CHAPTER IX
NO SURRENDER
"It looks like a set-up job to me!" declared Josh Kingsley, with a ringof honest indignation in his voice.
"They've been hearing so much talk about what a great time we meant tohave, it's just made them green with envy; that's what I think,"ventured Horace Crapsey.
"Yes, but why pick out Big Bear Mountain," Felix wanted to know;"unless they meant to spy on the scouts, and give us all the troublethey could?"
There were signs of anger visible on every side. Scouts may be taughtthat it is noble to forgive those who wrong them, but all the same theyare human, and deep down in their boyish hearts is the resentment anyone with spirit feels at being imposed upon.
"We haven't lifted a finger to interfere with anything that crowdwanted to do," said Walter Douglass, aggressively; "and they have nobusiness to upset our plans."
"Huh! just let them try it, that's all!" grunted Josh, shaking hishead.
"We had an experience something like this over in Winchester, where Ibelonged to the scouts before moving to Lenox," remarked Rob Shaefer,one of the two new boys.
"Do you mean some rowdies tried to make trouble for you?" asked Carl.
"In every way they could," the new boy replied. "We stood it as long aswe could, and then acted."
"What did you do to them?" asked Mr. Witherspoon, with an amused smile,for he liked to see these wide-awake lads figure out their own plans,and was greatly interested in listening to their discussions as theyworked them out.
"When it became unbearable," said Rob, gravely, though his eyestwinkled, "we ducked the whole five in a frog pond, and after that theylet us alone."
"Cooled 'em off, eh?" chuckled Josh, whom the account seemed to amusevery much. "Well, that isn't a bad idea, fellows. Frog ponds have theiruses besides supplying messes of delicious frog-legs for eating.Anybody know of a pond that's got a nice green coating of scum on thetop? That's the kind I'd like to see Tony and his bunch scramblingaround it."
"Oh! the pond will crop up all right when the time comes," assertedFelix Robbins, confidently; "they always do, you know."
"But what are we going to do about this thing?" asked Tom, as thechairman of the meeting. "Motions are in order. Somebody make asuggestion, so we can get the sense of the troop."
"One thing certain," observed George, "we've got to give up the planwe've mapped out, and change our programme--or else count on runningfoul of Tony and his crowd. Which is it going to be?"
A chorus of indignant remonstrances immediately arose.
"Why should we take water when we laid our plans first?" one demanded.
"There are only four of them, all told, while we expect to number ten,perhaps a full dozen!" another scout announced.
"I don't believe in knuckling down to any ugly lot of fellows thatchooses to knock up against us," and Josh must have expressed thefeelings of most of those present when he said this, for there was achorus of "my sentiments exactly," as soon as he finished.
Then, somehow, all eyes began to turn toward the scout master. They hadcome to think a great deal of Mr. Witherspoon. He seemed to have agreat love for boys implanted in his heart, and was thus an idealscout master; for there was always an exchange of sympathy between himand his charges.
"You want to know what I think of it, boys?" he started to say.
"It would have a heap of influence on our actions, sir--even if we didhate to play second fiddle to that crowd," admitted Felix.
"But I can see no reason why we should do that," the scout masterimmediately told them, and at this the anxious look on many faces gaveway to one of satisfaction.
"Then you don't want us to give up the Big Bear Mountain hike, and makeup another programme; is that it, Mr. Witherspoon?" asked Tom, who hadnot been quite so much concerned as some of the others, because hebelieved he knew the nature of their efficient scout master, and thathe was not one of the "back-down" kind.
"Why should we do that?" replied the other, quietly. "We are notsupposed to be aware of the fact that these four rowdies have gone offin that direction. Our plain duty is to follow out our original plans,go about our own business, interfering with no one, and at the sametime standing up for our rights."
At hearing this some of the boys turned and exchanged expressive grins;others even shook hands with each other. Fair play was something theyadmired above all things; and this manly stand on the part of theirscout master pleased them immensely.
"We're all glad to hear you say that, Mr. Witherspoon," the chairman ofthe meeting told him. "I'm sure I voice the sentiments of every scoutpresent when I say that while we'll try to avoid trouble up to acertain point, there's going to be a limit to our forbearance."
"And the frog-pond cure is always available as a last resort," addedthe new boy from Winchester.
"Now let us try to forget all about this disagreeable topic, and go onwith the discussion concerning the things we should take with us," thescout master suggested. "Scouts should always be able to meet anemergency, no matter how suddenly it is forced on them. We'll beprepared, but at the same time not borrow trouble."
Accordingly all mention of Tony Pollock and his scapegrace cronies wasavoided as they once more entered into a warm but perfectly friendlyargument.
There was one among them, however, who seemed to still look troubled.This was no other than Carl Oskamp. Glancing toward his chum severaltimes, Tom could see the lines on his forehead, and he was also ableto give a pretty good guess why this should be so.
Of course, it was all on account of the fact that when George made hisannouncement concerning the movements of Tony Pollock he had statedthat Dock Phillips was one of the group that had left town, bent onspending a week on Big Bear Mountain.
This meant that the new scheme which Carl had expected to "try out" onthe coming Saturday night could not be attempted, because the object ofhis attention would be far away.
Tom meant to comfort his chum after the meeting, when they were walkinghome together. He could see further than Carl, and would be able tofind more or less encouragement in the way things were working.
Scout affairs were certainly picking up in Lenox of late. Perhaps thecoming to town of Rob Shaefer and Stanley Ackerman, who had bothbelonged to troops in the past, may have had considerable to do withit.
At any rate the new Wolf Patrol numbered five, and other boys wereshowing a disposition to make application for membership. Rob Shaeferwas booked for the patrol leader, because of his previous experiencealong those lines, as well as the fact that he was becoming well likedin Lenox boy circles.
The other new boy, while a pretty fair sort of fellow, did not have thesame winning qualities that Rob did. Some of them even thought he feltenvious because of Rob's popularity, though if this were true, he tookthe wrong means to supplant his rival in the affection of their newfriends.
As this would be the last chance to talk things over, every littledetail had to be settled before the meeting broke up. Each boy whoexpected to accompany the expedition starting out to explore Big BearMountain was directed what to carry with him.
"And remember," Mr. Witherspoon told them as a final caution, "weexpect to do much tramping under a hot June sun, so that every ounceyou have to carry along will tell on your condition. Limit your pack tothe bare necessities as we've figured them out, and if necessary thestrong will assist the weak. That's about all for to-night, boys. Sevensharp on Monday morning outside the church here, unless it's stormy.The church bell will ring at six if we are going."
The boys gave a cheer as the meeting broke up. And it was amerry-hearted lot of lads that started forth bound for various homeswhere there would be more or less of a bustle and excitement until thehour of departure arrived on Monday morning.
Tom and Carl walked home together.
"I could see what ailed you, Carl," the patrol leader was saying as helocked arms with his chum; "you felt as though things were goingagainst you when George announced that Dock had left town."
"Because now I'll not have a chance to try out that second plan we'darranged for, and which I had great hopes might succeed," complainedCarl, gloomily.
"Cheer up," urged the other, in his hearty fashion; "perhaps things areworking your way after all. How do we know but that a glorious chancemay come up and that you can win out yet? Dock has gone to Big BearMountain, where we expect to camp. In a whole week or more we're apt torun across him maybe many times. And Carl, something seems to tell meyour chance is going to come while we're off on this hike. Dock hasn'tsettled with Mr. Culpepper yet, that's certain; and he's got that paperhidden away still. Keep up your hopes, and it's sure to come out allright yet. Besides, think what a grand time we're going to have on ourouting!"