The Outdoor Chums - Captain Quincy Allen
"Along the edge o' the swamp half a mile off. They's jest rafts o' 'em
thar. As a rule the pelts bring about fifteen cents each, but jest now
thar's quite a boom on, an' I reckon I'll git sixty apiece."
"That's fine. What else do you catch here in season?" asked Jerry.
"Wall, a few mink, not many, once in a long while an otter, fur which I
git twenty dollars. Then I caught three bobcats last winter, seven foxes,
eleven 'coon, half a dozen 'possums, an' two black b'ars, though one o'
them I shot arter we had a right lively argyment."
"Whew! then there _are_ bears around here?" asked Will, eagerly; "what
wouldn't I give to get a picture of one in its wild state?"
The old man laughed.
"Kinder risky business a shootin' _that_ thing at a b'ar, 'specially a
she-b'ar as has young uns nigh. Like as not she'd rush ye. Now, I got a
skin here with the head on it, an' if it comes to the wust we might rig
that up, natural like, so ye cud git a picter o' a wild an' ferocious
beast coming at ye on his hind legs."
"Oh! I hope I won't have to descend to a fake like that. But we've come
to put in the day with you, Jesse. Show us how you set your traps,
won't you?"
"Sartin I will. Was jest startin' out for a turn when ye showed up; so
s'pose ye drop in line. It won't take more'n an hour or two, boys."
They were delighted at the chance, Will lugging his camera along, though
the old trapper cast a dubious eye on the affair, as if he did not wholly
like the idea of visiting his traps with such a "contraption," something
unheard of in his experience.
"Now, don't even whisper, fellers. Here's the swamp and my traps begins
clost by. I'll show ye all about it by signs. Dumb trappers is most
successful, they sez," remarked Jesse, holding up his hand.
The three boys followed close at his heels, each picking his way, and
walking on his tiptoes, as though that would make any difference.
So they entered the edge of the swamp.
Suddenly the man came to a halt and stooping, pointed ahead.
"Looky yonder," he whispered hoarsely, "that's somebody stealing out o'
my traps!"
CHAPTER VIII
WHERE IS BLUFF?
"Where?" gasped Will, making as if anxious to get a snapshot of the thief
in the very act.
"Keep quiet!" whispered Frank, giving him a push.
There was some one bending over the edge of the water, for they could
catch a glimpse of his back.
"Stay here an' watch me scare the critter!" said old Jesse, with a frown.
He glided forward, very like an Indian brave creeping up on his enemy.
Whoever the offender might be, he seemed to have no suspicion that danger
hung over his head.
Suddenly the trapper jumped forward, and the boys saw him seize his prey.
"Wow! talk about your wildcats springing, that was a corker!"
Jerry led the way forward, though hard put to it to keep ahead of his
eager companions, anxious to assist the trapper if he needed help.
"Take that, you pelt thief, and that! Let me ketch ye at my traps agin
an' I'll jest waste a bullet on one o' yer legs. Kim up here an' steal my
skins, will ye? Thar's another fur ye. Oh, howl all ye want to, I'm
larnin' ye a lesson."
The hearty kicks with which he punctuated this speech brought forth a
whoop of pain from the recipient on each occasion.
"Why, it's Pet Peters!" exclaimed Frank.
There was a snap.
"Thank you!" cried Will, with a satisfied grin; he had succeeded
in taking a snapshot of the struggling couple while their faces
were exposed.
"It'll do as evidence when I want ter send this critter to jail, which
I'll sartin do if he ever comes a foolin' 'round my traps agin. I bet
that snake Bud Rabig set him up ter it. Skeered to come hisself, an'
sends a boy. Now, you git!"
This time the kick was so tremendous that it actually lifted Andy
Lasher's crony clear off his feet, and started him in a mad flight along
the edge of the swamp. As he ran wildly he kept bellowing in pain, and
holding both hands back of him.
The temptation was more than Will could stand, and another "click"
announced that he had secured a second retreating view of the poacher.
"At this rate I'll soon have my six rolls done," he announced,
triumphantly.
"What harm did he do?" asked Frank.
The trapper made an investigation.
"Jest ketched him in time. Ye see he bed got the game outen the steel,
an' was tryin' to sot the trap again so as I wouldn't know it. That
proves he was sent up here by that sneakin' Bud Rabig; fur what would the
boy know about fixin' a trap if he didn't git guided?"
Jerry picked up the drowned muskrat and examined it.
"Pretty soft fur it has. Lots of it used nowadays I understand,"
he observed.
