ea v y ti m be r an d broke n
cou ntr y ,an d t h a t gi v es the trappe r more pr o
tec tio n fro m col d an d storms Th e n th e
.
beas t ies are n o so hard t o trap as som e othe r s .
W hen ye fi n d m a r ten sig n ye m a y be p r ett y

su re that the critte r wil l be alo n g there agai n .
They l i v e o n m ice ,rabbits ,bi rds an d squ irrels .
Fish makes good bai t W hen th e s n o ws are

.
n o t too h ea v y I bui ld a little c ubby ,a pe n ,y e

ken ,of sticks , at th e foot of a bi g t ree ,
th e tree
formi n g t h e back ,an d roof i t o v er wi th e v er
gr e en branches to keep o u t the sno w O n a .
l i t tle bed of bough s I set th e tra p j u s t i n sid e

the open in g of th e cu bby an d co v er i t l igh tly
w ith ti ps of e v ergreen Th e bai t is placed o n
.
a stick at t h e back of th e c ubby I h an g a .
couple of bo u ghs par t ly o v er th e ope n i ng so

that i f Whi skey Jack h appen s alon g h e w o n t ’
”
s ee the bai t a n d steal i t .
Here Pat i n te rru pted to explai n fo r S p ar

1 9
’
rer s be n efi t th at a W h iske y Jack i s th e c o m
m o n n a me i n th e n or t h for t h e C a n ada Ja y .
I sho u ld n t th i n k t he m arten cou ld get

’
h is peepe r s o n th e bai t ,the n ,s ai d S pa r re r

”
.
“
He di s n a n eed to ,l add ie , repl ied Al ec
”
.
H is n ose fi nds i t fo r h i m A n othe r se t .
w h i c h I l i ke an d u s e a good d eal is th i s . I
c u t a sm al l spruce o fabou t fo u r i n che s th r oug h
so as to leave a stu m p abo u t two feet abov e th e
s no w I n th e top o fth is I c u t a V o r c rot c h ,
.
a n d after tri m m i n g o ffth e lo we r li m bs o fth e

tree I r est i t i n thi s crot c h so that th e bu tt e nd
p r oj e c ts s om e di st a n ce a n d i s th ree o r fou r feet
above th e sn o w Abo u t a foot fro m the b utt
.
e n d I flatte n o ffa pla c e fo r th e trap a n d t ie i t

i n p lace w ith a bi t of s tri n g an d l o op th e ch ai n
ar ou n d th e t ru n k o f th e tree Th e n I m ak e
.
a spli t i n th e en d o fth e bu tt a n d i n thi s faste n

the bai t M r Ma r ten r u n s u p th e t r ee to get
. .
th e bai t ,st e ps i n th e trap an d fal ls o ff a n d

h an gs the re He c an t twist a foot o f or p ull
.
’
free i n a ny way O n c e he steps i n t he tr a p

.
h e s a g o n er
’
.
“
D eadfall s w or k prett y wel l w i th m a r te n .
Ye l l h av e a c h a n ce to see som e ,a s I ve got

’ ’
s o me r igh t handy h ere , i n some draw s o f f t he

TH E BOT S C O U TS
And foxes ? pro m pted U pto n .
Ale c gri n ned .Th ey re w orse tha n otte r ,

’
h e co nfessed .
“
Ye th i n k y e ke n al l abo u t th e
cri t te r s ,an d t h e n y e m eet u p w i th o n e t hat
j ust gives y e th e l augh , l i k e th e si l v er that s ’
h angi n g aro u n d h ere I ve trie d ever y set I

’
.
k no w of fo r th a t fel le r ,but h e s sti ll gri n n i n g

’
a t m e A n d thi s cr u st ai n t goi n g to h elp

.
’
m atters a n y I t s ba d enough i n d ry sno w ,

.
’
but w i th a cr ust th ere wo n t be an y th in g do

’
i n g I n t h e fall I u se w a t er sets w h ere I c a n

. .
O n e o f th e best is a t a shallo w spri n g ,fou r o r

fi ve fe et acr oss Abou t a foo t an d a h alf fro m
.
th e sh ore p u t a m oss co v ered s t on e ,o r a sod ,

-
so that i t w i ll c o m e j ust above t h e l evel of t h e

water Ha lf—
. way between t h i s an d t h e shore
set the trap ,co v eri n g th e j a ws ,spri n gs a nd
chai n w ith m u d o r wet l ea v es from th e botto m .
The pa n sh o uld be j ust u nd er water a n d o n

th is pl ace a l i t t le pi ece of m oss o r sod so th a t
i t w il l com e a n i n ch abo v e th e wate r O n .
th e o ute r s t on e o r sod pu t a sm a ll pi e ce o fbai t

a n d a li ttle scen t Mr Fox com es alo ng ,
. .
smel ls th e bai t a n d prom p t ly i n v esti gate s .
He d is n a l i ke to w et h is fee t ,an d t h e b it
o f c ov er i n g on th e pa n o f th e t r ap loo ks
N TR A P P E R S
’
I A C AMP 1 93
li ke a good steppi n g place -
. The n y o u h av e
h im .
Ye m ust tak e care to le a ve e v e r y th i n g i n

a perfectl y n atural state I wade u p t h e o utlet
.
an d take care n ot to to u c h the ba n ks S o m e .
t rappers boil th e traps i n hemlock bough s to

k i ll t h e s c en t O t h ers j ust lea v e them ove r
.
n igh t i n ru n n i n g wate r I wear c lean gloves

.
to handle th e t r a ps Th ere are a lot of dry

.
se t s ,som e wi t h bai t an d som e w i tho u t ,the

la t te r bei n g used i n frequen t ed ru n ways A .
v ery good set is t o fi nd an old m oss co v ered -
log or stu m p an d s et t h e t rap on t he high es t

poi n t ,coveri n g i t so that t he w hole th i n g
looks j ust as i t di d before The n t oss a big .
bait l i ke a m u skrat or rabbi t ei gh t o r ten fee t

fro m i t Mr Fox is al ways suspi cious ,an d
. .
before h e goes too n ear anyth i n g li ke that h e

w il l go to t h e hi gh es t poi n t t o look th e grou n d
o ver That s w he n ye get hi m O f course ,
.
’
.
t here m u st n t be a n y o t h er h igh poi n t for h im

’
”
to get o n .
Yo u s pok e o f scen ts ,Al ec I ve rea d .

’
a bou t t h em . W h at are th ey , anyho w ?

a sked U p t on .
Fo r an s we r ,A l e c g ot u p and we n t t o a
corn e r o f th e c abi n a n d brough t fo r t h an old
fru i t j a r Pa t gri n n ed
. Here s so me ,sa id
.
“ ” ’
A lec si m pl y as h e u ns cr ewed the c ov er w hil e

the bo y s c ro w ded aro u n d The y to ok one .
whi f fa nd t h e n fa irly t u mbled ove r e ac h o th e r

to g et awa y .
”
C ove r i t u p ! Take i t awa y l howl e d
Hal ,h oldi n g h is n ose . I w o n t be abl e to
’
”
eat a square m eal for a week .
Me t oo I y el ped S parrer De y h a s so me
.
”
a w ful s m ells i n Ne w York ,bu t dis i s d e l i m i t .
“
J u m pi n g c r ickets ! I sho ul d th i n k that
stu ff wo ul d d ri v e th in gs a w ay an d n ot a tt r act
”
’
em l e xc la im ed U pton W h at i s it ,a n y
.
“
h ow
“
S k u n k fat an d m i ce c u t u p a n d pu t i n th e
j a r an d h u n g i n t he su n u n t i l th orou gh l y
r otte d ,a n d t hen so m e sk u n k a n d m u skrat
”
s c e n t added S orry yo u do n t l i k e i t ,repli ed
.
’
Pa t . A drop or two j udi cio usly used seem s

to be a g r eat at t ractio n for foxes a n d so m e
o the r cr i tters Ale c h as got anothe r b r a n d i f
.
—
y o u wou ld li ke to sam ple i fis h o il made by
t
cu tti n g u p fish and l etti n g t hem r ot i n the
”
sam e way It s a m ig h t y good scen t
.
’
.
No , ”
tha n ks l c ried Hal h astil y We l l .
’
wedge or to n g u e O f cour se it sh ou l d be t a
.
~
pered . Th is ma k es i t possi ble t o u se t he

bo ard for va r iou s size an i m a ls a nd to st re t c h
th e sk in t o i ts fu l lest extent I t also m akes i t
.
ea s y to r e m o ve a sk i n fr o m th e board ,as t a k
i n g o u t the w edg e a t o nc e l oose n s th e whole
bo ard .
“
Th e ski n s a re p u t o n t he stret c h e r s fu r
side i n Th e n w it h a blu n t k n ife th e y a r e
.
flesh ed Th at i s ,t hey a re scrape d clean o f

.
e v e ry p ar t i cl e o f fat a n d fl esh T hen th ey

.
a r e st r et ch ed t o thei r fullest exte n t an d p u t to

dry o r cure i n a c ool ,airy place As soon as .
d ry enoug h to p r e v e n t sh ri n ki n g or w r i n k l i n g
th e y a re t a k en fr o m th e b o ards Lyn x a n d .
fox a re t hen t urn ed fu r side o u t,b u t th e

o the rs a re left as th e y are .
B e a ve r ,coon ,bea r ,wo l f an d ba dge r a re

skin n e d ope n ‘
. Th at m ean s t h at a cu t is
’
m a d e from the p oin t o ft h e j a w straigh t dow n

t h e belly to th e ve n t A c u t i s m ade dow n
.
th e in s i de o f th e forelegs ac ro ss th e breast to
th e poi n t of th e b r i sk et an d a no th er dow n th e
ba c k o f th e h i ndle gs B ig a n i m al s l i k e b ars,
.
w o lv e s an d wol ve r i n es shou ld be ski n n e d o u t

to t h e ends of t heir t oe s an d ha v e th e fe e t l e f t
S C A MP 1
97
on . These ski n s are s t ret c hed flat ,a coon
n earl y squa r e ,a b e ave r rou n d ,a n d othe r s t o
thei r n a t u ral shape Th e best way is by la c
.
ing t hem w i t h t wi n e i n a frame Ma ny trap .
pers lose m one y by ca r eless ha n d li n g o f t he

furs Al l dirt ,blood and l u mps sh ou ld b e
.
c a r efully re moved Lo t s o fski n s , . p r i m e w he n

ca u gh t ,grade w a y dow n because o f careles s
h an dli ng No w I gu ess yo u c haps h a v e got
.
y our fill o f furs W hat a b.o u t t o m o rr o w ? -
”
It s C hristmas ,y e ke n
’
.
“
That s so ,a n d i t w i l l b e th e q u eerest
’
Christmas I e v er h a ve spent , said Hal

th ou ghtfully W e ought to c ele b ra te s o m e
.
”
ho w W hat s th e program ,Pat ?
’
Ho w about a rabbi t h u n t i n t he m or n i n g ,
a big d i n ne r an d a shooti n g m at c h i n th e -
”
a fte rn o on ? r eplied Pa t .
B ully ! cried al l th ree togeth er .
What s th e mat t er w i t h a C h ristmas tree

’
”
in th e e v en i ng ? added U pton “
W e o ught .
”
t o do so m e t hi n g C hrist m asy .
I was goi n g to suggest t h at very thi n g ,

r eto r ted Hal W e ll make i t the greatest
.
’
C hristmas this o ld Hollow e v er saw No w , .
le t s t urn i n I wan t to be o u t fo r th ose

’
.
1 9 8 TH E BOT S C O U TS
ra bb i t s ri g h t early By th e w a y ,Ale c ,I
.
ho p e t her e s some o f th at ve ni so n l eft for th e

’
”
b ig feast.
D in n a y e worry ,la dd i e I h a e s av ed a
.
”
roas t S p e c i al , rep li e d Ale c as h e p re p ared
th i n gs for th e n i g h t
.
TH E B O Y S C O U TS
’
20 0
Me an whi le U pto n was d o w n o n hi s k nees

fu m bli n g u nde r h is bu n k At Hal s co m .
’
plai n t h e looked u p s uspi c io usl y “

I c an t
.
’
”
fi n d o n e o f m i n e , h e sp u ttere d “
S o me .
body s bee n p u tt i n g u p a j ob o n u s Hi !
’
.
W h at the H e fi n i sh ed by po i n ti ng
t o ward th e fi repla c e .
Hal looked Th er e h un g hi s mi ss ing s oc k

. .
Also o n e o f U pto n s an d o n e o fS p arr e r s ,al l

’ ’
th r ee m isshape n a n d bulgi n g .
“
U t w o u ld n o t be C hrist mas an we d i d
’
Q
no t h a n g th e c h il d e r s st oc k i n gs ,an no un c e d
’ ”
P a t g r av e l y .
With a w h oo p th e th re e b oy s fel l o n th e
s tocki n gs . E n te rin g i n to t h e S piri t o f th e
occas i o n t h e y seated themsel v es o n th e fl o o r
i n fron t o f t h e fire a n d pull ed o u t th e co n
ten ts as gleefu ll y as e v e r the y h ad em ptied
C h r ist m as stocki n gs at h o me i n th ei r y o u n ge r
d a y s Th e gift s w ere trifl i n g i n th emsel ves ,
.
bu t th e bette r fo r th at v er y fact There were .
l i ttle packages of spr u ce gu m ,a car v ed paper

-
k n i fe ,a ti n y bi rch bark can o e ,wh istles m a de

-
fro m bu c k s b o rn ,a rabbi t s foot c h arm ,an d

’ ’
oth er k n ickk n acks o f the woods Pat s v oi c e .

’
b ro k e i n t o th e m idst of t he b a bel p r od uced

S C A MP 20 1
by the dis co v ery o f th e so c ks an d thei r co n

ten t s . Fi v e m i n u tes fo r th o se w h o wa n t
“
breakfast , h e an no u n c ed .
I nstan tl y there w a s a mad sc r am ble t o

fi n ish dressi n g an d w hen ti m e was u p i t w a s
e viden t that no o n e proposed to go h un gry
that C hris t mas mor n i n g D uri n g th e meal i t
.
w a s decide d th at Alec sho uld remai n a t ca mp

to prepare for th e gran d feast w hile the o t hers
we n t i n search of rabbits W al t er an d Hal ,
.
k nowi n g t he su r rou n di n g c ou n t ry ,w ere to go

each o n hi s o w n hook wh i le Pat wo uld take
S par r er with h i m . J ust before sta r ti n g th e
two fo r me r held a w hispered co n fere nc e .
They h ad b r ought i n wi th t hem a few gi fts

fo r Pat an d h is pa r tn e r an d also so me small
p ac kages w h ich the hom e fol ks h ad pledged
the m n o t to Ope n u n til C hristmas day At .
Hal s suggest i o n i t was decided t o say n oth i n g

’
a bou t these u n ti l n i gh t an d spri n g t h e m as a

surp r ise at the C h r istmas tree o n w h ich Hal
h ad set hi s heart .
As Pat h ad fo r esee n ,the r e was a c ru st o n

wh i c h th e shoes m ade n o i m pressi on Ha l .
e le c ted to go dow n the n orth side of the brook

wh i le U pto n took th e Opposi te sid e .Pat a n d
S pa rr e r w e r e to visit a c ertai n swa m p n ot fa r
di sta n t All we r e t o be ba c k a t th e ca b in by
.
ele v en o clo c k
’
.
To U pt on th e t r a m p i n t ha t wonder ful
wi lde rn ess o fgl iste n i n g w h it e me a n t fa r mo re
th an th e h u n t As a ma tte r o ffa c t th e ver y
.
th ou gh t o f k i lli n g a ny th i n g a mi d s uc h p u re
s urro u n di ngs was r ep u g na n t to h i m T o th is .
feel i n g a big w hi te ha r e w h ich foolishl y sat

u p t o sta r e a t h i m w i t h i n fift ee n m i n u tes afte r
h e h ad left the c abi n u n do u btedly o w ed i ts
l i fe S l owly the r i fle had be en r a i sed un ti l
.
th e s i ghts r este d sq u a r ely betwee n the t wo in

n o cen t sta r i n g eyes Th en i t h ad bee n as
.
slow ly lo were d “
I c a n t d o i t ,p uss The
.
’
.
o t h ers w i ll get al l w e n ee d t o ea t ,I g ue ss ,so

s u ppose y o u re m o v e y o ur prett y self from th e
”
r a n ge o ftemptation , said h e , tak i n g a s u dde n
fo r wa r d step Th e r eupo n p u ss p r o m ptl y a c ted
.
u p o n h i s ad vic e ,a n d s o precipi tatel y that

U pto n l au gh ed alou d Me rr y C h r ist m as I
.
“
h e sho u te d as th e bo un d i ng wh i t e fo rm dis
appea red .
Th at d e c i d ed h i m His h eart w a s n o t i n
.
h u n ti n g th at m orn i n g W h at h e did wa n t to
.
do w as j u st to t r amp an d d r i n k i n th e be au ty
alo n g th e fa ce of the slope a n d taki n g a dva n
ta g e o f every l i tt le i ne quali t y h e co ul d ma k e
fair l y good p r ogress .
S ti ll i t took an ho ur an d a h alf o fstre n uou s

w o r k to gai n t h e co v eted t o p o f the r i d g e ,
a n d h e w a s t horo ugh ly w i n ded a n d w ea ry ,to
sa y no th i n g of s u n dry br u ises an d s c ratch e s
fr o m freq uen t falls Pan ti n g a n d perspi r i n g
.
h e turn ed t o look back B elo w h i m la y

S m ugglers Hol lo w , bu t ho w d i fferen t fro m th e
’
Hol l o w i n to wh i ch he h a d gazed fo r th e fi r st
ti m e i n S epte mber ! I t w a s n ot less lo n ely o r
le s s wi ld I n fact if an y th in g t hese featu re s
.
w ere a cc e n tu ated . Th e m ou n tai n s wh ich

se e m ed t o e n c lose i t o n all sides were n o less
h eroically gran d an d r ugged ,bu t they h ad
been r obbed i n a m easure o fthei r forbidd i n g ,
so mbe r gloo m by th e tran sfo r mi n g m a n tle o f
s no w Th e h ea vy stan d o fS pru ce o n th e o p
.
p o s it e m o u n tai n n o lon ger cloaked i t wi t h the

sh a do ws of n i gh t l i ke a perpetual th r eat o fe v il .
E a c h t r ee w a s a py r am i d o f my riad ge m s
flash in g i n th e s u n .
He could trace th e co u r se of th e frozen brook

th r o ugh th e heart of t h e Holl ow ,a ri bbon o f
w h i te ,s m o oth a n d u n b r oke n ,bet w ee n t he
’
C AMP 29
5
fri n ge of alders o n ei t he r side H e co uld s ee
.
the c abi n ,or rath er the roof a n d eaves ,for th e

c abi n i tsel f wa s n early buried i n a drift .
Fro m the ch i m n ey a th i n penci l of bl u e smoke

rose straigh t up i n th e s t ill ai r I t w a s th e
.
o n e th i n g n eeded . I t i n n o w a y m arred th e
gr andeu r of the scen e ,but i t sa v ed i t fro m
ut t er desol a t ion S o me t h i n g o f this sort flit
.
ted vaguely throu gh U p t on s m i nd Th e n

’
.
h e heard t h e fai n t crack of a ri fle on t he Op

p o s ite side of th e Hollo w , follo wed by two
m ore cracks Th e s moke an d t h e so u n d o f
.
th e r ifle r emo v ed th e last vestige of t emporary

depressi o n whi ch the grandeu r of t he s c e n e
an d th e utt er sile n c e o ft h e vast sol itu de h ad
te n ded to prod uce .
Hal s go t i n to a bu nc h o f e m o r else h is
’ ’
”
s h oo ti ng eye is o f f, h e ch uckled and t urn ed
to s c a n th e r idge he w a s o n to t h e west I t .
p r ese n ted a broken l i n e o f lo w peaks O n e .
slightl y h igher t han t h e rest mark ed the pla ce

w here th e pass to t h e Hol low entered I t w a s .
the hi ll fro m whi ch t he Los t Trail party had

first looked i n t o S m u gglers Hol lo w ,an d th e
’
V iew from th e su m m i t was more co mplet e tha n
f rom the poi n t Wal te r n o w occupi ed .

I d l i ke to get u p th ere ,he though t , b u t

’
i t s a l i ttle t o o m u c h o f a n u n der tak i ng on

’
thi s c r ust B esides ,i t wo uld m ake m e lat e

.
”
for d i n n er Hello ! Wo n de r wh at th at i s
. .
H e h ad ca u gh t a s udde n flash o n th e highe s t

poi n t o f th e peak A s h e w atch ed he sa w i t
.
agai n H is first tho ugh t h ad been that i t w a s

.
th e s u n r eflected fro m a bi t o f i c e ,bu t a n

in stan t s th o ugh t c o n v i n ced h i m that th i s
’
co u l d n t b e I t w o u l d o f n e c essi ty be fi xed
’
.
a n d stea dy Th e flas h es h e h ad see n we r e

.
m a de b y so me th i ng mo vi n g . Wi t h th is
k n o w le d ge c a me th e s u d d e n c o n vi ctio n t h a t
th e flash e s were c aus ed b y the s u n s t ri ki n g o n
po l ishe d m e tal Hasti l y feeli n g i n h is r u ck
.
«
sac k h e dre w o u t a pai r of o pera glass e s wh i ch

-
he a l wa y s c a rr ied w i t h h i m fo r u s e i n s tud y
in g b ir ds an d a n i m a l s They were n ot v ery
.
stron g ,b u t su ffi cie n tl y so to bri n g th e peak

per c epti bly n eare r At fi rst h e c o u l d m ak e
.
o ut no th i n g u n usual . Th en th ro u gh th e
glasses h e c augh t th at flash aga i n a nd
f ocussed th e m as n early as possi bl e o n th e
S pot fr o m w h ich i t had com e Fo r so me .
m i n u te s h e sa w n oth i n g s uspi cio us H e w a s

.
al mos t r e a d y to gi v e u p a n d con c l ud e t h at it
mi n d o f a n y o ne h id i n g th ere Th e firs t
.
t h i n g th e n was to all ay any s uch s uspicio n .
Del i be r a t ely h e turn ed h i s glasses ac r oss th e

Hollo w an d s t udied th e opposi t e m o u n t a i n for
a greater l e n g t h of ti me t h a n h e had w at c h e d
th e poi n t w here h e h ad seen th e flash The n .
h e squatted do w n a n d l eisurely tu rn e d h i s
g lasses fro m poi n t to po i n t i n th e Hol lo w in
t he m a nn er o f o n e h a v i n g n o i n te r est i n a ny
th i n g b ut th e vi ew No t o n ce d id h e gla n ce
.
ba c k al on g th e ridge ,al though h e was bu rn i ng

w it h c u rio sity a n d desi re to do so He ig n ored
.
i t a s i f i t h eld n o fur t h er i n terest for h i m w h at

e ve r F o r perh aps ten m i n u tes h e co n ti n u e d
.
to a c t th e part o f a m ere S i gh tse er The n .
pu tti n g h is glasses back i n h is ru cksack h e

stret c h ed la z i ly an d i n a lei sure ly m a n n e r
bega n to pick h is w a y dow n i n to a l i ttle dra w
wh i c h cu t back i n to t h e r idge i n th e opposit e
d irectio n fro m th e pass O n ce dow n i n t h i s
.
h e wo ul d be o u t of sigh t of a possibl e wat cher

at th e sp ruc e looko ut .
As soo n as h e was s ure th at h e w a s b eyon d

observatio n U pto n h u rried . Th e d ra w l e d
ba c k i n to a thic k sta nd o fyou n g gro wth ,an d
he h oped b y wor k in g u p t hrou gh t h i s t o be
I N A TR A P P E R
’
S C AMP 20 9
abl e to cross the r idge u nobse rv ed and work

b ack to a poi n t w h ich he h ad carefully n o t ed
an d fro m whi ch , o wi n g t o the ch an ge of an gle ,
h e felt s ure h e wou ld be abl e to see back o f
the l i tt le spr uce tree wh ich had pre v iously
c ut o ffh i s v ie w Get t i ng up to t h e top of th e
.
ridge was sti ff work for a n i n experien ce d

s n ow S hoer i n a h urry an d was prod uc t i ve o f
-
many tu mbles ,bu t i t w a s ac c o mplish ed a t last .
Aft er t hi s i t was com para t i v ely easy to wor k

alon g j ust belo w t h e top o n t h e ba c k S ide to
the poi n t h e had selected .
There h e cau t iously crept i n to a th ic ket of

yo u n g spruce a n d,h i s h eart beati n g li ke a
t r ip ha m mer wi t h exci t emen t ,carefully parted
-
the bran ch es u n t i l h e co uld ge t a cl ear v i ew.
Hi s ha n ds trem bled as h e drew o u t the glasses .
W o ul d h e d isco v er anythi n g ,o r had h e bee n

w r ough t u p to su ch a pi t ch o v er n o th i n g ? Th e
l ittle spruce leaped o u t clear and dis t i nct as
”
h e got t h e focus . Ha l Th e exclam a t io n
w as whol ly i n v ol u n t ary an d h e experienced
an absu r d i mp ulse t o look aro un d to m ak e
s ur e that h e h ad n o t been o v erh eard , al th ough
he k n ew t h a t he was a b s b lu tely alon e
.
Th e c ause was t he figure of a man squatt in g

be h ind th e spr u c e a n d peer i n g in te n t ly in t o
th e valle y He wore a fu r cu p p ulled lo w t o
.
sha d e h is e y es ,an d th is ,toge t h er w i th th e

distan ce ,m ade i t i mpossi ble for U pto n to se e
h is features clea r l y ,bu t so m eho w h e re c e i v e d
an u ns h akabl e c o n v i c tion th a t i t was an I n dia n
o r a h alf breed -
A ri fle lea n ed agai n st t h e t r e e
.
a n d dou btless i t was th e g li n t of t h e s u n on

i ts polish ed su rface th at had prod uced th e
mysterio us fl ashes th a t h ad fir st c aught his
a tten tio n .
“
He s watch i n g to s ee i f I go b ac k to t he
’
”
c ab in , tho ugh t W alter “
I f h e doesn t see
.
’
me b y th e ti m e t h e others r etu rn h e ll sm el l ’
a r at Th ere s n oth i n g m ore to be gai n ed by

.
’
sta y i n g h ere I v e pro v ed that w e are bei n g

.
’
watch ed ,an d t h a t s al l I ca n do I t s u p to
’
.
’
m e to get back a n d tell th e oth ers .
C au t io usly th e boy r etreated th r o u gh th e

th ic ket u n t i l h e w a s belo w t h e cap of th e
r idge The n h e h u rri ed ,ru n n i n g w h e n h e
.
c o ul d an d fi n di n g i t l ess difficul t th a n h e h a d
i magi n ed He c r ossed a bo v e t h e head of th e
.
d ra w a n d wen t o n u n t i l h e h a d reach ed a
p oin t whi c h b e j u dged m ust be abou t oppo
s i t e t o w h er e h e h ad l eft h is ri fle i n th e ho l
fi fty foo t ledg e I s ee w h e r e l ittl e W a lt e r
.
w il l be t urn i n g u p m issin g o n e of thes e d ays

if h e doe s n t loo k ou t I t s a poo r s c o u t w ho
’
.
’
tak es ne e d l e s s c ha nc es i n t e rr i t or y h e is n t ’
fa mil i ar w ith I l l be m o re c a r eful h ereafte r

