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Transcriber’s Note: This book was originally printed with two Chapter
XVIIs and two Chapter XVIIIs; I chose not to renumber the chapters. A
table of contents has been added for the reader’s convenience.




[Illustration: Lieutenant Decker smilingly extended his hand to his
astonished friend.

“You did not expect either of us, but we are here all the same.”—Page
184.

—_The Young Scout._]




                           THE YOUNG SCOUT.

                 The Story of a West Point Lieutenant.

                          By EDWARD S. ELLIS,

       _Author of “Adrift in the Wilds,” “A Jaunt Through Java,”
                      “A Young Hero,” etc., etc._

                            [Illustration]

                               NEW YORK:
                        A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER.

                    Copyright 1895, by A. L. BURT.




THE YOUNG SCOUT.




CONTENTS.


        I. THE YOUNG CHAMPION.                 1
       II. A WELL EARNED REWARD.              10
      III. DANGER IN THE AIR.                 20
       IV. GERONIMO.                          32
        V. COMPLIMENTS AT LONG RANGE.         40
       VI. APACHE CUNNING.                    48
      VII. A SIGNAL.                          56
     VIII. MAROZ AND CEBALLOS.                64
       IX. MENDEZ, THE SCOUT.                 71
        X. THE EAVESDROPPER.                  78
       XI. CAVARHO AND MENDEZ.                85
      XII. A CALL AND A REPLY.                92
     XIII. THE TROOPERS.                      99
      XIV. WAITING FOR DAYLIGHT.             107
       XV. AN INTERRUPTED FLIGHT.            115
      XVI. THE RANCHMAN’S HOME.              122
     XVII. THE SHADOW OF DANGER.             130
    XVIII. A CRUEL BLOW.                     138
     XVII. “NOW FOR IT.”                     145
    XVIII. “SEE DERE!”                       157
      XIX. AN APACHE SIGNAL.                 170
       XX. ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE.             183
      XXI. A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK.          202
     XXII. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?                211
    XXIII. WHAT BEFELL MAURICE FREEMAN.      221
     XXIV. THE REALITY.                      231
      XXV. A REMINISCENCE.                   241
     XXVI. A SURPRISE INDEED.                252
    XXVII. CONCLUSION.                       265




CHAPTER I.

THE YOUNG CHAMPION.


One warm summer afternoon, a half dozen boys on their way home from the
Burkville School, stopped to rest under the trees, which afforded a
grateful shade at the side of the dusty highway.

No matter how tired such a lot of youngsters may be, they are sure
to be brimming over with mischief, and on the alert for boisterous
amusement. To picture them seated quiet, thoughtful and well behaved is
to picture what was never seen. No such an occurrence is on record or
within the memory of the “oldest inhabitant.”

Among the group who reclined on the grass was little Almon Goodwin,
a <DW36>, with a withered leg, which compelled him to use a crutch
in walking and debarred him from the more active sports of his
playfellows. His sunny disposition, genial nature and scholarly ability
made him a favorite with the rest, who were always glad to favor him
and to accept playful annoyances at his hands which would have been
quickly resented on the part of the other lusty youths.

The largest boy of the group was Buck Kennon, a new pupil, whose folks
had lately removed to the neighborhood. He was two years older than the
eldest of the party, and in growth and appearance seemed to be fully
sixteen years of age. He was a rough, coarse, overbearing lad, who was
feared and disliked by the rest. Three of the boys, who resisted his
tyrannous conduct, had been beaten into submission, and every one felt
that a most disagreeable and unwelcome member had joined the school.
They would have been glad to be rid of him, but there he was and likely
to stay with all his detested qualities.

The party had been lolling on the grass in the shade for some minutes,
when Buck snatched off the hat of the crippled boy and dashed off with
it. Almon hobbled after him, but of course could not overtake his
persecutor.

“That isn’t fair; let me have my hat,” called Almon, halting in his
pursuit; “why don’t you take some one else’s hat?”

The bully, seeing he was not pursued, now picked up a stone, flung the
hat aloft and as it turned to descend, let fly with the stone, which
was aimed so well that it passed through the crown, leaving a jagged
hole. The owner crooked his arm and raised it to his face. His parents
were poor and he could not help crying over the damage done to his
property.

“Oh, what a baby!” called Buck, making ready to fling the hat up again
for another shot; “I ’spose your mother will give you a whipping for
not taking care of that purty head piece.”

Before the hat could leave the hand of the bully, a boy dashed forward,
snatched it from his grasp, and returned it to the sobbing owner.

“Buck Kennon, you are a mean coward! Why don’t you let him alone and
take _our_ hats?”

The boy who had the courage to do this was James Decker, two years
younger than the bully and of much slighter frame. He was the best
scholar in school and liked by playmates and teacher. Having handed
the property of the <DW36> to him, he turned about and confronted the
big lad, who stood a moment amazed at his daring. The face of Buck was
crimson with anger and all saw that trouble was impending.

“What business is it of yours?” he demanded; “I’ll do as I please
without asking you about it. I’ll teach you better than to interfere.”

He made a snatch at the young champion’s hat, but James dodged and
in a twinkling snatched off that of his assailant. James was much
more active than his bulky pursuer, and, dashing a few rods, suddenly
stopped, flung the handsome hat in air, and then with the accuracy of a
rifle-shot hurled a stone clean through it.

“There!” he said, “see how you like it yourself.” The other boys
laughed in their delight, and the bully boiled with rage. He never had
had the tables turned so completely upon him. It was exasperating
beyond endurance. Like a mad bull, he rushed upon young Decker, his
fists clenched and his eyes glaring. He meant to teach the audacious
youngster a lesson that he would remember all his life.

James was through running away from his enemy. He might have dodged and
eluded him, or sped down the highway and escaped him altogether, but
the bully would take his revenge upon the <DW36>, for it was just like
him. Besides, a fight for the supremacy, must come sooner or later, and
it might as well come now.

So Decker braced himself for the shock, and, when the big fellow was
upon him, he struck him twice quickly and with all his strength,
directly in the face. The shock, made the greater by the momentum of
his own body