Even the two returned scouts were anxious not to be left behind.

"I'm not tired a little bit, Mr. Garrabrant!" Lil Artha hastened to declare, and Dr. Ted said ditto to that.

"Give me time, boys, to consider," the gentleman had said, waving them away.

Supper was quickly announced, and they made record time in getting away with a fine meal. No one even thought to remark upon the fact that it tasted better than any meal ever eaten under a roof, which had come to be a standing saying with the scouts by this time.

Many an anxious look was cast toward Mr. Garrabrant. They saw that his eyes had been roving around the circle, as though he might be mentally choosing those who were to be favored with a place at his side during this new errand of mercy across the mountain that frowned down upon the camp. And every scout was eager to be among the lucky ones, even the usually timid Jasper Merriweather.

"I have decided upon the following to accompany me: Ginger will go, because he is a man, and will be apt to inspire more or less respect in the hearts of the two rascals. Then there are Elmer, Matty, Larry Billings, Arthur Stansbury, Charlie Maxfield, and Theodore. I am taking him because we may happen to have need of his professional services,"

and when Mr. Garrabrant said this as though he really meant it, who could blame Ted for unconsciously pushing out his chest a bit with pride?

There could be no demur to this ultimatum. So those who were fated to remain did what they could to get their more fortunate chums ready for the excursion. The stoutest cudgels possible were hunted up, and handed over, with recommendations as to their convincing qualities if once applied to a stubborn head.

"However," said the scout master, as they were ready to leave, "I am in hopes that we can take the rascals by surprise, so that there will not be any real necessity for violence. The rest of you stick by the camp while we are gone. You can wait up for us, if you want."

"Sure we will, sir!" declared one. "We couldn't any more sleep than water can run up hill."

"And don't any of you meddle with the little trap we've got set by the store tent, remember, please," Elmer flung over his shoulder as he was marching away.

Then they were off.

Counting Mr. Garrabrant and Ginger, they were eight in all, surely a strong enough bunch to overcome two men, if only they might take the ruffians by surprise. Ginger was far from being a coward when it came to things he could understand. This fact was known to Mr. Garrabrant, which was the reason he took the colored man and brother along. Besides, his heft might have considerable influence in causing the two men to submit.

As before, they carried a couple of lanterns. The light from these came in very handy to save the boys from many an ugly tumble, where roots lay across their path or rocks cropped up in the way.

They conversed in whispers only. And as they finally drew near the lone cabin, even this style of talk was stopped by order of Mr. Garrabrant, so that they now crept along in absolute silence.

He had told the boys of his plans, so that each member of the little party knew just what was expected of him.

Presently they caught sight of a dim light ahead. Then came the sound of loud and gruff voices. This convinced them that the two rascals had not left the cabin.

Creeping closer, they could finally see through the little opening. And thus the scout master was enabled to complete the plan he had arranged.

When he gave the word, Ginger and the boys were to jump in by way of the open door. Meantime he expected to thrust his arm through the window and cover the pair of desperate rascals with the revolver he had brought along. Mr. Garrabrant gave evidence of being in deadly earnest, for he knew that was a serious matter that confronted them, and one not to be handled with gloves.

When he heard Elmer give the cry of the whip-poor-will three times he knew they were all in their places. Accordingly, he suddenly thrust his arm through the small window that had no gla.s.s, and covered one of the men with his weapon.

"Stand still, both of you! The hut is surrounded, and if you try to escape or offer resistance it will be the worse for you! Seize them, men!"

As Mr. Garrabrant called this out, and the two astonished scoundrels sat there, utterly unable to collect their senses, such was the complete surprise, through the doorway tumbled a crowd that hurled itself upon them. Before they could grasp the fact that with one exception these were only half-grown boys, wearing the khaki uniforms of the scouts, and not regular soldiers, the men had their hands tied behind them.

As they realized how completely they had been caught napping both of them started on a string of hard words, and looked daggers at their young captors.

"Stop that, now!" Mr. Garrabrant exclaimed, as he made his appearance in the hut, "or I shall be under the painful necessity of putting gags between your teeth. Not another word from either of you, remember!"

Perhaps they recognized the tone of authority, or it may have been that they had no desire to force him to put his threat into execution. At any rate, they took it out in deep mumblings after that.

