Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE FIELD HOSPITAL BY SCOUT MASTER ROBERT SHALER AUTHOR OF âBOY SCOUTS OF THE SIGNAL CORPS,â âBOY SCOUTS OF PIONEER CAMP,â âBOY SCOUTS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,â âBOY SCOUTS OF THE LIFE SAVING CREW,â âBOY SCOUTS ON PICKET DUTY,â âBOY SCOUTS OF THE FLYING SQUADRON,â âBOY SCOUTS AND THE PRIZE PENNANT,â âBOY SCOUTS OF THE NAVAL RESERVE,â âBOY SCOUTS IN THE SADDLE,â âBOY SCOUTS FOR CITY IMPROVEMENT,â âBOY SCOUTS IN THE GREAT FLOOD,â âBOY SCOUTS WITH THE RED CROSS,â âBOY SCOUTS AS COUNTY FAIR GUIDES,â âBOY SCOUTS AS FOREST FIRE FIGHTERS,â ETC. NEW YORK HURST & COMPANY PUBLISHERS Sterling Boy Scout Books BY Scout Master Robert Shaler _Bound in cloth_ _Fifteen titles_ 1 Boy Scouts of the Signal Corps. 2 Boy Scouts of Pioneer Camp. 3 Boy Scouts of the Geological Survey. 4 Boy Scouts of the Life Saving Crew. 5 Boy Scouts on Picket Duty. 6 Boy Scouts of the Flying Squadron. 7 Boy Scouts and the Prize Pennant. 8 Boy Scouts of the Naval Reserve. 9 Boy Scouts in the Saddle. 10 Boy Scouts for City Improvement. 11 Boy Scouts in the Great Flood. 12 Boy Scouts of the Field Hospital. 13 Boy Scouts with the Red Cross. 14 Boy Scouts as County Fair Guides. 15 Boy Scouts as Forest Fire Fighters. _You can purchase any of the above books at the price you paid for this one, or the publishers will send any book, postpaid, upon receipt of 25c._ HURST & CO., Publishers 432 Fourth Avenue, New York Copyright, 1915, by Hurst & Company CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. The Camp on the Hurricane 5 II. A Close Call in the Rapids 16 III. Returning Good for Evil 27 IV. Turning Back the Clock of Time 41 V. Signs of Brooding Trouble 52 VI. Everybody Busy 62 VII. The Frog Hunter Trapped 76 VIII. Scouts Heed the Call to Duty 87 IX. The Helping Hand 96 X. The Field Hospital 108 XI. A Tragedy of the Strike 119 XII. A Call for the Red Cross 131 XIII. Hard at Work 142 XIV. The Welcome SightâConclusion 150 The Boy Scouts of the Field Hospital. CHAPTER I. THE CAMP ON THE HURRICANE. âThe same old hard luck seems to follow our scout master wherever we go, Hugh!â âIt surely looks that way, Billy, for a fact.â âAfter taking all the trouble to hunt around the country for a new camping place where the Oakvale Troop could open their summer campaign, here the scout master has to be called back home with his mother coming down sick.â âIt was too bad, Billy, and Lieutenant Denmead looked as if he had met with a bitter disappointment. Having his old mother ill would be bad enough at any time, but to have it happen just now seemed doubly hard. I know he looked forward to a week or so of rest and recreation up here.â âWell, all my sympathy is with the lieutenant; Iâm not wasting any on the bunch of scouts gathered here around these tents, let me tell you, Hugh. Theyâll be just as well looked after by our efficient assistant scout master.â âItâs nice of you to say that, Billy, even if not true. Iâll try my level best to please you, but if I succeed it will only be because Iâve got such a splendid lot of fellows to work with.â âWhat dâye think of the place our scout master picked out for us, Hugh?â âCouldnât be much better, it seems to me, Billy. Weâve got mountain scenery and running water. We can take long hikes to the top of the range there; and at the same time get to a town inside of an hour if we want to. The combination is pretty nearly perfect I should say in so far as that goes.â The stout boy in khaki, Billy Worth, looked quickly up at the face of his companion, Hugh Hardin. Evidently there must have been some little intonation connected with the last part of the otherâs remark that aroused a sudden suspicion in his mind. âSomething you donât appear to like about it, Hugh,â he remarked. âHas it anything to do with this rapid river, which might be dangerous to a fellow not knowing how to swim, or take care of himself?â âI wasnât thinking about that just then, Billy; and besides, all the boys, so far as I know, are good swimmersâunless itâs that new recruit, Harold Tremaine; and weâve got to find out considerable about him on this trip.â âThen perhaps you happen to know something about the farmers of this section, and that theyâll raise a kick against scouts crossing their fields; how about that guess, Mr. Scout Master?â âStill shy more or less, Billy,â the other told him. âTo relieve your mind, since I see youâre bound to get the truth, Iâll tell you what it is. I understand that a couple of miles away toward the west of this place, thereâs a big establishment or cement works where they employ a couple of hundred workmen.â âWhy, yes, I believe thatâs so,â interrupted Billy. âItâs called the Samson Cement Company, seems to me. But whatâs that got to do with us scouts, Hugh?â âI hope it isnât going to have anything to do with us,â came the reply, as something like a slight frown appeared on Hughâs forehead. âBut it happens that thereâs some sort of trouble going on at the works.â âA strike, do you mean?â ejaculated Billy, becoming deeply interested at once, for he was a boy who delighted in action and adventure of all kinds. âYes, and they say that itâs developing into a bitter struggle, too. The men are mostly foreigners, and their wives are worse than the workers. If strike-breakers are brought up from Boston, as there was talk of the company doing, there might possibly be a pitched battle between the strikers and the guards who act as deputies.â âWhew! You donât say!