"Yas, but mostly under other names. Fur is a-gittin' skeercer all the
time, an' they hev to come to stuff they used to larf at. Now watch me
sot her, boys."
They were all interested in the manner in which the trap was set, for
much care and ingenuity is required in order to outwit the cautious
instincts of the animal; though muskrats are not half so timid as some
other animals whose fur is coveted by the trappers.
"Now fur the next trap. Hope I don't find a thief has be'n thar too,"
said Jesse.
Evidently Pet Peters had just started in to follow up the line of traps,
as described to him by Bud Rabig the rival of old Jesse, for they saw no
more evidences of a visit.
When an hour had passed they were carrying five victims of the
steel traps.
Jerry did not much fancy the business.
He tried to be a thorough sportsman all the time, and anything that
savored of the habits of a game butcher, or trapping and shooting for the
market, grated on his nerves.
After this Jesse led them to where he had a bear trap located, and here
they were compelled to exercise considerable caution, because Bruin is a
suspicious beast, and easily frightened away.
But the trap was not sprung; and Jesse from a little distance explained
to his young friends how it lay concealed under the fallen leaves at a
place where he knew a bear frequented in passing to and fro.
"I'm goin' to look up his den in a few days, before he shuts in fur the
winter, an' sot my trap, whar he's jest bound to tread in it goin' or
comin'. Now, if so be ye feels that way, let's git back to camp an' hatch
up some sorter dinner Ever eat musquash, boys?"
"What, eat muskrats?" exclaimed Jerry, in disgust.
"I never have, but would like to try the dish," remarked Frank. "Up in
Maine the trappers told me they were fine in winter weather."
Will said not a word, but his lip curled, as though nothing could tempt
him to even take a taste of such a queer dish.
It was high noon when they arrived at the shack of the old trapper, and
all of the boys felt sharp pressed with hunger.
"I hope he's got something else besides muskrat--ugh!" said Jerry to
Will.
"I saw part of a deer hanging up before we left here," replied the other.
Jerry licked his lips in anticipation.
"Venison, real venison, fresh in the woods! Tell me about that, will you?
I'm in on that deal every time. I hope he cooks enough of it."
There was little danger of the trapper allowing any of his guests to
go hungry.
"Boys, I want you all to help me git a fine dinner. Frank, I knows you
are used to makin' up a good cookin' fire, you 'tend to that part
Jerry, see that ere haunch o' venison hangin' from the limb o' that
tree--jest git her down an' cut off some slices, all this here big
fry-pan'll hold, an' put some pieces o' salt pork in along with it,
'cause ye see venison is mighty dry. Bill, p'raps ye kin look arter the
coffee part o' the bizness."
Immediately everybody became busy.
Old Jesse went away with a couple of the muskrats, and when he came back
later he had them skinned and ready for cooking; an operation the boys
watched with considerable uneasiness.
Finally the meal was ready, and they sat down.
The venison tasted prime, and the coffee was pretty good; at least it was
hot, and on a cool day that counts for a good deal.
Jerry and Will watched their comrade bravely take a portion of the
musquash.
"How is it?" asked Jerry, for there had not been enough of the venison
after all to appease their appetites.
"Bully. Just try for yourselves. I've eaten much worse dishes right at
home," was the immediate reply of the stout-hearted Frank.
Old Jesse chuckled and gave him a look of appreciation.
Thereupon both of the others took a very dainty help, and with much
hesitation tasted of the dish; but both came back for more, and in the
end pronounced the new dish all right.
"Why, fellows," said Frank, laughing, "it was the same with terrapin
years ago. People along the Eastern Shore used to consider the
diamond-back as common as dirt."
"So I was reading the other day," admitted Jerry.
"Yes, sir, so common that when men hired out they stipulated in the bond
that they were not to be fed on terrapin. Then the fashionable people
took a fancy for the dish, the supply ran low, and now a decent-sized
terrapin is worth five dollars. Perhaps muskrats may become popular the
same way, who knows?" laughed Frank.
At which the trapper roared, seemingly thinking it a great joke.
He showed them how he took the skins off, and stretched them on
his frames.
"Not too tight, boys; and then keep 'em in the open air in the shade,
away from the fire, till they gits right dry. Some we take off whole, an'
others is slit up, jest accordin' to the kind."
All this sort of thing was eagerly listened to, especially by Frank and
Jerry, always interested in everything that pertained to hunting and
wild animals.
Will had his mind bent upon one subject, and could not bear to think of
anything else; in camp and out, he kept his eyes on the alert for
subjects suitable for striking pictures with which to embellish his
account of the outing trip.
So the afternoon began to wane almost before they were aware of it.