.
’
.
He pee r ed o ve r the edge o f the ledge B e .
l o w th e sn o w h a d drift ed d eep a n d i t w as
clea r Th e l edge r a n east a n d wes t for so m e

.
dista nc e ,a n d to m ak e a d etou r wou l d tak e

ti me Hi s fi r st tho ugh t w as to k ick o ff h is
.
shoes ,toss the m d o w n an d th en j u mp B u t .
i f h e d id this h e wo uld be su re to break

throu gh th e c r ust a n d h e h a d n o mea n s o f
k no wi n g th e d epth o f that d rift o r w hat
m igh t be u n dern eath i t H e h a d n o desire to
.
fi n d o u t He m ust ei the r j u m p o n his shoes

.
o r go a r o und ,and th e tem ptatio n w a s to

j u m p .
“
Ma y as wel l l ear n to j u m p n o w as anoth e r
”
ti m e , h e m u t t ered ,for t he ti me bei n g forget
ti n g that in th e e v en t o f a m i sh ap ,s uch as a
twisted an kl e ,h e wo uld be h elpl ess i n a te m
era t u re far b e lo w ze ro
p .
He w al ked back a bi t ,to ok th r ee or fo ur

lon g q u i ck strides a n d l ea ped As h e left th e.
edge of th e l i ttle b l u f fh e fe l t the ta i ls o f h is

S C AMP 21
3
s hoes drop u n til th e big webs h u n g from h is
feet at an angle but sligh tl y o ff the perpen
dic u la r
. A m o men tary do ubt o f a s uccessful
landi n g flashed th rough h is m i n d He had a .
vision of a n igno m i n io us pl u n ge through th e

cr ust an d perhaps broke n shoes Th e n au to .
m a tic a lly h e set h i mself for th e landin g , ar m s

S pread ,bod y th r ust fo r wa rd an d k n ees be n t .
It seemed as if those han gi ng shoes c ertai n l y

m ust tr i p h i m A secon d late r h e stru ck t h e
.
c rust i n a half c r o uch Th e crust cra c ked

.
an d g a ve a l it t l e ,j ust e n o ugh to preven t the

sh o e s fr o m sl idi ng W i t h a qu i ck step h e re
.
gai n ed his bal an ce an d wi t h a se n se of ex h il ~
aratio n real i z ed t hat he had m ade successfull y

his fir st j u m p o n s n o w S h oes
-
.
F r o m th i s poin t h e had l i ttle difficul ty i n

re a c h i n g th e hollo w s t u b ,w here h e secu red
hi s ri fle an d the n tu rn ed toward th e c abi n .
Hal was j ust co m i n g i n Fro m o n e ha n d

.
d angled a snow sh oe r abbi t

-
.
Is that all yo u ve got for al l that sh oo t ing

’
I ve heard ? cha ffed W al t er

’
.
Hal gri n n ed .
“
Cou ld n t hi t a ballo on i f
’
i t wa s big as a mou ntai n a n d tied do wn i n

”
f ron t o f me , h e co n fes s ed Do n t k n o w
.
’
w h a t th e tr o u b le w a s ,bu t I j ust c o uldn t ’
s ho o t Wo u ld n t hav e g o t t h is fel l ow if he
.
’
h ad n t s a t u p a n d begg ed t o b e sh o t Miss ed
’
.
h i m a m ile th e fi r st ti m e at te n y a rd s Bulle t .
d id n t go n ea r en o u g h to s c a r e hi m S e cond
’
.
shot was n o bette r G o t h i m on t he th ird .
shot ,b u t I believe at that h e j u m pe d i n fr on t

o f th e bullet Y o u don t see m to hav e had
’
.
e v e n that m u c h l uck What was th e t rou b le ?.
”
Ha v e n t he a r d yo u r r i fle th is morn i n g
’
.
“
Di d n t fee l l i k e h u n t in g W en t u p on
’
.
”
th e r idg e t o g et th e vie w i nstea d , r etu rn ed
W al t er careles s ly Wo nder how S pa rr e r
.
“
”
mad e ou t .
Th e y en t ered th e c abi n t o fi nd P a t an d
S pa rrer al r ead y the r e ,th e latte r so e xci te d
th at h e g a v e ven t to a j o y fu l w h o o p w hen h e
c augh t si gh t o fth e m a n d ru shed pre ci p i tatel y
to the bac k o f th e r oo m to drag fort h t wo
pa i rs o fr abb i ts .
“
Pl ugged e m a l l m es elf!
’
he d e cl a red
pr o u dl y .
Th e r abbi ts were d ul y e x am i n ed a n d S p ar
rer w as praised fo r h is marksm an sh i p u n til
hi s cheeks b urned ,Pat l eadi n g i n pili n g i t o n
t hic k T wo o f the ra bbi t s ha d bee n n eatl y
.
21 6 T HE B OT S CO U TS
we are be in g watch ed wi ll do th e m n o g ood .
The r e s no th i n g we c a n do ab ou t i t t o da y
’
-
.
’
Ti s n ot l i kel y th ey m ea n us a ny h a rm I t s .
’
th e fu r th e y are aft er ,an d th ey ve j ust t a ke n

’
a dva n tage o f th e cr us t w hich lea ves n o t r ai l

t o loo k u s ove r a n d fi n d o u t ho w m a ny are i n
”
o u r party .
S o Walte r h eld h i s pea ce , an d th re w h i m s el f

i n to th e preparati on s fo r d i n n e r as i f h e h a d
n othi n g o f m o r e i m porta nc e o n h i s m i nd .
Th at C h r ist m as feast will n e v e r be forgo t te n

b y t he th r ee city lads Th e r e was th e pro m
.
ised r oa s t o f ve n i so n ,a r abbi t stew ,potatoes

baked i n th e ashes ,c an n ed peas ,bisc ui t ,a
j ar o f am,
j a n d ,
to top off wi t h ,a h ot apple pie
m ad e fro m evapora t ed apples B ut th e real .
su r prise w a s a steak do n e t o a tu rn o ve r th e
h ot coal s .
”
“
B ear ! sho u ted Hal a s h e set h is t e eth i n
th e fi rst m ou th fu l
Al ec s miled I s ee y e h ave taste d i t b e
.
”
fo r e , said h e .
“
O n ce , repl ied Hal Lou i s W oo d h u ll
.
got on e o n t hat S w i ft R i v er tri p a year ago last

fall B ut w he n did you get this fellow ,a n d
.
”
w h y hav e yo u ke p t so m u m abou t i t ?
A TR A P P
’
IN ER S CAM P 21 7
Ale c n od de d to ward the S ki n w hi ch w a s t o
”
be S p ud E ly s ’
. I t s the sam e o n e , said h e
’
.
“
I ve k ept pa r t of h i m ripen i n g o u t i n th e
’
sto r eho use agai nst this day , h e explai ned .
Wh en th ey c o uld eat n o m ore t he r e w a s a

ge n eral l o ose n i n g of belts a n d si ghs of c o m
l e te sati sfactio n in to w h i ch Pat r udel y b ro k e
p
w i t h a d ema n d for d ish wash ers an d wi pe r s .
O h ,c a n i t 1 gru n ted Hal W he n a .
fellow s i n the se v en t h hea v en what do yo u

’
”
try to bri ng h i m do w n t o ear t h agai n for ?
B ut Pat was obd u rate ,an d wi th m any a n
exaggerated gr u n t a n d groan t he rem ai ns of
t h e feast were cleared away , t he dishes wash e d
a n d th e c abi n set to righ t s Then follo wed a .
la z y ho u r before t h e r i fle m a t ch I t w a s .
agreed that Pat an d Alec ,both of who m were

e x pe r t S hots , sho uld c o u n t as a clea n mi ss an y
shot n ot st r i k i n g i n th e black ,w h i le th e o t h
ers sho ul d be cr edited w i t h w h atever t hei r
ac t u al s c or e s w e r e E ach was to be allowed
.
te n s hots The bul l s eye c ou nt ed t en ,

.
’
-
th e first
r i n g o u ts id e c o u n ted n i n e ,th e n ext ri ng eigh t ,
an d so o n E ach was a llow e d th ree trial shots
.
to get the r a n ge .
Hal w as th e fi r st to t ake h is trial sh o ts A t .

th e crac k o f th e r ifle U pto n ran fo rward to
e x a m i ne th e ta r get “
Nev er t ouc h ed it i
.
D id n t eve n h i t th e boa rd ! S om e shoo t er

’
”
y o u are ,Hal l h e y ell e d .
Hal fl ush ed ,bu t said no th ing F or his .
se c on d shot h e t o o k ple n t y o fti m e an d was as

c a r eful as h e k n e w ho w t o be T he r es ul t .
w as th e sam e F o r h is th ird shot he u s ed

.
a re st ,w h i c h w a s c o n t r a ry to th e r ules ,
b u t w a s al low ed , as th is w a s on l y a t r ia l
sh o t Thi s ti me h e n i c ke d a S pl in te r from
.
o n e e d g e o f t h e b o ard o n w hich t he t arg et

wa s fast en e d .
Here ,l et m e s ee th at r i fl e , c r ied P a t ,
strid in g fo rwar d a n d sn atch i n g th e g un o u t
o f Hal s h a n ds
’
He sigh ted i t ,th e n h a n ded
.
i t back w i th a gri n Wil l y e tel l m e h o w

.
“
i v e r y e got thot wa n r abbi t w id a gun the

lo ik es av thot ? h e dem a n ded .
”
“
Wh y ,w h at s th e m atte r wi th th e gu n ?
’
d emanded Hal ,r each i n g fo r i t , a p u zzled s cowl

fu r r o win g h is bro ws .
Ale c fo r estal led h i m a n d took th e r i fle from

P at s ha n ds He i n tu r n sighted alo n g the
’
.
bar r e l L a dd i e , sai d h e ,th e sober n ess o f

.
“
hi s fa c e bel ie d by th e t w i n kle in h i s ey e s , do
a n i n e ,total n i nety t w o S pa r r er gav e th em
-
.
a su rprise w i th ei gh t y seven an d Pat slappe d

-
h i m o n th e back The coach i n g h e had re

.
c e iv ed that m orn i n g d u r i n g the r abb i t h u n t
h ad n ot be en i n v ai n Pat was th e l a st m a n
.
u p ,an d sh o t r apidly an d w i th seem i n g c a r e

l ess ne ss ,b u t th e s uc c essio n o fbul l s eyes w a s
’
-
proof that th is w a s m ore appare n t t h a n r eal .
Hi s last shot , ho weve r ,ba r ely to uc h ed th e edg e

o f th e bla c k , a n d h e i n sisted that i t b e cou n ted
a mi ss ,t y i n g h i m w i t h Al ec a n d gi v in g W alte r
th e ma t c h .
Afte r th i s Pat and A l e c sh ot a fri e n dl y

m at ch . Wh i l e th is was going on Hal sl ipped
bac k to the cabi n He had m arked a s m al l
.
spr u c e o f pe r fect S h ape n o t far fr om th e r ea r

o fthe c ab in , a n d th i s h e n o w o u t a n d d ragged
i n By th e ti m e the shoo t i n g was o v e r h e
.
had i t s et u p at th e rear o ft h e r oom an d had

s t ret c h ed a bla n k et across so as to scree n i t .
W he n h is c o m r ades cam e troopi n g i n they

w ere wa rn ed n ot to peep beh i n d i t u nd e r
th reat o fdi r e pen al ties He made o n e ex c ep
.
a
ti o n He n eeded U pto n s h elp a n d al so t h e

.
’
g i fts th at Wal t e r h ad brou gh t fro m h o m e .
By th e t i me th e y had fin ish d it was q u it e

e
’
MP 221
d ar k i n t h e c abi n Th ey pile d log s o n the

.
fire a n d w he n t he bla z e was le a pi n g merri ly

up t h e c h i m n ey an d cas t i n g a wa r m r u ddy
ligh t o v e r t he roo m H al sugges t ed that they
draw u p to t he fire for a C hristm as stor y He .
chose t he German legen d o fthe or igi n o fth e

C hrist m as tree He possessed n o m ea n ski ll
.
as a s t ory teller an d he thre w h i mself i n to t h e

-
tellin g of th is so that his liste n e r s sat i n r apt

a t te n tio n.
J u st befo re th e c o n cl us i on h e gav e W alte r a

signal an d th e latte r arose an d slipped back
of th e blan ket As t he story ended the bla n ket
.
was pulled do w n and t here was t he l ittle tre e

gl itterin g wi t h ligh t s an d t i nsel a n d h u n g
with the gi ft s wh ich t h e boys had b r ough t .
There w a s a deli ghted gasp fro m Pat ,Ale c

an d S parrer an d then a silen ce that was a
tri bu te i n i t sel f as t hey wa t ched th e c olo r ed
candles gradu a lly shor t en Th e truth i s i t
.
was the fi r st C h r ist m as tree wi t hi n th e ex

p e r ie n ce of a n y on e of th e th ree ,an d the y
w ere a s d eli g hted as an y ch ildre n c o uld h ave
bee n .
W hen th e cand les h a d bu rn ed dow n t o th e

danger p oi n t Hal ble w th em o u t an d th en
di st r i b u ted th e gi fts ,w h i c h w er e o pe n e d amid
m u ch h ilari t y an d fu n m ak i n g .
“
Thi s m akes u p fo r th e s t oc k ing s t h is
m o rn i ng , he laughed as th e o t h e r s s h owered
h i m w i th fulso m e praise .
“
I t m o r e t h a n makes u p , d ecl a r e d P a t .
”
“ ’
Tis a C hris t mas I l l n eve r fo rget
’
. Th e n
a s h e lo v i ngly fi n ge r ed a lo n g desi r e d boo k
sen t i n b y Doctor Merri a m h e ad d ed : B u t “
w hen did yo u th i n k of th e t ree id e a ? W as i t

”
i n Ne w Yor k ?
Hal n od d ed .
“
The i dea ca me to me t h e
ve r y da y w e left S a w a wi n do w ful l o ftree
.
fi x in gs a nd o n th e i mpu ls e r a n i n an d got t h e
can d l es a n d ti nsel Glad y o u li k e i t
. .
A n ho u r o f s t ory telli n g followed e re th e y

-
t urne d in a nd sile nc e l i ke a Chris t ma s b e n e

dic t ion se tt led ove r t he cab i n .
an d I l l tak e th e sh ort l i n e east We ll get
’
.
’
back h e r e b y n o on a n d th is aft er n oo n we c a n
”
S h o w them so me o the r sets .
To th is plan t h e oth e r s agree d w i th en th u s i

as m a n d preparation s fo r a n i m med iate sta r t
”
w er e begu n .
“
S h al l w e tak e r i fles ? a sk ed
Ha l eagerl y .
“
For w h at ? d e m a nd e d P a t . We be go
i n g to visi t a dee r yard , a nd two ul d be tempt
’
i n g fat e a n d fl y i n g i n th e face o fPro v ide nce

to let s u ch a blood th irsty y ou n g gin tlem a n
i n am o ng th e poor c ra t u res w i th a gu n i n h i s
”
hand s .
Hal j o i n e d i n th e l au gh at h i s e x pe n se and
t h en a dded r ath e r la m ely
“
We m igh t r u n ac r oss th at si l ver fox .
A n d we m igh t j u m p over th e m oon T he .
”
o n e is as l i kel y as th e oth er , retorted Pat .
S o th e gu n s we r e l eft at th e cabi n Pat le d

.
th e way straigh t to th e ri dge o n w h i c h S p u d

E ly had mi ssed h is fi r st c h an ce to get a buck
i n th e fall ,b ut i n stead of cl i m bi n g t h e ridge
worked alo n g th e foot of i t ,ski r t i n g a swa m p .
They follo wed th e edge o f th i s for so m e dis

ta n ce a n d th e n abru ptly tu rn ed i n to it Th e .
gro w th w as dense i n p la c es ,w ith th ickets o f

’
C A MP 22
5
yo un g h e m locks w h ich a fforded both wa r m th
and shelte r i n se v ere weather A l m ost at o nce
.
t hey c a m e to a deeply trodde n path w hi ch led

t he m prese n tl y to a m a z e o f paths runnin g i n
all di r e c tio n s
.
Here we are ,sa id P a t .
S parre r s face was a st udy W here s de

’ ’
.
yard h e asked .
All aro u nd here ,r eplied Pat w ith a co m

prehensi v e sweep of h i s a rm , wh ereve r y o u
”
see t hese pa t h s . Th en ,a s udde n light b r eak
i n g o v e r h i m ,he added , Di d y o u expe c t t o
fi n d a fen ce aro u n d i t ,son ?
S parrer gri n n ed , n ot a t al l emba r rassed b y
th e general laugh and pe r fectly willi n g t o c on
fess his ig n oran ce All d e yards e v er O i seen
.
had fen c es r ou n d e m O i t hought a fe n ce was

’
.
”
w hat m ade a yard , h e c on fessed .
”
Not a deer yard , repl ied Pat A dee r .
“
ya rd is a place wh ere the deer tramp o u t pa t h s

in th e sno w an d spe n d th e w i nter It is made .
w here they get bo t h shel ter an d food Whe n .
the first dee p sno w comes the y collect i n su c h

a pla c e an d s t art th e pa t hs wh i le browsi n g fo r
fo od Then as th e sn o w gets d eeper t hey fo l
.
lo w the same paths be c a u s e i t is eas i e r g oi n g,

a nd m a ke n e w paths o n ly whe n th e y ha v e to
to r each n ew food s uppl ies B y co n ti n u a lly
.
u s i n g these paths th ey k eep t h e m open a nd

m a n age to pi c k up a l i v i n g bro wsi n g o n twigs
an d pawin g do w n t o th e gro u n d moss By .
the ti m e the h ea v iest s n ows com e th e y can t ’
v er y wel l get o u t if th ey wan t to ,espe c ial l y

w he n th e r e is a cr ust l i ke t hi s Y o u see so m e
.
of those pa t hs a re two to th ree feet d eep Th e .
m o re plen t ifu l th e fe ed an d th e smalle r t h e

h erd t he s maller th e y a rd B efo r e th e r e w e r e
.
an y l aws t o pro t ec t d eer an d moose th ey u se d to

be slaugh t ered i n t he yards by trappe r s a n d
l u m ber j acks because i t i s n o trick a t all fo r a
m a n o n sno w sh oes to ru n the m do wn
-
O n ce
.
get th e m fri ghten e d so t h a t t h ey b r eak o u t o f

th e y ard an d th ey c an be ru n dow n i n n o
ti m e Th e r e s a d eal of poa c h i n g goes o n n o w
.
’
w h e n a yard i s d iscovered n ear a l u m b e r

c a m p It s j u st plai n m u rder an d n oth i n g
.
’
l ess I v e k n ow n a w hol e fam ily o f m oo se ,

.
’
b u l l ,c ow ,yearl i n g an d cal f,to be wiped o u t

i n o n e d ay by a bloody m in d ed ga me h og
- -
.
Did n t eve n waste a S ho t o n th e calf,but ran

’
i t dow n an d cu t i ts th roat R ed Pete ,th e

.
bru te Wa l t h elped to p ut i n th e pe n t h e firs t

o f th e y ard were com p ar at i vel y s l i m They .
w ou l d w i n d hi m a nd at o nc e m ove o n H e .
was i n e ffect a d r i ver for the o t her s B u t he

.
di d n t m in d th is Wi ld d e e r we r e no new
’
.
s i gh t t o h i m ,an d h e w a s o n l y to o an xious t o
give S pa r rer th e pl eas ur e w h i ch h e k new a
gli m pse o f Peaked to e s i n the fr eed om o f his
-
n ati ve w oods w o uld be .
He c hose what appea r e d t o b e one o f t he

mo st u s e d pat h s an d followed th i s as q uietly
as h e c ou ld H e soon fou n d th at sti ll h u n t
.
ing o n s n o w s hoes an d w i th m o c ca s in ed fe et
-
o n ba r e gro u n d we r e tw o v ery di f fere n t m at

t er s H e w as n o t ye t s u ffi cie n tl y adept o n
.
th e big webs to k eep th e m fr o m clacki ng a s

th e ri m o f o n e sh o e passe d o v e r th e ri m o f
th e oth e r Th e h a rd e r h e t ri ed n ot to th e
.
m o r e no is e h e m a de ,i t seemed C lack ,
. clac k ,
c lack I t was m ost a n n o ying H e stop pe d
. .
t o con side r Th e n o n t h e i m pu lse o f a su d

.
den idea h e sli ppe d hi s sho e s o ffa nd d roppe d

dow n i n to th e path h e h ad bee n followi n g .
He r e h e c o ul d wal k w ith ou t n o i se Th e .
d ro ppi n gs o f th e deer ,k n ow n as sig n by “
al l h un te r s ,w e r e n u m ero u s ,an d th e b r ush

wi t hi n r e ac h fr o m th e p a th s how e d indica
S CA MP 2 29
t ion s of h avi n g bee n bro wsed o n re c e nt l y ,

an d h e fo un d se v e r al places w here sha r p
hoofs had pa w ed awa y the sn ow si nce th e
last sto rm .
Th e path twisted a n d t u r n ed a n d do u b l ed
on itself,showi n g that i t h a d be en ma d e
o r igi n ally b y a i mless w anderi n g i n qu est o f
fo od O th er path s crossed it ,bu t W alte r
.
av o ided t hese ,j udgi n g th a t th e o n e h e w a s

o n w as as l i kely as anoth er to lead hi m t o
th e quarry A t l e n gth afte r an abru pt t u r n
.
i t led straight i nt o a thicket of h emlocks ,

y o un g growth A s h e approached this th e re
.
wa s a sha r p s oun d li ke th e sudden rel ease of

com p r essed ai r ,r epeated a secon d late r fro m
a poi n t a t r ifle to th e r ight I t was the ala rm
.
w arn i n g of de e r Abo v e the s n o w j ust to th e

.
r igh t o f an d bey o n d the thi cke t h e caugh t a

gli mps e o f th e heads a n d n ecks o f two does
mo vi n g r ap i dly Th e e ffect w a s most pec u l
.
ia r It was a s i f t h ey possessed n o bodi e s

.
un ti l o n e o f th e m m ad e a high j u m p for j ust

a n in stan t ,bri n gi n g t h e back an d ru m p ,w it h
i ts snowy wh i t e flag stiffly erec t ,i n t o view .
“
Fro m th e way t he y go I sh ould t h i n k it
wa s the h u n ti n g season . I h a d an idea th a t
t hey woul d n t b e p ar ti cu la r l y t i mi d ,
’
bu t th os e
t w o l it o u t i n a regula r pan i c Act l i k e
.
th e y d bee n h u n ted u n ti l thei r n e r ves w e re

’
”
a l l o n e dge , thou gh t th e bo y as h e h ur rie dly
fo rc ed h is w a y through the th ic ket .
He h ad n o expectatio n o f fi n d i n g more
th e re , bu t was eage r t o see wh ere t h e t w o h ad
bee n l y i n g a n d the n to foll o w th e m u p as
ra pidl y as possi ble S o h e b u rst through t he
.
s cr ee n o f h em locks in r ath er precipitate fas h

i on ,a n un u s u al p r o c eed i n g fo r U pto n ,w h o s e
n a t ur al c a u tio n h ad bee n s uppl e me n t ed b y a
ver y th o rough t r ai n i n g i n woodc r aft d u ri n g
th e th r ee s u m m ers he had spe n t at Wo od cr aft
C a m p Th e i n sta n t h e w a s th r o u gh th e ba r
.
r i e r h e r ealize d the foll y o f h is ac t io n F a c

.
in g h i m ,n ot te n fe e t awa y ,wa s a bi g b uc k
w i th a splend id pai r o fa n tle r s .
I f th e does wer e pa n i c stri c k en th e ir lor d

w as n ot O n th e c o n trar y h e was the e m
.
b od i m en t o f viciou s an ge r Th e h ai r o n h is
.
n eck w as r aised ,h is eyes bla z ed w i t h ra g e ;
a n d h e w a s pawi n g th e sn o w w i t h i m pati e nce .
These d etails w ere registered o n Walter s

’
m i n d to be r ecal led la t e r ,bu t at t h e ti m e h e

w as c on s ci o u s o f bu t on e th i n g— th a t he had
’
CA MP 2 31
stu m bled i n t o a predicame n t w hich m igh t

e asily cost h i m h is l i fe No soon er w as h e
.
clearly i n v i e w t h an t h e buck charged Tel l .
i n g of it at t he c abi n that n igh t U pto n d e

c la red t h at i n th at flee t i n g i n s t a n t i t see m e d
t o h i m t hat h e was stari n g at a w hol e fores t

o f horns poi n t ed s t rai gh t fo r h i m .
I n tui tion i s su bcon scio us d i r ectio n w i th ou t

th e a id of conscious though t a n d is usuall y
th e r es u l t of wisely directed t h i n k i n g i n th e
p a st As a S cou t U pto n h ad t ried to trai n
.
h i mself to meet emergen cies ,t o be p r epared ,

an d i t was the r es ul t o fthis t rai n i n g th at gov
e rn ed h i m n ow Droppi n g h is sno w shoes h e
.
-
lea ped aside Fortu nately the s n o w had be e n

.
t r a m pled dow n fo r a s ufficien t space at thi s

poi n t to allo w of th is As i t w a s th e buck
.
s wept past s o c l o se as to al most gra z e h is

c lothi n g .
I n deed so n a rro w h ad bee n t h e margi n that

th e shoes ,released as h e j u mped , fel l directly
i n fr o n t of th e i n furia t ed an i m al an d t he b r o w
an t le r s pierced t h e m esh es of one of the m .
It w a s thi s l ucky circ ums t ance w hi c h wa s

U pto n s sal v a t ion For a fe w m i n utes th e
’
.
b uc k s a tt e n tio n w a s w holly e n gaged w ith th i s

’
new ad v er sar y w h ich ba n g ed a g a in st h is nose ,
obscu red h i s v isi o n an d cl u n g to h i m i n su c h
i n expl icable fashion He t r ie d to ba c k a wa y
.
fro m i t ,bu t i n vai n Th e n h e pl u n g ed fo r

.
w a r d a n d sough t to g r i n d i t i nto th e s no w ,
w i t h th e resul t that h e on l y fi xed i t m ore
firm l y o n hi s an tlers I n vai n he st r uck at i t
.
w it h h is feet Th e d a n gl i n g tai l o ffe r e d no th

.
in g o n w h i c h to get a pu rchase Fea r n o w b e.
g a n to r epla c e ra ge H ere w a s a n e n e m y that

.
wo uld n either fi gh t n o r r u n awa y No r c ou ld .
he i n t ur n r u n awa y fr o m i t .
M ean w h i l e Walte r h ad m ade th e mo s t o f

his oppo r tu n i t y B ut a fe w feet dista n t was a
.
y o u ng h e mlo c k t r ee Flo u n de r i n g throu gh

.
the s n o w h e re a c hed this an d scram bled u p .
I t was a s mal l tree , a n d h is perch w a s n on e to o

se c ur e ,an d anyth i n g bu t co m for t able for a n
ex te n de d sta y B u t i t m ea n t safe ty for th e
.
ti m e b e in g ,a n d j u s t th en th is was e v ery t h i n g
.
Wi th a sigh o fth a n kful n ess h e t u rne d h is a t

ten tio n to th e scen e belo w ,an d hi s se n se o f
h u m o r fo r th e m o men t o v ercame every t h i n g
else Th e buck was plai n ly bei n g worste d i n
.
hi s battle w i th th e sn o w sh oe ,an d w a s wo rk
-
ing h i msel f i n to a pan i c His g r eat e y es w e r e

.
w as th en that he r eme m bere d th at i n th e su b
sequent excitem e n t h e had fai le d t o giv e th e
view h allo w he n h e h ad sta r ted th e does an d
th us warn th e oth e r s th at game w a s afoot A .
y ell n o w wo ul d m ean to th e others m erel y t h at

th ey were to be o n the w a tch fo r d e er h eade d
th ei r wa y u n less th e y w e re n ea r e n ou g h t o
disti n gu ish words ,w h ic h h e m u ch dou bt ed .
The n h e r e m e mbered th e w h istl e w h ic h h e

al ways ca rr ied a n d th e e m e r ge n c y c al l fo r h e l p
o f the B l u e To r toise Patrol Bo th Hal and
.
S pa rr e r wou ld recogn i z e a nd u n dersta nd th a t .
S o m eh o w i t seem ed l ess a c ompro m ise of d i g

n ity tha n y elli ng fo r h elp He r ais ed th e
.
w h ist l e to hi s li ps an d ble w the sig n al ,wa i t ed

fi ve se c o nd s an d blew agai n A m i n u t e l at er
.
h e h eard a repl y fr o m a lesse r distan c e th an

h e h a d expe ct e d , followe d al most at o nc e b y a n
o ther w hi ch w a s r en d e r ed fai n te r by dist anc e .
R each e d b o th o f e m , h e m u tte r e d c o m
’
p la c e n tly
“
Hal
. i s n t so fa r awa
’
y a s I w a s
afrai d h e m igh t be G uess I bette r tel l th em

.
w h at th e t r o u ble is .
With th e w histl e h e spelled o u t i n th e

Mo r s e code T r e e d b y a b u c k w a t c h
- - - - - - - - - - -
”
o u
- -
t .
’
IN A TR A P P ER S CA MP 23
5
B ack cam e th e d o u ble r epl y O K , “
. .
followed by H al s voice i n a lo n g draw n

’
“
Hello o o - -
S ho uti n g o c casio n ally t o gi v e
.
the o t hers th e d i r ec t io n U p t o n cli m bed dow n

fro m h is perch ,r ecovered th e o n e shoe an d
the n waited w i th su ch pati ence as he c o uld .
Hal was soo n w i th i n easy shou ti n g d i stan ce

and th e a n xiet y i n h i s voice as h e i nqu i red if
U pton w a s a l l ri gh t w a s v ery e v ide n t S et at .
rest o n th is poi n t h e whooped j oy ou sl y a nd

U pt on gri n n ed r uefully .
This w ill be n uts for Hal He ll n eve r let

.
’
m e hea r th e en d o f it I m glad he did n t

.
’ ’
see m e u p th e tree , h e tho ught Alo ud h e .
war n ed Hal not to come too n ear ,bu t to wait

u nti l th e oth er s c am e u p W hile he fel t th at
.
the buck was so bedded i n th e sno w as to be

pra c t ic ally ha rm less h e wan ted n o c ha nc es
take n .
A few m i n u tes l ate r Pat an d S par r e r c a m e

up ,pan tin g wi th th e exertio n o ftheir lon g
run ,an d th e c ircu mstan ces were briefly ex
plai n ed Pat took i n the si tuation at a glan ce
.
a n d h i s e y es da nc ed w i th e nj o y men t ,an d all

three bega n to cha ff Walter u n me rc ifull y .
Bu t the r e w a s l ittl e ti me for t h is j u s t th en .