â cried Billy, with a whistle that marked his interest in the news. âBut, Hugh, if we make it a point to keep away from that section of country in our hikes thereâs no reason why we should get mixed up in any of this ugly business, that I can see.â âPerhaps not,â the scout master continued, âbut if these ignorant foreigners begin to feel the pinch of hunger pretty soon, they may take to raiding orchards and fields of the farmers, and then there will be the mischief to pay. They donât bother much about the rights of property when they can see no sign of officers around. And if they happen to discover some of our troop, they may think from our uniforms weâre members of the State Militia, sent secretly to camp here so as to arrest them when they get to acting vicious.â âHugh, I can see now where we _might_ get into trouble. If Lieutenant Denmead had dreamed of anything like this, the chances are he would never have selected a camp so near the cement works. Itâs too late to make a change of base now, I reckon.â âYes, weâve got things all nicely fixed for a stay, Billy, and weâll have to try and not get mixed up in any of this strike business.â âThat reminds me that I saw three men walking up that country road a while back when I was taking a look around; and, Hugh, they were foreigners, as sure as anything. We may have to keep watch nights so as not to suffer from a raid on our stores.â âOh! I donât think that would happen,â said Hugh, immediately. âThese men are ignorant and foreigners but we mustnât believe them to be a nest of thieves. Only when they see their women and children suffering from lack of proper food they might be tempted to resort to violence. In one way you could hardly blame the men for taking what donât belong to them in order to save the lives so precious to them.â From where the two boys reclined at their ease, they could look at the tents of waterproofed canvas that had been pitched with such skill as scouts learn to show after they have had frequent practice. Several lads were bustling around, tidying up the camp, looking after the fires and apparently making ready for rather a lengthy and enjoyable stay. Close by ran the river, a brawling stream of quite some size, and also deep in places. It was said to contain plenty of fish, so that the scouts anticipated enjoying more than one chowder during their stay on its high bank. While they had no boat with them, that was not going to debar them from making frequent use of the stream for bathing purposes. Hugh and Billy belonged to the Wolf Patrol of the Oakvale Troop. They were among the charter members or âearly settlersâ as Billy called them, having helped organize the initial patrol. By degrees there had come other patrols, known as the Hawks, the Otters, the Fox, and the Owls, and the members of all of these were now in camp on the Hurricane River. The first mentioned patrol had for leader Walter Osborne; Alec Sands had charge of the lively Otters; while Don Miller was looked up to as the head of the Fox adjunct. A retired army officer had taken charge of the troop, and devoted much of his time to building up the organization, having the development of boy character as his impetus. On this particular occasion, as we have learned from the conversation between Hugh and Billy, Lieutenant Denmead had been called away, which he had undoubtedly regretted very much, just after their camp was started. In other seasons some of these enterprising scouts had managed to enjoy certain outings which have been described at length in the earlier volumes of this series. For the full particulars of these happenings, the reader will have to be referred to those books, every one of which will be found teeming with adventure, useful information, accounts of scout activities, and all such things as boys with red blood in their veins love to read about. Some of them had seen service with the genuine army signal corps; on another occasion they had been enabled to work in conjunction with the maneuvers of the State Militia on their annual training trip, when a mock battle was fought in which the scouts took a prominent part. A few of the boys on a visit to Florida had a chance to assist the life-savers of the coast in rescuing survivors from a wreck; then there was another time when some of them accompanied the Naval Reserve Corps aboard a war vessel placed at their disposal by the National Government, which gave the lads a splendid opportunity to pick up much valuable information connected with naval affairs. Under the energetic leadership of Hugh Hardin, the scouts had undertaken to clean up their town in order to assist the Womenâs Civic Organization, which alone and unaided had found the task beyond their power. That triumph alone would have been enough to make the scouts respected in the community, even if they had not in numerous other ways proved their efficiency. The latest exploit in which some of the Wolf Patrol members were concerned had taken place at some distance away from the home town. They chanced to be sent to Lawrence on business early in the spring at just the time when there came a terrible rain, and a flood that put the whole country under water. Being kept from returning home by a break in the railroad embankment, Hugh and his chums proved themselves energetic workers, and by enthusing the local troop of scouts to work like beavers in rescuing imperiled persons, they not only did a vast amount of good but revived the flagging interest of the organization, so that from that day Lawrence Boy Scout stock boomed. With all these successful doings scattered along the pages of their short history, the scouts of Oakvale had reason to feel proud of the badges some of them wore. From scout headquarters in New York City had come medals such as are only given to those who save human life at peril to themselves; for the enthusiastic Lawrence people had seen to it that a record of the achievements of the wide-awake visitors to their town on that momentous occasion was forwarded to the proper officials, with a request that their efforts be duly recognized in the proper way. âHello! Sounds to me like some of the boys have started to bathe, even if the sun is burning hot for a June day!