Strathspey

“ Whom do you assert stole the Widow Canby's money?"
"A tramp."
"Humph! A likely story."
"It's true. His name was John Stumpy."
"John Stumpy!"
As Mr. Aaron Woodwind uttered the name, all the color forsook his face.
"Yes, sir. And he claimed to know you," I went on, my curiosity amused over the merchant's show of feeling.
"It's a falsehood! I never heard of such a man," cried Mr. Woodward, but his face belied his words.
"Well, what is your charge against Strong?" asked Judge Penfold, impatiently, probably tired of being so utterly ignored in the discussion. ”

“ When at last the two boys reached the spot where the raft had been moored they found everything in readiness for departure. Whopper and Giant had strung all the craft together in a line, making quite a flotilla.
"They are after us—-we've got to dust out lively!" cried Shep, as he and his chum struck the water's edge.
"You can't get in the Snapper," explained Whopper. "The outfit is in such a jumble there is no room."
"You stay where you are," ordered Snap. "I'll get in their rowboat and Shep can get in the canoe. There will be no hurry, once we are away from the shore." ”

“ The walking was treacherous and soon Whopper went down, with Shep on top of him. The bag of apples came over both.
"Hi! get off of me!" roared Whopper. "Do you want to crush me into a pancake? Who threw that bag of apples?"
"You want to be careful of the loads," admonished Snap. "Don't throw off the mince pie as you did the apples."
"Look!" yelled Giant, who had been gazing to the north of the watercourse. "Am I mistaken, or is that a deer?"
"A deer! A deer!" cried Shep, and on the instant all of the boys forgot about the tumble and each caught up his shotgun. ”

“ But just as Nuggy was freed there came a strong rush of wind and a cloud of smoke which enveloped both like a sheet. The fire was coming up the corridor, and had already reached the stairway by which Gilbert had ascended to the ward.
"Wha—what shall we do next? " groaned Nuggy. "We are lost! Oh, Heaven help us!" And, too weak to stand longer, he sank on his knees, and then went into a heap on the floor.
"Come, this won't do!" cried Gilbert, and caught the yoimg man by the arm. "We must get simply must!" But Nuggy did not hear him, for he had fainted. ”

“ At last the opening was large enough to admit of the passage of Whopper's body and he passed to the outside. Then he dug from that end, and presently Shep came forth, followed by Giant and lastly by Snap.
"Thank heaven we are out of that!" murmured the doctor's son, and his chums echoed his sentiment. Never had the outer world appeared so glorious to them. At that instant they were all ready to vow they would never enter a cave again. ”

“ He led the way back to the gully and pointed to a pot of tar and a brush which rested by it.
"It is tar!" cried Crabtree.
"Exactly."
"And you are—ahem—going to give him a coat of that?"
"Yes. Doesn't he deserve it?"
"To be sure he does. I will assist you," answered the former teacher readily, with a malicious gleam in his fishy eyes. "I wish you had all three boys here, to tar them with the same brush."
"One at a time, Crabtree. We'll fix the others some time later." ”

“ Giant during a short lull in the talk.
"Yes," answered Shep. "And if we do, they'll sure try to make trouble for us."
"I am not afraid of them," said Snap. "If they don't keep their distance we'll——-"
"Give 'em as good as they send," finished Whopper. "But great Caesar's tombstone! just think of going camping again!" And in his joy the youth turned a handspring on the grass. As he arose Giant threw an apple core that took him in the ear. Then Whopper threw a core in return, hitting Shep. A general fusillade of cores followed, and the lads ended by chasing each other around the orchard. ”

“ He threw pepper in my eyes!"
"You hound, you!" exclaimed Jack, and even though his eyes smarted not a little from the few grains of pepper that had entered, he managed to leap upon the bully and give him a swinging crack in the jaw. But then Werner threw the young captain backward over a rock, and just as Andy and Spouter put in an appearance he dodged in among some heavy brushwood and quickly disappeared.
"What did he do?" demanded Spouter.
"He threw something in our eyes. Ruth got the worst of it," answered Jack. "Go on after him; we'll have to attend to our eyes." ”

