"The young men now before me
are grievously lacking either in understanding or veracity." Numerous
were the mishaps that befell Paul and his companion Stockie, owing to
their love of wandering through the woods. When they were missed, a
professor was generally sent after the fugitives. In visiting their
squirrel traps they often separated, Stockie examining one trap, Paul
another. They would appoint a place of rendezvous, close to some well
known giant pine. The one to arrive first would call the other by a
loud whistle in close imitation of a quail. The other would answer
by a similar whistle. One day when about to mount the tree and give
his usual signal of recall, Paul discovered the professor, who had been
sent after them, approaching. Quickly he climbed into the tree and
concealed himself in the dense foliage. At this moment he heard
Stockie's familiar signal quite near the rendezvous, and to his
dismay, the professor, hidden behind a tree close by, repeated the
quail call, thus leading the unsuspecting Stockie to his doom. As
Stockie neared the tree in which Paul was hidden, he shouted: "I've
got two!" The professor stepped forward and said: "I have one!"
Paul could distinctly over-hear the professor question Stockie in regard
to his chum's whereabouts, all knowledge of which the latter loyally
but untruthfully denied.
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