Oscar now gave up hunting entirely (he did not neglect to drop a line to the commission merchants, telling them why he was obliged to do so, and they, in reply, sent him a cordial invitation to visit them when he came to Yarmouth), and devoted himself to the preparation of his specimens.
He worked hard all day and studied late every night, and the nine o'clock train which passed through Eaton on Wednesday morning, carried him away with the rest of its passengers; his specimens, which were carefully and neatly boxed, being stowed away in the express car.
In his hands Oscar carried the gun which he and Sam had fished up from the bottom of the river, and by it he was recognized when he reached Yarmouth depot.
There were two gentlemen there, waiting forhim, and one of them was the owner of the recovered fowling-piece.
The instant he saw it he knew that Oscar was the boy he and his companion were looking for.
Oscar was gone just a week, and what he saw and did during his absence, and what bargain he made with the committee, we shall learn as soon as he meets his friend Sam, who, of course, must know all about it.
We will tell the reader this much, however, for it would not sound well coming from Oscar's lips, even if he knew all about it, which he didnot.
The young taxidermist was almost overwhelmed by his reception. He was introduced to the faculty, to the students, and to many prominent citizens as the brave youth who had saved President Potter's life.
That eccentric gentleman had never thought it worth while to mention the name of Sam Hynes in connection with his rescue, but the reader may rest assured that Oscar did not neglect to do it.
Whenever the subject was spoken of in hishearing, the active and important part taken by the cool-headed Sam was faithfully and graphically described.
This one act on Oscar's part—the saving of the president's life—was enough to make him a hero in the eyes of all the strangers who surrounded him; but what added to the interest with which they regarded him was the fact that he had been selected to complete the university's collection of birds and animals.
The faculty and students, as well as some of the citizens, knew that Professor Potter had at last found somebody to do the work, and when it was announced that thatsomebodywould soon visit Yarmouth to exhibit specimens of his skill, his arrival was awaited with no little impatience.
The professor had not been at all particular about describing the person he had engaged, and the students expected to find themselves confronted by a bearded, fine-looking man in buckskin, or else in high-top boots, red shirt, and slouch hat, standing at least six feet high, with broad shoulders, and so powerful a gripthat nobody would dare shake hands with him.
These being their ideas, how great must have been their astonishment when there appeared among them, one morning, a neatly dressed, modest youth, who seemed to shrink away from them, and who blushed every time anyone spoke to him!
They could scarcely believe their eyes; but the committee took him, and Oscar's position was established at once.
On the second day after his arrival, he was invited to dine at the house of a prominent citizen, and there he met a brilliant company, including the gentleman who had given the money to found the museum.
The men treated him with a respect that astonished him, and the ladies crowded around him and asked questions, until Oscar wished most heartily that he could crawl into a hollow log somewhere and get out of sight.
Through all this trying ordeal, the young taxidermist conducted himself with the utmost propriety; but when the week was endedand he found himself on board the train bound for Eaton, he drew a long breath of relief, and said to himself:
"Thank goodness, it is all over!"
Sam Hynes was at the depot when Oscar reached the village on Wednesday night, and eager as he was to hear what his friend had to tell him, he was still more eager to communicate to him a piece of news that was just then the talk of the town.
Oscar lingered for a few minutes on the platform to exchange greetings with two or three friends who chanced to be there, but he drew away from them as soon as he could, and started for home, accompanied by Sam. He was very anxious to see his mother.
"Well," said Oscar, as they locked arms and walked briskly toward the village, "I don't see that Eaton has changed any during my absence."
"Oh, you don't!" exclaimed Sam. "One would think you had been somewhere, to hear you talk."
"I have been somewhere, and in less than aweek I am going somewhere else. Have you any news for me?"
"I have, and I know you will be sorry to hear it—not on account of the young rascals themselves, but on Mr. Parker's account. Leon and his cousin, Frank Fuller, have run away from home."
Oscar withdrew his arm, and stopped and looked at his friend, who backed off and put his hands in his pockets.
The two gazed into each other's faces for a few seconds, and then locked arms and walked on again.
"I hope there is some mistake about it," said Oscar, as soon as he could speak.
"I wish there was, from the bottom of my heart!" replied Sam earnestly.
Oscar was silent for several minutes. He recalled all the favors for which he was indebted to the kind-hearted lawyer, thought of the numerous indulgences which he knew Mr. Parker had granted his scapegrace son, and then broke out fiercely:
"Leon deserves to be thrashed within an inch of his life! He is a mean boy whowill run away from such a father as he has."
"Just what I have remarked a score of times," answered Sam. "But Mr. Chamberlain says that the punishment he will receive before he gets through with this business will be worse than thrashing. They packed up and cleared out on the very night that you went to Yarmouth."
"Go on and tell me all about it," said Oscar.
"I don't know much to tell," answered Sam, "for, of course, Mr. Parker and his family have had very little to say about the matter. The amount of it is that Leon has been in trouble ever since his cousin came here. Frank led him into all sorts of scrapes, and finally induced him to run away from school—a thing Leon had never done before in his life. On the same day Mr. Fuller arrived from Boston to see how Frank was getting on with his studies, and the first thing he learned in regard to him was that he had been playing truant. The general impression seems to be that the young men weredisciplined, and that they got angry about it."
"Where have they gone, and what do they intend to do?"
"Nobody seems to know. They took a good supply of clothing with them and also their guns."
"Ah! No doubt they intend to sell their guns in order to obtain money to pay their way," observed Oscar.
"There's no need of that," answered Sam. "I don't know whether or not Frank had any money, but Leon had a pocketful of it. His grandfather, of late years, has made it a point to give Leon a hundred dollars every Christmas. Unfortunately, the money was deposited in the bank to Leon's credit, and all he had to do was to present his book and draw the funds."
"My gracious!" exclaimed Oscar, "what a scamp that boy must be!"