â remarked Billy Worth, as sounds of splashing, accompanied by boisterous sounds, came to their ears. Hugh sat up and looked a trifle anxious. âIâm sorry they were in such a rushing hurry,â he remarked. âI meant to give them one more caution about risking that fierce current out there. The river is unusually high for early summer, on account of recent rains, and I would hate to get caught in that swirl myself, stout swimmer that I am.â âSame here, Hugh!â declared Billy Worth, as he started to get on his feet. âLetâs walk over there, and you can tell the fellows what you think about it. Iâm more concerned about that new tenderfoot, Tremaine, than any of the old members. He seems to be a bundle of nerves, and inclined to be rash. Thatâs just the kind of chap to take chances, so as to make the rest think him some punkins.â âAll right! Come on, Billy. Iâll feel easier in my mindâââ Hugh stopped short in what he was saying. A sudden chorus of excited cries rang out, coming from the river where the scouts were bathing. âScoot for it, Hugh!â barked Billy, often called âBilly the Wolfâ by his chums. âI reckon what we were just talking about has happened. I heard someone shriek that Tremaine was drowning! Iâm at your heels, Hugh, all right!â CHAPTER II. A CLOSE CALL IN THE RAPIDS. It took Hugh and Billy only a dozen seconds to clear the intervening ground to reach the scene, such was the speed with which they ran. On reaching the bank of the river, Hugh saw that it was just as he had feared. Out in the midst of the boiling current, where the foam leaped and there were evidently dangerous rapids of some sort, a boy was struggling madly. He had evidently been attempting to swim across that dangerous place when attacked by cramps; either that or else he had been thrown against a concealed rock and struck his head so as to become staggered and frightened. Billy Worth may have wondered why Hugh led him to the river _below_ where the outcries arose, instead of heading directly toward them; but he now realized the wisdom of the move. As usual, Hugh had grasped the situation and understood that there would be an advantage in reaching the river bank below the scene of the accident, rather than further up the current. It was always this way with the scout master; and many of his successes were due to his ability to do the right thing in the start. As he ran, Hugh had thrown off his hat, and even unfastened his flannel shirt, for he had a premonition that it might be necessary for him to plunge into the river. Now he tore off his shoes, and his trousers followed suit; all this taking but a very few seconds of time. All of the other scouts had not been paralyzed with fright, for Ralph Kenyon, Bud Morgan and Alec Sands were even then splashing through the shallow water close to the shore, and evidently trying to make their way below the spot where the boy was struggling with the current. Hugh shouted to them even as he sprang into the water: âKeep on going down, and make a chain out as far as you can, everybody! Billy, you follow me!â Billy had been just as rapid in disposing of his clothes as Hugh, so that he was close at the otherâs heels when the scout master hurried into the stream. It grew deeper as Hugh pushed on. Presently he was compelled to swim, and that was where his knowledge of aquatic sports served him well. His sturdy strokes allowed him to buffet the waves of the rapids; while his quick eye figured the course he must take in order to keep below the drowning boy. Hugh realized that there was every probability that the struggles of the tenderfoot would cease before he could reach him. That was the main reason why he wanted to be where he might intercept the helpless form of Tremaine when it was borne along with the current. He shouted encouraging words when he could do so without having his mouth filled with the foamy water. It is doubtful whether the imperiled scout heard these cries. At least he was too far exhausted to keep up the struggle long enough for Hugh to reach his side. âOh, heâs sunk, Hugh!â came a shout behind the leader of the Wolf Patrol. Hugh knew this without being told. He had figured it all out, and understood just when the helpless figure would reach him. In imagination he was following its rapid progress with his eye; and with such precision that, sure enough, he was enabled to seize hold of the boy. Then came a desperate struggle, for it was difficult to keep his clutch on the slippery form of the helpless lad and at the same time buffet the current of the worst place in the rapids. Fortunately, indeed, for them both, Billy Worth was close at hand to lend his aid. Billy was a stout swimmer, and between them they managed to keep Tremaineâs head out of the water as they allowed the current to carry them down. Presently they had arrived at a stretch where the river broadened out somewhat, and here Alec Sands and the others had stretched themselves in a human chain with the leader of the Otters as the outermost link. Once upon a time Alec Sands had been a bitter rival of Hugh, and had even done numerous mean things in order to overreach the latter; but since then Alec had learned to esteem his former enemy because of his manly nature, and nowadays they were the best of friends. It was meet that Alecâs should be the hand to obtain a grip on Hugh and begin to tow the two swimmers ashore, bearing their limp burden between them. âOh, is he dead, Hugh, and is our summer outing going to be broken up right in the very start?