"I'm glad that vacation is only one week off," he murmured. "School is all right, and I know I'm going to be mighty1 sorry when school-days end for good. Just the same, this infernal grind to get a scholarship does get a fellow's goat sometimes. If I don't win it I don't see how I can go to college next year unless I can find some way to earn the money. Poor old Dad! That slump2 in stocks pretty nearly bowled him over. Lucky I thought of this scholarship when he tried to tell me that unless business picked up he couldn't send me to college next year. It sure did me good to see the shine in his eyes when I told him about this and that I was going to win it. He's a great old scout4, and I'm going to get it now if for nothing more than to see that shine in his eyes again. My, but it's a tough old grind! Wonder how it would seem to go to a prep school like Hal Harrison and not have to think about money and where it is going to come from. I guess scholarships don't bother Hal any. Wonder if he is coming home for the Christmas winter vacation."
Idly Walter allowed his eyes to wander over the walls of his den6. It was a snug7 little room, simply furnished with a spring cot, which was a bed by night and a couch by day, a desk, a deep-cushioned Morris chair, a revolving8 desk chair, a foot-rest and two well filled bookcases. The walls were covered with photographs. Nearly all of them were of outdoor scenes, most of them of his own taking, for he was an expert with the camera. A number were enlargements neatly9 framed. Among these was the famous flashlight made during his first summer at Woodcraft Camp which had furnished the evidence to put Red Pete, the outlaw10 and poacher, behind the bars. There, too, were the splendid portraits (they were nothing less) of the bull moose of Swift River, a lasting11 tribute to the nerve of Plympton, the tenderfoot comrade of that memorable12 cruise.
There were studies of deer and other wild animals, views of Woodcraft Camp, of scenes along Swift River, and of the various camps and points of interest on Lost Trail, the relocating of which by Walter and his four fellow Scouts13 of the Lone14 Wolf Patrol had won for them the distinction of a special letter of commendation from national headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America.
Above the door hung a hard-used set of boxing gloves. Crossed above one window were a pair of snow-shoes, while above the other window were a pair of fencing foils. In one corner, each in its case, were two fishing-rods, a rifle and a tennis racquet. In the opposite corner leaned a Scout staff and a couple of canoe paddles. A great horned owl3 stared unblinkingly down from the top of one of the plain oak bookcases. On the wall just back and above it was fastened a small banner having the head of a wolf worked in black against a white background, and bearing the one word "Persistence15." It was the Lone Wolf banner which had been carried on that never-to-be-forgotten search for Lost Trail. By unanimous vote of the patrol, it had been presented to Upton at the conclusion of the trip in recognition of successful leadership.
Several small silver cups on the bookcases and half a dozen medals pinned to a little square of black velvet16 on one wall attested17 to well-won victories in various lines of sport. The books on the shelves were what one might expect in such surroundings, well selected stories of adventure and exploration, treatises18 on hunting, fishing and outdoor sports, a very complete nature library, handbooks on woodcraft, camping, first aid, forestry19 and surveying, a well-thumbed Scout manual and other books which attested to the owner's love of the great outdoor world. But these were not all. A whole shelf was devoted20 to history, and another to selections from standard American and English authors, including several of our best loved poets.
Altogether, it was a room such as a keen, red-blooded, broad-minded boy might well delight in. Upton did delight in it. Everything in it held some special significance or sentiment for him, and now as his eyes idly roved from one object to another one memory after another was stirred within him. At last his eyes rested on the snow-shoes and remained there.
"Wonder if I'll get a chance to use those things this winter," he muttered. "Little old New York doesn't know much about that kind of foot-gear. I suppose Pat has worn out two or three pairs since he gave me those, and here I haven't had 'em on but once in three years, and then there was hardly snow enough for an excuse. I guess I'd be some tenderfoot all right, all right, on those things up in the woods. Good old Pat! Wonder what he's doing. It's a long time since I've heard from him. Well, I ought not to kick over a little extra grind! He's trying to get an education and support himself and help his folks at the same time. Wish he could come down here for the vacation. What fun it would be to show him around and listen to his remarks on the big city. It would be almost as much fun as going into the big woods in the winter. Fact is, I envy him right now, and I'll bet he doesn't envy me a penny's worth."
