THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

By Scout Master Robert Shaler

CONTENTS

CHAPTERS I. The Golden Feather II. A Timely Suggestion III. The Combat on the Cliff IV. A Night in the Woods V. Friends at the Farm VI. A Nocturnal Visitor VII. Boy Scout Detectives VIII. The Surveying Squad IX. Awaiting a Decision X. Camp Life XI. The New Project XII. An Illustrious Example XIII. The Result of the Surveys

CHAPTER I

THE GOLDEN FEATHER

"This was a pretty fair catch, for a change, " thought Ralph Kenyon, as he tied the limp animal to his pack-saddle, and reset the trap, hoping next time to catch the dead mink's larger mate. He ran aquick, appraising eye over the load slung across Keno's broad back. "Pretty good, eh, old boy?" he added aloud, stroking the velvetynose of his dumb companion on many a solitary hunt. "Now, Keno, youhang around, and browse on these young cottonwoods, while I do somefiguring. I want to see what I'm likely to get for this nextshipment of pelts. "

The old horse, nothing loath, obeyed his young master's behest aspromptly as though he had fully understood the words. Meanwhile, Ralph found a mossy spot on the shady side of a big gray, lichen-covered boulder, and, seating himself thereon, with his backcomfortably adjusted to a depression in the rock, he drew a wornaccount book from a pocket of his corduroy coat. Moistening histhumb he began to turn the pages rapidly, until he came to the placewhere he had made the last entry in his accounts. With a stubbypencil, which he had taken from another pocket, he jotted down thenew items:

"So far, one mink, six coon, three skunk, a gray fox, and seventeenrabbit skins. All told it ought to bring---let me see. " He relapsedinto silence, as he estimated the total, and then he sighed deeply. "Not very much, " was his inward comment; "not anywhere near enough!"

Ralph felt that it was high time that he brought to a close hisseason's operations with trap and gun. The spring was unusuallyearly this year, and the fallow truck patches were fairly clamoringfor his attention. Yet he was reluctant to abandon his winterpursuit of pelts and to return to the sterner and less thrillinglabor of ploughing and planting and peddling vegetables. 

Not that he was averse to hard work---far from it! Ralph Kenyonwas as industrious, energetic, and sensible a young fellow asone would wish to know; yet, being a very average, normal lad, andat that age when love of freedom and adventure is foremost, henaturally preferred the varied life of a huntsman and trapper---eventhough his field of activity was not extensive---to the moilingoccupation of a market gardener. 

On the other hand, there were times when he thoroughly enjoyed thelabor of wresting a livelihood from the soil, and he took pride inraising the choicest products that could be offered for sale. Suchspells were most frequent in midsummer, when all nature was in aplacid mood for growth; but in autumn and spring came livelier hopesand a stronger call to this lad, and in his own way he set aboutaccomplishing the chief aim of his life, the great end to whichthese winter pursuits were but a means. 

After the death of his father, which had occurred less than a monthafter his graduation from High School, Ralph had taken theresponsibility of the small farm upon his eighteen-year-old shoulders, bravely putting aside his cherished plans for a course in the Schoolof Mines until he could save the necessary funds from his individualearnings. That was a year ago. In the interval he had found anopportunity to study the principles of surveying, and for two weekshe had acted as guide to a party of university students doingresearch work in his native hills. For this service he had beenpaid twenty-five dollars---which had been promptly banked as anucleus of his college fund. 

How simple and easy it had seemed, earning his way through theSchool of Mines, while talking with those enthusiastic young collegiansand their professor! How well he remembered the things they had said, the advice they had given him! Yet now, after eight months of hardwork, constant hunting in the woods, and rigid economy, he seemedno nearer the goal than he had been when the portals of High Schoolclosed behind him forever. In fact, just as he was now placed inhis prospects he faced a bitter discouragement; he was on thethreshold of a new calamity. 

