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 of affairs connected with the preparing of food was extremely limited, owing to lack of experience. But then Bobolink, as well as all the rest of the troop, would be considerably wiser before they slept again under a roof.
Many hands made light work, and the contents of the supply wagon were soon 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 woods bordering the road. He had to see that the right situations were selected for putting up the tents, in case a sudden downpour of rain came upon them. A mistake in this particular might result in having a pond around the sleepers, and add a soaking to their blankets and clothes.
But Paul had figured on this during the previous visit made here. He had even marked off the position he wished every tent to occupy, and this made it easier.
Many of the scouts were really proficient in erecting the canvas shelters, and in a very brief time the scene began to present quite a martial appearance, such as half a dozen tents in a bunch must always make.
Each had a waterproof fly over the whole, which was calculated to shed rain if let alone. Besides there were a couple of other open covers put 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 not of the big, roaring kind that usually serve campers as their means of cooking. Later on they expected to have one such, around which to gather, and tell yarns, and sing their school songs; but the cooking fires must be built along entirely different lines.
A hole was dug in the ground, with a frontage toward the wind. When this was pronounced deep enough a fire was carefully kindled in it, and fed with small stuff until it could take stronger food. So by degrees the depression became filled with red cinders, sending off a tremendous heat,
yet not showing more than fifty feet away. An enemy might pass it by twice that distance, without discovering it was there.
Besides, one could cook over such a fire with comfort, and not scorching both face and hands in the effort.
Paul had learned the trick from an Indian with whom he once camped; and ever since that time he had never made a big, roaring blaze when he wanted to cook.
That was only one of dozens of useful things those Stanhope boys would pick up while on this wonderful hike into the wilderness. Wallace Carberry 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 in accomplishing things in the proper way.
So eager were the boys to taste their first meal under canvas that they could hardly be held in check.
"Why," said Paul, laughing when some of them pleaded with him, and declared they were bordering on a state of actual starvation; "if we ate now, a lot of you would be hungry again before we turned in. I figure on three square meals a day; but four would upset all my calculations. Half an 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 last he gave the word that allowed the various cooks to set to work. There was no lack of helpers, for every fellow hung around, watching the peeling of the potatoes with hungry eyes; but when a delicious aroma began to arise from the first frying pan set over the hot fire, some of them backed away, unable to stand it longer.
William, as the champion flapjack tosser of the entire troop, was of course in big demand at the fire of his patrol. He had brought along a white cook's cap which he insisted on donning as he hovered over his outdoor range, and gave his orders to willing subordinates.
That meal was one never to be forgotten by any of the boys. To a number it proved the very first they had ever eaten under similar conditions; and with ravenous appetites, whetted by the long tramp, and the cool air that came with evening, it seemed as though they could devour the entire mess alone.
But their eyes proved larger than their capacities, for there was plenty for all, and no one complained of not being satisfied when the meal ended.
Each patrol had a regularly-organized system whereby the work might be divided up, and every fellow get his share. Hence there could be no favors shown, and no chance for disputes.
One of the leading rules was that duty came before play. Consequently the tin platters, cups, knives, forks and spoons, as well as what utensils had been used in preparing the dinner, were cleaned and laid away before Paul allowed the big fire to be started.
Each patrol cook was allowed to have what he thought would best please those for whom he labored. Paul exercised only a general supervision over the whole matter, in order to make sure that there was no unnecessary waste. Consequently there would always be more or less rivalry between the three patrols, and much good natured "joshing" with regard to what they had to eat.
Once that bonfire was started, the scene assumed a different aspect. The glow lighted up the encampment, and filled the Banner Boy Scouts with a feeling of pardonable pride, because each one felt that he had a personal ownership in the camp under the wide spreading oak.
After a time they grew merry. William joked, another told a story that sent them into fits of laughter, and then songs were sung.
"How different they sound out here in the woods!" declared Wallace, as the last notes of a favorite air died away.
He was possibly the most satisfied member of the troop, for his love of the open air life had always been profound.
"Say, fellows, how about settling down to the prosy life after this gay old 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 of their dreams presently. They were now tasting the joys of outdoor life. Everything was delightful around them. The air was fine, the sky filled with stars, plenty of good food near at hand, and the first night on the road 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 of food gave out, and they were hard put to get enough to appease their savage appetites; given a week away from the loved ones at home, and how many of these bold spirits would still be able to declare with all their hearts that the life in the open was the real thing?
"Of course we put a guard out to-night, Paul?" asked Jack, as he crept close up to where his chum
sat on a blanket, watching the fun going on around the fire.
"That is a sure thing. We must never forget that, while a peace organization, we wear uniforms, and are acting under military rules. Besides, perhaps it wouldn't be just right for me to say this to the rest, but I can whisper it to you, Jackâsomehow I seem to have a dim suspicion 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 the trouble 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 to smell 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 it on general principles, like?"
"I'll tell you," replied Paul, readily enough; "but please say nothing to the boys. It may be I'm too suspicious, you see, and I wouldn't like to be called a false alarm. But just think how particular that bunch was to stay back until we
had left town. They claimed they 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 expected to make use of their wheels in coming up here. Ted laughed at the idea of having a tent. True woodsmen, he claimed, never had any need of such a thing, being able to make a good shelter that would shed rain out of leaves and branches."
"But they said they didn't expect to leave until afternoon. That would give us a long lead, Paul," Jack ventured.
"Shucks! what would nine miles be to fellows on wheels? They could just eat up that distance, and not half try," answered his chum.
"But somebody said they meant to take the other road that winds around so, 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 chaps have 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 seen
something, haven't you?" and Jack pressed still closer to the other as he waited for a reply.
"Well, yes, I have," came the low response.
"Please tell me what you saw then!" asked Jack, almost holding his breath 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 the road," replied Paul.