The Rover Boys Down East Part 21

"Here she comes!" cried Sam, as the distant whistle of the locomotive reached their ears. Then the train hove in sight and they saw Fred's head sticking out of one window and Hans' head, out of another.

"h.e.l.lo, Fred! How are you, Hans!" was the cry.

"Say, is this really the station?" asked Fred, with a grin. "I've been watching milk depots for the last hour."

"This is really and truly the metropolis of Oak Run!" sang out Tom. "Move lively now, or you'll be carried further."

The two young travelers alighted, each with two suit-cases. In addition Fred carried a fishing rod. Hans was loaded down with a fishing rod, a shotgun, a big box camera, and a bundle done up in a steamer robe.

"h.e.l.lo, Hans, did you just come across the Atlantic?" questioned d.i.c.k, as the boys shook hands all around.

"Atlantic?" repeated Hans Mueller. "Not much I didn't, d.i.c.k; I come from home, chust so straight like der railroad runs alretty."

"You brought a few things along I see."

"Sure I did. Vy not, of ve go camping by der voods? I got my fishing shtick, and my gun, and a planket, and a camera to took vild animals."

"Going to take their pictures first and then slay 'em, eh?" remarked Tom.

"Dot's it."

"Got your license, I suppose."

"License. Vot license?"

"To snap-shot the lions and tigers and bears, Hans. It costs two dollars and ten cents to snap-shot a bear now, and lions and tigers are a dollar and forty-five."

"Vot?" gasped the German boy. "Do da make you bay to took pictures?"

"Why, didn't you know that? I thought you read the new patent and copyright laws."

"No, I got somet'ing else to do, Dom. By chiminy! Of da charge so much as dot I ton't took no bictures, not much!"

"Well, maybe we can fix it so you won't have to pay any license,"

returned Tom, calmly. "But jump in-dinner is waiting for us at home."

"Say, what a dandy car!" cried Fred. "I've been anxious to see it ever since you wrote about it."

"Tell us all about dear old Putnam Hall," said Sam to Hans, when the crowd were on the way to the farm, and the German boy told them all the news. Then Fred told about himself, and how he was thinking of going into business with his uncle.

"Where are you going to camp?" asked Fred, just before the farm was reached.

"We thought of going up the Swift river," said d.i.c.k. "But maybe we'll go over to Lake Nasco. There is a fine spot up there for camping, and we can have the use of a small sailboat."

"That would be fine, d.i.c.k!"

"We'll talk it over tonight-after you have had supper."

Fred and Hans had been at the farm before and the old folks greeted them warmly. As usual, Mrs. Rover had a substantial meal prepared, and it did her good to see how both Hans and Fred relished the things provided. The German youth especially had a good appet.i.te, and he stowed away so much it looked as if he would burst.

"Say, we'll have to take along lots to eat," whispered Sam to d.i.c.k. "If we don't, Hans will clean us out in no time."

"Well, we'll take all we need," answered the big brother.

After supper the five lads talked over the plans for camping out, and it was finally decided that they should journey up the Swift River to Lake Nasco. They were to remain in camp for a week or ten days, and possibly two weeks.

As my old readers know, the Swift River could not be navigated around the Falls-those awful falls where the boys had once had such a harrowing experience. But further up, the watercourse was fairly deep and smooth, and from that point the boys decided to take the small sailboat and either sail or row to the lake, two miles further on.

"We'll drive to the boat landing with the farm wagon," said d.i.c.k. "Jack Ness can take us, and bring the wagon back."

On Sunday the entire family went to the village church and the visitors accompanied them. In the afternoon the boys inspected their outfits and took it easy. Fred and Hans sent letters home, stating they had arrived safely, and the Rovers sent letters to Cedarville.

"Hans, while you are in camp, don't forget to take a picture of the Pluibuscus," said Tom. "They don't charge to take those."

"Vot is dot?" asked Hans innocently.

"What, didn't you ever see a Pluibuscus!" demanded Tom, in astonishment.

"It's a sort of a Cantonoko, only larger. They live in holes, like bears, only they have four wings, located between the sixth and the seventh legs."

"Mine cracious, Dom, vot you talkin' apout, ennavay?" demanded the German boy. "I ton't know no animals vot got legs and vings alretty. Vos da very pig?"

"No, they are not pigs."

"Vot? I tidn't say pig. I say vos da pig-pig-pig. Ton't you understand?"

"Sure I understand. They are not pigs."

"Dot ain't it at all. I say vos da pig-so pig or so pig?" And the German boy put out his hands, first close together and then wide apart.

"Oh, you mean large?"

"Yah, dot's him."

"Oh, they are about the size of a horse, that is, when they are young. As they grow older they get smaller, so that an old Pluibuscus is about the size of a dog. But it's the horns you have to look out for. They are pointed like daggers and very poisonous."

"Du meine zeit! Den I ton't vont to meet none of dose Pluricustibusters, or vot you call dem," and Hans shook his head, decidedly.

"If you see one I advise you to run," put in Sam, who was enjoying the fun.

"Run? You bet my life I run!" cried Hans.

"The best way to get away is to run into the water," went on Tom. "They hate the water. Just run into the lake and duck down and keep hidden for five or ten minutes and the Pluibuscus will walk away in disgust."

"How vos I going to keep mine head under der vater fife oder den minutes?" questioned Hans, in perplexity.

"Oh, take a deep breath," suggested Fred.

"I can't do him so long as dot."