His mother, who took in fine sewing, had developed a serious eyetrouble that threatened to put an end to her earning power, and toleave her totally blind unless she submitted to a very delicateoperation within a few weeks. Of course, his mother's welfarewas stronger than any other consideration with Ralph, but he hada vague idea that operations cost a great deal of money. At least, he had been told so by his nearest neighbor, Tom Walsh, a farmerwho lived several miles from the town of Oakvale, which was thestation from whence he would have to take his mother by train toNew York. A day's journey, a week or more in the hospital, andincidental expenses---even with the aid of his precious hoard andthe inadequate sum these furs would bring him---how could he everraise enough to help her, in time?

With another deep sigh, he replaced the worn account book, andrested his head against the mossy hollow in the stone, gazingdisconsolately up through the branches of the trees at the jaggedcliffs that towered high above the mountain trail for a while, nothing was heard in ravine or glade save the brawling of thecrystal-clear brook that went dashing and tumbling over the stonesof its rough bed, in a mad race to its fall of twenty feet ormore, or the crunching of succulent twigs and leaves of cottonwood, or the snapping of dead wood, as old Keno moved leisurely aboutfrom one spot to another. Side by side, on a jutting crag thatleaned far out over the brook, sat a splendid pair of golden eagles, joyously preening their plumage in the spring sunshine. The birdsaroused no special interest in Ralph's mind, however, on thisparticular morning; he had seen them many times before, whilerambling over the mountains with his father. But the sight oftheir glittering napes awakened memories of that loved and admiredman. 

"Dad used to say---and I guess he believed it, too---that iron inpaying quantities lies just beneath the stones of our little farm, "mused Ralph. "We might become rich, mother and I, if we could onlyget money enough to open up our mine. "

One of the eagles, rare birds in that part of the Country, evidentlyalarmed or annoyed at the approach of some intruder on their domain, some animal or human being Unseen by Ralph, thrust out its head, opened its beak, and uttered a harsh shrill cry; at which its matewalked forward to the very edge of the crag, poised there for aninstant, and then, spreading wide wings, launched itself into theair and sailed swiftly out of sight. It returned, however, in afew minutes and rejoined its mate on the ledge of rock. 

"Old King Eagle, " called Ralph, whimsically, knowing well thathis voice would not carry above the roar of the brook, "I wishyou'd tell me where you get all your gold! I believe I'd go diggingwith my finger-nails this morning if I only knew where to begin!"

As if in answer to his appeal, one golden feather drifted down andlay glittering iridescently among the pebbles at his feet. 

The lad sprang up with a laugh; then, going down on his knees, hebegan to dig at the exact spot on which the feather fell. Imagination had carried him for the moment to a point of almostsuperstitious energy. But the spell passed quickly. With a scornfullaugh, he straightened his lanky form to its full height. 

"Gee!" he exclaimed aloud. "I never supposed I could be such a fool!"

A low laugh sounded behind him, startlingly near, and, turning toglance over his shoulder, he beheld a tall, lean, swarthy young mandressed in a faded and soiled brown suit, with a soft felt hat pulleddown over his eyes, and leggings like those often worn by woodsmen. 

"Seven kinds of a young fool, eh?" remarked the stranger, shiftinga long-handled axe and a heavy wooden mallet which he carried fromhis shoulder to the ground. "Well, you ain't no fool, boy, an' Iknow it, an' that's why I follered you up this trail. I want terhave a little confab with you to-day. Know who I am?"

"No, I don't know you, " Ralph replied truthfully, "and I can't guesshow you knew I was up here in the hills. "

"Your ma told me. I stopped at your shack, about two hours ago, an' she told me you was out lookin' after your traps. Any luck?"

"Not much. " Ralph did not wish the man to observe either thelocation of the traps or the valuable mink that dangled from Keno'ssaddle. "What did you want to see me for?" he queried, after aminute's pause, during which he eyed the woodsman quizzically. 

"You're Ralph Kenyon, ain't you?" asked the other, evidently insome doubt. 

"Yes. Who are you?"

There was a, blunt directness in Ralph's questions that seemed todisconcert the man who had expected to meet a rather shy, immaturelad---certainly not one who bore himself with an air of calmself-possession and who wasted no words. He gave another low laughthat ended in a chuckle, and replied briefly:

"My name's Bill---Bill Terrill---perhaps you've heard tell o' me?I'm Old Man Walsh's nevvy, your friend Tom's Cousin. "

"I've heard of you, " said Ralph, drily. 

