Boy Scouts: Tenderfoot Squad; or, Camping at Raccoon Lodge

by Burt L. Standish

  CHAPTER XII

  SCOTCH BLOOD

  AMONG other things, Lil Artha had seen to it that a pot of coffee wasmade ready just before he scattered the fire, and put out the lastember. This would keep warm for a long time, and they could manage tomake out a supper with some of the things that would not need cooking.

  With a rush and a roar the storm burst upon them. Wildly did the stouttent sway as the wind broke against it. Rufus understood speedily enoughwhy the scout comrades who had had experience went to so much extrapains to fasten it so securely. There were lots of times when, despiteall the precautions, he feared the canvas could never hold out againstthat terrible wind that made playthings of forest monarchs, and seemedcapable of sweeping everything from its path.

  Never, so long as they lived, would the two tenderfoot scouts forgetthat night; it would always be marked with a white stone in their minds,such were the tortures they endured. Often Rufus would half squirm tohis knees, his face turned pale with apprehension, as he clutched thesleeve of Elmer or Lil Artha's coat, in deadly fear that the worst wasabout to happen.

  The rain descended in torrents, and the lightning flashed in a way tofairly cause them to shut their blinded eyes; while terrific bursts ofthunder rocked the ground and made them think a salvo from the heaviestguns known to modern warfare was being fired.

  So the time dragged wearily along, hour after hour. No one dreamed oftrying to snatch a wink of sleep while this din was going on. They satthere, glad to know that, thanks to the admirable way in which the heavycanvas had been waterproofed, and the addition of a fly over the tent,they were able to keep the rain out. Of course a small amount did seepunder certain portions of the tent, despite all their precautions, andthe drain that had been dug above to carry the flood off; but they wereable to keep pretty dry, all things considered.

  With the storm came a cool air that chilled them to the bone. They had acouple of lanterns, one of which was kept lighted all the time, and thisenabled them to see what was going on. Lil Artha set a good example,after night came on, by wrapping his warm blanket about his shoulders,as he sat there Indian fashion. Rufus was indeed glad to copy thisexample, and found it well worth while for the additional comfort hesecured thereby; and in the end all of them did the same thing.

  Every now and then they heard awe-inspiring sounds that Lil Artha toldthe tenderfeet were produced by falling trees. Each crash gave Rufuscause for a fresh shiver; he could not help thinking of what he hadproposed concerning their being likely to find more safety if they tookup their station under the forest growth. He was glad now in every atomof his being that those more experienced scouts had frowned down uponsuch a silly proposition.

  Along about midnight, however, Elmer discovered positive signs that theworst was over. His announcement brought a feeling of relief to Rufusand Alec; indeed, even Lil Artha was heard to give expression to hisgratitude. George, however, grumbled, as was his habit of old.

  "Tough luck, that's what I call it, fellows," he went on, as thoughwholly disgusted with the freaks of the weather. "Why couldn't this oldstorm have held off till we got back home again? What business did ithave coming down on us right in the midst of our camping? Why, wehaven't begun to enjoy ourselves much yet; it's been all work so far;and now everything's going to be soaking wet, the mud'll bother us, andlike as not a second rain'll follow the first. Things pretty nearlyalways do happen in threes, you notice."

  "Oh! well, we're all alive, George, for one thing," Lil Artha told thegrumbler. "And we've still got heaps and heaps of good stuff to eatalong. Things might have been a whole lot worse than this, let me tellyou."

  "Huh! I can't just see that," continued the other, though in a faintertone, as if really half ashamed of his complaining manner; which hadbecome second nature with George, so that he often spoke in that waywithout thinking how badly it sounded.

  "If only this terrible storm will stop, all would be forgiven," saidRufus. "We may get a few winks of sleep yet before dawn comes. And Iguess the ground will dry up pretty well by noon. Besides, I'm donecreeping through the woods and among the thickets, trying to followthose slashes made by the fake surveyors. We can lie around camp here,until it's fit to go abroad."

  "Spoken like a true scout, Rufus," Elmer told him, encouragingly."That's what a fellow ought to learn the first thing after he dons thekhaki--that things are never so bad but what they might be worse. Georgehere never did learn his lesson in the right way, more's the pity. Ifyou keep on, Rufus, you'll be a better specimen of a true scout thanGeorge is today, with all his experience."

  George did not say anything, but Elmer hoped the seed might have fallenon fallow ground, so that it would take root and grow; for there weretimes when, like most of the other fellows in the Hickory Ridge Troop,he did get mightily tired of hearing the remarks of a natural-born"croaker," as Lil Artha called the other.

  But Elmer was right when he said the backbone of the storm had beenbroken. Inside of another half hour even Rufus was fain to admit thatthe thunder had lost considerable of its fierceness, while even theflashes of lightning came less frequently, nor were they so vivid asbefore.

  "The rain has stopped, fellows!" announced Lil Artha, as he sidled alongover to one side of the tent, and cautiously began to undo the securelyfastened flap; after which he thrust his head out so as to take anobservation.

