Produced by Giovanni Fini and The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) [Illustration: DECORATION] [Illustration: TEDDY SAW HIS CHUM PADDLE AWAY (Camp Mates in Michigan) (Page 104)] CAMP MATES IN MICHIGAN _or_ WITH PACK AND PADDLE IN THE PINE WOODS _by_ ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE [Illustration: LOGO] CHICAGO M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY CANOE AND CAMPFIRE SERIES Four Books of Woodcraft and Adventure in the Forest and on the Water that every Boy Scout should have in his Library _By ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE_ CANOEMATES IN CANADA; or, Three Boys Afloat on the Saskatchewan. THE YOUNG FUR-TAKERS; or, Traps and Trails in the Wilderness. THE HOUSE-BOAT BOYS; or, Drifting Down to the Sunny South. CHUMS IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Cruise of a Motor Boat. CAMP MATES IN MICHIGAN; or, With Pack and Paddle in the Pine Woods. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOYS; or, Camping in the Big Game Country. In these four delightful volumes the author has drawn bountifully from his thirty-five years experience as a true sportsman and lover of nature, to reveal many of the secrets of the woods, such as all Boys Scouts strive to know. And, besides, each book is replete with stirring adventures among the four-footed denizens of the wilderness; so that a feast of useful knowledge is served up, with just that class of stirring incidents so eagerly welcomed by all boys with red blood in their veins. For sale wherever books are sold, or sent prepaid for 50 cents each by the publishers. Copyright, 1913, M. A. Donohue & Co. CONTENTS Chapter Page I THE UNWELCOME VISITOR IN CAMP 7 II PADDLING AGAINST THE CURRENT 19 III THE JOY OF CAMPING OUT 32 IV AMOS GIVES WARNING 42 V THE ROOT HUNTER 53 VI EVIDENCE THAT TALKED 64 VII DOLPH MEETS SOMETHING 75 VIII THE WAY TO FISH FOR BULL FROGS 86 IX ON THE SHORE OF THE LAKE 97 X THE FIGHTING BUCK 106 XI ON THE TRACK OF AMOS 115 XII THE GAME POACHERS 124 XIII SALLIE 133 XIV DOLPH HEARS ABOUT THE HAUNTED CABIN 149 XV THE POWER OF MUSIC 158 XVI WHEN CRAWLEY LOST HIS HEAD 168 XVII THE HOLE IN THE FLOOR 178 XVIII THE CABIN ABANDONED TO THE GHOSTS 188 XIX TEDDYâS WOODCRAFT HELPS 198 XX WHAT SALLIE DID 208 XXI THE UPLIFTED HAND 217 XXII FLY FISHING FOR BASS 226 XXIII ALONG THE TAHQUAMANON 233 XXIV DOWN THE SOO RAPIDSâCONCLUSION 243 Camp Mates in Michigan or With Pack and Paddle in the Pine Woods CHAPTER I THE UNWELCOME VISITOR IN CAMP âWake up everybody! Boarders ahoy! Hey! somethingâs after our grub! Hurry up, or weâll be cleaned out!â There was an upheaval of blankets in the lone tent that stood on the bank of a Michigan stream; then three boys came crawling every-which-way out, without more than a hazy idea as to what they were doing. But at any rate, all of them seemed to know where their guns lay, for every fellow gripped one in his hands as he emerged in this manner from the interior of the khaki colored tent, made so by some waterproofing tanning process. âWhat is it, Dolph?â demanded the first to arrive on the heels of the boy who had shouted the alarm, and whose name was Dolph Bradley. âIt jumped back, Teddy, when I poked my head out; and I think made up in that pine yonder,â came the quick response, as the aforesaid Dolph pointed with his gun. âAnd was it getting away with some of our fine stuff?â asked Teddy, in evident dismay, as his eyes roamed toward a little pile of duffle at the foot of another tree close to the tent. âIt sure was. Thatâs the ham lying right out there, now, where I guess he dropped it at seeing me. After this weâve got to take that into the tent with us, if we want to save the same.â âBut are we going to let the scamp get off scot free, after nearly wrecking the expedition; because if we lost our ham Iâd feel like our best friend was gone? For one, Iâd like to let this thief know what we think of him. I think I could put a charge of Number Sevens under his jacket, from my little Marlin here, that would do the business in double-quick style,â and Teddy Overton patted the repeating twelve-bore modern gun he held, with the air of one who knew he could depend on its hard hitting qualities. âLetâs spread out a little, so as to cover more ground,â suggested Dolph; and with that the three boys moved apart, each with his weapon half raised, so as to be ready for quick work, if the necessity arose. The one who as yet had not spoken a single word, gave the fire a kick in passing, and this caused it to blaze up afresh, just as he knew it would. âGood for you, Amos!â exclaimed Dolph. âThat makes it better to aim by. Does anybody glimpse him yet?â âNot I; but see here, Dolph,â Teddy went on to say, âyou havenât told us what sort of a beast it was. Must be along the cat order, or it wouldnât try to steal a whole ham, and then take to a tree, when you poked your head out to see what was doing.â âIt sure was a cat, and the biggest I ever ran across,â Dolph hurriedly declared. âYou see, the fire was burning kind of low, and it jumped so quick I didnât get moreân a glimpse of the thing; but there was something queer about it. If you asked me right off the shoulder now, Iâd be apt to say it had little bells hanging from its ears!â Teddy burst out into a laugh. âHear that, Amos?â he cried. âRings on her fingers, and bells on her toes; she shall have music wherever she goes, eh? Sounds like that, doesnât it? Now, I guess from what you say, Dolph, our bold visitor, that likes smoked ham so much, belongs to the lynx class of bob-cats.