“ I once heard a learned professor say he was first cousin to the shark, and second cousin to the skate, a kind o' binding link betwixt the two."
"Is he good to eat?" questioned another of the passengers.
"Every fish is good to eat—if you like the taste of the meat," returned the captain, sagely. "As for me, I don't want any sawfish steaks, although I have tried 'em."
"I'm sure I don't want anything to eat from him," half whispered Larry, at which Striker laughed.
"Won't you now, Larry? Now that ain't me—I'd much rather eat my enemy nor have my enemy eat me; hang me if I wouldn't!" ”

“ Then came a shout in Jack’s voice.
“They have been discovered!” cried Andy, and leaped from the carryall, followed by George Strong and Peleg Snuggers.
“Look out, or they may shoot you!” said the general-utility man, taking good care to keep well to the rear.
Another shout, this time from Pepper, rang out, and then those who had just come up saw two men rush through the forest in the direction of the lake.
“There they go!” cried George Strong. “Stop, Paul! Stop, Bart!” he added.
“Let us alone!” said Callax. “Let us alone!” ”

“ The matter was talked over for half an hour, and in the end George Strong said he would go out the next morning, and take Andy and Jack with him.
“Can’t you take Pepper Ditmore, too, and Stuffer—I mean Paul—Singleton?” asked Jack. “I know they won’t say a word to anybody, and you may need them—if we find the men and they show fight.”
“I want no violence, Major Ruddy. I think we made a mistake before by not treating Mr. Callax and Mr. Shaff very gently.”
“You can’t treat a man gently if he wants to club you,” answered Andy bluntly. ”

“ It was only a little later when the twins and Spouter came in. They, of course, were also excited.
“Got one of the Germans and got the Secret Service men on the trail!” declared Fred proudly.
“Good enough!” cried Andy. “But say! we have got our little story to tell, too;” and then he and the others related what had been discovered at the cabin in the woods.
“This certainly is important,” declared Captain Dale. “Who would ever suppose that Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell were in league with these Germans! They certainly ought to be captured.” ”

“ Larry and Luke were close behind their leader and both were alarmed to see him go down, uttering a deep groan as he did so.
"Is he killed?" questioned the young second mate.
"I don't know," was the old tar's response. "Shall we go up?"
"Keep back there!" was the call from above. "Put a step on those stairs and it will be the worse for you!"
At that moment came a cry from Cal Vincent. The boatswain had been attacked from behind and was given no chance to defend himself. Then came a roar from Jeff, who came rushing toward the companionway as if all the demons of the deep were behind him. ”

“ The move was a providential one; for hardly were the party seated around the table which the Chinese servant had spread when there came a low and sudden whine, as of something in deadly pain, and a shell burst directly in the top of a tree growing in the centre of the garden. The report was followed by a shower of small branches and leaves, and then it was seen that the tree had been split in twain almost from top to bottom.
“Creation! but that was close!” cried Gilbert; while Jennie Bartlett shrieked from fright. Then the young lieutenant looked at the split tree. “Get out of the way!” ”

“ There was another rock in the way—one that rested partly over the roots of the fern, which looked like an unusually healthy plant. Gif tugged at this rock and Fred bent forward to assist him. Then, all of a sudden, the rock came out from the split in which it lay, and both cadets slipped and fell on their backs.
"Oh, do be careful! You'll have one of those rocks on your toes, sure!" cried Ruth.
She had scarcely spoken when there came a scream from May Powell and Alice Strobell.
"A snake! A snake!"
"He's coming for us!"
"Run! Run, everybody, before the snake bites you!" ”

“ It made them pant to climb over some of the rocks, and when the job was done they were all out of breath.
"Have you fellows noticed how the wind is rising?" remarked Giant, as he paused to wipe the perspiration from his forehead.
"Yes," answered Shep. "We are surely fixing for a storm."
"By the way, Shep," came from Snap, "don't you wish you had shot a turkey instead of the deer?"
"Don't say turkeys," replied the doctor's son, reproachfully. They had brought the deer close to the spot where the rowboat had been tied up, and now Whopper went to get the craft. Soon he returned in anxiety. ”

“ The boy who loved to eat did not finish for several began to laugh.
“We’ll make Stuffer head cook,” cried Pepper. “Stuffer, how does that suit you?”
“All right—if only you won’t ask me to wash dishes,” was the reply.
“Everybody will have to do his share of work,” said Jack, and looked knowingly at Pepper. Then he leaned over and whispered in Andy’s ear. “I am afraid we are going to have trouble with Reff Ritter and his crowd. Reff wants to have everything his own way, and he thinks the fellows ought to make him leader.” ”

