CHAPTER XXXIII
WHAT PAUL FOUND--CONCLUSION
"What if those men should come back again, and take us prisoners?"suggested Bobolink, anxiously.
"Oh! I don't think they'll do that," replied Paul. "But it might pay usto look around, and see what they have here."
With the lantern to give them light, the boy scouts began an examinationof the piles of material which the tramp called Pim, and his companionhad accumulated in their snug retreat. Food was found, also some bottlesof liquor, which latter Paul took great pleasure in immediatelysmashing.
"Say, look what I've found!" called Bobolink.
It was a dangerous looking revolver, of the short-nosed, bulldogpattern. Perhaps it belonged to Pim, for it lay close to where he hadbeen sleeping. And while he did not exactly like the looks of it, Paulfelt that they would be safer from attack while they had possession ofthis weapon.
"Here's a bottle of kerosene for the lanterns!" announced Joe,presently; he had been searching feverishly around, possibly in hopes offinding the papers; though Paul felt sure they were snugly reposing inthe pocket of Hank at that moment, wherever he might be.
It was finally decided to stay there for the balance of the night. Theycould of course have gone back, now that they possessed means forlighting their way; but somehow Paul did not feel anxious to leave thespot.
Paul remembered what Pim had said about having seen Chief Billings onthe road between Rattlesnake Mountain and the village of Tatum. Could itbe possible that Mr. Morris, the lawyer friend of Joe's father, hadinfluenced that official to start out in search of the papers? Had Mr.Clausin found something on the floor of his feed store that told him hiswicked brother must have been there?
These were things which gave Paul much concern as he lay there resting,and making good use of one of the blankets that had been found. He didnot mean to sleep at all, for the responsibility of the entire littleexpedition rested on his shoulders, and he could not take chances.
Lying thus, Paul tried to go over all that had happened since the camplights went out at the sound of taps. Step by steps he advanced untilthe thrilling moment came when he made that stumble, and immediatelyheard the voice of Hank calling out to ask who it was.
He could see just as plainly as though he were living the whole thingover again, how the man sat up, having thrown his blanket from him. Why,it was the very blanket that Paul had over and under him now, and whichfelt so comfortable.
Then, with the match showing Hank a strange boy so close at hand, he hadjumped to his feet. Paul could see him, as he lay there in the darkness;even to the soiled white shirt he wore.
"Oh!"
If Hank had been minus his coat at the time he jumped to his feet, hecertainly had found no time to snatch it up when he ran away in suchhaste at the coming of the others. Why, possibly this was the very coatwhich Paul had doubled up, to serve him as a rude pillow.
Investigation revealed the fact that it _was_ a coat. And when he pawedit over to find the inside pocket, he was thrilled to hear theunmistakable rustle of papers somewhere! Yes, wonderful as it mightseem, there was a good-sized bunch of folded documents in the pocket.Could these be the lost papers that had been the cause of so muchdistress to Mr. Clausin?
Even while Paul was thinking whether or not he should wait until morningto mention his discovery to the anxious Joe, because he did not wish toarouse any false hopes, he thought he heard a slight sound near by.
What if Hank were returning to search for his coat, remembering how hehad left it so carelessly when he fled, and what things of value itheld? Paul was glad now that he had that revolver. He might not like tomake use of it; but believed it would prove very valuable as a gentlepersuader.
They had found a box of matches among other stores the two men hadcollected in this retreat; so that there was now no scarcity of suchthings.
Something touched him on the arm and sent a quiver through his frame,for he was worked up to a point where he felt as though he could justshout. Then he heard the lowest kind of a whisper close to his ear.
"Paul!"
It was of course his chum, who must also have been awake, and heard thesame suspicious sound that came to his ears.
Paul drew Jack's head close to his lips as he whispered:
"I think it is Hank, coming back for his coat. I've been sleeping on it,and just discovered that there are papers in the pocket!"
"Oh, what can we do?" asked Jack, also in that low tone, inaudible fivefeet away.
"Get a match ready, Jack," said Paul, once more in his chum's ear; "andwhen I nudge you, light the lantern as fast as you can."
"All ready!" came back, a short time later.
Paul waited until he fancied that the unseen prowler must be groping inthe dark very close to them. Then he thrust his elbow into Jack's side,causing him to grunt. But at the same instant a match flamed up, forJack had been ready.
"Don't you dare move a foot!" called out Paul, instantly covering acrouching figure with the weapon he had in his hand.
