<h2 id="c28">CHAPTER XXVIII. <br/><span class="small">THE MYSTERY SOLVED—CONCLUSION.</span></h2>
<p>The sheriff was satisfied to find that he had the
much sought thief in his hands, and that the stolen
property of the rich planter turned up after a search
of the interior of the shack; though some of the
younger elements in his posse felt a bit disappointed
because they had had such a small part to play in the
affair, the honors of which seemed to go to Thad
and the swamp ranger.</p>
<p>As for the scouts, they were fairly wild with delight
over the successful outcome of their trip into
Dixie. Thad declared that they would make for
New Orleans as soon as possible, where he expected
to interview the sisters at the convent school at
which Pauline had been kept for years.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_243">243</div>
<p>Jasper, after he had recovered in a measure from
his bitter disappointment, began to show a yellow
streak. Perhaps he cherished a faint hope that if
he tried to make amends Thad might interest himself
in seeking to have his punishment lightened; as
though anything the boy could do would make a
difference with the stern justice of the law he had
defied so long.</p>
<p>He admitted before them all that the girl was the
Brewster baby, and that he had been guilty of stealing
her, just to get even with those whom he hated
because he had wronged them, and had been found
out. Thad was wise enough to get him to write out
a confession, and have the sheriff and several others
witness the same. He believed that this would be
enough to prove that Pauline was his long lost
sister. But all the same Thad did go to New Orleans
with his chums later on, and made sure to get
the little garments which the sisters had kept all
these years, and which they affirmed had been upon
the child when she was first brought to them by the
man who called himself her father, and who paid
well to have her taken care of.</p>
<p>They left the strange island in the heart of the
quaking bog in the same way they had reached it.
And Jasper thus learned that after all he had not
been the only one who knew about that hidden
ridge, by following which the treacherous bed of
slime could be safely crossed.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_244">244</div>
<p>When the scouts once more arrived at the spot
where their boats had been left they concluded to
spend the night in camp. Alligator Smith would
not leave them; but the sheriff was eager to get
back with his prisoner and the loot, so that he might
claim the rich reward that had been offered for the
capture of the man, and the safe return of the
stolen property.</p>
<p>“Our last night in old Alligator Swamp, boys,”
said Allan, as the afternoon began to wear along,
and found them very comfortable, with the tents
erected, and a cheery fire blazing near by, “and let’s
make it a memorable one by every means in our
power.”</p>
<p>“If we’re meaning to have a real pleasant evening,”
spoke up Davy Jones, with a determined look
upon his face; “then I move that the first thing we
do is to make Bumpus here sink his old suit in the
swamp, and put on his nice clean one.”</p>
<p>“Second the motion; and all in favor say aye!”
shouted Giraffe, excitedly.</p>
<p>A loud shout attested that the desire was unanimous.
Even Thad nodded his head.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_245">245</div>
<p>“We’ve sure been a patient crowd, Bumpus, as
you’ll admit,” he said; “and now that you’ve gone
and got that nasty mud plastered all over you, we’ve
reached the end of the rope. Here, take that jacket
off, and hand it to me. I’ve got an idea the truth is
about to come out. Oh! no wonder some of the
boys have been complaining about this. See here,
Bumpus, your cold is better, isn’t it? You can begin
to sniff around some again, can’t you? Well,
just take a whiff of this coat, and tell me what you
think!”</p>
<p>Bumpus proceeded to do so, while the rest of the
boys awaited the result. Sure enough, the round,
jolly face of the fat scout immediately screwed itself
up as if he were not favorably impressed.</p>
<p>“Put your hand in the inside pocket, Bumpus,”
continued Thad, severely, “because I think you’ll
find a little package done up in paper there, and
which you’ve been wondering about this long while.”</p>
<p>A shout went up from the other boys when Bumpus
did fetch out a small but very <i>powerful</i> packet,
tied with the red cord used by druggists in their
business.</p>
<p>“Why!” ejaculated the astounded Bumpus, staring
hard at the contents of his hand; “would you
believe it, that’s the very package I’ve been worrying
my head off about, and never able to say whether
I gave it to my ma, or left it at the house of some
fellow I visited on the way home!”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_246">246</div>
<p>“Yes,” Thad went on to say, “you put it in the
pocket of your old jacket; and when you got home
just rolled that up, and stowed it in your knapsack,
because we were off the very next day. And when
you put that suit on down here, you had such a bad
cold in the head you never guessed a thing about it.
