The Outdoor Chums | Page 9

not above hoping these sons of Centerville rich people might
think it worth while to toss him a generous tip for any information he
gave them.
"We are heading for that old camp by the twin hemlocks, where that
spring bubbles up, winter and summer. One of us will be back here to
convoy old Toby in with the chuck wagon, and get Erastus over the

farmers' station, where he can catch a late train back. Just tell them to
wait here, if they come before I arrive, and here's some tobacco money
for your trouble, Jock."
The cook nimbly caught the flying coin, and grinned his thanks.
"Oh! I'll tell 'em all right, don't yer be 'fraid, Jerry. Say, they was a
party o' three as started in ter camp jest whar ye say, about a hull hour
ago. Boys from Centerville, too, but a tough-lookin' bunch. They tried
to do me for a breakfast, but I come out with a gun, and they shooed.
Reckon that Pet Peters was wun o' the gang."
"Whew!"
Jerry looked at the others in some dismay.
"What'll we do, fellows; that's Andy's right bower. He must have
started the three of them up here last night, meaning to have them squat
by the spring first, and keep us off. And I did want to camp just there
above all places! It's been on my mind all night," exclaimed Jerry,
disconsolately.
"An hour, you said, Jock?" asked Frank, always quick to decide knotty
points.
"I reckons about that; but them fellers was dog-tired, an' I don't think
they's agoin' ter git up to thet spring in a hurry," replied the cook, still
squeezing the half dollar, as if to "make it squeal," as Bluff remarked
later.
"Perhaps we can get there before they do. Suppose we make a try,
Jerry?"
For answer Jerry started his machine on a run, jumped aboard, and was
quickly dashing away at rather a reckless pace, considering the rough
"tote" road he had to follow.
The others were close at his heels, and altogether the rattling reports of

the four exhausts quite excited the lumber-camp cook, who stood there
in the doorway gaping, as long as the motor-cycles remained in sight.

CHAPTER IV
UNDER THE TWIN HEMLOCKS
"Say, ain't this going-some, for a rough road?" called Bluff, who was
pounding along close behind Jerry, Will bringing up the rear.
"Beats everything I ever did on wheels--wow! that was a scorcher of a
jolt! I hope none of the wheels break down!" answered the other, over
his shoulder; but he dared not take his eyes off the uneven "tote" road
which they were following, for more than a second at a time, lest some
unfriendly root hurl him into the ditch, a wreck.
"See anything of 'em, Frank?" wheezed Jerry a bit later, as he kept his
machine close behind the leader; for somehow in this race for the
campsite Frank just naturally forged to the front from mere force of
habit.
"Thought I had a peep of something moving ahead--soon know," came
the answer.
Some more jumping followed, and it required considerable agility on
the part of the four riders to keep their saddles.
Then they made a turn, and discovered three boys in full flight ahead.
"There they are!" cried Jerry, in excitement.
"How far ahead is the spring?" called Frank.
"About half a mile, I reckon."
"Good! Then the game is ours, barring accidents!"

The three fellows ahead kept turning around every dozen seconds, as if
worried at the rapid approach of the others.
"Keep your eyes peeled; they're hatching up some sort of mischief!"
called Frank, who knew the signs.
He saw that the others began to wobble in their movements, which was
plain evidence that they had tired themselves out by their night tramp,
and were in no condition to compete with the motorcycles, even on this
rough stretch of road.
The tall, athletic-looking leader of the trio suddenly jumped aside, and
stooped over as if snatching something from the ground.
"'Ware, hawks!" shouted Bluff, who had noted this maneuver.
It could now be easily seen that Pet Peters had fastened upon quite a
cumbersome branch of a fallen tree, and his purpose was manifest
when he stepped out as if to drop it across the road, meaning to wreck
the machines as they swept on.
Frank changed his course just a trifle, but was now heading straight for
the unprincipled schemer, who would have taken the chances of
seriously injuring some of the party in order to further his own plans.
The sight of that heavy motor-cycle heading straight at him rather
demoralized Pet, who did not know but that Frank meant to chase him
until he got him; so that he dropped the branch