Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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14 THE SPECTATOR dragged over the bank. With a dash George leaped up the hillside, followed by the others. The underbrush was slightly disturbed, and here and there could be seen marks on the ground where the thieves had evidently rested with their plunder. After the boys had gone a short distance they found that the trail led to the mouth of an old coal mine, and going into the mine a short distance they found that the tracks suddenly disappeared. The outfit must be here somewhere, said Will, and with this they began to make their way into the mine. They soon reached a side room, and going into it a short distance' they saw the stove, cooking utensils, etc., neatly hidden. ,They had at least recovered the stolen property. They next decided to get the fellcizvs and carry the articles back to camp. ' That afternoon George saw Bull loahng in front of a store in the village. I thought you was out campin', he remarked to George. No, but we have everything ready to go as soon as the hunting season opens, said George. Have you? said Bull, with a grin that told George he was guilty. George decided to watch him. That night, seeing Bull and one of his gang, as they were called, going down the street, he followed them and overheard the following conversation. Nlack, them soft guys don't know a thing about it yit. l seen George to-day and he was blowin' about the good time they was goin' to have in the camp. Wull, let's go out to the mine to-night and have a time on them, said Mack with a grin. Yes, we'll git something to drink and you fetch your deck of cards and we'll have what ye call a blow- out. George waited to hear no more, but returned home and told Will what he had heard. The boys began to study up some plan to prevent the celebration. l'll tell you what we'll do, said 'Will. We'll get all the fellows to-night and go out to the mines. Each fellow will get a white sheet and put it over him, and we'll go in and see the fun.

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THE SPECTATOR 13 ions for the season. A stove, cooking utensils, and var- ious other articles also made up their equipment for the week's outing during hunting season. . This shack, as they called it, had been suddenly burned down and all their equipment stolen. It was a great disappointment to the boys, for they had taken much care in erecting the building, and were very en- thusiastic over the coming vacation, which they were to spend in it. The cabin had been built in a small clearing in a thick wood. The clearing was located along a hill- side and was perfectly level. It was supposed to have been early associated with the Indians, and for this reason the boys looked upon it with peculiar interest and even reverence. Autumn had now arrived, making the place very beautiful. The fallen leaves had made a soft carpet over the ground, and the surrounding woods were lighted with the brilliant, frost-dyed leaves that graced the surround- ing landscape. Standing on the clearing, one could look all over the valley, which shone brown from the dead leaves which still clung to the trees. lt is here beside the ruins of their camp that we find the boys talking over their calamity. l'd like to know who did it, said Will, though we could hardly do anything with them. Well, I intend to make it my business to End out, said George. We'll see then whether we can't fix matters with them. After a few more remarks they parted for the night. The next day they again returned to the clearing and talked the matter over, deciding that the cabin must have been burned by Bull Carey, a boy whom George had whipped for teasing a small girl. While they were discussing the situation, George noticed that the fresh clay embankment at the upper end of the clearing had been disturbed. lt looked as if a half dozen persons had lately clambered over the bank into the woods. Upon further examination George noticed a deep, even cut in the clay. This settled it. The cut had been made by the stove, which the culprits had

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THE ISPECTATOR 15 George looked up the rest of the boys to whom he communicated their plans. Each boy was to go to the mines alone so as to attract no attention, and all were to be there at 7 o'clock. They all arrived at the appointed time, each creep- ing into his respective corner to await the arrival of Bull's gang. It was not long till they arrived, shout- ing and singing. One fellow fumbled around in his pocket for a match with which to light a torch. This was a signal for the boys to spring from their places and surround them. lt was a ghastly sight to Bull's gang to see the white forms standing in the dim rays of the light shed by the match, which was suddenly dropped by the scared culprits. George demanded in a hollow voice that they carry the stolen goods back to camp, threatening to hang Bull if he refused. Bull, although he hadn't recognized the ghosts, refused. At this moment one of the boys threw a rope over Bull's head and started toward the mouth of the mine. When Bull felt himself being dragged along by the ghost he thought it best to give up. Lemme go, he cried, and l'll take 'em back. The ghosts lighted a torch, and the gang be- gan to carry their hidden plunder at the direction of the mysterious forms in white. When about half way to the clearing they recovered their senses and attempted to run, but the boys were around them, and in the shuf- fle that ensued they pelted Bull and his gang so severely that they were more than willing to take up their load again, carrying it to the site of the burned hunting camp. ' When this was done the ghosts conveyed the grumbling culprits to a small run at the foot of the hill, in which they tumbled the gang one by one, with the warning never to disturb a hunting party's camp again. The next day George and his fellow campers began to rebuild the camp. They had recovered the stolen supplies and were satisfied that Bull and his fellow-evildoers would not repeat their former offense. They went to work with unabatecl zeal, and a few days saw another camp in the clearing, where the boys did not fail to spend a delightful hunting season. R. G., 'o6.