â cried Tom Sherwood, who had run down from the camp by this time and was waiting for them on the shore. âI hope it isnât as bad as that,â replied Hugh. âCarry him up on the bank, so we can get busy. He wasnât under the water long, and I expect he will soon be all to the good. I think he must have struck his head on a sunken rock, and that made him dizzy. Then he became frightened, and when a swimmer gets in a panic, itâs going to be a bad lookout for him.â They laid young Tremaine down on his stomach, with his head raised a little. Hugh placed himself over him, with his knees planted against the ribs of the unconscious boy. He commenced pressing downward regularly with both hands, pumping just as one might breathe. This was to force the water and air out of the lungs, and allow them to fill again with oxygen. It took the part of natural respiration. Meanwhile the others were all doing something to assist in the work of restoration. Alec vigorously rubbed one of Tremaineâs legs to induce a warmth and get the blood circulating. Another was holding the boyâs head in such a way that his tongue might not slip back. Fortunately, the time of Tremaineâs immersion had not been of long duration; and under these vigorous efforts of the energetic life-savers, he soon opened his eyes. Shortly afterward he was able to sit up, though he still felt weak. Everyone experienced a great sensation of relief. The sudden black cloud that had fallen on the new camp had drifted away, thanks to their intimate knowledge of what was required in a case of near-drowning. There is not a summer passes but that the precious lives of scores of boys are imperiled when in swimming; and since the scout movement took root in this country, the records show that in innumerable instances fatal results have been avoided simply through the knowledge that membership in that organization entails on all who expect to attain the rank of second or first-class scout. Tremaine admitted that he had been very unwise to undertake that passage of the rushing rapids. He seemed humble enough, and thankful that he had such loyal and dependable comrades near at hand. âIâve always boasted about my swimming,â he contritely explained to Hugh, after the scout master had gently taken him to task for his recklessness, âand I think I could have made the crossing all right only for that wave dashing me against a sunken rock. It clipped me on the side of the head, and made me feel sick. After that I guess I got scared and near frantic, for I felt that I was in danger of being drowned out there in all that foam and swirling waters. But Iâve had a lesson, Hugh, and I promise you after this âIâll look before I leap.ââ âA good motto for every scout to keep in mind,â remarked Alec Sands, who was hovering near, since he had taken quite a liking for the new boy. âI used to be just as quick on the trigger as you, Harold; and let me tell you it got me into no end of scrapes. Iâm beginning to see things differently now; and a heap of that is due to my knowing Hugh Hardin better.â If Hugh heard these last words as he hurried away to hunt up the several parts of his clothes, they must have given him considerable satisfaction. Making a friend out of a bitter enemy was always a favorite diversion of the young scout master; and nothing he ever did gave him more deep-seated pleasure than the conversion of Alec Sands. Tremaine was soon able to get on his feet and dress. He said his head hurt somewhat where he had struck it on the rock, and he felt a bit weak, but expected he would be all right by another day. Hugh dressed the bruise with some soothing salve he carried in his medicine kit, and the value of which he had tested on more than one occasion in the past. The afternoon was wearing away by now. Some of the boys had made little journeys around the neighborhood so as to get an idea of what their surroundings were like. They had been warned not to go far toward the southwest; and if they chanced to run across any foreigners not to do anything to annoy them, since they were very excitable. Hugh had seen fit, at lunch time, to tell what little he knew concerning the upheaval at the cement works, and the chances of trouble coming about between the striking workmen and the guards imported by the company to defend their property as well as protect any new laborers who might be smuggled in to take the places left vacant by those who had gone out. âI hope that isnât going to be the beginning of a rush of trouble for us in our new camp, Hugh,â remarked Billy Worth as he came over and dropped down alongside the scout master in the shade of a tree. âWhether it is or not, Billy, weâve got a lot to be thankful for; and if all our mix-ups turn out as well, we can call ourselves a lucky bunch. Perhaps itâs a good thing it happened, for every scout will be on the watch after this to curb his ambition, and not be reckless. A warning in the beginning is often the best of happenings when a lot of lively boys start out camping.