Swiftly his thoughts reverted21 to his first meeting with Pat Malone, chore boy and bully22 of a sawmill village in the North Woods, and of the thrashing he had given the young woodsman in spite of the latter's advantage in weight and strength.
"It was all in the know how. Imagine me trying to do it now," he chuckled23. "Why, Pat could take me across his knee just as he did the youngster who mistook him for a deer and put a bullet through his hat last fall. I've never seen anybody take to an idea as Pat did to scouting24. He just soaked it up. It was the principle of the thing that got him right from the start, and not just the fun that goes with it. And just see what it's done for him! I don't know of any one it's done so much for, unless——"
Almost unconsciously Walter turned to stare through the gathering25 dusk at a photograph on the nearer of the two bookcases. A pair of frank eyes, kindly26 but keen, looked down at him from a face good to see, the face of a boy of about his own age. It was a handsome face and the beauty lay, not in regularity27 of features, but in the strength of character and purpose written in every line. It was the face of Hal Harrison, son of a multi-millionaire, and comrade and fellow Scout in the fun and adventures of the last three summers. It was the sudden remembrance of Hal that had caused the abrupt28 break in the trend of his thought. Not even for the poor, rough, tough young bully of the woods had scouting done more than it had for this other lad, brought up in the lap of luxury, his every whim29 gratified, toadied30 to, petted, spoiled. From opposite extremes of the social strata31 it had brought these two together on the common ground of true brotherhood32—the brotherhood of democracy. It had discovered to the young savage33, for Pat was little more than that, his own manhood. It had stripped from Hal, the cad, the veneer34 of false social rank based on wealth and found there also a man. And now these two—the one whom he had fought and the one whom he had despised—Upton regarded not only as comrades and brother Scouts, but almost as chums.
Some such thoughts as these were floating through his mind as he sat there in the soft dusk of winter twilight35. It was just the hour for dreaming the dreams which every boy loves to dream, half thought, half idle fancy. He tried to picture what the future might hold for himself and for these two comrades. Hal would be a captain of industry. It could hardly be otherwise. He would inherit vast wealth. He would in time take charge of the great enterprises which his father had built up. Would he apply to their management the principles of which as a Scout he was now so earnest a champion? Pat dared to dream of some day becoming a naturalist36. Would he succeed? Remembering what Pat had been and what he now was Walter somehow felt that he would. As for himself he could not see his own career with a like clearness. He would like—
Ting-aling-ling! It was the telephone in the hall. With a start Walter came back to earth and the present. He went to answer the call. Picking up the receiver he called, "Hello." For a moment there was no response, but he caught a sound as of voices and something that sounded like a laugh. Then over the wire came a rich brogue that caused Walter to nearly drop the 'phone.
"Hello, Misther Leader. I have to reporrt the discovery av the city av Noo Yor-r-k and the losing av mesilf entoirely."
"Pat! You big red headed son of Erin! Are you really in New York? When did you get in? Where are you? Are you——"
"Aisy, aisy now. Have ye not learned thot ye can make but wan5 bull's-eye at a shot? Shure I be in Noo Yor-r-k, an' 'tis proud the city ought to be av the honor I be doin' ut."
"Quit your kidding, Pat, and tell me where you are and when you came and all about it," interrupted Walter.
"Shure, wasn't I afther telling ye thot I be in Noo Yor-r-k?" protested Pat in a grieved tone. "'Tis at the illigant home av an illigant gintleman thot I be, but begorra I forgot entoirely to blaze the trail and I don't know how I got here at all, at all."
"Hello, old Scout!"
There was no mistaking that voice, and Upton grinned more broadly than before as he replied:
"Hello, Hal. It sure does me good to hear your voice. I might have known whose illigant home Pat is honoring. Where did you find him, and why didn't you tell me? Didn't expect you home until the end of next week. Funny thing, but I was thinking of you two fellows when the 'phone rang. Same old Pat, isn't he? Gee38, but it's good to hear the voices of you two fellows! Now when do I see you and where?"
