The Banner Boy Scouts Snowbound Part 33

"But see the snow piles ahead of us, will you?" cried Bobolink in dismay. "We're going to have some jolly work climbing through those!"

"If you only look," remarked Paul, "in most cases you'll find you're able to go around the hills that bar your way."

It was very much as Paul said, for, as a rule, they were able to find a pa.s.sage around the huge drifts. Still progress was very tedious, and when the scouts finally reached the river the afternoon was well along.

"Look! will you?" called out Sandy Griggs, exultantly. "The dear old Bushkill is swept as clear as a barn floor, and the ice is gilt-edged!"

"Why!" echoed Bobolink, equally pleased, "our troubles have vanished just like smoke wreaths. We can run all the way home with this nice breeze that's coming up the river as fair as anything. Whoop! we're in great luck, fellows!"

Stanhope was reached half an hour before sundown. There were a good many people on the ice, mostly boys and girls, and the coming of the iceboat flotilla created something of a stir. This was considerably augmented when it was learned that the scouts who had gone off on a trip to the snow woods had brought back two vagrants, who were responsible for the fire and the robbery that had recently occurred in the town.

Of course, the men were easily convicted with so much evidence against them. Mr. Briggs publicly declared that he was very sorry for saying what he had in connection with the scouts, and that from that time on they could count on him as a friend of the organization.

Some of the boys believed they would never again have the opportunity of engaging in such interesting events as had come their way during the midwinter outing. There were others, however, who declared that such an enterprising group of scouts would surely meet with new adventures while pursuing the study of Nature's mysteries. That these latter were good prophets the reader may learn from the succeeding volume of this series.

At the very next meeting of the Banner Boy Scouts Mr. Thomas Garrity was an honored guest, and had the privilege of hearing an account read that covered all the doings of the ten lads during their midwinter outing.

At the conclusion of the meeting it was only proper that a vote of thanks should be given to their benefactor for his kindness. This was done and was followed by three cheers that made Mr. Garrity's ears ring, and a smile of sympathy for these boyish hearts linger on his lips.