"Who told you, then?"

"Jack Durham---another cousin of yours. "

"Oh! You don't mean the kid that joined that 'ere Boy Scout crowdover at Pi'neer Camp last summer, after---after------"

"After you attacked the old man and him in the woods, one day. Yes, he's the one. He told me. "

"You an' him pals?"

"Not exactly; he's much younger than I. "

"How old are you?"

"Nineteen next month. "

"Old enough ter know better, eh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Better than ter go diggin' fer---well, gold, in these 'ere parts. "

A blush overspread Ralph's freckled face, but it faded as quickly asit had come, and he continued to stare at Bill Terrill. 

"I wasn't digging for gold, " he said quietly. 

"Of course not! I was only joshing you, boy! Say, what I wanted tersee you about is this: there's some dispute between thewhat-d'-you-call-uns?---executors?---of your dad's will and Old ManPerkins, who owns the farm next ter yours, about the boundary lines. Old Man Perkins, he claims-----"

"He has no claim whatever!" interrupted Ralph, vehemently. "That olddispute was almost settled before my father's death. Dad had ourfarm surveyed, charted, and the boundaries marked. I can show youthe stone on the northwest corner; it's only a few yards away, overthere. "

"Well, Perkins is havin' _his_ acres surveyed now, " said Terrill, "an' I'm one of the crew that's doing the job fer him. I'm axeman. You see, I've reformed consid'r'ble since-----since last summer, andI j'ined a surveyin' crew; axeman now, rodman later, if I'm good, an'-------"

"But why did you want to see me? Was it about this boundary question?"

"Oh, you admit there is some question about it, after all?"

"Are you trying to pump me, Terrill?" asked Ralph, shrewdly suspicious. "If you are, you won't get any satisfaction until I've seen ourlawyer. It seems to me you're playing detective instead of surveyor, and you don't do it very well! You had better stick to your job, and the axe!"

Terrill grinned. 

"If it turns out that your pa made some mistake or was---er---toocock-sure about the lay o' this land, what d'you think Old Man Perkinswould do about it?" he inquired meaningly. 

"Prove his claim, and take part of our present farm away from us, ofcourse, " Ralph retorted. "But there is no mistake. The land is ours. "

"And if it is, would you be willing to sell----"

"Not a square foot of it---to Perkins. "

So saying, Ralph picked up his cap, and carefully brushed off the clayand leaves. As he did so, the shining feather caught his downcasteyes once more, and this time he stooped, picked it up, anddeliberately stuck it under the band of the inside of his cap. Thenhe secured the faithful Keno, and, without another word to BillTerrill, who had moved away whistling defiantly, he tramped homeward, in a rather gloomy mood. 

CHAPTER II

A TIMELY SUGGESTION

Doctor Kane, the kindly physician from Oakvale, was just coming downthe path from the Kenyon farmhouse as Ralph rode into the yard. Hepaused beside his car, seeing the lad dismount hastily and comeforward with an anxious appeal in his brown eyes. 

"How---how is she to-day?" Ralph asked, when he had grasped thedoctor's outstretched hand. "Her eyes---are they------"

"No better, and no worse, " replied his friend; and again the doctorexplained the situation in simple terms that Ralph could understand. 

"What will the operation cost?" Ralph asked desperately. 

Doctor Kane pondered for a moment. 

"Well, if she will consent to go before a clinic, I think I can gether off with a hundred and twenty-five dollars, including hospitalfees, " he replied. "I'll be glad to go with her to the city, Ralph, and pay the car fares. "

Ralph knew he meant by "car fares" traveling expenses, for he wasfamiliar with Doctor Kane's habit of belittling his many charitableacts. He knew also that, if necessary, the doctor would gladlylend him the sum of money which stood, a tangible barrier, betweenhis mother and total darkness; but with a sense of indomitablehope and modest pride, he had resolved not to ask for that favor, which, he realized, would be no small one, except as a last resort. 

"You're awfully kind, sir, " he responded warmly. "I appreciate-----"

"Nonsense!" ejaculated Doctor Kane. "It will be a pleasure forme to do anything I can for your mother and you, my boy. Yourfather was one of the best friends I ever had, and some day I'lltell you how I came to owe him a debt which I shall never be ableto repay. Just call on me if I can help out, won't you?"

