An Autumn Camp
Part 8

by RichardUK

Our captors finished retying me at last and stood up. Then Andrew and Matthew reached for a stave each. These were pushed between our tied wrists, then behind our heads, down our backs and finally between our ankles. That done, we were released from the cord holding our hands and feet together - the pole at our backs would prevent us straightening our limbs significantly. If Paul was still in any doubt as to what was about to happen he wouldn't be kept in suspense much longer.

Before our bearers lifted us, Roger stopped them with a signal and said, "Don't you think we had better put their gags back?" The others concurred and strips of cloth were forced between our teeth and tied off in a simple cleave gag. No packing was used in our mouths, much to my relief. We lay there for a few moments longer and from the corner of my eye I saw Roger gather up our discarded shirts and socks and stuff them in one of the bags. I was reconciled to remaining stripped to my shorts for the rest of the afternoon but was grateful that we wouldn't have to return here later to search for our clothes.

At last, all was ready. I watched as Roger and David stooped down, grasped Paul's pole and lifted it gently but firmly off the ground. Moments later, they had the ends of the pole on their shoulders with Paul hanging face down between them, gently swinging from the pole, his head hanging between his elbows. It was all I could do to stifle a chuckle - his trainers had been tied together by their laces and were now dangling from the pole above my friend's arched back. I knew what to expect having been transported in this fashion before but I had to admire my fellow sufferer - despite not having been gagged particularly well he made not the faintest sound of complaint. Now it was my turn. I felt the pole lifted and moments later I was gently swinging from it between my two bearers, just as I had seen my friend a few seconds ago. I raised my head to look around and take stock of our situation but it was too uncomfortable. I let my head droop between my elbows despite the fact that it drew my gag uncomfortably tightly back into my mouth. I decided it wasn't important - there was no one here to hold an intellectually stimulating philosophical discussion with anyway. I saw nothing more of our journey save a few blades of grass and stony ground a few inches from my nose.

In truth, it wasn't desperately uncomfortable although I found my arms and legs aching somewhat as we progressed. The boys set a fast pace and, with a short rest during which our gags were removed and we were each given water from a bottle which was in one of their packs, they covered the remaining distance to the edge of our woods in about 20 minutes. Here we paused again, as they would need to negotiate a fairly steep and narrow path before the last couple of hundred yards. I was deposited on the ground although I was unable to straighten my limbs since the stave was not removed and all four boys manhandled Paul to the bottom. Then it was my turn. This was perhaps the worst part but it was soon over and a few minutes later we were deposited unceremoniously outside the opposition's base. The staves were removed, as were our gags and we were given a long and very welcome drink.  Immediately, we had finished our hands were untied and quickly retied behind our backs - our captors were taking no chances, although our mouths were left free, at least for the moment.

The four withdrew into the patrol hut, evidently for a council of war, leaving us alone for the moment. We were both sitting in the dust a few feet apart, our hands tied behind our backs as I have said. We did at least have a short while for an exchange of ideas. We eyed one another for a few moments - there was no point in trying to manoeuvre to attack each other's bonds - then I said with a chuckle, "Well big boy, how do you feel now?"

Paul looked rueful and then actually gave a soft laugh. "Not too bad. My wrists are a bit sore but otherwise I am fine. I never thought Matthew would do something like that but it was worth every penny, just to stand up to him for once!" he paused and looked a little shifty then added in an undertone, "Actually, it was awesome!"

"You're weird, you know that?" I replied. "We went through all that just so you could get even with your brother." I couldn't help glancing down - the bulge in my friend's shorts was still evident but there were other signs that he had enjoyed the journey more than he should.

Paul pouted slightly and said, "Well, you didn't have to go through it - they would have let you walk!"

"You too if you hadn't been so stubborn," I responded, "but there was no way I was going to let them subject you to that sort of treatment and then allow them to let me off. We're team mates remember!"

"I think you must be as weird as me," Paul chuckled, "but look, we haven't got long. They are obviously not going to set us free and wish us a nice afternoon. We have managed to keep four of their team well and truly occupied for nearly two hours and it must be obvious who has the packages. If we are threatened with further torture, as seems likely, I suggest we tell them what they want to know straight away. It can't harm Stuart and James now and it might just mean we are left a little more comfortable than otherwise. Unless one of the others manages to stage a rescue, we are going to be tied up here for the rest of the afternoon. Neither of us has a chance of getting loose if Roger is doing the tying and that's when he's in a good mood!"

What Paul said made sense. We had no idea of where our two buddies had got to in any case so there was no point in holding back the little information we had. We relaxed and waited for the conference to end.

