Part 9 (1/2)
Thad cast his eye upward several tiress of theMr Scout Master?” re, being chosen to accompany the leader on a hunt for fresh meat; and Step Hen was therefore more interested than the others in what seemed to have aroused the attention of Thad
”I ondering whether we et our first snow-storm before another sundown, that's all,” replied the other, with a s looks bright, and oh-be-joyful tobus one can know, partly by instinct, and find it pretty hard to explain,” Thad went on to say ”I see in the air that says 'snow' as plain as words It may be just a sort of dampness; but that's the way about it Then I notice the direction of the wind, which is northwest; and the cut of those few cirrus clouds lying low near the horizon I can't exactly explain so that you could understand, but if I was askedbefore many hours”
”How about that?” deht, 'cause thar's agoin' ter be summat o' a fall P'raps 'twon't amount ter ht,” the first guide observed, after taking a look all around
”Me teas all Jiorous nod in the affirmative, that stood for a lot
”That settles it,” Step Hen declared ”I' out prepared for business Never did like to be snowed under, any way you take it”
”Too bad we ain't got a snow shovel along,” remarked Giraffe, sarcastically
”Oh! you can joke all you want to,” snapped back the other; ”you're so lofty you needn't ot up to your chin, you could still e to stretch that rubber neck of yours around, and feel comfortable But I ain't in the saure, and short neck But all I meant to say was, that I'd keep loves in my pockets”
”Loan you my earmuffs if you say the word, Step Hen,” spoke up bumpus
”Well, now, that's decent of you, bumpus,” the other scout remarked; ”but you see, this old corduroy cap of mine has earflaps that can be turned down It's just a bully thing for a cold, windy day But after such a generous offer, buive you un the day bright and early, by trying to do a generous deed for a comrade”
Of course, what Step Hen referred to was the well-known rule by which the great body of anization of Aoverned, in order to teach the units of each patrol and troop the benefits to be derived fro every scout is supposed to pin his badge upside-down, on the lapel of his coat; and is not allowed to change its position until he has found an opportunity for helping some one, either by act, or advice that is really useful It ; but it teaches the lad, first of all, the useful attribute of observation; and after that the still h he but assist an old man across a street where vehicles are numerous; or take ahomeward under the heavy burden, the effect is the same
It makes his boyish heart thrill with a satisfaction that develops the trait of generosity; and gives every lad a h he may seem, he is of so, ”I guess I hadn't ought to take advantage of such a little thing as that, so's to getthat's 's an hour old And Step Hen, if you bring hoed buck, you must let me take your picture, with your foot on the prize Why, it will be the reat grandchildren will point to it in pride, and tell how you slew the Jabberwock in the woods of Maine”
”Well,” grinned Step Hen, ”wait till I get the buck I don't count --that e do co to be a little peace in the camp; and that our friend Giraffe here, will have solved the riddle that's been worrying hi Them's my sentiments”
Giraffe made a mock bow, as he reed forthat wish, Step Hen; and fro is going to happen along the a drea ato work trying to start things just like I saw in et there, sooner or later, by hook or by crook You never sawup yet”
”Hey! what's that?” reot in old far melon he had doctored, so as to teach the boys a lesson Oh! I know, because I was along with the crowd; and see that never-to-be-forgotten hour I know I did; and I've never eaten a ”
”Say, quit that melancholy subject, won't you?” demanded bumpus ”I don't like to be reminded of my wicked past, because I've turned over a new leaf since I joined the scouts Why, you couldn't terown B-r-r! It s that happened in those old days, when I ith Giraffe, and Davy Jones, and the rest of that lark-loving crowd”
Half an hour afterwards Thad and Step Hen started out, guns in hand
Knowing that the patrol leader was perfectly at ho the all manner of direful calamities ahead Let it snow and blow as it pleased, Thad was enough of a woodset back to the camp on the lake shore in due season
Of course bumpus had been more or less disappointed because he did not have an early chance to prove theprivate lessons fro firearms But Thad had promised that the fat boy and Giraffe should have the next chance for a hunt; they were canoeether, perhaps because they represented the ”fat and the lean of it,” and as bu, ”extre Niet a couple of hted that wonderful six-pronged buck which Step Hen was to lay low They walked along about fifty feet apart, Thad generously allowing his companion to be a little in advance of him This he did really because he wished Step Hen to have the advantage of the first shot; being confident that if the other failed to bring down the game he would still have soain, it was just as well to have Step Hen in front He was inclined to be nervous; and soe flew out of a nearby thicket, un a little harder than he intended Thad believed in being on the safe side, every ti rifle of the thirty-thirty type; and his ammunition was of the soft-nosed kind, which, as it ”, is just as serviceable as a ball three tiun, a twelve bore, with buckshot shells h what seele such as is seldoe trailing vines, Step Hen, in trying to avoid one that threatened to catch hi forward, his gun flying fro off
But immediately Step Hen commenced to thresh around, as he shouted out: