After some more chat, during which Fred Mainwaring received a hearty invitation to visit the quarters of the Eagle Patrol in Hampton, the boys parted, very well pleased with each other. The young scouts of the Eagle Patrol already knew much about the Mainwaring family, Mr. Mainwaring having recently purchased an estate just out of Hampton. The newcomer to the community was preceded by an almost world-wide reputation as a skillful engineer. Many of the great problems in connection with Uncle Sam"s "Big Ditch" had been successfully solved by him, and, although just now he was at home on a "furlough," he was shortly to leave once more for the Zone.
During the course of their brief chat Fred had informed the boys that he and his sister were to accompany their father on the return voyage, Fred taking the position of secretary.
"He had another chap before he came up from the tropics," he informed the boys. "I guess he lives somewhere round here. Jared Applegate his name was. Had to fire him, though, for some sort of crooked work. I don"t know just what it was; but it must have been something pretty bad, for dad got mighty angry when he told about it. You see, in a way I feel responsible.
Jared, who was working as a stenographer and typewriter in New York, belonged to my troop. I liked him after a fashion, and got dad to make him his secretary. It wasn"t till after he"d left for Panama that I accidentally found out that Jared, who had been treasurer of the troop, had been stealing small sums from time to time.
"I didn"t notify dad for fear of worrying him; but of course Jared was dropped from the troop. When dad got back from the Isthmus this time I asked about Jared and found out that he had been discharged. Just what for, I don"t know. Dad wouldn"t tell me."
"We know something of Jared"s reputation about here," rejoined Rob. "It"s none too good. By the way, that"s his father"s place back there where your sister had all the trouble."
"I knew that his home was somewhere near Hampton," was the rejoinder.
This conversation took place on the roadside not more than a few feet from a stone wall which bounded the outlying fields of the Applegate property. Behind this wall, if the four lads had known it, was concealed a listener to whom all their conversation was perfectly plain. Jared had watched the boys meeting from the dooryard and had crept cautiously along behind the stone wall till he arrived at a spot opposite that at which the group was chatting. "Listeners never hear good of themselves," says the old saw. Jared a.s.suredly proved its truth that fine spring morning.
An evil look pa.s.sed over his countenance as he crouched behind the wall.
His sallow face grew a pasty yellow, with anger. His shifty eyes glittered furiously as he heard his record discussed.
"So that"s the game, is it?" he muttered to himself, as the boys parted company, Fred Mainwaring shooting off like a red streak on his machine.
"Well, I guess that before long I"ll have my innings, and when I do I"ll make it hot for all of you, especially old man Mainwaring. I"ll get even with him if it takes me a year; but I don"t think it"ll be that long."
He drew a letter from his pocket and glanced over it in the manner of one already familiar with a missive"s contents, but who wishes, by a fresh perusal, to satisfy himself once more. This is what he read from the much-creased doc.u.ment:
"If you have what you claim we will talk business with you. It will be made worth your while."
The letter bore no signature nor address. It referred to a subject with which the writer, for an excellent reason, would not have cared to have his name linked. The "big ditch" project, the greatest of the age, perhaps of all time, had, inconceivable as it may seem, bitter and unscrupulous enemies. The person who had written that note to poor, sneaking Jared Applegate was one of these.
CHAPTER III.
ON A MISSION.
While the three Boy Scouts are trudging back toward Hampton, we will take the opportunity to introduce them more fully to our readers who may not have met them before. Rob Blake, the son of the local banker in the seash.o.r.e village of Hampton, Long Island, had, some time before the present story opens, founded the Eagle Patrol. The early days of its existence formed the basis of the first book of the series, for the lads flocked eagerly to its standard, and the Patrol was soon in a flourishing condition, with a well-equipped room above the local bank building, a fine, up-to-date structure. The adventures of the Patrol in camp and Scout life in general were various and exciting. The boys made some enemies, as was natural, for many boys wished to belong to their Patrol who could not be admitted; but in the end, thanks mainly to their Scout training, all things came out well for the Eagles.
In the second volume we found "The Boy Scouts on the Range." In this book full details of Scout principles as put into practice in a wild and lawless country were related. The pursuit of Silver Tip, the giant grizzly, popularly supposed to bear a charmed life, was an interesting feature of their experience in the West. Indians and cattle rustlers made trouble for the boys and their friends, but, although the boys were several times placed in jeopardy and danger, they emerged with credit from all their dilemmas.
Still following the lads" fortunes, we found them in the third volume of the series, "The Boy Scouts and the Army Airship," deeply interested in the subject of aerial navigation. They managed to give material aid in certain experiments that the government carried on at a lonely house on the sea coast near Hampton, and became involved in some thrilling incidents which still further put to the test their ability and cleverness.
In "The Boy Scouts" Mountain Camp," the scene shifted to the Adirondacks, whither the boys went, primarily on a quiet camping trip. But they became involved in an exciting search for a long missing treasure, immured in an ancient and almost inaccessible cave in the heart of a wild region. How they won out against apparently insurmountable obstacles makes exciting and instructive reading.
