Part 19 (1/2)

Their way took them through a beautiful hilly country and for a while they had glimpses of the river, which brought them pleasant reminiscences of their rambling, happy-go-lucky voyage.

”Who does the _Good Turn_ belong to?” Tom asked.

”I think it belongs to Honorable Pee-wee Harris,” said Roy. ”He did the trick that won it.”

”I'll tell you who she belongs to,” said Pee-wee. ”She belongs to the First Bridgeboro Troop, Boy Scouts of America.”

”Raven, Fox and Elk!” said Roy. ”Right you are, Pee-wee. United we stand, divided we squall.”

A tramp of a couple of hours over country roads brought them to Leeds, and they hiked along its main street contributing not a little to its picturesqueness with their alert, jaunty air, their brown complexions which matched so well with the scout attire, their duffel bags and their long staves. More than one farmer and many an early summer boarder stared at them and hailed them pleasantly as they pa.s.sed along.

”I like this village,” said Pee-wee.

”I'll have it wrapped up for you,” said Roy; ”Take it, or have it sent?”

”How do we get to Black Lake?” Tom asked of a man who was lounging outside one of the shops.

”Ye ain't goin' to walk it, be ye?” he answered, scrutinizing them curiously.

”Right you are,” said Roy. ”How did you guess?”

”Ye got a pooty smart walk afore ye,” the man said, dubiously.

”Well, we're pretty smart boys,” said Roy. ”Break it to us gently, and let us hear the worst.”

”Baout five mile 'f ye take th' hill rud.”

”Gracious, goodness me!” said Roy, ”are they all the same length?”

”Haouw?”

”The miles; lads, I'm just reckless enough to do it.”

”Wall,” drawled their informant, ”Ye go 'long this rud t'l ye come t' a field whar thar's a red caouw, then ye cut right through th' middle uv it 'n' go on over a stun wall 'n' ye'll come to a woods rud. Ye foller that t'l ye come to a side path on the left on it that goes up hill.

Black Lake's t'other side that hill. Ye got to pick yer way up through the woods 'long that path if ye kin foller it, 'n' when ye git t' the top ye kin look daown 'n' see th' lake, but ye'll have a smart climb gettin' daown th' hill.”

”That's us,” said Roy. ”Thanks--thanks very much.”

When they had gone a little way he halted Tom and Pee-wee with a dramatic air.

”Lads,” said he, ”we've got the _Motor Boat Heroes_ and the _Dauntless Chums_ and _Submarine Sam_ beaten to a frazzle! We're the _Terrible Trio Series_, volume two million. Lads, get out your dirks and keep up stout hearts. We have to cut through the middle of a red cow! That man said so!”

Three-quarters of an hour more along an apparently disused road and they came upon a trail which was barely discernible, leading up a steep and densely wooded hill. In places they had to climb over rugged terraces, extricating themselves from such mazes of tangled underbrush as they had never before seen. Now and then the path seemed to peter out and they found it again with difficulty and only by the skilful use of scout tracking lore. The long, steep climb was filled with difficulties, but they pressed on amazed at the wildness all about them.

At last, by dint of much hard effort and after many wasted steps through loss of the trail, they came out upon the summit, and looked down upon a sight which sent a thrill to all three. The other side of the hill was, perhaps, not as steep as the side which they had mounted, but it was thickly wooded and at its base was a sheet of water surrounded by lofty hills, all covered with dense forest, which extended right down to the water's edge. The lake was perhaps a mile long, and lay like a dark jewel amid the frowning heights which closed it in. The trees along sh.o.r.e were dimly reflected in the still, black water. The quiet of the spot was intense. It was relieved by no sign of habitation, save a little thin, uncertain column of smoke which rose from among the trees on the farther sh.o.r.e.

The solemnity of the scene, the blackness and isolation of that sheet of water, the dense woods, rising all around it and shutting out the world, was quite enough to cast a spell on anyone, and the three boys looked about them awestruck and for a moment speechless.

”Jiminy crink.u.ms!” said Pee-wee, at length.

Tom only shook his head.