Brooks Henderley

“ All could hear the noise made by the hurried passage of some body; and more than one boyish face lost much of its usual color as the lads exchanged uneasy glances.
“What if it’s the wild man?” ventured Andy Hale, thus voicing the alarm that had begun to hammer at every heart.
“Wow! get your clubs, everybody, and stand ready to repel boarders!” snapped Peg, immediately pouncing on the handy camp hatchet.
“Hold on, fellows,” Dick called out. “It’s a man, you can see, and he looks to me as though he might be more frightened than we are. See, he’s waving his hands.” ”

“ Bartlett knew that some of the boys, more impetuous than wise, would be apt to rush toward the pit in order to gratify their curiosity. He wished to warn them of the danger involved in carelessness.
“Mr. Holwell,” he said, “Dan invites us all to come and see for ourselves. But before we go I wish to tell the boys to be very particular not to crowd up close to the edge of the pit. If the earth crumbled under any one and he fell in I’m afraid he’d never come out alive again.” ”

“ There is nothing under the sun capable of exciting a crowd of lively boys as much as a fire. Consequently when the ball players saw the smoke pouring from Bratton’s barn they instantly forgot all about their game, even with the score a tie, two out, Dick to the bat, a runner on third, and but a single hit needed to win for his side. ”

“ A wild bird can be taken from the nest when it’s just hatched, reared in a cage, and if set free will be able to construct a nest exactly like those its species has been building ever since the world began.”
“It’s just wonderful, that’s what, Dick! But let’s creep underneath and see if we can find anything of the lost articles.”
No sooner were they inside the rude shelter than both boys uttered cries of wonder mingled with delight.
“Here’s his treasure-chest as sure as anything!” yelled Leslie. “Oh, look, Dick! Mr. Holwell’s gold watch, and not a bit hurt, either! ”

“ As soon as the religious service, which was held every morning after breakfast, was over, Dick whispered to his chum:
“Let’s be moving, Leslie, while the crowd is still sitting around. Mr. Holwell seems to be telling them one of his stories about his experiences. Every little while something that happens seems to stir up his memory. He’s seen a heap of queer things in his day.” ”

“ A number of the boys did not know the least thing about swimming, and were more or less timid about entering the water. Mr. Rowland soon gave them to understand there was nothing to be afraid of. He intended that there should be no skylarking, no ducking, no horse-play among themselves.
“We expect to have swimming classes,” he told them as they gathered around at the edge of the water, clad in their bathing trunks only. “A life saving crew will be organized, and no boy will be allowed to go beyond certain bounds on penalty of having his privileges curtailed, or even cut off altogether. ”

“ A gorilla in his native Borneo haunt is considered one of the most terrible creatures known to big game hunters the world over, not even excepting the grizzly bear of our own country, and Dick’s pulses were bounding, and his nerves were on edge, for he realized that at any minute he might find himself face to face with the animal.
And, indeed, that was just what did happen, for Dick suddenly heard a horrible gurgling sound close by, and turning his head found himself staring at a squatty, hairy figure that looked like a misshapen man with amazingly broad shoulders, and long dangling arms. ”

“ Boys have feelings, and they know what kind of reading they want every time. Their books have got to have a certain amount of good, lively, healthy adventure in ’em, or else nobody’s going to bother spending his time over ’em.”
“But my uncle says——” began Humbert feebly, when Dan interrupted him.
“Oh! what does your uncle know about boys, tell me? I guess when he was a baby they must have fed him on Latin verbs and Greek nouns. All he thinks of is stuffing us boys with ‘standard literature,’ as he calls it, when we’re just shouting for things that appeal to our boy natures.” ”

“ Everybody agreed that the nail was destitute of any such appendage as a dollar nickel watch. Mr. Bartlett looked serious, but allowed the boys to talk it over.
“Well, there’s no use mourning for lost things when breakfast is nearly ready,” declared good-natured Fred Bonnicastle. “Mebbe the watch is just having a little joke of its own, and will turn up later in some pocket of your clothes, Dan.”
“I’m as hungry as a wolf!” called out Clint Babbett.
“Huh! I could eat my weight, and then not half try,” ventured Nat Silmore. ”