The scout master saw to it himself that their lashings were secure. Some of the boys had carried along a new supply of food for Abe and his family, understanding the inroads that had been made in their limited stock.

The sick man was full of grat.i.tude for this second rescue on the part of his new-found friends. He told them how these two scoundrels had come to his cabin and taken possession--that he knew who they were, but that some years back they had been honest charcoal burners the same as himself.

"Well," said Mr. Garrabrant, "they graduated from that honest cla.s.s some time ago, and have made names for themselves as yeggmen and thieves.

They are badly wanted right now in Rockaway, where some months back they robbed a residence, and nearly killed a butler who caught them in the act, and recognized them too. Boys, when you feel rested, we will be on our way back to camp with our prisoners. To-morrow I shall take them down the river in a boat, and deliver them over to the authorities."

All of which intelligence made the gloom gather deeper on the hard countenances of Jim Rowdy and Bill Harris.

It took twice as long for them to make the march back to camp as when they went toward the lone cabin. In the first place, some of the boys were almost exhausted, particularly Ted and Lil Artha, who were covering the ground for the second time since noon. Then again, the two men, having their arms bound behind their backs, stumbled so often that they had to be helped.

But along about eleven they came in sight of the cheery camp fire, and how very welcome it did look too. The boys greeted it with a shout, that was answered by those who had been left behind.

When it was seen that they were bringing prisoners back with them, Red and those who had remained at home with the lame scout became thrilled with eagerness to hear the full particulars. Of course the others were just as ready to relate all that had occurred, and for some time the clatter of tongues would have made one believe he must be somewhere in the neighborhood of the Tower of Babel.

Mr. Garrabrant realized that they were dealing with a pair of hard citizens, and he was resolved to leave nothing undone looking to their remaining prisoners. So he personally looked to their bonds before lying down, in order to make sure they could not break loose.

A double guard was to be stationed on this night, because of the unusual conditions existing. It would be too bad, after all their trouble, should any accident occur whereby these men regained their freedom.

So when the camp quieted down finally, there were just four boys stationed at certain points, and with orders to keep the fire burning brilliantly all the time. The balance "slept on their arms," as Lil Artha called it--that is, they kept those handy cudgels close beside them, where they could be readily found in case a sudden need arose for their services. Because Mr. Garrabrant could not be entirely positive that the two prisoners did not have friends of a like character somewhere up here in the wilderness, who might attempt their rescue.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE THINGS THAT MAKE BOYS MANLY.

MR. GARRABRANT laid his plans during the night, and when morning came he announced them to his boys.

"I shall take these two men down to Rockaway to-day," he said, "and deliver them over to the authorities. Ginger will accompany me, and between us we can pull the boat up the current again, starting possibly in the morning. If we arrive there in good time, I may get a car and drive over to Hickory Ridge, for there are several things I ought to see about, that slipped my mind before."

"And if you happen to see anybody who asks about us, sir, just tell them we're getting along dandy," declared Lil Artha.

"So say we all of us," sang out several others of the scouts.

"Tell my folks they were poor prophets," remarked Jasper Merriweather.

"In what way, my boy?" inquired the scout master; though, truth to tell, he could give a pretty good guess.

"Oh! ma, she said she'd give me one night to stay away; and pa, he told her that two would see my finish. But here we're going on our first week, and I'm feeling just fine. Not a bit homesick, tell 'em, Mr.

Garrabrant, please. And bound to stay the whole ten days, or bust."

"Good for you, Jasper, old top!" laughed Lil Artha, patting the real tenderfoot encouragingly on the back.

"And Mr. Garrabrant," put in Ty Collins, who was a pretty good "feeder"

as some of the other boys often remarked, "don't you think you might pick up a little more grub while you have the chance. You see, we didn't count on so many mouths to feed while we were up here, and the way that stuff is disappearing is sure a caution. I know, because I do a lot of the cooking, you see, sir."

"Why, yes, Tyrus, I had that on my mind," laughed the jovial scout master. "And we'll try and find room in the boat for a nice ham, some bacon, and a few more things that boys like. I guess I'm a good provider, taken on the whole. You see, we didn't count on feeding Abe Morris and his family, or these two gentlemen here, besides the frolicsome monkey that has taken a fancy for our eatables. If I happen to run across Colonel Hitchens I shall let him know we've got an eye out for his runaway pet."