â âWhat, a real Canada lynx?â exploded Dolph. âThat excites me a whole lot, let me tell you; for if thereâs one animal in this country Iâve always wanted to run across itâs a genuine lynx. Heard a lot about the sly things, too. Shot cats in Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, and up in Maine, but never saw a lynx. I hope youâre not mistaken, Teddy, and that I get a chance to clap my eyes on him.â âThen look sharp; I know the beastâs habits pretty well,â ventured the other; whose father being a rich lumber merchant, it was only natural that the boy should be acquainted with these Michigan pine woods, and their furry inhabitants, âand the chances are that, having got a taste of our fine ham, he wonât want to clear out without trying to carry it with him.â âWait! I think I see something that looks like a big knob on one of his limbs!â exclaimed Dolph, eagerly. âHi! there, go slow!â cautioned Teddy, fearing an attack, if any blunder were committed; âa lynx only wounded can upset a whole camp like a twister of a cyclone had struck it, ainât that so, Amos?â âIt sure is,â answered the third member of the party of campers, a stocky boy, who was not apparently as well to do as the others, if one could judge from the old gun he carried, and his general make-up; for while Teddy and Dolph had donned pajamas when they retired for the night, Amos had simply removed part of his day clothes, and crawled under his blanket that way; but from the manner in which he handled his weapon, he evidently felt pretty much at home in the wilderness. âDoes it seem to move, Dolph?â asked Teddy, when the other continued to bend his head forward, and stare at a certain point among the rather thick branches of the marked pine. âDonât seem to, and thatâs what bothers me,â came the ready reply. âI rather think it canât be much, either, because, if it was the lynx, Iâd almost surely see his yellow eyes staring at me, wouldnât I?â âThatâs what you would,â answered Amos. âAnd thatâs been what Iâve had my eye peeled for all the time,â declared Teddy. âBut I wish somebodyâd hurry up and glimpse the old thief. This night air ainât as salubrious as it might be. Fact is, Iâm beginning to get the shakes; and give you my word, it ainât the excitement at all thatâs making my hands tremble. Think that if I moved over this way a little, perhaps I might stir him up. Watch now, everybody; and shoot at the drop of a hat!â As he said this, Teddy slowly started to walk farther away, so as to be able to investigate parts of the suspected tree that, up to then, had not come fully under observation. The revived fire was doing pretty well, for the flames had seized on portions of wood only partly burned, and were crackling merrily. And the light revealed the presence of two up-to-date canoes partly hauled up on the shore not thirty feet away from the tent, thus disclosing the fact that the trio of lads had used the water way in order to reach their present camp in the Michigan pines. A sudden exclamation from Teddy announced that his latest move had met with at least some measure of success. âSee anything?â called out Dolph, eagerly, for he had been hoping that the opportunity to blaze away might come to him. âLooks like it, but Iâll soon know,â replied the other, as he stooped to pick up some object. âIâm going to toss this piece of wood up there. Be ready now; for if itâs our visitor heâll be apt to change his position. Here goes!â With that he gave the object a quick twirl, and they could distinctly hear it stirring the outer branches of the pines, to fall to the ground again with a soft thud. Teddy was heard to utter a sharp ejaculation, and from this the others understood that in all probability his little scheme had met with success. They glanced that way and saw him bend his head down to glance along the repeating gunâs matted barrel. Then came a sudden report, and with it a shrill screech, that sounded very much as though Teddy could have made no mistake when he believed he was aiming at the hairy thief. Loud outcries arose with the opening of hostilities. âDid you nail him?â demanded Dolph, greatly excited. âNo, I guess not,â replied Teddy, in a chagrined tone. âThe beast gave a jump just as I pulled trigger, and I must have cut the air where he sat. But he hasnât left that tree yet, fellows. We command every side of the same; and unless he can fly, we ought to get another crack at him. Be lively, now, and try to do better than I did. I must still be in the greenhorn class, though I thought Iâd graduated three years ago.â âOh! donât worry about that!â sang out Dolph, cheerily: âmistakes will happen you know, even in the best regulated families. Iâve done worse than that moreân a few times; and Iâve hunted in a good many countries with my dad, you know. Wow! I wonder now, can that be the sly cat? Yes, looks like I can see twin glow-worms up there in that dark pocket. Had I better give him a try, Teddy?â âIf you feel pretty sure itâs the ham thief, why, go ahead and pot him; but as quick as you shoot, leap to one side; because Iâve always heard these lynx are just chain lightning on the jump, even when theyâve got their death wound.â âReckon I will then, because I ainât hankering after feeling his claws rake me fore and aft,â replied Dolph, who came from Cincinnati, and was the son of a well known millionaire of that city. âSteady, boy; make sure!