CHAPTER XXVII.
THE TURN OF THE TIDE.
"Hold on, Fox! that man has been punished enough; and besides you'verecovered the belt, so there's been no real harm done. Let him get up!"
It was Thad who said this, as he and Aleck broke cover, and appearedbefore the astonished eyes of the two who were on the ground, the Crowboy flourishing his knife in a way calculated to make any one's bloodrun cold.
The Fox seemed to recognize that Thad spoke as one having authority.He had seen him manage things in the camp of the scouts, and noticedhow willingly the rest of the boys recognized his leadership. Andsecretly the Crow boy admired Thad more than any paleface lad he hadever met on or off the reservation, saving possibly Aleck.
So he immediately arose, and hastened to conceal his knife.
"Give big scare, so him never try again!" he muttered, looking down.
"Don't ye believe him; he just meant to take my ears off, for a fact,"exclaimed the man as he gained his feet, hardly knowing whether tostart in running once more, or trust to Thad to stand between himselfand the injured Crow boy.
"Well, then, we just happened along this way in time to save them foryou; and Waffles, suppose you clear out of this as fast as you can.Don't forget what we said about shooting, if ever we found you aroundour camp. Now, if you get away in a hurry, I'll agree to keep the Foxbeside me. Only if you know what's good for you, never go near thereservation again."
"Well, I never will, make up your mind to that. Hold him now; I'm goingto skedaddle out of this on the jump!" and sure enough Waffles did,rushing away as only a good healthy fright could urge on a tired man.
Nor did any of them see him again, or either of the other two for thatmatter. They must have made up their minds that the region aroundthere was unhealthy for fellows of their stamp, and that the soonerthey turned their faces toward civilization the better for them.
Joined by the Fox, Thad and Aleck continued to walk toward the distantcamp of the scouts further up the valley.
The night was getting well along when they halted to rest, having goneas far as was deemed advisable. They had talked it well over, and theFox had even told them what he knew about Sheriff Bob. Thisinformation was of so pleasing a nature that it seemed apt to havemore or less influence with regard to making their final decision, asto what their plan should be in the morning.
They were up early, and had a bite to eat, a little food having beenbrought along by the far-sighted scoutmaster, who when he and Aleckcleared out, did not know when they would get back again.
Again they talked matters over. Thad was of a mind to betake himselfback to the camp, leaving the others in hiding; but where they couldsee a signal he would make, if so be he wanted them to come in.
"This thing of your hiding out like you're a common criminal is allwrong," the scoutmaster had declared, somewhat angrily. "And I'm goingto put it up to that sheriff in a way that must convince him he's beenhumbugged by your scheming old uncle. Then we can get him to go withus, to see you put up your notice, and claim the mine your fatheroriginally discovered. After that you can go with him to the placewhere you have to file your sworn declaration of entry, and havethings all done according to law. The Silver Fox Patrol will meanwhilecamp in front of that wolf den, and hold it secure for you! Understandall that, Aleck?"
"Indeed, I do; and no fellow ever before found such grand good friendsas you and the rest of the scouts have shown yourselves to be to me,"and as he shook hands with Thad, on the latter's leaving, Aleck hadtears in his eyes.
"Oh! that's what scouts are for, you see; to be a help to each other,and to anybody that's in trouble, when they can lend a helping hand.Now, watch for the signal; for if I give it, you can feel satisfiedyou have nothing to fear from that sheriff."
With that Thad strode away, heading in a roundabout way for the camp,so that his coming from a certain direction might not betray thehiding-place of the other two.
Great was the astonishment of Allan, and those of the patrol who werein camp, when a lone figure was seen approaching that they quicklymade out to be Thad. All sorts of possible sources of new troubleloomed up in their minds; but as the scoutmaster drew nearer, theywere considerably relieved to discover that he was smiling, as thoughnot worried in the least.
Of course the sheriff and Uncle Artemus had jumped up when the othersdid, and observed the coming of the young scoutmaster but withdifferent emotions. The lawyer only wondered whether this might meanthe surrender of his nephew to the authority invested in the office ofsheriff; but the official himself was engaged in studying theapproaching lad, of whom he had heard so much, and drawing his ownopinion with regard to his character.
