CHAPTER XXVI
A VISIT TO TOWN
"Well," remarked Bart, as they walked back to camp with Ned, "there's nouse setting any traps now, Ned. The rabbits were watching you, and theysaw just how they worked, so you couldn't catch the simplest bunny inthese woods."
"I'll make another kind of trap," declared Ned. "I want a rabbit to keepFenn's turtle company."
"Don't bother about it," said Fenn, dryly.
"Why not?"
"Because my turtle got away in the night. He went back to the boilingspring, to join the others for a New Year's celebration, I guess."
"That's so, to-morrow is the last day of this year," observed Frank. "Weought to celebrate it in some way."
"We will," said Bart. "We'll sit up, and watch the old year out and thenew one in, and fire our guns off at twelve o'clock. But what's thematter, Stumpy?" for Fenn was holding the arm injured by the buck, andon his face was an expression of pain.
"It's been hurting considerable since morning," explained the stoutyouth.
"Let me look at it," demanded Bart, and, when the bandages were takenoff, there was disclosed a red and angry sore. The arm was muchinflamed.
"I was afraid of this," said Bart. "We've got to go to town and let adoctor look at this. You may get blood poisoning, Stumpy."
"Oh, I guess not. Can't you put some of the stuff on from the box Alicegave us?"
"I'm afraid to take any chances. Besides, I don't think there isanything strong enough for blood poison in the box. No, fellows, we'llgo to Cannistota. It's only ten miles. We can easily walk there and backin a day, and, if the doctor thinks it better for Stumpy to stay in townover night, so he can treat him, why we can arrange for that, too. We'llstart in the morning, early."
"Then we'll see some of the celebration," put in Frank.
"What celebration?"
"Why the New Year's doings that William Perry said were always held inCannistota. Don't you remember?"
"Sure, that's right," agreed Bart. "It will do us good to make the trip.Game is getting rather scarce around here now, and we must begin tothink of getting back. We certainly have had a swell time, and I don'twant anything to happen to Fenn's arm.
"So get ready, fellows, and we'll make a trip to town, and see whatcivilization looks like. It seems as if we'd been away six months,instead of three weeks."
"Shall we take our guns?" asked Frank.
"Might as well. No telling what game we'll see on our way back, andgoing in. We'll fix up the camp so if we have to stay away over night itwill be all right, though I don't imagine any one will bother it."
"Unless it's that mysterious man," said Ned, significantly. "He may comesnooping around."
"Well, if he does we can't help it," replied Bart, "only I'd like tocatch him."
"And I'd like to get back Mrs. Long's diamond bracelet!" exclaimedFrank, with a flash of his dark eyes. "It's not pleasant to beconsidered a thief!"
"Nobody really believes we took it," declared Fenn.
"Well, don't let's talk about it," declared Bart. "We will try to have agood time in town--that is, if Fenn's arm doesn't get any worse."
"Oh, I don't believe it will," answered the injured lad, pluckily. Butthe sore was very painful.
Preparations for leaving camp were soon under way. The chums had anearly breakfast the next morning--their last breakfast of the year, asNed laughingly remarked--and then, with Fenn's arm well wrapped up, sohe would not take cold in it, and each of the other lads carrying a gun,they started off for the town of Cannistota.
The weather was pleasant, though a bit cold, and the sun was shiningbrightly on the snow which still covered the ground. The going at firstwas heavy, for it was through the woods, over a trail hard to discern,but when they struck the lumber road, leading into Cannistota, thetraveling was easier.
They saw no game, save some rabbits, and a few squirrels, but they wouldnot shoot at these. They could not make very good time, and it wasnearly noon when they came in sight of the town, which lay in a valley,surrounded on all sides by hills.
"Now for the doctor," decided Bart, "and then we'll see what's goingon."
"And get dinner," added Ned, who was fond of his meals.
"Sure," added Frank, who was no less a good handler of knife and fork.
As the lads entered the main street of the town they were struck by thefestive appearances on every side. Stores and houses were draped withflags and bunting, while from several electric-light poles men werestringing long wires, with small incandescent bulbs of various colorsfastened on at intervals. This was in the centre of the place, where thetwo main streets crossed, and, on inquiring, the lads learned that itwas planned to hold a sort of procession, with the Old Year, typified byFather Time, going out, while the New Year came in. This formality wouldoccur in the centre of the town, under a canopy of colored electriclights. In addition there were to be bands of music, songs, and othernumbers on a festive program.
"Say, we ought to stay and take this in," suggested Ned, as he saw thecarnival spirit manifested on every side.
"Maybe we will," assented Bart, "after we hear what the doctor saysabout Fenn's arm."
The medical man looked grave when he saw the injury caused by the buck'shorn.
"There is nothing to be unduly alarmed about," he said, "but it is wellthat you came in time. It needs attention, and while fresh cool air,such as you get in camp, is good, I shall have to treat the wound withantiseptics. You must remain in town at least three days."
The boys were a little dismayed to hear this, but as they had madetentative plans to be away from camp if necessary, it did not altogetherupset their calculations. The doctor gave Fenn some medicine, dressedthe sore, and recommended the lads to a quiet hotel, to stay while thewound was being looked after.
"You'll enjoy your visit to Cannistota," the doctor said with a smile,"for we always have a good time here on New Years. There is plenty ofexcitement."
The boys were soon to find that this was true in an unusual sense, forthey took part in a most exciting scene.
"Well," remarked Fenn, as they came away from the office of the medicalman, "it might be worse. What'll we do now?"
"Let's eat," suggested Ned, and they all fell in with this proposal.