The four finally emerged from the hut and approached us menacingly. "You don't have the packages Mike gave you and we need to know where they are. You are also going to tell us where your friends are."

I had anticipated the heavy approach and smiled up at them engagingly. "Sure. Stuart and James took all the packages - find them and you may find the contraband! We really haven't seen the other two since the game started. Paul and I agreed to stay together but James and Stuart went off separately." Suddenly, I realised I would have to tell a lie. "As we were the first to leave the cove we don't even know if they set out together or what direction they took".

Fortunately, they seemed to buy my tale. Our captors held a short whispered conversation together but before they finished, we heard a rustle in the bushes and Mike appeared hot, sweaty and out of breath. He stopped short when he saw our bound forms on the ground and gave me a playful dig in the ribs with his toe.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise, meeting you two here."

Without waiting for a response he turned to the others and said, "You can't guess how pleased I am to see you. The rest of us have scoured the plateau I don't know how many times and there is no trace of them anywhere." He paused, and then as an afterthought added, "Well there wasn't until I saw these two. We were beginning to worry about all of you, suspecting that these young terrors had pulled the wool over our eyes." Roger quickly explained how he and David had been caught by the two of us but then rescued, and went on to explain how they had carried us here. I saw Mike grimace at Roger's description. Although our mouths were free Paul and I had not been invited to partake in this discussion but, ignoring Paul, Mike knelt behind me and I felt him examining my bound wrists quite gently.

Very softly, he said, "Are you alright, Titch?" I was rather taken aback by Mike's expression - it was a form of address I was used to receiving from Chris but not outside the family. I assured him I was fine and to stop worrying. I added that our captors had wanted me to walk but that I insisted on being treated in the same way as Paul.

"OK, fair enough, but you are going to have some magnificent bruises in the morning."

 He went to rise but as he did so I said quietly, "There is just one thing". Mike immediately crouched down again full of concern. I struggled to turn round and face him, gave him my most winsome look (I was well equipped for this with large, round brown eyes and long lashes and regularly annoyed my family in this way) and added, "You don't feel like untying me, I suppose?" For a moment I saw him hesitate then suddenly he exploded with laughter.

"You cheeky young devil. Even if I had felt inclined to before, you can forget it now. If I have my way you, can stay like that until tomorrow!" I lowered my eyes and almost regretted my joke. I had no way of knowing if Mike was serious. I just might have overplayed my hand.

As Mike stood up, Roger hit him with more bad news - the fact that neither of us had our packages. Mike pondered this announcement for what seemed like an age then said unexpectedly, "Well good for them! It wasn't quite what I had in mind when we set this up but they are certainly some way to outwitting us. You have to admit these kids really deserve to win. Still, the trophies haven't been awarded yet so we will have to re-double our efforts. Have you questioned these two as to the whereabouts of the others?"

Matthew replied, "I am certain they have no more idea than us."

"OK, then the best we can do is all get back out there and start searching. Get these two properly trussed up so that they can't get away and don't forget to gag them. I'll make a sweep through the woods while you are doing that and meet you on the high ground just on the edge of the wood."(He was referring to the place where we had been brought in).

Roger and Matthew immediately checked the bindings on our wrists but pronounced themselves satisfied.  Meanwhile, Andrew and David busied themselves with new gags, stuffing a cloth in our mouths and tying them securely in place with a second. No more chat for us. As they finished, Roger announced that he had an idea and told the others to untie Paul's ankles. This was quickly carried out and then, with the help of his friends Roger retied my fellow prisoner's feet in exactly the same way as Mike had yesterday, forcing his knees wide apart before crossing the boys ankles and binding them tightly with a diagonal lashing. As before, with his feet crossed and tied Paul was unable to straighten his legs (indeed he almost appeared to be doing the splits). Well satisfied, he placed a hand under the bound boy's shoulder and heaved. With no means of steadying himself with his hands or feet, Paul rolled onto his stomach in a most undignified manner, his knees still spread and his feet now pointing in the air. But the older boy still wasn't satisfied. He asked for one of the staves and as Matthew and Andrew forced the prisoner's knees yet further apart he placed the pole across the back of Paul's knees and lashed it tightly above each of his knees. It was clear the youngster was unable to move and the projecting wood made it impossible for him to roll over. Finally, he pulled Paul's bound ankles up behind his butt and lashed them tightly to his wrists, completing the hogtie. Roger's friends made admiring comments then set about doing exactly the same to me. When they had finished, I was immobilised.

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