“I want to tell you what I have in mind out here where no one could possibly be listening,” he began. “So many funny things happen around here that I’m afraid to talk for fear that my words will be overheard. What I wanted to tell you is this: Up until now this pest has been scaring us and running away, laughing up his sleeve—if he has a sleeve! We don’t know enough about him to know how he does dress, unless he’s a fake Black Rider all the time. Every time he has bothered us we sit here looking dazed and let him get away from us. Now, my idea is this: to create two distinct squads, a camp squad and a chasing squad. We’ll settle after awhile who is to be who, but for the time being we’ll see what each one is to do.”
“This afternoon I bought flashlights for those who haven’t any and from now on, as soon as it gets dark, we’ll wear ’em on our belts. Don’t leave them in your tents for a single minute! We have lanterns in the tents, but by the time we get the lanterns lighted and started off, the would-be terror could get a good start and we’d never nail him. Because the chasing squad is to form and run after the man the minute there is a suspicious sound around the camp!”
There was a stir of expectancy and the boys looked a bit startled but more pleased than anything else. Ted went on: “Buck will be the head of the chasing squad and I’ll take care of the camp squad. The reason I don’t want every one to go running out and chasing up the mountain is because I don’t think the camp should ever be left alone. The chasing squad will be composed of the fastest runners, and also the biggest fellows, just in case you have to use any force on anyone, though it isn’t likely that a bunch of boys such as we are could ever handle a grown man, but if we can get a line on the direction he runs in we’ll begin to learn something.”
“You get the point, don’t you? As soon as there is any unusual noise, Buck’s squad forms and runs in that direction. The rest of us stay in camp and guard it against surprise. I’ve got another thought in regard to trapping a visitor, but this one will do for now. From this time on we’ll be doing something besides sitting still and just listening and looking scared. Now, lets pick squads.”
The biggest and oldest boys, seven in number, were immediately picked for Buck’s squad and the rest were reserved for the camp watch. Some of the boys were disappointed because they couldn’t run with the active group, but Ted was determined to make his two sections effective. There was a lot of chattering on the subject and the leader was compelled to warn them to keep things quiet.
“Think they will be eager for action when the time comes?” Buck asked.
“I guess they will. They know that a bunch of them will be in action and that makes a difference. I think it will work out.”
The flashlights were passed out and from that time on the boys carried them on their belts and longed for action. But two nights sped by without anything unusual happening and they began to think that everything was over, when the third evening brought action suddenly.
They were sitting around the campfire when there was a sliding sound back of them and a tiny avalanche of dirt and stones rolled down behind the tents. There was a crashing noise as though someone had landed in the bushes, and then, as they peered in a startled manner toward the rear of the camp they saw a figure bolt into the shrubs near the springs.
“There he goes! Go after him!” shouted Ted, and Buck frantically pulled at his flashlight. The other boys followed his lead as he darted off, and in an instant the peaceful camp was demoralized. The eight boys on the chasing squad were running across the camp toward the springs and the others who were to remain in camp were urging them on at the top of their lungs.