Th e co mi n g u p o f th e othe r s h ad fu r t her
alar med th e buck ,w h o had recove r ed win d
an d s t ren g t h t o so me deg r ee ,a n d w a s n o w
r en ew i n g h is effor t s to escape .
Pat ordered Hal to cir c le aro u n d an d h e ad

of fth e a n i mal , w h i le h e h i mself came u p from
beh ind an d e n deavored to fr e e t he sh oe .
S parre r was to stan d by i n c as e o fne e d a nd

r e n der an y a s is ta n c e h e co u ld U pto n wa s t o
.
sta y w h e r e h e w a s I ndeed th ere w a s n oth

.
i n g else for h i m to do ,as o nce i n the d e ep

sn o w h e wo uld be m ore h el pless th a n th e
d e er Th e latte r w a s sti ll flo u nd eri n g fo r ward
.
an d th ere w ere stai ns of re d on th e crust w here

i t had c u t th e slen de r legs .
As Hal appeared i n fron t o f h i m ,w h oopi n g

e xcitedly ,th e bu c k c eased hi s struggli n g an d
stood shou ld e r d eep i n th e s n o w ,h is si des
h eavi n g an d hi s steam i n g n ostrils qu i ve ri n g
a s h e labored for breath .
Poo r th i n g ! He h as n t got an o t h e r k i ck
’
”
i n h i m , Hal exclai m ed ,d rawi n g so n ear that
h e c o uld r each o u t an d tou ch th e slender
m u zz l e
.
Don t be to o s u re o fth at ,
’
m e bye B ett h er
.
s h t an d b ac k a bit , w a rne d Pat c om i n g u p

”
2 38 TH E BOT SCO U TS
b r e a th in g hea v i ly fr o m h is e xe r tio n s Th e
.
de er ,free d of th e hatefu l th i n g w h i c h h a d
c l u n g to hi s h ead an d been th e cau s e o fa l l
h is trou bles ,tu rned an d wi th aw k ward j u m ps
pl unged back thro ugh th e w a y h e h ad broke n
i n leavi n g th e yard Pat warned Wa l te r to
.
k eep o u t o fsigh t so as n ot to tu rn th e a n i mal

i n t o n e w diffi c ul t i es ,an d presen t ly th e y saw
hi m rea c h the t rodden paths of th e yard an d
w i th a shak e of h is bea u t i full y c row ne d h e a d
bo u n d li gh tl y awa y .
Th en w h ile the y t oo k sto c k o f dam age s

U pt on t old h is st o r y “
A n i n n ocen t babe i n
.
”
t h e w oo d s , m u rm u red Pat wh e n W al te r tol d
h o w h e h ad r e m oved hi s sh o es and take n to
th e d ee r path s .
“
If th a t h a d bee n a b u l l
moos e n ow i n st e a d o f a bu ck ti s loi ke yer
’
f rin ds w u d be weepi n g i n stead a v la u gh i n g a t

”
y e th is ver y m in u t .
That s t ru e , P a t,r epl ied Wal t er pr om pt ly

’
.
I t w as a fool ish th i n g to do ,an d I k n o w it

n o w A s i t i s y ou v e got t he lau gh o n m e
.
’
a n d Hal , h e adde d sl y l y
”
. Ho w a b o ut i t ,
”
H al ?
“
O h ,i t s o n m e too ,al l ri ght , r et urned
’
t ha t you ng gen tl em a n ,ru bb in g th e l u m p o n

IN A TR A P P E R S
’
CA MP 2 39
h is head . I s ure thou gh t t hat b r ute w as

“
”
righ t o n top o fme .
Pat mean wh i le h ad brough t o u t some st ou t

twi ne a nd w a s maki n g t e mporary repairs o n
the damaged shoes B eyon d so me damage to
.
th e webbi n g w here th e horn s had pierced i t

th e on e wh i c h had been th e cause of th e
buck s dis c o m fit u re was as good as e v er ,but
’
the frame of t h e oth er had been bad ly S pl it b y

the sh arp hoofs of t h e pl u ngin g an i mal .
B ri ngi ng t h e broken parts toge t h er Pat wo u n d

the m wi t h the twi n e ,an d wh en h e h ad fi n
is h ed pronou n ced t he shoe fit for th e trip back
t o th e c abi n ,wh ere h e wo uld u nder t ake a
m ore pe r ma n en t j ob .
“
W e w on t visi t those traps n o w , sa id h e
’
in spi te o fWalter s protest that h e could go

’
ba c k wh ile the oth ers w e n t o n ,a nd le d th e

w a y homeward .
C HA P T E R XI I I
PO A C HE R S
THE be ha v i o r o f t h e dee r i n t he yard h a d

pu zzled U pto n n o t a l ittl e He c o u l d e v o lve
.
n o theo ry t o a c co u n t fo r i t Wh y at th is
.
seaso n of th e y ea r sho u ld those two does h ave

appeare d s o te r ro r stri cke n at h is app r oa c h ,
an d
w h y sho uld th e buc k h a v e been i n su c h an
u gly m ood ? From all acc o u n t s h e h ad re ad ,
an d fro m w h at Pat h ad said , h e had h ad good
gro u n ds fo r expecti n g th e a n i mals to be fai rly
ta m e He pu t t h e ma t ter u p to Pa t as th e y
.
t r am ped h o m eward ,bu t h is reply w as e v asi ve

a n d u nsatisfactory . I n fact ,th e big fel l o w
was n ot i n cli n ed to tal k He a ppeared to h av e
.
some t h i n g o n h is m i n d , an d stro de alon g w i th

a black sco wl dark e n i n g h is u su ally good h u
-
m ored fa c e O n ce W al t er th ou gh t h e dete c t ed
.
a sligh t shak e o f h i s head at S p a rrer as th e

l atte r sta r ted t o sa y so m ethi n g He was s ure
.
o f i t w h en the latte r ab ru ptl y c h an ge d t h e
s u b ect
j .
k n i fe i n m i d air a nd sho t a k e e n gla nce a t
Pa t .
“
It s a fac t ,P a t wen t o n
’
. S par rer will
”
t e ll yo u s o.
S parr er n od d e d i n con fi r m a ti on o fP a t s s u r
’
~
p r isi n g state men t .
“
B ut we d id n t h ea r any gu n s ,pro t es t ed
’
No , r epl ied Pat , fo r th e v ery good

“
r eas on th at n o g u n s were fired Th e y wer e .
n ot h u n t i n g ; th ey w ere b utch eri n g Th en .
h e graph i cally d escri be d fo r Alec s be n efi t

’
U pto n s experi e n ce w i th t h e bu ck t hat m or n

’
i n g ,a n d th e story lost n o t hi ng i n t h e telli n g .
“
Wal t , h e con ti n ued , k n ows e n ough abo u t
de er to r eali ze that th e dee r h e saw d i d n ot
b eha v e as h e expected the y would ,a n d h e s ’
been pu z z lin g o ve r i t eve r si n ce I l l tel l

.
’
you the r easo n Th e y v e bee n h u n ted a n d

!
’
harri ed i n th at yard til l th ei r n e rv es a r e o n

t h e j u m p so that t h ey w i ll r u n fro m th ei r o w n
s h ado ws ,al l bu t th e bu ck ,an d I guess n o w
a fte r h i s scrap wi th the sn ow shoe h e w i ll be,
-
as b ad as t h e does As i t w a s h e was si mpl y

.
fi ght in g m ad ,k no wi n g thei r h elplessn ess o u t

s ide t h e y a r d O rdi n aril y h e w o u ld ha v e
.
S CA MP 24
3
s im ply trot t ed o ff qu ietly wi th the does B ut .
they were h u n ted yes t erday to a poi n t whe re

the old fello w was despera t e ,an d th e p roo f o f
”
i t is wha t S parrer an d I fou n d .
”
Wh at was i t ? de manded Walte r e ag erly
“
.
We fou nd wh ere a faw n an d a doe ha d

bee n d ri v en i n to t he d eep sno w an d but c h ered
”
w i th a k n ife , r eplied Pat The st o r y w as
.
“
plai n eno ugh for any on e w ho can r ead sig n s .
It was n o trick at all for those b l ood y poa c h ‘
er s o n s now shoes to ru n t hem do w n a n d d ri v e

-
them i nt o the s n o w Aft e r t hat n o gu n w a s

.
n e e ded B esides , a gu n is too noisy fo r thi e v es

.
a n d lawbreakers Wal t d id n t t ell yo u w hat

.
’
h e s a w y este r da y Fire a w a y ,Wal t ,and tel l

.
”
em
7
.
U pt on
told b ri efl y wh at h e ha d see n o n th e
peak b y th e pass an d h i s r eason s fo r telli n g
o n ly Pat Alec s face h ard en ed as he lis t ened
.
’
a n d a steely gli n t crept i n t o h is eyes Whe n .
Walter had fi n ished P a t co nt i n ued .
Yo u fellows wondered w h y I w a s so kee n

o n getti ng back to the cabi n I t was because .
I do n t beli eve it is safe to lea v e i t u n guarded

’
.
A s lon g as th e s n o w w a s soft th ose th i e v es

kep t away from th e Hollo w ,b u t wi t h th i s
c rust to lea v e n o t r acks th e y ve c o me dow n
’
h ere ,a n d they ve bee n w atch i n g u s The y

’
.
k now h o w m an y o f u s are h ere a n d ar e

w atch i n g o u r m ovem en ts Th ey d rai d th e
.
’
cabi n i n a m i n u t e if they saw t h e ch a nce .
Bu t as lo n g as a ny bod y i s h ere th ey l l k eep ’
o u t o f sigh t . H e r eaft er w e l l l ea v e a gu ar d
’
w h e n w e go o u t . To m o r row Ale c and I w i ll

-
sta r t before d a y b r ea k to lo o k fo r t hose fello ws

a n d l eave y o u you n gste r s to a m use y ou r sel ves .
I h ave a n i d ea that th ei r cam p is n t so fa r ’
a wa y as Al e c thoug h t i t w a s No w w e l l .
’
h ave d i n n e r ,a nd t h is aft ernoo n Alec a n d I

w i l l l oo k ove r a c oupl e o f the sh or t li n es , o ne
o f y o u c a n k eep guard h e r e an d the other t w o

”
c a n go w i t h u s o r d o a ny th i n g else yo u please .
U pto n i n siste d th at h e sh oul d keep gu ar d,

Hal de c ided t o go wi th Ale c ,a n d S parre r
w ith a l ittle h esi ta n c y c on fessed that h e
w oul d l i ke to h u n t rabbits Th e experi e nce
.
o f C h r istm a s m orn i n g h ad whet t ed h is taste
fo r h u n ti n g an d follo wi n g a trap l i n e see med
tam e sp o rt i n com pariso n He w a s eager t o

.
try hi s l uc k alo n e ,an d whe n Walter o ffere d

th e loan of h is ri fle h is h app i n ess w a s co m
p le t e
. W h e n th e o th ers h ad depa r te d h e
‘
As he app r oached th e m h e d isco v ered
s e ve r a l s m all m o u n ds a r o un d t w o o f t he
h o uses ,b u t th o ugh t no th i n g o f th is u n ti l h e
n ot i ced th at th e sn ow aro u n d the m h a d b een
rec e n tl y d i s t u rbed ,a n d that th e mo unds
th ems el ve s w e r e n ot cru st ed I n st an t ly
e ve ry se nse w h i c h h is S cou t t r ai n i n g h a d
developed was a r o u se d He r e w a s s o m et h i n g
.
pe cu lia r ,an d t o be i n vestigated C ould th i s

.
be th e wor k of the bea v er s ? He w ou ld fin d

out . R apidl y h e du g i n to o n e o fth e mounds
and p resen tl y disclosed eve r gree n bo u gh s ove r
wh ic h th e s now had bee n h eaped . Co ul d
thi s be so me w o r k o f th e st r a n ge l i tt l e a ni
mals o f w h i c h h e had n eve r hea r d ? H e
l i ft ed one o f th e b o ugh s a n d looked at th e
b u tt . I t h ad bee n bro ken o ff an d n o t c u t b y
teeth More ov er ,i t w a s fresh l y broke n H e
. .
e x ami n ed anoth e r wi th th e sam e r es u l t

'
.
U n der n eath w a s a la r ger one ,and this had

bee n c ut w i th a n axe .
S parrer straighten e d a nd l o oked k e e n l y i n

al l d i rection s A su dde n suspi c io n w a s rap
.
i dl y c rystal li z i n g i n to co n v i ctio n i n h is m i nd .
Th is wa s th e wo r k o f m a n . Wh at d id i t
m e a n ? S o far as h e cou ld see th ere w a s n o t
S CA MP 24
7
anoth e r l iv in g thi n g i n al l th at great w h i te
was t e The v ast si len ce was oppressi ve I n
. .
2
volu n tarily h e sh i vered For t he first ti me

.
the lon eli ness o f com ple t e sol itude gripp e d

h i m ,the more so th at h itherto i n all h is l i fe
h e had n eve r k n o w n what i t was to be a b s o
lu tely alo n e . F r o m b a b y h oo d he ha d bee n
s urr ou nded n ight and da y b y h u m a n b ein gs ,
m an y o f the m evi l ,but h u ma n n eve r th el e ss .
E ven si n c e h e had e n te r ed th e w oods h e h a d

n ot b e e n o u t of S peaki ng di sta n ce of o n e o r
m or e o fh is c omp a n ion s u n t i l n o w A n over
.
whel mi n g se n se of littlen ess and in s ign ifi

c a n ce swept o v e r h i m There was somethi n g
.
si niste r an d t h reaten i n g i n t h e to weri n g h ills .
He had t h e feelin g t ha t u n see n eyes we r e

Wat c h in g h i m an d i t made hi s flesh c r eep .
He kn e w it w a s ,m ust be ,on ly a feeli n g ,yet

h e could n o t ri d hi mself of i t I t is a feeli n g
.
wh ich every on e w ho i s alon e fo r the fir st

ti me i n the wilder n ess experien ces .
The n h e shoo k h i msel f .

“
Youse is s ure
l osin g yer goat , S parre r , h e m uttere d .
“
B uck u p !
With thi s he r e su m ed h i s i n v estigati ons .
Whe n th e last o f th e bo u gh s h ad bee n re

mo v ed h e fo u n d a h ole i n the i ce ab ou t a foo t
a n d a h al f w i de a n d a t r i fle longe r Alo n g
.
on e e nd a nd both sides s mal l dead sti c ks h ad

bee n d ri ve n in t o th e m u d a n d c los e t o th e
e dg es o f th e hole These w ere abo u t fo ur
.
i nc h es a p ar t a n d fo rm ed a little pe n wi th o n e
end o p en C los e to o n e s ide a n d p r oj ect ing
.
be yon d th e pe n th ro ugh th e ope n e n d w a s a

l on g fresh l y c u t gree n pop la r sti c k faste n e d
a bo u t t wo i nc h es abo v e th e bott om . Th e
w ate r w a s s hall ow an d presentl y h e ma d e o u t
a stee l trap d i m l y o u tl i n ed w el l insi de th e pe n
qui te c lose to th e popla r sti c k ,t h e c h a in
faste n ed to o n e o fth e pe n stak es .
I t w a s all pe r fe c tl y clea r n ow to ev en s uc h
a n ovice as S par r er I t w a s a set for beav e r
. .
He k n ew en o ugh abou t th e an i mals to k n o w

th at th ei r favorite food i s popla r b ar k Th e .
gree n popla r s t i ck was bait I t see m ed q uee r

.
t o th i n k of a stick o fwood as bai t , bu t th i s i s

w h at i t w a s ,an d n oth in g else He saw th at
.
i t w a s se c urel y fas t en ed at th e bu tt en d i n a
c o rn e r of th e pen a n d was staked dow n n ear
th e ope n i n g so th at th ere coul d be n o cross
m o v emen t I t co ul d n ot be p u lled o u t The
. .
only w a y for a h u ngr y b eav er to get i t wou l d

th e ir s . Th e r e w a s n o one else t r appi ng i n th e
Hol lo w Th e poa c he r s the r e h ad been s o m uch
.
tal k abo u t w ere w ork i n g m i les be y o n d t he

Hol l o w , o n the lo n g li n e H e r em e m be re d now
.
th at ne i the r Pat nor Ale c had on ce s u gge s te d

a t r i p u p th is way G o o d r eas on Th ey wan te d
. .
to avoid a ny em b arr assi n g qu e st ions a b ou t

those qu e e r l ittl e mou nd s , fo r he k n ew now
th at ea c h o n e c ove r e d a t r ap p an The b oughs

-
.
an d th e s now w e r e to k eep t he h o l es from

fr eezi n g o ver He coun te d th e m o un ds T h e re
. .
wer e th r e e a t on e h o us e an d fo ur at t h e o th e r .
Yo use bette r c ov er th is u p a n d ma ke yer

,
”
g e t
-
awa y w h i le th e go in g s go od’
h e m u ttered
as b e r eplaced th e bough s a n d pa c k ed the sno w
o v er th e m u n ti l th e m o u n d w a s as n earl y as
he h a d fou n d i t as i t was poss i ble to m ake i t .
The n h e m ad e a h as ty exam i n ati o n o f th e

houses Th e sn o w w a s m el t ed o n th e tops o f
.
th e two a ro u n d w hi ch th e traps were set ,su r e

s ign t h at th e y were i n h abi t ed Th i s w a s
.
c au sed b y the wa rm ai r fro m th e i n terio r

escapi n g th r o ugh th e ai r hol es w h ic h a re
al wa y s left i n th e top of a bea v er h ouse Th e
th i rd w a s solidl y cru sted ove r ,a r easo n ab ly
s u r e i n di c atio n th a t i t w as aban d oned .
S CA MP 2 51
Ha v in g satisfied h is curiosi ty S parrer sta r te d

ba c k to t h e da m an d follo wed i t t o t he woods
o n the far t he r sho r e . He had i n te n ded to go
straigh t ac r oss th e po n d to th e seco n d dam ,
but his disco v e ry of th e traps had a r o used h is
se n se of c au tion and h e decided t hat i t w o ul d
be bet t er to keep to th e woods O n th e br o a d
.
wh i te expanse of the pond h e w o uld be alto

geth e r too co n spic u o u s sh o u ld i t h appen th a t
c u r ious eyes were w a tch in g As h e sk i r ted
.
th e sho re o f the pon d thro ugh t h e b r ush hi s

thoughts w e re s o b us y wi th h is disco v er y that
fo r t h e ti m e bei n g h e q u i t e forgo t t o keep a n
eye o ut for ra bbi t sign s The illegali ty o f
.
t h is atte m pt to catch bea v er i n a close seaso n

( lid n ot i mpress h i m a t first He h ad had
.
noth i n g to do wi th game an d game laws .
The y we r e en tirel y o u t side h i s r an ge of e x pe

rien c e
. I n fa c t ,h e failed u t terly to grasp t h e
purpose ba c k o f th e laws an d l ike a great
m a ny o the r s he r ega r ded t hem as a restrictio n
o f i n d i vid u al li berty ,and a violation as of no
ver y great m om en t They w ere to h i m ver y
.
”
m uch as th e keep o ff t h e grass sign s i n
“
t h e city pa r k
.
8 0 i t w as no sho c k to the bo y to t h i n k t h a t
hi s n ew i d o l ,P a t,sho u ld be b r e a ki n g a law
fo r wh ich h e c o uld see n o r easo n B u t w hat
.
did gi v e h im a shock w a s th e m etho d e m

p loy ed Th is o ut r aged h i s stron g se n s e o f
.
fair pla y .
“
I t s h i tt i n g e m belo w de bel t
’ ’
.
”
D e y ai n t got a c ha nc e i n de wo r l d , h e kept
’
s ayin g o v er a nd ov er to h i m self D ey fi n d s
.
d e fo od ri ght b y de r e ho u s es u n de r de ice
w h er e d e y ai n t look i n g fo r n o fo u l blo w ,
’
an d
dey helps dem s elv es a n d g i ts a k no cko u t w i d
”
ou t a S ho w .H e c ou ld o v erl o ok th e b r eak i ng
o f th e la w be c au se i t h el d n o m ea n i n g fo r
h i m ,bu t i t w a s h a rd to r ec on c ile this flag r a n t
o u t r age on fai rn ess w i t h wh at h e k n ew of Pat .
“
Ma y b e Alec s doi n g i t o n de side a n d Pat
’
”
d o n t k now n oth i n abo u t i t , h e th ought ,
’ ’
an d
w ith th is co m forti n g r eflectio n h e fel t bett er
As h e t ra mped o n h i s th oughts gr ew c l e a r e r .
He r e c alled Alec s st r o n g asser tio n th at h e w a s

’
fo r p r otecti n g bea v er If Ale c had bee n.
s i n c e r e th is el i m i n ated h i m ,a n d Pat h ad n ot
bee n a wa y fro m th e cabi n u n atte n ded si nce
the y arri v ed Moreove r th e t r aps h a d bee n
.
set s i n ce th e last s no w , an d that fact effe c tuall y

d isp o sed o fboth P a t and Al e c A S h e r eali z e d
.
t his S pa rr e r g a v e ve n t to a l o w wh ist le
’
It s .
sn ap b eh i n d h i m ,an d fo r a ful l tw o m in u t es
h e stoo d liste n i n g B u t h e h eard n o t h i ng
.
furth er a n d n othi n g m oved w ithi n h i s r a n ge

o f v ision . C h argi n g i t u p to a n o v e r w r o u gh t
i magi n atio n an d c h idi n g h i m self fo r a s i l ly
c h u mp h e moved o n .
Presen tly h e d is c ove re d fresh r a bbi t S i g n ,

a n d this dro v e e v ery t h i n g e lse o u t o fh i s h ead.
S lo wl y he mo v ed for ward , h is ri fle c o o ked a nd

r ead y Profi t i n g by h i s experi e n c e w i th Pat
.
the da y before h e sca n n ed ever y li ttl e irregu -

n
la rity i n the s u rface of the sn ow wi th s u s pi

c io u s e y e s. Prese n tly h e d i s c o v ered a l i ttl e:
mo u nd ah e ad o fh i m an d a bi t to o n e sid e o f
the pat h h e was followi n g I t seemed to .
S pa rr e r th at i t w a s i f an y th i n g a trifle wh ite r
th a n th e s u r r ou n di n g s n o w S tu d y i t as h e
.
w o u l d ,to h i s u n t r ai n ed e y es i t bore n o rese m

b la nc e to a n a n i mal B ut prese n t ly he n oti c e d
.
t w o d ark spot s ,a n d i t flash e d ove r hi m that

th ey w e re eyes , i n te n tl y watch i n g hi m .
S l owly h e sta r t e d to raise h is r i fle , bu t a t th e

fi rst m ovemen t the w h i te mo u nd dissolve d
i n to a lon g l egged a n i mal wh i ch bou n d ed b e ~
h i nd a st u m p a nd w a s gon e befor e h e could

ge t h is gu n t o h i s sh oul de r .
’
MP 2
55
D i sappoi n ted ,bu t resol v ed t hat the n e x t
o n e sho uld n o t ge t t h e j u m p o n h i m S parre r
kept o n S ign w a s plen t iful e v e ry wh ere ,

. a nd
h is hopes ra n h igh S o fea r ful w a s h e o f
.
a n othe r r abbi t s r epea t i n g th e s u r p r ise o fth e

’
first o n e th a t as h e s t ol e for ward h e kept h is

gu n at h is shou lder ,u n ti l at last he w a s fo rc ed
to lowe r i t fro m sheer wea r i n ess B u t i n spite
.
o f his ca r e an d wa t ch ful n ess h e saw n o mo re
ga m e an d at las t sa t dow n on an o ld log t o

rest He w a s tired an d if t h e t r u t h be k no w n
.
so mew hat disco u rag ed He w a s too n e w at

