Boy Scout Fire Fighters

by Richard Harding Davis

  CHAPTER IV

  WHEN THE CIRCUS CAME TO TOWN

  Twelve Scouts, nearly half of Quarry Troop No. 1, now popularly known asthe Boy Scout Engineers, were gathered in the meeting room atheadquarters. In fact, they had been literally driven there when theWoodbridge Academy let out at halt past two on Friday afternoon. Yousee, it was raining so hard that there was no other place to go. But,then, the old machine shop was the best place in the world for the boys,rain or shine, so _that_ didn't make much difference. What really didmatter was the monotony of it all. For five days now the region roundabout Woodbridge had been literally deluged with a spring downpour.Otter Creek had swollen to twice its normal size, springs were gushingfrom most unheard-of places and rivulets were racing down hillsides thatusually were, to quote Nipper Knapp, "dry as a smoked herring."

  "By George, I do wish this rain would let up. What we want is a chanceto get out of doors a bit. I haven't stretched my legs in a week," saidRomper Ryan glumly, as he gazed out of the big front window.

  "Well," said fat Babe Wilson with his usual sarcasm, "if it don't dry upsoon the whole blamed world is liable to shrink." Then, as an afterthought, he added, "That might bring St. Cloud City so near Woodbridgethat we could at least see the circus parade."

  "Aw-w, what'er you bringing up that circus subject for again," saidJiminy Gordon, who didn't like to be reminded of the pleasure he haddecided to forego.

  "Yes," chorused two others who were equally reluctant about facing thesacrifice they had voted themselves; "forget about that bloomingcircus."

  "Say, you fellows needn't hop on me just because I want to have a littlefun with you," protested Babe. "I'm as good a sport as any of you.Don't you suppose I agreed when you voted not to go to the circus. Iknow it would be foolish to spend most of the thirty dollars in thetroop's treasury for a day's outing. You needn't talk, Jiminy Gordon;you were the first one to suggest the idea last week when you saw the manposting the bills."

  "Yes, I know I was," said Jiminy, somewhat embarrassed, "but I said itwithout thinking. When we got to discussing it last night I saw howridiculous it was. By Jiminy, I'd rather see the money go toward a newcamping outfit, or the lumber for the troop's power boat. I wouldn'tspend that thirty dollars to see three circuses, I wouldn't."

  Judging from the conversation, the circus question referred to had died ahard death. To tell the truth, its demise had really been quite painfulso far as most of the boys were concerned, for all of them had ratherliked the idea of being able to enjoy "the World's Mightiest, MostMagnificent Combination of Clever Animals and Human Skill and Daring,"etc., which was booked to show in St. Cloud City a few days hence.

  For a week the temptation to spend the troop's thirty dollars had hauntedthe lads day and night, until finally with a great effort they had laidthe ghost by a unanimous vote that the money must not be spent on theprofitless amusement. It really was a sacrifice, for every Scout had sethis heart on a hike to St. Cloud and a day crowded full of gaiety andglitter, not to mention a stomach crowded fuller with peanuts, popcornand lemonade.

  "Fellows, I am just as much disappointed as the rest," said BruceClifford, leader of the Owl patrol, "but I think we decided wisely lastnight. We can all do without going to the circus, even if it is thebiggest one that has visited this neck of the woods in years. Thepossibility of a new set of tents or the lumber for a motorboat appealsto me more than blowing the money in on a show; that is, it does when Istop and think soberly about it."

  "Right-o!" said Romper.

  "That's what I call common sense," asserted Nipper Knapp.

  "Just the way we all should look at it," insisted Bud Weir, leader of theBlue Heron patrol. "And if we were to--sh! Listen, fellows! Someone's calling!" In an instant everybody was silent.

  Bruce inclined his head toward the wire room at the other end of thebuilding where the headquarters' telegraph key and the instrumentsconnected with the wireless aerials on the roof were located. Out of thedoorway seemed to tumble a confusion of dots and dashes quiteunintelligible to any one not familiar with the Morse International Code.

  ....-.-,....-.-,..-.-..-.-..-..--.

  "Headquarters, Ford calling," read Bruce. "Fellows, Mr. Ford is tryingto raise us. Wonder what he wants!"