Bumpus, do you know what that awful stuff is?
Why, it’s just asafetida, one of the rankest drugs
going. Most people have to keep it out in the barn,
because it’s pretty nearly as bad as a skunk to have
around. Perhaps your mother wanted to use it for
a cold. I think that’s what they buy it for; and according
to my mind it would scare any respectable
cold off in one inning. Now, you just take this coat,
and sink it as deep as you can in the swamp; yes,
get in your tent and change to your new suit.
We’ve stood about all we can of this thing.”</p>
<p>Bumpus looked around at his seven chums, and
grinned.</p>
<p>“Well, to think that I’d find that lost package
after all; and had it along with me all the time, but
didn’t know it,” he went on to say, as though this
struck him as the most remarkable part of the whole
affair.</p>
<p>“But we knew it, all the same,” avowed Davy;
“and after you’ve loaded that suit with a stone, and
sunk five feet deep, perhaps we’ll accept you again
as a member in good standing. But you sure are
the most stubborn fellow that ever lived.”</p>
<p>“Anyway, my mind’s relieved of a load,” affirmed
Bumpus, composedly; “because I know now
what I did with that lost package.”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_247">247</div>
<p>He soon made the change, and then some of the
boys went with him to see that he buried the strong
smelling garments where they would never come
back again; which ceremony was conducted with all
manner of laughter and boyish jokes.</p>
<p>True to his promise Step Hen did manage to secure
that musket which the cunning Jasper had used
in constructing his man-trap; and spent an hour extracting
the load from the rusty barrel. He confessed
himself very much disappointed, however,
because, after all, it proved to contain only a single
bullet instead of the handful of missiles that he had
prophesied would be found packed away there.
But he took the old weapon away with him, and declared
he would hang it from the wall in his den at
home, to remind him of other days.</p>
<p>In New Orleans Thad easily procured all the further
evidence needed to prove that the girl whom he
had found with Jasper was really his own true little
sister Pauline; and when the scouts once more
reached Cranford there was quite a furore in the
town over the successful outcome of the boys’ trip
South.</p>
<p>Thad had even asked the sheriff about the escaped
black convicts said to be hiding in Alligator Swamp,
and whom he expected to round up with his posse
after placing Jasper in a place of security; and
when Giraffe and the rest heard that there was
really a fellow who was minus the third finger of
his left hand, they gave the patrol leader great
credit for reading the signs of the trail aright.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_248">248</div>
<p>Having accomplished the one important mission
that had taken them down into Dixie, and successfully
navigated the numerous perilous channels
upon which their boats had embarked, it should not
be necessary for us to accompany the Silver Fox
Patrol any further in these pages; but we shall
surely hope and expect to meet with Thad Brewster
and his chums again at some time in the near future;
for such wide-awake and enterprising scouts
must of necessity constantly encounter new and
interesting adventures which would be worth while
telling. Until that time arrives, then, we will ring
down the curtain, and say good-bye.</p>
<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">THE END.</span></p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_249">249</div>
<h3 id="c29">SAVE THE WRAPPER!</h3>
<p>If you have enjoyed reading about the
adventures of the new friends you have
made in this book and would like to read
more clean, wholesome stories of their entertaining
experiences, turn to the book
jacket—on the inside of it, a comprehensive
list of Burt’s fine series of carefully selected
books for young people has been placed for
your convenience.</p>
<p><i>Orders for these books, placed with your
bookstore or sent to the Publishers, will
receive prompt attention</i>.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_250">250</div>
<h3 id="c30">The Boy Scout Series</h3>
<p class="center">BY HERBERT CARTER</p>
<div class="fig">><ANTIMG src="images/ad1.jpg" alt="" width-obs="250" height-obs="343" /></div>
<p class="center">For Boys 12 to 16 Years
<br/>All Cloth Bound <span class="hst">Copyright Titles</span>
<br/>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
<br/>Postage 10c Extra
<br/>New Stories of Camp Life</p>
<dl class="blist"><br/>THE BOY SCOUTS’ FIRST CAMPFIRE; or, Scouting with the Silver Fox Patrol.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned Among the Moonshiners.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through the Big Game Country.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The New Test for the Silver Fox Patrol.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of the Hidden Silver Mine.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned Among the Game-Fish Poachers.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Secret of Alligator Swamp.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA; A story of Burgoyne’s Defeat in 1777.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; or, The Silver Fox Patrol Caught in a Flood.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; or, Caught Between Hostile Armies.