.
th e h u n tin g game to reali z e t hat h is was n o

mo r e t h a n the usual experien ce of t he h u nte r
and th a t h is c hances of s uccess ,i f n o b ette r ,
were no wor s e than i n the begi n n i n g .
CHA P TE R ! I V
THE S I LV E R F O!
THE lo g on w h i ch S pa rr e r w as sea t ed w as
n e a r th e edge of the swam p a n d c o m m a n de d
a vi e w o fth e s m all u pper po n d ,wh ile h e h i m
sel f w as m ore or l ess scree n ed fr om o b s e r vati on
fro m that d i r ecti on by a fri n g e o fy o u n g bi r c h
an d alders He had sat there perh aps te n
.
m i n u tes , a n d w a s j ust begi n n i n g t o rea l i ze th a t

h e wo ul d have to m o v e o n i n orde r t o k e e p
wa rm w he n hi s e y es ,id l y scan n i n g t h e fa r the r
sh ore ,dete c ted so methi n g m ovi n g amon g th e
t r ees be y o n d th e farth e r en d o fth e li ttl e d a m .
I n stan tl y h e w a s all atte n tion , h i s e y es gl ued

to th e spo t He fo r got that h e w a s beg i n n i n g
.
to feel c h i lled A war m glo w o f ex cite m e n t

.
r ushed ove r h i m There w as an a n i m al o f

.
som e k i n d o v er th ere ,b u t w h at h e could n ot

tel l a t that d ista n ce B u t o n e th i n g w a s cer
.
t ain ,i t was n o rabbit ,for i t was dar k i n col or ,

and i t w a s too big He coul d c atch but ta n
.
ta liz in g g l i m pses o f i t i n th e y o un g g row t h

256
North A merican fur bearers ,w hose ski n was
worth a fabu lo us s u m ,accordi n g to w hat h e
h ad h eard ,h e began to sh ake as w i t h th e
a gue W hat i f h e co ul d get h i m ? A c ol d
.
s weat brok e o u t at th e m ere tho ugh t Th e r e.
o n th e d a m w a s w hat t o h i m was n oth i n g less

tha n a fo r t u n e ,a n d h ere w a s h e shaki ng l i ke
an aspen leaf i n the w i nd Th e d istan c e w a s
.
t oo grea t for a shot at presen t ,b u t pe r h aps

th e fox wo ul d com e n earer ,a n d th e n a t rue
e y e an d s t ead y n er v es fo r j u st a m a t te r o f a
few secon ds an d the prize m igh t be h is .
Wi th a q u i ck i n tak e of brea t h h e t ri ed to
g et a gri p o n h i m sel f He t h o u gh t of t h e
.
battles h e h a d fou gh t w i t h bul lies ol d er an d

bi gger tha n h i m se lf,an d h ad w o n beca u se h e
h ad kept h i s h ead i n t he h ea t of con test an d
h ad coolly taken ad v an tage of ev ery Openi n g .
B u t th at w a s di fferen t Th e n h e w a s i n a c
.
t i o n a n d i t was easi er to k eep coo l Th e n ,to o ,

.
i f h e m isse d o n e bl o w th ere w a s a ch a n ce fo r
a n oth e r It was th is si t t i n g stil l w i t h th e
.
k n ow ledge that th ere wou ld be bu t o n e

ch an ce ,an d t hat t h i s m us t be take n at j us t
th e r igh t m o men t o r be lost fore v er t hat u pse t
h i m so Th en c u rio u sl y eno ugh th e mo t to o f
.
’
CA MP 2
59
th e B oy S couts flashed i n to h i s h ead Be
p r epared I t was l i ke a ton ic to h is shaki n g
.
n er v es Was n ot a S co u t supposed to be pre

.
pared for al l e m erge h c ies ,and wh at w as thi s

bu t a form o f emergen cy
He s t opped sh aki n g He l i fted h is rifl e
.
ever so li tt le an d fou n d that i t r e m ai n ed

steady a n d motion less i n hi s hands .I t ai n t
“ ’
n o fox I t s j us t a rabbi t and y ou se ca n t

.
’ ’
m iss i t , h e wh i s pered o v er and o v er t o h im

self,a n d experien ced an odd sen se o f c o n fi
den ce . He was h i mself on ce more , t h e S parre r
o f t h e stree t s , able to tak e care of hi m self an d
k eep his h ead i n an y emer gen cy t h e S parrer
o f the B l ue Tortoi se Patrol , n o t in g t h e n u m
ber o f th e fleeing machi n e a t the t i m e of t h e
a cc iden t .
Mea n whi le t h e fox was l eisu rely crossi n g

the dam ,stoppin g n o w an d th en t o sni ff a t
the snow or to test th e w i nd For t u na t ely .
w hat littl e th ere was of t he l a tt er was blowi n g

toward t h e h idden watch er ,a fac t wh ich
S parre r di d n ot apprecia t e a t t h e ti me Had.
th e wi n d been the o t her w a y th e fox wou ld

ha v e caugh t t h e h a t ed m a n sm ell an d va n
is h ed like a sh adow As i t w a s h is eve ry
.
mo v e d e no t ed com plete l a c k of s u spi cion so
fa r as a fox e v er d oe s la c k t h i s c ha rac t eri st ic
t r ai t
.
S p arrer w as a t c om plet e los s as to wh a t he

sh o u l d d o Th e te m pta tl o n to c r aw l for ward
.
so a s t o g e t w ith i n eas y r a n ge o f th e e nd o f
t h e da m was a l mos t i r resi sti ble , b u t h e r ealize d
th a t t h e fi rst m ove o n h is part wou ld be l i k e l y
t o att r act the kee n e y es o f h i s qu a rry , an d
ar o u s e h is s u spi c io n s Ha d the fr i n ge o f
.
bru sh th rou gh w h ich h e was w a t c hi n g be en

l eave d o u t i t m igh t h av e bee n possi ble to
s uccess fu l l y m ak e this mov e ,bu t as i t w a s h i s
dar k body agai n st t h e w h i te ba c kg r ou n d co ul d
h ardly fai l o f de t ec tio n despi t e t h e sc r ee n o f
b ru sh H e k n e w eno ugh o fa n i m als to k n o w
.
that so lo n g as h e w a s m otion less h e wo ul d

appea r to be n o m o r e tha n a part of th e l og
on wh i c h h e sat ,a n d w isel y c o nc l u ded t o si t
t i g h t and a w ai t de v elop m e n ts.
I f t h e fo x con ti n u ed c lea r acro ss t h e da m

th e r e w as on e poi n t at w h i c h h e w o u l d
a ffo rd a c le ar shot th ro u g h a li ttle Ope n i n g
i n th e b r ush I t wo uld be at l o n g r a n ge ,bu t
.
the 22 w a s h igh powe r e d , a n d i f h e cou ld j u dge

th e d ist an c e a r igh t an d h old t rue t h e re w as a
blac k acros s h is S ig h ts S l owly he l ow ered
.
h is ri fle H is ch ance was go n e
. .
I n the r ea c ti on th at fol lo wed he r e al i z e d

h o w h igh h is h opes h ad been It se em e d a s
.
i f For t u n e h ad bu t play e d w i t h h i m ,h ad p ut
th e pri z e al mo st w i thi n h is grasp an d the n as
h e reach ed fo r i t h ad s na tc hed i t awa y to teas e
a n d m ock h i m He co uld h ave c r ied w i t h
.
vexatio n an d d isappoi n tme n t h a d h e been o f

th e weepi n g k i n d As i t w a s h e swal lowed a
.
l u mp i n h is th roat and l ean ed forward to pee r

th ro u gh th e b ru sh for o n e last gli m pse o fth e
royal an i ma l .
A t the end o f th e da m th e fo x s t o pped .
S parr er cou ld j ust make h i m o u t th ro ugh the

tan gled s cr een o f b r ush For a mo me n t h e
.
stood m oti on l ess It see med to th e boy l i ke

.
addi n g i ns u lt t o i nj u ry Then wi t h a lon g

.
graceful leap h e lan ded o n th e snow o fth e

s w am p A s udde n h ope cause d S parre r to
.
i n sti n ct i vely tigh ten h is gri p o n th e rifle a nd

ca t c h h i s b r eath Perh aps th e fo x w o uld
.
c o m e h is way I f h e sho ul d,well ,h e w o u ld

—
at least fi n d a tru e S co ut h e wo u l d b e p re
pa r ed.
B u t th e fo x d i d no t t urn i n h is d i rec t ion .

A TR A P P E R S
’
IN CA MP 26
3
I n stead h e k ept straigh t on i nt o t h e swa m p as
i f h e i n t en d ed t o cro s s i t to th e high l a nd
w h ich m ade u p t o t h e hi lls beyo n d . S par r e r
c augh t occasion al gli mps es o fh im t h ro u gh th e
t r ees H e crossed t h e t rail by wh ich S parre r
.
h ad com e i n ,sn i ffe d at i t ,looked u p i n

S parrer s d irec t i on s uspicio usl y ,i t seemed to
’
h i m ,sni ffed agai n an d th e n trotted o n as i f

th e mat t er were of n o presen t i n te r est T h e .
dr y sno w had n o t held t he sce n t s u fficien tl y

to c a u se alar m .
I n s t ead of con ti n ui n g i n a d i r ect c ou r s e fo r

th e h ills th e fox n ow began t o q u arter th e
g r o un d very m uch as a bi r d dog does i n quest
o f qu ai l . I n short r u ns fro m side to sid e h e
ad v a n ced deeper i n to the s wam p ,in v es tiga t
in g eve ry bush an d cl u m p of trees i n h is
c ou rse ,pa u si n g n o w an d t h en wi t h head
r aised an d ears c ocked for ward t o l is t en ,then
r un ni ng on a gai n Grad ually i t dawn ed o n
.
S parrer that R eyn ard had crossed t h e dam w i th

a defin ite pu rpose He h a d come o v er to th e
.
swamp wi t h t he same obj ec t i n v iew t hat ha d

b rou ght S parrer t here — t o h u n t rabbi ts .
Th e sh arp con t ras t be t ween t he sno w a n d

t h e bla c k coa t of t he fox made i t possi ble fo r
S par r e r t o fol lo w th e an i m al s movem en ts a t

’
a d ist anc e w h ich u n de r o r di n ar y co n di tions

w o ul d ha v e bee n i m possi ble H e h ad t u r n e d
.
an d was work i n g up wi n d ,c o n ti n u a l l y stop

pi n g to c arefully t est th e light ai r i n th e h o p e
o f sc en ti n g a h are His c o u r se w a s n o w d i
.
rec tly awa y fr o m S parre r toward the l ower

end o f the s wa mp Th e bo y co u l d get o n l y
.
an occ asio n al g l i m ps e o f h im an d prese n tl y

lost h i m altogethe r O n c e mor e bitte r dis
.
appo i n t m e n t r a n kled i n h i s h ea r t Wh at .
sho u l d h e do n ow ? S ho u l d he re m ai n
w her e h e w a s ,o r s h ou ld h e move o n ? Ho w
h e w ished th at he k n e w m o r e abou t h u n ti n g
a n d th e wa y s o f an i m al s , b l a c k foxes i n pa r
tic u la r. What w o u l d Pat do w e re h e i n h i s
place ? Wo ul d h e gi ve U p ? S om e ho w h e
c ou ld n t pictu r e Pat as gi v i n g u p w i t ho u t
’
fur th e r e ffor t to captu r e so great a pri ze .
”
“
He d d o s o m eth in ,b u t w h at ? S par r e r
’ ’
s c o wl ed i n l a bo r ed thought Th e fo x was .
som ewh ere bet w e en h i m a nd th e c abi n .
S ho uld h e tur n back o n th e c ha n ce th at h e

w ou ld j u m p the a n i m al so m e wh ere o n th e
”
way a n d get a r u n n in g shot ? N o c h an ce ,
h e de c ide d ,rem e m be r i n g th e c l a ck o f h is
S l ig h t lybac k o f h i s p r ese n t pos i tio n and a

good r i fle shot i n to th e s wamp h e n oted a
s mal l m ou n d cr o w n ed by a c l u mp o f y o u n g
bi r ch e s H e d ecid e d to take h is sta n d the re
.
an d a wai t develop men t s S i len tl y but v i go r

.
o u s ly h e s w u n g h is a r m s t o r estore c irc u la c
tion ,th e n picki n g u p h is rifle a n d sh o es h e

m ad e h is way q u ick ly to wa r d th e n e w sta nd ,
taki n g th e u t m ost care n o t to s n ap a t wig or
m ake th e least n oise .
As h e e n te r ed th e c l u m p o f b irche s a whi t e
fo r m leaped o u t fr o m th e lo w e r s id e ,r a n t en
o r t w el ve y a r ds a n d s a t u ,l ooki n g ba c k
p
w i th eyes i n w h ich fea r an d c u r iosi ty were
st r a n gely bl e n d e d It w a s a h a r e ,
. o r s o c a l le d
-
s n ow sh o e r abbi t ,a n d a big o n e S lo wl y a n d
-
.
c a r efull y S parrer p ut dow n h i s sh oes a n d

th e n strai gh t en ed u p an d r aised h is r i fle .
S ile n tl y h e brou gh t t h e sigh ts to b ea r o n th e

mo tio n less w h i t e form H is fi n ge r w a s a l
.
r eady o u th e trigger wh e n h e r emembered

th e fox A sho t n o w wo u ld effe c tu ally pu t
.
a n en d to a n y possi bili ty o fgetti n g th e pri nc e

o ffu r bearers th at da y , a n d w hat w as a rabbi t
c o mpared wi th th e latte r ?
O d dl y e n o u g h the ol d adage A bird in
“
IN A TR A P P E
’
R S CA MP 26
7
the h a n d i s w orth two i n th e b u sh popped
i n t o h is head ,bu t this ti me th e o n e i n t h e
bush w a s of so m u ch g r ea t e r val u e th at h e
promptl y decided to let the on e i n h a n d
go A t t hat di sta nc e h e co u ld n t m iss ,fo r h e
.
’
h a d rea dj usted the sights a n d he h ad but t o

press t h e trigge r to p ut a n e n d to bu n n y A .
lit t le sigh escaped h i m as h e lowered th e r i fle .
The lo weri n g of that r ifl e w a s t h e ha r dest

t hi ng h e had don e fo r a lo n g ti m e It re .
quired considerable powe r o f self restrai n t -

.
Th e fox m igh t n ot c o me back ,an d i f he di d

m ight n ot o ffer a shot ,o r h e m igh t m iss h i m .
The n th e chan c es w ere that h e wo uld h ave t o

retur n to th e cabi n em pty ha n ded .
W i t h the loweri n g o f th e ri fle th e r abbit

dropped to a c rou c h , th u mped th e sno w
smar t l y ,a n d th en slo wl y h opped awa y to a
poi nt twe n ty y ards di stan t i n t he d irec t ion i n
w hich th e fo x h a d gon e ,an d t here crouched
u n de r a bush ,an i n con spicuou s l u mp of
wh i te S parrer n oted wi t h sati sfac t ion th at
.
sh e was s t i ll w i th i n good r an ge ,an d m ad e u p

his m i n d t h at i f th ere were n o si gns o ft h e fox
wi t hi n fi ft ee n or twen ty m i n u tes an d t h e rabbi t
s t ill rem ai n ed w h e r e she w a s h e wo uld s h oot .
No w be i t k n o wn th at th e th u m p o fa r a b
bi t c a n be h ea r d a l on g d i sta n ce I t w a s so
.
u n e x pe c ted an d s o lo ud th at i t fair ly sta r t l e d

S par r er , w h o w a s w holl y u n fam i lia r w it h th is
m etho d o f r abbi t sign al i n g Th e g r o u nd is
.
an e xcelle n t t r ans m i tte r o f sou n d an d th e

h ea vy s n o w c r u st w a s h ardl y l ess effect i v e .
O th e r ea r s th an S parrer s h eard ,an d fo r the m

’
t h at s i g n a l w a s pregnan t wi th m ea n i n g and
p os si bil it i es Not two m i n utes later S parre r
.
c a u gh t si gh t o fa b l a c k spot m ov ing Swi ft ly i n

his d i r e c tio n I t w a s th e fox
. .
A s h e dr e w n e a r e r h e m ove d more Slo w ly

and w i t h ch a r a c te ri sti c cu n n i n g an d c au tio n.
E ve ry fe w steps h e paus ed t o li sten an d to loo k

sh ar pl y u nd e r e ve ry t ree a n d bu sh He n o
.
l o n ge r tested th e ai r as w h en S parre r h ad last

see n h i m ,for n o w h e w a s work i n g dow n w i nd
a n d m u st trust to eyes a n d ea r s rath e r th a n to
hi s n ose B ut h e w a s n o l ess thorough i n th e
.
w a y i n wh i ch h e c o v e r e d th e gro u n d B ac k
.
an d forth ac r oss S parrer s fi eld o f v isio n h e

’
w ove ,in v esti ga t i n g e v ery l i kel y h id i n g place ,

-
a pp r oach i n g each w i t h i n fi n i t e care ,tense ,

a le r t ,th e pictu re o f eagern ess ,prepa r e d to
s p r i n g at the fi r st m ove o fh is qua r r y .
2
rabbi t a nd the h u n t er an d b u t a fe w yards
fr o m th e fo rm e r Th e an gl e at w hi c h h e w a s
.
a pproa c h i n g was s uc h as to off er th e s m alles t

m ark p o ssi ble a n d m ake the shot un ce r tai n
for s u c h a n ovi c e as S par r er By a great e ffo r t
.
t h e l att er ov e rc a m e the al most ove r wh elm i ng

temptatio n to sh oot an d wai ted ,hop in g th a t
the a n i m al w o uld tur n broadsid e .
S udd e n l y h e w h i rled l i ke a flas h . Th e

boy s fi rst though t w a s th at h e h ad be en d is
’
c overe d ,b u t th e n ex t m ove o f th e fo x e x
plai n e d h i s ac tio n C ro uch i n g so th at h e a p
.
ea re d to m o v e o n h is bell y h e bega n to c r eep

p
towa rd th e r abbi t ,w h i c h s t il l sat m otio n less .
Th e fo x h a d c a u gh t th e sce n t o fth e la t te r at
th e in sta n t h e tu rn e d an d h e had bu t to fo l
lo w h i s n ose st r ai g h t to h i s vi c ti m M ean
.
w h il e h e p r ese n te d n o b e tt er m a r k th an befo re ,
a s h e w a s no w m o v i n g stra ig h t aw a y , a nd S p ar
re r held h is fi r e By th is t i m e he w as so i n te r
.
es te d i n th e traged y t ha t w a s be i n g e n a c te d
befo r e h i m th at h e a l mo st fo r g o t h is o w n im
m ediate p urpose .
I n ch b y i n ch the black h u n te r crept for wa r d ,

h u ggi n g th e sn o w Then S par r er saw h i m
.
g a t h er h i s m u s c ul ar h i n dlegs u n de r h i m .
IN A TR A P P E R S
’
CA MP 27 1
There was a swift l eap a n d at th e same i n stan t

the r abbi t left her for m in a long j u mp B e .
fo re she c ould m ake an other t h e fox w a s u po n
her Th e re was a shri ll scream ,

. a cru n chi n g of
t e eth and i t w a s o v er For an i ns t an t the fo x
.
stood wi th o n e foot o n t he sti ll w hi t e form ,a

bl ack statue of t r i u m ph Th e n h e picked th e
.
r abbit up by th e middle an d t h e li mp for m

h u n g tra n sversely i n h is j a w s ,th e lon g leg s
h a n gi n g o n o n e S ide an d t he droopi n g head
w i t h ridi c ulously lo n g ears o n th e o t he r It .
w a s clear that R e y n ard did no t i n te n d to eu

o y h i s feas t o u the spot
j .
I n exe c uti n g this las t mo v e h e had tu r n e d

b r oadside I t was n o w o r n ever for S parre r
. .
With i n fi n ite c are he l i ned h i s s igh ts j u s t back

o f th e S hou lde r an d pu lle d th e trigger . S im
u lta n eo u s ly with th e sharp crack of th e rifle
th e fox made a con v ul si v e sprin g an d th e n

c ru mpled i n a black h eap o n t he sno w .
S haki n g so t ha t h e co ul d h ardly man i pul a t e

the le v er S parrer ej ected t he emp t y shel l and
threw an o t h er car t ridge i n to place Then .
wi t h t h e rifle a t h i s shou lder ,co v eri n g t h e

pathetic bl ack heap as best h e could , he slowly
a d va nc e d
. S o me w h ere h e h a d r e ad o r hea rd
2
th at i t w as a n o ld fox tri ck to si m u lat e dea t h,
an d h e wa s taki n g n o chan c es .
B u t h is p r ecau tion s were n eed l e ss T he .
bu l let ha d se v ere d th e spi n al c ol u mn Th e .
sil ver fox o f S m ugglers Ho l lo w h a d sta l ked

’
h i s l ast r abbi t a n d m ade h i s l ast k i l l I n th e

.
r e v u lsion o f feeli n g fr o m th e r eacti on follow

i n g t h e lon g n er v o u s s t rai n S par r e r ha r dl y
k n e w wh eth er t o laugh o r c ry . As b e
stretched th e bl a ck for m o u t o n th e s n o w a n d
r a n h is h an ds t h ro ugh th e wo n derfu l soft
blac k fu r an d ad mi red th e great tai l w ith its
ti p of s n o w y w h i t e h e h a d fo r th e mom e n t
al most a feeli ng o f regret th at h e ha d b een
t he m ean s o fd estroy i ng so beautifu l a cr eat ur e .
Th e n th e t ru e sign i fican c e o fh i s ach i eve m e n t ,

l uck h e cal led i t ,s wept o v er h im a n d hi s eyes
s h on e as h e pi ctu red h i s r eceptio n at th e cabi n .
I n th e m i dst o f h is tri u m ph an t thou g h ts a

g u tt u ral voice br o k e i n “
W h it e bo y hea p
”
good sh o t .
S par r e r w h i rl ed t o fi nd h i msel f star in g i n t o

a dark c oppery c ou n te nance w i th beady e y e s ,
lo w bro w an d h igh ch e ek bone s I t w a s an.
I nd ia n .
2 74 T HE B OT S C O U TS
Ta ke h i s s ki n , repl ied S pa rr e r for wan t
ofany th in g bette r to sa y
“
S k i n n o good R ed f
. o x ski n good B la ck.
—
fox n o good b a d fur No can sell Wh ite
. .
boy tak e r abbi t a n d gi v e I n di an fox T his .
as t o u n di n g proposa l w as accom pan i e d wi t h

w h a t was i n t en de d fo r an i n gratia t i n g s m i l e ,
b u t w h i c h se rv ed o nly t o m ake t h e fa c e sti l l
m ore u gly .
“
He s wise d m e fe r a ten d er foot ,
’
a n th in k s ’
O i m eas y , t ho ugh t S parrer A lou d h e s a i d ,

’ ”
.
W hat do y o use wa n t o f i t ,i f it s n o g o od ’
”
an d yo use ca n t sell i t ?
’
O n ce m o r e t h e dark face br ok e in t o a gri n .
”
No sell Mak e cap to wea r
. H e t ouc he d
.
h is h ead to m ak e c l eare r h is m ean in g .
”
I nd ian li k e black c ap ,h e added g ui le l ess ly .
S pa rr e r la u gh ed alou d a t t he chi ldish si m ~
p li c it y o f th e i dea Then
. h e shoo k h i s h ea d .
”
No t hi n doi n g , h e r epl ied
’ “
O i wa n t th e
.
fox m es elf .
A l oo k o f c u n n i n g swept across t he da r k
v isage . I n di an buy fox Give t wo d o lla r ,
.
w a s t h e n ext blan d proposa l .
Agai n S pa r re r gri n n ed a n d shook h is h ead .
H e wa s begin n i n g t o enj o y th e Si t ua tio n T his .

