Frank A. Warner

“ Skeets, Shiner, Mouser and Billy were to accompany Bobby and Fred for a part of the way, though the first two were to separate from their comrades at a junction a little way down the line.
If a dark shadow, dangerous and menacing, was hanging over some of the party, they were blissfully unconscious of it. Life ran strong in their veins and the future seemed to be made up of sunshine and roses. ”

“ HALF A GALE In an incredibly short space of time a heavy sea was running, and the big ship, which at its dock had seemed so solid and immovable, was tossed about almost wholly at the will of the angry waves. The bow would rise up and up as it met a rushing hill of frothing green water, then, as the giant wave rushed astern, the bow would dip, and the whole vessel would seem to be coasting down into a frothing valley. Crests of the big rollers, picked up and flung aboard by the howling wind, drenched any hardy soul who ventured on deck. ”

“ SWALLOWED UP BY THE BOG The cougar quickly reached the screen of branches that Bobby had arranged, and here he hesitated, not understanding the nature of this obstacle. The tawny head was within two feet of the boys, and they found themselves looking fairly into the wicked green eyes that glared at them through the frail network of branches.
But the panther had little chance to solve the puzzle before him, for with one accord the boys, wielding their clubs with a strength born of desperation, rained blows upon his head. ”

“ SPRING PRACTICE “I’m the fellow who did it,” admitted Sparrow modestly.
“Sparrow, old scout, you’re a wonder!” cried Mouser, clapping him on the back.
“It hit him right where he lived,” chuckled Skeets.
“That pays him up for scattering ashes on the hill,” grinned Fred.
“He’ll never hear the last of it as long as he stays in school,” said Shiner. “Every once in a while a dead mouse will turn up on his desk and make him hopping mad.”
“He’ll never be much madder than he was this morning,” put in Skeets. “His eyes were fairly snapping.”
“Bronson and Jinks got theirs, too,” said Pee Wee. ”

“ For answer the Eskimo gave a triumphant grunt and—kept right on.
Then the boys saw that it was not an iceberg after all, but the shadowy hull of a ship—a wrecked ship—undoubtedly the treasure ship.
They felt a wild desire to shout aloud with joy, but somehow they managed to sit quiet, keeping a tight grip upon themselves. To show too much enthusiasm would be fatal. Mooloo might guess at their real business there. ”

“ Sympathy for the stricken Takyak was mingled with a wild longing to be away from the cabin, to get by himself where he might think up plans for the great adventure before him and his chums.
He came out of his reverie to hear Takyak speaking again.
“You wonder why I tell you all this,” said the Eskimo, and Bobby nodded. “I have no family— I am alone. I like you and your friends,” Takyak went on. “And, besides, there is no one else on the ship that I trust. Garrish—you must never let Garrish know!” ”

“ The boys looked at each other indignantly.
“What do you think of that?” demanded Mouser.
“Queer sense of fun some people have,” snorted Pee Wee.
“He’s a cheap skate,” declared Fred angrily.
“He ought to have a thrashing,” exclaimed Bobby.
Several times the scene was repeated, and the would-be joker was in high glee at the success of his trick.
At last the old man gave up the attempt to sleep, and straightened up wearily in his seat.
The joker looked around the car as though seeking for applause, but the silly grin on his face stiffened into a scowl as he met only contemptuous glances. ”

“ With the other negro clinging desperately around his neck, it was a ludicrous spectacle, and as Mose cleared the fence in a wild scramble with the mule not ten feet behind him, the boys shouted with laughter.
“That was a close shave!” gasped Fred at last. “Old Baldy is out after dark meat to-day, I can see that.”
“Looks to me as though the mule had won the decision,” said Bobby. “How about it, Lee?”
“Oh, they can’t give up now,” said Lee. “That mule would never be worth a cent to us again if they let him win. But I’m going to see if a little strategy won’t help them out.” ”

“ The light of battle began to glow in Betty’s eyes, but still she stood irresolute.
“I’ll give you a cent if you hit me,” pursued Fred.
“My! isn’t he reckless with his money?” mocked Pee Wee.
“He talks like a millionaire,” added Mouser.
“A whole cent,” mused Bobby.
Fred flushed.
“Make it a nickel, then,” he said. “And if that isn’t enough, I’ll give you a dime,” he added, in a final burst of generosity.
“Have you got it?” Betty asked suspiciously. She knew that Fred was usually in a state of bankruptcy. ”

