Chapter XXVII: A Never-To-Be-Forgotten Campfire

When finally the boat arrived at the island landing, and the passengers came ashore, they were greeted with three rousing cheers by the score of lads. Mr. Holwell, Mr. Bartlett and the athletic director added their voices to the chorus, and then shook hands with the guests, who were soon made to feel at home.

A brush shanty had been erected during the day by some of the busy workers. This was to be used to house the “overflow.” It was intended that one of the tents should be handed over to Mr. Capes. The deacon would occupy a part of it, while the chauffeur could be taken care of elsewhere.

There was a great feast that night, the assistant cooks “doing themselves proud,” so they declared, in their desire to let these gentlemen see that boys know how to serve as accomplished _chefs_ when they are in camp.

“I don’t remember enjoying a meal so much as this in many a long day,” admitted Deacon Nocker, when he had to decline any further helping.

“That fresh bass was simply delicious,” observed Mr. Capes, smacking his lips, and then adding, when several started to try to fill up his pannikin again: “Not another mouthful, or I’ll be foundered. This takes me away back to the days when I too was a boy, and used to camp out. I quite envy you, Mr. Holwell, the opportunity to spend a week with these fellows.”

After the meal was finished what a glorious time they had sitting around the blazing campfire, and talking “a blue streak,” as Leslie called it. Scores of things had to be told, all connected with the trip, though it could easily be seen that the chief subject of all was the presence of the gorilla on the island.

To the surprise of the boys Mr. Nocker, as soon as he learned about the animal, declared that he could explain where it had come from, though probably no one would ever be able to find out how the gorilla managed to get to the island, almost a mile from the main shore.

“Last spring there was an accident to a circus that was showing over in Hastings,” he went on to say, “and some of the animals escaped. I remember that among them was an enormous gorilla, though I never learned whether the animal had been captured again or not. Apparently he never was, and has found his way up here, to frighten a lot of people, and rob their camps on the island.”

“Then that was what you meant, was it, Mr. Nocker,” asked Dick, “when you told us to beware of the mysterious thief while up here on your property?”

“Exactly,” replied the gentleman, grimly. “Though it never once occurred to me to connect the thievery with the disappearance of the gorilla. Some gentlemen I knew came up here when the fishing season opened, to enjoy casting the fly for the gamy black bass of Lake Russabaga. They camped on this island, and had a fine time. The only thing that annoyed them was the remarkable manner in which through some unknown agency various valuable articles vanished.”

“He seems to like things that have a shine to them,” remarked Mr. Holwell, humorously, “judging from the fact that he took not only my gold watch and Dan’s nickel one, but the aluminum frying-pan as well. We don’t believe he could have any particular need for that, unless to use it as a looking-glass.”

“Well,” Mr. Nocker continued, “according to my recollection those gentlemen from Creston lost a field-glass they valued highly, as well as a watch, and several other things, that they would surely pay a good reward to recover.”

“That makes me think of something,” Dick spoke up.

“Tell us what it is, then, please?” urged Leslie, quickly.

“The trail I started to follow at the time I glimpsed the gorilla standing so close by, was so well beaten that I felt sure it must lead to his den, somewhere in the thickest part of the jungle.”

“It stands to reason that would be the case,” admitted Mr. Nocker. “I suppose you are going to say, Dick, that if the pit trap works and the monster is caught, so there need be no further fear of him, you mean to follow up that trail and find his den?”

“Why, yes, sir, that was what I had in mind,” admitted the boy, modestly. “If he is like some monkeys I’ve read about, that had such a weakness for pretty and shiny things that they stole them, he’ll keep his trophies there, and we’ll be apt to get back everything that’s been taken.”

“Thank you for that comforting assurance, Dick,” said Mr. Holwell. “There’s a standing reward of ten dollars out for the safe return of my watch. I’d feel that I was getting off pretty cheap at that, for I cherish that keepsake considerably above its intrinsic value. Then Dan, here, is to be heard from also, for he’s in the same boat with me.”

