“That was just what he did, I’m proud to say,” the minister announced. At this there were whoops of delight, and many heavy slaps dropped on Leslie’s back as they started up to the camp, where Sunny Jim had supper ready.
While they sat around the supper table the story was soon told, interrupted from time to time as some one wished to learn a few more particulars. Mr. Holwell and their physical director could not say enough about the work of the boys who had accompanied them.
“I’m constantly being reminded,” the minister went on to remark, “of the fact that boys of to-day are away ahead of those of my generation in a good many ways. They are learning to do all sorts of things calculated to make them better citizens of our glorious republic when they grow up. I take it that there are myriads of lads who are capable of stanching a bleeding wound just as Leslie did this afternoon; of bringing back the breath of life to a boy who has apparently been drowned; and in fact of doing a dozen similar deeds of incalculable value.”
“How about another trap, Dan?” asked Andy Hale, as they sat around later on that Sunday evening.
Mr. Bartlett had given them a short talk that he thought they might appreciate, since it was not at all in the nature of a sermon. It really interested even such indifferent fellows as Nat and Dit and Alonzo, who had never had thrust upon them the idea of looking upon any one day of the week as differing from the rest.
“Yes, that’s so, Dan, what do you expect to do about it?” Peg added. “Are you ready to cry quits with one knock-down?”
“I don’t know just yet,” admitted Dan, shaking his head dubiously. “I might try to get up another sort of scheme, but let me tell you it’s no joke to make a trap able to hold a giant like that. Why, he broke oak limbs as if they were paper. He must be a terribly strong man, if that’s any sign.”
Dan was deeply puzzled. Dick did not wonder at it either; and if he had been asked he would have found it difficult to suggest a plan whereby the mysterious prowler could be secured without hurting him to any extent.
The campers spent a quiet evening. There was considerable singing, but Mr. Bartlett saw to it that the choruses were all of a character suited to the day. The entire group of boys joined in, and they made a volume of sound that carried far across the lake, and might even have been heard miles away on the other side of Bass Island.
Then Leslie, who had a splendid tenor voice, obliged them on request with a number of songs that were old favorites with Mr. Holwell.