"He wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for Frank. He is the one who has led Leon into all this trouble. Now, let me ask you a few questions. What luck have you had? Yourlast letter made me believe that you had some good news for me."
"And so I have," replied Oscar. "I have had the best of luck, and, if nothing unforeseen happens, I shall be on my way to the plains by a week from to-night."
"You don't tell me so!" cried Sam, whose astonishment and delight were almost unbounded. "How was it all brought about?"
"I can hardly tell you, for the truth is I have lived in such a state of excitement and bewilderment ever since I have been away that I hardly knew whether I stood on my head or my heels. In the first place, I was completely upset by the attentions that were shown me when I arrived in Yarmouth. The officers of the college and this museum committee took me in charge at once. They wouldn't let me go to a hotel, as I wanted to do, but President Potter—he is not a crazy man, Sam—took me to his home and kept me there. The next day I was shown over the university, and all the students looked at me as if I had been some rare specimen of taxidermy. I went into their museum, and I tellyou what's a fact, Sam—my specimens beat theirs all to pieces."
"I am glad to hear it," said Sam.
"My specimens are there now," continued Oscar, "and anybody can see for himself which is the best work. It would have made you laugh to see those students crowd around me and ask me questions in natural history, just as though I knew all about it. The committee wanted me to put up some new specimens for them, so I went down to the store of Calkins & Son, and picked out four nice ones—a hare, grouse, mallard, and black squirrel. I told them who I was, and what I wanted the birds and animals for, and they wouldn't take a cent for them. When I found that I was expected to put up these specimens in the presence of a class as well as the committee, and explain every operation, my hand trembled so that I could hardly hold the knife, and I couldn't say a word."
"You were embarrassed," said Sam. "You had never received so much attention before."
"And I hope I never will again," said Oscar honestly.
"Ah!" exclaimed Sam, with a knowing shake of his head, "wait until you come back from the plains. If you are successful, they will make a lion of you. What sort of work did you do before the class?"
"Oh, after I got fairly started, and gained a little confidence, I was all right. My tongue ran glibly enough, and I never did quicker or better work in my life. When I got through, I had four as fine specimens as you ever saw."
"Good!" exclaimed Sam. "Well, what was the next thing?"
"The next thing was the best part of the whole business," answered Oscar. "It was a private conference with the committee, during which I was engaged for one year, with the understanding that if they were satisfied with my work, I was to keep right on until I had furnished the museum with specimens fromevery country on the globe. Just think of that!"
"Whew!" whistled Sam.
"In the first place, as I told you, I am to go out West. My instructions are to confinemyself entirely to large game, although I am at liberty to secure any rare bird or animal that may chance to come in my way. But I mustn't waste my time in hunting for them. What they want most is a specimen of theFelis concolor, and also——"
"Hallo!" exclaimed Sam.
"What's the matter with you?" asked Oscar.
"Nothing," replied his companion. "I forgot that you had been through college. Big words come easy to you since your association with those learned men, don't they? Well, good-night!"
The boys had by this time reached Oscar's gate. Bugle, hearing the sound of his master's voice, came over the fence without touching it, and was so demonstrative in his greeting that Oscar was obliged to seize him by the neck and hold him off.
Oscar wanted Sam to go in, but the latter declined. He knew that his friend would want to talk to his mother about his good fortune, and he wisely concluded that the presence of a third party might not be agreeable.He would see Oscar the next day, after school, he said, and listen to the rest of the narrative.
So Sam went home, and Oscar went into the house. He told his mother the same story he had told his companion, adding an item of information that astonished her not a little.
Let us now return to Leon and Frank, whom we left, at the close of the second chapter, hastening over the hills toward home, after spending the day in the woods.
They had by no means enjoyed themselves as well as they expected they should, and now, when it was too late, they would have given almost anything if they could have lived the day over again.
They would have gone to school. Like all guilty persons, they were afraid, and Leon did not attempt to conceal the fact, although Frank did.
They ran almost all the way to the village, and climbing the fence at the back of Mr. Parker's lot, they hurried across the field, taking care to keep the barn between themselves and the house.
The merry shouts that came to their earstold them that they had not a moment to lose—that school had just been dismissed.
They entered the barn through the back door, and after hiding their guns and equipments in the hay-mow, ran out again. They crept along on their hands and knees under cover of the currant bushes, crossed two or three lots, and finally reached the street in which the school-house was located. Then they breathed easier.
They slackened their pace and walked along like honest school-boys, believing that all danger of discovery was passed; but what was their astonishment and alarm when one of their schoolmates, who had seen them climb the fence, hurried up to them, exclaiming as soon as he came within speaking distance:
"Hallo, fellows! where have you been to-day?"
"We have been at home," replied Frank, who, having a larger stock of falsehoods at his command than his cousin, was always expected to speak for him. "We couldn't come to school to-day."
"That's very strange," replied the boy."Miles Jackson went to your house this morning to ask where you were, and returned with the report that you had started for school as usual."
Leon was almost ready to drop, and Frank, as soon as he had somewhat recovered from his amazement, asked angrily:
"What business had Miles Jackson to make inquiries about us, I'd like to know?"
"The professor sent him," replied the boy. "You see there was a new rule went into operation this morning. Mr. Chamberlain says he'll not be responsible for our advancement, unless we come to school regularly; and hereafter when any of the pupils are absent, he's going to send somebody to their homes to find out what's the matter."
The boy hurried on to overtake some fellows he saw in advance of him, leaving Frank and Leon standing on the sidewalk, and looking at each other in speechless amazement.
"It's all up with us," groaned Leon, as soon as he had recovered the use of his tongue. "We have danced, and now we must pay the fiddler."
"What a little snipe that Miles Jackson is!" exclaimed Frank, in great disgust. "Why couldn't he tell the professor that we were kept at home?"
"Oh, he isn't that sort!" replied Leon. "You needn't expect him to help you out of any scrape you get into."