He closed the gate and went forward to crank up his runabout, butRalph detained him a few moments longer, to tell him about theencounter with Bill Terrill. When he had finished, the doctoradvised him to pay no attention to the vague overtures made bySilas Perkins' hireling, until the doctor himself had referredthe matter of the survey to the coexecutor of Mr. Kenyon's will. After that, it would be time to consider a sale, definitely. 

"Don't let anyone bunco you, my boy, " he added, as he climbed intohis car and grasped the steering-wheel. "By the way, Ralph, I sawmy friend Professor Whalen in Oakvale, the other day. He told me hesighted a fine pair of golden eagles up here in the mountains, recently, and would willingly give a hundred and fifty dollars forthat pair, if they're as good as he thinks they are. He wants themfor a gift to his college museum. There's a chance for you!"

"So much---for a pair of eagles!" exclaimed the boy. "Did hereally mean it?"

"I'll bet he did! You don't know what a good sport Whalen is whenhe strikes any thing out of the ordinary in that line. If I wereyou, Ralph"---here the doctor leaned over the side of his car, and spoke earnestly---"I'd try to locate their eyrie and capturethem, dead or alive, Or, it might be worth your while even to leadthe professor up to a place where he could get a safe shot at thebirds. He talked of coming up here some day this week. I tell youwhat I'll do; I'll send him here to you, and you can guide him. "

"No, no!" protested the lad, eagerly. "Just give me his address, and I'll do my best to get the pair for him and bring them to himin the village. "

"You can ride over with me and see him, the next time I come up here, "said the doctor. "Good luck, Ralph!"

"Thank you, sir! Good bye!"

When the automobile skidded out of sight, leaving a cloud of dust, Ralph remained standing by the gate, warmed by a new hope whichthe doctor's suggestion had kindled in his mind. No longer didthe hundred and twenty-five dollars seem unattainable, no longerdid clouds of gloom and anxiety hide their silver lining! Herewas another way of earning money for his mother's desperate need:an uncertain, difficult, even dangerous way, to be sure, but onewell worth trying. Yes, he would make the attempt, even thoughhe hated to take the lives of those splendid creatures of theair. He determined to get those eagles for the professor. 

Full of this plan, he led Keno to the stable, unsaddled and fed him, and then, while waiting for his mother to call him in to dinner, skinned the mink he had trapped. His active mind was busy devisingthe best way of securing the prize. 

In the house, he found his mother less dejected than usual; doubtlessthe doctor's visit had had a cheering effect upon her. However, Ralph said nothing to her of his new hopes, because, after all, theymight prove too slender to build upon; they might lead only todisappointment. He plunged at once into a lively account of hismorning's hunt, and from that he went on to discuss with her thefirst steps to take in the early planting. 

The next morning Ralph was up before sunrise. Instead of bringinghis trapping to an abrupt end, he decided to get up at an earlierhour than before, in order to have time for his daily rounds ofvisiting the traps. He did not know which day the professor mightchoose for coming in quest of the golden eagles, and he was determinedthat no one should get ahead of him. 

"After all, he can't come hunting up here on our land without mypermission, for that would be trespassing, " reflected Ralph. "Andif he should turn up, I can tell him that I'm on the job, myself. "

Two busy days passed. While attending to his traps, in the earlyhours, Ralph never once allowed his rifle to lie beyond his reach;yet a third day went by, and he had no chance for a shot at thecoveted birds of prey. Several times he caught sight of themhovering above the gray cliffs where he knew they were preparingto build a nest, but each time they were too far away to risk a shot. 

And still no sign of the professor, or of anyone else in pursuitof the eagles. Had the professor gone away from Oakvale, or, on a hint from Doctor Kane, was he merely waiting and giving Ralphevery chance to earn the money? If the latter were the case, it wasquite unlikely that Professor Whalen would share the secret of hisdiscovery with any other possible hunter. 

