"I'll furnish the provisions, and we'll pay you some money," put in
Ham Spink. "Come along to Fairview if you want to."
So it was agreed, and Kiddy Leech accompanied the young conspirators back to the town. Here the tramp was given some more money, and he put up at Bamling's Tavern, a low resort near the river. The boys brought him the clothing and other things promised, and he had several talks with them on what was to be done when he went back to the vicinity of the camp on Firefly Lake. He promised to do all they wished; but on the following day he was missing.
"What do you suppose had become of him?" said Ham to Carl, in considerable alarm.
"I am sure I don't know, and Bamling says he doesn't know either," was the answer.
Ham Spink made numerous inquiries and soon learned from some rivermen that Kiddy Leech had yielded to his weakness for strong liquor and gone off on a spree.
"We are out our money," he said to Carl Rudder, in disgust. "He'll never do a thing for us, I am certain, and we dare not prosecute him."
"Maybe he'll do what we want when he gets sober," answered Carl. "He will want more money, and then we can tell him that he can't have a cent until he goes up to the camp and does what we want him to."
When at last they saw the tramp again he looked more battered and disreputable than ever,—so much so, in fact, that the rather fastidious youths were afraid of him. But he would not let them get away from him, and insisted on keeping to the bargain that had been made.
"I am sorry I took to the liquor—but it's a weakness I get once a year or so," he said blandly. "But I'll keep as sober as a judge now, you see if I don't—no more drink for Kiddy Leech until this job is done. All I want is what you promised to me, and you can rely on me doing the rest."
"We are not going to trust you," said Ham, putting on as bold a front as he could, although he was trembling. "You go and do the work as promised and we'll pay you afterwards."