Obed was inside doing something at the time, and so Max felt that he could talk freely.  He meant that his three chums should know everything in the beginning, before he called on them to decide whether they would stay over a few days, and guard the property, while Obed was marketing his first proceeds in a distant city; for the pups were really too valuable to be trusted to the tender mercies of an express company, Obed thought.

“I don’t exactly understand how Obed knows that there is a conspiracy hatched up against him, to complete the ruination of his enterprise,” continued Max; “but he seems to think some party has a deep grudge against him.  It may be we’ll know more about this later on; but for the present I’ve promised Obed I’d put up a proposition to you.”

“Then let’s hear it, Max!” exclaimed Touch-and-Go Steve, “though I reckon we c’n all give a pretty close guess at what’s coming.”

“Why, Obed wants to get away with that pair of grown pups, so he can deliver them to the man he’s bargained with; and I’ve proposed that we stay here a few days, and guard his property while he’s off.  Is there any objection to that plan?  I told him I expected I could count on my chums to stick by me.”

“I should say you could, Max,” chuckled Bandy-legs.  “Why, I’m fairly counting on depopulating that big frog marsh while we’re hanging around this section.  And say, Steve here could keep us supplied with trout galore, if only he fished from the bank, and didn’t wade in.”

Both the others were equally prompt to agree.  Indeed Toby “fell all over himself,” as Steve termed it, in his eagerness to give assent; and could only recover after coming to an abrupt halt, taking one of his customary big breaths, and then giving a sharp whistle, after which he finished what he was saying as nicely as anything.

And that settled it, just as Max had been confident would be the case; for he knew his chums too well to believe they would be willing to let such a brave fight be lost when the goal seemed so near.  Obed Grimes had proved to be a fellow after their own hearts, and they found themselves deeply interested in his fortunes.

So when the woods boy came out again—­Max suspected that he had purposely withdrawn from the scene in order not to embarrass them while making their decision—­he was told how they all felt.  And Obed went around shaking hands, with the tears in his eyes.  Plainly he had his whole heart wrapped up in the successful outcome of this odd venture; and when the clouds began to loom up overhead this proffered assistance on the part of the four chums was gratefully received.

“This is mighty nice o’ yuh, boys,” he kept telling them, as though really at a loss for appropriate words best calculated to express the state of his feelings; “and I ain’t goin’ to ever forget it, either.  Now I feel that I c’n start out right away, the day after tomorrow, and deliver them pups to Mr. Sheckard.  Say, mebbe I won’t be a proud boy when he hands me that big check, and I know that I’ve won out against all odds!”