* * * * * * *

Several miles away from the Kenyon farm, on the shore of Pioneer Lake, which was separated from the farm by the rugged slopes of oldStormberg and the adjacent hills, was a fair-sized camp which borethe same name as the lake. It was occupied every summer by a troopof Boy Scouts under the leadership of an ex-officer of the UnitedStates Army. In fact, Pioneer Camp was well known in that sectionof the country, and Ralph had often heard of it from Tom Walsh andTom's young cousin, Jack Durham, who had joined the troop. At onetime, before his father's death, Ralph had longed to become a memberof the troop; but one duty or another had prevented him in thesummer, and now it seemed out of the question. Daily work, thenecessity of earning a living for his mother and himself, and themanagement of his farm, demanded all his attention, and gave him notime for play. 

On the fourth day of Ralph's new hunt, he was obliged to drive overto Oakvale to bring home groceries and provisions as well as seedswhich he had ordered. In the town market he saw Doctor Kane talkingto a tall, bronzed, soldierly-looking man who wore a khaki uniformwith the Scout Masters' badge embroidered on the coat-sleeve. Accompanying this man was a half-breed Indian, known in thatvicinity as Joe Crow-wing, or "Injun Joe, " the guide and chiefwoodsman of Pioneer Camp. The half-breed hung about in thebackground, conversing with two lads also dressed in scout uniform. 

Catching sight of Ralph, the doctor beckoned to him. 

"Come here, my boy, " he said, in his cordial way, as the youngfellow approached, "I want you to meet Scout Master Denmead, who'sup here arranging for the opening of camp next month. Denmead, this is Ralph Kenyon, a very particular friend of mine. "

"Glad to know you, Kenyon, " said the Scout Master, grasping Ralph'shand. After talking with him for a few minutes, he called thetwo other boys over from the counter on which they were sittingand introduced them to Ralph as Tom Sherwood and Arthur Cameron. 

"Aren't you fellows up here earlier than usual?" asked Ralph, presently, finding his habitual reserve wearing away. 

"Yes, we are, " replied Tom Sherwood. "You see, we graduated fromHilltop last February, and when we found out that the Chief wascoming up here, we asked him to take us in tow for a while beforecamp regularly opened. "

"He's going to give us a course in geology, " added Arthur Cameron, "and we're going to make a survey around here this summer. "

"Geology!" repeated Ralph. "That's my pet subject. Some day, youknow, I'm going to study mining engineering. "

"That so? Well, come along with us for a 'prelim, '" suggestedArthur, in the true scout spirit of friendliness. 

Ralph sighed and shook his head. 

"Wish I could!" he admitted. "Haven't time to spare, though. "

"Studying?" queried Tom. 

"No, working" And Ralph stated briefly and frankly the nature ofhis work. 

"Like it?" again inquired Tom, who was always interested in peopleand their occupations. 

"I don't mind the work itself, " said Ralph, "it's not half bad, youknow. But selling vegetables in the village market, and hagglingwith stingy buyers over the price of cabbages and green peas, iswhat gets my goat!" He laughed ruefully. "I guess I'll have to bejogging on my homeward way, " he added. "So long! Come over andsee me on the farm, if you're ever along that way. I'll show youmy traps and perhaps we can go out on a little hunt--er---that is, if you-----"

"Thanks; we will, " said Tom. "But we don't hunt animals to kill;it's against scout rules in our troop. "

"We hunt 'em with a camera, " Arthur explained. 

"Oh, I see. Well, so long. "

The three lads shook hands. 

"So long! Hope we'll meet again soon. "

Ralph then took his leave of Denmead and Doctor Kane, and went onhis way, with a new idea buzzing in his mind: so they were goingto make a survey of that locality! He could invite them toinvestigate his land, and---what if his father's hopes andbeliefs should prove to be founded on bed-rock? Bed-rock, richin ore? Could it be more than a dream? If they should discoverany iron, anything---they were nice fellows---he could trust them. Very decent chaps to know, perhaps to have as friends. And theydidn't approve of trapping or shooting! Against scout rules, eh?And was he---oh, well, it was fair play, and he needed whateverextra money he could earn. Those eagles! Yes, he must not loseany more time. The eagles would have to be the prize of hismarksmanship, even though he winged them against his will. 

