21 - Camp-Fire Girls In The Allegheny Mountains or, A Christmas Success Against Odds by Stella M Francis

In this snowy Christmas adventure, the Camp Fire Girls face hardship in the Alleghenies but discover that joy, hope, and determination can lead to unexpected success. Discover hundreds of ad-free audiobooks, soothing sounds for sleep and meditation, and more—unwind and learn at www.adfreebooks.com!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Alleghany Mountains both Stella m. Francis, Chapter twenty one,
Thirteen Girls in the Mountains. Marin's plea for aid did
not reach Clifford and the other boy's scouts, to whom
it was addressed without interruption. The latter half of it

(00:21):
came in jerked and disjointed praises, and the tone of
utterance was one of extreme fear and distress. Clifford and
Ernie Hunter, the leader of the patrol, although amazed beyond description,
realized that this appeal for assistance was no idle one,

(00:41):
and it was up to them to do something quickly,
or action on their part might soon be too late.
You boys, take care of the men in front and
clip and I will settle this affair back here, Ernie shouted,
don't let them escape. With these words, the patrol leader
seized the latch at the nearest auto door and pressed

(01:05):
down on it. As he did this, the door flew
open with the heavy swing, and Ernie jumped aside just
in time to ward off a body lunge blow from
the fist of a man who sprung out of the
machine like a beast, leaping with all fours. In less
time than it takes to tell it. Two of the

(01:27):
men had broken through the cordon of boy scouts around
the automobile and disappeared in the darkness. The third, mister
Stannock's chauffeur, was not so desperately courageous. The menace of
two or three gun muzzles held within a few feet
of his face was more than he cared to oppose,

(01:49):
so he remained a prisoner. Look Out. Boys called out
Hazel edwards, there are three more automobiles coming along behind,
with desperate men in them. Each of those autos has
three girl prisoners in charge of two men, one of
them the driver. Miles, Ewan, Hall and Jerry. Stay here

(02:12):
and guard the prisoner and protect the girls against those
rascals if they return. Ernie directed, the rest of us
will run back a short distance and meet the next
machine before they suspect something wrong. As he finished speaking,
Ernie led the way, followed by four other boys, back

(02:33):
through the snow twenty or thirty yards, and then stopped
and listened. A short distance further. They heard a sound,
the cause of which could not be mistaken. It was
the rapid pulsating chunk chug of an automobile engine. They
waited a few minutes, but it appeared to be coming

(02:56):
no nearer. The snow has stopped this one too, said
clipperd Come on and we'll give them a surprise. A
few paces farther brought the boys in view of a
machine with the engine run an idol and no driver
visible in front. Naturally, this made them suspicious, and a

(03:17):
halt was called for a little circumspection. Then carefully, cautiously
they advanced toward the automobile, keeping nervous watch on all
sides to avoid a surprise. They reached the machine, which
they had been able to locate by the noise of
the engine, and found it also deserted, save for the

(03:40):
three prisoners bound and gagged in the car, while the
other four in the party of rescuers kept watch against
a surprise. Clipp had cut the bonds on the wrists
of the girls and removed the gags from their mouths.
Where did the villains in charge of this cargo, was
the first question he put to the release prisoners. They skipped, replied.

(04:05):
Violent Monday, two men who had been in the machine
ahead came back and said the game was up, but
they were discovered by a force of boy scouts armed
with guns, and they couldn't afford to put up a fight,
for even if they won, the whole country would be aroused,
and they couldn't hope to carry out their original plans.

(04:28):
They went back to warn the other men. No doubt
you'll find the other machines abandoned too, all right, said Ernie.
You girls stay here in the car and keep warm.
We'll be back as soon as we can find the others.
The boys found the other two automobiles also abandoned, and

(04:50):
released six more camp fire prisoners. Now let's return and
get the head auto started back first. Ernie proposed this
plan was adopted. Arrived at the machine in which Marion,
Hazel and Julietta had been prison passengers, they found a
new and important development in affairs. Jake, the chauffeur, had

(05:14):
confessed he had offered to conduct the boys to Helen's
place of detention and effect her release if the boys
would let him go. It was less than half a
mile away. The boys agreed. Clifford suggested that the girls
remain in the automobile while the scouts made the proposed raid,

(05:37):
but they objected strenuously. In a short time, the rest
of the girls were brought forward, informed of the plan,
and the start was made. All of the girls insisted
on taking part in the expedition. In less than half
an hour, they were at the door of Allan's prison,

(05:57):
where Jake gave the open cess mid knock, an uncouth
woman opened the door. Behind her stood a man who
proved to be her husband. Jake pushed the astonished pair
aside and went directly to the side of the room
opposite the entrance, and lifted a bar across a door

(06:18):
opening into another department. As he opened this door, Marion
rushed forward and was first to greet a slender, pale
faced girl who stepped out eagerly toward her rescuers. Helen
cried the girls in a chorus. Jake slipped out and

(06:39):
was seen no more. End of Chapter twenty one.