The Project Gutenberg eBook, Rod of the Lone Patrol, by H. A. Cody

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Title: Rod of the Lone Patrol

Author: H. A. Cody

Release Date: December 5, 2005 [eBook #17227]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROD OF THE LONE PATROL***

E-text prepared by Al Haines

ROD OF THE LONE PATROL

by

H. A. CODY

Author of "If Any Man Sin," "The Chief of the Ranges,"
"The Long Patrol," "The Frontiersman," Etc., Etc.

  "A boy's will is the wind's will,
  And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
        —LONGFELLOW.

McClelland and Stewart
Publishers ——— Toronto
Copyright, 1916,
George H. Doran Company
Made in U. S. A.

To My

Three Little Boys

DOUGLAS, KENNETH AND NORMAN,

Who are anxious to become Boy Scouts,

This Book is

Affectionately Dedicated

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. A WAIF OF THE NIGHT II. GIVING AND RECEIVING III. THE WIDOW'S VISIT IV. RODNEY DEVELOPS V. CAPTAIN JOSH TAKES A HAND VI. A NEW FRIEND VII. CHUMS VIII. THE CHUMS TO THE RESCUE IX. WHYN X. HIS FIRST "GOOD TURN" XI. MISS ARABELLA'S "AFFAIR" XII. SCOUT WORK XIII. THE VISIT XIV. UNEXPECTED ASSISTANCE XV. IN THE CITY XVI. WHYN DECIDES XVII. ANNA ROYANNA XVIII. THE WAY OF THE HEART XIX. THE SURPRISE XX. THE ISLAND ADVENTURE XXI. THE ROUNDING UP XXII. A NEW ADVENTURE XXIII. FIRST AID XXIV. THE PRODIGAL SON XXV. DRIFT-LOGS XXVI. THE BEST "GOOD-TURN" XXVII. JIMMY XXVIII. EXCITEMENT AT THE ANCHORAGE XXIX. THE TROOPS DECIDE XXX. THE NIGHT RUN XXXI. BETTER THAN A FAIRY TALE

ROD OF THE LONE PATROL

CHAPTER I

A WAIF OF THE NIGHT

Parson Dan chuckled several times as he sipped his hot cocoa before the fire. It was an open fire, and the flames licked around an old dry root which had been brought with other driftwood up from the shore. This brightly-lighted room was a pleasing contrast to the roughness of the night outside, for a strong late October wind was careening over the land. It swirled about the snug Hillcrest rectory, rattling any window which happened to be a little loose, and drawing the forked-tongued flames writhing up the large commodious chimney.

When the third chuckle had been emitted, Mrs. Royal laid aside the paper she had been reading and looked somewhat curiously at her husband.

"The missionary meeting must have been very amusing to-night, Daniel," she remarked. "It is too bad that I didn't go."

"Oh, no, it wasn't the meeting which was amusing," was the reply. "But I must say it was the best one I ever attended. That missionary had a great story to tell and he told it well. There was a good attendance, too, especially for such a cold night. But you can't guess, my dear, who was there."

"The Bishop?"

"No, no," and the parson rubbed his hands in glee and gave another boyish chuckle. "Give it up, eh?" and his eyes sparkled as he turned them upon his wife's puzzled face.

"Yes."

"I thought so. You could never guess, for you would never think of
Captain Josh."

"No, surely not, Daniel!" and Mrs. Royal, now all attention, drew her chair a little closer to the fire. "What in the world took him there to-night? I never knew him to go to church, let alone to a missionary meeting."

"Oh, that is easily explained, dear. His only son, you know, is in the Yukon, and he was anxious to hear about that country. He was certainly the most interested person there, and after the meeting was over, he walked right up to Mr. Dicer and asked him if he had met his son."

"And had he?" Mrs. Royal inquired.

"Yes; knew him well. Now, the way those two men did talk would have done your heart good. To think of Captain Josh chatting with a missionary, when for years he has been so much down on missions and missionaries. That is one on the old captain, and I shall not forget it when I see him again, ho, ho," and Parson Dan leaned back in his comfortable chair and fairly shook with merriment.

"I hope that his interest will keep up," was Mrs. Royal's comment, as she picked up the paper she had laid aside. "Perhaps he will learn that missionaries are of some use in the world after all."

"I am afraid not, Martha," the parson returned, as he reached for his pipe and tobacco lying on a little stand by his side. "It is only his son which made him interested to-night, and that is as far as it goes."

"It might be the beginning, though, Daniel, who can tell? I always liked Jimmy. He and Alec got on so well together. Do you know what day this is?"

"Ay, ay, Martha," and the clergyman's face grew grave, and a slight mistiness dimmed his eyes. "I haven't forgotten it."

"He would have been twenty-five to-day, Daniel."

"I know it, and it seems only yesterday that I went for old Doctor Paddock. It was a night something like this, and I was so afraid that we would not get back in time."

The fire danced cheerily before them, and the clock on the mantel ticked steadily as the two sat for some time in silence, gazing thoughtfully upon the blazing sticks.

"I dreamed last night that I saw him," Mrs. Royal at length remarked. "He was a baby, and had on his little white dress. He looked up into my face and smiled, just like he used to do. I gave a cry of joy and put out my arms to take him. At that I awoke, and he disappeared. Oh, Daniel, we didn't value him enough when we had him—and now he's gone."

"And do you remember, Martha, what plans we made for his future? Our hopes have been sadly shattered."

"We have only his memory with us now, Daniel," was the quiet reply. "I always think of him as a baby, or as a strong manly boy coming home from school. But for that precious recollection I hardly know how I could bear up at all."

Scarcely had she finished speaking, when a faint knock sounded upon the front door. They both started and listened attentively, thinking that perhaps it was only the wind. But when the knock was repeated, Parson Dan rose quickly to his feet, crossed the room and entered the outer hall. As he unlocked and opened the front door, a shaving of cold wind whipped into the room, while the inky night rose suddenly before him like a great perpendicular wall. For a few seconds he could see nothing, but as his eyes became accustomed to the blackness, he beheld a dim form standing before him. Then a large bundle was thrust suddenly into his arms, and the figure disappeared. He thought he heard a sob