A TR A P P E
’
IN R S CA MP 2
75
was a of bar t er h e w a s accustomed to ,
m ethod
th e m e t hod o fth e lower E ast S ide He bega n .
to feel at hom e .
“
Fi v e dollar ! Th e I n dia n p ulled o ff a
m i tten an d h eld up th e ha n d with th e fing e r s
spread .
O n ce mo r e S par re r shook h is h ead Y ou s e .
c a n t bu y i t , sai d h e de c idedly as if to en d
’
th e parle y A n y o use c a n t pu t no th i n
.
’ ’ ’
ac ross o n m e ,h e added “
It s wo r th a lot o f
.
’
d ough an O i m wise to i t Yo use bette r r u n

’ ’
.
”
alo n g He sh ifted his rifl e to a ha n d ie r p o si
.
ti on b y w a y of a hi n t .
The I n di an ,wh o h ad g r a d ual l y a d va nc e d ,

s topped His face ch anged c o m pletely
. .
The r e w a s n o lon ge r a ny attem pt to h ide

th e greed i n t h e beady eyes He was n o fool , .
and h e s aw th e u selessn ess o f tryi n g to dis

se m bl e fu r ther He m ean t to h a v e that sk i n
.
by fai r m ea n s or foul ,by fai r m ean s i f pos

si ble ,fo r h e was keen en ough to real i z e that
th u s h e wo uld a v oi d possi ble u npleasan t con
s eque n ces in th e fu t ur e Thi s y o un gster k n e w
.
m or e th a n h e h ad su pposed h e d id ,bu t h e
m igh t n o t be p r oof agai n st t h e te m ptat i o n of
r e a d y money P ul lin g o ffhis othe r m i tt en h e
.
h e ld u p bo th hand s ,c l o se d hi s fi n gers ,ope n e d

th e m a g ai n ,c lose d the m and th e n ope n e d
those o f on e h a n d .
T w e n t y fi ve do l lar ! h e excla i me d
-
.
That w a s a l arge r s u m tha n S parre r h a d

e ver possess e d a t o n e ti m e i n al l hi s l i fe and
t o h a v e th at i n h an d at on ce w a s a t e m p ta
ti o n Th ere was n o denyi n g th e fac t Th e
. .
ski n m igh t be wo r th al l that h e h ad h ea rd a n d

the n agai n i t m igh t n ot H e w a s too wi se i n
.
th e w a y s o f the wo rl d to be ign ora n t o f th e

fa c t t h at fabu lo u s tal es are bu il t a r ou nd c o m
p a ra tiv ely mod est facts . U n do ubtedly t h e
sk i n was va l u able Th e fa c t that th e I n dia n

.
was so ea g e r to get i t w a s proof o f th is B u t .
as fo r i ts be in g w o r th an y su ch s u m a s t w o
tho u sa nd ,o r eve n o n e tho usand ,th at see m e d
a bs u rd H e g la n ced dow n at th e black for m
.
a t h i s fe e t a n d h i s i m a gi n atio n co u ld n t c on
’
c eiv e o f a ny o n e payi n g eve n a h u n dre d do l
la r s fo r su ch a l i tt le bit o f fu r Wh y ,e v e n
.
w hen st r et c h ed i t w ou ld be bu t a fra c tion o f

th e si z e o f th e great bearsk i n bac k at t h e
c a bin and that w a s w orth on l y fi ft ee n dollars ,
a n d fo r h is part h e wou ld m u ch r at h e r h a ve
t he la tte r H e l ooke d u p t o fi nd th e b la ck
.
wh ic h he had no t tho ug h t I ndeed ,i n t he
.
ex c ite men t o f th e h un t h e h a d had n o o ppo r

t u n ity to th i n k o f a ny thi n g b ut getti n g t he
shot W h at h e sh ou l d d o w i th th e fo x i f h e
.
got i t h a d n ot en t ere d h is h e ad An d a ft e r
.
the k ill th e appe arance o f th e I ndian had p u t

e ve ry thi n g e lse o u t o f his head .
I n S w i ft r evie w th ere pass ed th roug h his

m i nd a l l t h at he h ad h ea r d ab ou t th e si l ve r
fo x of S m uggle r s Hollo w He though t o fth e
’
.
t r ap s wh ic h A le c h ad s e t espe c i ally for th e

w i l y k in g and h o w h e an d Pat h ad op en l y
p lan ned for hi s c aptu r e Th is w a s th ei r t ra p
.
p ing t err ito ry by r igh t of p r e emption H e , .
S p arr e r ,wa s th ei r g u est ,a n d b u t fo r Pat he

wo u l d n eve r h ave h ad th is wonderfu l o u ti ng .
I t wa s e v e n a bor r owe d ri fle w i t h w hi c h h e
h a d m ad e t he fatal s h o t I t w a s l uc k ,mere
.
l uck , th e l u c k of a n o v i ce ,
th at h a d g i ve n h i m
th e Opportu n i t y B ut was th at any r easo n
.
w h y h e sho u l d n ot p r ofit b y i t ? If h e h a d
n ot ki lle d i t th e a n i mal would st ill b e runn i n g
a t l a r ge a n d Pa t a nd Ale c m i gh t n eve r h ave
go tt en i t I t w a s h i s ,h i s ,his an d n o o ne el se
.
h a d a ny c lai m o n i t . Wh y sh ou l d h e n o t do
a s he pleas ed wi th i t ?
S CA MP 2
79
Mea n wh ile th e I n d i a n h ad bee n watch in g
wi t h a n i nte n se fi xed stare that no t ed e v er y
c han ge of expressio n i n the boy s face A ’
.
l ess close obse r ve r th a n h e wo uld h ave

r eali z ed that th e b oy w a s te m pted He was .
c u n n i n g enough t o k n o w th at no w was th e
t i me to play h i s t r u mp c ar d a n d c at c h th e la d
b e fo r e h e had fully r egai n ed possessio n of
h i m self a n d spurn ed th e te m ptatio n With a .
sin gl e swift st e p for wa rd h e exc lai med , Fifty

“
”
do lla r i
Th er e w a s a no te o f fi nal i t y i n his v oice
wh i ch S par r e r r ecog n i z ed . It was h i s la s t
laid . He w ou ld go n o h ighe r Th e re w o ul d
.
h e no more ba r te r i n g . I f twe n t y fi ve dollar s

-
h a d s e emed bi g the do ubli n g o f th e a m o un t

me an t l ittle less tha n a for t un e i n the b oy s ’
e ye s .
“
Yo use has n t got fi fty d ol la r s , he s a i d
’
weakly . Youse i s
I n t r uth h e had e v ery reason for th i n ki n g
so from th e I n dian s appearance O n e does
’
.
n ot expect to fi n d so large a su m o n a ma n
presen ti ng so rough a n appearan ce as th is
fello w ,parti c ularly in th e woods I magi n e .
S parre r s s u rp ri se the r efo r e w he n th e I n di an

’
el t
f i n s ide h i s s h i r t a nd br ou gh t o u t a wor n
b uc ksk i n bag w h i c h appare n t l y h ad bee n s u s
pe nd ed b y a tho n g aro u n d h is n e c k a n d from
i t dr e w forth a wad o fgreas y bills S q u att ing
.
on h is h eels h e u n folded thes e a n d be g a n t o

coun t th e m o u t before h i m o n t he s now .
Th e y we re in s m a l l d en o m i n at i o n s and as he
s lo w l y sp r ead them o u t ,cou n ti n g alo ud as h e
did s o ,th e e f fe c t w a s m ost i m p r essiv e H e
.
m ea n t t ha t i t sho u l d b e He c o u n t ed o n th e
.
i n fl uen ce t ha t t he Sig ht of so m uch c urrency

would ha v e .
I t w a s a cun ni n g mo v e H ad h e s hown t he
.
m on e y i n a pile ,o r h ad th e b i lls been i n la rge

d e n o m i n at i o n s th e e ffect w o u ld n ot h ave bee n
n ea r ly s o i m pressi v e As i t w a s th e sn o w
.
a r o u n d h i m w a s l i te r ally c arpeted w ith bills .
I n spi te o fhi m self S pa rr er ga v e v en t to a l i tt le

gasp Th e I n dia n heard S t u ffin g th e t wo
. .
bi lls wh ich r em ai n ed aft er h e h a d co u n ted o u t

fi fty b ack i n th e li ttle bag h e r ose to h is feet
a n d wi th a dr amat ic s weep o f o n e ha nd a bo v e
th e gree n c arpet ex cl ai m ed
Al l w h i t e boy s for fox
’
W hi te b o y coun t
—fi fty dolla r ! W h ite b o y buy m u ch th i n gs .
”
Hav e g o o d t i me . He sm ile d m e an in gl y .
h e ar t ,t o b e boasted of o n ly a m o ng hi s com
pa n i o n s o f th e s t reet gan g O nce he w o u l d
.
h ave had n o q ual ms wh a t e v er His con s c ie nce

.
w o ul d n ot h av e bee n tr o u bled i n the le ast .
B u t t h at was w he n h e w a s S par r e r M uldo o n ,

st ree t g am i n an d c h am pio n sc r appe r o f t he
g an g ; with n o h i gh e r eth ics th an th e r ig h t
o f m igh t No w h e w as E dward M uldoon
.
B o y S c o u t ,s wo rn t o k ee p phy sic all y st ron g ,
m e n tall y a wa k e ,a nd mor al l y s t r aigh t ; t o ”
o b e y th e S c ou t law o f w h i c h th e fi r st c o m
m a nd m e n t is t o be t rus t wor th y and th e se con d

t o b e loyal .
W o u l d he be ei t her men t ally a wak e or

morall y stro n g i f h e y i e l d ed t o th is t em pta
tion ? C o u l d h e reg a r d h i m self i n th e fu tu re
as t ru stwo r th y or as loyal to h i s fri e n ds ?
l w o sel v es we r e battl i ng i n o n e b o y
’
.
”
“
I t ai n t n o th i n wron g , i n s i st ed S p arrer
’ ’
M u ldoo n .
“
A S co u t s hon o r i s to be t rus t ed ,w h is
’
pe r ed E d war d M u ldoo n .
”
“
You bet i t i s ! U n c on s ciou s ly t he b oy
spok e alo u d Th e ba t tle w a s wo n His fa ce
. .
c lea r e d I n that mo ment he u n de rstood m a ny

.
th i n gs H e k new n o w exa c tl y w h at h e would

.
S CA MP 28
3
do He w o u l d take th e fox to th e c abi n a n d
.
tu rn i t over to Pa t an d A lec He k n ew th at .
that was w hat h e had i n ten ded to do all alon g

before the I n di an had appear e d He k n ew , .
too ,who th is lo w b r o wed ,u gl y fa c ed r edsk i n

- -
w as He w a s o n e o ft h e t h ie v es who had bee n

.
steali n g fu r a n d wh o had bu tche r e d th e d ee r

th e da y b e fo r e I t ca m e ove r h i m al l i n a
.
flash that i t w as he wh o had set those t r aps at

the be a v e r ho uses ,th at h e h i m sel f h a d be en
see n the r e a n d follo wed Dou b t less th e I nd ia n
.
h a d bee n i n h i di n g c los e by al l th e ti me an d
the k illi n g of th e fox had brought h i m fo r th
bec a us e h e c ou ld not let so ri ch a pri z e S li p
t hrou gh his fi nge r s Yes , e v eryth i n g was
.
c l e a r to S pa rr e r n o w
. I n h is fi r st surprise ,
h is
o w n p r ob lem fo l lo win g hard o n th e heels of
i t ,he ha d n o cha nc e to th i n k o r e v e n to
w o nd e r ho w th e man h ad h appened to appea r
th er e a t tha t m o m ent No w h e u nderstood
.
a n d h is fa c e fl ushe d w ith an ger .
Th e m o n ey w a s n o lon ger a temptatio n .
He s c owled do w n at it an d h e w on dered i f i t
had bee n co m e by ho n estl y He c oul d n o t .
k now that th e m a n w a s a n o utlaw a n d h a d

b ee n fo rc ed to leave a l u mbe r c a m p b e t we e n
sun s wi th n o c h a nc e to spe nd his ac c u m ula t e d
wages S o h e r ega r ded th e mon ey w i th grow
.
i n g s uspi ci o n a n d hi s a n ge r g r e w a t th e
tho u gh t o f h o w n ea r he h ad c o m e t o sell i n g
h i s h o n o r,perh aps for tai n ted m o n e y a t th a t .
He re ,you se ,take y er mo ney a n gi t he

’
g r ow le d H e mo tio n ed w i th th e barr el o fhis

.
r i fl e b y way o femphasis A n yo us e b e tt e r
.
’
t a k e up dem t ra ps , h e adde d sig n i fi can tl y .
Th e I ndian s ex p r ession ch a n ged as he

’
sq ua tt ed o nc e mor e a n d pi cke d u p th e b il l s .
H e w as to o sh r e w d a sig n r eade r n ot to k no w
w h en i t w as u se l ess to follow a trai l fu r th e r .
Th e fo x co ul d n t b e bou gh t ,the r efo r e i t m u st

’
b e obtai n ed i n so m e oth e r w a y ,b y c raft o r

v io l e nce I f h e c o u l d get n ear e n ou gh to th e
.
boy t o di sar m h i m th e r est wou l d be easy .
I f n ot— well ,there w a s a n oth e r w a y H e .
w ou l d avo i d i t i f possi ble ,fo r th e boy s ’
fr ie nds w e r e too n ea r They w o uld be o n h is

.
trai l i n sid e o f twen ty fou r h ou rs I t w ou l d

-
.
m ea n a l o n g ,h u rr ie d fligh t across th e bor der

w i th tw o o f th e best woods me n i n t h e w ho le
se c t i o n behi n d h i m ,a n d e v e ry ward e n an d
l u m be r c amp on both si des of t h e l i ne wa tch
ing for h i m . I t wo u ld m ea n a battle i f e v e r
S top
Th er e w a s so m et hin g m e n a cin g an d si n i st er
i n th e so u n d o f th e word ,b ut more m enaci n g
an d si n iste r was th e m u zz le o f th e l i tt le r i fle
i n to w hi ch h e was s t a r in g I t bro ugh t h im
.
u p short i n th e m iddle o f a s t ri d e . He h ad
seen the bo y shoot an d n o w th e ri fle w a s h eld
as steadi l y as w he n i t had been poi n te d a t th e
fox Th ere w a s s o me t h in g i n th e so u n d o fth e
.
boy s voice th at w arn ed h i m th at h e wo uld n ot

’
h esi t ate to sho o t agai n ,an d at th at dist ance he

c o u l d n o t m iss Th e I n dia n fr oz e in to a stat ue
. .
“
Turn a roun d a n d gi t ! c o m m and e d
S p arr e r He w a s no t afraid He k n ew t h at
. .
th e ri fl e ga ve h i m t h e w h ip h a nd A bo y .
o f hi s a ge fro m h i gh er wa l ks i n l i fe m igh t
h ave bee n i n ti m idate d Not s o S parr er .
Yo u n g i n y ears ,h e w a s o ld i n expe r ie n ce .
He h a d see n too m any d ru n ke n brawls ,to o

”
m a ny ba d m en i n h is street li fe ,an d k n e w
t o o m u ch o f h u ma n n a tu re to feel fea r w i th
th at g u n a t hi s shoulder I n s t ead a wh it e
.
h o t con s u m i n g r age well ed u p w i t h i n h i m as

w h e n h e h ad r ush ed to th e d efe n se o f so me
we a kl i n g again st th e atta c k o f a cowa r d ly
bully He s aw red
. .
! N A TR A P P E R ’
S CA MP 28
7
Youse gi t he repeated a n d th ere w a s a
th rea t in the v ery way i n w hich h e sai d i t .
F o r a brief secon d th e I n dia n h esi t ated .
Th e n wi t h an ugly snarl l i ke th at of a t rapped

beast he slo wl y t u rned B affled r a ge dis
.
t o rted h is face u n t i l i t w a s more l i ke t hat o f

some sa v age ani mal th an o f a h u ma n bei n g .
It was h u miliati n g to be bal ked by a sl i p

o f a boy I t w a s worse to h a v e a fortu n e a l
.
m ost with in h is reach an d be forced to lea v e

i t The r e w a s m urder ,bl ack m u rder ,i n hi s
.
heart as h e slo wly sh u ffle d forwar d a fe w

steps .
S u d denly h e turn ed l ik e a flash an d w ith a

pe c ulia r s wi n g th re w th e axe S parrer k n e w
.
n othi n g of th e art of axe thro wi n g at w h ich

m an y wo ods m e n are expert an d are deadl y
in th ei r qu ick n ess a n d precision He w a s .
w hol ly u nprepared for t h e m o v e an d i t

c augh t h i m o ff gu ard He ca u gh t a gli mpse
.
o f gli n ti n g s t eel an d i n s t i ncti v ely d ucked as
h e h ad lear n ed to do i n figh t in g A t th e sam e

.
t i me h e th rew u p h i s rifle . Th e axe s t ru ck

th e barrel o f the l atte r j ust enough to be
slightl y deflected fro m i ts cou rse an d th e e n d
o fthe ha n dle i n stead o fth e keen blade str u ck

t h e b oy a crash i n g blo w o n th e si d e o f th e
h e ad Witho ut a s ou nd h e dr oppe d i n h is
.
t r a c ks.
A sl ow g ri n o v e r sp r e a d th e fa ce o f h i s as
s a ila n t as h e strod e over a n d l o ok ed do wn at
th e w hi te sti l l face o fh is v ic t i m A fte r al l i t

.
w a s bette r s o . H e h ad n o t k i lled h i m a n d
the r e w a s less to fea r fr o m the lo ng ar m o f
th e law C o n tem ptu o u sl y h e to uc h ed th e
.
stil l fo r m w i th th e to e o f a S h o e Th e n .
gl oati n gl y h e pi cked u p th e fo x ,h e s i tated

an d picked u p t h e rabbi t Wi t h o u t an oth e r
.
glan ce a t th e h u ddled for m o n th e s now h e

t urn ed a n d van ish ed a mo n g th e tre es .
fro m t h e co ld His hea d ac he d badl y ,and
.
passi n g a m itte n ed h an d ov er i t h e fo u n d a big

l u mp w here t h e axe h a d h i t h i m Moreov er , .
h e fel t si c k to h is sto m ach ,diz zy a n d weak .
B u t fo r h is physical ai l m e n ts h e h a d n o
th o ught W r ath ,bla c k ,boi li n g r age ,s u rged
.
ove r h i m He had bee n r obbed ! H e h a d

.
bee n treach erou sly o u t w i t t ed ! For th e m o

m en t i t w a s t h e l atter fact rath e r th a n th e
form e r th at w a s th e cause o f h is hot rese n t
m e n t He ,S parrer M u ldoo n ,w h o h a d l i v ed
.
b y his w i ts e v er si n ce h e cou ld rem e m b er , ha d

bee n c a u gh t n appi n g !
A n m e w id d e d rop o n h i m ! h e ex
’
c lai m e d bitterly He p u t m e dow n fe r d e

.
co u n t ,bu t i t was a fo u l ,an O i wasn t l o oki n ’ ’ ’
”
fer n o fo u l S er v es m e righ t
. He s m iled .
bitterl y . O i ough t t k n ow n better th a n t

“ ’ ’
gi ve h im an O pe n in S e rv es m e righ t fe r
’
.
lis te n in t h is spi el
’ ’
I f e v er O i get d e d r op
’
on h i m agai n h e l l w ish h e d n eve r set e y es o n

’ ’
S par r e r M u ldoo n .
Th is w a s idle boasti n g ,an d S parrer k n e w i t .
Th e ch a n ces th at h e woul d ever agai n set eyes

o n th e wil y r edski n were exceedi n gl y sli m .
S till , i t w a s possi b l e th a t P a t and Ale c m ight

S CA MP 2 91
be abl e to pick u p h is t r ail ,a nd th e s o o n e r

the y were p u t w ise to th e a ffai r the better .
He wo uld ge t back to camp as soo n as pos

sible He picked up h is ri fle ,a n d e v e n as h e
.
did so a n ew t hought flashed across h is m i n d .
W hy tel l of h is expe r ie nc e at all ? W h y me n

tio n th e black fox ? He c o uld explai n the
bu mp o n hi s h ead b y sayi n g that h e h ad
slipped an d fallen ,stri ki ng h is head agai n st a
log Pat an d Alec n eed n ever k now t h a t h e
.
had lost the rare p el t for t he m for all t i m e ,

no r th at h e had been such a tenderfoot as t o
be o u twitted by an I ndia n o n who m he alread y

had the drop W hy say a word abou t i t ?
.
T o tell woul d be li kely to wi n for h i m sel f

—
nothin g bu t con t em pt con temp t for h i s weak
n ess i n pa r leyi n g wi t h t h e o u tlaw ,an d for h i s
stupidi t y i n bei n g o u twitted .
B u t there was a h Ope ,a fai n t on e ,to be su re ,

bu t sti ll a hope ,th at by som e special fa v or of
Pro v ide n ce Pa t an d Alec m igh t be able to
t race his assai lan t an d reco v er t h e ski n No t
.
t o tel l would be to su rrende r wi t h ou t a figh t ,

a n d this w a s d i rectly con t rary t o t h e boy s ’
n ature A doubl e mo t i v e urged h i m to lea v e

.
n o s t o n e u n turned th at migh t lead to t h e

2
—
ca pt ure o f th e I n di a n th e des ire to reco v e r
th e ric h p ri ze a n d th e spi r i t of re v eng e H e .
co uld te ll o f th e ro bbe ry wi th ou t i n a ny w a y
comm i tti n g h i m s e lf i n the ma tt er of th e te m p
t a t io n wh i ch h a d led to th e pa r l ey w ith t he
ou t law Thi s i s wh a t h e wo u l d do He d idn t
. .
’
wa n t h is co mpan io ns to th in k wor se o f h im
tha n was absol u t el y n eces s a ry .
S o w ith h is m i n d m ade u p to th i s course

h e he ad e d for c a m p C li c k c la c k ,cowa rd !
.
-
C l ick cl a c k ,
-
c o ward Hi s very shoes m o c ked
h i m He t r i ed to S h u t o u t th e sou nd ,bu t h e
.
cou l d n o t Had E d wa r d Mu ldoon ,

. B oy S co u t ,
w o n o v er S parre r M u ldoo n , s t reet gami n ,on l y
t o lose in th e e n d ? Where th e trail led close
t o th e en d o f the bi g bea v er da m h e stopped
a br uptly a n d a l ast brief bat t le w a s fought
betwee n S c ou t a nd ga m i n W h e n i t w a s o ver
.
h e pu sh ed o n w i th a n eager n ess h e h ad n ot
fe l t before ,for th e S cou t h ad tri u mphed ,an d
th i s ti m e h e k n ew that th e v i ct or y w a s fi n al .
He w o u ld te ll th e w ho le story fro m begi n n i n g

to e nd a nd spa r e h i mself n oth in g Yous e
.
“
ai n t n o qu i t t e r
’
h e m u t tered to h i mself
fiercely Yo use i s goi n te r tel l de t ru th ,de
.
’
”
w h ol e t ru th a nd no th i n g bu t d e t r u th .
A l i tt le of both ,O i guess , c o n fes sed
S pa rrer , sittin g do w n w ea r il y o n a h a n d y log .
A r e de oth ers ba c k y e t ?
Not y et ,b u t th ey re c o mi n g n o w , r eplie d
’
U pto n as a fai n t y el l r eached th e m “

Th at s ’
.
Hal ,an d by th e so und o f h i s voi ce th e y v e ’
h ad l u c k of s ome k in d B u t w hat happe ned

.
to y ou
I t s a lo n g s to ry ,a n d Oi ll te ll i t w h e n de
’ ’
”
o thers get h ere , r epl ied S parrer O i th i n k
.
Oi ll go i n a n d get a d d r i n k o f s o m eth in
’ ’
- -
”
h h ot
-
Hi s teeth c h attered I t w a s th e re
.
s ul t o f n e rv o u s rea c tio n q u i te as m u c h as c old .
U pto n , w i th r eal con cern i n hi s fa c e ,spra n g

for w a rd a n d pu t an arm a r o u n d th e shaki n g
y o u ng ste r a n d led h i m i n to th e cabi n ,the n
h as t en ed to m ake h i m a c u p of h o t so u p .
W i th thi s i n h is sto mach S parrer rapidly re

c ove r ed a nd b y th e ti m e Pat ,Alec an d Hal
a rri ved ,th e latter w h oopi n g j oyou sl y ,h e w a s
q u i te h i msel f The y b r o ugh t wi th the m th ree
.
m a r ten an d a fi sh e r .
Whe n these h ad bee n d ul y ad mi r ed U pto n

de m an d ed th at S parrer tel l h i s sto r y ,a n d th i s
h e d id ,spari n g h i m sel f n oth i n g At the fi rst.
m e n tio n o f the blac k fo x there w a s a n eag er

S CA MP 2 95
l ean i n g for ward o n the pa r t of al l h is l iste n

ers ,and wh e n he t old of t he s u c cessfu l sh o t
Hal w hooped w i t h j oy .
W here is h e h e dema n ded .
O i do n t kno w ,r eplied S parre r ,

’
a nd coul d
n ot restrai n a ra t her pa t he t i c gri n at th e blan k
look of as t on ish men t that swept ove r th e fou r
eager faces The n h e h urried on ,
. bl u r ti ng ou t
a full co n fe ssio n of h is temptatio n an d wi n d
i ng up w i t h t h e i nciden t of the axe throwi n g
an d h is fi nal reco v ery of consciousness .
De s ku n k did n t even lea ve m e de r abbit ,

’
h e c o n cl uded .
Th e faces o f Pat a n d Alec h a d cha n ge d r ap

idl y fr o m i n terest an d as t on ish men t to serious
n ess ,an ger an d determ i n ation B oth k n e w.
t h at m u r der an d n oth i n g less h ad been back

o f the thr o wi n g of tha t axe , and t ha t i t was
m e r ely the acciden t o f good fortu n e that
S parrer was wi th t h e m n o w i n stead of lyi n g a
c orpse ou t there in th e bea v er swamp Pat .
reached for w ard an d pulled S parrer s cap fro m ’
h is h e ad ,disclo s i n g an u gly l u m p wh e r e th e
blo w h a d fallen Till tha t m omen t n o o n e
.
had no t iced that t h e boy h a d k ep t his cap on .
“
Y o u may than k th e good God that i t w a s
th e h andle a n d n o t the blade that st r uck you ,
so n. T w as He alo n e that sa v ed y o u this
’
ti me , exclai m ed t h e b ig fello w ,a n o t e o f ‘
reveren c e i n h is voice Ti s a n u gl y bu mp ,
.
’
h e added ,p a ssi n g hi s fi n gers ligh t l y o v er t h e

sw el li n g Ti s a wo n der i t d id n t break
.
“ ’ ’
y o u r sk ul l , as i t w a s Th e cap saved y o u ,I
.
g uess Wh y d id n t y o u tel l u s y o u h ad th at
.
’
n ast y l u mp ,y o u y o u n g spalpee n ? I t o u gh t
”
t o h ave bee n t reated lon g ago .
It a i n t ’
repl ied S pa rr e r sh e ep
is h l y ,fo r h e h ated to h av e a fuss ma d e o ve r
hi m .
U pto n w a s a lr e ad y h eati n g water a n d p r e

parin g a ban dage As soon as t h e wate r w a s
.
h ot h e added a l i ttle t i n c tu re o f arn i ca ,a n d

d esp i te S pa r rer s protests a h o t ba n dage was
’
soo n appli ed , an d h e w a s forced t o ad m i t t h at

i t b r o ugh t al most i m m ediate rel ief Th is a t .
t en tio n h a v i n g bee n gi v en the v i c t i m P a t

c al led a c o n fere n ce .
It s plai n e n o ugh , sai d h e , th a t thi s i s

’ “
th e wo r k o f o n e o f th e bl ack h ea r te d c rooks -
w h o h a v e bee n steal i n g o u r fu rs ,fo r tis m y ’
bel ief th at th e r e is probably m o re th an on e

”
a n d l i kel y no t over two Al e c n o d ded c o n
.
th e b eav er p o n d so l ate i n t h e d a y i s ev i
d en c e e n oug h for m e th at h is c am p i s n t ’
m an y m il es awa y I l l bet i t s w i th i n fi ve
.
’ ’
m iles of u s th is blessed m i n u te Th e y prob .
ably lo c ated o u r t rap li n es ,th e n b u il t th ei r

cam p i n a pla c e w e were n o t l i kely to visit
an d th e n by worki n g back u p t h rou gh th e
h i lls kept thei r t r ai l h idden ,an d cros s e d o n
th e i ce to wo r k o u r lo n g l i n es ,as Ale c sus
pe e t s Th e y left o u r sh ort l i n es alo n e ,partl y
.
because they cou ld n o t get at the m w i tho ut

l eavi n g a trai l i n the soft s n o w an d p ar t ly so
as n o t to arou se su spi c io n .
“
W i th th e cru st th e y co u l d go w h er e th ey
pleased , a n d th e I nj un too k th e ch a nc e t o d o a
l i ttle poa c h i n g o n th e bea v e r p on d ,k n owi n g
th at we wou ld lea v e i t alo n e He p r obabl y
.
saw S parrer whe n h e u n co ver e d that t r ap an d

followed h i m th ro ugh the wo o ds eith e r wi th
t he i dea o f fi n di n g o u t i f t h e y ou n gste r s u s
p ec t ed anyth i n g an d th en frigh te n i n g h i m
i n to h ol di n g hi s ton gu e o r else j ust to keep
t r ack of h is m ovemen t s H e saw th e k i llin g
.
o f th e fox a n d decided that th e fo r tu n e i n
that pel t w as worth an y risk .
“
What h e tol d S p arr e r abo u t th e S k in b e -a
S CA M P 9
29
lon gin g to Alec an d m e isn t true Th is is a ’

.
free co u n t ry ,and th e free creatures belon g

to whoe v er can get th em I f th e cri t ter h ad
.
been i n on e of o u r traps i t wo u ld h a v e bee n

a di f fe ren t m a t ter Th e n i t would h a v e bee n
.
o u r proper t y B u t th e c r itter belonged t o

.
n obody u n t i l i t w a s ki lled ,an d wh en S par r e r

k n ocked i t o v er e v er y hai r o n that black hid e
belonged to h i m a n d to n o o n e else Th e .
cu n n i n g redski n m ade u p th at yarn t o tem pt

S parrer , an d there was n t a par t icle o f t r u t h
’
i n it No w t h e questio n i s ,w h at a re we
.
goi n g to do to ge t back S parrer s p r operty ? ’
If i t was j ust a n ordi n ary red fo x or e v en a

m arten the case wo uld be di fferen t ,though
eve n the n I d be for getti n g it back ,a n d r u n
’
n i n g those th ievi ng poach ers ou t o f th e

c ou n t ry As i t is ,we owe i t to S pa r rer to tr y
.
”
to get that ski n W hat s you r idea ,Alec ?
.
’
Ale c lean ed forward an d poked th e fire .
”
Ye ke n t h at the moon s ful l th e n ight ,sai d
’
h e slowl y “
. I am thi n ki n g that yo u an d m e
mi gh t take a bi t o f a look aro u n d If w e .
could fi n d t h e ca m p i t would be ti me enough

to decid e wh at to do n ext I d i n n a th i n k .
that with that p ri z e th e y w ill be stay i ng i n

th ese pa irts lo n g ,a n d w h at is don e h as go t

to be don e qu i ckly I h a v e n o s uspi cio n ed
.
that th e ca m p was ha n dy t i ll n o w I am n o .
sayi n g t ha t I th i n k so n o w , h e h aste n ed to
a d d w ith characteris t ic S cotch cau t io n , but “
I w il l ad m i t th at i t is possible Ye k en t h e r e .
i s n o n ook o r h o llo w o f t h ese h ill s th at I

d i n n a k en e v er y foot o f I h id o u t h ere o nc e
.
my sel f W e ca n l eave th e laddi es to get a

.
w ee bi t o f sleep wh ile w e h ave a loo k in t he

”
m ost li kel y places .
”
“
No ,y o u do n t ! p r otested H al
’ “
If .
the r e s any ga m e l i k e th a t afo o t you can

’
”
coun t u s in ,ca n t the y ,fellows ?
’
U pto n a n d S pa r re r v o iced eage r asse n t b u t

P a t sh oo k h is h ea d “
Noth i n g doi n g , h e
.
de c la r ed “
Alec a n d I a r e responsi bl e for
.
th e s afet y o fy o u fel lows a n d yo u l l stay r igh t ’
h e r e a n d k eep thi s li t t le o ld cabi n fro m ru n

”
n i n g away B esides , h e added ,n oti n g th e
.
d isappoi n tmen t i n th e th ree faces , th is i s n o “
play s c ou ti n g ; i t i s m en s work an d o n l y fo r
-
’
th ose wh o k no w th e cou n t ry T wo are all .
t hat are n eeded an d m ore woul d do u bl e th e

‘
ch an c es o f gi vi n g alar m If Alec a n d I ca n .
l ocate th e ca m p w e m a y n e e d your h elp t o

li k ely to c o me a t a whi stl e l i k e a g o o d dog g ie ?