"The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," the fifth volume, related some surprising events that occurred when the boys" aid was called into requisition in connection with a new type of submarine which foreign powers were doing their best to appropriate, but which was intended for the United States Government. Readers of that volume will readily recall Rob"s abduction and marooning on a desert island and the pernicious activities of a green motor boat which was used by the agents of a foreign power. Rob"s marvelous swim across a narrow inlet, through which the tide boiled like a mill race, and the interchange of Scout signals with astonishing results, are only two of the incidents that go to show that the Eagle Patrol was always to be relied upon to do its duty and live up to the strict letter of the inspiring motto, "Be Prepared."
For the next few days the lads of the Eagle Patrol were busy indeed with preparations for what was to them a very important piece of work. This was nothing more nor less than the placarding of the town with announcements that a team made up of the Eagles would play the Hampton nine in the first baseball game of the season, the proceeds to be equally divided. The Boy Scouts" half, of course, would go toward the general patrol fund for the purchase of equipment and so on.
Each of the lads had a duty to perform in this connection. Hiram Nelson, whose father was in the printing business, was to get up the posters, which were to be printed on big, yellow sheets. Andy Bowles, whose uncle conducted a livery stable, arranged for rigs to convey the young bill-posters around the country; while Tubby Hopkins,--since the duty was partly of a culinary nature,--undertook to make the paste. This, despite unkind remarks to the effect that, unable to restrain his appet.i.te, he might be tempted to eat it! In this manner the different duties were distributed and each member of the patrol took an active part in the work.
Rather to Rob"s surprise, and likewise to the astonishment of the other lads, Jared Applegate"s name appeared as pitcher for the Hampton team.
But, after all, there was nothing so very astonishing in this, for Jared, before he left for New York, had been a clever pitcher on the Hampton Academy team, which had beaten some of the best ball players on Long Island. Sam Lamb, the regular pitcher for the Hamptons, it was later learned, had sprained his wrist in jumping on a moving train, and Jared had eagerly volunteered to take his place. He had made open boasts about the town that he meant to "knock some of those tin soldier kids higher than so many kites."
"Let him do his best," was all Rob had said, when Andy Bowles, the diminutive bugler of the Eagles, brought him this information.
When not engaged in preparations for "billing" the surrounding country, which occupied almost all the time they could spare from their studies, the Scouts practiced hard and faithfully. They had a good team, but they had to admit that the town boys, too, played very good ball. As the day for the contest, a Sat.u.r.day, drew near, excitement began to run high.
Jared never spoke to any of the Scouts, all of whom, by this time, knew of his disgrace while a member of the Black Wolf Patrol. Possibly he did not wish to run a chance of being snubbed; but be that as it may, when he pa.s.sed any of the uniformed youngsters he kept his eyes on the ground.
This did not prevent him, however, from hanging around when the Scouts were at practice and making all sorts of contemptuous remarks concerning their play.
The Sat.u.r.day before the game, the lads started out in different directions to put up their bills. Those whose duties lay within easy distance of Hampton went on foot; but the others took rigs. Among the latter were Rob, Merritt and Tubby Hopkins. With them they carried a good thick bundle of bills, plenty of paste and long-handled brushes. It was a beautiful day and they were in high spirits as they drove along the pleasant country roads.
Their way took them by Farmer Applegate"s place.
"Let"s plaster up a few on the old grouch"s barn," suggested Merritt with a laugh.
"No; I don"t want to do that," declared Rob positively, "although he isn"t ent.i.tled to much consideration. It was a shame the way he treated Fred Mainwaring"s sister."
"Such a pretty girl, too," chuckled Tubby, with a mischievous look at Merritt. Rob intercepted the glance and turned red, at which both his companions teased him more than ever. Luckily for Rob"s peace of mind, however, at this juncture something occurred to cause the current of Tubby"s thoughts to flow in another direction.
Beyond the farm buildings a spotted pig was nosing about contentedly in the middle of the road. As his eyes lighted on the porker, Tubby gave a shout of delight.
"We can use him," he cried delightedly.
"There you go again. Always thinking about something to eat," snorted Merritt.
"Not this time," retorted Tubby indignantly; "anyhow, I"ve never heard of your being absent at meal times. But on this occasion it"s alive and in his proper person that Jake is going to be useful to us."
"In what way?" asked Rob.
"As a living advertis.e.m.e.nt," chuckled the stout youth, his round cheeks shaking as he eyed the unsuspecting Jake.
CHAPTER IV.
SOME UP-TO-DATE ADVERTISING.
By the time the buggy drew up alongside Jake, who was too engrossed in his rooting operations to perceive it, or at any rate to bestow any attention upon it, Tubby had disclosed his plan to his chums, who hailed it with shouts of delight. From his pockets the fat boy produced an apple and a bit of cake. Tubby never traveled far without provisions. "Keeping in touch with his base of supplies," he called it.
It spoke volumes for his enthusiastic belief in the success of his plan that he was willing to offer both of these to Jake as soon as he had alighted from the buggy. Close behind him came Rob and Merritt, the latter with the horse"s. .h.i.tching rope in his hand.
"Come, pig! pig! pig! Nice Jake!" warbled Tubby in the most dulcet voice he could a.s.sume.
Jake looked up. His small eyes twinkled. Unsuspectingly he sniffed the air as he perceived a rosy apple temptingly held out toward him.
"It"s a shame," laughed Rob, half contritely, "if he hadn"t caused a lot of trouble for a mighty nice girl I wouldn"t stand for it."
"Pig! pig! pig!" chortled Tubby persuasively.
"Unk! unk! unk!" grunted Jake, wiggling his tail.