CHAPTER XXII.
MOVING THE CAMP.
MUCH downcast by his failure to secure the sheriff's aid, Charley madehis way to the building where most of the lawyers of the county hadtheir offices. Selecting one of the offices at random, for he knew noneof the lawyers, even by reputation, he opened the door and entered. Hefound himself face to face with a bright, alert, keen-eyed young man,who greeted him pleasantly, and invited him to be seated. Briefly hestated his errand and retold the tale he had told the sheriff.
The young lawyer listened with deepest interest, and at the end of itexclaimed boyishly:
"By Jove, this is an interesting case. I wouldn't miss a chance tohandle it for a hundred dollars. I was a detective before I wasa lawyer, and the lure of mystery always appeals to me. There iscertainly enough mystery in this case of yours to satisfy anyone. Iwill have to think it over carefully, and look up some features of it,before I can be of any help to you. I will be busy to-day, for I havea case coming up in Circuit Court, but to-morrow I will come out toyour camp and look the ground over with you. I have a little auto of myown, and I will enjoy the trip out, even if nothing comes of it. I havealways wanted to see that back country, and this will be a good chanceto combine business with pleasure."
Charley left the friendly lawyer's office feeling more cheerful inhaving enlisted his aid. He reached the station just in time to catchthe train for Jupiter, where he alighted half an hour later. The agentwas watching for him, and immediately drew him to one side.
"I am afraid you are in for a rough time out at camp," he said; "thatwas the wickedest-looking bunch of men I ever saw in my life. Therewere twenty of them altogether. They were expected, too, for there werewagons waiting for them a little ways from the station, and they droveoff immediately."
"I cannot even stop to thank you properly," Charley said, earnestly."We cannot thank you enough for what you have done for us, anyway."
"That's all right," said the agent heartily, "I am pleased to have beenof any assistance to you. But I will not keep you, for I know you areanxious to see how things are at camp. So-long, and good luck to you."
A minute later Charley was in the truck and driving out on the dirtroad at a dangerous rate of speed, for before him he could see thesharp cut of wagon tires in the soft earth.
About three miles from camp the wagon tracks left the road, and, as faras the lad could see from the car, continued at a right angle to it.Somewhat relieved by this discovery, he reduced his speed and droveinto camp at an easy gait.
Much to his delight, he found everything going on as usual, dinnercooking in the cook tent, the machine busily digging, and the gradersleveling off close behind it. After a little chat with Chris, the ladretired to his tent, where he rested until his chums and the men cametrooping in to dinner.
After dinner was eaten, Charley called a council of war of his chums,the two engineers off duty, and Bossie the fireman. He told them of allhe had learned during his trip. "Of course I may be making a mountainout of a mole hill," he said, in conclusion. "Those men may be only aparty of hunters out for a good time, but, from what we have alreadymet with, it will be well to be on our guard until we are sure of thefact. We cannot tell in what way or when we will be made to suffer. Iwant every man--Spaniard as well as American--to be constantly on thewatch for any signs of trouble. You, Bossie, explain to your countrymenjust how things stand, so that none of them will be taken unawares.Now, have any of you any suggestions to offer?"
"I think we ought to move camp as soon as possible," said McCartypromptly. "It's a good two miles from here to the machine now, and thedistance is growing greater every day. Of course, it does not make somuch difference in the daytime, but, with an enemy around, it makes itrisky for the men going back and forth at night."
"You're right," Charley agreed. "We had better get an early start andmove camp to-morrow morning to a place about a quarter of a mile aheadof the machine. I noticed a knoll of good, high sloping ground there.When you go out, McCarty, have one of the dynamiters set fire to thegrass there, so that the ground will be bare for the pitching of ourtents. We don't want to run any chance of being burnt out."
"I don't think we on the machine run so very much danger," observedBratton; "not if we keep a good watch out. It is all steel, and, incase of attack, we can call the ground men aboard and keep the platformrevolving fast. No one can then climb aboard, and the boiler andmachinery will give pretty good protection, while we can use our gunsfrom the platform to pretty good advantage."