We ve got to tak e th em b y s u r p r ise ,
’
o r so m e
bod y is l i k el y to get h u r t Th at i s w hy I
.
wan t y o u bo y s to keep o u t o fi t T h is is n t .
’
y o ur busi ness ; it s Al ec s an d m i n e
’ ’
.
Ho w ab o u t m e ? Yo use sai d a w h il e a g o
”
th at th at sk i n i s m i n e , pi ped u p S par r er .
So i t i s ,m e ba n tam ,bu t yo u r o w n sk i n i s
w o r th m ore to y o u t han al l th e si l ver fo x e s
t hat e v e r li ved ,a nd i f y o u c an no t keep i t
wh ole y o ursel f i t s u p t o u s to k eep i t whol e
’
”
for you , re to r ted Pat I t i s n t j u st th e
.
’
m att er o fthat fox sk i n ,h e c o nti n ued Im .

’
g u e ssi n g that Ale c a n d I h a v e a goo d sized

stak e i n the sk i n s cach ed i n th at c amp
r igh t no w W e ha d a l ittle u n pleasan t n ess
.
with those s n eaki n g r obbe r s of ho n est m en to

settle a s soo n as y o u left an d th is h as si m pl y
fo r ce d it a l ittle s o o n e r It s o u r j o b ,a n d y o u
.
’
”
fello ws a re to sta y o u t That s fi n al
.
’
.
Th ey k n e w b y t h e t on e of h is voi c e that n o
am o u n t of beggi n g or argu me n t wo uld a v ai l
the m i n th e l east They k n ew ,to o ,that Pat
.
w a s ri ght i n h is stand .They we r e h i s guests

a n d as such ent a iled u po n h i m a c e r tai n re
spo n si bil it y fo r th ei r safe ty a n d wel fa r e .
S CA MP 3 3
0
“
Bu t ,Pat ,ca n t w e be i n at th e fi n ish ?
’
pleaded Hal Gee ! Th i n k of a real scrap

.
goi n g o n u nde r o u r ve ry n oses an d we not

seei n g i t I
“
Depe n ds o n w h at th e fi n ish is , r epl ie d
Pat . I l l pro mise yo u thi s m uc h ,that i f
“ ’
there i s anythi n g to see ,o r i f yo u can hel p

wi t ho ut th e ri sk of stoppi n g a bulle t or a
k nife ,y o u shal l h a v e a chan ce A t presen t i t .
looks l i ke a dan gero us ga m e ,bu t we l l k n o w ’
m ore when we v e fo u n d tha t camp Th e

’
.
greatest help yo u can gi v e us n o w is to sta y

r ight here W e l l be back before d ayligh t
.
’
a n d b y th at t i me we wi ll k no w enough ,I
h Ope,t o pla n so me ac t io n Alec ,i t ll be a ’
.
c oup le of ho u rs y e t before we can s t art S u p .
pose we turn i n fo r a bi t of rest It s l it t le .

’
e n ough we re l i kely to get for t h e n ext twen ty

’
fo ur h ou rs We l l lea v e th e lads to put th e

.
’
”
c a m p i n o r de r .
This the boys we r e o n ly too glad to do

w h ile the t w o trappers s t retched ou t i n th ei r
bu n ks and rested T wo hou rs la t er Pat arose
.
a n d peeped o u t Th e moon flood ed th e hollow

.
w i th ligh t and h e gru n t ed hi s satisfa c tio n A .
fe w m i n utes late r h e an d Alec slipped o u t,

a nd al m ost at o nc e we r e l ost i n th e hea v y
shado ws o f the e v ergree n s E ach c ar ri e d h i s
.
r ifl e ,a n d the two faces we r e set a nd gr i m .
Th e r e w a s so m eth i n g si n iste r i n th is si le n t
departure ,an d as t h ey v an ishe d in to th e vast
broodi ng wi lde r n ess the th ree boys i n sti nc tive ly
d r e w n earer toge ther Hal sh rugged h i s
.
sho ulders an d l au g he d , b ut so m eh o w h i s la u gh
s o u nd ed oddl y forced .
S o m ebod y k ick m e a n d tel l m e i f I m

“ ’
”
awake , sai d h e ,th ro wi n g an o ther lo g o n t he
fi re “
.Yo u r ead abou t s u c h th i n gs an d th i n k
i t s a b ul l y s t ory ,bu t so meho w the sto ry
’
seems m o r e real than t h e reality O f co urse .
n othi n g s goin g to h appen to Pat an d Ale c

’
.
y et j ust th e sam e th ey a r e o u t w ith r i fl es

h u n ti n g s u re e no ugh bad m e n ,a n d if t h er e s ’
a ny sh oo t i n g so mebody s li kely to be h urt

’
.
I f i t was n t for S parrer s ban daged head th e r e

’ ’
I d thi n k I w a s d ream i n g How s th e o ld n u t

’
.
’
feel a n y wa y , S parrer
B ette r ,bu t sore e n ou gh t l et m e k n o w
“ ’
”
di s ai n t n o d ream , ret urn ed th e yo u nger lad
’
.
”
S a y ! h e exploded abrup t l y W h at w ill d e
.
f ellers say w he n w e get bac k an tel l e m w e ’ ’
bee n figh tin ou tla ws an t h at O i gets a k noc k

’ ’
before t h e fi re a n d specu lated o n w h at w a s
h appen i n g o u t th ere i n t h e forest S par r e r
.
w a s plied wi t h q ues t ion s abo u t h is ad v en t u r e

an d told t h e sto ry o v e r so g r aph icall y t ha t t h e
t h ri l l o f i t sen t l i t t l e sh i vers d ow n th e ba c ks
o f h is l is t en e r s
. At ti mes t h ey s a t i n si l e nce
won de r i n g i f t h e y m igh t h ear d ista n t r i fle
shots A n d s o th e n igh t w e re o n ,th e m ost
.
ex c iti n g n igh t i n th ei r experi en c e ,a n d y et a

n igh t i n wh ich so far as th e y w e r e conc e rned
n ot h i n g h appe ne d .
C HAPT E R XV I I
THE CA M P OF THE P O A C HE R S
U PT O N had j ust glan ced at h i s wat c h a nd
n o t ed t h at t he h o u r was 8 A M Hal an d . .
S pa rr e r were bo t h asleep , t h e long v i gi l h a v

i ng pro v ed too m u ch fo r th em despi t e th ei r
a sse r tions early i n t h e e v eni n g that the y
could n t sleep a wi n k A sligh t sou n d o ut
’
.
side t h e door c au gh t W alter s atte n t ion A ’

.
se c o n d later t h e door s w un g ope n an d P a t

a n d Alec entered I t was c lea r that th e y
.
h ad e xpec t ed to fi n d al l th e bo y s asleep ,a n d
we re en dea v ori n g to make as little n oise as
poss i bl e .
Wal ter flashed a kee n look at th e two fa c es

a n d r ead there th e s uccess o fth e tr i p Hey , .
“
”
y o u sleepy heads ,th ey v e fou nd th e camp !
-
’
h e sho uted ,th u mpi n g Hal o n th e back .
“
Wha w ha wh at ? s t a m m ered Hal ,r u b
- -
”
b in g h is eyes an d stari n g abou t h im w ildly ,

w h i le S parrer bl i n ked stupidly Th e n ful l y .
rec overi n g his se n ses Hal sp r a n g to h is fee t .
307
3 8
”
Di d yo u r eal l y find th e cam p ? h e aske d
e ager ly .
Pat n od ded “
H urr a h
. cr i e d th e i m pet u
o u s boy . Say , w ho h it m e ? I was r ight i n
th e m i dd le o f a d r ea m I h ad t hree o u tlaws
.
l i n ed u p agai n st a cabi n w al l a n d co v ered w i th

a r i fle wh en I fel t that th u mp , an d for a m i n ut e
I thought i t w a s an othe r o n e o f e m w h o ha d ’
s t o le n u p beh i n d m e an d got m e fo u l , I m
’
c ertai n l y glad i t w a s o n ly a d rea m .
E ve ry body laughed U pto n m ean w h il e h ad

.
h un g a ke t tl e o f sou p o v er th e fire an d was

setti n g a co u ple o f places at th e t able for th e
two trappers ,k n owi n g t hat th ey m ust b e
h u n gr y aft er th ei r l o n g t r amp No w tel l u s
.
”
abou t i t , h e c o m m and ed when th ey h ad h a d
a c h a n ce to d ispose o fth e soup a n d a big sl ab
o f co rn br e a d .
“
The r e i s n t m u c h to tel l , bega n Pat
’
.
We fo u n d th ei r cam p an d watched it fo r a
”
wh i l e a n d th e n c am e back .
”
S o s im ple , m u rm u red Ha l ’
W e fo und
.
th ei r ca m p . I su ppose yo u sh u t y o u r eyes
’
a n d l et a good fai ry take y o u by th e h a n ds

an d lead yo u strai gh t to i t ! I t s a won de r ’
y o u h ave n t be en ove r to m ake a fr i en dly c a ll

’
We made st raig h t th e fi r st o n e a n d fo u nd
f
or
n oth i n g th e r e Th e n w e c u t a c ross to th e
.
se con d a n d as s o o n as we we r e i n th e dra w w e
”
k n ew that we w ere on the r igh t t r a c k .
”
Ho w ? i n te rr u pted Hal eage r l y .
”
Th e sm e ll o f wood s m ok e , r epl i e d P a t
-
.
We w or ked a r o un d to th e s p rin g ,m igh t y

car efu l to keep u n d e r c ove r a n d ma ke n o
noi se ,expe c ti n g t o fi n d t h e c a m p r ight t h ere ,
b u t th ere w a s n t a th i n g to be s ee n The n
’
.
w e fol l o w ed o u r n oses u p w i n d o ve r a l i ttl e

r is e and th er e i n th e m id dle o f a cl u m p of
sp ruce w a s th e cabi n ,pretty n ea r b u r i ed i n
s n o w We w at c h ed i t fo r a w hi l e a nd th en
.
a s t h er e wa s n o t hi n g doi n g w e c a m e bac k ,
”
an d th at s th e wh ole o fth e sto r y
’
.
”
W h at s th e n e x t m ove ?
’
U pto n a ske d
t h e q u esti on w ith an e ag ern es s he could no t
c onc eal .
A l ittle day li g h t s u r p ri se pa r ty ,re p lied

P a t wi th a gri n .
”
“
Ar e w e in o n i t ? d e mande d t he th ree
b o y s i n ch orus .
Th at d epen d s , r epl i ed Pat “

Ale c and
.
I h a v e been tal ki n g i t o ver , a n d i f y o u ll agr ee

’
to obe y or d e r s a n d keep un de r c ove r m ayb e

S CA MP 3 1 1
w e l l t ake y o u alon g W i t n esses m a y com e

’
.
i n han dy B ut y o u v e got to agre e to do j u s t

.
’
”
as y o u r e t old
’
.
We will ! cho r use d th e thre e j oyo u s l y .
O ur plan is to s urrou n d th e cabi n befo re

d ay light Th e fa c t that those fellows h av en t
.
’
pu l led out al r ead y i n di cates that the y a r e

p lan n i n g t o l ie low B u t the y l l be u p a nd
.
’
o u t e arly to sp y o n u s W e ve go t to be i n
.
’
h idi ng before the y are u p,a n d that m ea ns

t h at w e m u st sta r t i n h alf a n ho u r Y o u fel .
lo ws a re to r emai n i n h idi n g a n d lea v e Al e c

an d me t o h andle those chaps ,an d y ou r e n ot ’
”
to S ho w y o ursel v es u nl ess w e signal yo u to .
“
Ho w m an y o f the m a r e there ? ask ed ”
Upton .
Tw o , w e th i n k ,r epli ed Pat “
Th e c ab i n .
is n t big e n ough fo r m ore

’
No w get bus y
.
a n d stow away a good m eal , because th ere i s

”
no k n owi n g w hen yo u l l get an o t h er
’
.
A hasty m eal of bacon an d cold corn br e a d ,

with hot ch ocol a t e ,was speedily disposed o f,
a n d th e y were ready t o start At Pa t s s u g .
’
gestio n th e boys h a d pu t o n extra clo t hi n g to

pro tec t th em should they be c o m pelled t o re
m a in i n acti ve fo r s om e ti me With th e e x .
c ep tio n of S pa rr e r
each c a rr i ed a ri fle I n .
si n gle fi l e ,Ale c i n th e l ead an d P a t i n th e

r e ar ,th e y th r ea d e d thei r wa y th rou g h t he
for est Nev er w i ll the three c i ty bo y s fo r get
.
th e uncanny stra n gen ess of th at t ramp

t h rou gh th e m oo n l i t w i l d er n ess T h e Si l ence
.
o f t h e grea t froze n w a ste ,opp r e s s i v e e ve n in

t he l i ght o f d a y ,w a s d o ubl y so n o w Their .
errand and th e th o ugh t o fw h a t m i gh t h app en

a t th e en d o fthei r j o u r n e y c o m bi ned to s ti m
u la te a l r e a d y o v e r e xc i ted i magi na tio n s t o a
poi n t w h ere no th ing s ee m ed r e al Th e y fel t

.
a s i f m ovi n g i n a d r e am I t w a s a s i f b y eu
.
c ha n t m e n t th ey h ad bee n t ran sl ated fr o m

thei r co m m o n pla c e sel ves i n to th e h e r oe s
o f o n e o f th ei r fav o ri te bo o k s o f ad ve n tu re .
Th ey h a d th e feel i n g th at at a ny m o men t
they m igh t retu rn to n or m al cond i tio ns a nd
fi n d i t all a figm en t o ft h e i m agi n atio n .
Do w n th e Hollo w past the trai l by wh i c h

t h e y h ad en tere d i t Al ec l ed the wa y ,an d o u t
a t th e western en d Then fo r a co uple of
.
m iles h e bore sli ght ly n orth alon g th e o ld

trapper s t rai l th at U pto n re m em bered th e
’
she r i ff had taken i n h i s search for Ale c th e

pr ev iou s fall F r o m thi s poi n t th ey bore
.
3 4
t o th e r igh t Then o nc e m o r e chargi n g t h e m

.
to m ake n o sou n d h e left the m an d v an i shed

as c o mpletely as i f the gro u n d h ad Op ened
a nd swal lowed h i m .
Th e moo n s t i ll r o de hig h , bu t a l ready t he.
g r a y o f app r oach in g daw n appea r e d i n t he

east an d d ulle d its si lve r r adi anc e The y h ad
.
a rri v ed non e to o soon U pto n st r a in e d h is

.
e y es t o m ake o u t the c a bin ,b ut i n th e u n c er

tai n sh a d ows i t w a s i m pos s i b l e H e fo und
.
h i m sel f ac tual l y w o nd e r in g i f Pat a nd A lec

w e r e n ot m istake n H e fo u nd i t h ar d to b e
.
li eve that th ere c ou l d b e any o th e r h u m a n b e

in gs wi th i n m iles o fth em . I t was bi tte r c old ,
a n d d espi te th e extr a cloth in g th e bo y s fel t
th e c h il l o f i t
. I t seeme d to cr eep i n to th e
ver y m arro w of th ei r bo n es a n d the ex c i te
men t whi ch h ad exh ilarated th em at th e sta r t

s u bside d i n di r e c t r ati o to thei r i n cre asi n g d is
co m fo r t
.
Th e g r a y in t h e e ast c r e pt h i gh e r a nd th e
m oo n wa x ed pal e Th e sh adows g r ew les s
.
den s e an d obj ects m ore disti n ct Little b y.
l i ttle so m eth i n g t ook sh ape dow n th ere a m o n g

th e fi rs At fi rst i t w a s li ttle m ore th a n a
.
m o u nd o f w h i t e ,bu t p r ese n tly U pto n m a d e

S CA MP 3 5
1
out that w hat h e h ad at fi rst take n t o b e a

l i ttle bla c ker sh adow t han t h e rest was n ot h
im g l e ss t han the smoke blacken ed top o f a
-
short ch i m n e y i n to whi ch h e c oul d loo k fr o m

his p o sitio n o n th e h i ll abo v e Th is ga v e h i m
.
a c l ue to th e cabi n s si t ua t i o n E v ide n tly i t

’
.
backed u p again s t th e h ill a n d at the re a r

w as al most d r ift ed o v e r w i t h sno w I n fa c t .
the s n o w w a s ba n ked t o th e eaves on b o t h

sides ,th e fro n t only h avin g been c lea r e d .
Th is w a s sc r ee n ed fro m view by a thi c ket of

y o un g fi r s i n su ch a w a y that o n e m igh t pass
i n fr on t w i th i n th i r ty y ards an d n ot see th e
ca b in u n less lo o ki n g especiall y fo r it I t re .
m i n ded Wal te r o f n o t hi n g so m uch as th e

cun ni ngly h idden ho me of a fox
“
Th e gra y i n th e east had gi v en w a y to a

to uc h o f rose colo r when S parrer sn i f f ed soft l y
a n d sile n tly poi n t ed to the ch i m n ey A th i n.
c ol u mn o f smoke w a s begi n n in g to r ise I t .
w a s e v id e n t that th e i n ma t es were as t i r The .
sit u atio n was rapidly approach i ng a cli m ax .
Mu flfled sou n ds fr o m withi n the cabi n reache d

the bo y s W ith h ear t s t h u m pi n g pai n fu lly
.
th e wat c h e r s waited P r ese n t l y th ere w a s th e

.
cr e a k o f a doo r F r o m thei r position U pt o n

.
3 9
an d S p arr e r c o uld n ot s ee wha t Ha l from h is
loc at i o n fa r th e r to th e r igh t h ad a c l ea r v i e w
of , a da r k ,r o ughly c la d m a n w h o sto o pe d to
p a s s o u t o f th e l ow d oorw a y B u t a m o m e n t
.
la t er th ey sa w h i m a s h e ent er ed th e t hi cket ,
a p a i l i n o n e hand H e w a s goi ng t o t he
.
s p r i ng fo r w ate r .
H e pas sed fro m s i gh t o ve r t h e l itt l e rise

th at sepa ra t ed th e sl igh t hol l o w w h er e th e
c ab in w a s l oc at ed fr o m th e d eepe r hollo w
w h e re the sp rin g w a s A s h e r ea c h e d th e bot
.
to m h e c a m e i n to v iew agai n Th e y s a w h i m
.
s t o p ab ru ptl y i n h is tr a cks as i f fro z en ,th e n

dr op h i s pai l a n d h alf tu rn as i f to r u n ,only to
s t o p agai n a n d th ro w hi s arm s above h i s h ead .
The n Ale c appe ared ,h is rifle coverin g th e

m a n befor e h i m There w a s evid en tly a par
.
l e y o f som e k i n d ,but t he d istance w a s too

g r eat fo r th e so u nd o f th ei r voi c es to c a rry .
U n do u btedl y Ale c had wa rn ed th e othe r n ot

to rai se h i s voi c e W i th bated b rea th th e
.
bo y s w at c h ed th e st r a n ge pa n t o mi me be l o w .
I t w a s plai n that Ale c was gi v i n g o rd e r s to

w hi c h th e ot her obj e c ted ,fo r h e vi o l e n t ly
sh oo k h is h ea d The forme r ,w ho had pa r t ly
.
l o w er ed his r ifl e ,rai sed i t a g a i n m e n aci n gl y ,

3 8
The n he va ni s hed i n s id e a nd th e door clo se d.
I t was n ot lo n g ,h owe v er ,befo r e i t o pe n ed

ag ai n a n d o n ce more the s c o w lin g fa ce appeare d ,
stari n g to ward th e sp r i ng I t was clear that h is
.
c o m pa n io n s c o n ti n ued abse n ce was be g i n ning

’
t o puzzl e h i m Tak i n g a step forwa rd he

.
i mi tat e d to pe r fectio n th e h o arse croak o fa

r ave n S o t r ue to li fe was i t th at Ha l in s tinc
.
t iv e ly l ooked u p expecti n g to see th e bla ck

bi rd o f i l l o m en Th e n i t fl ashed o v e r h i m
.
th at th is was a sig n al c al l to the m a n w h o h a d

g o n e for the water .
T wi c e i t was r epeate d Th e th i rd ca ll was

.
an swere d fro m beyon d th e th icket i n fro n t o f

th e c abi n. Hal guessed rig h t ly t ha t i t w a s
P a t en d e av ori n g to e n tice th e I ndi a n ,fo r t he
man at th e cabi n w a s S pa rr e r s assai l a n t ,
’
to
c o m e o u t He hoped th at b y r epl y i n g h e
.
w o u ld l ea d th e I n d ia n to th i n k that th e
an s we r was fro m th e l atte r s pa r t n e r a nd th at
’
th e r ed m a n w o uld assu m e that so me th i ng

i m po r t an t had been d isc o ve r e d to k eep hi s
p art n e r so l o n g a n d wo uld seek to j o i n h i m to
fi n d ou t wh a t i t w a s If o n ce th e I nd i an
.
c ou l d b e l e d away fro m t h e cab i n hi s c apt ure

wo u l d be easy .
F OR A F EW S E C O N DS HE ST OO D lVI O T I O NL E S S
u p. No w wal k str a igh t b ack fi v e s t eps and
s t op , c o m m a n ded Pat .
Th e I n di a n too k o n e s tep ba c k Th en i n a
.
flash he do v e h ead first thro ug h th e partly

open door ,t h rowi n g h i m self flat Th e w i ly .
fello w c o u n ted o n t h e s u dde n n ess o fth e m ov e

an d t h e abr upt change o f an gle o f fir e t o
escape Pa t s r i fle c racked ,fol lo wed i n sta n t ly
.
’
by th e ban g o f th e doo r H e h ad m issed h i s

.
m a n H e after war d c o n fesse d that h e h ad

.
ma de n o r eal e ffort to score a hi t The id e a .
o f t ak in g a fello w bei n g s life w a s r ep u g n a n t

’
to h i m e v e n th ough th e fello w w a s a wo u l d b e -
m u r d ere r H e h ad shot be c ause th e si t u atio n

.
h ad r equ i r ed i t I t was n ecessa ry that t he

.
fello w sho u l d k n o w th at h e h ad t o deal w i t h

t h ose w h o co u ld sh o ot and w ere n ot afr aid to .
Hal f th e battl e w a s w o n O ne ma n w a s
.
c aptu re d a n d th e oth e r d ri v e n to co v e r .
K no wi n g th at th e l at t er wo u ld m ake no
att em pt to ge t a way for t h e prese n t a n d that
i n a ny eve n t Hal w a s pos t ed wh ere h e c o u ld
giv e th e a la r m sho uld a n at t e mp t be made
Pat a n d Ale c tu r n e d thei r atte n tio n to t heir
c apti ve H is h a n ds w e r e secu rely bo u n d
.
beh i n d hi m w it h a pie ce o f r ope w h ic h P a t

IN A TR A P P E CA
’
R S MP 3 21
ha d h a d the foresigh t to bri n g ,and h e w as

the n s ubj ected to a gruel i n g exami n a t i on ,but
s ul le n l y refused to com m i t hi msel f o n any
poi n t He w a s a Fre n ch C a n adia n of th e
.
lo wer ty pe a n d Alec recog n ized h i m a s B ig

Pierre ,a n otoriou s cha r a ct e r i n th e l u m b er
camps o fthe region .
Th er e was an u gly gli n t i n h is bla c k ey es

that boded i ll for hi s cap t ors sho u l d h e o nce
gai n th e u pper h an d of the m He r efu s e d to .
ad mi t that he had been r obbi n g th e trap l i n es

or t hat h e had even been w atchi n g the c amp
i n S m ugg lers Hollo w O nly o n ce ,a n d th at
’
.
wh en Al ex charged hi m wi t h ha v i n g a h an d
i n the t heft o f th e bl ack fox ,di d h is face
betray a n y thin g bu t sull en rage F o r j u s t a .
fleeti n g i n sta n t a mi n gled loo k of su rprise ,

i n te r est ,c upidi t y an d a n ger swept across hi s
face Pat caugh t i t a nd sign ed for Al e c t o
.
ce ase hi s question i n g Th en h e dre w Ale c t o

.
on e si de o ut of ear shot o ft hei r captive

-
.
As su re as yo u re stan di n g here h e d o es n t
’ ’
k now a th in g abou t th a t fox , h e whispered .
He s bee n do uble crossed by t h e I nj u n

