CHAPTER VIII -- A Council of War
That night, after Uncle Elk had left the bungalow, Alvin Landon, ChesterHaynes and Mike Murphy held what Alvin called a council of war.
Sauntering a little way from the building, they sat down in the silentdepths of the woods where no one could overhear what was said by them.Not that a Boy Scout would be guilty of eavesdropping, but it was bestthat no inkling of what was in the air should become accidentally knownto others.
Without quoting all the conversation, let me make clear its substance.The three were so mystified by the incidents already told that theydetermined not to cease their efforts until the puzzle was solved. Theywere the only Boy Scouts who knew the particulars, and it was naturalthat their friends should give their chief interest to fishing, ramblingin the forest, studying trees, picking up what they could of naturalhistory, and laying in unnecessary stores of health and strength.
One thing was certain: Uncle Elk knew the secret and he wouldn't tell.More than that, Chester Haynes startled his chums by the declaration:
"So does Mr. Hall,--at least I am pretty sure he does."
"What reason have you for thinking that?" asked the astonished Alvin.
"I have seen them more than once whispering in a way that showed theywere keenly interested."
"Did you hear anything that either said?"
"Not a word."
"How do you know then to what they were referring?"
"I don't; I'm only guessing."
"I belave ye're right," added Mike; "I obsarved the same thing and hadthe same 'spicion, and would have spoke of it if Chest hadn't got aheadof me. But I'm thinking that if Mr. Hall knows it all, why the mischiefdoesn't he tell us afore we bust?"
"For the simple reason that Uncle Elk has bound him to secrecy. No; whatwe find out must be done without the help of either."
"And we'll doot!" exclaimed Mike, "or we'll break a trace trying."
"How shall we go about it?" asked Alvin. "Whatever we do must be donewithout either of them, especially Uncle Elk, knowing it."
"And there's the rub."
Bring three bright-witted boys together and let them concentrate theirmental energies upon the solution of a problem, and even if they don'tsucceed, they are sure to evolve something worth while.
"It is useless to apply to Mr. Hall," said Alvin, "for nothing couldinduce him to violate the confidence of another. But Uncle Elk holds themaster key and can speak when he chooses."
"Which the same is the rule with most folks," commented Mike.
"Now, see here," put in Chester; "he has shown a fondness for you----"
"Can ye name any one of me acquaintances that hasn't?" interrupted thewag.
"Why can't you set to work and coax it out of him?"
"Begorra! haven't I tried more than once. I've hinted and asked himstraight out until I'm in the fix of Phil Rafferty."
"What was that?"
"Phil took a notion that he could butt ivery other admirer of BridgetMulrooney off the track. He kipt at it till one day he towld me he had adim 'spicion that Bridget and her big brother Tarn and her dad of thesame name, not forgitting Bridget her-silf, weren't as fond of him asthey oughter be. They had dropped purty plain hints and the last timePhil called, Bridget remarked sorter off-hand like, that she niverwanted to see his ugly mug agin. Her brother kicked him off the porchand flung him over the fence and the owld gintleman set their dog onhim, which the same nearly choked in trying to swaller the seat of hispants. Phil said he was beginnin' to 'spicion that the family took as awhole, didn't love him as they oughter. It's the same wid Uncle Elk andme. He's riddy to talk on anything excipt the raison them two tramps wasscared into taking a bath, and he won't throw any light on that p'int."
"Then there is no use of either of us trying."
"I could hev towld ye that long ago."
Once more it was Chester who showed the most subtlety.
"Uncle Elk knows that Mike is doing all he can to solve the puzzle; heknows he'll not stop trying till he learns the truth; if Alvin and Ikeep him company, he will understand that we have joined forces. It willbe as easy for him to baffle us three when we are together as to defeatany one of us. Therefore we ought to separate and each push the hunt forhimself."
"Ye've hit it!" exclaimed Mike, "and to encourage ye in good works andto show ye the honor ye oughter hev, I offers ye me hand."
He gravely extended his palm in the gloom and it was warmly shaken.