"No; you can't expect such a favor from any fellow in this town," snapped Frank. "It takes city boys to do that. They stick to one another through thick and thin, and any spoony who tries to win the favor of the teacher by carrying tales is cut dead as soon as he is found out. There's another fellow who is mean enough for anything."
"Don't talk so loud," whispered Leon hastily. "You can get into trouble with him in a minute."
"I don't care," replied Frank, in a still louder tone. "I haven't seen a boy yet in this town that I am afraid of."
The subject of this conversation was Sam Hynes, who was striding along about twenty yards in front of them, in his usual free-and-easy manner, his hands in his pockets and hiscap on the back of his head. He must have been very much engrossed with his own thoughts, or else he would certainly have heard what Frank said.
Arriving at the gate that led into Mrs. Preston's yard, he jerked it open—Sam handled everything as if it were made of iron—and, to the intense amazement of Leon and his cousin, was greeted by Oscar's hound.
The moment the gate was opened, the huge animal raised himself on his hind legs and placed his forefeet upon Sam's shoulders.
"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Leon.
"I thought as much," replied his cousin. "There's that dog as gay and frisky as he was this morning, when he was following that trail. A pretty shot you made, didn't you?"
"I know I hit him somewhere," said Leon. "Let's have a look at him, and see if I didn't. It's strange how much everybody thinks of that hound. He's got more friends in town than I have."
The cousins saw Sam pat the animal on thehead, then gently push him off and bend over to examine his ear.
Just then Bugle happened to look around the gate-post and saw Frank and Leon approaching. With an angry growl, he dashed forward, throwing Sam flatter than he had ever been thrown by any boy of his age, and in a moment more something disagreeable and even tragic might have happened, had it not been for Sam's wonderful agility.
He did not know what was the matter, but he saw that the hound had made up his mind to bite somebody and he was resolved to prevent it if he could.
As Bugle passed him, Sam caught him by one of his hind legs, and, scrambling quickly to his feet, drew the dog toward him, until he could seize him by the back of the neck. But Frank thought the animal was coming, and uttered a scream that could have been heard two blocks away.
Then Oscar appeared on the scene, and after that came the colloquy we have already recorded, during which two facts were brought to light. One was that Oscar knew rightwhere to look to find the person who had shot his favorite, and the other, that there was at least one boy in Eaton of whom the boastful Frank was afraid.
When Leon and his cousin resumed their walk toward home, their faces were very pale; but they soon recovered from their fright, and then, as a natural consequence, they began to get angry.
They had got themselves deeply in trouble that day; but, instead of being sorry for it, and making an honest resolve that they would do better in future, they became enraged at their luck, which had not served them a better turn.
Having no one else upon whom to vent their spite, they began abusing each other.
"If it hadn't been for Sam Hynes, that dog would have made bad work with us!" exclaimed Frank. "You came very near getting us into a pretty scrape by your miserable marksmanship. I wouldn't brag any more about my skill with a shot-gun, if I were in your place."
"That's a nice way for you to talk, isn'tit?" retorted Leon. "Do I brag any more than you do? You said there wasn't a boy in town you were afraid of, and yet, when you saw that Sam Hynes was going to open that gate, you were in such a hurry to take back your words that you couldn't talk plainly."
The cousins, being in a very bad humor, continued to exchange such compliments as these until they arrived in sight of Mr. Parker's house.
Then they became silent, for they had other matters to think of.
What was going to happen when they got on the inside of that house?
They would have been glad if they could have found an excuse for postponing their entrance indefinitely; but, knowing that they must face the consequences of their folly sooner or later, they opened the gate without hesitation, mounted the steps, and entered the sitting room.
To the no small astonishment of both boys, the first person upon whom their eyes rested was Mr. Fuller—Frank's father.
He had come down from Boston to see howhis son was getting on, and hoping to hear a good report of him. He also had some news to communicate that, twenty-four hours before, would have made the boys dance with delight.
He had decided to start for California, on a business tour, in about three weeks; he was going to take Frank with him, and he had asked Mr. Parker to allow Leon to accompany them.
The subject was broached that morning when Mr. Fuller first arrived, and Frank and Leon's prospects for making an extended pleasure-trip looked very bright indeed; but, during the discussion, Miles Jackson—acting under instructions from Mr. Chamberlain—suddenly made his appearance, and wanted to know why the boys were not at school.
The runaway business dashed all their prospects to the ground—and that was only the beginning of their trouble.
Another occupant of the room—whom the boys did not expect to see—was Mr. Parker, who was generally at his office this hour of the day.
As the truants came in, he arose and moved toward the library, beckoning to Leon to follow him.
He closed the door behind him, Mrs. Parker left the room, and Frank found himself alone with his father.
"Well, young man," said Mr. Fuller, "where have you been to-day?"
The boy did not know what to say. He was in a scrape that he could not lie out of.
"Where have you been to-day?" repeated Mr. Fuller sternly.
The look and the tone in which these words were uttered loosened Frank's tongue very quickly.
"I have been in the woods, sir," said he.
"Been in the woods!" repeated his father. "Ran away from school! Sneaked out of the house like a thief! Is this what I sent you to Eaton for?"
"No, sir; but I don't like this school, and I don't want to stay here. I want to go home."
"You'll not go home. You will stay righthere, and go to school every day; and if I ever hear of your playing truant again, there will be a settlement between us that you will remember. Now, young man, I will tell you, for your satisfaction, that you have destroyed all your chances of going to California with me. Don't expect any privileges until you have learned to behave yourself."
Mr. Fuller settled back on the sofa and turned his attention to the paper he held in his hand, while Frank, after sitting uneasily on the edge of his chair for a few minutes, and twirling his cap on his finger, arose and left the room.
Presently the door of the library opened, and Leon came out, with red and swollen eyes, and started for the barn.
When he returned, he brought with him his cousin's rifle and his own double-barrel, which had been hidden in the haymow.