  When he drew back again the others eagerly awaited his report.

  "Why, the clouds are breaking, and I even saw a star right overhead,"announced the tall member of the little party, enthusiastically; "whichproves that the end of the concert is close by. That last thunder-clapwas some distance away. Guess we may be getting a little snooze insideof another half hour. For one I'm going to hunt out a dry place and makeready."

  There was considerable of a scurry on the part of everybody, with thisend in view. Rufus was heard to wish most ardently that he had stillanother blanket to huddle under, for that night air, after the violentbattle of the elements, seemed to be very chilly and piercing, sincethey could not enjoy the luxury of a fire.

  Nevertheless, in spite of all this, when another hour had crept alongall of the boys were sound asleep. No longer did the harsh voice of thethunder disturb them; and the fitful glow of lightning came from faroff. The lantern had been extinguished, for they might need what smallallowance of kerosene they had fetched along with them; and thereforedarkness reigned within the sheltering tent.

  They had some hours of sleep before morning found them stirring. Therewas more or less disinclination to be the first out, but Lil Arthaproved to be the martyr and presently the crackle of a fire temptedRufus and Alec forth; while even that sly old fox, George, opened oneeye, and began to sniff the air, as though he fancied he had gotten thefirst whiff of sweet bacon frying in the pan.

  Elmer had been close upon the heels of Lil Artha, of course, and betweenthe two of them some of the ravages of the storm in the camp had beenrepaired long before the rest put in an appearance.

  A warm and bountiful breakfast seemed to put new animation in them all.Even that born grumbler, George, admitted the sun did shine "fairlywell," and that coffee, bacon and flapjacks with syrup, all servedlavishly as regarded quantity, made life worth living again.

  "I don't believe I was ever so hungry as this morning," Rufus candidlydeclared, as he gulped down his third cup of coffee, and eyed the lastflapjack as if tempted to gorge himself, though already as full asprudence dictated.

  "That's because so far in life you've lived on Easy Street," Lil Arthatold him, "and never have known what it meant to miss a single meal.Some of us have gone a day without a bite, and we know how it goes on anempty stomach. I warrant you right now some woods animals are feelingthat way too, because they couldn't get around last night as usual."

  It was strange that this casual remark on the part of Lil Artha shouldbe fully confirmed before a great while had passed, and in a mostconvincing fashion.

  Alec chanced to be the one fated to bring the thing about. None of
themmeant to wander away from camp until noon had come, and the warm sun hadhad a chance to dry things out; but being a little restless, and,moreover, inspired with a desire to ascertain if any of those ill-fatedtrees had fallen close to the camp, he picked up a heavy walking stickand stepped out.

  "Be sure you don't go farther than you can hear Lil Artha chopping withthe ax," cautioned Elmer, seeing him about to take a stroll; "and if youfail to catch any sound, or need help, just give a whoop. We'll answerright away."

  "Hoot, mon," said the Scotch lad, a bit sarcastically, "d'ye ken I'vecut me eye-teeth the while as a scout? I'm observing all aboot me, andI find it mair interesting than I ever believed could be possible. I'mo'er glad now I made up my mind to join the troop. Now I'll gang awa'and be verra careful. And if some fearsome beastie jumps up in front o'me ye'll hear me shout at the tap o' my voice."

  He went away, still laughing, as though he thought it a good joke. LilArtha continued to ply his ax industriously, meaning to lay by a goodstore of firewood while at the job; though Elmer warned him that taskshould really fall to the greenhorns, since neither of them seemed to bemuch of a cook, and it was only fair the various duties about the campshould be impartially shared alike by all the party.

  Hardly had ten minutes passed when the four by the fire heard a shout.Elmer instantly answered it, thinking, of course, that as Lil Artha haddropped his ax Alec wanted some sound to serve as a guide to locatingthe camp. To the astonishment, and also consternation of the others,they heard the Scotch lad calling:

  "Here's a hungry cat facing me, and growling like everything. Aye, buthe's wild to get at me, and I don't know just what a braw scout shoulddo under the circumstances. Shall I gi'e the gillie a rap o'er the headwi' me stick; or beat a retreat like a wise general? I'm no' so takenwi' his looks I confess that I'm wishin' to make his furtheracquaintance. Hey; ye would bite me, eh? Tak' that, then, and learnbetter manners!"

  Elmer snatched up another stick, while Lil Artha darted over to the tentand immediately reappeared bearing his trusty Marlin. They knew what itmeant to be attacked by an angry bobcat, even if it was far in themorning, and these animals usually hide during the better part of theday, preferring the shades of night for their prowling.

  Even as the pair started toward the spot, followed in turn by George andRufus, as soon as the others could manage to find some sort of crudeweapon, they heard a most terrific crashing going on. There were alsoshort cries, now of pain and again of momentary triumph, to tell howAlec was progressing in his task of beating off the savage attack of thehungry wildcat.

