CHAPTER III
FOR CEDAR ISLAND--GHOST OR NO GHOST
"Three cheers for Colonel Bliss and Mr. Everett!" called out Bobolink,almost too excited to speak plainly.
Paul himself led the cheering, because he knew those delighted boys justhad to find some sort of outlet for the enthusiasm that was bubbling upwithin them. And doubtless the walls of that sacred building had seldomheard such cheers since away back in the time when a meeting was heldthere at news of the Civil War breaking out in 1861 and the patrioticcitizens had formed a company on the spot, to volunteer their services tothe President.
"Where will we go?" called out one scout, after the cheering had dieddown, and they found time to consider ways and means of employing themotorboats that had been so generously given into their keeping.
"Down the Bushkill to the sea!" suggested one.
"I suppose you think these motorboats can jump like broncos?" declaredJud Elderkin, with a look of disgust; "else how would they ever getaround that big dam down at Seely's Mills? We could crawl a few miles_up_ the Bushkill, but to go down would mean only a short cruise."
"Let Paul say!" cried Bobolink, shrewdly reading the smile on the face ofthe assistant scout master, as he listened to all sorts of wild plans,none of which would hold together when the rest of the scouts started topick flaws.
"Yes, Paul's got a scheme that'll knock all these wildcat ones just toflinders, see if it don't," remarked Tom Betts, waving his hands toenforce silence.
"Go on and tell us, Paul; and I reckon I c'n give a right smart guessthat it's about that Radway River country," declared Bobolink.
"Just what it is," said Paul. "Listen, then, and tell me what you thinkof my plan. I've figured it all out, and believe we could make it a go.If we did, we'd surely have the time of our lives, and find out somethingthat I've wanted myself to know a long while back. It's about a trip upthe Radway River, too, just as our smart chum guessed."
"But, say, the boats are right here at Stanhope, and have been used inrunning up and down the Bushkill; then how in the name of wonder can wecarry them over to the Radway, which is some miles away, I take it?"asked William Carberry, soberly.
"Wait and see; Paul's got all that arranged," declared the confidentTom Betts.
"Have 'em hauled over on one of his father's big lumber wagons, mebbe,"suggested Nuthin, who was rather a small chap, though not of quite solittle importance as his name would seem to indicate.
"Oh, you make me tired, Nuthin," declared Bobolink; "why, thosemotorboats weigh a ton or two apiece. Think of gettin' a wagon strongenough to carry one; and all the slow trips it'd have to take to get 'emthere and back. I reckon the whole of our vacation'd see us on the dryland part of the cruise. Now, let Paul tell us what plan he's beenthinking about to get over to the Radway with 'em."
"Well, it's just this way," the chairman of the meeting went on to say,calmly, with the air of one who had studied the matter carefully, andgrasped every little detail; "most of you know that there was a streamknown as Jackson Creek that ran into the Bushkill a mile belowManchester. That was once dredged out, and made to form a regular canalconnecting the two rivers. For years, my father says, it was usedregularly by all sorts of boats that wanted to cross over from oneriver to the other. But changes came, and by degrees the old canal hasbeen about forgotten. Still, it's there; and I went through it in mycanoe just yesterday, to sound, and see if it could be used by themotorboats now."
"And could it?" asked Bobolink, eagerly.
"I think there's a fair chance that we'd pull through, though it mightsometimes be a close shave. There's a lot of nasty mud in the canal,because, you see, it hasn't been cleaned out for years. If we had a goodrain now, and both rivers raised, we wouldn't have any trouble, but couldrun through easy enough."
"Well, supposing we did get through, how far up the Radway would wepush?" asked Bobolink, determined to get the entire proposition out ofPaul at once, now that they had him going.
"All the way to Lake Tokala," replied Paul, promptly. "Some of you happento know that there's a jolly island in that big lake, known as CedarIsland, because right on top of a small hill in the middle, a splendidcedar stands. Well, we could take our tents along, and make camp on thatisland, fishing, swimming, and having one of the best times ever heardof. What do you say, fellows?"
Immediately there was a clamor of tongues. Some seemed to be foraccepting Paul's suggestion with a whoop, and declared that it took themby storm. A few, however, seemed to raise objections; and such was theracket that nobody was able to make himself understood. So the chairmancalled for order; and with the whack of his gavel on the table everyvoice was stilled.
"Let's conduct this meeting in a parliamentary way," said Paul. "Some ofyou must have thought it stood adjourned. Now, whoever wants to speak,get up, and let's hear what you've got to say."
"I move that we take up the plan offered, and make our headquarters onCedar Island," said Wallace Carberry, rising.
"Not on your life!" declared Curly Baxter, bobbing up like ajack-in-the-box; "I've heard lots about that same place. It's troubledwith a _mystery_, and only last week I heard Paddy Reilly say he'd nevergo there fishin' again if he was paid for it. He's dreadfully afraid ofghosts, Paddy is."
"Ghosts!" almost shouted William Carberry; "I vote to go to CedarIsland then. I've always wanted to see a genuine ghost, and never yethad a chance."
"Now, I heard that it was a wild man that lived somewhere on that sameisland," remarked Frank Savage. "They say he's a terror, too, all coveredwith hair; and one man who'd been looking for pearl mussels in the riverup that way told my father he beat any Wild Man of Borneo he'd ever seteyes on in a freak show or circus."
"Oh, that's a fine place for honest scouts to pitch their tents, ain'tit--I don't think!" observed Joe Clausin, with a sneer.