The double-barrel and its equipments he carried into the library, and saw them placed in one of the long drawers of the bookcase and locked up. The rifle he carried to his own room, where he found his cousin pacingback and forth, flourishing his fists in the air and talking to himself.
He was in a state of almost ungovernable fury. When Leon came in, he stopped and looked at him.
"What did your father say to you?" he asked, "and where is your gun?"
"My gun is under lock and key, and I can't have it again this winter," whined Leon. "Father says that if I am going to be a vagabond, and spend my time in the woods, I shall not have a gun to help me enjoy myself. You got us both into a nice mess this morning, didn't you?"
"Now don't go back on me in that fashion," exclaimed Frank. "We are in a bad fix, and we must stick together in order to get out of it."
These words seemed to make an impression upon Leon. The angry scowl faded from his face, and the next words he addressed to his cousin were spoken in a more friendly tone.
"What did Uncle William say to you?" he inquired.
"He said only one thing I can remember,"replied Frank; "and that is, that I have lost all my chances of going out West."
"That's just what my father said to me," returned Leon. "It seems that Uncle William came here on purpose to make arrangements for taking us with him on his trip to California; but by this day's work we have knocked everything on the head."
"We'll see about that," said Frank, in a savage tone.
"I wish you had been in Guinea, before you proposed running away from school this morning," continued Leon, growing angry again, and slamming his cousin's rifle down upon the bed.
"You were ready enough to join in with me," retorted Frank. "But go back on me if you feel like it. I can take care of myself. I am going to straighten things out in a hurry."
"What do you intend to do?"
"I intend to clear out, and I shall not be long about it, either. Father says I must stay here and go to school every day; but I'll show him whether I will or not. I wouldn't beafraid to bet him the twenty dollars I've got in my trunk that I'll see that western country before he does."
Leon sat down on the bed and looked at his cousin without speaking.
"Your father couldn't have come here at a worse time, could he?" said Leon, at length.
He was disappointed rather than angry. His uncle had formed some very elaborate plans for his enjoyment, and also Frank's, and they had knocked them all on the head by running away from school.
It was Mr. Fuller's intention to cross the plains on horseback (the Pacific Railroad was not in existence at the time these incidents happened) and return by steamer.
The boys would have been delighted by a trip like this, and they might have gone had it not been for their one act of folly. Frank showed a disposition to smash things when he thought about it, but Leon felt more like crying.
"His coming here made no difference. Hewould have found out all about it, sooner or later, for your father would have written him full particulars. But I don't care!" said Frank, who continued to stride up and down the room, shaking his fists in the air. "I am going to clear out, and if you have any pluck at all, you will do the same."
Leon placed his elbows on his knees, fastened his eyes upon the floor, and made no immediate reply.
He had talked very glibly about leaving his comfortable home and going out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian-fighter, but in dreaming about it he had always skipped the preliminaries.
How he was going to leave home and make his way to that pleasant valley in the mountains in which he intended to build his cabin, he did not know, nor did he care to trouble himself about it.
Some boys, as we know, make great calculations, and have much to say about the fame they expect to win, when they are established in some business or profession and have plenty of money at their disposal, but they make nonote of the long hours that must be spent in study and hard work before they can attain to the desired eminence.
So with Leon. He sometimes spent half the night going through imaginary fights with grizzly bears, Indians, and outlaws, and picturing to himself the delight that would be his when he was fairly settled in his mountain-home; but he did not like to dwell upon the thought that, before all this could be accomplished, he must sneak away from his father's house like a thief in the night, and make a long journey by rail and steam-boat before he would be anywhere within reach of his hunting-grounds.
But now these matters were brought squarely home to him, and it was high time he was bestowing some thought upon them.
"You don't seem to be very enthusiastic," said Frank, suddenly pausing in his walk and looking sharply at his cousin. "No longer ago than this morning you talked as though you were crazy to get away from home and become your own master!"
"I wish I could see that western countrybefore I go there to live," said Leon. "I don't know anything about it."
"Well, how are you going to find out anything about it until you go there?" asked Frank. "And how are you going to get there unless you pack up and start off on your own hook? My father will not take you, or me either. How much money have you got in the bank?"
"Six hundred dollars," replied Leon.
"Whew!" whistled Frank, opening his eyes in great amazement. "That will take us to Independence with flying colors. After we get there we'll buy a couple of saddle-horses and a pack-mule, and then we'll be all right; we'll not ask favors of anybody."
"But how will we know which way to go?" asked Leon.
"Oh, we'll look for a wagon-train; that's the way the most of the emigrants do. If we can't find one, we'll start off by ourselves. We can't get lost, for the trails are as plain as the road in front of the house."
"But the Indians might find us," suggested Leon.
"What's the matter with you, anyhow?" demanded Frank sharply. "If you don't want to go, say so at once, and I'll start off by myself. The Indians won't bother us until we get where they are, will they? There are none along these trails of which I speak. Why, as early as 1856, travelling there was perfectly safe. Have you never heard of the two thousand Mormons who walked and pushed hand-carts all the way from Iowa City to Salt Lake? They were often attacked by wolves—we shouldn't mind the wolves, you know; a few fights with them would relieve the monotony of our journey—but the history of that expedition doesn't say that they ever saw an Indian."
When Leon heard this, he straightened up and began to take some interest in what his cousin was saying; but it is probable that his interest would have died away again very speedily if he had been told something of the history of those hand-cart expeditions.
It is thirteen hundred miles from Iowa City to Salt Lake Valley, and it requires fifteenweeks of constant travelling to accomplish the distance.
Of the first division of five hundred Mormons, who left Iowa City in July to trundle their hand-carts to Salt Lake, one hundred and twenty perished miserably before reaching their destination.
Their cattle starved or died from overwork, their provisions gave out, winter overtook them while they were still five hundred miles from the valley, and it was no uncommon thing for them to wake up in the morning and find from three to fifteen of their number cold in death.