"Good idea," approved McCarty. "I will adopt that plan and tellKitchner about it when I go out."
"The dynamiters are a good mile and a half ahead of the machine,"Captain Westfield observed. "I reckon it wouldn't be a bad idea to addthem to the guard around the camp until the machine catches up withthem a little."
"Good suggestion," Charley approved. "We will do that."
"I have got an amendment to offer to the moving plan," Walter said."I suggest that we move camp this afternoon. You have all apparentlyforgotten that to-morrow is Sunday, and all hands need a rest."
"You're right," Charley agreed promptly. "Call in all the men exceptthe crew on the machine, and the bridge builders, Bossie. Get the othermen in the tents to roll out and help. Tell the bridge builders tothrow a bridge across the ditch, so that we can cross and get by themachine with the truck and wagon."
In a few minutes all was astir in the camp, men busy packing up, otherspulling down and folding up tents, while still others piled them inthe waiting truck and wagon. Within half an hour of giving the orders,Charley started with the first truckload, carrying with him half ofthe Spaniards to pitch the tents on the new camp-site. He found theknoll burnt clear of grass and the ground still smoking from the recentfire. Hastily unloading and directing the Spaniards where to set up thetents, the lad hurried back for another load.
Twenty men working with system can accomplish wonders, and long beforedark the moving was finished and Chris was getting supper in the cooktent.
"I don't like staking out the mules," said the teamster, as he joinedthe rest at supper, "but I can't build a corral for them untilto-morrow. You see, they keep moving around nearly all night, and theyget all tangled up in the ropes and wear the hide off their legs tryingto get free."
"I don't believe they will hurt themselves much in one night," Charleyassured him, "and to-morrow all hands can turn in and build a corralfor them. How much wood have you got ahead?"
"Enough for a week," answered the teamster, brightening. "That Juanis a first-class worker, and I have been hauling steady. I've got itstrung along the road for a mile ahead of the machine."
As soon as it began to get dark, Charley gave a gun to each of the twodynamiters, and gave them instructions to join their two countrymen asguards.
Everyone was tired, and all retired early to their tents. It was agreedthat the machine should stop work at midnight, and that, when her crewcame in, two of the camp guard would go out and keep watch on it thebalance of the night.
Charley was roused up about midnight by the stop whistle of themachine, and a few minutes later he heard its crew entering the camp,and the chatter of the two guards, as they went out to take the crew'splace. The lad rolled over with a sigh of content, and dropped off tosleep again, only to awaken again to the sharp crack of rifles. "Getup, you fellows," he shouted to his chums. "There's more trouble afoot."
"Great Caesar," exclaimed Walter, in disgust. "Can't we ever get a goodnight's sleep?"
"Don't look that way," said his chum grimly, as he pulled on hisclothes.
Outside the tent the lads found the Captain and engineers just emergingfrom their shelters.
Along the road for a mile in front of the machine, huge bonfires wereburning.
"They have fired the woodpiles!" Charley exclaimed. "Well, let 'emburn. There's more wood where that came from. Let's make for themachine; that's where the shooting came from."
A few minutes' walk brought them to the digger,
where they found theSpanish guards excited but unhurt. They had fired the guns to let thecamp know of the fire. They were so apparently nervous, however, thatMcCarty volunteered to stay with them the balance of the night.
"Well, it might be worse," said Charley, as the little party made theirway back to camp. "They have just made more work for the teamster andwoodchopper, that's all."
But, as they approached close to the camp, they were met by one of theguards. "_Senors_," cried the man, his voice trembling, "there isfrightful groaning coming from the darkness behind our picket line."
"Where?" demanded the teamster, who had joined the little party.
"Toward the North Star, not far from our picket line," answered theshaky sentinel.
"Go back to your post, _hombre_," Charley ordered. "We'll get thelanterns and come right out and see what it is."
The frightened sentinel obeyed, but he moved so slowly that the boysovertook him before he reached his post.
The Boy Chums in the Florida Jungle Page 22