You see, before then the man had guessed that Elmer must have spent some time Out West, from various things he heard mentioned. Indeed, he had asked plainly if such were not the case, and afterwards told the young scout-master a few interesting things connected with his own checkered career.
His real name he declared would never be known, for he came of a good family, which he would not wish to disgrace. He admitted that he had had every chance in the world to make a mark in the line of law or the ministry, and had even been a professor at one time in a college; but, somehow, a love for dissipation dragged him down until finally he had disappeared, a.s.sumed another name in a part of the country where he was not known, and commenced his career of vice.
The man told the scouts to take a lesson from his blasted career, though they hardly knew whether he really meant it or, as Lil Artha was constrained to say, was "talking through his hat."
The fire was kept burning, and fed with more or less green wood in the hope and expectation that the black smoke thus generated might draw the tracking posse to the scene the more rapidly.
It was almost two hours before they arrived, which would indicate that Johnny might not be quite as expert at following a "man trail" as some of the scouts were.
Great was the astonishment of the Chief and his men when upon approaching the fire by creeping up they discovered that those about it were the eight scouts, and even recognized in the bedraggled figure of the last member none other than the wretched culprit, Hen Condit.
And there, seated with his back against a tree and his hands and ankles securely bound scout-fashion, was the man they wanted. He greeted their coming, and the look of amazement on the Chief"s red face with roars of amus.e.m.e.nt.
"Better late than never, Chief," he called out. "While you were sleeping over it, these smart scouts did the business, and took me in.
All the cold cash that was taken has been recovered to a last red cent; and I"ve explained just how I forced this silly boy Hen to write that letter, when it was really me who cribbed the money. So don"t bother blaming a kid like that. He"s had his lesson, Chief."
Elmer thought that was pretty handsome of Joe, and he did not hesitate to tell him so. He could see that the man was a strange mixture of good and evil, though it seemed that the bad elements in his composition were generally on top.
As there was no need of remaining any longer in the swamp, they started to leave. Johnny said he would go back and take the two skiffs out, towing one behind him. Later on he could come and mend the new boat by fetching a plank to replace the one that had been staved in by striking a log at full speed.
"Hope we see you again down at Hickory Ridge, Johnny!" called out Lil Artha after the bound boy.
"Yes, and we won"t forget that clever chicken trap of yours," added Toby, "even if the man did cut his companion free before we reached the spot. By the way, Hen, here"s something of yours that we found."
"My knife with the buckhorn handle!" exclaimed the Condit boy, looking pleased. "I missed that, and thought I"d never see it again. Where did you pick it up, Toby?"
"Huh! you dropped it from your pocket once upon a time when your heels were some higher than your head. That helped to give us a strong clue, and we knew we were on the right track up here near old Sa.s.safras Swamp. Next time you"re chicken hungry, Hen, b.u.t.ton up your pockets; you never know what"s going to happen these days."
Hen turned fiery red, and then laughed in a confused fashion.
"Well," he said, boldly, "both of us were terribly hungry, and since I"d jumped in up to my neck you know, an inch further didn"t seem to mind. I suppose that"s the way with all boys who go to the bad; the first step leads to another until they don"t care much what becomes of them. But oh! I"m hugging myself to know it"s all going to be like an ugly dream now. What don"t I owe you fellows? All my life I"ll remember it."
Once out of the swamp and they were soon at Farmer Trotter"s place.
Here it was found that the Chief and his posse had come in a big touring car that just held the party comfortably, though there would still be room for Joe, of course.
The boys were invited to pile in and hang on; but respectfully declined. A ride of so many miles to the home town, going at a fast pace over a b.u.mpy road, and hanging on outside the car in the bargain, did not seem to have any great attractions for them.
"We prefer to take our time, and use the big wagon, Chief," said Elmer after consulting with his seven chums; "like as not half-way there we"ll make camp and have a jolly night of it, arriving home before sundown again."
"Pleath tell our people we"re on the way, and expect to turn up thooner or later," added Ted Burgoyne.
"And Chief, you promised to let my uncle know the whole story, remember," called out the contrite Hen Condit. "I"ll be ashamed to face him, but perhaps he won"t be so _very_ angry when he hears how I was deceived so terribly, and made to believe I had actually killed that tramp when I threw the stone. And my aunt loves me, that I know.
Don"t forget to tell them every cent has been recovered from the thief, and that I"m bringing it back with me."
The scouts did camp that night in a wood alongside the road.
Fortunately, the weather proved very kind to them. Lil Artha said the "wind was tempered to the shorn lamb," by which he undoubtedly meant that since they had neither tents nor blankets it considerately did not turn cold, nor were they caught out in a heavy rain storm.
Their last outing of the vacation season had proved to be a fine one.
They had pa.s.sed through a novel experience when exploring the depths of the mysterious Sa.s.safras Swamp; and better still had managed to save their poor, mistaken comrade from a fate, the very thought of which would often make him shiver even when months and years had crept by.
They had a great night of it there in camp. Even Hen tried to forget for a time what he must face on the morrow, and joined his chums in their songs, as they sat cross-legged around the cheery blaze.
There was no longer any necessity for suppressing their boyish exuberance, for the gloomy swamp had been left behind, nor was there any hiding escaped criminal to take alarm. So they laughed and talked and sang to their hearts" content; nor did the sleepiest of them, meaning Landy, of course, get a chance to lay his head on his make-believe pillow until nearly midnight.
"What"s the use of wasting so much time in sleeping?" Lil Artha had demanded, when the stout boy pleaded for them to desist, and give him a chance to get some rest; "this is going to be our very last camp until away off in Thanksgiving week, even if we have one then. So let"s make the most out of it. You c"n sleep any old time, and lie abed till ten on Sunday, if you want to. Now for another song, fellows, and Landy, we want your fine tenor to help out, remember."
The morning found them astir, and after breakfast the horses were once more put to the pole so that a start could be made for home.
None of them were in a hurry, and it was really about the middle of that afternoon when the expedition entered town. The news had, of course, been widely circulated, and everybody was on tip-toe, filled with excitement, and watching for their arrival.
A great crowd had collected to greet them, and there was the bra.s.s band of which Hickory Ridge was getting to be quite proud, playing a sonorous tune which some of the scouts believed must be "Lo! the Conquering Hero Comes," though none of them felt quite sure of it.
Well, Hen Condit was forgiven by his uncle, after he heard all about the terrible time the boy had, and in what way unscrupulous "Joe"
deceived the foolish boy. Elmer and his chums made it a point to see that the story was widely circulated, and the balance of the scout troop aided to the best of their ability, for Hen was well liked.
The consequence of all this was that most people decided the boy had already been sufficiently punished, and that his lesson was apt to be of lasting benefit to him during the balance of his natural life.
Besides, it gave shrewd fathers and mothers a fine moral lesson to hold up before their own erring youngsters, and hence for a long time to come the narrow escape which Hen Condit had had from going wholly to the bad was used as a means of correction. In this way it doubtless did much good, if that could be of any satisfaction to Hen.
No doubt there will be other stirring events come up, with mysteries to be solved, as the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts pursue their activities; and should such interesting happenings take place, be sure they will not escape our notice. Until then we must say good-bye to the faithful readers who have accompanied us through the stirring adventures that befel our young friends in Sa.s.safras Swamp.
THE END