“You won’t forget about shipping those skins and things, sir?  We want them for reminders of the happiest trip this club ever took.  Every time we look at those rugs we’ll think of you and your Big M ranch,” remarked Bluff.

“They’ll go in a few days, boys, just as soon as the skins are in proper shape for transportation, depend on it.  And I’ll let you know when Pierre is placed under arrest, and the exiled chief, Running Elk, goes back to his people with all honor.”

The last they saw of Mr. Mabie and Billy, they were waving their big hats vigorously on the little station platform.  Then a curve of the road shut them out, and the four chums settled back in their seats to talk over the thousand and one matters that claimed their attention.

It is not in youth to grieve for long.  They felt bad at leaving the scene of these recent happy events; but presently, in anticipation of the reunion with loved ones at home, this was temporarily forgotten.

Will bemoaned the fact that he had not one single film left.

“And there are so many things I’d like to take on the way home,” he sighed, “and which I let slip on the way up.”

“Yes,” remarked Jerry laughingly, “it’s wonderful what game you see when you haven’t a gun.  But what’s the matter with you trying to get a roll at the first town?  Perhaps we may stop long enough, and they may have photographic supplies at the station.”

“Thank you for the suggestion, Jerry.  It was a bright thought—­for you; but I mean to take advantage of it, and make inquiries.”

Jerry gave him a queer look.  Will was a fellow he could not fully understand.  He seemed to be made up of contradictions, sometimes simple, and again shrewd; now as timid as a girl, and under certain conditions showing the bravery of a lion.  Jerry knew Bluff as he did his own nature, and could dispute with him with energy, but in the case of Will he was always glad to drop the subject before he found he had burned his fingers.

Nothing of moment happened on the journey, at least nothing worthy of mention.  Will did manage to secure a roll of films at the first town.  A messenger came to the car with it, and Frank always supposed from that that his eccentric companion must have wired ahead for supplies.  When Will wanted anything he meant to get it, if there was any possible way of so doing.

In due time they arrived at the station in Centerville, where a host of relatives and friends awaited their coming.  There was a roar of many voices as the four chums appeared in view, and our boys quickly found themselves being hugged and kissed in a most indiscriminate fashion.

If some of the girls, in the confusion, kissed the brothers of their friends, as well as their own, that was not to be wondered at, and everybody seemed as happy as could be, despite these natural blunders.

Finally they managed to push outside the station.