"Time we were making tracks for home, fellows," announced Frank.
"What will Bluff and Toby think has become of us, I wonder,"' said Will.
"Him? Why, he's forgotten we're in existence. He can never get that jay
gun out of his mind. Talk about your phonograph, he's sure the worst
repeater I ever heard, and that's no fairy story," grunted Jerry.
"Well, come along boys. Jesse, you must run over and have dinner with us
some afternoon. We dine at night, you see. Will you come?" asked Frank,
shaking hands.
"I sartin will, and soon at that. Glad ye thought 'bout the ole lone
trapper, boys. Come agin, soon, an' any time. An', Bill, when ye git them
picters printed remember I'm in one, an' that pelt thief, too."
"I'll see you get copies of both. Good-by!" called out Will.
They trudged back with less ambition to make time than when on the
morning tramp, for all of them were feeling a little stiff. As they came
in sight of the home camp, Jerry broke out with:
"Say, she looks some nice, with the two tents standing there, and old
Toby working around."
"Do you see Bluff?" asked Frank, a trifle uneasily.
"Why, no, but what makes you say that?"
"I've got a suspicion about him, that's all Hello, Toby, everything
all right?"
"Sho, Marse Frank, eberything am lubly an' de goose hangs high."
"How about Bluff--where is he?"
"Don't no nuffin' 'bout dat boy; he went off in de mornin' an' ain't
kim back."
"Just what I feared, fellows," said Frank. "That silly chap has gone
hunting up the camp of the Lasher crowd, and like as not got himself
in trouble."
CHAPTER IX
JERRY TAKES CHANCES
The announcement of Frank stunned both the others for a moment.
"Do you really believe that?" asked Will, uneasily, at length.
"It would be just like Bluff to take chances. He never counts the cost.
Yes, sir, I just wager he started for that camp before we had been gone
half an hour."
"But how would he know where to find those fellows?" asked Will.
"Oh! he knew, all right. We talked it over last night when you were busy
with your camera, after we chased around for the stone-thrower; and
agreed that since Andy and his mates couldn't get this camp-site, the
next best place for them to go would be that little cabin up near the
shore of the lake," said Jerry.
"You mean the one the charcoal burners used to live in long ago?"
"Yes. And as Bluff has been around this section more than once, he must
have known how to get there. Five to one he burst right into the camp and
demanded his gun."
"Do you think so?" said Jerry, uneasily.
"That is his way. And you can just guess that he got into hot water
before half a minute had gone," returned Frank.
"Would they hurt Bluff?" asked Will, beginning to show unexpected
feeling.
"Well, they might, especially if he accused them of stealing his gun.
Besides, if he happened to see it there I wouldn't put it past Bluff to
tackle the whole bunch in the effort to get his property," Frank went on.
Jerry had thrown his gun down as if ready to drop over himself. He now
stooped and picked it up again.
"Come on, fellows; there's only one thing for us to do," he said.
"And that's to hike over to that shanty and find out if they've got our
chum there a prisoner," finished Frank.
Will made no move to leave his beloved camera behind.
"Hide it somewhere," suggested Frank; "for it will be too dark by the
time we get across to their camp to take a picture decently."
"I guess not," observed the other, calmly; "you see I'm prepared to snap
off a flashlight picture at any old time. Here's after you, Frank."
Uncle Toby had witnessed this threatened exodus with signs of alarm.
"Whar ye gwine, Marse Frank? Ain't 'spectin' to leab dis chile erlone
hyah be yuh? I doan't like dem owls a-whoopin' dar in de big timber: an'
I sure reckons dar might be bars an' wildcats a-snoopin' round dis yer
camp ter-night."
"We expect to be back before a great while, Uncle Toby. Just be getting
supper ready for us in an hour or so. And have a good fire. Wild beasts
will never trouble any one when backed by a blaze, remember. So-long!"
When they looked back, they could see the ancient darkey gazing with
longing glances, as if he might be tempted to chase after them.
"Do you think Bluff can be in trouble?" asked Jerry, showing real
solicitude in his voice and manner.
"I'm a little afraid of it. And I want to say right here that both of you
have shown the right spirit in agreeing to come with me so quickly. It
does you credit, boys," remarked Frank.
Will seemed to puff up a bit under the compliment, but Jerry sneered.
"Oh! I don't consider that anything at all. Bluff is a good fellow in
spite of his butcher instincts, and I guess he'd go out of his way to
help me," he said.
Frank looked at him, and opened his mouth to speak, but on second thought
changed his mind.
Jerry seemed to know more about the woods than either of his chums. He
had little trouble in guiding them across the territory that separated
the rival camps, which was not more than a mile or so.
