The Banner Boy Scouts Snowbound Part 29

"At the very last," Bluff went on, "I knew we ought to be doing something. So I yelled out to Sandy who had the shotgun to pepper that big mastiff before he could jump us, and that I'd take care of the next creature."

"Well, I tried to do it," Sandy affirmed, "but my first shot went wild, because Bluff here knocked my elbow just when I pulled the trigger. But I had better luck with the second barrel, for I brought one of the other dogs down flat on his back, kicking his last."

"I'd shot a second creature meanwhile," said Bluff; "and then the other two were on us. Whew! but we did have a warm session of it about that time, let me tell you, fellows! It was at close quarters, so I couldn't use my gun again to shoot; but we swung the weapons around our heads as though they were clubs."

"I made a lucky crack," declared Sandy, "and bowled the smaller cur over, but he was up like a flash and at me again, scratching and biting like a mad wolf. I never would have believed family pets could go back to the wild state again like that if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

"I suppose the big beast tackled you then, did he, Bluff?" asked Jack.

"You just b-b-bet he did!" exclaimed the other, excitedly. "And s-s-say, I had all I could do to k-k-keep him from knocking me over in a h-h-heap. Lots of t-t-times I cracked him with the b-b-b.u.t.t of my rifle, and staggered him, but he only c-came at me again full tilt.

Oh! but we had a g-g-glorious time of it I tell you!"

"And how did it end?" queried Jud. "Since we find you two here right-side-up-with-care we must believe that in the final wind-up you got the better of your canine enemies."

"C-c-canine d-d-don't seem to fit the c-c-crime this time, Jud,"

expostulated Bluff. "It sounds so mild. Well, we lathered 'em right and left, and took quite a number of s-s-scratches in return. B-b-both of us were getting pretty well winded, and I was b-b-beginning to be afraid of the outcome, when all at once I remembered that I had other b-b-bullets in my gun."

"Wise old head, that of yours, Bluff," commented Jud, with a touch of satire in his voice. "Better late than never I should say. Well, what did you do then?"

"Next chance I got I managed to turn my gun around and grip the stock," and as he said this Bluff reached over to pick up his repeating rifle to exhibit the dents, as well as the half dried blood spots on the walnut shoulder piece, all of which went to prove the truth of his story as words never could have done.

"That was the end of Mr. Mastiff then, eh?" continued Jud.

"Oh, well! I hated to do it," Bluff told them, "for he was a beaut of a beast, so strong and handsome; but then those s.h.i.+ning teeth looked pretty ugly to me, and he was wild to get them at my throat, so there wasn't really any choice."

"I should say not!" declared Phil Towns, shuddering at the picture Bluff was drawing of the spirited encounter.

"So I shot him," said Bluff, simply. "And at that the remaining beast lit out as fast as he could, because with the fall of the leader of the pack he lost his grit. Course after that Sandy'n I couldn't think of hunting any longer. We figured that we ought to get back home and have our cuts looked after. And Paul, Phil has done a dandy job with that potash stuff."

"Glad to hear it," said the scout-master, quickly, "though I'll take a look myself to make sure. Scratches from carnivorous animals are very dangerous on account of the poison that may cling to their claws. It's always best to be on the safe side, and neutralize the danger."

"And Paul," continued Bluff, "will you accept one of these fat birds from us?"

"Not much I will!" declared the other immediately. "Why should I be favored over the rest of the crowd? You and Sandy earned the right to enjoy a feast, and we'll see to it that you have it to-morrow. Let them hang until then; game is always better for lying a few days before being eaten, you know."

Of course, those who had remained at home were curious to know whether the rescue expedition had been successful or not.

"We needn't ask if you found Hank and his crowd," declared Spider s.e.xton, wisely, "for as scouts we are educated to observe things, and first of all we notice that none of you has come back with the pack he took away. That tells us the story. But please go on and give the particulars, Paul."

"We managed to find them just when they had their last stick on the fire," the scout-master commenced to relate. "We had to dig a way in to them, for there was an enormous drift banked up against their exit that they hadn't even begun to cut through."

"How lucky you got there on time!" cried Frank Savage. "Once more scouts have proved themselves masters of circ.u.mstances. Bully for Stanhope Troop! I bet you they were glad to see you! Yes, and like as not told you they were sorry for ever having done anything to annoy our crowd."

