“‘Ground work,’ eh?  Look here, Cooper, it is too early in the day to attempt a pun.”

“Pun?  Not at all,” Cooper retorted.  “Don’t you know my present ambition? To-day—–­whatever my aspiration may be to-morrow—–­to-day I mean to fit myself for architecture and landscape gardening.  And when in the misty future you see the name of Architect Cooper Fennimore, Adviser in Extra-ordinary to the President-----”

Cooper darted into the Fox-Otter cabin as Spike dashed at him again, and continued: 

“------then you will remember when you studied the ground work
of his profession with him!”

Their conversation was resumed a little later, when, rubbed down, clothed, and neatly brushed, the two boys responded to the mess call.

“But say, Cooper,” said Spike, “were you in earnest about liking the summer school scheme and wanting to be a landscape artist?”

“I surely was, were, and am,” replied Cooper, as the boys slipped into their places.  “I’ve been watching my uncle-in-law build a house and lay out his grounds, and if I couldn’t hit on a better plan than his, I’d-----”

“Dig a hole, crawl in, and pull the hole after you?” prompted Spike as Cooper paused for a comparison.

“Just about,” agreed the other; and then both boys found their nearest ambitions fully met by the camp cook’s incomparable bacon and eggs.

After breakfast the news was quickly circulated that no further plans were to be divulged until afternoon and that the boys were free to continue their baseball practice.

Soon by twos and three and fours, with balls, bats, and gloves, the scouts drifted over to the diamond.

“I’m mighty glad that you are in for all this study course that’s coming, Ralph,” said Torn Sherwood as they sauntered along.

“So am I,” responded Ralph promptly.  “It is more than kind of Lieutenant Denmead to ask me to remain for it.  I shan’t feel so green when I go to the School of Mines, you know, either, for this Mr. Thayer is a graduate and I can learn a lot from him.  Then it means so much to be with you fellows!  It has been a lonely place on the farm sometimes!”

“I can believe that,” agreed Arthur Cameron, who had joined the boys and overheard their conversation.  “Just the few days I was out there showed me what it might be.”

“Come on, fellows!” urged Dick Bellamy, swinging two bats in large circles as though they were Indian clubs.  “We’re going to beat our best records to-day, you know!”

All this interested Ralph Kenyon immensely and for a few weeks his concern for his own personal affairs was merged with the pleasures and the novelty of the life in camp.  Often he wished that he had more time to spend with these boys, who welcomed him to their fellowship, although he was not even a tenderfoot, with hearty good will and friendliness.  Whatever Ralph did, work or play, he did with all his heart.  He entered into the games and recreations “for all he was worth,” and won the regard of his companions.