"H-h-huh! ain't there j-j-just twenty-six of us s-s-scouts; and ought web-b-be afraid of one l-l-little g-g-ghost, or even a w-w-wild man?"demanded Bluff Shipley, who stuttered once in a while, when undulyexcited, though he was by degrees overcoming the nervous habit.
"Put it to a vote, Mr. Chairman!" called out Bobolink.
"Yes, and majority rules, remember," warned William Carberry.
"But that don't mean a feller just _has_ to go along, does it?" askedNuthin, looking somewhat aghast at the thought.
"Of course it don't;" Bobolink told him; "all the same you'll be on deck,my boy. I just know you can't resist having such a jolly good time, ghostor not. Question, Mr. Chairman!"
"Vote! Vote!"
"All in favor of trying to go through the old canal that used to connectthe Bushkill with the Radway, and cruising up to Cedar Island, campingthere for a week or ten days, say 'aye,'" Paul went on to remark.
A thunderous response cheered his heart; for somehow Paul seemed verymuch set upon following out the scheme he himself had devised.
"Contrary, no!" he continued.
There were just three who boldly allowed themselves to be set down as notbeing in favor of the daring plan--Nuthin, Curly Baxter and Joe Clausin;and yet, just as the wise, far-seeing Bobolink had declared, when it cameto a question of staying at home while the rest of the troop were offenjoying their vacation, or swallowing their fear of ghosts and wild men,these three boys would be along when the motorboats started on theiradventurous cruise.
"The ayes have it; and the meeting stands adjourned, according to themotion I can see Jack Stormways's just about to put," and with a laughPaul stepped down from the platform.
For fully half an hour they talked the thing over. It was viewed fromevery possible angle. Many objections raised by the doubters werepromptly met by the ready Paul; and in the end it was definitely decidedthat they would give just one day to making all needed preparations.
They had tents for the three patrols now, and all sorts of cookingutensils; for frequently the scouts were divided into messes, there beinga cook appointed in each patrol.
What was needed most of all were th
e supplies for an extended stay; andwhen it was taken into consideration that a score of boys, with ravenousappetites, would want three big meals each and every day, the question offiguring out enough provisions to see them through was no light matter.
But then they had considerable money in the treasury, and a numbers ofthe boys said they would bring loaves of bread, and all sorts of eatablesfrom home; so Paul saw his way clear toward providing the given quantity.
"Don't forget that the gasoline is going to eat a big hole into ourlittle pile of the long green," remarked Curly Baxter, still engaged intrying to throw cold water on the scheme.
"Oh, that makes me think of something I forgot to tell you, fellows,"declared Paul, his face filled with good humor. "One of the stipulationsconnected with the lending of these two motor-boats by the kind gentlemenwho own them was that they insisted on supplying all the liquid fuelneeded to run the craft. The tanks are to be filled, and each boatcarries in addition another drum, with extra gasoline. We'll likely haveenough for all our needs that way, and without costing us a red cent,either. So, you see how easy most of your objections melt away, Curly.Chances are, you'll fall into line, and be with us when we start the dayafter tomorrow."
Several of the boys were feeling pretty blue. They wanted to accompanythe rest of the troop the worst way; but it happened that their folks hadplanned to go down to the sea-shore for a month, until school beganagain; and the chances were they would have to go along, though every oneof them declared they would choose the cruise up the Radway in the twomotorboats, if given their way.
But it looked as though there was going to be a pretty fair crowd on eachboat. Paul counted noses of those he believed would be along, and foundthat they seemed to number eighteen. If two of the three timid onesconcluded to throw their fears to the winds, and come along, it wouldmake an even twenty.
"Of course, it will be hard to sleep so many aboard, because the boatsare small affairs, taken altogether," Paul observed; "but we hope to makethe journey in a full day, and be on Cedar Island by nightfall."
"Whew! night on Cedar Island--excuse _me_ if you please!" faltered CurlyBaxter, holding up both hands, as though the idea suggested all sorts ofterrible things to his mind; but much as he seemed desirous of causingothers to back out, Paul saw no signs of any one doing so.
"Meet here at noon tomorrow, boys, and I'll report what I've done. Thenwe can figure on what else we have to lay in store, so as to becomfortable. We must get everything down to the boats before evening,because we start early on Wednesday, you hear. At eight A. M., Bobolink,here, will sound his bugle; and ten minutes later we weigh anchor, or cutloose our hawsers, as you choose to say it, for it means letting go arope after all."
They started home in bunches, as usual, those who happened to live neartogether naturally waiting for each other. Paul, Jack, and Bobolinkwalked together.
"And just as it happens so many times," Paul was saying, as theysauntered on in the direction of home. "Mr. Gordon is away on the roadsomewhere, selling goods; so we have to go without having our finescoutmaster along to look after us."
"Guess nobody will miss him very much, although Mr. Gordon is a mightynice man and we all think a heap of him; but you are able to fill hisshoes all right, Paul; and, somehow, it seems to feel better not to haveany grown-up along. The responsibility makes most of the fellers behave,and think for themselves, you see," Jack went on to say.
Paul heaved a little sigh, for he knew who shouldered most of that sameresponsibility.
"But," remarked Bobolink, as he was about to separate from Jack and Paulon a certain corner, where their ways divided; "I'd give something rightnow to just know what's in those queer old boxes Professor Hackett hasstored in your mill, Jack; and why they have to be watched, just likethey held money or something that has to be guarded against an unknownenemy! But I guess I'll have to take it out in wantin', because you don'tknow, and wouldn't tell till you got the consent of your dad, even if youdid. Goodnight, fellows; and here's hoping we're going to have the timeof our lives up and around Cedar Island!"
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