The Club Pin.
The only other charm our secret club afforded was the wearing of a
mysterious club pin. It was a silver beetle, with the letter G engraved on
the head and the letter B on the body, while down the center of the back
was the letter I (see Fig. 187). In public we called ourselves the G. I.
B.'s, but it was only the initiated members who knew that these letters
were to be read backward, and, with the beetle on which they were
engraved, signified the "Big Bugs." Of course, we had some secret signs
and signals, a secret hand grasp, a peculiar whistle as a warning to run,
another meaning "lie still," and a third signifying "all is well."
[Illustration: Fig. 187. The Club Pin.]
The Combination Lock.
We found it necessary to close the entrance of our cave with a door
fastened with a padlock, so as to keep meddlers out. The entire school had
watched us build the cave house, and, of course, knew just where our
entrance lay. Then, in addition to the outer door, we put in another one,
half-way down the dark passageway. On this Bill rigged up a simple
combination lock which would baffle anyone who managed to pick the
padlock. This inner door opened outward. It was hinged to the floor of the
passageway, and swung up against a frame set in the passageway.
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