“ THE MOCCASIN SNAKE The hearty breakfast and the bright sunshine, added to the consciousness that they had found a shelter to which they might retreat in case of need put new zest into the boys, and they felt much more hopeful and lighthearted than they had twenty-four hours earlier.
“Somehow I have a hunch that this is going to be a lucky day for us,” remarked Bobby, as he led the way.
“Here’s hoping that you’re right,” said Lee. “We’re certainly about due for a change in fortune. Poor mother!” he added, anxiety coming into his eyes, “she must be worried to death. ”

“ We haven’t any way to defend ourselves, and Mooloo with his spears could kill us easily. There wouldn’t have to be any explaining. He’d simply say, if he said anything at all, that we’d been lost in a blizzard, and the Eskimos would grunt, and that’s all there’d be to it. He’d slip our bodies into the sea and they’d never be found.”
The boys shuddered at the thought.
“Do you think that Mooloo is that kind of a fellow?” asked Billy.
“Maybe he is and maybe he isn’t,” replied Bobby. “But many a bad man becomes a murderer at the sight of gold, and it won’t do to take any chances. ”

“ Bobby and his chums were jubilant over the change as they got together in the gymnasium after breakfast on the morning of the holiday.
“Isn’t it just bully?” cried Fred, doing a handspring.
“The hill will be like glass,” gloated Mouser.
“I’ll bet we fetch further than we ever did before,” exulted Bobby, who could see himself scudding like the wind on his trusty Red Arrow.
“But, gee! won’t it be tough climbing up to the top again,” put in Pee Wee, who liked well enough to ride down but hated the task of walking back. ”

“ Nothing of any importance occurred during the night, although the swamp all around them seemed teeming with life. Above the croaking of frogs and the hum of night insects there rose at times a strange bellowing noise, that sent shivers creeping over Bobby and Fred, and which they were at a loss to explain. But next morning Lee told them the source of the strange noise.
“What you heard were alligators,” said Lee. “There are lots of them in this swamp, and we’ve got to look out for them. They’re pretty fierce, and they’ll attack anything under the sun.” ”

“ They turned a corner and there before them were the white circus tents with a crowd already wandering about the grounds, the sideshows with the bearded lady, the snake-charmer, the ossified man, the human-pincushion, the fat woman, the midgets, the strong man and other freaks, the array of elephants trumpeting and tossing their trunks, the small boys carrying water for the animals and thus earning free admission to the show, the peanut and lemonade booths, all pervaded by the unforgettable, pungent smell inseparable from the city of tents. ”

“ Fred looked at him and grinned.
“What’s the matter, Lee?” he inquired. “You don’t mean to tell me you’re feeling seasick, do you?”
“Of course I’m not seasick.”
“No, of course he isn’t seasick,” said Bobby, with a wink at Fred. “He just doesn’t feel well, that’s all. People are often that way on salt water. It must be something about the air, I guess.”
“Yes, that’s probably it,” agreed Fred, in a tone of deep sympathy. “What you need, Lee, is a good bang up supper to set you up. How would a nice pork chop or two hit you?” ”

“ Fred put on an air of offended virtue.
“Do you think I’m a crook?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” retorted Mouser in a most unflattering way. “A fellow that will pour water down my back when I’m trying to do him a favor will do anything.”
Fred looked at him sadly as though lamenting his lack of faith, but proceeded briskly to tear the strips. The boys drew and Bobby had the luck to retain his seat, but Fred had to exchange with Mouser.
“It’s a shame to have to sit with Pee Wee,” said Fred as he squeezed in beside the fat boy. “He takes up two-thirds of the seat.” ”

“ But no matter how the rest of the team were shaken, Bobby absolutely declined to lose his nerve. He knew that until this inning was over at any rate the only thing left for him was to strike his opponents out. Any ball hit, no matter how easily it ought to be fielded, was liable to be fumbled or booted. So he summoned up all his courage and skill and made the next two fan in succession.
Many a pitcher would have been grumpy and sore at such support. He had not yielded a single hit or passed a man to first, and yet his opponents had made three runs and taken the lead. ”

