The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts: Under Canvas

ke any stock in Connie Mallon anyway. He's got a pretty bad name down around our way. My father says he'll land

did nuts, and mean to skin the trees ahead of us?" exclaime

for saying that, T

ce. "You remember that when I was talking to you over the telephone, Elmer, and telling you about wanting to get the boys to come up here wit

mething like that," ad

ee houses is Jackson's down the street. Phil Jackson is one of the cro

at man said about the immense crop of nuts up here at the Car

with an expression of pain, "and now it looks like we m

always what they seem. There's a string tied to nearly everything you think you're going to get

ed to be wide-awake enough to know how to overcome any kind of difficulties that happen along. As Sheridan sa

eader; "why, we haven't begun to get buthy yet. That Connie may think he'th tholen a march on our

trained the impatient Nancy; "but even if we get there to find that they're on the ground ahe

neaked this idea from Toby by listening over the wire they've got no business up here. I'd call it rank piracy, and treat the lot like I would buccane

said Elmer, chuckling; "and perhaps we'll fi

alone, and he'll sure bring home the bacon. But how much longer do we

e times as much as I was before we saw that bunch cutting in ahe

I want to keep an eye on the track of their wheels. If they turn

right now that I've got tho much confidence in Elmer and the whole of our crowd th

econd that motion!" Cha

y did not begin to whirl along with half the speed the other wagon had

rks of that other vehicle in the dust of the road. Thus they continued fo

he woods back there twenty feet or so

Elmer, that they turned o

g your eyes, as a scout should always do," came t

e at the place alr

was once used as a way through the forest to the rear of the Cartaret place, so I was told when I asked a man about it who used to work for the judge long a

inning every tree, and ready to put up a rattling fight before they'll let u

hang around, and watch th

with any objection; "but once they cover the ground with nuts, we'd find it a h

entitled to the land always? It's the rule of the world. They hooked the idea from me by unfair means, and ain't entitled to any consideration at ou

ance to do the tham

und to respect," Chatz added as his quota to the discussion; "after we've filled all our bags, if there happens to

nseled; "I thought I heard a shout or two ju

laughter and boyish shouts attested to the fact that a party of nut gatherers must be busily engaged in the grove; for with

muttered George

k it's going to save us. Elmer, the more I look at that grand little scheme of yours the better I like it. Go it, Connie, Phil and your mates; keep the ball arollin' right al

we'll like as not run across a good hide-out for the wagon. When we've go

g for. It offered concealment for the wagon and the mare

ked Elmer at this stage of the proceedings,

ct caused him to grin with satisfaction. He calmly secured the rather bulky packa

all that noise announced a busy lot of boys covering the

s? I never thought I'd ever have the nerve to come up here, and break in on the e

nd pointed toward the left. Of course Chatz eagerly followed the line of his extended finger; f

d, with a sighing breath, as though something

who did not like to have them lagging so; and a

and the undergrowth had year after year increased its hold until it would have been difficult to

d alongside the leader, still burdened with that package which the others believed mu

They could see a boy in a chestnut tree, and plainly hear the rattle of nuts from the opened burrs, when

your born days?" gasped George as they stood ther

nd busy bees, that crowd would take the cake for business. Look at that one climbing to the very top of the hickory tree to get the best nuts that always grow up high. There he starts in slashing, and it's like a regular bombardment on the ground.

o it we don't have t

ut it," suggested George, as he dropped down, and s

uite some time," admitted Elmer, cop

er people working for you?"

ite birch tree, and got the same in your hand. It's used for marking canoes, and picture frames as well. Some persons even write on the brown back of the bark,

I don't know what sort of hand writing ghosts would be apt to use; and then again, I don't

cornucopia. So had Elmer seen Indian guides fashion a horn when wishing t

egaphone now, the kind they use when there's a boat race on, or at college games. You're

o slip down the trees even now, thinking they've got enough nuts on the ground to keep them busy picking the same up, we'll watch until they've gather

boys were gathering the nuts, and stowing them a

n sent to fetch the horses and wagon up, in order to load the numerous bags that had been filled. So caut