"Right after dinner. We'll drive around and pick you up and then give Pat a glimpse of the Great White Way," replied Hal, answering the last questions first. "I've had this all planned for a month by way of a surprise. I have a week more vacation than you do, and I got in just in time to meet Pat's train. Had hard work to persuade him to come, but I got him at last. Say, got any plans made for your vacation?"
"Nary a plan. Been waiting to hear from you," replied Walter.
"Good! I've got the greatest little stunt39 you ever heard of to tell you about to-night. Pat suggested it, and I had to promise to try to put it through before he would agree to come down here. We've got to go clean up for dinner now, but we'll be around about eight o'clock. So long until then."
"So long," replied Walter, and hanging up the receiver he whooped40 joyously42 and proceeded to execute a war dance that ended with a crash as a rug slipped under his feet and he came down in a heap. It happened that at that very instant his father, just home from the office, opened the hall door briskly and a second later landed on Walter with a force that brought a grunt43 from each. He had tripped over one of the boy's sprawling44 legs. As quickly as he could disentangle himself Walter scrambled45 to his feet. Concern was written in every line of his face as he extended a helping46 hand to Mr. Upton.
"Oh, Dad, are you hurt?" he cried anxiously.
Mr. Upton's eyes twinkled good-humoredly as he replied: "Only in my dignity. But tell me, son, why all this hilarity47 that led to the utter downfall of the house of Upton? I heard you break loose, and was hurrying to share in it."
"It's a shame," declared Walter contritely48 as he brushed off his father's coat. "I ought to know better than to be acting49 like a wild Indian in the house. Fact is, I had just got some mighty good news over the 'phone. Guess what."
"Hal is coming home for the vacation," hazarded Mr. Upton promptly50, for these two, father and son, were chums, and he knew just how eagerly Walter had hoped for Hal's homecoming.
"Right and wrong, both!" whooped Walter. "You're a good little guesser, Dad, but you didn't guess enough this time. He's home already, and Pat's with him!"
"Pat! Pat who?" A puzzled frown wrinkled Mr. Upton's forehead.
"Pat Malone, of course! As if there was more than one Pat! They got in half an hour ago, and they're coming around here after dinner to get me."
Mr. Upton's face lighted with a smile of pleasure. "That's splendid," he declared. "It's news worth getting upset for. How ever did Hal lure51 that young giant out of his beloved woods?"
"I don't know," replied Walter. "All I know is that he is here, and the rest we'll find out when they get here. Hope he's going to stay through vacation. It'll be no end of fun showing Pat around. Wish you could be with us."
"I wish I could," replied Mr. Upton, smiling. "Suppose we eat dinner now so that you will be ready for them when they arrive."
Promptly at eight o'clock a big touring car drew up in front of the house, and Walter was down the steps before the two figures in the tonneau could disentangle themselves from the robes. Three voices mingled52 in a joyous41 shout, there was a swift clasping of hands in the Scout grip, and then the three boys started up the steps to the open door, where Mr. Upton stood waiting with outstretched hand.
"Thank you, sir. If everybody receives such a welcome as I have had it is no wonder that we cannot keep people in the woods."
Walter actually gaped54 open mouthed at Pat. There was not a trace of accent. Pat caught the look and his blue eyes twinkled. Suddenly he whirled and hit Upton a resounding55 whack56 between the shoulders with his open palm. "Did I not tell ye thot whin I got the leaves out av me hair and the Irish out av me shpach I would come? And here I be. Tell me now, do ye want to foight? 'Twas the reception I was afther giving ye whin ye first came to the woods, and 'tis no more than roight thot ye should trate me the same whin I land in Noo Yor-r-k."
Walter ran a calculating eye over the brawny57 young woodsman, six feet in his stockings and broad in proportion, and backed away. "I waive58 the privilege—out of politeness," said he with a low bow.