Of the second company of six hundred, which left the Missouri in August, only four hundred and fifty reached the valley; and out of the whole number—two thousand—three hundred were starved, frozen, or devoured by wolves, and two hundred were maimed for life.
Frank knew all this, for he had read a full account of it; but it did not daunt him, for he believed that in some mysterious way he would be able to escape the perils that fell to the lot of other travellers on the plains.
"I'll not say a word to Leon about the dangers they encountered," soliloquized Frank, "for if I do, it will take all the pluck out of him. He hasn't even courage enough to run away from a tyrant of a father—I can see that plainly enough; but as I am determined to go myself, and he has money, while I have none to speak of, I must get him interested in the matter. Now, how am I going to do it? That's the question."
Frank, relapsing into silence, placed his hands behind his back and resumed his walk up and down the room, turning the question over in his mind. If he had only known it, there was no need that he should trouble himself about the matter, for that very night an incident happened that turned the scale in his favor.
While he was wondering what he could say that would induce his cousin to fall in with his wild scheme, the supper-bell rang.
The truants would have been glad of an excuse for disregarding the summons, but knowing that if they did not answer it immediately, somebody would come upstairs tosee about it, they made a hasty toilet and descended to the dining room.
To their great relief, nothing was said or done to indicate that anything had gone wrong that day. Their fathers had had a settlement with them, and that was the end of the matter.
They were treated with as much consideration as they usually were, but Frank grew angry again when his father talked about the mines in which he was interested, and described the wonders which he expected to see during his absence.
Frank finished his supper as soon as he could, and then gave his cousin a wink, which the latter understood.
As they asked to be excused, and arose from the table, Mr. Parker turned from his brother-in-law, with whom he was conversing, and said to his son:
"Leon, don't go away to-night."
"No, sir," replied the boy. "Do you know what that means?" he added angrily, when he and his cousin were safe in their room again. "It means that my liberty isstopped—that I can't even go outside of the gate any more until father says the word."
"Well, you're a fool if you stand it," replied Frank. "Make up your mind to go with me, and then you can do as you please."
"My mind is made up!" exclaimed Leon, with a sudden burst of fury. "If my gun wasn't locked up, I'd start to-night; and if I once get away, I'll never set my foot in Eaton again."
"That gun is just what troubles me," replied Frank. "We can't get it until my father goes away, because he or some of the family are always in the sitting room. Does one key unlock every drawer in that bookcase?"
Leon replied that it did.
"Then we needn't worry. I have often seen the key left in the doors of the bookcase, and when we get ready to start, we'll have that gun out of there. All we've got to do is to watch our chance and slip into the library some night when the sitting room is empty. Where is your bank-book?"
"In mother's bureau."
"Have you got pluck enough to steal it out of there?"
"Yes, I have," answered Leon, with more spirit than his cousin had ever seen him exhibit before.
"Well, after you get it, will you go to the bank and draw your money?"
"Yes, I will. I'm not going to be deprived of all privileges and shut up as if I were a felon."
"That's the way to talk," said Frank, giving his cousin an approving slap on the back. "I was mistaken in you. You have some courage, after all."
Frank was satisfied now. If he could only keep his cousin in an angry mood, he was sure of money enough to defray his expenses to the plains. It was not so very difficult to do this, for events seemed to conspire to assist them.
The discussion thus commenced was kept up until midnight, and Leon gladdened the heart of his cousin by repeatedly declaring that he had determined upon his course, and that nothing could induce him to change his mind.
They did not go out of their room again that night. They sat at the window and talked about the glorious times they expected to have when they reached the plains, and when Mr. Parker and Mr. Fuller went out of the gate and started for the village, Frank took occasion to comment upon it.
"They are free to go and come as they please," said he, with no little show of temper, "and here we are shut up like a couple of thieves."
"You are not shut up," said Leon. "Your father didn't tell you to stay in."
"Do you suppose that I am going to enjoy myself unless you can go, too?" asked Frank, who seemed to have grown very disinterested all of a sudden. "No, sir! We got into this trouble together, and we'll stick to each other until we are safely out of it."
"I've just thought of something," said Leon suddenly. "How are we going to get an excuse to-morrow? You can't write one, for the professor has found out through that little snipe, Miles Jackson, that we ran away."
"We'll not say a word about it," replied his cousin. "If your father feels like giving us an excuse, all right; if he doesn't we'll go without one."
Frank spoke as though he had no interest in the matter, but it troubled him not a little.
It troubled Leon, too, and it was not settled until the next morning, when Mr. Parker said to Leon, as the latter arose from the breakfast table:
"I think it would be a good plan for you to look over the lessons you missed yesterday. I will call at ten minutes of nine, and walk down to the school-house with you."
"Yes, no doubt I'll look over those lessons!" said Leon, when he and his cousin had closed the door of the room behind them. "I'll see all the school-books in the country in Guinea before I will touch one until I am obliged to do so!"
But Leon was handling his school-books even while he spoke. He and Frank had each two sets—one at school and another which they kept at home, and which they were supposed to study occasionally of evenings.
The first thing the two boys did was to scatter their books all over the table, so that if Mr. Parker should happen to come into the room, he would be led to believe that they had been studying; and then they sat down and talked about the subject that was uppermost in their minds.
At the appointed time, Mr. Parker came to the foot of the stairs and called to them to come down.
He walked with them to the school-house, and, leaving them in the yard, entered the building and sought an interview with Mr. Chamberlain.
What passed between the two gentlemen the truants never knew. There was nothing said to them about running away from school, and they very soon became satisfied that their previous day's work would bring them into no trouble with their teacher. But they got into trouble with somebody else before four o'clock came.
It happened on the ball-ground during the afternoon recess.
Leon was having a good deal to say regarding Oscar Preston's dishonesty and Mr. Smith's refusal to give him a letter of recommendation, and Frank was helping him by putting in a word occasionally, when Sam Hynes and his base-ball bat suddenly appeared on the scene.