â âThat Tremaine had a close call, all the same, Hugh. I rather liked the way he owned up to being foolish. The fellow must have good stuff in him for all heâs so flighty.â âSheer nervousness, Billy, and itâll wear off after heâs been outdoors more. He told me this was the first time he has ever camped, though heâs gone swimming and fishing and all those sorts of things in the place he came from. But they hadnât cared to start a scout troop among the boys, because some of the leading people thought it was a military movement, and they didnât want their sons to grow up with the idea in their heads that some day they would have to fight, and kill other peopleâs boys.â âHow foolish they are to think that way,â said Billy, indignantly, âwhen the Boy Scout movement is founded on just the opposite plan in this country. Their mission is to save life, not take it. They try to carry this out in dozens of different ways. Why, even we can point with pride to our record in that line. Think only this last spring when we got caught in that flood up at Lawrence what chances we found to do things for other people who were in terrible trouble. But what are you staring at, Hugh?â âIâm wondering what that man who looks like a farmer wants here,â replied the scout master. âHeâs left the road, and is heading for our camp as fast as he can come.â Billy Worth immediately began to take notice. âJust what he is, Hugh,â he remarked, with a trace of excitement in his voice; âand seems to me I can scent some new trouble in the air. Gee whiz! Listen to how he cracks that blacksnake whip of his, would you? And look at his face, how ugly it seems. Heâs whopping mad over something or other, Hugh; and there, heâs asking Arthur Cameron a question, because Arthur is pointing this way. The boys have got on, for there they start to tag after him. Mebbe itâs his river and our fellows had no right to go in swimming there without asking his permission; or else weâre camping on his ground here. Anyhow, weâll soon know whatâs up, for here he starts this way!â CHAPTER III. RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. âHe had better not try to use that nasty looking whip around here, thatâs all I want to say,â remarked Bud Morgan, who had joined Hugh and Billy. âDonât talk quite so loud, Bud,â warned the leader of the Wolf Patrol, who saw no reason why they should add fuel to the fire that seemed to be raging in the heart of the countryman. The farmer was a typical Yankee in looks, and in a city he would be termed a âhayseedâ by the boys; but Hugh knew very well that such a man might be a well-to-do owner of much property, and respected in the community where he lived. In the country it is not always a wise thing to judge a manâs standing by the appearance of his overalls and jumper. âThey tell me yeou be the feller in charge oâ this outfit, mister,â was the way he greeted Hugh as he arrived on the spot. âWell,â said the boy, âwe have a gentleman by the name of Lieutenant Denmead who is the real scout master of the Oakvale Troop, but he was called home by the sickness of his mother, and I am serving in his place. What can I do for you, sir?â Hugh said this with one of his winning smiles, but the old farmer evidently felt in no humor to let himself be moved by such influences. âIâm cominâ here tew enter a complaint,â he started to say; âand I want it understood that we farmers ainât agoinâ tew stand for any sech pranks. Where yeou came from they cân excuse boysâ keerlessness, but we call it by another name up here. Itâs agin the law tew trespass on a manâs property where thereâs signs warninâ people off; anâ when boys adds tew that by leavinâ the bars oâ a pasture daown so the cattle cân wander away, theyâre takinâ right big chances oâ landinâ in the taown lockup.â There were some contemptuous snorts heard as the boys gathered around. Apparently they did not take to the old farmerâs accusation very kindly. Hugh knew them well enough to believe that there must be some mistake; for scouts are as a rule too well trained with regard to the rights of others to offend heedlessly in that manner. âDid someone leave the bars of your pasture down, then?â he asked the farmer. âJest what I said, and naow I got the job oâ huntinâ all over creation tew find my keows and that âere prize Holstein bull thatâs wuth a thousand dollars. Iâm givinâ yeou fellers plain warninâ that this thing ainât tew be tolerated any more.â âLetâs look into this a little closer, Mr.âMr.âââ said Hugh. âStebbins is my name, Uriah Stebbins, and I owns three farms araound this section,â the other hastened to remark when Hugh paused. âAnd my name is Hugh Hardin, Mr. Stebbins,â continued the scout master, still looking pleasant, without appearing to smile too broadly; for he realized that the angular old farmer might be sensitive and easily believe he was being made an object of ridicule. âAll right, and I want tew say right naow that I doanât bâlieve yeou done the trick, but haow âbaout some oâ the rest oâ the boys?â âIâd be very much surprised, Mr. Stebbins,â Hugh assured him, âif it turned out that any of these scouts were guilty. Theyâre taught differently in the organization to which we all belong. Scouts like fun as much as any boys, but they try to have it without being mean, or injuring others. Now, can you tell me when the bars of your pasture were let down?