Frank Merriwell's Triumph Part 6

CHAPTER IV.

THE NIGHT WATCH.

They were finally compelled to give up the search, although they did so with the greatest reluctance.

"Unless it aids the other fellow to locate the claim first," said Bart, "the loss of the map cannot be much of a disadvantage to you, Merry. It could give us no further a.s.sistance in finding the claim."

"That's true," muttered Frank. "But the fact that mysterious men have been prowling around here and one of them has secured the map seems to indicate there are others who are searching for Benson Clark's lost claim. If they locate it first----"

"It's rightfully yours!" growled Hodge. "No one else has a real claim to it. Clark gave it to you."

"But he made no will."

"All the same, you know he gave it to you."

"We have discussed all that, Hodge," said Merry as they returned to the tent. "If other parties find the claim first and begin work on it, they can hold it."

Wiley was teetering up and down in front of the tent, apparently in an uneasy state of mind.

"I have faced perils by sea and land!" he exclaimed, as they approached.

"It doesn't behoove any one to shunt me off onto a lunatic and a cripple when there is danger in the air. My fighting blood is stirred, and I long to look death in the mouth and examine his teeth."

Neither Merry nor Bart paid much attention to the spluttering sailor.

They consulted about the wisdom of changing their camping place for the night.

"I don't think it is necessary," said Frank. "Whoever it was, the prowler secured the map, and I fancy it will satisfy him for the present. Something a.s.sures me that was what he was after, and we have nothing more of interest to him now."

After a time they decided to remain where they were and to take turns in guarding the camp. The first watch fell on Bart, while Frank was to take the middle hours of the night, and Wiley's turn came toward morning. It was found somewhat difficult to quiet Worthington, who remained intensely wrought up over what had happened; but in time Merry induced him to lie down in the tent.

Little Abe crept close to Frank and lay there, s.h.i.+vering somewhat.

"You have so many enemies, Frank," he whispered. "Who are these new enemies you have found here?"

"I don't know at present, Abe; but I will find out in time."

"Why must you always have enemies?"

"I think it is the fortune of every man who succeeds to make enemies.

Other men become jealous. Only idiots and spineless, nerve-lacking individuals make no enemies at all."

"But sometime your enemies will hurt you," muttered the boy fearfully.

"You can't always escape when they are prowling about and striking at your back."

"Of course, there is a chance that some of them may get me," confessed Frank; "but I am not worrying over that now."

"Worthington frightens me, too," confessed the boy. "He is so strange!

But, really and truly, he seems to know when danger is near. He seems to discover it, somehow."

"Which is a faculty possessed by some people with disordered brains. I fancied the fellow was dreaming when he declared he saw some one hiding behind those rocks to-day; but now I know he actually saw what he claimed to see."

"Oh, I hope they don't get that mine away from you! You have taken so much trouble to find it!"

"Don't worry," half laughed Merry. "If they should locate the mine ahead of me, I can stand it. I have two mines now, which are owned jointly by myself and my brother."

"Your brother!" exclaimed Abe, in surprise. "Why, have you a brother?"

"Yes; a half-brother."

"Where is he?"

"He is attending school far, far away in the East. I received some letters from him while you were in Denver."

"Is he like you?"

"Well, I don't know. In some things he seems to be like me; in others he is different."

"He is younger?"

"Yes, several years younger."

"Oh, I'd like to see him!" breathed Abe. "I know I'd like him. What's his name?"

"d.i.c.k."

"Perhaps I'll see him some day."

"Yes, Abe, I think you will. By and by we will go East, and I will take you to see him at Fardale. That's where he is attending school."

"It must be just the finest thing to go to school. I never went to school any. What do they do there, Frank?"

"Oh, they do many things, Abe. They study books which prepare them for successful careers, and they play baseball and football and take part in other sports. They have a fine gymnasium, where they exercise to develop their bodies, which need developing, as well as their brains. In some schools, Abe, the development of the body is neglected. Scholars are compelled to study in close rooms, regardless of their health and of their individual weaknesses. And many times their const.i.tutions are wrecked so that they are unfitted to become successful men and women through the fact that they have not the energy and stamina in the battle of life, at which successes must be won.

"I don't know that you understand all this, Abe, but many parents make sad mistakes in seeking to force too much education into the heads of their children in a brief s.p.a.ce of time. It is not always the boy or girl who is the smartest as a boy or girl who makes the smartest and most successful man or woman. Some of the brightest and most brilliant scholars fail after leaving school. Although at school they were wonders in their cla.s.ses, in after life others who were not so brilliant and promising often rise far above them."

"I don't know nothing about those things, Frank," said the boy. "You seem to know all about everything. But I want you to tell me more about the school and the games they play and the things they do there."

"Not to-night, Abe," said Merry. "Go to sleep now. Sometime I will tell you all about it."

Long after Merry's regular breathing indicated that he was slumbering, little Abe lay trying to picture to himself that wonderful school, where so many boys studied, and lived, and prepared themselves for careers. It was a strange school his fancy pictured. At last he slept also, and he dreamed that he was in the school with other boys, that he was straight, and strong, and handsome, and that d.i.c.k Merriwell was his friend and companion. He dreamed that he took part in the sports and games, and was successful and admired like other lads. It was a joyful dream, and in his sleep he smiled and laughed a little. But for the poor little cripple it was a dream that could never come true.

In the night Frank was aroused by Bart, who lay down, while Merry took his place on guard outside the tent. The night was far spent when Frank awakened Wiley to take a turn at watching over the camp.

"Port your helm!" muttered the sailor thickly, as Merry shook him.

"Breakers ahead! She's going on the rocks!"

"Turn out here," said Frank. "It's your watch on deck!"

"What's that?" mumbled the sailor. "Who says so? I am cap'n of this s.h.i.+p. I give off orders here."