’
-
.
Pe r haps w e can use h im to get th e r edski n

”
ou t o f h is h o le I t s wo r th try in g ,a nyw a y
.
’
.
C HA PTE R XV III
SM O K IN G O UT THE IN D I A N
PA T a nd A l e c r et u r n ed to t heir cap t i v e
.
Alec a c ted a s spokes man , speaki n g t h e pat ois

o f th e C a n uck o r Fre n ch C a n adia n fl ue n t ly ,
w h ile th e Fren ch ma n spok e E n gl ish b u t
l i ttle ,an d th a t v e r y bro ken l y Alec repe a te d
.
h i s previo usl y m ad e c h arges o f theft fro m

the t r aps ,an d also of i llegal poach i n g i n th e
d ee r y a r d ,to all of whi ch Pi erre sh r u gge d
h i s sho u lde r s i n di ffe ren tly Then S peaki n g
.
slo wly ,th at e v er y word m igh t si n k i n ,Ale c

ch arged h i m wi t h bei n g an acco m plice to a t
tempted m u rde r an d th e th eft o f t h e bla ck
fox .
Th is ro used th e Fren ch m a n to veh e m e n t

den i al He swore by th e n ame o f h is pat r o n
.
s ai n t th a t h e k n e w n o t h i n g of th e bl ack fo x
a n d h a d h a d n o part i n t h e th eft H e d e
.
c la red th at h e did n t e v en k n ow th at a bl ack

’
fo x had b e e n see n i n t he Ho l lo w , an d a s fo r
3 22
w i th i n h i m Aft e r a fe w mi n u t es o f hesi t a
.
s
ti on h e s u lle n l y a greed t o do wha t e ve r was

re qu ir e d of h i m .
“
Tel l h i m , s aid P a t, t h at he i s t o go ou t
”
t here a n d d e m a n d o f that s k u l k in g r ed s k in
th at h e c o m e o u t an d s u rr e nd e r Tell h im
.
to m ake i t clea r th at t he c a m p is s u r r ou nded

and th e j ig i s u p ; th at w e r e goi n g to get h i m
’
a ny w a y ,dead o r ali ve ,a n d w e do n t m uc h ’
c a re w h i c h Tel l h im th a t he i s n o t to go
.
n ea r e r tha n te n yard s t o th e c ab in ,th at w e v e

’
go t h i m cove r ed ,a nd i f he ma k es any brea k

i t will be hi s l ast o n e .
A l ec t r a n slated this and P ie rre n o dd e d .
The n h e w al ked f o r war d th ro ugh th e th i c ket

i n to th e ope n ,at Al ec s co m m a n d c o m i n g to
’
a h al t so m e th i r ty fe et fr o m th e c abi n do or ,
w h e r e h e h ailed th e I n d i a n i n th e latte r s ’
own to n gue The r e was a m u ffled r epl y a nd

.
a fte r s om e d e l ay th e c abi n d oo r w a s ope n e d

a cr a c k a n d a ri fle bar r el th ru st th r ough .
Th e ir fol lowe d a he a ted pa r le y i n t h e I n dia n

t o n g u e ,o f w h ich Ale c u nd e r st o o d e nou gh to
gather th e su bsta n c e .
“
He s l a y i n g i t o n th i c k , h e ch uc kled
’
.
S ays that th e sh e r i f f a nd d e pu ti e s ar e h e re
A TR A P P E
’
IN R S CA MP 3 25
a n d have got th e c a m p su rrou nded ,an d t h at

u nless h e c ome s o u t th ey ll sh oot h i m o n ’
s ight The Inj u n has passed hi m the li e

. .
He s m o c kin Pie r re fo r bei ng caugh t by a

’ ’
coupl e - —
of m ake believe tr appers y e k e n
’
—
th a t s yo u a n d m e ,Pat a n d a lot o f i n fa n ts .
He sa y s h e has n t got th e black fo x a n d

’
d is na k n o w anyth i n g abo u t it Pie rre i s .
gi v in g h i m a beauti fu l tong ue lash in g a n d -
c all in g hi m e v er y th i ng bad th i s side o f

p urga t ory Tis a sham e y e d i n n a u n de r
.
’
sta n d a l i t tle o f th e l in go ,Pat Ha ! Th e .
re d says he ll shoot o n sight an d i s wa rn i n g

’
P i err e to get ba c k before he takes a pot shot

a t h i m ,an d by th e sai n ts I believe h e m ean s
”
it !
As a m att er o f fa c t at th i s poi n t the y sa w
the ri fle barrel raised Pi erre abrup t ly tur n ed
.
an d w itho u t on ce loo ki n g back rej oi ned t h e

t wo m e n i n th e thi cke t He w a s i n a tower
.
in g ra ge an d spat o u t F r en ch i n v ecti ves at a

ra te to defy descri ptio n He reporte d the re
.
s u l t of his mission ,stati n g h is opi n io n that

th e I n dian co uld h old o u t i n defi n i tely ,as
there was a plen ti ful s uppl y o f gru b i n the
ca bi n a n d e n ough fire w ood to keep h i m fr om
-
re ez ing fo r
f l o nger t han h i s besiege r s w o ul d
care t o sta y .
“
Wi ll h e sh oot ,do y o u th i n k ,i f w e r ush
”
th e c abi n ? ask e d P a t m edi ta t i v ely .
As i f i n r epl y th e r i fle at th e cabi n do o r
spat fi r e an d a b ullet w h ist l e d th ro ugh t h e
th icket so c lose t o P a t th at i n s t i n cti vel y he
d u cked He ha d car e l essl y exposed h i m self
.
to th e vi ew o f th e o u tla w Al most i nsta n tl y

.
Alec s r ifle r ep l ied and a s p lin t er fl e w from

’
th e do or fr a m e
-
.
“
Th at w i l l te ach hi m t ha t t is n o make be
’
-
l i ev e s ho o te r o u t h e r e ! h e gr o wle d .
Th e doo r st i ll r e mained o pe n a cr a c k , evi

den tly to a llo w t h e i n m ate to obser v e w h a t
w a s g oin g o n in fr o n t , th e o n l y v ul n e r abl e
p oi n t o f attack ,th er e bei n g n o w i n dows i n
th e c abi n P a t wo r ke d aro u n d to a p o i n t
.
wher e h e co ul d pu t a bull e t th r o u gh th i s
cr a c k b y w a y o f warn i n g an d h is sho t w a s
f ol l ow ed by th e c l osi n g o f th e doo r .
”
U t re m o in ds m e , sai d h e wi th a comical
gri m ace as h e slipped i n to th e brogu e , a v t he
fir st sk u n k I i v er cau gh t Twas i n a box t r ap ,
.
’
an d h avi n g go t t h e li tt le bas t e i n th e t r ap I d i dn t ’
k n o w h o w i n t h e m isch i ef t o get h i m o u t .
can drop s o m e r ol ls of ligh ted bi rc h b ar k and
h ave r ead y t h e th ickest fi r boughs y o u c a n
fi n d to c lap o n top o f the ch i m n e y Wal t , .
y o u bette r te n d to p utti n g th e stu f

f dow n th e
c h i mn e y ,a nd m i n d y o u wo r k fast A n d .
d o n t l ea n ov er i t Whe n he fi n ds w h at i s
’
.
u
p h e s
’
l i kel y to t ry a pot shot u p th e c hi mney
i n th e h ope o f blo wi n g th e st u ff o u t I f y o u
.
h a ve goo d h eav y bou g h s o n to p h e c a n t d o ’
i t A le c and I wi l l w at ch th e fron t to get

.
h i m w h e n he c o m es o u t Hav e ple n t y o f
.
b a r k a nd g et i t go i n g w ell befo r e y o u toss th e

r ol ls i n As l o n g as yo u do n t get ove r th e
.
’
c h i m n e y a n d k eep o ff the ro of th ere wi l l b e

n o da n ge r Th e r oof i s o f b a rk ,a n d h e may
.
take a ch an ce sh ot u p th rou g h i t ,so w o r k

”
fr o m th e d r i ft o n this e nd .
Hal a n d S parrer we n t afte r th e mos s ,w h i l e

U pt on made a tri p o v e r to a c l u m p o f birches
an d st r i pped o ff th e bark Th e n wi th hi s
.
bel t axe he c ut a n u m be r o f fi r boughs By .
th e ti m e the othe r s r etur n ed h e h ad the ba rk

an d bou g h s r ead y a n d h ad prepa r ed a sti c k
w i th w h i ch to push do w n th e m oss filled -
sw e a t er I f h e shou ld push th i s to o far it

.
wou l d d r op d o w n i n to the fi re pla c e O n th e

.
’
MP 3 29
othe r han d h e wa n ted to get i t far e n ough

dow n so t hat th e flames fro m th e bark wou ld
n ot i m mediately fire the fir bough s o n top .
B reakin g t h rough th e sn o w cr ust h e m i xed

-
s n ow w i t h t h e m oss a n d also rol led t h e sw e ate r

i n sn o w Th e b oys had bro ugh t mo re m oss
.
t han was n eeded fo r stu ffi ng t he sweate r a n d

this U p to n also m ixed w ith sno w an d pla c ed
i n a loose mass at th e foot of t he chi m ney .
When all was r ea dy h e had Hal a n d S pa rr e r

eac h light a c o uple o f th e bi rc h r olls r ead y to
han d to h i m As soo n as these were goin g h e
.
s t u ffed th e sweate r dow n t he chi mn ey , p u shi ng

i t d o wn wi th th e stick as fa r as h e da r e d .
Th en sei z i ng th e burn i n g bark r olls h e to s se d

t hem do w n o n top , cram me d th e loose m o ss in ,
an d cl apped th e fir boughs ove r all O n top .
o f th e latter h e to ssed so me s n o w Mea n .
whi le Pat h ad cr eated a d i ve r sio n i n fro n t o f

th e c abi n b y sho u ti n g th r eats of what th e y
w o u l d do to th e r e d sk in if he d id n t co me o u t
’
an d s u r re n de r .
U pto n h a d w or ke d q u i c k ly a n d w a s th r o u gh
b efo r e th e o u t law fully sensed wh a t was u p .
A t fi rst h e e v iden tly th ough t that they had

m e r el y c ov er ed the to p of the c h i mney to
s m o k e h i m o u t w i t h h i s o w n fire , a nd a hi s s
i n g so un d wh ich c am e u p to the m through
t he ch i m n e y proclai m ed the q uen c hi ng o fth is
with water Th en d iscoveri n g that the s m oke
.
w a s i n creasin g i n stead of dec r easi n g h e d i d

exactl y w ha t Pat h ad foresee n — attem pted to
blo w t h e ch i m n ey clea r by firi n g h i s r i fle u p
i t Ho we v er h e o n ly s u cceeded i n s ett in g fire
.
to th e s weater fro m u nde rn eath an d th i s , be

c a u se o f i ts n at ure ,m e r el y sm o ul d e red I t
.
w a s n o w m e re l y a q uestio n o f wh eth e r t he
s weat er and m os s wo u l d b u rn and d rop befo re
th e sm ok e i n th e ca b i n bec a me t oo dens e fo r a
h u m a n be in g t o l i v e in i t
.
B i rc h bark ,a s e ve ry B o y S cou t k nows , is

one o f th e m ost i n flam m ab l e o fm ater i a ls I t .
b u rn s li ke fat , and also l i ke fat i t th r o w s offa

th i ck s m ok e Th is w a s wo r ki n g u p n o w i n
.
l i t t le pu ffs th ro u gh th e fi r bou ghs ,bu t the

g r e a t bu lk o f i t m ust be pou ri n g i n to th e
cabi n ,for U pto n h ad take n care i n st u ffi n g
th e s wea t e r dow n n ot to w h olly block t h e
p assage . No w an d then a l i t tle ton gue o f
flam e l i c ked u p th rough the fi r bou gh s a n d
w as p r o m p t ly exti n gu ished wi th a h an dful o f
s now . The s n o w da m p moss shove d d o wn o n
-
c h ec k w as blee d i n g fr om a wo u n d ,m a de ,a s
i t afte r wa rd appea r ed ,b y a spli n te r to rn o ff
fr o m th e doo r fr a me b y o n e o f Pat s bullet s
-
’
.
Alec w asted n o ti m e i n se c u r i n g th e priso n e r s

’
h a n ds beh i nd h i m a n d th e n deft ly se arc h ed

h i m fo r h i d de n w eapo n s ,fi n d i n g n oth i ng bu t
a k ni fe Th a t rem i n ded h i m o f th e k ni fe
.
P ie rre h a d tos s e d at h is feet w he n he w a s

c apt ured a t t he sp rin g ,a nd h e se n t S p arrer t o
ge t i t
.
As so on a s t he ca pt ur e wa s made t h e th ree
boy s had r u shed for ward ,fo rg ett in g that the y
w e r e u nder ord ers to re m ai n at th e i r p o sts
u n ti l sig na le d S o m ewh at ste r n l y b u t w i th
.
a t w in kl e i n hi s ey es that bel ied the sev eri t y

o f h i s v oic e Pat n o w re m i n ded th e m of thi s
a nd o rd e r ed U pt on ba c k to c lea r th e bough s
fr o m th e top o f th e chi m n e y B y th i s ti m e
.
th e s we a te r had bu rn ed th r o u gh an d th e whole
m ass h ad d ropped i n t o th e fi replace ,w he r e it
c o n ti n u ed t o b u r n ,th e s mo k e rol li n g o u t o f
th e Ope n d oor i n a den se clo u d W i th th e
.
rem o v al of th e b o ughs fro m th e top o f th e

c h i mn ey a draft was re established an d th e
s m ok e sough t i ts n atural o u tlet . It was so me
t i m e ,ho w ever ,before t h e i n terior o f th e ca b i n
’
IN A TR A P P ER S CA MP 33 3
c ould be exam i n e d w i th any c omfort , an d Pat
took ad v an tage of this to q ui z th e I n dian .
S o fa r as resul ts w ere ob t ai n ed h e m ight a s

w ell ha v e tal ked to a wooden post Th e re d.
s ki n stolidly r efused to an swer quest i o n s .
When c onfro n ted wi th S parre r h e d e n ied eve r

h a v i n g see n h i m before ,m uch to th at you n g
m an s disgust He steadfastl y de n ied all
’
.
k n owledge of the black fo x an d r efus ed t o

ad mi t that he e ve r had bee n in S m u ggle rs ’
Hol low .
A t last Pat g a ve u p in d is gu st Th e cabi n

.
h ad s u fficie n tly c leared o f s m oke b y this ti me

t o permi t o f a search bei n g made Leavi n g .
A le c to stan d gua r d o v e r the p r iso n e r s Pat a n d

the th r ee boys en te r ed a n d began their i nves t i
g a t io n
. s Two r ifles stood i nside the doo r ,a n d
th e se Pat em ptied o f c a r tri dges an d stoo d
the m o utsi de agai n st th e e n d of the c abi n .
Th e n withou t c e r e m o ny h e pulled th e be d
d i n g fro m t h e t w o lo w bu n ks a n d tossed i t
ou t o n the s n o w Thi s was fol lo wed by ever y
th in g else th e c abi n contai n ed u ntil it was
st r ipped ba r e U nder t h e two bu n ks th ey
.
fou nd part of the obj ect of th e i r sear c h ,m a n y

ca sed furs Th ere w e r e m a r te n ,m i n k ,
. fishe r ,
a c oup le o f ott er ,th ree r ed fox ,tw o l yn x and
a n u m be r o f m usk r at ,a pil e th at al togeth er
rep r esen ted a tidy s u m fro m a trappe r s poi n t of
’
v iew B u t th e blac k fox was n o t am o n g th em

. .
Pat glo wered at the prison ers sa v agel y as he

n o te d th at so m e o f th e ski n s h ad bee n c a re
le ssl y h an dled an d therefore w ou ld n ot br in g
w hat the y wo u ld h ad th ey bee n p ro pe r l y
t r eate d The n h e resu med hi s sea rc h o fth e
.
c abi n Th e on l y th i n g furth er i n th e wa y of
.
ski n s w e r e two tigh tl y r olled d eer h ides fr eshl y

-
t a k en fr o m t he ani mals ,one be ing t ha t o f a

faw n .
D o yo u mind wha t I t old y o u h a d h ap

”
pen ed at th e d ee r yar d ? g r ow led Pat as h e
tossed th e sk in s o u t o fth e d o or .
Co n vi nc ed a t la st th a t th e sk i n o ft he bl a c k
fo x was n ot i n th e c a m p th e y r egretful ly gav e
u p th e sear c h the re a n d em e r ged fro m th e
c abi n Al ec r ead th e di sappoi n tme n t an d
.
c h ag r i n i n th ei r fa c es S o ,
. d id B i g P ie rr e ,
to o ,
w h o had bee n awai ti n g th e resu l t o f th ei r
sear c h w i th il l co nc eal ed i m pati e n ce He had
-
.
sca r cel y l ooked at h i s par tn er si n ce th e l att er

h ad been captu red No w h e t urn e d and sp o ke
.
r apid ly i n Fre nc h to Alec .

hi m go . A l ec t ransl ated a nd P i er r e n odd ed .
Th e I n dian gla n ced at h is late pa r t ner and

sa w th e n od A vi n d ic t i v e loo k s wept acro s s
.
hi s fa c e a n d left i t as express i o n less a s b e fore .
“
Yo u tr y to k i l l w h i t e bo y He g o t o .
c o u r t a nd s w ea r I nj u n go to p r iso n fo r lo ng
.
ti m e ,y ea r s an d y ea r s B la c k fo x only th ing
.
c a n sa v e I nj u n .
The I n dian appea re d to c o n s ider t he t ri p le

i n di ct m e n t ,b u t n o h i n t o fwh at w a s passin g
i n h is m i n d appeared i n h is fa c e It w a s as .
stol i d a n d expressio n less as e v e r At l eng t h .
h e spok e .
Yo u gi ve Inj u n gu n a nd al l h is t hin g s
”
a n d l et go i f h e tell som e t h i n g ? h e in q u i re d .
”
W e l l see a bo ut i t , Pat g r owled
’
No pro mise , I nj u n n o t el l, w as th e
p r o m pt r espon se .
I t was Pa t s tu r n to c o n s ider F ina l ly he

’
.
”
m ad e u p hi s m i n d L i ste n ,Ale c , said h e
.
“
.
“
Yo u tell Pi erre th at we l l gi ve the m t heir
’
gu n s ,b u t n o cart ri dges ; that w e ll let t hem ’
take th e i r pe r so nal belo n gin gs an d as m uch

gr ub as th ey can c arry an d let th e m go o n
c o n di t ion th at they w ill ad mi t h avi n g st ol e n
those s ki n s fro m o u r t raps ,th a t t h e y wil l
S CA MP 337
agree to get o u t o fthese par ts an d n e v er co m e
back ,and t hat t h e I nd ian shows u s wh ere th e
fox is O th er w ise we ll take the m to camp
.
’
and hold t hem p r isoners wh ile o n e of us goes

”
o ut for the sheri ff Tel l h i m t o tell t h e Inj u n
. .
Ale c tu r n ed to Pierre an d spoke rapidl y .
The latte r in terj ec t ed a q uestion n ow an d t he n

an d wh en A lec h a d fi n ish ed m ade a brief
”
r eply . He sa y s , Alec explai n ed , that h e
“ “
agrees ,t hou gh he t hi n ks we o ugh t to l e t th e m

ha v e som e car t rid ges He ad m its th e steal i n g
.
of t he furs ,bu t s t i ll protes t s that h e wasn t i n ’
o n th e fox a ffai r an d wants to k n o w if we l l ’
let h i m go i n c a s e the Inj u n r efuses to c o me

a c ro s s f
’
Tell h i m y es , repl i ed Pat .
This Alec did ,and Pierre at o nc e t urn ed to

t he I n dia n an d addressed h i m i n h is o w n
t ong ue Alec pi cked u p en ough to k no w that
.
Pierre was pu t t i n g the case i n i ts s t ron gest

l igh t and d welli ng on t h e l eng t h of ti me i n
p r ison li kely t o follo w con v i c t ion W h en h e .
fin ish ed t h e In dian t u rned t o Pat .
“
Yo u c o m e , h e sai d s imply ,an d t urned
t ow a rd th e w o ods .
C HA P TE R XIX
S PA R R E R S A V ES THE S K IN
W I TH O UT h es i ta nc y P a t followed t he I n
d ian I t was a qu e e r sigh t ,th e I n d ia n l e a d
.
i n g wi th h i s hands bou n d beh i n d h i m ,a nd

P a t w i t h h is rifl e ac r oss th e h ollo w o f o n e
a r m s tal k i n g gri m ly behi n d h i m Th e y wer e
.
soo n lost t o V i e w an d th e o t h e r s set t led d ow n

to wai t an d specula t e . I t was al most th r e e
qu arters o f a n h o u r l ater th at th ey reap
ea red,an d i t was seen a t on ce th at Pat car
p
r ied a blac k o bj e c t sw in gi n g fro m o n e h a n d
.
As b y o n e i m pul se t h e t hree bo y s rush ed for

w ard to m eet t hem I n th ei r h as t e th ey
.
q ui t e forgot t h at t h ey w ere o n s n ow sh oes ,

-
wi t h th e r esul t that S parre r too k an in glo ri ~
o u s h eade r ,i n th e cou rse of w h i ch b e ups e t
W alte r a n d th e l atter ,l an di n g on t h e t ail o f

o n e o fHal s shoes , sen t h i m sprawl i n g Alec
’
.
r oared an d eve n B i g Pi e r r e pe rm i tted h i m

s el f t o g r i n
.
3 4 9 TH E B OT S CO U TS
n o th in , he m u m bled A nyb od y coul d

.
”
h av e d one i t .
B y th is ti m e th e y h a d r ej o i n ed A lec a n d
P ierre Th e latter s eyes gli ttered as h e ran
.
’
th em appraisin gly ove r th e beau ti fu l blac k

for m o f t h e fox ,th e n darte d a m alevolen t
glan ce i n t h e d ire c tio n o fh is partn er .
What wi l l that s ki n b r i n g ,Al ec ? ask ed

”
Pa t .
Th e trappe r w a s s t udy i n g t h e fox wi th th e

c ri ti cal stare o f th e e x pert “
I di n n a k en,
.
”
Pa t , h e repl ied slo wly Tis a big beast i e ,
.
’
a n d by al l odds the fi n est fur I e v er pu t my

eyes on I t w i ll bri n g
. any wa y ,a n d
m aybe I n e v er though t to l a y m y
h a n ds o n th e li k e s o f i t H e tur n ed an d
.
l oo ke d at S parre r w ith an ex pressio n al most

o f awe
“
Tel l m e ,l addi e ,wh a t is t h e char m
.
y e c ar ry ? said h e .
S pa r re r la u g h ed O i d i d n t e v e n h ave a
“ ’
.
”
r abbi t s foot , h e c on fessed
’ “
S ure ,a n i t
.
’
w a s j u s t th e l uck a v th e O iris h .
”
“
R igh t ,m e so n ! H urray for th e Irish l
c ried Pat Th en wi th a n abrupt chan ge h e
.
onc e m or e be c am e th e leader Alec ,go .

“
th ro u gh th e c lothes o f our m isguided fri e nds

’
MP 34 1
and se e that t h e y h ave n o c a r tr i dges i n thei r

p ockets . Thi s Alec d id ,despite the p r otest s
o f B ig Pier r e W he n he was s ure t hat h e
.
h ad secured al l o f t hese ,th us r en de r i n g th e

gu n s u seless ,he set both prisone r s fr ee ,at
Pa t s order ,an d the y we r e c om ma n ded t o
’
p ac k u p t hei r stu ff an d get r eady to h i t th e

t rail . This they did sull e n ly e n ough , fo r th e y
felt tha t t hey we r e u n der guard ,as in dee d
they we r e Th ei r packs were soo n read y ,fo r
.
besides thei r bla n kets ,a fe w cooki n g u ten si ls

a n d gr u b ,they had l it t le enough The latte r .
i n cl u ded part of the ill gotten dee r m eat

-
.
Wh en they were abou t ready to start B ig

Pi er r e m ade o n e last plea fo r cartridges ,at
least for h i mself Bu t Pat w a s obd u ra t e an d
.
told the m t hat t he y were l ucky to be allo wed

to take thei r gu ns W h en all was ready fo r
.
the trai l th eir k n i v es were retu r n ed to t he m ,

a n d th e French man s axe was given h i m
’
.
The India n s axe Pat retai n ed

’
.
Ye m ay loi k e u t as a bi t a v a so u ven i r av
”
th e l u m p on yer h ead , h e m ur m u red i n a n
a side to S parrer ,though h is real reason was
tha t h e feared what migh t h appen should t h e
t wo o u tlaws be equ ally a r med w hen i t c a me
to t he q u a rr el whic h h e fel t s u re w as b r e win g
bet ween the m .
The y were g i ve n a final warn in g to g e t

wh olly o u t o f th e c o u n tr y an d n eve r sh o w
their faces there aga in o n pai n o f h a v i n g t he
ch arges of poach in g a n d theft brou ght agai n st
t he m Th e bi g Fren ch m a n w a s m a n ifest ly
.
glad eno ugh to get o ff so l ig h tl y , b u t the re

w a s a n u gl y glea m i n th e bl ack e y es o f his
co m pa ni o n S pa r rer h ad l ai d th e fox o n th e
.
s n o w an d d r a w n a fe w steps a way fro m i t th e

b e tt er t o wa t c h p ro cee d i n gs A s th e o u tl aws
.
st ar t ed to hi t t he tra i l to th e n o r th ,th e r ed
s ki n i n t he le a d ,th e l att er s udde n ly sp r an g
towa rd t he fo x ,a t th e same ins ta n t s n a tch in g
h is k n i fe fr o m h is b el t
.
S udde n as w as h i s m ov e S parre r w a s to o
q ui ck fo r h i m He th r us t fo r ward a foot th at
.
t ripped th e I nd ian an d sen t h i m sprawli n g ,

S parrer als o bei n g u pse t . B efore th e I nd ia n
co uld r egai n h is fee t B i g Pi erre w a s o n h i m ,
sen di n g hi s big fi st crash in g ful l i n to th e
s warthy fa c e Th e n wren ch in g th e k n ife
.
fro m h is grasp Pierre fl u n g i t fa r in to th e

brush a n d o n ce more rai sed h is fist B y th is
.
t i m e Pat a n d Ale c h ad j oi n ed the m el ee a nd

w e l l N ow we ll fi n ish o u r j ob h e re a nd get
.
’
b ac k t o c a m p Y o u fel lo ws r ustle u p s o m e
.
bi rch bar k and dry woo d a n d h eap i t u p in

”
s ide th e ca b in .
Wh a t fo r ? d e m a n ded Hal , l o o ki n g blank.
T o fu m i g ate aft er th e pris enc e a v a

s k u n k ,r et or ted Pat w h i msi c al ly .
By m ea n s o f the belt axes o f th e b oys ,sup

l m d b y t h e I n dia n s axe i n th e ha nd s f
’
p e e n t e o
Al e c ,a pi l e o fi n fla m m abl e stu ffwas so on co l

lec ted a n d h eaped u p i n side the ca bi n . Th en
Pat to uch ed a m at c h to th e pil e a nd s oon th e
w ho l e in t er i or was a r oa r i n g fu r n a ce . Th e
bar k r oof q u ickl y bur n ed th r ough a nd fel l
w i th a g r eat h issi n g o f t h e sn ow wh i c h i t car
ried do w n w i th i t ,se n di n g th e spark s an d
e mbers S ky war d i n a golde n clo ud S atis fi ed .
that th e des t ruction of the ca m p wo uld be s u f

fi c ie n t to re n der i t u n in h abi t abl e Pat o r der e d
a l l h a nd s to m ak e ready for th e r etu r n to th ei r
o w n cam p an d th ey w ere soon o n t he trai l .
Th e fi re w a s l eft to bu r n i tsel f o u t ,as n o ha r m

cou l d com e from i t , o wi n g to th e s n o w c o ve r e d
-
s urrou n di n gs .
Hal stil l pu zz le d o ver th e bu rn i n g o f th e

c ab in . I sho u ld th in k y o u w o ul d h a ve
S CA MP 34 5
w a n ted to keep i t ,Pat , h e v en tu r ed at
l e n gth .I t m igh t have c o m e i n h a ndy
“
som e ti m e .
’
Twas too h a n d y altogethe r , a s i t was ,re
to rted Pat W he n you ve d ug a fo x o u t fil l
.
’
u p h i s den A n d w i th this cry pti c r epl y H a l