“ One thing is certain, and that is if any team beats Rockledge it will know it’s been in a fight.”
“I suppose Larry Cronk will be pitching for Belden,” mused Fred.
“I suppose so, and he’s a corking good pitcher too. But Bobby beat him the last time he faced him and I guess he can do it again.”
“Trust Bobby,” replied Fred loyally.
“Well, I’ll have to go now,” concluded Frank. “I’m glad you boys think the league is going to be a good thing.”
“The best thing that ever happened,” declared Sparrow.
“I’m tickled to death with it,” agreed Fred.
“Hits me awful hard,” said Bobby. ”

“ Your memory is nothing but a hole with no bottom in it.”
“All right, pick on my memory all you want to,” grinned Bobby, “but remember ‘it’s a long worm that has no turning.’”
“You fellows had better cut out all those fake proverbs and get down to business,” warned Lee. “We’re just as far as ever from getting out of this swamp, and we don’t even know where we’re going to get our next meal. Why don’t you exercise your minds on this problem: when do we eat, and if so, how?”
“You certainly start off with a terribly hard one,” said Fred. “Can’t you think of anything easier than that, Lee?” ”

“ Billy said in low, excited tones.
“If we find this Mooloo, we may,” said Mouser. “But by the time we reach his igloo he may have gone. You know what Kapje said, when an Eskimo gets tired of one place, he trots on a bit and makes a new snow palace.”
“Down with the gloom hound!” cried Fred, indignantly. “What’s the use of looking for trouble?”
“Kapje’s been mighty white to us,” said Bobby thoughtfully. “If we ever do find the treasure you can bet he and his family are going to be mighty glad of it.” ”

“ The boys, left alone, looked gleefully at each other.
“Scubbity-yow!” shouted Fred, as he threw his cap to the ceiling.
“All our troubles are over now,” exulted Pee Wee.
“Isn’t he a brick?” demanded Bobby gratefully.
“Reminds me of the bread cast upon the waters that our minister was talking about last Sunday,” remarked Mouser. “He said it would come back to you after many days, and by ginger I believe it now.”
“It’s more than bread,” gloated Pee Wee. “It’s cake.”
“If Pee Wee says it’s cake, it is cake,” mocked Fred. “There’s nobody knows more than he does about things to eat.” ”

“ Both Bobby and Fred were impressed by the leisurely way in which life seemed to flow on in the various places through which they passed. Even the soft haze in the atmosphere was suggestive of rest and quiet. In the little towns, dogs lay in the dust in the middle of the road, not at all disturbed by the fear of being run over. ”

“ Bobby measured the distance between him and that rifle that lay so useless in the snow. If the bear withdrew only a little way, he would seize his chance, make a dash for the rifle, and shoot the ugly brute before it could reach him. ”

“ Billy looked aggrieved.
“You fellows don’t know a good riddle when you hear one,” he remarked scornfully.
“How do you know?” countered Mouser. “You never give us a chance to try. Spring a real good one and see how quick we’ll tumble.”
Billy looked dubious but took a chance.
“Well, take this one, then,” he said. “What is it that happens twice in a moment, once in a minute, and not once in a thousand years.”
The boys put on their thinking caps, but the problem was beyond them, and Billy strutted around with a triumphant look upon his face. ”

“ We’ll have to get busy and catch about a hundred more before I’ll feel satisfied.”
“If you’ll eat a hundred, I’ll catch them for you,” laughed Bobby.
“And I’ll clean them and cook them for you,” seconded Lee.
“All right, go ahead and start in,” said Fred, but the others were not to be taken in so easily.
“No, you don’t,” laughed Bobby. “You get busy and catch some yourself. I’ll bet you couldn’t eat two more to save your life.”
“Well, I’d have a lot of fun trying, anyway,” said Fred, regretfully. “But if you fellows are too lazy to catch fish for me, I suppose I’ll have to do it myself.” ”

“ Mouser came back at him.
“What’ll you do?” jeered the bully, though his voice now was getting unsteady as he saw that the boys were in earnest.
Fred leaned forward, snatched the fellow’s cap from his head and threw it in a seat some distance away.
“Follow your hat and you’ll find your seat,” he cried.
The fellow started forward in a rage, but just then the conductor came into the car. He came forward briskly.
“Here, none of this!” he exclaimed. “You boys mustn’t do any scrapping on this train. Get back in your seats now, all of you, and behave yourselves.” ”

