“Several of us were there, and had great times, I assure you,” Hugh modestly replied, nor did he offer to enter into any particulars of what had happened in the imperiled town at the time of their visit, though those boys from Oakvale had certainly earned the medals they proudly wore for saving life at the risk of their own on that special occasion.

“Why, yes,” the shorter guard now remarked, “and when I went down home last week in Chester they were talking about how some scouts had helped fight the forest fires over Oakvale way.  Mebbe now you chaps had a hand in that game, too?”

For answer Billy thrust out his left hand before the man’s eyes.

“See that red scar on the back of my hand?” he asked.  “Well, I got that up there fighting the fire on the mountain that was trying to wipe out the home of Mrs. Heffner, a widow.”

“Good for you, Billy!” exclaimed the taller guard, for by now they had come to know the scouts by their several names, feeling quite at home in the temporary camp.  “I’d like to wager that there must have been some tall doings when you got busy with the water pails.  I’ve been on the same line myself, and know what it means to fight a forest fire with the wind a-blowin’ it right along, spite of all you can do to stop it.”

“About this crazy man you were speaking about,” observed Alec, as though a sudden suspicion might have struck him, “it doesn’t happen that his name could be Randall, Judge Anson Randall, does it?”

“Oh! what if it should turn out that way?” gasped Billy, as he comprehended the nature of the idea that must have flashed through the other’s mind.

The tall guard, however, shook his head in the negative.

“That isn’t his name at all,” he told them.  “This man did something terrible, and his money hired the best lawyers in the country to defend him.  In the end he was called insane, and sent to the asylum.  Then his folks tried every way they knew how to get him free.  At last a scheme was hatched up so he could make a break for liberty.  Well, their plans have succeeded.  He’s escaped.  They’re searching for him all over the country up here.  But I reckon, because their plans have been laid so carefully, all our efforts to catch the conspirators will be in vain.”

“Money talks!” said Alec, laconically.

“Well, it talks pretty loud in a case like this,” the man added.

When the meal was ready they all sat around to enjoy it.  Billy in particular seemed very much taken with the idea that they had company.

“We’ve known some queer happenings in our camping out experiences, fellows,” he told the others, as they started in to dispose of the immense amount of food the generous fat scout had cooked.  “This is the first time, however, we’ve had for guests a couple of gentlemen guards from the State Asylum for the Criminal Insane.  I’m glad to see you are enjoying my little snack, thrown together in so hasty a manner.”