“We’ll see; it all depends upon how much work there is.  Possibly we may have to meet Fridays, too, later on, for you have no lessons that night.  Anything more, boys, before the popcorn?”

“I’d like to know,” asked Peter, “if my cousin Philip, who comes from the city to grandfather’s to spend almost every Saturday and Sunday, may join us too.  He wants to fix up his city backyard and doesn’t know how to begin.”

“Bring him along next Saturday.  We’ll be glad to have him, shan’t we, boys?”

“Don’t know,” blurted out Albert, “it’s our club.”

“Keep quiet, Albert.  Let him in as long as he behaves and works.  Isn’t that right?” asked Jay.

“Yes,” answered George and Jack.

“Then, boys, we’ll have Jack’s report next week, as his problem is not so difficult.  If Jay and Albert drop in some day from school they shall have a book which will help them, and George needs one, too.”

At this point Albert dropped off his seat in mock alarm murmuring as he fell, “Worse, much worse than school!” George dropped a heavy book on top of him to add to his comfort.

The Chief went on as if nothing had happened.  “Jack and Peter, shell and pop the corn, George and Jay, crack the nuts.  And you, Albert, run to the cellar for the apples.  Get good ones, young man.”

“Why,” questioned Albert, as he picked himself up, “why must poor Albert always do the hard work, while the other fellows stay by the warm fire?” No one answered him and he slowly marched off.

Soon the corn was popped, the nuts cracked and the big red apples on deck.  And then it was a quiet room save for the snapping of a shell from a half-cracked nut, and the munching of the firm apples as the boys ate.  The firelight played softly over the old room bringing out strongly the big oak table, the group of boys, the silent man, throwing far back into the shadows the old rush-bottomed chairs, the short-legged rockers and the pieces of furniture at all distant from the fire.

The clock struck nine.  The boys reluctantly got up from the floor and struggled into their coats.  Jay unbarred the door.  The man held the light high above his head sending a stream of light after them, George astride his old farm horse ready for his three-mile ride, Jay and Albert trudging after him, and Jack and Peter hand in hand on a run toward the village.

“Good-night!” they shouted back at the man, “We’ll be on time next Saturday night, seven sharp.  Good-night!”

II

THE BOYS’ GARDEN DIFFICULTIES

“It’s fine to see you back, Myron,” began The Chief, looking at a big, good looking fellow, who had dropped quietly into his place by George.  “Are you here for all the time, now?”

“Yes,” replied Myron, “I got tired of the town and am glad enough to be back again.”

“We are just as glad as you are.  Is Philip here for Sunday?”