Let a party of boys engage in some plot--and the same is true ofadults--and their chief fear is that it will be discovered and defeatedby someone else more or less interested. No precaution must beneglected. It was agreed by our friends that no one of them should dropa word in the hearing of others that could rouse curiosity, and not toshow by their manner that anything unusual was on their minds.
One question considered was whether Dr. Spellman should be taken intotheir confidence. He had witnessed the panic of the tramps and was ascurious as the boys to learn its cause. Alvin disposed of the matter.
"I don't see how he can be of any help and he doesn't wish to leave hishome too long since the trouble he had with the bums. Uncle Elk, forsome reason, hates the doctor; the two would be pretty sure to meet ifthe doctor joined forces with us, and the consequences would be bad. Saywhat you please, Uncle Elk has a queer twist in his brain, and I dreaddoing anything that will excite him. Let us work independently of everyone else."
"I'm wid ye," assented Mike, and Chester agreed.
This much decided upon, the particulars of the plan remained to bearranged. Mike proposed that he should saunter off alone to the westernend of the lake, near where Alvin and Chester had gone in the canoeduring the day, and there with no companion should set himself to learnwhat he could. The others would take the opposite course, which wouldlead them to the home of Uncle Elk. They had no intention of questioningthe old man or even letting him know what they had in mind, but wouldemploy their wits as opportunity offered.
Nothing would have been more pleasing than for Mike to use the canoe toreach the western end of the lake, but he decided that the safest coursewas for all three to let the boats alone. The hermit would doubtless beon the watch and would know the errand of the lads.
"Do we need to have signals?" asked Chester.
"What for?" inquired Alvin in turn.
"If one of us finds out something, he will want to tell the others."
"I don't see how the plan can work, for we shall be so far apart thatany call we make will be heard by some of the Scouts and may give thewhole thing away. Whatever comes to light can wait till we meet hereafter supper to-night."
Mike, who had been thoughtful for a minute or two, now spoke:
"We thought that being Mr. Hall's lips are closed, Uncle Elk is the onlyone that can ixplain the queer actions of Biggs and Hutt, but Uncle Elkisn't the only one."
"Who else can do so?"
"Biggs and Hutt."
"That is true," said Alvin, "but I don't believe they would show anymore willingness than Uncle Elk. Besides, after such a fright as theygot yesterday, they are probably miles away at this minute and stillrunning."
"Which doesn't signify that they won't come back again. One would thinkthey would have taken the warning Dr. Spellman gave them, but theydidn't. I believe there is going to be more trouble with those twoscamps," said Chester impressively.
"They've got to behave thimselves," added Mike with more feeling than hehad yet shown, "or I'll git Mr. Hall to lead the whole troop agin 'em."
"You know the Boy Scouts are opposed to all violence."
"And so'm I, excipt whin it's yer dooty to lambaste the ither chap, aswhin he drops a hint that he doesn't think ye're able to doot. If Biggsand Hutt go to stealing or stepping too hard on us, do ye ixpect we'regoing to grin and bear it?"
"Without answering that question," remarked Alvin, "let me suggest thatif any one of us happens to meet either or both the hoboes, he does hisbest to get
an explanation from them. If you don't succeed, no harm willbe done."
"Good counsel," commented Chester, "but I don't believe it will bringany result."
"We mustn't neglect anything----"
"Whisht!" interrupted Mike, suddenly laying his hand on the arm of thiscomrade.
All three became silent, and each distinctly heard faint footfalls froma point deeper in the wood.
"Some one has been listening," whispered Alvin, "but he couldn't haveheard anything."
"And what if he did?" asked Chester; "we have no enemies in this part ofthe world."
Mike had started in the direction of the suspicious sound. He did nottake time to soften the noise of his feet, and the stranger thus warnedhurried away. Evidently he was a better woodman than his pursuer, for hegot over the ground faster. Mike caught a glimpse of him in thestar-gleam, as he emerged on the beach and ran off. A few minutes laterthe Irish youth rejoined his friends.
"Do you know who it was?" asked Alvin.
"No; he didn't spake nor look back. I thought it best to return to ye."
"Why?"
"I hadn't me shillaleh wid me, and I was in too much danger ofoverhauling the spalpeen."