“ It was some time ere I could recover and call out to the cabin boy:
"What is it, Phil? Where are you?"
"Here I am," he cried, close beside me; and an instant later his hand touched my body.
"What happened?" I repeated.
"I don't know," he replied. "Either something struck the boat, or else we hit a rock."
"I don't think we are near enough to shore to strike a rock," I rejoined.
"Well, what was it then?"
"I don't know, and what's more I'm not going to try to find out just at present. Where is the raft?"
"I guess the Hasty has gone to the bottom. I can't see her anywhere around." ”

“ I asked. "He is as much accused as I."
"We have only your word for that."
"Then let me send for my sister Kate and Dick Blair."
Judge Penfold rubbed his chin reflectively.
"I think I'll have to put you under bonds," he said to John Stumpy.
"Why so? The boy's word doesn't amount to anything," put in Mr. Woodward.
"Only a matter of form, Mr. Woodward. I will make it a thousand dollars. Will you go his bondsman?"
"Of course he will," said John Stumpy, hastily. "Won't you?"
The merchant winced. "I—I guess so," he stammered. "But it's a strange proceeding." ”

“ Then the man on the front seat spoke to the driver, and away they went once more, and were soon out of sight, taking the road the cadets had just been thinking of pursuing.
"Well, I'm mighty glad we met those men," declared Gif. "Now I know where I am. Thank goodness! we are not so very far out of the way after all."
"Don't crow, Gif, until you are out of the woods—or at least until we are in sight of the Lodge," cried Andy.
"I didn't like the looks of those fellows," declared Jack.
"They were a bunch of Germans, and not very nice Germans at that," said Fred. ”

“ The pursued man, repenting of his rashness, and fearing the worst, as well he might, made straight for Knowe Park wall.
Bell had heard the laughter when milking Daisy; [146] Mr. and Mrs. Barrie had heard it when taking an evening stroll in the garden, and all three were standing at the wall wondering what could cause it, as the laughter was unusually boisterous. They saw the chase begin. The flying man observed Mr. Barrie, and made toward him as to a city of refuge. When Mr. Barrie saw Dan rushing on, so dangerously armed and so furious, he cried loudly, “Stop, Corbett! stop! I command you.” ”

“ During the past couple of days I've found more than one fellow aboard the Brooklyn looking at me queer-like, and I can put two and two together as quick as the next man. If I allow this to go on, there won't be a soul speak to me after a while."
"I shan't say a word—I'll promise you."
"It's Russell who will talk the most, I reckon," went on Haskett, with apparent bitterness. "Russell, the very fellow who ought not to say a word."
"I'll caution him, if you want me to," went on Paul, who was tender-hearted and very willing to help anybody out of trouble.
"Caution Russell! Not for the world. ”

“ James now took speech in hand: “My name’s James Barrie, and this is Mary, and this is Lewie. We’re flitting from the manse over yonder;” and he pointed in the same direction as Mary had looked. But Dr. Guthrie, thus suddenly brought into contact with this stern reality of the Disruption, had again to apply to his snuff-box, and was in the act of taking it out of his pocket when Sir John McLelland drove up to the post office and alighted. Dr. Guthrie and he knew one another as members of Assembly, and they shook hands cordially, Sir John expressing surprise at seeing the doctor there. ”

“ Barwaithe sat, examining his sore foot, which was neither better nor worse. "That boat we are building won't hold more than five people, along with our outfits."
The faces of both Roland and Guardley grew dark. "All right; if you don't want us, we'll hook fast somewhere else," muttered Roland, and turned on his heel.
"Maybe you'll regret throwing us off some day," came from Guardley, as he passed Earl; and then the two men were lost to sight among the tents up the lake shore.
"Oh, what cheek!" burst from Randy, when they were gone. "I wouldn't have Roland in the party for a farm." ”

“ It had an upper and a lower berth on one side, and a tiny washstand and some clothing hooks on the other.
“We’ll all have close quarters,” said Barwell Dawson. “My own room is but two feet larger than this.”
“It’s large enough,” said Andy. He turned to his chum. “We’ll be as snug as a bug in a rug in here, won’t we?”
“Suits me right down to the ground,” returned Chet. “Not much room for clothing, but as we haven’t much, that’s all right.”
Professor Jeffer was to share his stateroom with another man, who had not yet arrived. ”