â âSence high noon,â came the reply. âI know âcause I was aout there âraound that time, anâ everything was as it ought tew be. When I kim by jest naow I seen every bar tuk daown anâ the cattle air missinâ.â Hugh turned to the scouts, now clustered around the spot. âWho has been off since lunch time?â he asked quietly. âI was for one!â came from Arthur Cameron without hesitation; and Hugh fancied he saw something in the face of the speaker that made him think Arthur could tell a story if questioned; though the expression did not savor of guilt. âNo one else?â continued the scout master, firmly. As there was no answer it seemed settled that Arthur must be the only scout who had left the vicinity of the camp since the hour when they sat around having their midday meal. âDo you know anything about this matter, Arthur?â asked Hugh; while the farmer fixed his small, piercing eyes on the eager, flushed face of the scout as though he would bore him through, and read in advance what he was expecting to reply. âIâm not so sure, but I think I do,â Arthur started to say. âYou see, I came in only a short time ago, and meant to tell the queer thing Iâd seen, but somehow it slipped my mind. Thatâs why I havenât spoken of it up to now.â âWhat do you mean by calling it a queer thing?â questioned Hugh, while all of the others pressed in closer so that they might not lose a single syllable. âIâll tell you, Hugh. I started out to mosey around a bit, not meaning to go so very far away. You know Iâm getting to enjoy searching for the tracks of small animals more and more, and keep a record of everything I see connected with the trail of a rabbit or a fox or a âcoon.â âYes, we know all that, Arthur, so get down to business, please,â said Hugh. âI was just coming out of some woods into a side road when I heard loud voices, and noticed three foreign-looking men passing through a pasture where there was a bunch of cattle feeding. All at once they called out in alarm, and I saw that one of the cattle, a Holstein bull marked black with a white band about its body, was making headlong after the men, who were running like mad for the fence.â âWow! Lucky Arthur to be the one to have such a free show!â Billy Worth was heard to say, half under his breath. âThey managed to just get over the fence and no more,â continued the narrator; âin fact, Iâm not quite sure but what that bull helped the last man over, for there was a lot of angry talk afterward when the men were brushing themselves off. I wanted to laugh out loud the worst kind, but they looked so black, and Iâve heard these dagoes always carry knives with them, so I thought I would show my good sense in bobbing back into the woods and continuing my hunt for tracks in another direction.â âYou didnât see anything more of the three foreign-looking men then, Arthur?â queried the scout master. âNot a thing,â came the ready reply, with a frankness that could not be mistaken; âfor I was soon taken up with a discovery I made, and trying to make head or tail of some curious tracks I ran across. When I thought to come back to the camp I was a little twisted in my bearings; but by making use of my limited knowledge of woodcraft I finally managed to get in all right.â Hugh turned to the farmer, who had listened intently all this while. âYou heard what this scout said, Mr. Stebbins?â Hugh began. âI want you to know that no one ever questions the word of Arthur Cameron. It looks to me as if those three unknown men, possibly from the foreign settlement over at the cement works, lowered the bars of your fence just in revenge for the scare they got when your prize bull chased them.â The farmer must have been impressed with the sincerity of these boys. Perhaps, as a rule, he had little use for growing lads, and his experience with such on his farm may not have prejudiced him in their favor; but Arthurâs story was so simple, and the explanation so convincing that he nodded his head slowly as if inclined to take back his former angry charge. âWall, naow, mebbe that is what happened,â he said reflectively. âNero has got a rousinâ temper, anâ he ainât agoinâ tew let any strangers cross the pasture heâs feedinâ in. I guess naow he mout a run them Eyetalians over the fence; anâ theyâd be jest mean enough tew let daown the bars. But haow in creation am I agoinâ tew get on the track oâ my cattle?â Hugh smiled now. âNothing easier, Mr. Stebbins,â he told the puzzled farmer, âif you choose to let us help you. As scouts, we would like nothing better than to find your herd for you; and while you may not know it, that sort of work is one of the things weâve been trained inâfollowing a trail.â âBy jinks! I really bâlieve yeou mean it!â exclaimed the pleased farmer, a grim smile flitting across his gaunt weatherbeaten face, as he looked around at the eager countenances of that dozen khaki-clad boys. âYouâve been unjust to accuse us without any evidence except our happening to be camped near your farm, Mr. Stebbins,â said Hugh, meaning that the other should have something to reflect on afterward, âbut we will let that pass. Weâd like you to know boys better than it seems you do. And if you say the word, Iâll pick out several of the best trackers here to go with you to the pasture and follow your herd.â âWish yeou would, erâMr. Hardy,â said the farmer, eagerly. âHardin is the name, sir, or plain Hugh. All right, weâll start with you now,â and the scout master turned to glance around him at the eager faces of his chums. Every fellow fairly held his breath in anticipation and suspense, hoping that he might be fortunate enough to be selected among those who were to take part in this little adventure. âAlec, you for one; then Arthur, as youâve had a hand in the game already, and are making a hobby of tracking, you can be the second. The other two are Billy Worth and Ralph Kenyon.