Snap! Down went the lantern globe, and the cavern was brightlyilluminated. It was Hank Clausin, just as Paul had suspected, and in hisshirt sleeves too. He had come back for his coat, and walked into atrap.
The other three boys were now on their feet, and acting under Paul'sdirections they tied the man's hands. Poor Joe did not take any part inthis ceremony. His heart was too sore, though he also rejoiced becausePaul told him he had the precious papers on his person.
Hank pretended to be indignant at first, and claimed that he had donenothing wrong. Then he changed his tactics, and threatened the boys.Finding that this had no effect he turned to Joe, and pleaded with him.But Joe only shook his head, after looking beseechingly at Paul, andturned away.
None of the party obtained any more sleep that night, for they fearedthat the other man might return to see what had happened to Hank. And soall of them sat around, talking in low tones, with the lantern burning,Paul keeping the pistol in evidence.
Of course they could only tell when morning came by Paul's watch.
Both Bobolink and Joe declared they were fully rested by then, and sothe return march was taken up. Perhaps Paul was a little reckless, or itmay have been he did not care very much. But it was suddenly discoveredthat the prisoner was gone! Paul did not say anything, but he couldguess that Joe, for the honor of the family, had taken advantage oftheir being a little ahead, to set him free.
"And boys," Joe said later, when confessing what he had done, "pleasedon't tell anybody that he was my uncle. Just say he was a bad man, andthat he got away. You see, we've got dad's papers, and that is all hewanted. I hope I never meet Uncle Henry again."
And he never has to this day, for Hank and his evil companion, Pim, madehaste to leave that vicinity, which was growing a bit too warm for theiroperations.
Mr. Gordon was loud in his praises when he heard the story, though evenhe was not taken into Joe's secret. He declared that the storm hadpassed over, leaving a track of ruin in its wake, and that they couldnow leave the cave to return to Camp Surprise.
This the Banner Boy Scouts did that morning. After all, the damage totheir belongings did not turn out to be very serious, thanks to theirready wit in cutting down the tents; and before nightfall they werealmost as comfortably fixed as before the blow.
Joe wanted to go home because of the papers; but who should turn upwhile they were eating supper but his father, accompanied by Mr. Norrisand Chief Billings, proving that the hobo had not made a mistake when hesaid he felt sure he had seen the latter on the way to the mountain byanother route.
Of course there was great rejoicing when Mr. Clausin found his papersreturned. Joe took him aside and doubtless told him the fullparticulars; for the gentleman looked very grave, and when he returned,he went around, silently squeezing the hands of Paul, Jack and Bobolink.They knew he was thanking them for their promise not to say a word abouthis brother even to their home folks.
With the neighborhood clear of al
l troublesome characters, it caneasily be understood that the Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts began reallyto enjoy their outing.
Each day saw new pleasures and competitions. Boys who were backward inany of the various branches of work connected with the useful things atrue scout should know, were tutored by Mr. Gordon, or in many cases byPaul and Wallace. Bad cooks were taught how to succeed by simpleprocesses; and the secrets of the wilderness became as an open book tothose who wanted to learn.
Old Dobbin had managed to survive the storm, and when the troop startedon the homeward route he pulled the wagon that carried their tents andother things. Needless to say, that as it was pretty much all down-hill,and the tremendous amount of food had vanished, the ancient horse foundthe going much easier than on his previous trip.
So successful had their first tour proven that the Stanhope Boy Scoutsbegan to talk of other outings which might be arranged later on; andwhich will be treated of in the next volume of this series, to be called"The Banner Boy Scouts Afloat; or, the Secret of Cedar Island."
After all their adventures none of them came back feeling any the worsefor the experience, and most of the boys declared they had had the timeof their lives.
To this day they have never really learned just what it was frightenedTed and his cronies out of the neighborhood. Still, the fact that Pimand Hank had possession of Ward's fine aluminum frying pan caused Paulto believe the boys must have run across the two men, and been chasedaway.
Before the camp was finally broken up Paul discovered an old hunchbacktrying to steal more of the food. He was caught in the act, and it onlyneeded a look at the patch on the sole of his boot to tell that he wasthe guilty one who had carried off their ham. He proved to be the fellowthe boys had heard about, who made a living catching rattlesnakes; butas these were now scarce he was in poor circumstances. Paul forgave him,and when camp life came to an end they left him all the food thatremained, proving their right to the name of Boy Scouts.
THE END
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Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour, Page 34