“ But Dan keeps on saying mean things about him, because once, you know, Asa stole something he valued a heap, and Dan has never quite forgotten it. After what you heard I reckon he will win out, and for one I’m going to help him all I can. The poor fellow needs friends to back him, just as Mr. Holwell said.”
“That sounds just like you, Leslie,” remarked Dick, slapping his chum heartily on the back at the same time. “And I’m with you every time. We may be of some help to poor lonely Asa; and anyway he’ll feel stronger if he sees that we believe in him.” ”

“ Holwell was of course stunned at first, but as Dick went on with his story his eyes grew moist, and he shook his head as though he felt exceedingly sorry for the boy whose past haunted him so persistently.
“Poor Asa,” he said, later on, when he had heard all, “it must be terrible to feel as he does, and be compelled to fight so desperately to keep [Pg 142] from doing things that other boys have no fear they will be tempted to do. I give him all credit for his gallant fight, and if he wins, as I firmly believe will be the case, I shall be proud of him. ”

“ You see, Dick, it’s got to be second nature with him to be eternally brushing himself off. He hates the sight of dirt, which is just the opposite of some boys. But then Humbert has been made a sissy by his uncle and his aunts. He should have been called Geraldine or something like that. Still, I will say he did a heap better than I ever thought he would.”
“Give him half a chance, Leslie,” urged Dick. “In spite of his superior airs and high-flown language I think he’s a boy after all. ”

“ Whenever it is sounded every life-saver runs for the shore, ready for business. It is on this account that scores of big camps are held every summer without a single drowning. Parents may feel perfectly safe in allowing their boys to spend a term at such well protected camps.”
“I shall never hear three blasts from a whistle again,” said Mr. Holwell, “but that I shall think of this time up here.” ”

“ She’d find we’d eat her out of house and home,” laughed Peg Fosdick.
“There’s no doubt,” interrupted Dick, seriously, “but the woman thought she was giving us boys a big help, but it only goes to show how little some women know what a boy’s heart hungers for. It takes a man to understand a boy, my mother says. Why, even girls in these days wouldn’t stand for that sort of camping out.”
Several others got up to tell how they had prosecuted an earnest search, but absolutely without success. No one seemed to know of a suitable site for a boys’ camp within a reasonable distance of town. ”

“ Nocker was plainly distinguishable.
The deacon held up his hand as though he had something more to communicate, so Dick, as chairman of the meeting, knocked on the table with his gavel to bring the wild cheering to an end.
“There are a few things I want to say to you, boys,” began the deacon, evidently enjoying the sensation of being so heartily cheered. “The first is in connection with the expense you will all be under, if you accept my offer. Lake Russabaga is a good many miles away from Cliffwood, and the railroad fare will amount to considerable.” ”

“ When finally the ordinary routine of business had been brought to a hurried conclusion Elmer Jones was on his feet with a motion.
“I move, Mr. President,” he said, with a broad smile, “that we proceed to the most important matter that engages our attention just now and hear the report of the committee appointed to find a camp-site for the club.”
“Second the motion!” exclaimed Phil Harkness. “Although there’s little need of it,” he went on, “because hearing the report of any committee comes under the head of business.” ”

“ Then all rushed to the spot where the remains of the man-trap lay scattered around, Dick taking care that no one crowded so close as to endanger the strange and telltale footprint.
Long and earnestly every boy gazed at this mark. Queer feelings came over them as they realized that in all probability Dick had indeed solved the mystery.
Nat in particular was triumphantly declaring that he had been vindicated.
“Say, what did I tell you?” he demanded of Dan and Peg as a grin crept over his face. “A gorilla can hop if it wants to, can’t it? ”

“ Bartlett to have it done to-morrow, for Mr. Holwell talks of having to go back home on the next day!” Dick declared.
“We’ll all be sorry to see the last of him, Dick.”
“That’s right,” agreed the other, earnestly. “Mr. Holwell is one man among a million when it comes to knowing just how to wind boys around his finger. But then that’s because he loves boys so. No man can have control over them unless he is thinking and planning for their benefit night and day.”
“I reckon you’re right there,” Leslie asserted. “Boys are a heap like animals. A dog knows by instinct who’s his friend. ”

“ Every boy will have a share in the work and be expected to do his level best in keeping the camp tidy, doing the chores, and, in fact, whatever is given into his charge.
“Mr. Rowland, who will have entire charge of the athletic proceedings, has arranged a splendid series of events that he expects will create a healthy rivalry among many of the boys who are now with us. Prizes will be given to those who excel in nature study, photography, swimming, diving, rowing, life-saving feats, woodcraft, and a number of other things along the same lines. ”

