Rod of the Lone Patrol

A. Cody H.

Description

Written with younger audiences in mind, this engaging tale follows the life of Rodney, a boy who was abandoned as a toddler and raised by the kindly Parson Dan and his wife. But before long, Rod encounters problems with other members of the community who aren't quite as welcoming.

Sujets

• Children's

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776595433
• Langue: English

Extrait

ROD OF THE LONE PATROL
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H. A. CODY
 
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Rod of the Lone Patrol First published in 1916 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-543-3 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-544-0 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - A Waif of the Night Chapter II - Giving and Receiving Chapter III - The Widow's Visit Chapter IV - Rodney Develops Chapter V - Captain Josh Takes a Hand Chapter VI - A New Friend Chapter VII - Chums Chapter VIII - The Chums to the Rescue Chapter IX - Whyn Chapter X - His First "Good Turn" Chapter XI - Miss Arabella's "Affair" Chapter XII - Scout Work Chapter XIII - The Visit Chapter XIV - Unexpected Assistance Chapter XV - In the City Chapter XVI - Whyn Decides Chapter XVII - Anna Royanna Chapter XVIII - The Way of the Heart Chapter XIX - The Surprise Chapter XX - The Island Adventure Chapter XXI - The Rounding Up Chapter XXII - A New Adventure Chapter XXIII - First Aid Chapter XXIV - The Prodigal Son Chapter XXV - Drift-Logs Chapter XXVI - The Best "Good Turn" Chapter XXVII - Jimmy Chapter XXVIII - Excitement at the Anchorage Chapter XXIX - The Troops Decide Chapter XXX - The Night Run Chapter XXXI - Better than a Fairy Tale
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" A boy's will is the wind's will, And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts. " —LONGFELLOW.
*
To My
Three Little Boys
DOUGLAS, KENNETH AND NORMAN,
Who are anxious to become Boy Scouts,
This Book is
Affectionately Dedicated
Chapter I - A Waif of the Night
*
Parson Dan chuckled several times as he sipped his hot cocoa before thefire. It was an open fire, and the flames licked around an old dryroot which had been brought with other driftwood up from the shore.This brightly-lighted room was a pleasing contrast to the roughness ofthe night outside, for a strong late October wind was careening overthe land. It swirled about the snug Hillcrest rectory, rattling anywindow which happened to be a little loose, and drawing theforked-tongued flames writhing up the large commodious chimney.
When the third chuckle had been emitted, Mrs. Royal laid aside thepaper 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. "ButI must say it was the best one I ever attended. That missionary had agreat 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 anotherboyish chuckle. "Give it up, eh?" and his eyes sparkled as he turnedthem upon his wife's puzzled face.
"Yes."
"I thought so. You could never guess, for you would never think ofCaptain Josh."
"No, surely not, Daniel!" and Mrs. Royal, now all attention, drew herchair a little closer to the fire. "What in the world took him thereto-night? I never knew him to go to church, let alone to a missionarymeeting."
"Oh, that is easily explained, dear. His only son, you know, is in theYukon, and he was anxious to hear about that country. He was certainlythe most interested person there, and after the meeting was over, hewalked 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 havedone your heart good. To think of Captain Josh chatting with amissionary, when for years he has been so much down on missions andmissionaries. That is one on the old captain, and I shall not forgetit when I see him again, ho, ho," and Parson Dan leaned back in hiscomfortable chair and fairly shook with merriment.
"I hope that his interest will keep up," was Mrs. Royal's comment, asshe picked up the paper she had laid aside. "Perhaps he will learnthat missionaries are of some use in the world after all."
"I am afraid not, Martha," the parson returned, as he reached for hispipe and tobacco lying on a little stand by his side. "It is only hisson 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 alwaysliked Jimmy. He and Alec got on so well together. Do you know whatday this is?"
"Ay, ay, Martha," and the clergyman's face grew grave, and a slightmistiness 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 DoctorPaddock. It was a night something like this, and I was so afraid thatwe would not get back in time."