* * * * * * *

At the end of that week he told himself that he would have to getthe birds that day, or give up the hunt for them, and devote hisentire time to the gardens. He resolved to spend the whole day inthe neighborhood of Eagle Cliff, as he called it; for get them hewould, then or never, before going back to the presence of hispatient, pathetic, brave little mother. 

Accordingly, about five o'clock in the morning, he led the faithfulKeno from his stall, and rode slowly down the dusty road until hecame to a point where the narrow bridlepath branched off the roadand wound upward into the silent woods. Following this path untilit became indistinguishable on a thick carpet of moss and leavesand coarse fern, he reached the big boulder at last; there he leftKeno safely tied and hidden in a clump of alders. Then he went on, several rods down the trail, and took up his position directlyacross the stream from Eagle Cliff. 

CHAPTER III

THE COMBAT ON THE CLIFF

Lying on his back in the narrow trail, with his eyes continuallyroving over the jagged side of the cliff, Ralph became drowsy, inspite of his desire to catch sight of the eagles when they rose tostretch their wings in the first flight of the day. Along theeastern rim of the hills the sky was paling into a yellow glowwithout a cloud to mar its perfect clarity. 

How long the young hunter dozed he could not tell, but he rousedwith a start, and sat bolt upright, glancing around him impatiently. Directly over his head, soaring high over the trees, was one of thegreat birds, evidently in search of prey: perhaps an unwary rabbit, squirrel, or fat woodchuck, for breakfast. 

Catching sight of the bird as it hung poised in mid air, Ralphmuttered:

"If that's the male, hunting alone, the female must be on thenest---which will make matters twice as difficult for me. "

Even as he watched it, the solitary bird made a sudden swoop downward, sailed closer over the tops of the highest trees, and then suddenlydived into their midst, emerging after a few minutes with a smalllimp form seized in its talons. With this prize the eagle now flewswiftly and silently to a ledge on the side of the cliff, anduttered a curious loud whistle of invitation. In response, thelarger bird, the female, appeared on the ledge, and the pairforthwith began their meal. 

Very cautiously, so that his slow movements might have the leastpossible chance of being observed, Ralph reached out for his rifle, and---shifting his position by crawling forward until the feastingeagles were within range---fired. At the report, one big birdtoppled over the precipice to a ledge not ten feet above the foamingwater, on the other side of the stream. Its mate, with a harshscream of alarm, darted up into the air, circled once over the spotwhere Ralph crouched, and flew hastily away. It was so swift inits flight from the place that Ralph was unable to get a second shot. 

Nevertheless, even in his vexation at apparently losing it, Ralphcould not refrain from giving a shout of triumph. Hurriedly securinghis pony, he made a detour of about half a mile in order to crossthe mountain stream; for to cross it at the spot which he had chosenfor his ambush would have been impossible, owing to the depth andswiftness of the current. 

After fording the stream at the further point---under protest fromKeno, who picked his way very carefully and grudgingly over thetreacherous rocky bed---Ralph dismounted and tied the horse to atree. Then he walked carefully along the base of the cliff, crawling or jumping from one rock to another, taking advantageof every slight projection, and holding his breath for dread lesthe slip and hurl himself into the foaming water. At last he cameto the foot of the rock where, but a short time ago, the eagleswere devouring their breakfast. There he paused to get his windand to look for the fallen bird. 

Quite out of reach, on the ledge above his head, the female eaglelay stunned and broken-winged, but still alive. To scale thecliff was not possible, for here it sloped sharply out over itsbase, where it had been worn smooth by the stream at some previousage when the water was swollen higher. There were no trailingvines or overhanging saplings strong enough to bear Ralph's weight;but, foreseeing this very obstacle, he had brought a rope whichhe now uncoiled from around his waist. He flung it dexterouslyover the ledge. To his utter surprise, it caught there at themiddle, while the other end dangled within his grasp. He seizedit, gave a few strong tugs at each end of the rope to make certainit was secure, leaving his coat and rifle on the ground, and thenhe began to climb up, hand-over-hand. 

Gaining the ledge, he at once saw the wounded bird. After a short, sharp struggle, he dispatched her, and was in the act of tyingthe lifeless body to his hunting belt when he was startled suddenlyby a loud whir of wings, and something hit him a stinging blow onthe back of his head. The male eagle, attracted by the shrillcries of its mate, had come to the rescue!