“ Holwell patted Asa on the shoulder.
“Cheer up, my son,” he said, heartily. “It is that regret which is bound to make your footing sure on the rocks. When any one can forget his weaknesses of the past he is in danger of slipping again. That conscience of yours is going to be your best asset. ”

“ You must continue to help him in every way you can, my boy.”
“I certainly will, sir,” declared Dick, with a strong remembrance of the moist eyes Asa had turned on him when he made that humiliating confession that after all had proved to be only a dreadful suspicion, and not a reality.
That was a busy afternoon, all things considered. Some of those who had been out fishing in the morning decided they had had enough angling for one day. Besides, they knew very well that others were desirous of testing their skill against the game qualities of the black bass of Lake Russabaga. ”

“ At the same time three small pigs were seen running wildly about the room, creating much excitement as they darted back and forth under the chairs and amidst the legs of twenty-odd boys gathered there.
Every one knew that Nat and his two cronies had liberated the pigs, for they were standing in the doorway and laughing heartily at the frantic efforts of the boys to catch the dodging pigs. All thought of business was suspended until this duty had been accomplished, after which the offending pigs were summarily ejected from the building. ”

“ The berry pickers enlivened the time with pleasant chatter as they pushed along through the brush, heading toward the distant spot where Eddie had noted the unusually heavily laden blueberry bushes.
Arriving on the ground the boys began to pick. It is slow work at the best, no matter if the berries can be fairly stripped off by a deft motion of the hand; and they could count on a couple of hours at the work if they expected to fill their pails. ”

“ We all think that the writer who can give us healthy adventure, and perhaps put some good, strong traits into his characters, is doing us all the good we’ll stand for.”
“My opinion exactly,” said the minister, heartily.
“Still,” went on Dick, “Humbert has waked up some and is taking to the water and to swimming like a fish; so, you see, there may be hope for him in other things as well.”
“Let us hope so,” the minister said with a smile.
“I hope you have told Mr. Loft how we boys feel about our reading, sir,” ventured Dick, boldly. ”

“ Any boy who could figure out an answer to such a baffling mystery deserved worlds of credit, and the minister was prouder of Dick than ever.
Indeed, Mr. Holwell was feeling more and more pleased every day, that he had decided to take a little vacation and spend it on Bass Island in camp with the boys of the Junior Department of the local Y. M. C. A. He dearly loved to study boy-nature, and watch the development of those faculties that in the years to come might carry the possessors on to fame or fortune.
Clint Babbett was coaxed to get his camera and take a photograph of the strange footprint. ”

“ There was a look of disgust on his face as he spoke, as though he were thinking it would be much too tame for them to spend a whole week on the spot where children came to picnic.
“And too near town besides,” added Dan Fenwick. “When we camp out it’s got to be far away from home, and in a regular wilderness. That’s what makes it feel like the real thing. Huh! I’d as soon put up a tent in our back yard, and stick it out there for a week, as go to that old Truesdale wood.”
Dick laughed at the vigor of these replies, though he had fully anticipated hearing something of the sort. ”

“ Holwell, ready for his morning bath, stood and watched the display with considerable interest.
“I can see that you mean your boys shall get the full benefit of their outing up here, Mr. Rowland,” he told the athletic trainer as all started down to the brim of the lake to enjoy a brief plunge. “I can easily understand now what wonderful benefit any lad is sure to get from a few weeks spent in one of the many Y. M. C. A. camps spread all over this broad land, especially if they are being conducted on the same principles you and Mr. Bartlett have instituted here.” ”

“ Rowland and I will be pleased to oblige any of you boys when the request is as reasonable as yours.”
“I don’t suppose there’ll be any danger out here on this big island, sir?” remarked Asa, a little uneasily, Dick noticed, as he glanced around at the moonlit vicinity, and shivered.
“Oh! there’s very small chance that the island holds any wild animals larger than raccoons and squirrels,” replied the camp leader.
“Besides, Asa,” Dick added, “you must remember that even a wildcat is afraid of fire, and as a rule shuns the presence of human beings. ”

“ The rules of the organization do not encourage the hunting instinct, only a laudable desire to build up the human body, so that a healthy mind may be better qualified to grasp the precious truths that are so frequently proclaimed within these walls. In fact, I can easily imagine several patrons of the association staring in wonder and displeasure upon discovering a stuffed gorilla standing guard in your department. ”