"Glad to see you again, Thad!" called out Bumpus.
"That's right, and so says every one of us," echoed Giraffe,determined not to be left out of any talking-bee, if there was one.
Thad only nodded, and smiled. He walked right over to where Allan stood,and engaged him in earnest consultation; while the others looked on, notknowing what to make of this most unexpected turn of events.
Presently Allan turned and called out:
"Would you mind coming over here, Mr. Sheriff; we want to tell yousomething that ought to interest you, about this case?"
The shrewd lawyer tried to hang on to the coat-tails of the bigsheriff, as he exclaimed, half threateningly, half pleadingly:
"Don't you go, Sheriff; they want to blarney you into believing theirside of the story. You've got a warrant for the arrest of a viciousyoung fellow, even if he is my own nephew, who has robbed me of valuablepapers. You've got to do your sworn duty! Better stay by me, and thepay'll be sure. I wouldn't mind doubling what I promised, if so be I getmy papers back. And the boy can go hang, for all of me, then."
But the sheriff tore himself loose, and walked over to where the twoearnest-faced scouts were awaiting him. Allan introduced him to thepatrol leader, and from the hearty hand-clasp which the officerbestowed upon him, Thad felt sure that the case of poor badgered AleckRawson was as good as won, even before he had commenced to do anypersuasive talking.
He began at the start, and related all that Aleck had told him of histroubles in the past; and how not only Kracker and his kind hadannoyed the widow of the dead prospector, but this sly old lawyer aswell, all of them imbued with the same mad desire to learn where thehidden mine was located.
He related numerous instances that almost amounted to persecution,whereby Uncle Artemus had tried to force the widow, through stress ofpoverty, to sell him the secret he believed she carried locked in herbreast; until presently Thad saw by the angry glow in those blue eyesof the sheriff that he had accomplished the aim he had in view.
Meanwhile the old lawyer had been on needles and pins. He jumped upand sat down again half a dozen times. Of course he could easilyunderstand that Thad was trying to wean the sheriff away from hisduty; and there were signs that told Uncle Artemus this very thing wasgradually being accomplished before his very eyes.
He could not stand it much longer, and finally he advanced toward thespot where the sheriff and the two scouts stood.
Thad had no longer the slightest fear that his work would beundermined. He knew that Sheriff Bob would not longer lend hisofficial stamp to any such underhand work as that which this "slick"lawyer from Denver was endeavoring to carry out. And so he could viewthe coming of the other without anxiety.
"I hope you haven't allowed yourself to be at all influenced by anyspecious story you've listened to, Mr. Sheriff," the old man startedto say.
The officer drew his capacious hand across his chin, as thoughcollecting his thoughts, in order to frame a suitable reply.
"I've been listening to some mighty interesting facts, Mr. Rawson," hesaid.
"Lies, every one of them, I warrant you, sir," snapped the lawyer, whobegan to feel that he was losing his grip on the case right then andthere, since this little whipper-snapper of a leader among these boysappeared more capable of swaying the sheriff than he could himself d
o.
"Oh! I don't know about that, Mr. Rawson," the sheriff went on, hiseyes losing some of their twinkle, and a steely look taking its place,which Thad understood must be his official face; "I know a heap more'nI did about things when I agreed to take this here warrant, andexecute the same for you, by arresting a lad you claimed was yournephew, which was true; and who had been stealing valuable papers fromyou, which I reckon was only a yarn."
"Do you mean to say you'd take the word of a mere half-grown boyrather than that of a gentleman, a lawyer of considerable repute inDenver, as you happen to know, Mr. Sheriff? Things have got to a nicepass when that can be."
"Listen!" thundered the sheriff, turning squarely on the astonishedlawyer, and shaking his finger under his long nose; "you lied to meabout all that valuable paper business. It was _you_ that wanted tosteal something you believed this lad carried about his person, apaper that would tell you where to find that hidden silver mine! And Iwas fool enough to believe you, and to be hoodwinked that way. Asheriff is sworn to do his duty _only_ so long as he believes he isdoing right; he has no claim to persecute an innocent party. I cameall this way with you, though from the first I suspected you had acard up your sleeve, Mr. Rawson. Now understand it first and last, Iconsider myself no longer in your service. Not a cent that youpromised me will I touch. I'm going to try and make amends to thispoor son of Jerry Rawson for what I've done to worry him, by standingup and helping him take possession of his father's mine. He's found ittoo, because look at these specimens of the richest silver ore I everset eyes on. Understand that, sir?"