A hasty glance over his shoulder showed him an alarming glimpse ofthe mighty potentate of the air bent on revenge for the death ofhis mate. Ralph ducked just in time to escape another blow fromthose powerful wings, and he struck out wildly with his right arm, missing the winged warrior by a mere inch. He saw that he wasgoing to wage battle, then and there, on the face of thatprecipitous cliff. 

As he drew his long hunting knife out of its sheath, the eagledarted at him once more. Ralph threw his arms up to shield hishead and face, and as he did so, his foot slipped. He clutchedfrantically at the rock to save himself from falling, and droppedhis knife. He heard it clink on the rocks several feet below hisreach. 

Before he could fully recover his footing, the bird was upon him, beak and talons, seizing the sleeve of his shirt and making gashesin the boy's arm. By a mighty effort Ralph got his balance again, and turned to meet the onslaught, waving his arms like flails, tobeat down the force of those wide threshing wings. Again and againthe eagle made a vicious rush, and once managed to get underRalph's arm and to take an ugly nip in the flesh just above theeye. Maddened by the pain of this wound, and half blinded bythe blood which soon began to flow from the cut, Ralph snatchedthe dead bird from his belt and swung it around his head likea club. Once this improvised club crashed against the attackingbird, and Ralph took advantage of the latter's hasty retreat toslide down the ropes and land on firmer ground. He tossed thedead bird aside, and lunged forward to recapture his knife. Butthe king of the clouds was not by any means outdone. Indeed, thesight of his dead mate lying on the rocks, near where Ralph wascrouching with his back protected by the sloping rock wall, seemedto put a new idea into the crafty bird's brain. Screaming withrage, he swooped down after Ralph, and alighted on the groundabout two yards from the place where the lad crouched in his protectingniche. Then, with wings bowed outward and downward like a belligerenthen, with beak snapping and talons spread wide, rending the air, hecharged straight into Ralph's face. 

The plucky youth was ready for this, however, and he awaited theattack, knife in hand. He was unwilling to use the knife if hecould avoid doing so, for a bad cut might injure the skin andfeathers of the coveted trophy. But it seemed likely that suchconsiderations would have to be banished in the face of this horribledanger. 

After repeatedly beating back the infuriated eagle, Ralph saw thathis best blows were glancing harmlessly from its shining armor offeathers, and that the vengeful creature was gaining courage withevery charge. Moreover, in his cramped position he was at adisadvantage, while the blood trickling down from the wound in hisforehead made his sight uncertain. In desperation he resolved toturn the knife edge uppermost and to strike with an upward motionas the bird rushed close. 

His next blow showed the wisdom of this course. Aided by the bird'sreckless attack, the keen blade found its mark under one of thosegreat pounding pinions, and by the diminishing force of the nextcharge, and the next, Ralph knew that the eagle was weakening. 

Another lucky thrust hurled the wounded bird to the ground, whereit lay kicking feebly for a few moments; then, with a convulsivejerk, it flopped over and lay still at the edge of the stream. 

Ralph slid out from his crevice, and bathed his face in the coldwater. Refreshed, he picked up the two splendid birds and gazed atthem almost sadly, with no feeling of elation. He was full ofadmiration for the brave fight they had made. 

"I had to do it, I had to do it, " he muttered apologetically, asif seeking an excuse for an act which he found difficult to defend. "Better do this than to borrow money and get into debt. "

Thus he argued; but, in spite of his gladness at having won themeans wherewith his mother might undergo the operation, he felt areaction after the excitement of the fight. Weary and wounded, andmoved to a pitying admiration of the prize within his grasp, it wasnothing to the discredit of this simple, manly lad that he shed afew tears over his victory. Have not seasoned hunters been knownto weep over the death of a noble stag or a gentle doe? And werethese eagles no less noble in their sphere of the animal kingdom?

Almost sadly he tied them to his belt, carefully avoiding furtherinjury to their plumage; and as he did so, the thought crossed hismind:

"Wonder what those fellows and the Scout Master would say aboutthis, if they knew?"

