CHAPTER XXX
A CHANGE OF PLANS
That night, as the lads sat before the fire, those who had gone on theexpedition of succor had to tell further particulars, for the otherswere curious to know about everything.
When they heard how Bud Phillips had seen the two tramps running awayfrom the vicinity of the fire before hardly any one else was around,of course Bluff and the four other scouts were fully agreed that themystery of the blaze had been as good as explained.
"All the same," Jud remarked, "unless we can show some clinchingevidence our theory won't hold water with a lot of people who alwayshave to be given solid proof. That brings up the subject, we talkedabout on the way home--should we pay a visit to that charcoal burners'cabin, and try to make prisoners of the yeggs?"
"Great scheme, I'd say!" burst out Frank Savage without anyhesitation.
"B-b-bully idea, let me tell you!" added Bluff.
"Whee!" exclaimed Sandy. "Nearly takes my breath away just to hear youmention such a bold thing; but I'm game to try it if the rest are."
Paul smiled. Truth to tell he had discounted all this, knowing what animpetuous lot his followers were, and how prone to push aside allthought of personal danger when tempted to perform some act that mightredound to their credit.
"Plenty of time yet to talk that over," he told them. "We needn'tdecide too hastily, and will let the subject rest for the present,though I don't mind saying that the chances are we'll conclude to dosomething along those lines when on our way home."
"Is the charcoal burners' shack far away from the creek, Tolly Tip?"questioned Bobolink, anxiously.
"By the same token I do belave it lies not more'n a quarrter av a mileoff from the strame. I c'n lade ye to the same with me eyes shut,"announced the woodsman, evidently just as eager to take part in therounding up of the vagrants as any of the enthusiastic scouts; for hiseye was still a little discolored from the blow he had received in thefight with the desperate tramps.
As their time was limited, Paul knew that they should plan carefullyif they were to accomplish all the things they were most desirous ofcarrying through. On that account he had each one make up his mindjust what was dearest to him, and set about accomplishing that onething without any unnecessary delay.
As for Paul himself, he most of all regretted the fact that on accountof the deep snowdrifts and the bitter cold he would probably be unableto get any more flashlight pictures.
"You see," he explained to some of the others when they were askingwhy he felt so disappointed, "most of the smaller animals are buriedout of sight by the snow. Like the squirrels, they take time by theforelock, and have laid in a supply of food, enough to last over thissevere spell, so none of them will be anxious to show up in a hurry."
"But I heard Tolly Tip giving you a real tip about the sly mink alongthe bank of the creek. How about it, Paul?" asked Jud.
"Well, that's really my only chance," admitted the scout-master. "Itseems that minks have a perfect scorn for wintry weather around here,Tolly says, and are on the job right along, no matter how it storms.He knows of one big chap who has a regular route over which he travelsnearly every night, going in and out of holes in the banks as if goingvisiting."
"I don't believe you've ever had a good snapshot of a live mink, haveyou, Paul?" inquired Bluff, showing more or less interest, thoughstill somewhat stiff with the painful scratches he had received on theprevious day.
"I've always wanted to get such a flashlight," admitted Paul, "becausethe mink is said to be one of the shyest of all small, fur-bearinganimals, even more so than Br'er Fox, and considerably more timid thanBr'er 'Coon."
"You'll have to set the trap to-night then, won't you?" asked TomBetts.
"We've made all arrangements looking to such a thing," Tom wasassured. "I'm glad that it still stays clear and cold. We may onlyhave a couple more nights in Camp Garrity."
"But it's getting a little milder, don't you think?" inquiredBobolink.
"It's a big improvement on yesterday, and I imagine to-morrow will seea further change," the scout-master remarked.
"Then if those fellows in the cave mean to strike out for home they'lllike as not find their chance by to-morrow," observed Jud. "Coursethey've got enough grub to keep them for a week. But it isn't much funstaying cooped up in a cave, and I reckon they've had enough of it.Sim and Jud acted that way, not to mention Bud Phillips."
