“Yes, sir; so I understand,” Tom answered.  “Ralph isn’t a scout, you know, sir; and he needed the reward the professor offered—–­needed it in a hurry—–­so he earned it honestly, even though he’d have chosen not to shoot the birds.  He said he was mighty sorry afterward.”

“I’m glad to know that.  I thought he’d regret it.  Well, we won’t cry over spilled blood now; it’s much too late.  By the way, how’s he getting along?”

“Great, sir; he was able to walk around a little, without his cane, when Arthur and I left him this morning.”

“Are you going back to the farmhouse until we start for camp?” inquired Denmead.

“If you’ve no objections, sir.”

“None at all, my boy, as long as you can help your friend.  You must ask him to visit us in camp when he has time.”

“I will, I will!” exclaimed Tom.  “I know he’d enjoy it.”

“And if this surveying scheme of yours—–­or was it Ralph’s?”

“Both, sir.  At least, we talked it over together.”

“If it can be carried out, and if the railroad will buy part of Ralph’s farm, he will be able to go to the School of Mines?”

“Yes, sir, that’s what he wants to do.  You don’t think, then, that there’s any chance of finding iron ore on the property?”

“How should I know?  Stranger things than that have happened, Tom.”

Talking thus, they reached the hotel.  Denmead was immediately surrounded by his troop of scouts, to whom he introduced the new recruits, and presently they all fell to discussing plans for the summer.

As the afternoon waned, Tom made ready to drive back to the farmhouse, declaring that he knew the way perfectly, and even if he didn’t, old Keno wouldn’t make any mistakes.  Arthur decided to stay with the others at the hotel, but Tom did not mind this at all, being quite willing to return alone.  The Scout Master promised to send word just as soon as he had interviewed Mr. Brett, or his secretary.

“If, for any reason, we should decide to go direct from here to Pioneer Camp, and should not go up around Silver Lake and thence to Ralph’s farm, to call for you, Tom,” he added, “I will send Joe to the farm, and he will guide you to camp through the backwoods north of Pioneer Lake.  That will be an interesting experience for you, and Joe is good company.  Take good care of yourself, my boy, until we all meet again at camp.”

“Certainly.  Good-bye, all!” Tom sprang into the buggy and gathered up the reins.  “Good-bye!” he called out again as Keno turned and trotted up the road at a brisk rate.

They watched him until horse and buggy were silhouetted against the sky on the brow of the hill; and, when he vanished down the further side in a hollow, they separated into little groups and went their ways in search of amusement.