CHAPTER XII
A CAMP BY THE ROADSIDE
"Let me have a tent, will you, somebody?" cried Jud Elderkin.
"Me for the cooking outfit!" sang out Bobolink, though his knowledge ofaffairs connected with the preparing of food was extremely limited,owing to lack of experience. But then Bobolink, as well as all the restof the troop, would be considerably wiser before they slept again undera roof.
Many hands made light work, and the contents of the supply wagon weresoon distributed to the several patrols. There were two tents for each,four fellows sleeping under each canvas shelter.
Paul was busy from the minute the procession turned into the woodsbordering the road. He had to see that the right situations wereselected for putting up the tents, in case a sudden downpour of raincame upon them. A mistake in this particular might result in having apond around the sleepers, and add a soaking to their blankets andclothes.
But Paul had figured on this during the previous visit made here. He hadeven marked off the position he wished every tent to occupy, and thismade it easier.
Many of the scouts were really proficient in erecting the canvasshelters, and in a very brief time the scene began to present quite amartial appearance, such as half a dozen tents in a bunch must alwaysmake.
Each had a waterproof fly over the whole, which was calculated to shedrain _if let alone_. Besides there were a couple of other open coversput up, which would be useful in case of rain, one for storing things,the other as a mess tent, where meals could be partaken of in comfort,despite the weather.
After that three fires were started, one for each patrol. These were notof the big, roaring kind that usually serve campers as their means ofcooking. Later on they expected to have one such, around which togather, and tell yarns, and sing their school songs; but the cookingfires must be built along entirely different lines.
A hole was dug in the ground, with a frontage toward the wind. When thiswas pronounced deep enough a fire was carefully kindled in it, and fedwith small stuff until it could take stronger food. So by degrees thedepression became filled with red cinders, sending off a tremendousheat, yet not showing more than fifty feet away. An enemy might pass itby twice that distance, without discovering it was there.
Besides, one could cook over such a fire with comfort, and not scorchingboth face and hands in the effort.
Paul had learned the trick from an Indian with whom he once camped; andever since that time he had never made a big, roaring blaze when hewanted to cook.
That was only one of dozens of useful things those Stanhope boys wouldpick up while on this wonderful hike into the wilderness. WallaceCarberry had a lot of information packed away in that big head of his,and there would be plenty of occasions when he could help Paul out inaccomplishing things in the proper way.
So eager were the boys to taste their first meal under canvas that theycould hardly be held in check.
"Why," said Paul, laughing when some of them pleaded with him, anddeclared they were bordering on a state of actual starvation; "if we atenow, a lot of you would be hungry again before we turned in. I figure onthree square meals a day; but four would upset all my calculations. Halfan hour more, boys. Suppose you get a few pictures of this first camp?They'll be worth while."
In this fashion did he manage to keep them from dissatisfaction. At lasthe gave the word that allowed the various cooks to set to work. Therewas no lack of helpers, for every fellow hung around, watching thepeeling of the potatoes with hungry eyes; but when a delicious aromabegan to arise from the first frying pan set over the hot fire, some ofthem backed away, unable to stand it longer.
William, as the champion flapjack tosser of the entire troop, was ofcourse in big demand at the fire of his patrol. He had brought along awhite cook's cap which he insisted on donning as he hovered over hisoutdoor range, and gave his orders to willing subordinates.
That meal was one never to be forgotten by any of the boys. To a numberit proved the very first they had ever eaten under similar conditions;and with ravenous appetites, whetted by the long tramp, and the cool airthat came with evening, it seemed as though they could devour the entiremess alone.
But their eyes proved larger than their capacities, for there was plentyfor all, and no one complained of not being satisfied when the mealended.
Each patrol had a regularly-organized system whereby the work might bedivided up, and every fellow get his share. Hence there could be nofavors shown, and no chance for disputes.
One of the leading rules was that duty came before play. Consequentlythe tin platters, cups, knives, forks and spoons, as well as whatutensils had been used in preparing the dinner, were cleaned and laidaway before Paul allowed the big fire to be started.