â cautioned Teddy, as he saw that the other was aiming upward with his expensive gun, the finest that a celebrated firm in England could put together for any amount of money; but which even then Teddy would not have accepted for his own tried and true weapon. Hardly had he spoken than Dolph fired. Remembering the warning given by his campmate the Cincinnati boy jumped backward as soon as he had fairly pulled the trigger. His heels catching in a root, the presence of which he knew nothing about, as a consequence he was tripped up, and went headlong to the ground. Dolph was conscious of a shrill scream, this time not of anger but pain; and that some heavy body flew through space in the very spot which his form had occupied. That fall was the finest thing that could have happened to him, after all, because, in spite of his movement, the leaping lynx must have landed on him only for his sprawling on his back. Realizing the desperate nature of his position Dolph rolled over once or twice before he even attempted to regain an erect position. Then, on his knees he worked at the mechanism of his expensive imported shotgun, only to find that somehow his fall must have jammed it; or else in his excitement he failed to do exactly the thing that was necessary, for he could not get another shell in the firing chamber. âThis way, quick; I canât get my gun to work!â he shrilled, half believing that in another instant he would have the unfuriated and wounded lynx on top of him. He could hear a dreadful threshing about only a few yards away from him; and the awful thought flashed through his head that perhaps the beast was clawing one of his chums. But as he immediately after saw Teddy coming on the jump from one direction, while the Michigan boy showed up from the other Dolphâs mind became easier. âItâs over there--I must have hit it hard, from the racket the thing keeps up! Be ready to cover him, Teddy, Amos; because my plaguey old gunâs jammed, and I canât get it to work!â âDonât bother,â said Teddy, with a short, nervous laugh; âI guess you potted your first lynx all right, old fellow. Heâs sure kicking his last, if Iâm any judge of things. But donât get too close, mind you; theyâre nasty, treacherous beasts at the best. And he might give some of us a streaking with his last effort.â âOh!â shouted Dolph, with such an odd inflection of alarm in his voice that the others were naturally startled. âWhatâs the matter now?â cried Teddy, whirling around toward the other. âThereâs another cat crawling along on the groundâby ginger! two of âem! Why, the woods must be full of them! Weâre going to be swamped with lynxes, boys; and this gun just _wonât_ behave half-way decent,â and Dolph ended with a groan as he kept working away excitedly at the mechanism of his repeating weapon. âWhere? I see one!â cried Teddy, as he swung his gun around swiftly. âBang!â âThatâs the end of _him_; now show me the other cat, will you, Dolph? Bring âem on as fast as you like; as long as my little Marlinâs got a single shell left, Iâm good for any amount of game. Whereâs the next victim?â âOver yonder, crouching at the foot of that tree; donât you see its eyes now, Teddy?â whooped the boy from Cincinnati. âShure I do; and that means Iâm due for another victim. Watch me rool his hoop for him, will you, fellows?â âBang!â went the repeating shotgun again. âYou did it that time too, Teddy! Oh! if only this old gun hadnât got stuck just when I needed it most, I might have made a clean sweep of the lot!â cried Dolph. âIâve got a good notion to smash the old thing against a tree, and do without the rest of the trip, thatâs what!â âDonât think of it,â called out the lumbermanâs son, steadily. âPerhaps after all youâre more to blame than the gun, Dolph. Iâve been that excited myself when in a bad hole, that I hardly knew how I was clawing at the right part of my gun to work a new shell in. Do you see any sign of my cats coming out of their trance again?â âNo, they seem as dead as doornails; that gun is a hard hitter, Teddy,â remarked Amos Simmons, as he handled his own rather old fashioned single shot weapon with something approaching a sigh, as of envy, though he never voiced such a feeling. CHAPTER II PADDLING AGAINST THE CURRENT âAny more around that you can see?â Teddy went on to call out, hilariously. âIf there are, let âem step right up to the pursersâ office, and settle. But I rather think the pair I potted look sort of small for the lynx tribe. I guess they must be half-grown cubs, after all; and you got the mother, Dolph.â âJust what they are,â announced Amos, who had strode forward, and was bending over the last victim of Teddyâs snap shots. âBut pretty tough lookinâ customers at that, I tell you, boys. I kinder guess theyâd put up a rushinâ fight, if cornered. But you wound âem up one, two, three, Teddy, with that gun of yours.