"But--you carry a warrant for his arrest!" bristled the lawyer, as alast resort.
The big sheriff pulled a paper out of his pocket, which he proceededto tear into a score of fragments, laughing scornfully meanwhile.
"Do you see that, Mr. Rawson, sir? Now where's the warrant forarresting Aleck, your nephew? Call the boy in, Thad; I want to shakehands with him, and tell him Bob McNulty is ready to back him up inholding that mine. And he's got a whole lot to be thankful for, I tellyou, boys, that when things looked darkest for him, a lucky chance, orsome people would call it the favor of Providence, sent you scoutsinto this valley to camp. Not another word, Mr. Rawson, if you knowwhat's good for you, sir!"
CHAPTER XXVIII.
GOOD-BYE TO THE ROCKIES--BOUND FOR HOME.
"This is Aleck Rawson, Sheriff McNulty," said Thad, some little timelater, when, in answer to his signal, two figures came promptly intocamp.
The officer greeted the boy warmly, and what he said caused Aleck'scheeks to burn red with delight, as well as his eyes to sparkle, as heturned them, filled with gratitude upon Thad; for it seemed to him thescoutmaster must be little short of a magician, since he could evenchange enemies into warm friends.
Why, even Uncle Artemus, as if he knew enough to get in out of the wetwhen it rained, came up, and wanted to congratulate the boy for havingwon out, and found the mine his father had first set eyes on; butAleck had too many bitter feelings in connection with the artfullawyer, and coolly turned his back on him.
Arrangements were soon made whereby the sheriff would go with Thad andAleck that very day to see the mine, and be a witness to the actwhereby the son of the first discoverer laid claim to the valuableproperty. Then he said he would accompany Aleck to the city where thelegal part of the business must be completed.
He also declared he knew the very capitalist, a man who was theessence of honor, and whom he would like to interest in the matter; soAleck expressed a wish to meet him, that some arrangements might bequickly placed before his mother. His one thought seemed to be to getthe glorious news to that waiting little woman as soon as possible.She had suffered enough, he declared; and please Heaven this would bethe end, so far as money could bring relief.
On the following morning, then, the sheriff left, with Aleck and theguide keeping him company, and old Uncle Artemus "tagging on;" anxiousnow to get back to Denver, and take up his legal business, since hishopes of ever having a share in the newly-discovered silver mine werecrushed, wrecked by his own malicious actions toward his brother'sfamily. Had he done what was right in the premises, instead ofgreedily wanting to grab the whole, as Aleck put it, Uncle Artemusmight have been the very capitalist needed to develop the mine; but noone had any faith in him any longer.
Of course Thad took his scouts, and made a permanent camp there, aboutwhere the three prospectors had started to settle down late on thatnight, when the boys were coming out of the fissure in the rock. Howthe others did laugh, again and again, when they heard all about thefright given to Kracker and his companions, by the growls which Thadand Aleck managed to emit.
Of course the big-horn hunters had come in before that other day wasmuch more than half done, and Smithy was proudly carrying the hornsthat had belonged to _his_ quarry. He hardly seemed like the sameSmithy they had known so long. Why, he was a transformed boy in manythings, and even failed to brush off the dust some one pointed out tohim on his khaki garments. And when Smithy reached a point that hecould ignore such things, there must surely be a great transformationtaking place in his make-up.
He was brim-full of questions now, eager to learn the thousand-and-onewrinkles of woodcraft, and expressing his determination to accomplishwonderful things before many months had passed.
And Thad knew that Smithy would prove a sad disappointment to allthose thirty-seven old maid aunts and cousins who had spoiled him inthe past; for he had suddenly discovered that he had the red blood ofhis father running in his veins; and the lure of all outdoors wasbeginning to take hold of him. Never again would that boy be satisfiedto sit at the feet of an old lady, and learn how to make fancy-work;oh! no, after this, the baseball and football fields would claim agoodly share of his attention; for Smithy was bent on making himself_manly_, a credit to the father whose name he bore, and who he knewhad once dearly loved to hunt, and fish, and spend his vacations inthe woods, close to Nature, as do all men who are worthy of the name.
