The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour Part 25

"That's a good name! Camp Surprise it is!" shouted several in chorus; and as such the permanent camp went down in the log book of every scout.

CHAPTER XXI

THE LIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN

"Paul, we're not alone up here after all!"

It was Jack who made this remark. He had been skirmis.h.i.+ng around later in the afternoon; and came upon the other as Paul was standing at the edge of the lake, looking out upon its surface, to where some ducks floated.

"Well, I never believed we did own the place," returned the patrol leader, with a smile. "But what's happened to give you that idea, Jack?"

"Just by chance," his chum went on, "I saw something moving away up on the side of the mountain. At first I thought it might be some sort of animal; but as I watched I made sure it was human, either a boy or man.

And whoever he was he kept track on what we were doing down here. I could see him crane his neck to look, lots of times."

"But you couldn't recognize him?" asked Paul.

"It was pretty far, and there's a sort of haze around us just now.

Sometimes I thought I knew him, and then I made up my mind I didn't,"

came the reply.

"Is he still there, Jack?"

"Yes, but don't look up," said his chum, quickly. "We are in too plain sight here. I thought perhaps you might step into the tent and get our field gla.s.ses. Then we could slip away, and take a good look on the sly.

How's that suit you?"

"All right. Meet me at the place where you saw him. Where was that, Jack?"

"See that bunch of hemlocks over yonder? I happened to be partly sheltered back of that when I looked up. I'll wait for you there," and Jack moved off.

Two minutes later Paul joined him. He had the field gla.s.ses tucked under his khaki coat, not wis.h.i.+ng to attract the attention of the others, lest they might express a wish to trail along, and so spoil things.

"Now, tell me where to look," he observed, as he suited the gla.s.ses to his eyes, knowing just how far they should be opened to give the best results.

Jack pointed carefully upward.

"He's there yet, because I saw him move while I waited for you, Paul,"

he said, in an eager tone.

"I've got him," answered the scout leader, as his hands became rigid.

After a brief look he lowered the gla.s.ses.

"Well, who is it?" demanded Jack.

For answer his chum offered him the gla.s.ses; and presently Jack had his eyes glued to the smaller end.

When he lowered them a short time later his eyes met those of his chum.

Both of them laughed, as though they had exchanged their views in that glance.

"Ted Slavin?" said Paul.

"Just as sure as fate," went on Jack; "and much interested in our doings. That of course means trouble for us at any time. I believe all those fellows have come up here for is to pick quarrels with us. But Mr.

Gordon will know how to handle them when he gets here."

"Meanwhile," said Paul, seriously, "we must be on our guard against a sudden attack. We don't want the name of our camp to mean that we were taken unawares. We'll have things fixed so the boot will be on the other foot, if they try to surprise us."

When they looked again, the figure had vanished from that point high up among the rocks. Evidently Ted, having seen all he wished, had gone to tell his cronies the story.

"Where d'ye think they've located; because never a tent did they bring along?" Jack was asking as they returned to camp.

"Oh! up here that wouldn't matter much. Looks like there might be hundreds of caves of all sizes among these piled-up rocks. And a cave is a pretty good hide-out sometimes. I've spent lots of nights in one."

The afternoon sun had vanished behind another elevation that lay to the west; but night was slow in coming, since these were some of the longest days of the year.

Paul could not help noticing that Joe Clausin seemed worried once more.

He kept by himself a good bit of the time, and his brow was clouded.

Then again, he had taken to looking suspiciously about, here and there, up the steep mountainside, and even along the dimly-defined road that skirted the lake.

It was no mystery to Paul, so far as understanding what Joe might be worrying about went.

"That man with the rig who pa.s.sed our noon camp on the road--Joe knows he's up here somewhere, and perhaps he wants to meet up with him--I wonder why?" was the way the young scoutmaster ran the thing over in his active mind.

In one way it did not concern him, because Joe had not asked for his a.s.sistance; but then again it certainly interested Paul. He believed that there was some odd connection between the loss of those papers contained in the tin box, and the presence of that stranger in the region of Rattlesnake Mountain.

Again, as before, the pressure of many other things caused him to push all concern about the mysterious stranger from his thoughts.

When supper had been cooked and the scouts sat around enjoying its delights, the shadows of coming night told that another period of sentry duty was at hand.

"No Mr. Gordon to-night, I reckon," ventured Jud Elderkin, as he sat with his tin plate upon his knees, and scooped up the luscious Boston baked beans with his fork; while a steaming tin cup of mild coffee stood beside him.

Most of the boys were not used to this appetizing drink for supper; and a few of them did not take it, being satisfied with cold water; but Paul had considered the matter, and was of the opinion that a little change from the regular programme of home life would not hurt these hardy chaps, especially as they were so tired that nothing could keep them awake, once they lay down.

"I guess you're right, Jud," remarked Paul, "and I'm sorry too."

"Oh! well, we're not worrying," declared Jud, looking around at the ring of bright faces, and nodding, "are we, fellows?"

"Mr. Gordon's all right, and a mighty fine gentleman; but we don't really need him," declared one, promptly.

"Not so you could notice it, while we've got such smart guides as Paul and Wallace along," declared Tom Betts.

"D-d-don't you g-g-go to forgetting W-w-william here; he's t-t-turned out just a w-w-wonder, you know!" burst out Bluff, vigorously waving his knife and fork.

"It's William the Discoverer after this, fellows; for you know he proved that this bully old lake was here, long before any of us had set eyes on it!" argued another scout.

"Joking aside, boys," remarked Paul, earnestly, "I hope a few more of you will take a pattern from the way William learned that fact. If you only keep your eyes about you all the time, there are dozens of things just as interesting that you can read in the plain signs. And the deeper you dig into the Indian way of knowing things the better you'll like it.