<br/>THE BOY SCOUTS AFOOT IN FRANCE; or, With The Red Cross Corps at the Marne.
<div class="pb" id="Page_251">251</div>
<h3 id="c31"><i>The Boy Allies</i> <br/><span class="smaller">(Registered in the United States Patent Office)</span> <br/><i>With the Army</i></h3>
<p class="center">BY CLAIR W. HAYES</p>
<div class="fig">><ANTIMG src="images/ad2.jpg" alt="" width-obs="250" height-obs="347" /></div>
<p class="center">For Boys 12 to 16 Years.
<br/>All Cloth Bound <span class="hst">Copyright Titles</span></p>
<p>In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads
unable to leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the
soldiers of the Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them.
Their experiences and escapes are many, and furnish plenty of
good, healthy action that every boy loves.</p>
<dl class="blist"><br/>THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days’ Battle Along the Marne.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash Over the Carpathians.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and Shell Along the Aisne.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian Army In the Alps.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The Struggle to Save a Nation.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the Enemy.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over the Top at Chateau Thierry.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing Days of the Great World War.
<div class="pb" id="Page_252">252</div>
<h3 id="c32">The Boy Allies <br/><span class="smaller">(Registered in the United States Patent Office)</span> <br/>With the Navy</h3>
<p class="center">BY
<br/>ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE</p>
<div class="fig">><ANTIMG src="images/ad3.jpg" alt="" width-obs="250" height-obs="339" /></div>
<p class="center">For Boys 12 to 16 Years.
<br/>All Cloth Bound <span class="hst">Copyright Titles</span>
<br/>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
<br/>Postage 10c Extra</p>
<p>Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads,
meet each other in an unusual way soon after the declaration
of war. Circumstances place them on board the British cruiser,
“The Sylph,” and from there on, they share adventures with
the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, the author,
is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably the
many exciting adventures of the two boys.</p>
<dl class="blist"><br/>THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking the First Blow at the German Fleet.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the Enemy from the Sea.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The Naval Raiders of the Great War.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, The Last Shot of Submarine D-16.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing Submarine.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the Czar.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle of History.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM’S CRUISERS; or, Convoying the American Army Across the Atlantic.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The Fall of the Russian Empire.
<br/>THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, The Fall of the German Navy.
<div class="pb" id="Page_253">253</div>
<h3 id="c33">The Radio Boys Series</h3>
<p class="center">BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE</p>
<p class="center">A new series of copyright titles for
<br/>boys of all ages.</p>
<div class="fig">><ANTIMG src="images/ad4.jpg" alt="" width-obs="250" height-obs="350" /></div>
<p class="center">Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs
<br/>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
<br/>POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p>
<dl class="blist"><br/>THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER
<br/>THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY
<br/>THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS
<br/>THE RADIO BOYS’ SEARCH FOR THE INCA’S TREASURE
<br/>THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION
<br/>THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA
<br/>THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS
<br/>THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE BORDER PATROL
<br/>THE RADIO BOYS AS SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE
<div class="pb" id="Page_254">254</div>
<h3 id="c34">The Boy Troopers Series</h3>
<p class="center">BY CLAIR W. HAYES
<br/>Author of the Famous “Boy Allies” Series.</p>
<div class="fig">><ANTIMG src="images/ad5.jpg" alt="" width-obs="250" height-obs="353" /></div>
<p>The adventures of two boys with the Pennsylvania
State Police.</p>
<p class="center">For Boys 12 to 16 Years.