  He hurried into the wire room with the rest at his heels, and taking thelow operator's chair opened the key and answered the call. Then heclosed it again and waited. The boys were all attention, for most ofthem were second-class scouts and could "read" Morse well.

  "Mayor--Worthington--just--'phoned--me," clicked the instrument."Wants--to--see--Scouts--at--Town--Hall--at--four--I--would--like--to--have--you--go. -- Ford--Asst--S'ct--M's't'r--3:10--p--m."

  "All--right--Shall--we--wear--uniforms--Bruce--L'd'r--Owl--P't'r'l--3:12--p--m," Bruce flashed back over the wire.

  "Yes--careful--don't--get--too--wet--G'd--by--Ford--3:14--p--m," camethe answer.

  "Cracky! Something interesting! Wonder what's up!" said Bruceexcitedly, as he began calling on the loop telegraph wire that wasconnected to an instrument in every Scout's home.

  The three patrols of Quarry Troop stood at attention in the broadcorridor of the Woodbridge Town Hall, awaiting the coming of MayorWorthington. Their campaign hats were water-soaked, and rain drippedfrom the edge of their slickers and gathered in little pools about theirfeet. They must have been uncomfortable. But if they were, they gaveno signs of it. All their attention was riveted on the doors that ledthe way into the Mayor's private office.

  Presently these doors swung open, and the tall, broad-shouldered figureof the town's chief executive strode forth, followed by his secretary andTimothy Cockran, the Commissioner of Streets and Highways. Every backstiffened and every hand went up in salute as these men advanced and tooktheir position in front of Bruce, the recognized spokesman of the troop.The Mayor acknowledged the salute in quite the proper manner, as did theothers; then, clearing his throat, he spoke.

  "Scouts, I have asked you here because you can be of service toWoodbridge. The town needs you. Are you willing to do a good turn forthe welfare of us all?"

  "We're ready for anything, sir. We try to do a good turn daily, rain orshine," said Bruce, once more saluting.

  And his answer was echoed by the score or more of brown-clad youthsranged in line beside him.

  "Thank you, Scouts," said Mr. Worthington, crisply. "Now to business.The rains of the last few days have raised havoc in this end of ChamplainValley. So much water has fallen that the high roads leading north andsouth on either side of the valley have been made dangerous by wash outsand landslides. In several places the banks have slipped down fromabove, but the most dangerous sections are those where the roads havebeen washed away almost entirely. Vehicles traveling at night are veryapt to have serious upsets and the life and limb of the occupants areendangered, in spite of the fact that we have marked the washouts withred lanterns hung on short posts.

  "What I would like to have you boys do is to organize a road patrol tokeep a careful watch over these red lamps and see that they are alllighted between the hours of nightfall and midnight at least. Aftertwelve o'clock there is hardly enough traffic to make the patrollingworth while. The first patrol can light the lamps at a given hour andthereafter at certain intervals Scout patrols can visit each lamp and seethat it is in good working order. How would you like the job, boys?"

  "Fine!" shouted some.

  "Just the kind of work we like," cried others.

  "All right," said the Mayor, shortly. "Scouts, you are hereby appointedGuardians of the High ways by order of the Mayor and the Commissioner ofStreets and Highways. Each morning at half past eight one of your numberwill be expected to make a report at the Town Hall of the night's work."

  "The Commissioner here has a map of these thoroughfares showing eachwashout and just where each lamp is located. You can organize yourpatrols this afternoon and start to-night. I think the storm will besomewhat abated by that time. It is letting
up a little now. Good-dayand good luck."

  Though the rain had decreased considerably the Scouts lost little time ingetting from the Town Hall to Scout headquarters, where the details oforganizing the road patrols were worked out. It required the rest of theafternoon to do this, and the dinner hour arrived almost before the boyswere aware of the time.

  "Say, fellows, this is going to be fine," said Bud Weir. Then, glancingout of the window, he exclaimed: "By Jove, the storm's nearly over; theclouds are breaking out there beyond the mountains. This will be a finenight for--Cracky, fellows, I almost forgot; the circus comes throughtown to-night. It will come down the valley from Collinsville and takethe north road to St. Cloud."

