“Huh! Do you believe that yarn, Rob?” asked Andy, who it may as well be admitted was rather skeptical by nature, and apt to think the worst of any one whom he suspected not to be on the level.
“I don’t know what to think,” said Rob hastily. “It may be just as Zeb tells us, but he will admit himself that his actions looked mighty suspicious, and also agree that we are perfectly justified in keeping him tied up until Tubby’s uncle comes. Safety first is often a good motto for scouts to follow.”
“Oh, that’s all right, boys!” sang out the big guide, as cheerfully as a man who faced a long and tiresome period of captivity might be expected to appear. “’Course you couldn’t expect to take my simple word for it. None o’ you knows me. Mr. Hopkins, he’s slept alongside o’ me for ten years. I ain’t afraid o’ what he’ll say when he comes back from Tucker Pond. Do jest as you think best. I’m goin’ to take my medicine—and grin. I deserve the worst that could happen to me, arter treatin’ my best friend like I done.”
Rob liked the way in which he said this; it drew him closer to the man than anything else could have done. When any one has been foolish, and committed an indiscretion, repentance and frank admission of the wrong are after all the best signs of a return to reason.
“We’ll make you as comfortable as we can for the night, Zeb,” he told the guide. “In the morning we’ll see what we can do about it.”
“Jest as you say, sir; I guess I kin stand it. So you youngsters are Boy Scouts, be you? I got a nephew down at Waterville as belongs to the organization. When I was thar I thought his troop a right smart bunch o’ kids. The stunts I showed ’em about things connected with the woods pleased the boys a heap. If I had a son, he’d have to jine the scouts, or I’d know the reason why, ’cause I believes in the things they stand for, every time, but my kids is all three gals.”
“Well, he knows how to soft-soap, all right,” muttered Andy, still suspicious.
Rob had a pretty firm conviction that Zeb Crooks belied his name, and that he was as straight as a die. Still, it would hardly do to be too hasty in freeing him; they had better wait until morning at least, when all of them had cooled down and the matter might be properly debated and settled, majority ruling as it generally did in such matters. Rob felt pretty certain that he would have the backing of gentle-hearted Tubby, in case he wished to remove Zeb’s bonds.
Rob said nothing further, though he undoubtedly did a heap of thinking. With the assistance of his comrades he managed to get Zeb into one of the lower bunks. The man said he was fairly comfortable, and would doubtless manage to get some sleep, though his position was awkward, and of course his hands would feel “dead” from lack of circulation.
“I sure hopes you’ll decide in the mornin’ to believe me, boys, and undo these here cords,” he remarked, with unction, as they turned to leave him.