"Before we make our start I'd like to take a last turn over that way,"Paul observed, as though he had been thinking the matter over. "I'djust like to see if they did strike out across the timber. Their trailwould tell the story, and we'd know what to expect."
"I speak to go with you then," flashed back Jud, even as Bluff openedhis mouth to give utterance to the same desire.
"T-t-that's what a fellow gets for being a stutterer," grumbled Bluff."I meant to say just those words, but Jud--hang the l-l-luck--was toospeedy for me. Huh!"
"Oh! as for that," laughed Paul, "both of you can go along if you careto."
As the day dragged along the scouts busied themselves in a dozendifferent ways according to their liking. Some preferred to swing theaxe and chop wood, though doubtless if they had been compelled to dothis at home, loud and bitter would have been their lamentations.
During the afternoon several went out for a walk, carrying guns alongso as to be prepared for either game, or another pack of hungry wilddogs, though Tolly Tip assured them that, so far as he knew, there hadexisted only the one pack, with that enormous mastiff as leader.
"If ye follow the directions I've been after givin' yees, it may beye'll come on a bevy av pa'tridges," the woodsman told them as theywere setting out. "For by the same token whin we've had a heavysnowfall I've always been able to knock down a lot av the birrds amongthe berry bushes. 'Tis there they must go to git food or be starvedentirely. Good luck to ye, boys, an' kape yer weather eye open so yewon't git lost!"
"Remember," added Paul, "if you do lose your bearings stop right stilland fire three shots in rapid succession. Later on try it again, andwe'll come to you. But with such clever woodsmen along as Jack andBobolink we don't expect anything of that kind to happen, of course."
Paul himself went with the keeper of the woods lodge to follow thefrozen creek up to a certain place where there were numerous holes inthe bank. Here Tolly Tip pointed out little footprints made he said bythe minks on the preceding night.
"Av course," the woodsman went on to say, "ye do be knowin' a hapebetter nor me jist where the best place to set the trap might be. AllI c'n do is to show ye the p'int where the minks is most like totravel to-night."
"That is just what I want you to do!" exclaimed Paul. "But you canhelp me out in fixing things, so when the mink takes the bait andpulls the string he'll be sure to crouch directly in front of mycamera trap."
Between them they eventually arranged matters, and then the trapperremoved all traces of their presence possible, after which theyreturned to the cabin.
"If the trap isn't sprung to-night I'll have another try-out," Paulaffirmed, "for it may be a long while before I'll get another suchchance to snap off Mr. Sly Mink in his own preserves."
"Oh! make your mind aisy on that score," said Tolly Tip, reassuringly."I do be knowing the ways av the crature so well I c'n promise yethere'll be no hitch. That bait I set is sure to fetch him ivery time.I've sildom known it to fail."
The afternoon came to an end, and the glow of sunset filled theheavens over in the west. The hunters came trooping in, much to thesatisfaction of some of the stay-at-homes, who were beginning to fearsomething might have happened to them.
"We heard a whole lot of shots away off somewhere," asserted PhilTowns, "so show us what you've got in the game pockets of your huntingcoats to make them bulge out that way."
"I've got three fat partridges," said Jack.
"Two for me--one in each pocket!" laughed Bobolink.
Then Jack and Bobolink looked expectantly toward Jud as thoughexpecting him to make a stil
l better showing.
At that Jud began to unload, and before he stopped he had laid sixbirds on the rough deal table. At that there was much rejoicing.
"Just enough to go around!" exclaimed Sandy Griggs. "I was beginningto be sorry Bluff and I had gone and cooked our birds, but now it'sall right. Here's for a bully mess to-morrow."
"We've certainly made a big hole in your partridge supply since comingup here, Tolly Tip," announced Bobolink, proudly. "And there's onedeer less, too."
"Only one," said Jud, regretfully; and Paul knew he must be thinkingof the stag responsible for the tracks seen on that day when they wereon duty bent, and could not turn aside to do any hunting.
"Well, to-morrow may be our last day here," remarked the scout-master,"so every one of you had better wind up your affairs, to be ready tostart home."
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