The next moment three shadowy forms, those of a man on horseback and two others on foot, detached themselves from the enveloping darkness and advanced into the light of Ralph’s campfire.  One of the unmounted searchers carried a lantern.

They were Tom Walsh,—–­on Keno,—–­Jack Durham, and Tom Sherwood.

“What in ’tarnation’s the trouble, lad?” demanded Tom, as soon as the searching party had exchanged greetings with Ralph, fervently overjoyed to see them.  “We’ve been looking for you ever since three o’clock this afternoon.”

Ralph explained the object of his quest.

“I got ’em, too,” he added, pointing proudly to the two eagles.  “But when I started to go home, without Keno, and tried to take a shortcut through the woods, I got lost somehow; and besides, I sprained my ankle, so I can’t walk.  I just had to wait for somebody to come after me.  I hope mother hasn’t been awfully worried.”

“Well, she wasn’t exactly what you’d call calm!” replied Tom.  “But the doc is there at the house now, with her; she might be lots worse.  Does your ankle hurt bad?  Can you ride home?”

“Sure I can!  Let’s start right away—–­unless you fellows want to rest.  You must be tired.”

“I’m not,” asserted Tom Sherwood.  “How about you, Jack?”

The youngest boy gave a little sigh.  “It’s awfully nice up here in the woods by this fire!” he replied evasively.  “Let’s warm ourselves and—–­and hear more about Ralph’s adventures, and—–­do you think Mrs. Kenyon will-----”

“Yes, I do,” interrupted his Cousin Tom.  “Come on, youngster; you and Ralph get on the nag; Sherwood and I’ll walk.  Let’s be on our way.”

So the matter was settled, to Ralph’s satisfaction and relief.

Putting out the three fires and sprinkling even the last embers thoroughly with water from the stream, the four friends started homeward, with Ralph and Jack mounted on Keno in the lead.  Jack carried the lantern, while Ralph, with one hand on the bridle, the other holding the two eagles tied and balanced across the saddle, allowed Keno to pick his own way along the trail.  The sagacious animal seemed to know every foot of the path; even in the gloom of night he made no misstep.  Sherwood and Tom followed close, the latter carrying Ralph’s rifle.

CHAPTER V

FRIENDS AT THE FARM

On the way home, Sherwood explained how he chanced to be one of the search party.

“You see, the Chief—–­that’s what we call our Scout Master—–­was called back to New York on business for a few days, perhaps a week; so he left Arthur and me at Tom’s farm, because it’s only about five miles from Pioneer Camp.  And when your mother telephoned to Tom, saying that you hadn’t turned up all day, Ralph, and that she feared something terrible had happened to you, we insisted on going with Tom to look for you.  But Tom said-----”