Each patrol cook was allowed to have what he thought would best pleasethose for whom he labored. Paul exercised only a general supervisionover the whole matter, in order to make sure that there was nounnecessary waste. Consequently there would always be more or lessrivalry between the three patrols, and much good natured "joshing" withregard to what they had to eat.
Once that bonfire was started, the scene assumed a different aspect. Theglow lighted up the encampment, and filled the Banner Boy Scouts with afeeling of pardonable pride, because each one felt that he had apersonal ownership in the camp under the wide spreading oak.
After a time they grew merry. William joked, another told a story thatsent them into fits of laughter, and then songs were sung.
"How different they sound out here in the woods!" declared Wallace, asthe last notes of a favorite air died away.
He was possibly the most satisfied member of the troop, for his love ofthe open air life had always been profound.
"Say, fellows, how about settling down to the prosy life after this gayold jaunt; tell me about that?" demanded William.
There was a storm of disapproval.
"Don't make us feel bad, old fellow!" pleaded one.
"Me for the gay life of a gypsy!" declared another.
"Why, I'll have to run away, and join that circus, I just guess!"laughed a third.
But Paul only smiled. He knew a change would come over the spirit oftheir dreams presently. They were now tasting the joys of outdoor life.Everything was delightful around them. The air was fine, the sky filledwith stars, plenty of good food near at hand, and the first night on theroad yet to be endured.
Wait until the rain came down in buckets, drenching them to the skin;see what sort of enthusiasm would show up when perhaps their supply offood gave out, and they were hard put to get enough to appease theirsavage appetites; given a week away from the loved ones at home, and howmany of these bold spirits would still be able to declare with all theirhearts that the life in the open was the real thing?
"Of course we put a guard out to-night, Paul?" asked Jack, as he creptclose up to where his chum sat on a blanket, watching the fun going onaround the fire.
"That is a sure thing. We must never forget that, while a peaceorganization, we wear uniforms, and are acting under military rules.Besides, perhaps it wouldn't be just right for me to say this to therest, but I can whisper it to you, Jack--somehow I seem to have a dimsuspicion that we may entertain visitors before morning."
Jack started and looked at his chum anxiously.
"Now you sure can't think any of those circus canvasmen would take thetrouble to follow us?" he muttered, shaking his head in bewilderment;"because they know mighty well we haven't got a thing they'd want,outside of our grub. Oh! that makes me think of something. I begin tosmell a rat now, Paul. You mean Ted and his crowd."
Paul nodded in response, and smiled mysteriously.
"Any reason for thinking that?" Jack went on, "or are you just saying iton general principles, like?"
"I'll tell you," replied Paul, readily enough; "but please say nothingto the boys. It may be I'm too suspicious, you see, and I wouldn't liketo be called a false alarm. But just think how particular that bunch wasto stay back until we had left town. They claimed th
ey weren't ready;but I chance to know that was all a fake."
"You mean so they might follow, and give us all the trouble they could?"asked Jack, indignantly.
"Just so," Paul went on, in a low voice. "Another thing; they expectedto make use of their wheels in coming up here. Ted laughed at the ideaof having a tent. True woodsmen, he claimed, never had any need of sucha thing, being able to make a good shelter that would shed rain out ofleaves and branches."
"But they said they didn't expect to leave until afternoon. That wouldgive us a long lead, Paul," Jack ventured.
"Shucks! what would nine miles be to fellows on wheels? They could justeat up that distance, and not half try," answered his chum.
"But somebody said they meant to take the other road that winds aroundso, and joins this one ten miles further on. Do you believe that, Paul?"
"I just think that was said to pull the wool over our eyes. Those chapshave started out with the one idea of bothering us all they can,"answered the scout leader.
"Now look here; what's the use of beating about the bush like that,Paul? You've got some reason for being so dead sure. You've seensomething, haven't you?" and Jack pressed still closer to the other ashe waited for a reply.
"Well, yes, I have," came the low response.
"Please tell me what you saw then!" asked Jack, almost holding hisbreath in suspense.
"Just before dark a boy on a wheel came around the bend, and then,seeing our tents, dropped off to hide in the brush along the side of theroad," replied Paul.