“ If they only had some warm clothing! They had been given top coats from the ship’s locker, but they were far too big for them. Rushed as they had been with work on deck, they had not been so conscious of the bitter cold. But in an open boat, with nothing to shield them from the fierce winds, they might be frozen to death.
Bobby shivered and thought of the snug fur coats worn by the Eskimo members of the crew. That was the only thing that could keep out the biting cold of the Northland—fur, and plenty of it. ”

“ That’s old Baldy, and I really believe he’s the meanest mule that ever lived, and if you know anything about mules, you’ll realize that that’s saying something. I should have warned you about him, but I didn’t think about it.”
“Oh, well it doesn’t matter as long as he missed me,” said Fred. “You can bet I’ll watch out for him in the future.”
“It’s a circus to see the darkeys when they have to harness him,” said Lee. “They’re all afraid of him, and yet they respect him, too, because he’s as strong as two ordinary mules, and when he feels like it can do a hard day’s work. ”

“ It’s easy enough to win games in our dreams, but the only ones that count are those that are won on the diamond.”
“We’ll win them all right there too,” replied Fred, who already saw himself cracking out a home run with the bases full. “We’ll be there with bells on from the time the season opens.”
“I bet we’ll go all through the season without losing a game,” declared Sparrow, in a wild flight of fancy.
“Come off the perch,” warned Bobby.
“Turn over, turn over, you’re on your back,” said the irreverent Skeets.
“You’ll bring bad luck on us if you talk like that,” cautioned Frank. ”

“ A shout arose that was instantly repressed for fear that Mooloo would hear.
“Bobby, that headpiece of yours is a wonder!” exclaimed Fred enthusiastically.
“It’s a dandy scheme,” chuckled Billy.
“It’ll sure put it over,” declared Mouser.
“Now, the first thing to do,” continued Bobby, “is to lug a lot of these books into the cabin where Mooloo’s sleeping. When he wakes up, we’ll show them to him and turn over the pages so that he’ll see they’re all there. Ten to one he won’t do more than grunt and think we’re dippy for taking any interest in such things. ”

“ When shall we make another try to get out of this everlasting swamp?”
“I think we’d better start as soon as it’s light enough to see, to-morrow,” said Lee. “I hate to think of tackling the bog again, but we’ve just got to do it.”
“Well, then, that’s settled,” came from Fred. “We’ll get a good sleep to-night and start strong, anyway. Don’t you think it would be a good idea to cook a lot of those eggs and take them along with us? There’s no telling how long it may be before we find any other food.”
“That’s a good idea,” said Bobby. “Let’s get busy and cook some right now. ”

“ The lithe limbs of the boys gave them an advantage over their heavier companions, and they were soon on the heels of the tramps, who turned snarling and faced them.
“Keep off or I’ll club the life out of you,” shouted one, whom they recognized as the man with the scar.
“No you won’t,” cried Bobby, defiantly.
“We want the things you stole from us,” sang out Fred.
“Jail for yours!” Mouser shouted.
They circled round the men, thus holding them in check, and in another moment Mr. Wharton and the constable had come up and each grabbed one of the men by the collar. ”

“ Bobby reminded him. “As soon as he gets over raving about Takyak, he’ll begin to think of us and wonder if we know any more about the treasure than he does.”
“And when he does,” said Fred ruefully, “something tells me it will be all up with us.”
“The only thing we can do,” said Bobby hurriedly, for they could hear the heavy tramping of the sailors who were returning, “is to take a chance and start as soon after dark as we can. A few hours from now this old boat will be getting a little more unhealthy for us than it already is.” ”

“ Lee was frankly seasick again, and even Bobby and Fred had to admit that they “felt a little off.”
“But anyway, a storm like this isn’t likely to last long,” remarked Bobby. “It came up in a hurry, and likely will go down just as fast.”
“It can’t go too fast to suit me,” groaned Lee, “‘A life on the rolling deep’ may be all right for some people, but it rolls entirely too much to be popular with me.”
“Not to mention how deep it is when the ship happens to sink,” said Fred. “Whether we like it or not, we’ve got to admit that the man who wrote that poetry knew what he was talking about.” ”