  "By George, you're right," exclaimed Bruce. "Say, fellows, that makesour work doubly important. These heavy circus vans may get into troubleif all the lamps aren't in good order. You fellows be sure and reportfor duty, will you?"

  "Don't worry; there'll be enough of us to patrol to-night. I guess we'reall going to stay up and see the circus go through town, if it isn'training, aren't we, fellows?" asked Bud. And from the chorus ofaffirmatives it was evident that few of the troop would be abed when the"World's Mightiest, Most Magnificent Combination of Clever Animals andHuman Skill and Daring" rumbled through town.

  By seven o'clock the rain had stopped entirely and, when thelamp-lighting patrols started out in the gloaming, the storm clouds werefast disappearing in the southwest, their edges splashed with the goldand vermilion fire of the setting sun.

  Indeed, by the time the second patrol had reported back at headquartersand the third group of night watchers had started out, a big yellow moonhad appeared and the stars were twinkling merrily up above.

  After the last patrol had been gone an hour the Scouts who, when theirduties were finished, had gathered in headquarters, moved on to the topof Otter Creek hill. They had decided that this would be the best placeto watch the coming of the circus cavalcade.

  The valley presented a queer appearance at that hour. Here and therewere red lights standing out against the darkness, while from variouspoints along the highway came the glow of tiny battery lamps as theScouts signaled to each other.

  "They look like a lot of fireflies," said Bruce, after he had watched theseries of dots and dashes that the boys were flashing back and forth.

  "Yes," said Bud, "just like mighty big fli--. Hi, fellows, here comes thecircus! See 'em--that string of lights coming down Willow Street--hearthat rumble of the wagons?"

  "Sure enough!" exclaimed Bruce, who was as enthusiastic as the rest.

  Up the long hill, in view of the group of wide-eyed and thoroughlyinterested boys, came the phantom-like caravan. A string of swinginglanterns fastened to the center pole of each wagon marked its course.

  First in line were the grumbling and rumbling red and blue animal vans,followed by two rattling canvas wagons. Then a troop of little black andwhite ponies appeared hitched in fours to light gilt and red vehiclesthat held all sorts of odds and ends. In the rear of the ponies followedthe camels; great, long-legged creatures that grunted at every stride asif they were indignant at being kept up so late. Gaudy band wagons, thecook's outfit and a heterogeneous assortment of vehicles came next, allof them moving slowly up the hill while the drivers dozed in their seats.

  "Say, isn't it great?" cried Romper Ryan as he took in every littledetail.

  "You bet it is!" returned Babe Wilson, breathlessly. "I wonder where theelephants are. Oh, here they come!"

  The clank of chains could be heard above the grumble of the wagons, and amoment later five huge elephants appeared out of the darkness. Theylumbered along sleepily, their massive heads and long trunks swaying fromside to side at every stride. The forelegs of each beast were chainedtogether with stout links of iron, but there was little need of fetters,for the animals were apparently so docile that the idea of running awayseemed farthest from their minds. The leader of the drove was, ofcourse, the largest and apparently the meekest, for as he scuffled by theScouts the boys saw that he walked with his tiny eyes closed exactly asif he were asleep.

  A string of a dozen red vans followed the elephants, and at the very rearof the line was the big steam calliope. It was muffled and silent now,out its driver was snoring lustily as if to keep its reputation.

  "Gee, but that was worth staying up to see," said Ray Martin, the firstto find his tongue, after the cavalcade had passed on down the valley.

  "You bet it was," said Bruce. "Jove, I'm almost sorry we decided--Say!Look! Something has happened! See the lights down there by the oldquarry hole? The circus has stopped! Look, there are some signals!It's the patrol! Can you read them?"

  "'We--need--help. Elephant--in--in--'What the dickens is he talking about? I couldn't get that last, couldyou, Bruce?" asked Bud Weir.

  "Yes; he said that an elephant is in the quarry hole. By George, one ofthose big beasts has fallen down into Tollen's old quarry. There was awashout down there. Come on, fellows!" And the Scouts started at topspeed down the North Valley road toward the scene of trouble.