â Amos was a real Michigan boy. He had been in logging camps ever since he was âknee high to a grasshopper,â as he always said; and was as tough as a pine-knot, so far as physical endurance went. Teddy had known him several years; and once before they had hunted in company around this very region. While the lumbermanâs son and his friend from Cincinnati laid out this summer trip with pack and paddle through the pine woods of the upper reaches of the Wolverine State, Teddy had suggested hiring Amos to go along, not exactly in the nature of a guide, nor yet as a cook, but simply for company. And knowing that when far away from civilization two boys are apt to find it a bit lonely, Dolph had readily agreed. He had heard his friend tell more or less about the natural ability Amos possessed as a doctor; and that it was the ambition of his life to later on take a regular course in some medical school. And Teddy had also confided to Dolph the fact that he meant to coax his father to see that the woods boy had his chance, when he reached an age to allow of such a thing; because he would make a fine doctor some day, as his whole heart was set on curing ailments, binding up wounds, and alleviating pain. So it came that there were three of them in the party, with two canoes instead of just one overcrowded boat. Most of the duffle, such as the tent and the blankets, they usually stored in this one canoe, with a single occupant to ply the paddle, while the other two campers took charge of the second craft. They had laid out a regular course, which would take them through the wildest part of the country of the peninsula, starting in at Manistique on the southern shore, where the waves of Lake Michigan beat the sandy strand, and following the winding, picturesque river up to the lakes that were said to be its source. At this point they expected to find some man who had a team capable of taking their light canvas canoes across country, until beyond the railroad they could be launched in the waters of the Tahquamanon river; following which to its mouth would bring the adventurous cruisers into the celebrated White Fish Bay of Lake Superior; and here they could skirt the shore until finally they arrived at Saulte Ste. Marie, where the waters of Superior rush down the mighty rapids into St. Maryâs river, thence through Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario, and afterwards being carried along the mighty St. Lawrence river to the sea. It was a noble trip to lay out, and the three boys had already spent some time making their way to the point where we find them passing a night on the bank of the river, at the time the wildcats invaded their camp, and produced such consternation, although paying dearly for their fun. âNow come and take a look at your prize, Dolph!â Teddy called out, âand then itâs back to my downy for me; because Iâm shaking all over, like a jelly-fish.â He dragged the now defunct lynx out nearer the still blazing fire, so that the others could look it over. âUgh! Iâm right glad now that root tripped me up,â remarked Dolph. âOnly for that, those claws might have ripped me considerably before the beast keeled over.â âI should say, yes,â chuckled Teddy. âAnd now excuse me, please, but Iâm in for the grand disappearing act. Iâll chuck that fine ham inside the tent as I go. Better follow my example, Dolph, if you donât want to catch cold. Get your gun to work yet?â âWhy, yes, it seems to; but Iâm rather discouraged about the thing,â the other remarked. âGuess these repeating guns are a bit unreliable in a pinch.â âHâm! not if you keep your wits about you, and do the right thing; but for any one apt to get rattled, the old style might be best. Not that Iâm blaming you, this time, Dolph, because you had an ugly tumble, you see. Well, so-long.â As neither of the other lads chanced to be feeling any too warm about then, they waited not upon the order of their going, but ducked into the tent soon after Teddy vanished. Amos, however, with the instinct of one who had spent pretty much all of his young life in the forest, waited long enough to throw several more large pieces of wood on the fire, meaning to find something warm when morning came along, for the air was sure to be cool up to the time the sun rose part way up in the eastern heavens. There was no further alarm; and when dawn came peeping through the pines the campers were soon astir. However, no one seemed anxious to take the customary morning dip in the stream, so sharp was the air. Dolph had his fishing-rod jointed, it being a steel affair calculated to resist the rush of even a furious muscallonge. So, being an enthusiast in this sport, he was out the first thing, having a try to see whether he could not pick up a mess of trout for breakfast. Fortune smiled on his efforts too, for he made several fairly decent captures, which Amos cleaned in the most approved style as fast as the fisherman threw them to him. And in the end, just as the first rays of the sun found them out, from the delicate odors that were going up from that fire, such as coffee and trout, it was evident that the boys were in for a treat they never tired of. While Dolph was doing the fishing, and Amos looking after breakfast, the third member of the expedition had another sort of job laid out for his amusement. This consisted in taking off the furry coats of the three dead lynx. They were all in a fair condition, though the shot holes would have to be hidden by the man who eventually made them into a rug; and for the summer season, when furs are generally pretty âskimp,â Teddy said they passed muster. Amos knew how to cook trout so as to brown them in a crisp manner. He first of all âtried outâ several slices of fat salt pork; and after the resulting liquid had become furiously hot, he dropped in the fish, that had first been dipped in cracker crumbs. It was very much after the manner in which the New England cook manages with her crullers, only no lard was used. Each of the boys was gifted with a hearty appetite; and when breakfast was declared closed there were precious few crumbs to throw away, outside of the fish-bones. Yet Amos had seen to it that enough had been provided to satisfy all. Afterwards came the duty of taking down the tent, and packing things away in the canoe that was used partly for their transportation, being paddled by Amos himself, the huskiest of the lot. They had this thing reduced to a science, from long practice. Everything went in a particular place, and thus they economized in the matter of space, which counted for much on a trip of this sort. âAll ready?