Elephant Bangs Train Read Online Free PDF Page B

her.'
    'I can't forget,' said Crutch. 'I want to give her the Scout Handshake.'
    They walked into the field behind the lodge, and down to the footbridge, where the hikers were gathering with their packs. 'Hiking eats it,' said Crutch, limping towards the rippling stream.
    Eagle Scout Billy Dalton, leader of the march, went among the hikers, adjusting their packs. 'Not coming, Twiller?'
    'No,' said Twiller. Dalton had told him he had the stuff to become an Eagle Scout. At first Twiller had believed it, but now he knew he'd never make it. He'd been in the troop three years and his only merit badge was bookbinding.
    'Hey,' said Crutch, 'a prisoner.'
    Scoutmaster Ramsey and Mister Snow came across the field with Spider Pronko marching bowleggedly between them. 'Spider wants to go on the hike,' said Scoutmaster Ramsey, turning Pronko over to Eagle Scout Dalton.
    'Yes sir,' said Dalton. 'Fall in on the end, Pronko.'
    Spider fell in. Crutch gave Twiller the elbow. 'Watch how long old Spider stays in line.'
    The troop bugler stepped on to the footbridge and blew Begin-the-March .
    'Hey, man, blow that bugle up your ass,' muttered Spider Pronko and the march began. The hikers crossed the footbridge and disappeared into the trees.
    'Look,' said Crutch.
    The girl was standing in the back door of the lodge.
    'Let's have a catch in the field,' said Twiller. He could do some fancy pitching. She might see him from the doorway or the kitchen window.
    'Naw,' said Crutch, 'baseball eats it.'
    Mister Snow came up behind them. 'What merit badge are you men working on?'
    'Bird-watching, sir,' said Twiller.
    'What is that bird on the limb right there?'
    'Purple gee-gaw, sir.'
    'That is a chestnut-sided hong-wobbler.'
    'Yes sir.'
    'Carry on.'
    Twiller and Crutch saluted and walked along the edge of the field, peering into the trees for birds. They went past a rope-tying class in front of the lodge and on down the dirt road. When out of sight of the lodge, they ducked into the woods.
    Ahead of them through the trees was a small log cabin. They went quietly towards it and looked in the windows. Twiller pushed the door open and went in. The cabin was empty.
    'Nobody's been here all year,' said Twiller, stepping through spider webs. He climbed up a wooden ladder to the second floor of the cabin. Beneath the sloping roof was a small straw bunk, covered with dust.
    'Hey, Crutch, it's nice up here.'
    'Yeah, I'm lookin' around down here.'
    Twiller lay on the bunk. 'Be nice to bring somebody here.'
    'Yeah, your mother,' said Crutch. 'Let's go.'
    They went outside and walked down through the trees to the stream. Twiller jumped on to a rock in the middle of the rushing water. Crutch stood on the shore. From out of the woods darted the kitchen girl.
    'Hubba, hubba!' said Crutch.
    The girl stared at Twiller for a moment, then leapt from rock to rock across the stream. A bugle sounded through the trees. Spider Pronko and several scouts of the Snake Patrol dashed out of the woods.
    Crutch gave the three-fingered Boy Scout salute. The girl disappeared over the river bank and Spider and the Snakes ran after her. Twiller jumped up the riverbank and followed them into the woods. The girl was ahead, weaving through the trees. Twiller put on his speed and passed the Snakes, then pulled up beside Spider, whose wind was shot from smoking.
    'Stop followin' me, man!' gasped Pronko.
    Twiller passed him. The girl ran through a meadow and Twiller ran in after her. She was surefooted and fast and her long hair danced as she ran. Twiller raced through the bush, afraid to catch her.
    She jumped a fallen tree and he followed, through bands of sunlight, into the tall pines. Down a grey avenue of trees they ran, feet falling softly on the needle floor. She stopped suddenly, turned, faced him.
    He skidded to a halt. Her eyes were dark and she was smiling.
    From behind them a Boy Scout jumped out of the grass, waving a pair of semaphore flags. The girl darted away. Out of the bush