CHAPTER XXI
THE LIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN
"Paul, we're not alone up here after all!"
It was Jack who made this remark. He had been skirmishing around laterin the afternoon; and came upon the other as Paul was standing at theedge of the lake, looking out upon its surface, to where some ducksfloated.
"Well, I never believed we did own the place," returned the patrolleader, with a smile. "But what's happened to give you that idea, Jack?"
"Just by chance," his chum went on, "I saw something moving away up onthe side of the mountain. At first I thought it might be some sort ofanimal; but as I watched I made sure it was human, either a boy or man.And whoever he was he kept track on what we were doing down here. Icould see him crane his neck to look, lots of times."
"But you couldn't recognize him?" asked Paul.
"It was pretty far, and there's a sort of haze around us just now.Sometimes I thought I knew him, and then I made up my mind I didn't,"came the reply.
"Is he still there, Jack?"
"Yes, but don't look up," said his chum, quickly. "We are in too plainsight here. I thought perhaps you might step into the tent and get ourfield glasses. Then we could slip away, and take a good look on the sly.How's that suit you?"
"All right. Meet me at the place where you saw him. Where was that,Jack?"
"See that bunch of hemlocks over yonder? I happened to be partlysheltered back of that when I looked up. I'll wait for you there," andJack moved off.
Two minutes later Paul joined him. He had the field glasses tucked underhis khaki coat, not wishing to attract the attention of the others, lestthey might express a wish to trail along, and so spoil things.
"Now, tell me where to look," he observed, as he suited the glasses tohis eyes, knowing just how far they should be opened to give the bestresults.
Jack pointed carefully upward.
"He's there yet, because I saw him move while I waited for you, Paul,"he said, in an eager tone.
"I've got him," answered the scout leader, as his hands became rigid.
After a brief look he lowered the glasses.
"Well, who is it?" demanded Jack.
For answer his chum offered him the glasses; and presently Jack had hiseyes glued to the smaller end.
When he lowered them a short time later his eyes met those of his chum.Both of them laughed, as though they had exchanged their views in thatglance.
"Ted Slavin?" said Paul.
"Just as sure as fate," went on Jack; "and much interested in ourdoings. That of course means trouble for us at any time. I believe allthose fellows have come up here for is to pick quarrels with us. But Mr.Gordon will know how to handle them when he gets here."
"Meanwhile," said Paul, seriously, "we must be on our guard against asudden attack. We don't want the name of our camp to mean that we weretaken unawares. We'll have things fixed so the boot will be on the otherfoot, if they try to surprise us."
When they looked again, the figure had vanished from that point high upamong the rocks. Evidently Ted, having seen all he wished, had gone totell his cronies the story.
"Where d'ye think they've located; because never a tent did they bringalong?" Jack was asking as they returned to camp.
"Oh! up here that wouldn't matter much. Looks like there might behundreds of caves of all sizes among these piled-up rocks. And a cave isa pretty good hide-out sometimes. I've spent lots of nights in one."
The afternoon sun had vanished behind another elevation that lay to thewest; but night was slow in coming, since these were some of the longestdays of the year.
Paul could not help noticing that Joe Clausin seemed worried once more.He kept by himself a good bit of the time, and his brow was clouded.Then again, he had taken to looking suspiciously about, here and there,up the steep mountainside, and even along the dimly-defined road thatskirted the lake.
It was no mystery to Paul, so far as understanding what Joe might beworrying about went.
"That man with the rig who passed our noon camp on the road--Joe knowshe's up here somewhere, and perhaps he wants to meet up with him--Iwonder why?" was the way the young scoutmaster ran the thing over in hisactive mind.
In one way it did not concern him, because Joe had not asked for hisassistance; but then again it certainly interested Paul. He believedthat there was some odd connection between the loss of those paperscontained in the tin box, and the presence of that stranger in theregion of Rattlesnake Mountain.
Again, as before, the pressure of many other things caused him to pushall concern about the mysterious stranger from his thoughts.
When supper had been cooked and the scouts sat around enjoying itsdelights, the shadows of coming night told that another period of sentryduty was at hand.
"No Mr. Gordon to-night, I reckon," ventured Jud Elderkin, as he satwith his tin plate upon his knees, and scooped up the luscious Bostonbaked beans with his fork; while a steaming tin cup of mild coffee stoodbeside him.