â sang out Dolph, as he balanced his paddle, sitting in the front of the canoe which he and Teddy managed. âJust a minute more, while I throw some water on whatâs left of the fire,â said Teddy. âYou see, Iâm a lumbermanâs son, and I never like to think of taking chances of having the wind scatter the red-hot embers of a deserted camp fire, to start a forest blaze that might burn up millions and millions of feet of fine timber.â âYesâm youâre right, I believe in the same thing!â declared Dolph, âthough I look at it from the view of a true sportsman, who will never, never leave a fire burning after him, when he breaks up camp. I was in one woodsâ fire up in the Adirondacks two years back, and came mighty near having my crop of hair singed off; and they said it started just in that way, on a windy day. Why, in Maine, they wonât let hunters go into the woods without a licensed guide along, who is supposed to see to it that no chances are taken with fires left by careless city sportsmen; or rather men who like to call themselves by that name, though they are often a disgrace to the cloth.â âYes, Iâve run across a-plenty of that kind up here in Michigan, and over in Wisconsin,â remarked Amos. âWe call âem fish hogs up here, because, when they strike a lake where the trout bite free-like, they keep on throwing bushels out on the bank to die and rot. I hate the breed, and I think they just ought to be tarred and feathered, thatâs what.â âSame here,â remarked Teddy. âIn my opinion every fellow who wants to call himself a true sportsman should give the animals and fish a chance to breed. When heâs caught all he can use, he ought to stop fishing, unless he happens to be using artificial flies, when he can put all the rest he takes back again, because they wonât be hurt that way. Iâve stopped many a time when using live minnow, because I knew that when bass gorge the bait, theyâre sure to die, even if you do throw them overboard again. The hook tears them more or less. Well, everybody ready now?â âO. K. here!â sang out Amos. âThen letâs be off, for weâve got a strong bit of work before us today, with all this water coming down the old Manistique,â and as he spoke, Teddy thrust his paddle deep in the running water of the river, and gave a thrust that started the canoe on its farther journey northward. As they labored with regular movements the boys often indulged in laughter, and even broke out at times in bits of song; for they were light-hearted, and seemed to have few cares or troubles sitting on their broad shoulders. Indeed, the millionaireâs son, and the heir of the wealthy lumberman, certainly knew nothing at all of anxiety with regard to their well-being. Amos, being a poor boy, often doubtless tried to lift the veil of the future, eager to ascertain what lay in store for him there; but he was still young, and care does not weigh down youth very often. Besides, he enjoyed the company of his camp mates so much, that for the time being the woods boy felt supremely happy. This sort of work continued until the sun had reached a position so near the zenith that they knew it must be close to the noon hour. And as their muscles had for some little time now, been feeling more or less sore, because of the constant labor, it was decided as usual to take a rest. They would not let a chance pass by to have a fire going, even though the day had turned out quite warm. With such vast quantities of easy burning pine all around them, and Amos just wild to always take care of the fire, which he dearly loved, of course, they could not resist the temptation; and soon a crackling blaze was sending up its cheery song, such as has bolstered up the spirits of many a lonely camper all over the known world; for the fire is certainly one of manâs finest servants; but like some other things, a very bad master, once it is allowed to have its own head. About an hour and a half afterwards, the voyage was resumed, though none of the boys paddled with just the same vim that had marked the start. It was now more in the nature of pure grit that carried them steadily along; the pleasure had mostly petered out during that hard dash of the morning. And as the afternoon shadows began to lengthen perceptibly, it might be noticed that they were more frequently mentioning the fact that this place or that seemed to offer pretty fine prospects for a nightâs lodging, though thus far no one openly advocated bringing the dayâs run to a close. There were parts of this section of country where the great Overton Lumber Company had its numerous squads of men busy in the winter season, cutting timber, which, however was getting more and more scarce in the peninsula of Michigan every year. It chanced that there was a rival company, also a big corporation, which, being exceedingly jealous of the success attending the work of the Overton, never tired of trying all sorts of games calculated to run the other out of the district. Teddy amused his camp mates many times, when sitting