<br/>All Copyrighted Titles.
<br/>Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs.
<br/>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
<br/>POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p>
<dl class="blist"><br/>THE BOY TROOPERS ON THE TRAIL
<br/>THE BOY TROOPERS IN THE NORTHWEST
<br/>THE BOY TROOPERS ON STRIKE DUTY
<br/>THE BOY TROOPERS AMONG THE WILD MOUNTAINEERS
<div class="pb" id="Page_255">255</div>
<h3 id="c35">Boys of the Royal Mounted Police Series</h3>
<p class="center">By MILTON RICHARDS</p>
<div class="fig">><ANTIMG src="images/ad6.jpg" alt="" width-obs="250" height-obs="343" /></div>
<p class="center">A new series of stories of Adventure in the North Woods
<br/>For Boys 12 to 16 Years
<br/>Handsome Cloth Binding</p>
<dl class="biblio">
<dt class="biblio">DICK KENT WITH THE MOUNTED POLICE
<br/>Dick and his friend Sandy meet with ambush and desperate
hand-to-hand encounters while on a dangerous
mission with the Canadian Mounted Police.
<dt class="biblio">DICK KENT IN THE FAR NORTH
<br/>Outwitting the notorious outlaw “Bear” Henderson
with the help of Malemute Slade, the two boys discover
the secret of a lost gold mine.
<dt class="biblio">DICK KENT WITH THE ESKIMOS
<br/>In their search, with the mounted police, for an
escaped murderer, Dick and Sandy have thrilling
experiences with ice floes and animals in the Arctic.
<dt class="biblio">DICK KENT, FUR TRADER
<br/>On the trail with Corporal Rand, Dick Kent and his
two associates unravel the mystery of the fur thieves.
<dt class="biblio">DICK KENT WITH THE MALEMUTE MAIL
<br/>Entrusted with the vaccine for an isolated trading
post, Dick and his friends win through in spite of
incredible difficulties.
<dt class="biblio">DICK KENT ON SPECIAL DUTY
<br/>Corporal Rand and his young recruits solve a mystery
and find a hidden treasure.
<div class="pb" id="Page_256">256</div>
<h3 id="c36">The Ranger Boys Series</h3>
<p class="center">BY CLAUDE H. LA BELLE</p>
<div class="fig">><ANTIMG src="images/ad7.jpg" alt="" width-obs="250" height-obs="345" /></div>
<p>A new series of copyright titles for Boys 12 to 16
years telling of the adventures of three boys with
the Forest Rangers in the state of Maine.</p>
<p class="center">Handsome Cloth Binding.
<br/>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH
<br/>POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</p>
<dl class="blist"><br/>THE RANGER BOYS TO THE RESCUE
<br/>THE RANGER BOYS FIND THE HERMIT
<br/>THE RANGER BOYS AND THE BORDER SMUGGLERS
<br/>THE RANGER BOYS OUTWIT THE TIMBER THIEVES
<br/>THE RANGER BOYS AND THEIR REWARD
<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the Publishers</span>
<br/>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23rd St., NEW YORK</p>
<h2 id="c37">Transcriber’s Notes</h2>
<ul><li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li>
<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li>
<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li>
<li>Added a Table of Contents.</li>
<li>Fixed the caption of the frontispiece illustration:</li></ul>
<p>When this book and “The Boy Scouts on Sturgeon Island” were printed, the captions of their frontispiece
illustrations were swapped. This eText restores the correct caption from that other book. The
illustrations themselves (and the book name portion of the caption)
were printed correctly. For reference, the other book’s caption is:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“There’s the Island!” yelled Giraffe, pointing to the right.
“But we’re going past it!” shrieked Bumpus. Page 136.</p>
</blockquote>
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