â The rest of the boys looked downcast, for they were in just the humor to welcome some diversion of this sort. However, they had been too well trained to give voice to their feelings of disappointment. Hugh and the farmer hurried away, with the others tagging close at their heels. Reaching the road, which was not far from the camp on the river bank, they presently turned into a smaller thoroughfare, and in the end came to where there lay a dense wood on one side with a wide pasture on the other. The bars of the fence lay on the ground. It was the easiest thing in the world for the scouts, because of their training, to see that someone had taken the pains to toss every bar aside as it was drawn from its sockets; and this would dispose of any suspicion that the cattle had broken the barrier down. âHereâs the way they started off, you can see, Mr. Stebbins,â said Hugh, as he pointed to the plain impression of many split hoofs in the road, and which led in an opposite direction to the one they had come from. It was no trouble at all to follow that broad trail; why, Billy Worth declared that even the greenhorn, Harold Tremaine, might have done it with only a few hitches. âThereâs one thing we want to remember, fellows,â remarked Arthur Cameron, after they had been moving along for some little time, and apparently getting closer to where the cattle would be found. âWhatâs that?â demanded Alec Sands. âYou remember the old cry they say folks used at the time of the Spanish war: âRemember the Maine!â Well, we want to âremember the bull!ââ âI should say we do,â admitted Bud Morgan. âFor one Iâve had the delightful experience of being tossed by a bull, when I was a kid. I landed in a tree, and held on like fun, so I wasnât hurt very much. But Iâll never forget how that old critter pawed the ground and tossed the dust up with his wicked short horns; and how I suffered all sorts of tortures for a whole hour, till my father heard the racket and came to the rescue.â âAnd if youâd seen how Nero chased after those foreigners, youâd never hanker after making his acquaintance at close quarters, let me tell you,â remarked Arthur; while the farmer chuckled as though he thought he should be proud to own such a progressive animal. All this while the cattle seemed to have been moving along the country road, no doubt stopping now and then to nibble at some particularly tempting bunch of green grass; but making steady progress nevertheless. âWell, hereâs where they turned aside and entered the woods, you can see, sir!â Hugh presently said, pointing to the marks at his feet, which seemed to change their course. A minute later and the trackers were passing through the forest. Each boy tried to follow a different trail as much as possible. This was done at Hughâs suggestion, for it gave them the advantage that if one series of tracks became faint and difficult to see some of the others would be plain enough to be easily followed. âWeâre pulling up on them fast now!â Arthur Cameron declared. âWhy, I just saw a little weed that had been pressed down by a hoof right itself. That means the animal canât be far ahead of us.â âHereâs another pointer,â remarked Alec Sands. âWhere this cow is walking thereâs considerable moisture in the ground, and some of the tracks are partly filled with water. Itâs oozing in still, and will fill them up inside of five minutes. Judging from that Iâd say this cow passed along here not more than five minutes ago.â âLikely enough we may find them just beyond that line of bushes ahead,â ventured Ralph Kenyon, who had once been quite a trapper, and knew the signs of the woods better than any fellow in the whole Oakvale Troop. âWait a minute,â said Hugh, impressively, and then turning to Billy and Alec he added: âIâd advise both of you to pocket the red bandanas youâve got knotted around your necks cowboy style. A bull will charge anything red, as Mr. Stebbins here will tell you.â âThatâs right,â agreed Bud Morgan, who believed he knew considerable about the habits of bulls in general, especially their âliftingâ powers. âAnd another thing,â continued Hugh, striking while the iron was hot, âitâs no disgrace for a scout to shin up a convenient tree if an angry bull charges at him. You want to remember that, all of you. âAn ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,â isnât it, Bud?â âWell,â replied the other, with a whimsical shrug, âyou just watch my smoke if ever he really starts for me, thatâs all.â CHAPTER IV. TURNING BACK THE CLOCK OF TIME. âHere they are!â cried Arthur Cameron, triumphantly, because it pleased him to be the first one to discover the runaway herd. âAll there, Mr. Stebbins?â asked Hugh, as the little party stood and looked at the feeding cattle. âSeven keows, and Neroâthatâs the full caount, Mr. Hardy; and naow if so be yeou boysâd gimme a lift agettinâ the same back, I would like it fust rate.â âThatâs what we expect to do, sir,â Hugh assured him. âYouâll have to take the lead. They know you, and will be more apt to mind when they hear you shout at them. Besides, the bull isnât so apt to charge when he knows his master is along.â âWall, I doanât trust Nero too far, yeou understand,â the farmer shrewdly remarked. âBulls is queer critters and mighty sly. But so long as the herd keeps alongside him I kinder guess as haow we wonât have much trouble.