“I think it must be Amos sobbing, and trying to keep his head down in his blankets,” admitted Elmer, himself almost choking with the great desire he felt to hasten in and try to comfort his friend. “But we must pretend we don’t hear him. After a while he’ll feel better, and join us again, for he’s got a heap of what you might call grit, likewise pride, about him. Perhaps while we’re up here he may see fit to tell us his trouble, and then we’ll be able to offer to help him, if it’s possible.”
Perk turned his face away. The others, knowing his tender heart, could give a pretty good guess concerning what caused him to do so. Indeed, Wee Willie himself had to wink quite violently for some reason or other, and coughed as if he might be choking over something that compelled him to drag out his big red bandanna handkerchief, and blow his nose strenuously.
“Of course,” pursued Elmer, who had been trying to figure things out most persistently, “it’s always possible that even if this is the same knife Amos once knew, some utter stranger may have left it here. Such things often pass through many hands in trade; or can even be stolen. Tramps have no sense of honor, most of us believe.”
“A tramp, greasy and ragged perhaps—ugh! no wonder Amos shuddered when he saw a picture of some one he once knew, perhaps even cared for, looking like that,” Wee Willie muttered, with a doleful shake of his head.
“Well, we must put it all out of our minds for the time being,” advised Elmer. “Let’s not add to his suffering by showing him we’re curious. As for the knife, I’ll replace it where I found it. I’ve got a little scheme beginning to take shape that may bring results; and at least get the thing back into the possession of the owner.”
Both Perk and the tall chum understood that this would be the wisest course for them to pursue. Elmer knew best how to manage things; they had always fared well whenever they trusted themselves to his guidance.
Presently the half choked sounds from within the cabin ceased. Apparently the boy had managed to get control over his feelings, whatever it may have been that caused such a tempestuous outbreak.
Perk and Wee Willie started preparing supper. The latter had tried fishing earlier in the afternoon, with more or less success; so that there was now a frying-pan filled with the results of his labor, and ready to go on the fire. Perk fairly beamed with pride as he feasted his eyes on the perch and bass, now nicely cleaned, and washed, and dusted with flour, before being placed in the hot grease that oozed from the salt pork in the pan.
Elmer found something to do that would keep him away from the cabin, for he thought it best not to disturb Amos just then. The other would in good time “get a grip” on himself, and be ready to face his chums again without displaying unusual emotion.
He came out while supper was cooking, and while he tried to smile as Perk called out and demanded to know if he recognized the origin of the delightful odor that was beginning to permeate all the surrounding atmosphere, it was hardly what might be called a success.