"I can see the glow of a fire ahead," announced Will, presently.
"That's the place we're aiming for; the lake lies beyond. I've fished
from the point many a time," pursued Jerry.
"And when are we going to try for fish; I brought my rod and lines along,
thinking we'd have a fish dinner some fine day?" complained Will.
"Wait, there's plenty of time. The season is nearly over, but if a warm
day comes along we ought to be able to get some bass, I think," remarked
Frank, who was something of an authority in that line.
"I can see figures moving about like black ghosts," announced Jerry.
"Say, fellows, this is getting real exciting, creeping up on a rival
camp with the intention of holding up the whole kit at the muzzle of
our guns."
"Oh! I hope it won't come to such a desperate point as that. I'd
rather not have any trouble with that Lasher if it can be avoided,"
ventured Frank.
"But if they've got our chum tied to a tree a prisoner?" demanded Jerry.
"In that case we'll make sure that he's set free, no matter what the
consequences," was the immediate response from the leader.
As they drew nearer to the fire they could begin to make out the identity
of those who were moving about.
Andy Lasher could be easily seen, as he always took it upon himself to be
the high pin of any gathering of the clans in which he moved; then there
was the fellow who had been caught stealing from the traps of Jesse
Wilcox that morning, still limping painfully whenever he walked.
Besides these two there were five other boys present
"A tough-looking bunch," muttered Jerry, as he trailed along after Frank.
"I don't see anything of Bluff, though," whispered the other, over
his shoulder.
"Perhaps they've got him inside the cabin. If you two would agree
to stay here, I'll volunteer to creep up back of it and find out,"
said Jerry.
"You're all right, old fellow. Just the kind to tie to," replied Frank.
"Oh! I don't know. Any one of you would do the same for me. Besides,
I guess--but then, it doesn't matter. Will you wait here, boys?"
asked Jerry.
"Draw a little closer. Then let Will have your gun while you're away."
Jerry handed it over a little regretfully; indeed, he had calculated on
carrying the weapon himself, though it must have been in the way.
They saw him creep off.
For quite some little time they watched, ready to rush forward if any
sound announced that Jerry had been discovered, and was in trouble.
"They're getting supper. Don't look like our outfit, does it?" whispered
Will, as he and Frank crouched there in the brush, waiting and watching.
"I should say not; still, the appetite is the main thing in the woods. A
hungry man can forgive anything. Look behind the shack--isn't that
something moving?"
What Frank had said was true, for just then Jerry crept across an open
space, and for a few seconds they saw him plainly.
Then he daringly slipped in through the open door of the cabin,
doubtless taking advantage of the attention of the campers being turned
elsewhere.
"Come on, move up a little. I'm too nervous now to stay quiet,"
said Frank.
While they were thus advancing there suddenly arose a tremendous clamor.
It appeared to issue from the interior of the dilapidated cabin in which
Andy's crowd had taken up their quarters.
"Oh! what has happened now?" exclaimed Will, scrambling to his feet.
"Look!" cried Frank.
Something came flying out of the door of the shack, and landing in a heap
rolled over and over, clawing at every object within reach.
Then it sat up and looked around in a frightened way.
"Why, it's Ben Cooper!" said Will, partly relieved.
"And he's met up with Jerry!" added Frank, grimly, as he watched eagerly
to see what else took place in the little opening where the camp had
been pitched.
The boys were all on their feet. They seemed to be staring at their
half-dazed comrade as though hardly able to grasp the real meaning of the
conditions.
Then Andy gave a shout.
"Hey, you fellers, look at that door go shut! The prisoner must have got
loose! How about it, Ben Cooper? What happened to you?"
"They's another feller in there 'sides the prisoner. He knocked me
clean silly, and threw me out o' the door," whined the other, rubbing
his head dismally.
"Who was it--any of that crowd from over by the hemlocks?" demanded Andy,
much excited, and apparently ready to tear up things generally.
"I reckon 'twar that Jerry Wallington--wait till I gets him some day,
that's all."
"Hey, fellers, d'ye hear that? Another of that lot bagged in the cabin.
Come on, an' we'll do him up!" yelled the brawny leader, rushing forward.
When he reached the door, he tried in vain to break it open. It
seemed to be braced in such a manner that he could make no impression
on the planks.
"Bring me the ax, somebody!" he howled, after beating his fists vainly
against the panel.
One of his followers made haste to obey. When Andy was aroused in this
way the bravest of them did not dare brook his anger.
He immediately swung the implement about his head.
Crash! went the ax into the door, which began to split under the
vigorous assault, as though unable to stand long before such tactics.
