Then he had a little surprise, for hanging there on a nail beside the door was a brace of freshly killed rabbits; and Elmer knew to a certainty nothing the kind dangled there on the preceding evening.
He took them down, and laid them on the kitchen table, while a whimsical smile crept over his boyish face, and a glow of satisfaction could be seen in his eyes as he rubbed his hand along the sleek side of the larger bunny.
For Elmer chanced to know that Connie Mallon had spent Thanksgiving day off in the woods and meadows hunting; and the very fact that he had thus shared the results of his tramp with the boy he had fought against so long gave Elmer a queer feeling of triumph deep down in his heart.
Then the wagon came along, with all the other boys aboard, and the bed of the vehicle pretty well filled with their camping outfit; so Elmer got in his seat, wondering what Doubting George would have to say when he learned how a good action may set even the worst boy in town to thinking, and changing his ways.
CHAPTER IX
THE CAMPING OUT EXPEDITION
This time there was a load for Nancy to pull, since besides the five scouts who had made the nutting trip three additional fellows were along.
First of all there was a lanky boy who long ago in a spirit of derision had been dubbed "Lil Artha" by his Comrades; and although he stood fully a head taller than any of his intimate chums, he still answered cheerfully to this silly name. Arthur Stansbury was a good scout, and well liked, though at critical times he showed a disposition to get what boys call "rattled," and on more than one occasion this weakness had resulted in his getting those long legs of his twisted in a knot, resulting in trouble all around.