"'Tis loike Noo Yor-r-k to be gentle with the helpless. Shure 'tis a foine settlemint and foine people in ut," retorted Pat.
"I am interested to learn how Hal induced you to come here, Pat," said Mr. Upton as he ushered59 them into the library.
Hal chuckled. "I trapped him," said he. "I set a trap and baited it and he walked right into it. Don't you think I'm some little trapper?"
"You certainly are," declared Mr. Upton, while Pat grinned. "Let's hear all about it."
"Well, first I made sure that I could get passes from Dad. You know he controls the railroad to Upper Chain. Dad was tickled60 to death with the idea. Even offered to send up his private car. You know he's a great admirer of Pat. Then for a bait I arranged through a friend to get an introduction for Pat to some of the head people out at Bronx Park and at the American Museum of Natural History. I knew that he just couldn't pass that chance up, but to make sure I wrote to Doctor Merriam at Woodcraft Camp, and of course he joined the conspiracy61 right away. For a clincher I promised Pat that Walt and I would spend Walt's vacation with him up in the woods."
Walter came out of his chair with a bound. "What's that?" he cried. "Say it again!"
"I said that to get Pat down here I promised him that we—you and I—would spend a week in the woods with him this winter. Is that perfectly62 clear?" Hal spoke63 slowly and with emphasis.
"It sounds clear, but it isn't," replied Walter, glancing at his father with a rueful smile. He was thinking of the expense and that as things then were he could not afford the trip.
Hal intercepted64 the glance and understood. "Oh, yes, it is," said he. "It is perfectly clear. We leave here next week Friday night and you and Pat are my guests until we reach Upper Chain the next morning. Then the three of us become the guests of Doctor Merriam at Woodcraft Camp for a day or two, and after that you and I will be the guests of—guess who?"
Walter shook his head. He was a trifle dazed by the way in which Hal took everything for granted.
"Pat and his partner!" cried Hal, while Pat grinned broadly. "Pat's trapping this winter instead of lumbering65, and we're going to spend a week in a real trapper's camp, and snow-shoe and have no end of fun. Won't it be great? Walt may go, mayn't he, Mr. Upton?"
Mr. Upton laughed aloud. "I wouldn't dare say no in the face of such completely organized plans," he confessed. "Of course he may go. It's a splendid idea, and I suspect that when he comes back for the next term of the school year he will be feeling so fine that nothing can stop him from winning that scholarship he has set his heart on, and has been working so hard for."
"Then it's all settled!" cried Hal. "Pat is going to stay and go back with us, and while he is here it is up to us to show him what New York is like. We'll begin by showing him the Great White Way to-night. Get your coat and hat, Walt. The car is waiting. Won't you go with us, Mr. Upton?"
"Not this time, thank you, Hal," replied Mr. Upton. "I have an engagement for this evening, though I would much rather join you youngsters than keep it. I feel that I am to lose something really worth while—a rare pleasure."
"And the loss is equally ours, sir," said Pat as they rose to don their coats.
Once more Walter eyed Pat quizzically. It was clear that the young Irishman had been pursuing his studies under Doctor Merriam to good advantage. Without the rich brogue it was a new and wholly different Pat. But he forbore to make any comment, and in a few minutes they were off to show Pat one of the most wonderful scenes in the world, New York's famous Broadway by night.
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1
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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7
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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8
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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13
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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treatises
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| n.专题著作，专题论文，专著( treatise的名词复数 ) | |
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forestry
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| n.森林学；林业 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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toadied
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| v.拍马，谄媚( toady的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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strata
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| n.地层（复数）；社会阶层 | |
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brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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veneer
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| n.(墙上的)饰面，虚饰 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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stunt
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| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
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40
whooped
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| 叫喊( whoop的过去式和过去分词 )； 高声说； 唤起 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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43
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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45
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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48
contritely
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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51
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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52
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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54
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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55
resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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56
whack
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| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
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57
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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58
waive
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| vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等) | |
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59
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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61
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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62
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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63
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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64
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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65
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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