Leon's speech was brought to a sudden close, for he was doubled up like a jack-knife by a punch in the ribs from the bat, and Frank escaped similar treatment by taking to his heels.
The consequence was that the names of Sam Hynes and Leon Parker appeared among those of other delinquents who were requestedto keep their seats when the rest of the students were dismissed.
At the end of half an hour a settlement had been had with all the law-breakers except Sam and Leon.
The principal looked at them a moment, and said solemnly:
"Boys, I am sorry to hear that you have been fighting."
"Mr. Chamberlain," said Sam, "I did all the fighting that was done. Leon never lifted a hand."
The professor looked down at the paper-cutter he held in his hand, and finally said:
"Parker, you may go."
"Good for me!" said Leon to himself, as he hurried down the stairs. "I am well out of that scrape. I hope you'll get a good licking, Mr. Sam Hynes; that's all the harm I wish you."
If Leon had been standing in front of the school-house about ten minutes later, he would have been disappointed, and perhaps greatly disgusted.
A step sounded in the hall, and Sam Hynescame bounding out as if he were set on springs.
When he reached the steps, he thrust his hands into his pockets, struck up a lively whistle, and walked off with an air which seemed to say that he was well satisfied with the world and everybody in it, himself included.
It was evident from his actions that he had not been very severely reprimanded for the part he had taken in the affair on the ball-ground; but Leon could not say as much for himself half an hour after he arrived at his father's house.
Frank had been loitering along the road, waiting for Leon, and when the two reached home, they found all the family there as before.
Leon was at once invited into the library, while Frank, who did not care to stay where his father was, went up to his room. He wondered what was wrong now, and when his cousin came up he found out.
Leon's face was very pale, his eyes were red and swollen, and Frank had never seen him so angry before.
"Father knows all about that fuss we had at school to-day," said he, as soon as he entered the room. "He heard some of the students talking about it at the post office. It beats me how many fellows there are in the world who can't be easy until they tell all they know."
"Well, what of it?" inquired Frank shortly.
"What of it!" repeated Leon. "Father gave me the worst going-over I ever had in my life. He praised Oscar up to the skies, and told me, in so many words, that I would do well to take him for a model."
"The idea!" exclaimed Frank. "A market-shooter! He is a pretty model for any decent boy!"
"It has always been so," said Leon bitterly. "Father sees something good in everybody except me; and if I am so awful bad, he won't feel sorry when I get out of his sight."
After this, Leon seemed to throw all his fears and scruples to the winds. He had got it into his head that he was a badly abused boy, that he would be in trouble as long as heremained in Eaton, and he was impatient to get out into the world where he could do as he pleased without any fear of being taken to task for his misdeeds.
Mr. Fuller remained in Eaton for nearly two weeks, and Frank, who did not think it safe to attempt to carry out his plans until his father was well on his way toward home, fumed and fretted all the day.
During that time the two discontented boys went to school regularly—it was dangerous to play truant now that that new rule had gone into operation—and if they learned nothing else, theydidlearn these four things:
That Oscar Preston's reputation had been cleared; that Mr. Smith had apologized and offered to make all the amends in his power; that Oscar and Sam Hynes had made heroes of themselves by saving a man from drowning; and that the man was rich, and was going to do something for Oscar.
They were not, however, acquainted with the fact that the rescued man had already done something for the young taxidermist, in that he had offered him a hundred dollars amonth and expenses to procure specimens for the university museum.
In fact, there were very few people in the village who knew that, for Oscar had spoken of it only to those whom he was sure he could trust with the secret.
There was an interview yet to come with the members of the committee, and Oscar thought it would be time enough to speak of the professor's offer after the result of that interview was known.
Tuesday morning came at last, and Mr. Fuller, after taking leave of his son and giving him some good advice—to which, it is hardly necessary to say, Frank paid no sort of attention—stepped into Mr. Parker's carriage and was driven to the depot.
Frank stood on the porch with his aunt and cousin, watching the carriage as long as it remained in sight.
He had assumed a very sober face for the occasion, and seemed to be much dejected. When the carriage disappeared, he went slowly up the stairs to his room, and Leon followed him.
The moment the latter closed the door, Frank's countenance changed as if by magic.
"Now, then," said he briskly, "the time for action has come. Go down and steal that bank-book, and be quick about it, for it is almost school-time."
"I am almost afraid to do it," answered Leon. "Mother may have occasion to go to that bureau drawer some time during the day, and what would become of us if she should miss the book and make inquiries about it? The risk is too great. Whenever I steal that book, we must draw the money and get out of town without an hour's delay."
"Now, how in the world are we going to do that?" questioned Frank impatiently. "We can't walk out of town with our guns and carpet-bags in broad daylight. You must get that book now, take it to school with you, and run down to the bank at noon and draw the money. When we come home, we'll think up some way to get your gun, and as soon as it grows dark, we'll slip out and start for Franklin, where we will board the first western-bound train. If we get on the cars at thisstation, we will run the risk of being seen by a dozen people who will recognize us. We can't help taking some chances, and if you are afraid to do it, you can stay here and welcome. I am off to-night."
Frank talked rapidly, for time was precious. When he ceased speaking Leon opened the door with an air of dogged resolution, and went downstairs.
Frank was by no means so much at his ease as he appeared to be. He knew as well as Leon did that they were playing an extremely hazardous game, and the fear that their plans might be defeated made him so nervous that he could not keep still to save his life.
He paced restlessly up and down the room, awaiting his cousin's return with no little impatience.
Leon was gone a long time—so long that Frank began to be alarmed. He was on the point of going in search of him, when he heard his step on the stairs.
A moment thereafter the door opened and Leon came in. His face was as white as a sheet, and his hands trembled as though he had been seized with an attack of the ague.
"Well?" said Frank.