â It turned out that way. They passed around so as to head the animals off, and then a gentle pressure was exerted to start them along the back trail. Doubtless the cows understood that they were expected to return to their corral, for they showed little inclination to balk or act contrary. Several times Nero was noticed turning to observe the advancing line of herders with more or less disapproval. It was laughable to notice how every scout edged toward some convenient tree, or looked anxiously toward a fence when on the road, as though mentally calculating how speedily he could make a safe exit from the scene in case of sudden necessity. On the whole, however, Nero acted decently, for he kept moving on steadily; and in the end the herd was safely placed behind the bars. âAs slick a little job as youâd like to see!â remarked Billy Worth, when the last bar had been put in place. âAnd as easy as anything we ever tackled,â added Alec Sands; âbut itâs just as well. If those foreigners are going to roam around this part of the country much more, youâll have to nail up your gates, Mr. Stebbins. Yes, and watch your crops a bit, too, because when their money gives out, theyâll be apt to forage on the farmers for a living, as they have families to feed.â The farmer looked serious. âI never did take any tew them foreigners,â he remarked, bitterly. âYears back I had some hired help that came from acrost the water, and they gimme a rough deal. I couldnât understand them critters nohaow, anâ I had tew let âem go. As luck would have it one oâ my barns burned daown the next night, which I allowed was some queer. And yeou couldnât git me tew hire one naow if I hed tew quit raisinâ crops.â âWell, weâll start back to our camp, Mr. Stebbins,â said Hugh, offering his hand to the other. âIâm glad you came to see us, and if you have time, drop in some night and listen to the boys sing some of their school songs.â âI will, by jinks!â declared the farmer, taking the extended hand in his own calloused palm. âI uster be summat oâ a singer myself in the old days when I was acourtinâ Sally Jane. Iâd jest like tew hear if boys air improved any sense them times.â âThey havenât changed much, youâll find, sir,â Hugh told him, âthough the songs have, and none for the better, either, because in my mind thereâs nothing like those old tunes, so full of harmony. But drop around and see us, to-night or any night. We hope to be here a week or ten days longer.â Mr. Stebbins went around and shook hands with every one of the four boys. He was rather a different looking Mr. Stebbins from the angry-browed farmer with a grievance who strode into their camp earlier in the afternoon. And somehow the influence of these healthy boys had seemed to make him more human. After he had gone, turning to wave to them ere he passed around the bend to follow the lane leading up to his own farmhouse, the scouts started in the direction of the camp. When they arrived they were met with a multitude of questions from those who had not been so fortunate as to go on the tracking expedition. The story was soon told, for there was not much to it; still, it seemed to most of them that this coming of the angry farmer was a good beginning to their outing. âOur first day in camp,â remarked Billy Worth, as he assisted in getting supper ready, âand already weâve had two adventures. The signs look good for a real lively time of it up here, seems to me.â Others were thinking along similar lines. Indeed, it did seem as though the members of the Wolf Patrol always did manage to be on hand when anything worth while was taking place. At least it had been their good luck to be connected with quite a number of lively episodes worth keeping a record of. When a party of fun-loving boys have gone into camp there is always more or less humor abounding. High spirits are the rule, and everything is taken in the light of a joke. As they sat around and discussed that evening meal, with the three dun-colored tents lending an air of business to the scene, as viewed in the light of the crackling campfire, the utmost hilarity ruled the hour. The camp cooks had done their work with credit, and were loudly praised; though possibly there was a method in this flattery, since hopes were entertained that it might induce the officiating cooks to keep on trying to excel one another. Just about the time they had finished everything in sight in the way of cooked food, and Bud Morgan was trying to squeeze one of the two coffeepots in the hope of extracting a few more drops of the beloved amber fluid, Harold Tremaine, who chanced to be on his feet at the time, sang out: âVisitors coming, fellows! No, thereâs only one, it seems, and I declare if it isnât our friend the farmer!â âAnd heâs got some sort of basket along with him, too!â ejaculated Billy Worth, unconsciously rubbing the pit of his stomach in anticipation; for if the truth must be told, Billy was very fond of eating, and his first thought seemed to be that possibly the grateful farmer might be going to donate something worth while to their stock of edibles. âGlad to see you, Mr. Stebbins!â called out Hugh. âMove along there, fellows, and make room for our visitor on that log. I invited him to drop in and see us any time he found the chance, and that we would let him hear some of our songs. Mr. Stebbins used to be something
{'title': 'The Boy Scouts of the Field Hospital by Robert Shaler', 'source': 'Project Gutenberg', 'lang': 'en'}