CHAPTER IX

AWAITING A DECISION

While these important operations were in full swing, Dr. Kane brought Mrs. Kenyon home, completely cured and inexpressibly glad and grateful.  Her return, although hailed with rejoicing by Ralph, upset the decidedly masculine housekeeping arrangements which he and his friends had established during her absence.

Mrs. Kenyon could find no fault with the neat and clean condition of the house, nor with the way the dishes were washed and placed in order on the shelves.  She was, however, considerably surprised, not to say startled, at the culinary efforts of her son and his guests, and she declared she could not understand “how anyone can sleep in those beds, the rough-and-tumble way they’re made!” But after making them properly, she realized that there were now not enough beds to go round.  Hence Ralph and Blake for two nights slept in the hayloft in the barn.

The railroad surveyors returned to Oakvale in due time, having fully established the previous survey which Ralph’s father had caused to be made.  There could be no further dispute now over the boundary lines, and “Old Man Perkins’ claim hadn’t a leg to stand on,” as Tom Walsh expressed it, when the report was read to him.  Nothing remained now but to await the decision of the railroad officials as to whose property they would buy.

The three lads, Ralph and Tom and Blake, had gained some valuable experience in their work with the surveying squad.  Toward the end, Ralph had been able to go about with the others everywhere except on the stony slopes of the hills, where the walking was difficult.  His work on the garden patches completed, he had a brief interval of welcome leisure to spend with his helpful guests.

“Well, boys, I guess we’ll start for camp to-morrow, if Joe turns up to guide us,” Rawson said the evening after the survey was completed.  “Why don’t you come with us, Ralph?  I’m sure your mother can spare you for a few days, and we’d all be delighted to have you make us a visit at camp.”

“Yes, you bet we would!” added Blake.  “You’ll come, Ralph, won’t you?” Tom asked in his quiet, cordial way.

“What do you say, mother?” said Ralph..  “Can you—–­I mean, won’t you be glad to be rid of me for a few days and have Aunt Sarah make you a visit here?”

“Not glad to be rid of you, son,” returned Mrs. Kenyon, smiling fondly.  “But I wish you would go!  It would be real fun for you.  Your aunt is coming surely, so.  I shan’t be lonely at all.  Go along, like a good boy.”

“All right, I will.  Thanks for inviting me, Mr. Rawson.”

Thus it was arranged that Ralph should accompany them on a hike through the backwoods that extended for many miles between his farm and Pioneer Lake, southward.  Earlier than usual he rose next morning and attended thoroughly to the chores; then, after a hearty breakfast, the four hikers bade Mrs. Kenyon good-bye and set out for a place in the woods where Joe was to meet them.  This place was at the lower extremity of a small lake called Placid, which was cupped in the hills about two miles from the farm.