around the fire of nights, by relating how his father managed to outwit the owners of this rival concern on more than a few occasions, when they came to loggerheads. And the men were almost as bitter toward each other as their employers; so that each, winter there were one or more regular battles when the Overton loggers chanced to be cutting within a few miles of the rival camp. âWeâve all got to clear out of this before a great while,â Teddy would remark, doubtless echoing the words he had heard his father say; âbecause the available timber is getting less and less every year. Thatâs what makes things so warm between the two companies, you see. Amos, here, used to work for the Combine once, and he knows what underhanded tricks they keep on trying to play, with the idea of forcing us out of the State, so as to leave things to them. But it donât work. My dad is some fighter himself; and with the law back of him, he just laughs at threats. But sometimes it makes mother afraid that they may do something desperate. Once a shot was fired at him, and the bullet clipped a piece out of his hat. Never learned who did it; but dad always believed it was a thug hired by the other company to scare him a little. But weâre still here on deck, and this year expect to cut more timber than ever. Might as well get our share of it while the stuff lasts.â The three paddlers kept up their steady work, as the sun headed down into the western sky. âHow about those clouds over yonder, Teddy?â asked Dolph, when the afternoon was possibly two-thirds gone. âLooks a little like rain, donât you think?â âWhere?â ejaculated the other, eagerly, as though he just welcomed a chance to call a halt upon the dayâs doings. âWell, yes, to be sure they have got a sort of ugly look. Pâraps weâd just as well draw in at that point ahead, and make things snug for the night. Because weâve been favored with good weather up to now, mustnât make us think weâre always going to have the same. You never know whatâs going to come up in a night; and for that reason I always make it a point, even when things look as peaceful as they could, to secure the canvas of a tent, just as if I knew a terrible storm was going to break on me. Got left once, with my canvas carried high up in the branches of a tree, just through pure carelessness; and it served as a lesson Iâll never forget. Head in, Amos; weâre going to land there under that leaning tree. Looks like a dandy camp site, with all those extra big trees around. And honest, fellows, I must say Iâm pretty near played out with fighting that pesky current all the live-long day. Hereâs where we find rest. Hurrah for the next camp! for every new one is the best, you know!â CHAPTER III THE JOY OF CAMPING OUT To tell the truth, none of them showed any signs of disappointment because the labor of the day was done. It was no childâs play, urging the canoes against the volume of water the flowed down the Manistique on the occasion of their voyage. And as they had come out for fun, and not to earn a living with the paddle, the boys knew when they had enough. So, after bringing the two boats ashore, they drew them partly out of the water at a place that seemed to have been just designed for that very purpose by a kind Nature, as the beach was shelving, and sandy too, for a wonder. It was quickly decided just where the tent should be erected. There were a few general rules governing this part of the daily programme, which all of them knew by heart. First of all, it was necessary to select ground that was not on the dead level, so that in case of a rain during the night, the inmates of the tent would not find themselves knee-deep in a flood. And with those clouds hovering in the southwest, they felt it wise to make assurance in this respect doubly sure on this particular night. Then the camp must be pitched away from any sort of swampy patch, which could not only breed mosquitoes by myriads, but prove malarial as well. And having an eye to the picturesque, the boys always saw to it that they could arrange the front of the tent toward the water. It was so pleasant to look out, and see the little waves dancing in the moonlight, as well as hear the musical gurgle so dear to the hearts of all those who love the great Outdoors. And last, but not least, the tent must be within a reasonable distance of the two canoes. There was no particular reason to suspect that any damage might happen to the craft, either from accident, or the malicious designs of evil-minded persons; but since they must depend solely on the mosquito boats, as they are often called, to carry them over the course they had charted out, and the walking was not at all to their liking, it behooved Teddy and his camp mates to keep an eye on them during the periods of their resting, between sunset and dawn. Each one of the three had his regular duties to perform. While these were sometimes changed around, so that things might not become too monotonous, still, as a rule, Teddy and Dolph saw to erecting the tent, while Amos lugged the plunder from the canoes, packing it into camp, and after that started a fire. Amos dearly loved a fire. He seemed to be one of those boys who can sit for perhaps a solid hour, staring into the snapping blaze, with a rapt look on his face; just as though he saw pictures there that gave him infinite satisfaction. Who has not enjoyed this pleasure to some extent, while surrounded by the primitive forest; unless you have, you do not know one