"I've got it," replied Leon, in a scarcely audible whisper, "and I came near being caught in the act, too. I had to wait until mother went into the kitchen; then I slipped into the bedroom, and had just taken the book out of the drawer when I heard her coming back. I tell you, I thought I should drop when she asked me what I was doing in there, and what made my face so pale. Whew!" added Leon, drawing his hand across his forehead. "It was a close call. I don't know how I shall manage to get that gun."
"Don't worry over it," answered Frank, who knew that everything depended upon keeping up his cousin's courage. "We can think about it when the time comes to secure the gun. If I see a chance, I'll get it for you myself."
The two boys were now anxious to leave the house with the least possible delay. They seemed to think that as long as they remained there they were in danger of being found out.
They hurried off to school as soon as they could find their caps, and during the wholeof that forenoon lived in a state of excitement and fear that can hardly be described.
Leon's bank-book felt as heavy as lead in his pocket. Of course he felt guilty, and it seemed to him that the students sitting in his immediate vicinity stared at him a good deal, and with an expression on their faces which seemed to say that they knew all about it.
More than once Leon was on the point of backing squarely out and writing a note on his slate to his cousin, telling him he would not go; but every time he resolved upon this a neat little cabin in the mountains, with its luxurious beds of buffalo robes, joints of venison and bear-meat hanging from the rafters, and a couple of fleet Indian ponies feeding in the glade close by, would rise before his mental vision, and Leon would tell himself that it was worth while to run some risk, if, by so doing, he could live in that way.
Then there was his unhappy home—Leon did not consider that it was made so by his own acts; the gloomy school-room; the law against going outside the gate; the prohibition that had been laid upon his hunting forthe rest of the season—all these things came into his mind, and Leon would shut his teeth hard and resolve again that he would carry out his plans, no matter what happened.
As the hour of twelve drew near, Leon became as nervous and frightened as he was when he stole the bank-book in the morning. The money must be drawn from the bank, and it must be drawn, too, before one o'clock, or not at all that day.
It would be dangerous to postpone this important matter, for his parents might discover that the book was gone from the drawer, and that would lead to an investigation. The sooner their plans were carried into execution, and they were safe out of town, the better it would be for them.
When school was dismissed, the two boys hurried down the street, keeping a good lookout on every side for Leon's father. The lawyer's office was over the bank, and they did not want to go in there after the money until they had satisfied themselves that he had gone home to his dinner.
Mr. Parker had a good deal of business todo with the bank, and what if he should happen to drop in just as the cashier was handing out Leon's six hundred dollars! The bare thought was enough to frighten them, and they were very cautious in their movements.
They did not see Mr. Parker's carriage when they reached Main Street, but they thought it best to reconnoitre before entering the bank, so they kept on down the street, and when they passed the stairs leading to Mr. Parker's office, they glanced into the hall and saw him standing there, conversing with a couple of gentlemen.
"That knocks us," whispered Leon. "We must give it up for to-day."
"No, sir!" answered Frank emphatically. "You'll never make your way in the world if you are going to give up as easy as that. Let's go where we can keep an eye on him. He'll go to his dinner pretty soon."
As Frank spoke, he led the way across the street, and into Smith & Anderson's store. One of the clerks came up to serve them, but Frank said they didn't want anything.
"Of course, your father saw us come in here," said he in a whisper to Leon, "and if he follows us to see what we are about we'll buy some crackers and cheese for a lunch."
But Mr. Parker did not follow them. The boys had scarcely taken up their positions in front of the window, when he came out of the hall and went into the bank.
If Leon and his cousin had not exercised so much caution, he would certainly have caught them there.
At the end of ten minutes, he came out, and walked briskly across the park toward home.
As soon as he had disappeared, the boys opened the door and went out. They hurried across to the bank, and Leon, with a trembling hand, placed his book upon the glass shelf in front of the cashier's desk.
"How much do you want to-day, Leon?" asked that officer.
"I want all of it, sir," was the reply.
"Allof it!" repeated the cashier.
The words were uttered in a tone of surprise, and Leon almost expected that the man would tell him he could not pay out so large a sumof money until he knew what it was to be used for; but he did nothing of the kind.
He knew that the boy had been allowed by his indulgent father to manage his bank account to suit himself, and he had no comments to make.
He consulted a huge ledger that lay on one of the desks, made some figures with a pencil in Leon's book, and then he came back and began counting out the money.
While he was thus engaged, the boys paced back and forth in front of the desk, and cast frequent and anxious glances toward the door, fearing that somebody might come in.
But luck was on their side, and their fears were not realized.
The cashier was a long time in counting out the money, but finally he completed his task, and handed out to Leon a pile of bills that made him and Frank open their eyes in the greatest amazement. It was so large that when Leon rolled it up he could hardly get it into his pocket.
"My gracious!" he exclaimed, as he and Frank hurried out, and bent their steps towardthe school-house; "I had no idea that I owned so much cash."
"Six hundred dollars is a nice little amount of money," answered Frank, "and you must have a tidy sum there for interest. I tell you, Leon, that will set us up in good shape. It will buy us a splendid outfit, and keep us in provisions until we can capture furs enough to get more. We have taken two dangerous steps, and there are only two left."
"What are they?" asked Leon.
"Stealing your gun out of that bookcase is one, and leaving the house with our baggage is the other. If we can take those two steps without being caught, we can breathe easy, for we shall have nothing but plain sailing before us."
It turned out that Frank was anything but a good prophet. Circumstances rendered it comparatively easy for them to secure the gun and leave the house, but they did not afterward have plain sailing.
It was but a short time after that that the trouble began.
During the afternoon Leon was so nervous and uneasy that he could scarcely keep his seat.
There were two ways now in which he could be detected. His mother might go to the bureau-drawer and find that the bank-book was missing, or the cashier might casually ask Mr. Parker, if the latter had occasion to enter the bank, if his son had an idea of going into business.
A question like that would, of course, excite the lawyer's curiosity, and might lead to inquiries on his part that would bring the whole plot to light.