Before the time limit which Thad and his chums had set for their stayin the haunts of the Rockies had fully expired, Aleck and the sheriff,accompanied by Toby Smathers, and several gentlemen who looked likefinanciers, came back. They had no sooner examined the mine thanarrangements were immediately made for forming a company to open it.There was even talk about running a railroad spur up the valley fromthe nearest connection, so that the rich ore might be taken to asmelter, and stamping mills; though possibly it would be decided as aneasier proposition to bring these things to the mine.
And so, one fine day, the Silver Fox Patrol of Cranford Troop of BoyScouts said good-bye to Aleck and several others who had become theirfriends since arriving in that region, where the massive Rockiesreared their snow-capped heads toward the blue skies, far outreachingthe clouds at times.
Toby Smathers was to go back with them as far as the nearest town onthe railroad; and then he expected to return to the mine, having beenoffered a splendid position by the company. Aleck meant to go down andsee his mother and sisters presently, when he could keep away nolonger; and pour into their laps some of the first proceeds from thenow newly-discovered, but long-hidden silver mine.
And later on Thad had long letters from the Western boy, in which hefully described the happiness that now reigned in his home; and againand again did that good little mother send her warmest regards to thebrave lads who had been so instrumental in gaining this great fortunefor the Rawsons, and to whom she must ever feel gratitude of thedeepest kind on account of having her son spared to her.
Of course we shall expect at some future time to once more make theacquaintance of Thad Brewster and his jolly lot of chums belonging tothe Silver Fox Patrol. With the advent of the new patrol, and otherlads still clamoring for admittance into the troop, Cranford was aptsoon to take a front rank, as a town where the boys were organized forgood. And when so many enterprising lads as Allan, Step Hen, Giraffe,Bumpus, Bob White, Smithy, Davey Jones, and last, but far from least,the efficient assistant scoutmas
ter himself, Thad Brewster, continueto get together at every available opportunity, winter and summer,bent on having a royal good time, it may be set down as certain thatlots of remarkable things are just bound to happen, that would makesplendid reading.
But for the present we will have to let Bumpus take his bugle in hand,and in his customary clever way sound "taps," lights out.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Note:
Page 1 Added comma after "Timber" in "Through the Big Timber".
Page 4 Corrected spelling of "suggesed" to "suggested" in "of theirattire suggesed".
Page 13 Added closing quotation after "precipice!" in "over the edgeof the precipice!".
Page 17 Corrected spelling of "narnow" to "narrow" in "so manydangerous narnow paths".
Page 48 Added opening quotation before "but" in "over; but it wouldn'tsurprise me".
Page 49 Corrected spelling of "ony" to "any" in "if ony one did have".
Page 53 Corrected spelling of "seemd" to "seemed" in "for it seemd amonstrous".
Page 63 Moved opening quotation from end of "explain" to beginningof "One" in "Aleck went on to explain. One of the men knew".
Page 77 Corrected spelling of "an" to "and" in "a while longer, ancanvassed".
Page 93 Corrected spelling of "returnd" to "returned" in "theyreturnd once more".
Page 104 Corrected spelling of "Dont" to "Don't" in "Dont move,Aleck".
Page 122 Added opening quotation to beginning of "this sure takesthe cake".
Page 136 Corrected spelling of "unusal" to "unusual" in "nothing sovery unusal".
Page 153 Added opening quotation to beginning of "so, p'raps we kinget".
Page 178 Corrected spelling of "intelligennt" to "intelligent" in"thanks to the intelligennt manner".
Page 185 Removed extraneous quotation after "Smathers," in "TobySmathers, the forest ranger".
Page 189 Added opening quotation to beginning of "I could 'mostimagine".
Page 194 Correct spelling of "belligerantly" to "belligerently" in"asserted Giraffe, belligerantly".
Page 251 Corrected spelling of "litle" to "little" in "scoutmastermust be litle short".
Page 255 Removed extraneous "Bob" in "Bumpus, Bob Bob White".
Boy Scouts in the Rockies; Or, The Secret of the Hidden Silver Mine Page 27