half the joy of living? And after the fire was burning briskly, Amos was ready to attend to almost any thing that chanced to come along. If either of the other boys happened to be fishing he wanted to prepare the catch as it was brought in; so that sometimes Dolph used to declare that the trout flopped right from the water into the frying-pan; the span of their existence between the two was so brief. But tonight they did not think of fishing, though Dolph cast a wistful eye along the brink of the river, and mentally noted several likely spots which he meant to try in the morning, if the fates allowed. But with those threatening clouds spurring them on, it was decided that they had better get supper over with as soon as possible. âNo telling,â Teddy had remarked, with a grin, âbut what weâre in for a stormy night. I wouldnât be surprised to find the lot of us holding on to the guy ropes of this tent around midnight, like all get-out, to keep the bally thing from kiting up in the trees. Then again, there may be no wind, no rain, nothing at all. You never can tell. A fellow has just got to be _always prepared_ when heâs camping out; or sometime heâll get caught napping, and have a healthy old time hustling to save his chattels.â Amos knew how to cook, for he had filled that position, or rather as an assistant, in a logging camp one winter. But of course, the rough fare the husky timber choppers need, differs vastly from such food as the sons of rich men would be apt to take with them into the woods; and Amos had to learn a few new wrinkles, under the tutelage of the others, who were experienced hands at such things. Doubtless the woods boy had never in all his life sniffed coffee that had the delicious aroma of that high-grade Java; and when it came to tea, Amos, who had up to this time believed that to be a concoction only meant for old maids, discovered that a cup of fragrant Ceylon, made in the only proper way, was simply unequalled as ârefresher,â after a hard dayâs work. This is the way he went about making it; and any boy who cares to get the best out of things, would do well to remember the simple directions. It would have been better if the campers had possessed a teapot made of crockery but since that could never be thought of, since it was apt to be broken, and would weigh too much, they had to use the next best thing, which was one made of pure aluminum. Taking this, when the water had come to a boil Amos poured a little in the tea pot, to heat it, and then dashed it out. Then he put in the right quantity of tea, which in their case for three was a heaping teaspoonful; after which he poured a small quantity of the boiling water over it, and set the pot near the fire, where the tea could âsteepâ or âdraw.â Not more than seven to ten minutes later, he filled it with the hot water, and the tea was ready to use. A very simple formula, but essential if the best results are wanted. Of course, some readers might scoff at paying so much attention to small things; but nearly every lad who has camped out, as so many thousands of Boy Scouts are now doing for the first time every summer, discovers that half the pleasure of the outing springs from such little things being properly done. No efficient and painstaking scout master will think of allowing his boys to do things in a careless, happy-go-lucky way. And once they learn the pleasure of knowing the _right_ methods, there is no fear of them doing anything else. A boy who knows better will turn up his nose at coffee improperly made, and shame the careless cook into decent methods. Besides the tea, the three camp mates had what Teddy called a âcanoeistâs delight.â It was really a stew or âhodge-podge,â being a mixture of several âleft-oversâ from previous meals. There was some corned beef hashed up, some Boston baked beans, a little canned corn, and a few pieces of bacon, with the balance of the drippings that had not been thrown away, but preserved in the can the corn had come in. And with healthy appetites backing them up, the three boys were ready to agree that never did any dish at the family table satisfy them one-half so well as this wonderful concoction. The chances are, that had it been placed before either Teddy or Dolph when at home, with a snowy tablecloth on the table, and silver and cut glass around, they would have sniffed at it suspiciously, and ordered it taken away at once. But it was different here. Their looks were more than a few times directed toward the largest sized kettle in the outfit, which had been used to cook the mess, as though their one fear was whether there would be enough for a third helping all around. Teddy took considerable pride in that aluminum outfit. He had paid a round sum for it, too. It was intended for six people, because Teddy said that there was never any knowing how many might sit around the campfire on occasion; and being a big-hearted generous fellow, he was bent on all having enough. The several kettles all nested in one another, as did the cups; and with the numerous other things comprising the complete outfit, it made an appearance to quite take the eye of a camper. Amos kept them well shined too. He did not like to see the aluminum discolored, and was forever polishing the kettles and coffee and tea pots with a preparation that came with the outfit. âThe biggest mistake we made,â declared Teddy, as, having finished supper, they sat around, helping Amos clean up, âwas about Amos here.