“Ten cents reward, and no questions asked,” declared Dan, “for the safe return of my dollar watch! That’s ten per cent. you know. I only hope the rascal hasn’t gone and stowed it away in his cheek, as I saw a tricky monkey do when he’d hooked a man’s watch right from his pocket.”

Many times during the evening Dan might have been observed listening eagerly. He half fancied he had caught some significant sound which indicated that his expected guest had arrived at the trap, and taken the plunge.

On each occasion, however, he concluded he must have been mistaken. At any rate Dan did not see fit to ask any one to accompany him thither, lantern in hand, to investigate. Indeed, it is questionable if he could have found a single recruit had he proposed such a thing. The boys were not keen to wander far from the protection of that jolly campfire, knowing, as they did, what sort of terrible beast was making its home on Bass Island.

Both Mr. Nocker and Mr. Capes asked so many questions that it is doubtful whether anything escaped being told during those delightful hours spent around the crackling fire. The evening had turned out a bit chilly, too, which made the blaze all the more appreciated.

Then at the suggestion of Mr. Holwell, who knew how splendidly the Y. M. C. A. boys could sing, they gave a number of their school songs, and patriotic airs as well. Dick, learning that the minister had a special liking for “Onward Christian Soldiers,” coaxed Leslie to strike up with his clear tenor, and the rest came thundering along in the chorus, greatly to the delight of Mr. Holwell, in whose eyes dewdrops sparkled when they were through.

“I have heard that inspiring song on many notable occasions, boys,” he assured them, “but I give you my word for it, never sung as to-night. Here on this lonely island in the vast lake the sound seems to roll over the water with telling effect. I never before realized how wonderfully charming songs can sound on the water. It gives them a special value that could not be attained in any other way. I shall never, never forget this night, and the ones who have entertained us so well.”

Mr. Nocker was almost as enthusiastic in his praise.

“I want to say to you, young fellows,” he told them, with considerable emotion in his voice and manner, “that I am proud to be reckoned your friend in these days of reconstruction. I would not go back to the life I used to lead for all the money in the United States. Since little Billy came into my life it seems as though the scales have dropped from my eyes, and the whole world has taken on a new and glorious aspect. And I owe it mostly to Dick here. God bless him.”

“Hear! hear!” shouted some of the lads.

“The best chum going!” others roared.

“For he’s a jolly good fellow, which none can deny!” chanted Leslie and several of the rest in chorus. Nor did the camp director have the heart to restrain this boisterous demonstration.

Dick laughed, and turned red; but, of course, he would not have been human if he had not felt his heart beating faster than its wont with happiness, when he realized that these good friends thought so well of him, and that Mr. Nocker no longer deemed all boys “Sons of Belial,” as he used to affirm.

Much as they enjoyed that evening, the hour grew late, and some of the campers were found to be secretly yawning behind their palms. So Mr. Bartlett said it would be just as well for them to consider retiring, as they would want to be up early in the morning.

“Don’t forget we’ve got to have breakfast,” he remarked at the same time. “And all that heap of fine, hard blueberries must be placed in the containers our friends have taken the trouble to bring along with them. They wish to make a start before the sun gets too high, because it’s a long and rough ride to Cliffwood.”

Dan lingered around while the others were preparing to seek their blankets. He often cast an anxious look off toward the place where his trap had been set, and Dick found no trouble in guessing what his thoughts were.

“Try to forget all about it until you wake up in the morning, Dan,” he told the other. “I’ll want to go over with you, remember, to see if anything happened while we slept.”

“I’ll be mighty glad to have you along, Dick,” Dan replied. “I reckon I fixed everything just right, and if the creature comes snooping around and tries to hook the bait hung up out of his reach, he’s liable to take a sudden tumble, believe me! All right,” he went on, “I’ll turn in, as you say; so good night, Dick!”

Ten minutes afterwards the camp was wrapped in silence.