CHAPTER XXVI.

"TENDERFOOT? WELL, HARDLY, AFTER THIS."

"Wow! bully for Bumpus!" cried out Giraffe.

"Hold 'em tight, old chum; we're here to see you through, all right!" shouted Step Hen.

Of course there was no use of trying to hide any longer. Thad and Allan knew this, and that the time had come for them to back Bumpus up, the minute they saw him open hostilities in that astonishing way.

All of them were on their feet, now, and hurrying toward the fire. Hank and Pierre, being desperate men, might have even thought it worth while to put up some sort of resistance; but they had their talons drawn when, upon investigating the condition of their guns, they found that, sure enough, these were empty.

While the two men lay there at their ease, never dreaming that the fat scout would have the nerve to do anything but whimper, and shiver at the sound of their harsh orders, Bumpus, laying out this wonderfully clever little surprise, had amused himself by working the mechanism of their guns, and extracting the last cartridge. And it was the heavy rumble of Hank's deep bass voice that had helped operations along, by deadening the "click" of the cautiously moved mechanical devises belonging to the repeating rifles.

"Drop those guns, you two, and be quick about it!"

Thad gave this order, because he knew that each of the men would be apt to have a belt of extra cartridges buckled about their waists, or slung over their shoulder. And to an experienced hunter, it is only a question of seconds, really, when he can shove a single charge into the firing chamber of his empty gun.

Of course Hank and Pierre hated most dreadfully to obey this order; but there was no use talking; the scouts had the upper hand, and if they knew what was good for them they must do as they were told.

In the first place there was Bumpus, excitedly covering first one and then the other; and how were they to make sure but that he might, even by accident, have a cramp in his finger, while looking along the double-barreled Marlin?

Then, as if that were not enough, four other guns were bearing upon them, as the new arrivals advanced in a line.

"It's too big odds, younkers, an' we gives in;" but Hank used a good many more words than this to express his disgust, only the rest were not at all necessary.

He threw his gun down angrily on the ground; Pierre was just as energetic, and both men fairly glared at their boyish captors.

"Step Hen, lay down your gun, and secure those of the enemy," ordered Thad.

With a wide grin decorating his freckled face, Step Hen proceeded to carry out the injunction of the patrol leader. And one could easily see that the boy took the keenest delight in thus having a hand in disarming the enemy.

"Now," continued Thad, "search Hank for a knife, and take it away. Get his cartridge belt too; and when you've done that, give Pierre a whirl. We'll just stand around, and be ready to plunk them chock full of lead if they try to resist."

But the men were utterly disheartened. They seemed to realize that they were up against a tough proposition. Everything was going wrong; and the philosophy of your timber cruiser under such conditions is to appear indifferent and reckless. Perhaps they try to act very much on the same principle as an Indian would, upon being put to the torture.

After fully disarming the men Thad saw to it that both of them were tied up. Hank growled fearfully, but the half-breed seemed to take the whole affair somewhat in the light of a good joke. This seemed all the more strange because nearly all half-breeds, Thad had been told, were surly by nature.

When this duty had been well performed, Thad joined the others about the fire. Bumpus had had his hand shaken again and again until his whole arm began to feel the result.

"The bulliest feller in the whole bunch, barring none!" Step Hen had declared.

"He's on the way to being made a first-class scout, that's right," Giraffe solemnly remarked, all his petty jealousy gone, now that he again had hold of Bumpus' fat hand, and found himself looking into the laughing eyes.

"All along he's acquitted himself splendidly," said Thad, warmly.

"And none of us ever dreamed you had it in you, Bumpus." Allan chimed in.

It was indeed a proud hour for Bumpus. Forgotten were all his trials and anxieties. He would easily have been willing to undertake the whole programme again could he be sure of such a joyous outcome--yes, even to being hectored, browbeaten, insulted, and kicked about like a dog, by Hank and Pierre.

Long they sat there, talking of the many things that must of course be exceedingly interesting when looked back upon as past performances. Bumpus was asked strings of questions until finally he threw up his hands, to announce that the well was pumped dry.

Then they set about making ready to pass the remainder of the night there. When another day came they could decide what to do with Hank and his companion, who were hardly the kind of men to set free, with arms on their person, and hatred in their hearts.

Of course Thad and Allan made up their minds that they must, between them, stand guard until morning came.

They dared not take any chances when dealing with such desperate men as were the two trapped timber cruisers. And when they saw that a vidette, armed with a ready gun, was to keep the fire going all the while, as well as watch them, doubtless the men decided not to try and escape, but take things as easy as possible.

There was no trouble.

Morning came, and found them up and doing; for Thad was most anxious to return to the camp near the foot of the rapids. After so many days he felt sure the three boys left at the camp would be dreadfully worried concerning the absent ones, and especially Bumpus; because, of course they still considered him as a poor, ignorant tenderfoot scout, blundering along after a fashion, and hardly knowing enough to come in out of the wet, when it rained.

Ah! yes, there were a number of tremendous surprises in store for Dave and Bob and Smithy, when the full story of Bumpus' achievements was told by the glowing camp-fire; and mostly at that by those who had followed his trail through the big timber, reading the signs as they appeared, and observing the remarkable progress the fat member of the Silver Fox Patrol made, once he started thinking for himself.

They had enough venison left for one good meal all around, including the two timber cruisers. Thad was worried about these men. He did not know what to do with them, truth to tell.

If he sent them away with weapons and ammunition; there was always a chance that sometime later the fellows might again run across them, and give trouble.

On the other hand, it seemed rather cruel to turn them loose in the wilderness, so far away from civilization, and without arms, by means of which they might obtain food, or defend themselves in case of trouble.

Upon putting it up to Hank and Pierre themselves, the men, quite downcast now, declared that they were done "cruising" in that section, and meant to get out of it just as fast as their legs could carry them.

"Let us off this time, younker," Hank pleaded. "We got our lesson rubbed in good an' hard, I reckons. I'm even willin' to have Fatty here kick me as many times as I did him; though I do say as how he paid it all up when he played that fine trick on us."

It was not surprising, therefore, that the gratified Bumpus, in the goodness of his heart, asked Thad to forgive the two men.

"I'll tell you what we'll do," Thad decided. "Leave their guns here, and take the men to the camp with us. Then, if we decide to turn them loose, they'll have to come half a day's journey back to get the guns."

And so it was decided to arrange matters.