From time to time some one would ask more questions. Rob in particular seemed to want to find out all he could before arriving on the ground. These queries as a rule turned on such points as the last that had been seen of little Caleb, and whether he had any friends living near by whom he would be likely to want to visit, though possibly getting lost while on the way there.
In this way Rob picked up more or less information that might come in useful later, when on the ground. Ralph heard how he managed to draw these more or less important facts from the now sobbing mother. He also admired the way in which Rob told her not to worry, for they were almost certain to find her boy before morning.
About this time Tubby thought he ought to say a few words in order to help comfort the sorely stricken woman.
“You know, ma’m,” he told her, for he chanced to be sitting alongside Mrs. Holcomb at the time, “we scouts are trained in the art of tracking people as well as animals. Why, several times we’ve proved that we could find a lost party when no one else knew how to go about it. It is scout law to respond to any call for help, and we’re just bound to do all we can. Yes, ma’m, there was a poor half-demented man lived down in Hampton who used to be watched by his folks very close; but, in spite of it all, one time he managed to give ’em the slip, and went into the scrub, which, down on Long Island, is like a wilderness, and easy to get lost in.”
Tubby waited a few seconds so as to get his second breath, and then went on with his story, which he meant to be comforting to the poor mother.
“After they had searched and searched for two days they came to the scouts and begged us to please lend a hand. By that time the trail had grown pretty cold, you see, but Rob here went at it like he always does, with a vim, and I give you my word for it, ma’m, before three hours had passed we found the man, though he was——”
“That’ll do, Tubby, don’t bother with the particulars!” interrupted Rob, fearing that the benefit which the recital was intended to have upon the overwrought nerves of the poor woman might lose something of its value if Tubby told that the demented man was really dead when they finally found him in the scrub oak wilderness a mile or two back from the beach.
Ralph was at the wheel, and he knew his road, so that before a great while they drew near the place where the Holcombs lived. The woman had driven over in a buggy, but her rig could be recovered later on. Time was too valuable to allow her to return home in the same tedious manner as she had come.
“Looky yonder, will you?” burst out Tubby. “What are those lights glimmering in the woods over yonder? Seem like a pack of giant fireflies to me. Rob, do you reckon they can be lanterns carried by some of the people who are searching everywhere, helter-skelter like, for little Caleb?”
“Just what they are, Tubby,” replied the scout leader; “and, as you say, they are likely enough running this way and that without a bit of reason. Why, they would go over the same ground a dozen times, and skip lots of places that ought to be looked into. We’ll try to lay out a concerted plan of action—that is, in case there isn’t any trail to be found.”