CHAPTER XIV
HOST AND GUESTS
Tom Wagstaff and Jim McGovern might well be puzzled at the sight whichgreeted them while picking their way through the wood.
A strong light seemed to be shining through a screen. At first it wasstationary, its appearance preventing them from guessing its nature.While they stood silent, wondering and frightened, on the point ofretreating, the shadow of a person glided in front of the light. Itwas grotesque and gigantic, and flitted across their field of vision,disappearing as quickly as it had come to view. The next moment someone was seen holding a lamp in his hand and peering out in the gloom.
Then the whole explanation broke upon them. They had come upon a tentin the wood, the light shining through the canvas and producing theeffect which first puzzled them. The person inside passed between themand the lamp, so that his shadow was flung on the screen in front.Then he picked up the light, and pushing aside the flap, peered out inthe gloom.
As he did so the glare from the lamp fell upon his face and showed hisfeatures so distinctly that both boys recognized him, and uttered anexclamation of astonishment and delight.
"Bob Budd, as I live! Why, you're the very fellow we're looking for!"called out Tom Wagstaff, as he and his companion hurried forward andgreeted their friend, whose amazement was equal to theirs when he heldthe light above his head and recognized them.
"Where under the sun did you come from?" he asked, all three walkinginto the tent after shaking hands, and seating themselves, while thehost set the light on a small stand at one side.
"I didn't expect you for a week or two," added Bob, whose pleasurecould not be concealed.
"Well," replied Jim, with a laugh, "we set out to surprise you, and Iguess we succeeded."
"There's no doubt of that," said Bob; "but tell me how you found theway to this spot."
The visitors were not quite willing to give the whole truth, and Tomventured the explanation.
"We came most of the way in the cars," said he, "but got off at alittle station a few miles out to tramp across the country, thinkingwe might pick up some game on the way. We didn't make out very well,and rode to Black Bear Swamp in the stage. There we got out again andset out to find you."
"How did you know where to look?"
"The driver told us you had a camp out this way somewhere, and wethought we might stumble over it."
This narrative was so brief in the way of details that the boys ransome risk of having it overturned when the account of the driver andhis passenger should be heard, but fortunately for them, Durrell andLenman forebore any references to the unworthy part played by theyouths, and Bob Budd remained ignorant of the real cause of the abruptflight of his friends, and their taking to the shelter of Black BearSwamp.
"I've had the tent up for three days," added the host, who was aboutthe age of his guests, "and it's so well stored with eatables anddrinkables that I come out every night to take a look at it, so as tomake sure no tramps or thieves are prowling around. I was about to gohome when you hailed me. Shall we go to the house or stay here tillmorning?"
"I don't see that this can be improved on," replied Tom, lookingadmiringly about him; "we're pretty well tuckered out, and I would aslief stay here till morning anyway."
"Those are my sentiments," added Jim, much pleased with the survey.
"Then we'll stay," said Bob; "I'm glad you're suited. Where are yourtrunks?"
"At the station at Piketon."
"I'll send the checks over in the morning and have our man bring themhere. I have my own gun and some things to bring from the house, andthen we'll be in shape for a good old time in the woods. I guess,boys, a little refreshment won't hurt us."
The liberality of Bob Budd's Uncle Jim and Aunt Ruth, with whom helived (he having no parents or other near relatives), enabled him todo about as he pleased, so far as his own pleasure and self-indulgencewere concerned. He quickly set a substantial lunch before his guests,of which all partook. I am sorry to say that strong drink formed alarge part of the repast, all indulging liberally, after which pipesand cigarettes were produced, and they discussed their plans ofenjoyment.
Wagstaff and McGovern did not hesitate to admit that they had run awayfrom home for the purpose of having this outing. The fact that theirparents were sure to be distressed over their absence was a theme forjest instead of regret.
"They'll learn to appreciate us when we go back," said Wagstaff, witha laugh, as he puffed his villainous decoction of tobacco and poison;"you see, if Jim and I went home now they would be apt to scold; butthey will be so glad at the end of a fortnight that they'll kill thefatted calf and make us welcome."
"A good idea," commented Bob, passing back the flask to McGovern; "yousee, my uncle and aunt love me so dearly that they don't object toanything I do, though now and then Aunt Ruth holds up Dick Halliard asa model for me."
"We saw that lovely young man while we were in the stage," remarkedWagstaff; "he went by us on his bicycle."
"Yes; he rides a wheel well, but it makes me mad to see him."
"Why so?"
"Well, he's younger than me, and I used to go to school with him; he'sone of those fellows who don't like many things a wide-awake chap likeme does, and he has a way of telling you of it to your face."
"That's better than doing it behind your back," suggested Jim.
"He has no right to do it _at all_; what business is it of his ifI choose to smoke, take a drink now and then, and lay out the otherboys when they get impudent?"
"It's nothing to him, of course; we'll settle his hash for him beforewe go back. I shouldn't wonder," added Tom, with a wink, "if he shouldfind that bicycle of his missing some day."
"That would hit him harder than anything else," remarked Bob, pleasedwith the remark; "I've thought of the same thing, but haven't had agood chance to spoil it. I say, boys, we'll have just the jolliesttimes you ever heard of."
"It won't be _our_ fault if we don't," assented Jim, while hiscompanion nodded his head as an indorsement of the same views.
"Is there good hunting in these parts?"
"It, isn't as good as up among the Adirondacks or out West in theRocky Mountains, but I think we can scare up some sport. I've a goodhunting dog, and as soon as we get things in shape we'll see what wecan do. What sort of game do you prefer?"
"Anything will suit me--elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses, and the like;or, if we can't do better, I wouldn't mind a bear or deer."
"I daresn't promise much, but we'll have the fun anyway, and that'swhat we all want more than anything else."
The boys kept up their conversation until the night was well along,and all were in high spirits over the prospect. They smoked and drankuntil, when they lay down in slumber, they were in that plight thatthey did not waken till the sun was high in the heavens.
The day was so cloudy and overcast that, although it cleared upbefore noon, they decided to defer their hunting excursion until thefollowing morning, or perhaps the one succeeding that. Tom and Jimaccompanied Bob to his uncle's, where they were made welcome by hisrelatives, though it must be said that neither was specially pleasedwith their looks and conduct. They made themselves at home from thefirst, and their conversation was loud and coarse; but then they werefriends of the petted nephew, and _that_ was all sufficient.
The trunks were brought from the railway station by Uncle Jim'scoachman and taken to the camp of the Piketon Rangers. By that timethe news of the attempt to rob the stage had spread, and caused greatexcitement in the town and neighborhood. Tom and Jim, finding noreference to them in the accounts, deemed it best to say nothing,since they might have found it hard to make it appear that they hadacted bravely at a time when such a fine chance was offered to playthe hero.
That afternoon the three fully established themselves in the tent ofBob Budd. The day had cleared up beautifully, but it was too late tostart out on the great hunt they had fixed their hearts on, and towardnight they separated to take a stroll through the surrounding countr
y,with which they wished to become familiar. They believed this could bedone better if they should part company, since each would be obligedto keep his senses about him, and to watch his footsteps more closelythan if he had a guide in the person of Bob Budd, their friend andhost.
The Campers Out; Or, The Right Path and the Wrong Page 14