It was only by neglecting his books entirely, and dwelling upon the joys of a hunter's life, that Leon could keep up his courage.
He failed completely in every one of his recitations, and his teacher, losing all patienceat last, informed him that if those lessons were not fully mastered by the next time he came into the class-room, he would have the privilege of studying them after school.
"Not much I won't study those lessons after school!" said Leon to himself, as he returned to his seat. "I have been kept as a delinquent for the last time. I hope that after to-day I shall never see a school-book."
When the cousins started for home that night, the fears that had haunted them all the day long increased tenfold.
Leon did not want to face his father and mother after what he had done, and he took good care to keep out of their way until supper-time.
It was a wonder that Mr. and Mrs. Parker did not suspect the boys of some wrong-doing, for their agitation, when they came downstairs in response to the call of the bell, was almost too palpable to escape notice.
They arose from the table after making a very light supper, and started for their room.
That was the last time Leon expected to see his father and mother that night, and perhapsforever; and he was already telling himself that all danger of discovery was past, when his father suddenly called to him.
The boy's heart almost came up into his mouth as he turned about and went back into the dining room.
"Why, Leon!" exclaimed Mr. Parker, now for the first time noticing the boy's pale face and trembling hands, "what is the matter with you? Are you ill?"
"No, sir," stammered Leon; "I am not sick, but I haven't felt like myself to-day. And that is the honest truth," he added mentally. "I have been so upset by excitement and suspense that I have scarcely realized what was going on around me. I couldn't stand another day like this."
"I am sorry to hear it," said Mr. Parker. "I wish you had spoken of it this morning. I don't want you to go to school if you don't feel well, for of course you can't study. Would you like to go to the concert with us to-night?"
"No, I thank you, sir," replied Leon. "I would rather stay at home."
"Well, ask Frank if he wants to go. I have tickets and seats for all of us."
Leon went out again, but instead of going toward the hall, he turned into the sitting room. The door of the library was open, and Leon paused in front of it just long enough to take one look at the bookcase. Then he went up to his room, where he found Frank pacing back and forth in a state of great excitement. He was afraid that everything had been discovered, but one glance at his cousin's face reassured him.
"What did your father say to you?" he inquired, as soon as Leon had closed the door.
"He asked me if I was sick. My gracious! my face is white, isn't it?" said Leon, as he glanced into the mirror; "and wanted to know if I felt like going to the concert to-night. I replied that I would rather stay at home, and he told me to ask if you would like to go."
"Good!" exclaimed Frank, bringing his hands together with aloud slap. "As soon as they start,we'llstart!"
"I looked into the library before I cameup," continued Leon, "and I saw that the key of the bookcase is in one of the doors."
"Isn't that lucky?" cried Frank, who was almost ready to dance with delight. "Everything seems to be working in our favor. Now, in order to save time, we had better pack our valises."
The manner in which the two boys went at this work showed that they were in earnest about it, and that neither of them had the least idea of backing out.
They had already selected the clothing they intended to take with them, and in half an hour after that the valises were packed and placed in the closet out of sight.
This done, the boys sat down to talk about the glorious life upon which they were so soon to enter, and to wait until the time came to leave the house, which would be when Leon's father and mother had started for the concert.
Darkness came on apace, and presently the boys heard Mr. Parker calling from the foot of the stairs, whereupon Leon went out into the hall and looked over the balusters.
"Does Frank want to go with us?" asked the lawyer.
"No, sir," shouted Frank, from his seat in the window. "I'll stay with Leon."
"Very well. Now, Leon, don't go away to-night."
The boy made no reply.
"Do you understand me?" asked his father.
"Yes, sir," said Leon.
Mr. Parker, being satisfied with the answer, followed his wife out of the front door, and the boys stood at the window and saw them go out of the gate and turn down the street.
When they were out of sight, Leon sprang into the middle of the room and made an awkward attempt to dance a hornpipe.
"I didn't promise him that I wouldn't go away to-night, did I?" said he gleefully. "I simply told him that I understood his order. If he thinks that a boy of my age is going to be confined in a gloomy school-room all day, and then shut up in the yard at night, as if he were an unruly dog, he will find he has madea big mistake. Now, I'll go down and get my gun the first thing I do."
"Don't be in a hurry," said the cautious Frank. "Something might happen to bring your father back here, and if he should chance to go to that drawer, our cake would be all dough. Don't touch the gun until we are ready to start. It would never do for us to be caught now, after we have carried out all our plans so nicely."
"Shall we leave a note, telling them why we ran away?" asked Leon.
"No, sir. If they are anxious to know, all they have to do is to think of the manner in which they have treated us. I wish it would hurry up and grow dark."
The impatient boys spent another half-hour in walking up and down their room, and then Leon declared he would wait no longer.
At his suggestion, Frank went out to the gate to reconnoitre, and when he had satisfied himself that the coast was clear, and that there was no danger of interruption, he announced the fact by a shrill whistle and walked slowly toward the house. When heentered the hall, Leon was ascending the stairs, with his recovered gun in his hands.
"I feel as though I had found a long-lost friend," said he, as he flourished the weapon over his head. "There'll be some astonished people in this house to-morrow."
The boys went back to their room, and when Leon's gun had been placed in its case, and the powder-flask and shot-pouch belonging to it had been packed away in one of the valises, they picked up their baggage, took their weapons under their arms, and went down the stairs.
They paused a moment on the threshold of the front door to make sure that there was no one passing along the street, and then, without a single feeling of regret, they turned their backs upon their home and upon the friends they never expected or even wished to see again, and hurried away.
The little town of Franklin, toward which they bent their steps, was situated on the railroad, seven miles west of Eaton. It was there that they intended to purchase tickets and board the cars. By this piece of strategythey hoped to avoid meeting anybody who might recognize them.
The platform of the depot in Eaton was always crowded at "train time," and if they had been seen loitering about there with their guns and valises in their hands, they might have been asked some questions that they did not care to answer.