.
w as fo r ced to be co n ten t .
S parrer ,h avi n g n o ri fle ,in sisted o n carry

in g th e fox ,an h on o r g r an ted h i m w ith o n e
acc ord V ery di fferen t was thei r e n t r a n ce i n t o
.
S m u gglers Hollo w fro m th ei r depart u re i n

’
the small hours of that same day ,a n d the re

w as m uc h j es t i ng and hilarity ,fo r thei r bu o y
a n t spirits h a d rebo u n ded won derfully n o w
that the load o f an xiety an d dread h ad bee n
l ifted Pat an d Alec each carri ed a bu ndle o f
.
furs s u fli cien t i n th emsel v es to r aise thei r

spirits to a high plan e ,for th ese ,added t o
those they al r eady had ,assu r ed the fi nan c ial
s uc cess of thei r partn ershi p .
As they ca m e i n S igh t o f thei r cabi n U pto n

c alled atte n tio n to a th i n vapo r o f s moke ris
in g fro m th e c h i mn ey .
S omebody there ,a s su re as I m a li v e ’
a n d k icki n g , ex c lai m ed Pat Now I w o n “ -

5
.
”
der w ho is payi n g u s a vi sit this ti m e .
As i f i n an s w e r th e doo r ope n ed a n d a bi g
b u r l y fo r m stepped forth .
“
Ji m ! O h , y o u Ji m ! y el le d U pto n d e
ligh tedly .
The big g uide a n d l u mb e r boss ,for i t w as

he ,turn ed i n the ir di r ectio n ,h i s w eathe r
ta n n e d face l ightin g w i t h r eal pleasu re The n .
as the y d re w n earer a com i cal look o fwo nd e r

an d perple x i t y crossed i t He stepped b ac k
.
to th e d oo r an d apparen tl y spoke to so me o n e
inside , fo r a se c o n d la te r a no the r st r app i n g bi g
ma n steppe d o u t .
”
“
Hello ! exc la i m e d P a t That s Bi l l
.
’
Ma r sh ma n ,th e ga me w ar d e n an d d ep u t y
s h eriff , w ho w a s l ooki n g for Al e c last fall ,and
! cared away th e bear the day w e left Plympto n
' 0 t ak e care o fcam p . I t s l ucky fo r those two
’
”
rh a s back th e r e , n oddi ng i n th e direc t io n
p
f ro m w h ich th e y had co m e , t hat B i ll d id n t ’
get h ere a da y soon er Th e y w o ul dn t hav e

.
’
got o ff so easy .
By thi s ti m e th e party h a d approa c he d

w ith i n easy tal ki n g di s t an ce o fth e m en at t h e
c abi n ,w h o were s t ari n g at th em i n d u mb
ama z eme n t . Pat ch u ckled .
“
Hel lo ,Ji m ! Hell o ,B ill ! h e cal l ed .
stil l c l un g to h is p ri z e , and as h e ca m e fo rwar d
t o sh ake h an ds J i m a n d the warden se n sed
fo r th e fi r st ti m e wh at i t was h e w a s c arry i n g .
By gu m e x clai me d Ji m . I be l iev e
t ha t s th e ve ry fe llo w I was tel li n g y o u abo u t ,
’
B ill S a w h i m the last ti m e I w a s ove r h e re

. .
D i d y o u t ra p h i m ,P a t,or is h e p ar t o f t he
s p oi ls o fwar ?
Wr o n g b o t h way s ,J i m , re p lied P a t .
H e w as th e caus e o f t hi s l i tt le e x peditio n .
C om e on i n a n d w h i l e we are rus t ling u p

”
som e g ru b we l l tel l y o u th e yar n
’
.
Ji m a n d th e wa rd e n l iste n ed w ith g r ow in g
i n t eres t an d app reciati on w hi l e Pat u n folded
th e sto ry Whe n i t en ded th e warde n gravel y
.
a rose a n d w al ke d ove r to S parre r S h ak e

“
.
”
h a nd s o v er agai n ,son , sai d h e ,to th e bo y s ’
great c on fusio n . I f I h ad h a d to s i t still an d

wat c h a fortu n e tr o t a rou n d th e wa y y o u d id
I s ure wou l d h a v e bee n so pl u m b sh ak y that
I d h ave m isse d th e sh ot wh e n th e ti m e c ame
’
.
Wh at a r e yo u goi n g to do w i th h i m now th a t
”
y ou ’
ve got h im ?
Th u s d id th e w a r d e n bri n g to a he a d a
q u e s t i o n th at h a d been tro u bl i n g th e b oy
’
e ve r sinc e th e fo x w a s r e c overed H e ai n t
“
.
’
MP 34 9
”
m i ne ,h e gu l ped O i lost h i m ,an d wou ld n t ’
.
n e v er seen h i m agai n i f i t h ad n t been fer ’
”
d em . He n odded i n the directio n of Pat an d
Alec . He s thei rs ,
’
an dey ai n t n o use tal ki n
’ ’ ’
a bout i t . S pa rr er set h is lips fi r m ly .
I n a n i nstan t Pat a n d Ale c were o n th ei r

feet ,p r otestin g th a t su ch tal k was foolish n ess ,
an d that t h e pri z e belo n ged to S pa r re r a nd
n o o n e else B ut t h e bo y s hoo k h is head
.
stu bbornly .
“
S eems to m e , d r awl ed the wa r de n w he n
h e c ou ld make h i msel f h eard , that this here
“
is a case fo r a d isi nte r ested party to d e c ide .
No w i f yo u was to ask me I sho ul d sa y that

a n even spl i t ,fi fty fi fty ,i s th e fai r thi n g
-
.
This h ere you ng t enderfoot comes u p h ere

w i th ho r seshoes o r rabbi t s feet or som e othe r
’
-
l uck ch arms h u n g all o v er h i m a n d w i thou t

n o h elp fro m a n y o n e bags a fortu n e w hi ch
h e fi nds r un n in g arou n d loose R i gh t up to .
that poi n t i t s h isn and n obody else ai n t g o t n o

’ ’
c lai m o n i t Then h e loses i t and ai n t got n o

.
’
mor e ch an ce of ge tt i n i t back hi msel f than a

’
bul l m oose h as of gro wi n g a lon g tail U p .
steps Pat an d A lec an d friendly l i ke d oe s fo r

h im what h e c an t do for h i mself, an get s t he
’ ’
p r ize ba c k No w i t se em s to m e th at h al f
.
o u gh t to go to th is h ere yo u n g fel le r fer getti n ’
i t i n th e fi r st place ,an d h alf to th e o t h e r two

fe r get t i n i t back a fte r i t w a s l ost W h at d o
’
.
”
o u say , J i m ?
y
“
Th e o n l y fai r t hing , d e c la red J im j u
dic ia lly .
“
Th e re s enough i n i t t o g i v e em
’ ’
”
a ll a c o m fta b le bi t
’
.
A wa r m d is c ussio n fol l o wed in which H al

an d U pton sided w ith th e war d e n and Ji m
an d it en ded on l y w h en S pa rr e r a t l ast agr e e d
to a th r ee wa y spl i t Fro m th is stan d n o
-
.
a m ou n t o f argu men t could m o v e h i m He .
wo ul d tak e a th i r d sh ar e i f Pat a n d Alec

w ould ea c h tak e a th ird O t herw i se h e .
wouldn t take a ny A n d s o i t w a s fi n al l y
’
.
a g reed .
Th e ski n n i n g and st r et chi n g o f t he hid e

wa s l eft to Alec ,w h o w a s a past m aste r i n t h e
a r t Wh il e h e w a s th u s en gaged the wa rd e n
.
mys te ri o u sl y becko n ed Pat to o n e si d e .
P a t ,w h ose are th ese ? h e aske d gravel y ,

dra w in g a bu n ch o ftraps fro m u n der a bu n k .
Pat r e a ch ed fo r them a nd exam i n ed th e m

cu riou sly . Mi n e That i s ,
. m i n e a n d Alec s ; ’
those a re our ma rks ,h e r epl i e d ,poi n ti n g to

in
’
a bo u t th at fox I d c lea n fo r gotte n abo u t
’
”
the bea v er Poor l i tt le c h ap
. Pat stroke d
.
th e body of th e beave r .
Alec was n o w called i n , an d h i s look o fb la n k

aston ish me n t w hen h e saw th e traps an d th e
d ead an i mal was all th at w a s n eeded to c o n
vi n c e the warde n that Pat w a s r igh t in his
s u r m ise .
That eve n i n g Ji m exp l a ined his v i s i t by

stati n g that h e h a d al l alo n g p l a n n ed to get
ove r t o th e Hollo w before the b oy s left .
Whe n th e w arden dropped i n to h is c a m p ea r l y

that m o rn i n g an d s t ated h is i n te n tio n o fgoi n g
o n to t h e Hol lo w J i m de c ided that h e wo uld
accom pa n y h i m .
Ho w are y o u boys goi n g back ? h e aske d .
Th e sa m e w a y w e c am e in ,I s u ppos e , ”
r epl i ed Upt on .
W h at s t h e m atter w i th pu tt i n g i n a da y
’
w i th m e an d seei n g h o w a loggi n g camp i s

ru n ? The n I l l sen d y o u o u t to th e rai lroa d
’
”
o n a l u m be r wagon , suggested t h e bi g l u m be r
b oss .
Th e id e a appeal ed to th e bo y s ,a n d i t w a s
fin al ly ag r eed that the y wo ul d acco m pa ny
hi m to his cam p th e n ext d a y It w o ul d g i v e
.
S CA MP 3 53
the m a n e w ex pe r ie n ce fo r w h i c h the y we re
eage r ,an d at the same ti m e el i m i n ate th e lo n g
h i ke ba c k to Lowe r C h ai n S o ,n ot wi tho ut
.
si nc e r e r eg r et ,i t m u st be ad m i tted ,th ey got

th eir du ffl e togethe r preparatory to an earl y
sta r t the n e xt morn i ng fo r t h e fi ft ee n m il e
h i ke to Ji m s h eadqu arters They t urne d i n
’
.
early ,for n ow that the ex c i t eme n t w a s ove r

the y fel t t h e r eactio n fro m th e lo n g strai n
the y h ad been u nder ,an d t h e loss o fsleep the
n i gh t before Ji m an d t h e warde n bu n ked
.
on the floo r an d the cabi n i n S m ugglers ’
Hollo w was soo n w r appe d i n si len c e sa v e for

t he ge n tl e b re athi ng of t he sleepers S o ended
.
a r e d le tt er day fo r a t l e a st th re e o f t he o c
c u pa nts .
CHAP TE R ! !
THE B LA C K F O! I S SOLD
THE day in th e lu m be r c a m p was all to o

sho r t for a l l o f th e bo y s ,bu t e sp ecia lly fo r
S pa rrer ,t o w ho m the cu tti n g o f th e g re at
trees and th e h a u li n g of th e l og s and pil i n g
o f the m o n th e r oll wa y s o n th e ba n k s o ft h e
r i ver r ea dy fo r b r eaki ng ou t o n t he h ig h
wate r of t h e sp r i n g wa s o f a bso r bi n g i n t er est
.
Hal a n d U pto n w e r e fa m ilia r w i th loggi ng o p

e ra tio n s , havi n g vis i te d loggi n g c a m ps m a ny
ti m es d u ri ng the ir s u m mers i n th e w o o ds .
Th e o nly n ovelt y t o them la y in th e c ha n g ed

setti n g o fth e s c e n es p ro d uc e d by th e s now .
S par r e r was o f j ust t he t y pe to wi n i m me

d iate favo r w i th th e r o u gh ,b ig hear t ed l u m
-
be r jacks ,
-
a n d th e y m ade h i m feel a t ho me a t
o nce The y vie d w ith o ne ano th er in sh ow
.
in g hi m t h in gs o fi n te r e s t ,and his commen ts ,

co l o r e d wi t h th e sl a n g o f t he c i t y s t ree ts ,a f
forde d th em n o e nd o f am u s emen t S o i t .
w a s w i t h regre t o n all s ides t ha t a t br e a k o f

“
I t m akes a fe l l er fe e l l i ttle , sa id he ,
li k e h e ai n t n o th i n a t a ll ,
’
a n d y et dat in
’
s i de a v h i m i s s o m ethin bigger n th is He ’ ’
s w ung o n e h a n d aro u n d i n a n all i n cl u s i v e

s weep . A n i t m akes h i m feel c lea n i n si d e ,
’
j u st l i ke i t i s o utsid e , a n li ke h e d g o t to do
’ ’
big th i n gs an l i tt le m ea n th i n gs h ad n t got
’ ’
no p la c e A n a n . S parr e r was g r opi n g

’
-
’
-
fo r w o r d s to m ak e h is m ea n i n g clea r it
gi ves a felle r a fu nny feelin d a t he a in t ’ ’
m u c h a nd y et d at so me w a y h e s b igger n d e ’ ’
m o u n t n s ,a n i f dey i s a mi ll io n y ea r s o ld
’ ’
l i k e people sa y ,he s goi n te r l ast a lot l on g e r

’ ’
.
B ei n o ut he r e m akes m e fe e l j ust l i k e Oi do
’
w he n O i go i n to de c h u r ch a n d e s u n c o m e s ’
t r e w de m colo r e d wi n ders and d e o r ga n pl ays

an li ft s a fell er r i gh t u p ti l h e feels l ik e he
’ ’
h a d w i n gs a n c o u l d fl y if h e on l y k new how
’
”
t er use em ’
.
S pa rr e r stopped abruptl y and g a ze d w it h

un see in g eyes o f f th r ou gh th e fo r est a isle s .
P a t looke d ove r at th e y o u n gste r w it h th e

l igh t o fu nd e r sta n di n g i n his e y es .
”
“
R i gh t ,so n , said h e “
I k n ow t h e fee l~ .
in g . T hi s i s t h e g r eat cath edral t h a t God h as

b u i lt fo r H im sel f and the li t t l e n ess w e f ee l is
I N A TR A P P E R S CA
’
MP 3 57
be c a u se o f His o w n presen c e ,a nd th e s e n s e
of bei ng grea t er t han al l t h is ,th e mo u n tai n s ,
t he lakes an d t h e ri v ers ,i s ,I recko n , beca use
He m ak es us fe e l t ha t i f He made all thes e
th i ngs to las t t hro ugh m illions o f y ea r s He
is n t goi n g t o le t His grea t es t work ,ma n ,pe r
’
ish i n the li t tle bi t o f ti me that m akes a

m a n s l ife t i me
’
.
Th e hell o n th e h orse ti n kled ,th e runn e rs

sl it h e r ed over the snow an d n o furthe r w o r d
w a s spoke n un ti l the drive r cried , Yo n der s ’
the c lea rin ’

. I r ecko n y o u felle r s hev go t
j ust abo u t ti m e en o ugh to loo k th e to w n
”
o ve r befo r e the t r ai n c o mes .
A n h our late r farewells were said ,a nd th e

th r ee boys stood o n the rea r pla t form of t h e
Pu ll m a n wavi n g to Pat as t h e trai n pull ed
o ut . Fo r so m e ti m e aft e r t h e straigh t for m
o f the b ra w ny you n g trapper a n d t h e di ngy
depot of th e l ittle v illage h ad faded fro m vie w

th e b oys sto o d watchin g t h e pan orama of
fro ze n wi l d e rn ess Then ,r el u c t an t ly i t m u st
.
be c o n fessed , the y tu r n ed to th e war m th and

l u x u ry o fth e car .
Say , h as n t i t bee n gr eat ? ex c la i me d Ha l

’
a s he dropped i n t o h i s s e a t .
“
G re at does n t e x pr ess it at all ,de c la r e d U p
’
”
t on . I t beats even th e h u n t fo r Lost T r a il .
As fo r S pa r re r , h e sai d no th i n g at a ll ,bu t
gl ue d h i s fa c e to th e w i ndo w that h e m igh t
dr i n k i n as lo n g as he c o u l d t h e bea u t y
o f this la nd o f e n cha n tme n t ,w h e r e th e tes t
o f a m a n w a s h is abil i t y to c o n ten d s u cc ess
full y w i th th e forces o f n atu re a nd to l i ve

w i t hi n th e l a w w h e n be y o nd th e w atch fu l
ey es o f th e la w ; this l a n d wh er e a m a n was
gauge d b y h is m o r al stre n gth n o less tha n b y
h i s ph y si c a l st r engt h Th ese two w eeks i n th e
.
h eart o fth e w i l de rn ess h a d wro u g h t a c h a n ge

i n th e l ad s w hole atti tude towa r d l ife His
’
.
i n heren t l ov e o f battle fo r ba t t l e s sake h a d

’
bee n gi ve n a n e w tu rn His o ld a m bitio n s to

.
b e a soldie r o r a p r ize figh ter we r e forgotte n

-
—
i n a n ew am bi t i o n to be a woodsm a n to pit
h is st r e n gth an d c o u rage a n d ski ll agai n st th e
ele m e n tal fo rc es o f Nature i n stead o f a gai n st
his fello w s I n s h o r t ,S parre r h ad r esol ved
.
th at so me day h e w o ul d sh ake th e d ust o f th e

c i t y fro m h is feet fore v er H e wo uld beco m e
.
a guide an d l u m ber boss li k e B i g Ji m An d s o .
h e watched th e fl y i n g la n dscape an d d r e am ed
dr ea m s , an d the y w e r e w holes ome .
6 TH E B O! S C O U TS
!
0
3
exclai me d : W e v e got to h av e that sk i n ,
’
m y b oy As a pie c e o f fur i t is wo rt h as m uch

.
to m e as i t is to any on e else Fo r se n ti m e n tal

.
r easo n s i t is w orth m ore to m e th a n i t i s to

any o n e else I do n t bel i e ve i n m ixi n g se n ti
.
’
m e n t with busi n ess ,my boy ,b ut th e r e are e x

cep tio n s t o al l r ules Th is i s o n e B esi d e s ,
. .
I o we that y o u n g Irish m a n u p th er e i n th e
wo o d s m o r e than m o n e y c a n r epa y fo r wha t
h e h as do n e i n h elpi ng to m ak e y ou wh at
y o u are to da y Yo u h a ve h i m w ir e the best
-
.
pri ce h e c a n get ,an d I l l go i t o n e bett er

’
.
A n d b y t h e w a y ,y o u m igh t suggest to th a t
y o u n gste r w h o sh o t th e beast that w he n h e
gets hi s share o f th e m o n ey I ll be glad to ’
i n vest i t fo r h i m w h e re it w i ll e arn m o re tha n

”
i t w ill in a ban k .
A nd th is i s h o w i t h appe n ed th at Pat ,Ale c

a n d S parre r wi th eigh t h u n d red d ollars api ece
experi enced for th e first ti m e t h at se n s e o f in
d epen de nc e a n d power wh ich co m es w i th th e
.
possessi o n o f weal th ,for n o t e v en Mr Harri .
so n wi th h is m illion s fel t r i ch er t h a n t h ey .
To Al e c i t m ean t th e realizatio n o fa ch erished

d r ea m wh ich i nc l uded the o w n ersh ip o fa ce r
t a i n ti ny fa rm To Pa t i t m ea n t th e ed uc a
.
~
S CA MP 3 6 1
tio n h e had set his h ea r t u po n W h ile to

.
S par r e r i t mean t a better hom e , a lift i ng of

some of t he load fro m h is mo t h e r s sho u lders ,
’
a n d a fur t her sti m u la t in g o fa n alread y awak

e n ed am bi tion to gai n for h i mself a sh are i n
th e highe r an d be t te r thi n gs of life .
O f co ur s e wh e n th e s t or y was tol d t o th e
B l ue Tortoise Pa t rol S parre r was m o re pOp u
la r t han ever He w a s li tt l e sho r t o f a he ro
.
i n t he e y es of h is compan ion s ,t he m o r e so b e
c aus e Up t o n was at pai ns to poi n t o u t that th e
'
boy s good for t un e w a s r eally d ue to h is a d

b eren c s t o th e S cou t prin ciples w h i ch h e had
embraced ,an d to the moral vi c tory w hich h e
had gai ned through loyalt y to t h e S co ut oa t h
i n the fa c e o f the hardest ki nd of t empta t io n
—the te m ptatio n whe n t here is n o n e to see
ei the r vi cto r y o r defeat
.
A few weeks later the damage s u it gro wi n g

o u t of the auto mobi le a c ciden t i n B ron x Park
was t r ied an d th e B l u e Tortoi ses were c alled

as wi t nesses . O nce more S pa r rer d i s t i n
g u is h e d h i mself , u n h esi tati n gly picki n g o ut
fro m a grou p o f m e n th e o n e whose face h e
had seen fo r j u s t a fleetin g m om en t i n the big
ca r racing aw a y from th e sce n e o f the ac c i
d e n t S o p o sit i ve w as h i s i de n ti fi catio n t ha t
.
th e de fe n se ,w h ich was based o n t h e c l a im

that th e c a r h ad be e n take n w i t h o u t th e
o wn e r s k n o w ledge ,c ru m bled t h e n an d the re ,
’
fo r the m a n w ho S pa rr er i de n t i fied w a s n o n e
o th e r tha n th e o w n e r h i m self .
As fo r U pto n ,h e re t u r n e d t o hi s st udie s
w i th r e n ewed v i m an d d eter m i n atio n w h i ch
i n d ue ti m e bro ught i t s rew a r d — th e s c ho l ar
s hi p on whi ch h e had s e t his h ear t .
O n m y h o n o r I w ill d o my be s t
To do m y du ty t o G o d an d m y coun t ry
a nd to obey t h e S c o u t law ;
To h el p o t he r people at all ti mes
To k eep my self ph y s ic a l ly s tr o n g ,m e n
”
tall y awak e ,a n d m o r all y s t r aight .
Wel l m i gh t th e m e n o f to day as w el l as th e -
m e n of to morrow s u bs c ri be to th is oath o f th e
-
B o y S cou t s of A m eri c a ,
w h eth er t h ei r lo t i n l ife
be cast i n th e tu r moil o f th e g r eat c it y or th e
loneliness of a t r appe r s cam p ’
.
Th e S t o rie s in t h is S e rie s a re t
THE B OY S C O UTS O F W OO DC R A FT CAMP
THE B OY S C O UTS O N S WI FT R I V E R
T HE B OY S C O UT S O N LO S T T R A I L
THE B OY S COUTS IN A T RA PPER S CA M P ’

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HE SA W S O M E T H I NG M OV E

To t hose who ha v e r ea d t he p re cedi n g

W oodcra ft C amp , Th e B o y S co uts on S wi ft

in W h os e st r ugg l e s an d adve n t ures I ha v e

I n t h i s ,th e fou r th a n d co ncl ud i ng v ol u me ,

fo r ti t ud e aga in st t h e fo rc e s of Nat ure i n h er

see as i n th e mids t o f h i s fe l l o w m e n ; and

ve n t ures suc h a s h e r e i n d es cr ibe d m a y no t

th at w hen eve r y o u h ee d t h e cal l of th e R ed

I m gla d that v aca ti on is only o ne week

of f ,he m u rm u r ed .S c h o o l is al l r i ght ,an d

school d ays e n d fo r go od J ust the sa me ,

do n t see ho w I c a n go to c ollege n ext ye ar

P o o r Old Dad i Th a t sl u m p i n sto c ks p r ett y

o f th i s schola r sh i p wh e n h e t ried t o tel l m e

good t o s e e the s h ine i n h is e y es w h e n I told

He s a gre at Old sc o u t ,an d I m goi n g t o g e t i t

n ow i f fo r n o t hi ng more tha n to se e that s h i ne

g r in d l W onder h ow i t wou ld see m t o g O t o

bo t her Ha l any W onder if h e is coming

I dly W al t er allowed hi s eyes t o wander o v er

ﬁ l led b oo k ca ses Th e w all s were c ove r e d

w i th ph o to gra phs Ne arly al l O f the m were

tak in g , fo r h e was an e x pe r t with the c a mera .

A n u m b er w e re e n l a r ge m e n ts n eatl y fra med .

A mon g th e se w as the fam ous ﬂashligh t m a d e

There ,too ,were the splen d id portraits (they

Th er e wer e st udies Of d e er a nd o t her w i ld

boxi n g gloves C rossed abov e o n e wi n do w

w e r e a pai r Of s n o w sh oes ,w h ile above th e

othe r wi ndow were a pai r Of fen ci n g foil s I n .

o n e corn er ,ea c h i n i ts case , were tw o ﬁs hing

Oppos i te cor n e r lean ed a S co u t sta ff a nd a

S everal s m all sil ve r c ups o n th e boo k cases

Th e b ooks on the shel ves w ere what o n e m igh t

bo oks w hi c h attested to th e o w ner s l ove o f ’

th e great o ut d oo r worl d B u t t he se were n ot

an d an oth e r to selectio n s fr o m s ta nd ard

A l to g eth er ,it w a s a roo m s uch as a kee n,

rig h t now , a nd I ll b e t he doesn t en v y me a

S w i ft ly h i s th ough t s re v er t ed t o his ﬁrs t

p air o f fr a n k e yes ,k in dly b u t ke en ,looked

h an dso me fa c e a n d th e beauty lay ,n o t i n

I t was th e fa c e of Hal Ha r r i s on ,son of a

b r anc e o f Hal that h ad c ause d th e abr u pt

for th e poo r ,ro u gh ,tough yo u n g b u l l y o fth e

th e so c ial strata it h ad brough t th ese t w o t o

disco v ere d to th e yo u n g sa v age ,fo r P a t w as

had stri ppe d fro m Hal ,th e cad ,the ve n e er Of

c omr a des an d b r oth er S c o u ts ,bu t al mos t a s

H e t r ie d to pi c tu r e w hat the futur e m i gh t

Hal w ould be a captai n o fi nd ust ry It c oul d .

h a rdly b e oth erwis e He wou ld i n heri t vast

we a l th He wou l d i n ti m e take c h arge Of

th e gr eat en terpr i ses wh i ch h is fathe r ha d

Wo uld h e s u cceed ? R em e m be rin g wh at Pat

could n ot see h i s o w n c aree r wi t h a li ke clear

t he hall W i th a start W alte r c a m e ba c k t o

th e c al l Pi c k i n g up the r e cei ve r he c al led ,

Th en o v e r th e w ire came a ric h b r ogu e th a t

Hello ,Mis th er Lea d er I h ave to re

rrt the dis c ove ry av th e c i ty av N 0 0 Y o r r k

an d the losi n g av m es ilfen to irely .