“Ye must stay with me to-night,” Captain Josh told the doctor.  “We kin put ye up all right, and in the mornin’ ye’ll have a chance to see Whyn.  I want ye to have a look at her, anyway, fer she’s not been up to the mark of late.”

Thus the doctor made up his mind to remain, and he bade good night to the boys as they left the room, and plunged out into the storm.

“Take care of yerselves, boys,” the captain shouted, “and don’t git lost.”

Such a warning was needed, for no sooner had the scouts left the building than the storm struck them in all its fury.  The night was so dark that they could not see a yard ahead of them.  But the road to the main highway was fenced in, and so they were kept from going astray.

Rod led, and with bent heads the rest followed.  Step by step they pressed onward, with the snow driving full into their faces.  It was cold, too, and the wind, piercing their clothes, chilled them.  It was fortunate that they had not far to go, else they would have found it almost impossible to reach their homes on such a night.

They had gained the highway, and Rod had just turned to leave his companions, who lived in the opposite direction, when he stumbled and fell over something lying in the snow.  His cry of surprise soon brought the rest of the scouts to his side.  Regaining his feet, Rod felt with his hands to see what the object was over which he had tumbled.

“It’s a man!” he shouted, straightening himself suddenly up.  “Maybe he’s frozen.  Come and let’s carry him back to the house.”

CHAPTER XXIV

THE PRODIGAL SON

Captain Josh and the doctor were enjoying the tea which Mrs. Britt had ready for them, when the scouts arrived bringing the man they had found in the snow.  He was a heavy load, and the boys were almost exhausted by the time they reached the house.  In a few brief words Rod explained how they had discovered him, and then the doctor at once examined the unfortunate man.  Soon all was in a bustle about the place, and not until the unconscious man was attended to and in bed, did the boys leave to begin once more their battle against the storm.

The stranger was a man of about thirty years of age, heavily bearded.  His face had the appearance of one who had experienced much suffering, and his staring eyes were deep-sunken in their sockets.  Mrs. Britt had given him only a brief glance, but that was sufficient to remind her of one who was constantly in her mind.  When the captain and the doctor were again back in the kitchen discussing the stranger, she stole to his side, and looked intently upon his face.  She held the light close, and as she did so she trembled so violently that she almost let the lamp fall from her hand.  Recovering herself, she went immediately to her husband’s side and touched his shoulder.

“It’s Jimmy!” she cried, clasping her hands before her.  “It’s our own boy!”