  There was no trouble in locating the spot where all this disturbance wastaking place; the scuffling of Alec's feet, his jerky cries, and now andthen a plainly heard snarl from the enraged cat led them as truly as themagnetic needle of the mariner's compass points out the North Star.

  When they finally came in sight of the little woods drama they werethrilled to see how the brave Scotch lad managed to keep his four-footedenemy at bay by means of his clever strokes with his stick. Even as theylooked he gave the beast a good blow upon the head that rolled it over;but instantly the cat was on its feet once more, and leaping at him.The performance was repeated, with the same result; but in case Alecfailed in his stroke, he stood a good chance of having the animal landon his breast, when its claws and teeth would do terrible damage.

  "Get the beast, Lil Artha!" cried Elmer, seeing that even their burstingon the scene did not appear to intimidate the enraged feline adversarythat Alec was battling with.

  He had hardly given the word than a report sounded. Lil Artha had oncebeen quite a smart hunter, though of late his ambition to excel alongthose lines had waned. On this occasion his aim was particularly true,for the cat was seen to be writhing on the ground, as though fatallyinjured. Lil Artha immediately ran up and dispatched the dying beastwith several blows from a stone; for although a hunter by instinct, LilArtha could not be cruel and see anything needlessly suffer.

  "I sure hated to have to do it the worst kind," he told Elmer, as helooked down at the now quiet beast, ferocious even in death, "because Ireckon now she's got kits somewhere near by, which was what made her actso savage like. She smelled the food in camp, and was sneaking around inhopes of stealing something, when Alec, he chanced to run across her,and I guess waved his stick in a way she didn't just like. But I had toshoot her, and you thought the same, Elmer, you know."

  "Yes, it couldn't be helped," the scout-master told him, "and besides, afellow need hardly ever be ashamed of making way with a wildcat, becausethey are mighty destructive to all game. Why, this one beast would, inthe course of a year, devour more young partridges, quail, rabbits andsquirrels than half a dozen human hunters. And besides, I was afraid shemight get inside Alec's guard, though he did swing that stick of his ingreat fashion."

  "A few scratches is all the beastie managed to gi'e me," admitted thestill panting Alec, and then, as he looked down on his now quietadversary, he shook his head, continuing: "faith I tauld ye to takyersil' awa' and leave me alone, but ye knew best. I'm awfu' sorry yehad to be kilt, but it was no fault o' mine."

  Elmer and Lil Artha exchanged satisfied glances. They both felt that fora tenderfoot, Alec had proven a credit to the troop, and this wasencouraging. After all, this outing seemed bound to be the making of acouple of embryo scouts; it would bring out whatever good qualities theypossessed, and show what sort of foundation there might be for theirimmediate future.

  "Come back to camp with me right away, Alec," Elmer told the other, whowas still curiously examining the dead cat, especially interested inits savage looking claws and the cruel teeth that were exposed in thesnarl that death had set upon its face. "I want to take a look at thosesame little scratches you mention. They may appear harmless enough, butmany a fine hunter has died from such simple things."

  Of course Alec was astounded. He stared hard at his hands, and shook hishead in a skeptical way.

  "I ha'e nae doot but that ye knaw best, Elmer," he finally said, "butwould ye tell me the noo how such a wee bit o' scratches could mean somuch?"

  "Blood poisoning is apt to set in," explained the other, readily enough,as he locked arms with the Scotch lad and hurried him off toward thecamp. "You see, carnivorous animals that live upon the flesh of theirprey are apt to have their claws contaminated. Even a slight abrasioncaused by those claws is impregnated with just so much danger. Nothingmight come of it; but scouts believe in taking as little chances aspossible. I've got a phial of permanganate of potash along for just suchpurposes, and we'll daub some of it on. You'll resemble a wild Indianwith the splotches, for it stains a deep purple, but safety first beforelooks."

  Indeed, Alec did look rather odd after his several slight injuries hadbeen duly attended to, for Elmer did not spare the "painting."

  "I wish me mither could see me the noo," chuckled the Scotch boy, afterhe had surveyed his mottled appearance in a tiny hand mirror one of themhad been thoughtful enough to fetch along. "Ye ken, she's often tauld meaboot the Highland chiefs in their war-paint in the gude auld days oflang syne. I warran ye she'd think her son and heir had copied after theMcGregor, Rob Roy, ye remimber, our outlaw ancestor."

  Lil Artha was to fetch along the defunct wildcat, for it was designed tosave the skin, and present it, when properly tanned, to Alec, who coulduse it in his den at home for a small mat. Every time he looked down atit he must be forcibly reminded of his stirring adventure, and it wouldserve to encourage him in his endeavor to become a first-class scout.

  It was perhaps half an hour afterwards that Elmer heard voices, andlooking toward the spot where Lil Artha had been working with the peltof the bobcat, he was both surprised and thrilled to discover that thelong-legged scout was talking with a small party in whom Elmerimmediately recognized Conrad Shock!