Part 24 (1/2)

”But what could come along to give us a meal around noon?” Giraffe flashed up, always thinking of the main chance, which meant looking after the demands of that voracious appet.i.te.

”Oh! lots of things,” laughed Thad. ”You know yourself it's the unexpected that keeps happening with us right along. Many a time in the past we didn't have any idea of what was going to stir us up, till it came along. Just now it strikes me all of us ought to stick together, and not go wandering around by ourselves.”

”b.u.mpus ought to be here to get that advice, then,” remarked Davy.

At that Thad turned upon the other scout.

”Why, I hadn't noticed that he was away,” he said, hastily, and frowning at the same time; ”when and where did he go, can you tell me that, Davy, since you seem to be the only one who knows about his being gone?”

”Why, you see, Thad,” began the other, looking a trifle alarmed himself now, ”he just remembered after we'd had our breakfast, you know, that he must have dropped his belt somewhere; and as he remembered having the same after he came out of the water, he said he expected he'd be able to pick it up between here and that place; so he strolled off. Why, I never thought but what some of the rest of you saw him go; and because n.o.body said a word I 'spected it was all right.”

”How long ago was that, did you say, Davy?” Thad asked.

”Why, just after Giraffe here cleaned out the last piece of bacon in the pan, as he said it was silly to waste even little things; and, after all, he wasted it in a hurry, too, let me tell you,” Davy proceeded to say.

”Why, I think that must have been nearly twenty-five minutes ago!”

exclaimed Step Hen, in some excitement, as he cast an anxious look away across the rocks and brush that interfered somewhat with their view of the route b.u.mpus would be apt to take on his way toward their landing place.

Thad jumped to his feet.

”This must be looked into!” he said, decisively.

”You're going off to hunt for him, I take it?” observed Giraffe; ”how about not getting separated, like you just told us? Ain't it going from bad to worse, Thad, if so be you rush out by yourself and leave us here?”

”Yes,” added Davy, quickly, ”if they're alooking around for chances to gobble us up, one by one, first it'd be b.u.mpus, then our scout-master, and then another of the bunch, till we all got caught. Thad, hadn't we ought to go along with you--”

”Just what I would have proposed, if you'd let me speak,” the other a.s.sured them readily enough; ”so get, ready now, and we'll start off.”

”But how about all our stuff here; shall we leave it behind?” questioned Davy.

”Oh! I hope not,” remarked Step Hen; ”I've got somewhat attached to that blanket of mine, you know.”

”Yes, we've noticed that lots of times, when you hated to get up in the morning,” chuckled Giraffe.

”But how about it, Thad; do we leave 'em here, and run the chance of getting the same took; or shall we take the stuff along with us?”

”I don't believe these men will bother with such small things as blankets and cooking things; if we had a supply of eatables it might be a different matter; but we happen to be shy along that line. Yes, bundle them up, and hide them 'as best you can. We may be in for a fight, for all we know, and in that case we'd want the freedom of our arms to work those clubs.”

”Sounds like business, anyway!” muttered Giraffe, as he started in to do as the scout-master recommended; for obedience is one of the first principles laid down in the rules by which Boy Scout are guided when they subscribe to the regulations of the troop they have joined.

They were soon ready.

As the five lads went forth they presented quite a formidable appearance indeed, what with the gun, the camp hatchet, the long bread knife, and a pair of clubs thick enough to give a fellow a nasty headache if ever they were brought in contact with his cranium.

”First of all, it's only right we should give a hail; and if b.u.mpus is wandering around somewhere he may answer us; and then we can wait for him to come in. I see he's left his bugle with his blanket here; pick it up somebody and give the recall, if anybody knows how.”

”Trust that to me!” exclaimed Davy; and s.n.a.t.c.hing up the nickeled instrument he placed it to his lips, immediately sending forth the strident sounds that have done duty on many a battlefield.

No sooner had the last note pealed forth than every boy listened eagerly; but there was no reply.