â Dolph looked up quickly, a puzzled expression on his face; and even the woods boy smiled as he waited to hear the other explain; though he knew only too well that Teddy Overton was too fond of him to say anything mean. âHow was that?â Dolph asked. âWhy, I should never have thought of allowing Amos to come along without his fiddle, as he calls his violin,â the lumbermanâs son said. âHe thought it might be in the way in the canoe; but I know he misses it terribly. Iâve seen him sigh when he sits there, looking into the fire; and every time Iâve known what was on his mind. He found his fingers just fairly itching to hold that bow of his, and work it across the strings.â âWhy, I didnât know Amos played the violin,â remarked Dolph, looking interested. âWell, he doesnâtâonly the fiddle. Theyâd laugh to have a fit if you called it anything but that in a logging camp. And Amos used to be the most popular boy all through the winter, when the men were out in the snow woods cutting timber. He had to play for them every single night. They never seemed to get tired of hearing Money Musk, Arkansaw Traveler, and all those old pieces. And I tell you, Amos can just make his fiddle _talk_. He had it along when we spent several weeks in these pine woods before; and night after night we used to have a regular musicale by the light of the fire. Why, Iâve seen the little chipmunks come stealing along, with their ears cocked up, as though they were taking it all in; and one night a raccoon fell off the branch of a tree, nearly on top of Amos. I always said that the music had made him dizzy, it was so sweet. But there, letâs drop that subject. It makes Amos homesick, I guess, to remember how he wonât be able to touch a fiddle again for a whole month.â An hour later, and the three boys were taking things easy. The storm clouds did not seem to have crept up any farther that they could see, and as yet it was a question no one could decide, as to whether they would be visited by a storm during the night, or not. Amos has been getting another armful of wood to throw down near the fire, so they would have plenty, if it was thought advisable to keep the blaze going, for frequently these Michigan summer nights feel pretty cool around about two oâclock; and it is nice, if one comes out to take a look at the weather, to see a cheery fire going. With the wood still in his arms, the lumber camp boy bent his head in passing the others; and in a low but very distinct voice uttered a few sentences that gave both Teddy and Dolph a thrill: âDonât jump, or show any signs of excitement, either of you,â was what Amos said in a whisper, âbut thereâs a man hiding behind those bushes just above our boats; I saw him duck down as I came nearer; but I never let on the least bit that Iâd glimpsed him. Better just change your sets a little, so as to be nearer your guns, boys. And when youâre ready, Teddy, give the word, so I cân grab up mine. I donât like the looks of things, thatâs what.â All of this Amos muttered while he was rustling the wood, and laying it down piece by piece, in a heap near the fire. CHAPTER IV AMOS GIVES WARNING âWonder if heâs alone?â Teddy remarked, in a low voice to Dolph, as he hitched himself along a few inches nearer the spot where his Marlin shotgun rested against a tree. âBut what under the sun can he want, spying on us this way?â asked the other, who was in the Michigan pine woods for the first time, and not so well acquainted with things as the lumbermanâs son. âWeâll soon find that out,â remarked the other, in a louder voice, as he saw that Dolph could easily reach his own foreign made weapon. âAre you all ready, boys? Then catch on!â Each of them snatched up a gun. There was not a sign from the vicinity of the bushes mentioned by Amos. Could it be that the other had made a blunder, after all? Had his eyes been blinded with so much looking into the fire, that he mistook some stump, or the remains of a log, for a man? Teddy gained his feet, the others following his example. Three guns were brought to bear, covering the suspected spot. âCome out! Show a leg; or we might take a notion to send a shot in there!â called Teddy, in a belligerant tone, making a threatening motion with his gun at the same time. Immediately the bushes stirred. Then a tall and brawny figure came into view, that of a red-bearded man, clad in rough attire, as became a woods nomad. In one hand he gripped an old-fashioned gun, something like that of Amosâ. But just then he was busily engaged in holding it up, as he tried to make the Indian âpeace sign,â by exposing the palms of both hands as well as he was able. âHold on, boys; I wouldnât do nawthinâ rash, if I was you. Iâm only too willinâ ter kim into camp. Jest snuck up ter find out who anâ what ye war. Happens that thar be lots oâ hard characters aroaminâ those woods hyarabouts; anâ a decent respectable man hes to be putty keerful who he makes up with. I jest seen ye was all ter ther good, when ye called me.â He kept on advancing as he spoke in this strain. Teddy had seen many just such rough looking men among the scores of husky loggers employed by his father. He knew it was never safe to judge a man by either the clothes he wore, or his general appearance. Some of the hardest looking of them, upon closer acquaintance, would turn out to be big-hearted fellows, and as honest as the
{'title': 'Camp Mates in Michigan; or, with Pack and Paddle in the Pine Woods by Rathborne', 'source': 'Project Gutenberg', 'lang': 'en'}