The fire danced cheerily before them, and the clock on the mantelticked steadily as the two sat for some time in silence, gazingthoughtfully 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 intomy face and smiled, just like he used to do. I gave a cry of joy andput 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? Ourhopes have been sadly shattered."
"We have only his memory with us now, Daniel," was the quiet reply. "Ialways think of him as a baby, or as a strong manly boy coming homefrom school. But for that precious recollection I hardly know how Icould bear up at all."
Scarcely had she finished speaking, when a faint knock sounded upon thefront door. They both started and listened attentively, thinking thatperhaps it was only the wind. But when the knock was repeated, ParsonDan rose quickly to his feet, crossed the room and entered the outerhall. As he unlocked and opened the front door, a shaving of cold windwhipped into the room, while the inky night rose suddenly before himlike a great perpendicular wall. For a few seconds he could seenothing, but as his eyes became accustomed to the blackness, he behelda dim form standing before him. Then a large bundle was thrustsuddenly into his arms, and the figure disappeared. He thought heheard a sob borne on the night air as he stood in the door-wayclutching the burden imposed upon him. But perhaps it was only thewailing of the wind he heard. He was too dazed to be sure of himselfas he stood there peering forth into the night, expecting some one toenter, or at least to speak and explain the meaning of this strangebehaviour. But none of these things happened, so, still bewildered, heclosed the door with his foot and made his way back into theliving-room.
"Daniel, Daniel! what are you standing there in the draught for?" hiswife remonstrated. "You will get your death of cold."
She ceased abruptly, however, when she saw her husband enter with thestrange bundle in his arms.
"What is it?" she gasped, rising quickly to her feet.
"Don't know," was the reply. "It's alive, anyway, whatever it is, forit's beginning to wriggle. Here, take it."
But Mrs. Royal shrank back, and raised her hands as if to protectherself.
"It won't hurt you, dear. What are you afraid of?"
"But it's alive, you say. It might not be safe to have it in thehouse. Where did it come from?"
Before a reply could be given, the bundle gave a vigorous twist, whilea muffled squeal came from beneath the clothes, which almost caused theparson to drop his burden upon the floor. But that sound stirred Mrs.Royal to immediate action. No longer did she hesitate, but steppingforward relieved her husband of his charge.
"It is a baby!" she cried, at the same time drawing aside the shawl andexposing the chubby face of a child nestling within. A pair of brightblue eyes looked up into hers, and a queer little chuckle of delightcame from the small rose-bud of a mouth. So pleased was it to have itsface uncovered, that it performed the rest of the job itself, and bymeans of a few strenuous kicks disengaged its feet from their coveringand stuck them straight up into the air.
"Bless its little heart!" was Mrs. Royal's motherly comment. "It isgoing to make itself at home, anyway."
Seating herself before the fire, she laid aside the shawl andstraightened out the baby's mussed garments. They were clothes of theplainest, but spotlessly clean.
Parson Dan stood watching his wife with much interest. This littlewaif of the night appealed to him in a remarkable manner.
"Who do you suppose left it here?" he at last asked. "It is no childof this parish, I feel quite sure of that."
"Perhaps it was an angel who did it," Mrs. Royal replied. "It may bethat the good Lord has taken compassion upon our loneliness since welost Alec and has given us this in his stead."
"No, I cannot believe that, Martha. I do not for a moment doubt thatsuch a thing is possible, oh, no. But that old shawl and those plainclothes do not look much like heavenly robes, do they? I think thatthe hands which made that little white dress were human hands such asours, and the sob which I heard to-night was not the sob of an angelbut of a heart-broken mother."
"Well, she is the angel, then, whoever she is," Mrs. Royal insisted,"and perhaps she will come for the baby to-morrow."
"Oh, do you think so, Martha?" and there was a note of anxiety in theparson's voice. "How nice it would be to keep it."
"Why do you say 'it,' Daniel? Why don't you say 'her'?"
"I never knew before that it was a 'her,'" and the parson chuckled ashe st