Most of the boys were not used to this appetizing drink for supper; anda few of them did not take it, being satisfied with cold water; but Paulhad considered the matter, and was of the opinion that a little changefrom the regular programme of home life would not hurt these hardychaps, especially as they were so tired that nothing could keep themawake, once they lay down.
"I guess you're right, Jud," remarked Paul, "and I'm sorry too."
"Oh! well, we're not worrying," declared Jud, looking around at the ringof bright faces, and nodding, "are we, fellows?"
"Mr. Gordon's all right, and a mighty fine gentleman; but we don'treally need him," declared one, promptly.
"Not so you could notice it, while we've got such smart guides as Pauland Wallace along," declared Tom Betts.
"D-d-don't you g-g-go to forgetting W-w-william here; he's t-t-turnedout just a w-w-wonder, you know!" burst out Bluff, vigorously waving hisknife and fork.
"It's William the Discoverer after this, fellows; for you know he provedthat this bully old lake was here, long before any of us had set eyes onit!" argued another scout.
"Joking aside, boys," remarked Paul, earnestly, "I hope a few more ofyou will take a pattern from the way William learned that fact. If youonly keep your eyes about you all the time, there are dozens of thingsjust as interesting that you can read in the plain signs. And the deeperyou dig into the Indian way of knowing things the better you'll like it.Please fill up my platter again, William, if there's enough to go arounda second time. You're getting better as a cook every day you live."
As always, the utmost good cheer existed around the rude mess tablewhich had been constructed by several amateur carpenters, while the restwere doing other necessary things.
It was meant to go under the big "round-top," as the scouts came tocall one of the extra canvas spreads; and could be moved to the open atpleasure, during good weather.
"Oh! I think he's a bum chef, and ought to get bounced!"
Every one stared at Joe Clausin as these words appeared to proceed fromhis mouth, and no one looked more surprised than Joe himself.
"If I've just got to eat his messes, you'll have to carry me back togood old Stanhope, and mother's cookin', that's what!" Joe persisted insaying, though no one saw his lips move.
"Hey, what d'ye think of that, fellows?" exclaimed William, trying tolook indignant. "Here I've been breaking my back trying to get up theright kind of grub for the patrol, and this ungrateful member kicks mewhen I ain't looking!"
"But I never----" started Joe, when he was cut short again.
"Now don't you go to saying you didn't mean anything, because the boysheard you speak right out in meetin'!" exclaimed William, getting up,and throwing his hands out as though he meant to wash them of the wholebusiness.
"But William," the accused boy went on, eagerly, "didn't I eat more'nany one else? I declare I never said your cooking was off color. It'sreally decent, and I'm ready to tackle anything you try. Somebody'sjoshing us--somebody's putting the words in my
mouth."
"It's Bobolink changing his voice," called out Paul, laughingly.
"Sure it is!" cried William; "look at his grinning there, for all hemakes out to be so innocent. He's up to his old tricks again, fellows;he's practicing that game of ventriloquism on us, that's what."
Whereupon Joe made a dash for the author of his humiliation; butBobolink had been expecting such a move, and was prepared to sprint outof the danger zone.
It was in this spirit of merriment that they finished their supper. Ifany of the scouts began to feel a homesick sensation creeping over them,they were manly enough to hide it from the eyes of their comrades.
And later on, when the dishes had been washed systematically, andeverything arranged for the night, Paul and Jack sat together watchingthe stirring scene. The campfire glowed and snapped, boyish laughter andsmall talk abounded, and beyond the confines of the camp the sentrieswalked their beats.
"Looks good to me, eh, Jack?" remarked the weary acting scoutmaster.
"Same here," declared his chum, warmly; "though I guess you'll be rightglad when Mr. Gordon comes. To-morrow you said we would have some testsof endurance, whether he is on hand or not. I think that is a good idea.But look yonder, Paul. Isn't that a moving light away up on the side ofRattlesnake Mountain?"
And Paul, turning quickly in the direction indicated, was thrilled todiscover once more the phantom jack-o-lantern flickering light that hadmystified him on that other occasion. This time Wallace could not havesaid it seemed to be made by a man lighting his pipe, for it was toosteady. It moved to and fro, now clear, and again dim. Then even whilethe two boys stared, it suddenly vanished from sight.