The Outdoor Chums | Page 7

is the evil thereof!' and I'm ready to
compare notes at the end of our little expedition, to see who has
slaughtered the most game," and Bluff wagged his round head with its
thatch of yellow hair, defiantly.
"Well, a man is known by the company he keeps, and any true
sportsman--" began Jerry, ready to open the discussion on the spot.
"Rats!" exclaimed Will, as he got in readiness to mount his machine;
"stow all that hot air until the first chilly night. Perhaps you'll need it
before long. I say, Frank?"
"Well, what?"
"Has the wagon started along?" asked the other, eagerly.
"Yes, I saw it off before coming over here. Everything's aboard, and
unless old Uncle Toby has an accident on the road, he guarantees to get
up there shortly after noon," replied the leader, quietly.
"So, you got your hired man to do the driving; and I've half a suspicion
the team comes from your place, too. That's mighty nice of your father,
Frank. Suppose we could keep Toby with us one night to see us
started?"
"Father said we could have him all we wanted. He can take the horses
over to the nearest farm, where we expect to get our supply of fresh
eggs, and then do a part of the cooking for us, as well as chop wood
and some other stunts that, say what you will, kind of pall on a fellow
after a little while."
"Better and better," remarked Jerry, who had been known on occasion
to flunk when it came to drudgery, and wanted to be fishing or roaming
pretty much all the day, and every day.
"Well, the reason I asked was this: I wouldn't wonder but what Andy

Lasher and his pals might plan to intercept our supplies, and do
something mean to break up our fun," continued Will, earnestly.
"Whew! I hadn't thought of that," remarked Jerry, looking alarmed.
"I had, and I made an arrangement with old Uncle Toby to take Erastus
along in the wagon up to the point where we are to meet him at noon.
You know Erastus is the porter and watchman at the bank, and known
to be a fighter. When they see him sitting there beside Toby those
fellows will have business somewhere else, you mark me. He can come
home on the late afternoon train, one of us taking him over to the little
station on a motor-cycle. How does that suit you all around?"
"Talk about your Napoleon for laying out plans; it couldn't be better
arranged. The supplies will be safe, then. Now, is there anything else to
remember?" demanded Jerry.
"Not from me," replied Bluff, stealing a side glance at the open window
where Nellie and Violet were standing, watching the starting of the
wonderful expedition that was expected to startle the timid woods folks
up beyond the lumber camps at the head of the lake.
"Count me out," declared Will, raising one foot to be ready to mount.
"That settles it, then. Who goes first?" asked Frank.
"You do, to start with. Later on, after we pass the wagon, Jerry will act
as guide, as he's been up there before, and knows a lot about the
country," called Will.
"Then, here goes, fellows."
Suiting the action to the word Frank ran with his machine, then gave a
vault into the saddle, started the engine, and with a loud popping the
motor-cycle began to hustle along the road at a moderately swift pace.
Jerry came second, then Will, and last but not least Bluff, who was very
apt to have many things happen to his motor-cycle before the ten miles

had been reeled off, for that seemed to be just his fortune.
"Good luck!" called the girls from the window; while the little mother
waved a 'kerchief from the doorway, and then hurried in to shed a few
tears, for, truth to tell, these partings always affected her in this way.
Through the town they went, with dogs racing alongside and barking
wildly, and quite a few persons waving them good wishes as they
passed; for it was pretty well known what the Outdoor Club had in
view, and the hunting toggery with which Bluff had adorned himself
was a constant sign as to the glut there would presently be in the game
market of Centerville.
Then past Frank's home, where his father waved his hat as he stood in
the doorway, warned of the coming of the squad by the rampant
popping of the motor-cycles; and after that the open country, where the
northbound road ran alongside the calm waters of Lake Camalot, now
glistening in the frosty air of an October morning.
Frank slowed up to allow of Jerry overtaking him, so that they might
talk