"You've hit it to a dot, Frank," admitted Jud. "Hank shows some signs of meaning to turn over a new leaf, and Paul even believes there's a hope; but somehow the rest of us reckon its the old story over again.

Once they get on their own stamping grounds, by degrees they'll forget all we've done for them, and be back at their old tricks again. What's bred in the bone can't easily be beaten out of the flesh, my father says."

"But it does happen once in a while," admonished Paul; "so we'll drop the subject for the present. If Hank starts in to do the right thing, though, remember that it's our duty as scouts to give him all the help we can. And now let's settle on the menu for supper, because we're all of us as hungry as wolves."

While some of the boys were busying themselves around the fire, Paul took a look at the slight injuries of the two aspiring hunters, and complimented the pleased Philip on the clever way he had attended to their necessities.

CHAPTER x.x.x

A CHANGE OF PLANS

That night, as the lads sat before the fire, those who had gone on the expedition of succor had to tell further particulars, for the others were curious to know about everything.

When they heard how Bud Phillips had seen the two tramps running away from the vicinity of the fire before hardly any one else was around, of course Bluff and the four other scouts were fully agreed that the mystery of the blaze had been as good as explained.

"All the same," Jud remarked, "unless we can show some clinching evidence our theory won't hold water with a lot of people who always have to be given solid proof. That brings up the subject, we talked about on the way home--should we pay a visit to that charcoal burners'

cabin, and try to make prisoners of the yeggs?"

"Great scheme, I'd say!" burst out Frank Savage without any hesitation.

"B-b-bully idea, let me tell you!" added Bluff.

"Whee!" exclaimed Sandy. "Nearly takes my breath away just to hear you mention such a bold thing; but I'm game to try it if the rest are."

Paul smiled. Truth to tell he had discounted all this, knowing what an impetuous lot his followers were, and how p.r.o.ne to push aside all thought of personal danger when tempted to perform some act that might redound to their credit.

"Plenty of time yet to talk that over," he told them. "We needn't decide too hastily, and will let the subject rest for the present, though I don't mind saying that the chances are we'll conclude to do something along those lines when on our way home."

"Is the charcoal burners' shack far away from the creek, Tolly Tip?"

questioned Bobolink, anxiously.

"By the same token I do belave it lies not more'n a quarrter av a mile off from the strame. I c'n lade ye to the same with me eyes shut,"

announced the woodsman, evidently just as eager to take part in the rounding up of the vagrants as any of the enthusiastic scouts; for his eye was still a little discolored from the blow he had received in the fight with the desperate tramps.

As their time was limited, Paul knew that they should plan carefully if they were to accomplish all the things they were most desirous of carrying through. On that account he had each one make up his mind just what was dearest to him, and set about accomplis.h.i.+ng that one thing without any unnecessary delay.

As for Paul himself, he most of all regretted the fact that on account of the deep snowdrifts and the bitter cold he would probably be unable to get any more flashlight pictures.

"You see," he explained to some of the others when they were asking why he felt so disappointed, "most of the smaller animals are buried out of sight by the snow. Like the squirrels, they take time by the forelock, and have laid in a supply of food, enough to last over this severe spell, so none of them will be anxious to show up in a hurry."

"But I heard Tolly Tip giving you a real tip about the sly mink along the bank of the creek. How about it, Paul?" asked Jud.

"Well, that's really my only chance," admitted the scout-master. "It seems that minks have a perfect scorn for wintry weather around here, Tolly says, and are on the job right along, no matter how it storms.

He knows of one big chap who has a regular route over which he travels nearly every night, going in and out of holes in the banks as if going visiting."

"I don't believe you've ever had a good snapshot of a live mink, have you, Paul?" inquired Bluff, showing more or less interest, though still somewhat stiff with the painful scratches he had received on the previous day.

"I've always wanted to get such a flashlight," admitted Paul, "because the mink is said to be one of the shyest of all small, fur-bearing animals, even more so than Br'er Fox, and considerably more timid than Br'er 'c.o.o.n."

"You'll have to set the trap to-night then, won't you?" asked Tom Betts.