"He'll do it--he's going to break his way in; and I've got Jerry's gun!
Oh! dear what shall we do?" exclaimed Will.
"Stop that chopping, you!" shouted Frank, running forward with
raised gun.
CHAPTER X
UNCLE TOBY FLIES HIGH
"Here, don't shoot!" shouted Andy, dodging behind one of his companions.
"We surrender!" cried another, throwing up his hands.
Frank and Will looked very threatening as they advanced. Both of them had
their guns leveled, and besides, the latter was encumbered with his
camera, so that he presented the appearance of being fairly loaded down
with war material.
"Hey, Jerry, open up!" called Frank.
The door of the shack immediately began to move, and presently it was
shoved aside, with the ax still sticking in its planking, just as Andy
had left it.
"Talk about your rescue parties, say, don't this take the cake?"
exclaimed a familiar voice, and Jerry's head was thrust out of the
opening.
"Is Bluff there?" demanded Frank.
"Sure," came in the voice of their missing chum.
A second head had by this time shown up.
"Hey, you, Franky boy, what d'ye mean bombarding our camp in this way?
What have we done to your crowd, I'd like to know, to be treated like
dogs? First there was that Bluff Masters a-walkin' in here an' accusing
us of stealing his blamed old gun, when the only one we've got is a
musket Pet owns. Now you come tearing up things."
Andy was evidently getting indignant; but all the same he kept on the
watch, and whenever he thought he saw one of those weapons pointing in
his direction he slipped quietly behind one of the others.
"That's all right. Bluff has lost his gun; somebody took it from our camp
last night just after a shower of rocks came in on us and we rushed out
to find the fellow who sent them. He thought it was one of your crowd,
and I guess he came over to ask. What business had you tying him up like
a convict, tell me that?"
Frank put this to him sternly. At the same time he beckoned to Jerry to
make a start out of the cabin, which the other easily understood, and set
about obeying.
"Why, the silly fool was for trying to lick the whole lot of us; said as
how he knew somebody from here had swiped his old gun, and that unless we
handed it over he'd show us. Say, we couldn't stand for that, so we just
sailed in and made him a prisoner. We didn't hurt him much, no more than
he did us. Suppose the lot of you clear out now, and let us alone,"
growled Andy, growing bolder.
"Which we will be only too glad to do. We only wanted to get Bluff back."
There was a sudden brilliant flash, and a shout of alarm from the boys
about the front of the charcoal burners' cabin.
"Got it all right, and I bet it's a dandy!" exclaimed Will.
He had set down Jerry's double-barreled shotgun when he saw what he
considered a good chance to get a picture of the group, and touched off
the little cartridge that allowed him to snatch a flashlight picture.
Two or three of Andy's fellows threw themselves flat on the ground, under
the impression that some one had fired at them; still more of them were
trying to hide behind each other in alarm.
"Hey, take that feller away, won't you? He's sure enough to scare anybody
out of a year's growth," shouted Andy, waving his arms excitedly.
But he knew better than to try and rush forward while Frank stood guard.
There seemed to be an air of determination about that individual that
Andy did not fancy.
By this time Jerry and Bluff had joined their chums.
The latter did not seem any the worse for his long confinement; indeed,
he was grinning as though the scare of his enemies over that flashlight
had amused him.
"We're only too willing to go. I told you before that we didn't mean to
have any trouble with you, if we could help it; but if you start the ball
rolling look out."
"Yes," said Will, on the heels of what Frank had said, "it's a case of
millions for defense, not one cent for tribute."
"Good night, fellows, and thank you for the grub you gave me?" laughed
Bluff, as he waved his hand mockingly toward the group.
Jerry had recovered his gun, and, in a bunch, the four chums walked away.
The others followed them menacingly for a short distance, but every time
one of the two armed lads turned there was a sudden scattering. When Will
whirled around and elevated his camera they fell flat to the ground as
though really alarmed.
"They've turned back," announced Jerry, presently.
"Say, that was fine of you to come in there and rescue me," declared
Bluff, as he caught hold of Jerry's unwilling hand, and squeezed it.
The other seemed to be unusually modest, for he pulled quickly away.
"Beat it, Bluff. You know you'd have done the same for me. I guess I owed
you something for making fun of you so much. Anyhow, it was just bully,
that's what. Talk about your earthquakes and cyclones, I don't think
anything could beat that scare you gave them with your old flashlight
stunt, Will."
"And I reckon it's going to turn out a dandy picture. I just wanted to
get that crowd in some outlandish attitude, and if it proves what I
think, I've done it."