After breakfast Elmer, accompanied by Chatz and Lil Artha, started out to take a turn around in the woods, and look for signs of a trail made by bare feet. Some of the others amused themselves as they saw fit, sure that if the trail-seekers did make any interesting discovery they would hear all about the same, and undoubtedly be given a chance to help follow it.
It was Saturday, and had they been at home no doubt these same boys might have been kicking the pigskin oval around with their fellows, since it was still the gridiron season, and most of them belonged to the Hickory Ridge football squad. They were much happier, however, in having chosen this last camping trip of the season, for like true scouts their keenest enjoyment lay in getting in close touch with Nature, and learning many of her most cherished secrets. Football was all very good in its way, but there were better things, as they had learned through experience; and a search after practical knowledge was one of them.
"Now, I'll never get a better time to try it out," Toby up and declared as he began to gather that bundle of his in his arms; "and I hope a couple of you fellows will come with me to see my crowning triumph."
"I s'pose that means you're thinking of taking that fool jump off the tower of the old house, and want us to be parties to the crime?" George suggested, bitingly.
Toby surveyed him scornfully.
"I'm intending to make a glorious drop, and land on the ground as light as any chicken feather might," he went on to say, with emphasis. "If that's all the faith you've got in your chum's ability, George, mebbe you'd better stay here in camp. It will spare you the sight of my getting a broken leg, you know. I didn't ask you when I extended that invitation; but I would like to have Ty and Ted come along; Landy too if he wants to join us, and shout when I prove the great value of my noble invention along humanitarian lines."
"Whew! you have got it down pat," chuckled Landy.
"Sure you want Doctor Ted along," sneered George; "you know which side of your bread's buttered, don't you, Toby? If a cog slips in your wheels, and you take a hard tumble you'll find his being on hand mighty acceptable. I'd carry splints and bandages in plenty, Ted. And if I have time I think I'll start to shaping up some kind of crutch while you're away. Things like that come in handy sometimes. This is going to be one of those times, I'm afraid."
"Rats! you old croaker, nothing would ever be accomplished in this world if everybody was like you. They'd be afraid to take a chance. Things that their ancestors used 'd be good enough for them, like the Chinese. But thank goodness there are some progressive people livin' these days, like Edison, Marconi, and a few others."
"Jones, f'r instance!" chuckled George. "Well, if I don't show up at the exhibition good luck to you, Toby. I hope it won't be anything worse than a leg, or your collarbone, or five teeth knocked out. I wish you great success. Tell me all about it when you get back. And I'm in dead earnest about that crutch, too. I think I know how to shape one out of a thick wild grapevine, if I can only find the right sort."