Still wondering, he retraced his steps along the edge of the stream, back to the spot where he had left Keno. Imagine his dismay andconsternation when he found the tie-rope broken and the pony---gone!

Keno had disappeared! Had he grown restive and wandered away, orhad he been stolen by some lawless prowler among the hills?

The situation, in either case, was bad enough, for the distancehome was long, and Ralph was sore and aching in every limb. Knowinga horse's infallible instinct for going homeward, he felt noapprehension that Keno would get lost; yet he realized what asensation the pony would make when, provided he were not stolen, he ambled into the farmyard, saddled and bridled and riderless!

"Mother'll be scared out of her wits!" thought Ralph. "Gee! I wishthis hadn't happened! I wish Keno hadn't bolted like this! My fault, I suppose; I ought to have tied him more firmly, but in my hurry toget the first eagle I neglected to do it!"

Removing his belt, he sat down on a flat stone in the sunlight, andstared at the ground dejectedly. 

"I guess this is when little Weary Willie walks home!" he groaned. "Confound the luck!"

Suddenly his gaze became riveted on a peculiar mark on the soft dryloam: the imprint of a large paw like that of a cat rising hastily, he examined the ground all around the place and discovered manysimilar tracks. 

"It's a bobcat!" he exclaimed aloud. "A big bobcat or a lynx!The critter must have frightened old Keno and made him hit thetrail home! Hope I don't meet the brute! I've got only two orthree cartridges left. "

Pausing only to remove his coat and shirt and to bathe the upperpart of his body in the stream, he put on his garments again andset forth along the trail. As he walked slowly through the fragrantwoods, squirrels and jays chattered derisively at him overhead, andfrightened rabbits dashed helter-skelter among the thickets. Hegave them not the slightest heed; his chief interest now was to gethome as soon as possible and to relieve his mother from anxietyover his absence. 

To hasten his arrival he resolved upon taking a short-cut throughthe thickest part of the forest, which, though it would eventuallylead him out upon the boundary of Silas Perkins' farm, and necessitatehis crossing that surly neighbor's property, would save at leasttwo miles of the return journey. 

Getting his bearings by the sun, in true woodsman's fashion, heleft the trail and struck off through the unblazed aisles of thewood, going onward farther and farther at a resolute pace. Thesun presently was obscured by the thick canopy of budding trees, as Ralph descended into a little hollow between two hills, anddusky shadows contended with mid-daylight. Still the boy staggeredonward, now and then faltering to rest. His wounds gave him littlepain now, though one eye was badly swollen around the cut. Butit bothered him and distracted his mind; and this was probablythe reason why, in his haste and distress, he found himself growingmore and more bewildered by his surroundings. Finally he realizedthat he had lost his way. 

"And I can't be more than five miles from home, too!" he reproachedhimself, in tired disgust. 

CHAPTER IV

A NIGHT IN THE WOODS

Although it was not yet noon, Ralph was as hungry as a young wolf, for he had eaten nothing more than a dish of cold oatmeal and milksince five o'clock that morning, and he had taken no provisionswith him. Assailed now by the pangs of a youthful, healthy, unsatisfiedappetite, he began to wonder what he could manage to "scare up" inthe form of edibles. 

Near at hand was one of the numerous small springs with which thesehills abounded. It rilled up out of the earth and rocks and formeda pool of clear water in which cress grew plentifully, furnishinghim with a welcome salad. He gathered a hatful of last autumn'schestnuts---somewhat soggy, to be sure---and, making a small fireof leaves and bark, he proceeded to roast these in the embers: atedious and unsatisfactory process at best. Having thus takenoff the edge of his hunger, he set forth upon his homeward journeyagain, in a new direction. 

"The next time I come up here in this neck of the woods I'll havea pocket compass or a watch, at least, " he said to himself. "Itwas foolish of me to start off without one, but I've learned alesson today, anyhow. The trouble is, I never dreamed I'd get lost!"

He was headed directly from Pioneer Lake, as he thought, towardthe hills beyond it, and presently, as he began to climb, thescenery grew wilder and more unfamiliar, the trees taller andset more thickly together, the undergrowth almost impenetrable. Still he fought on. It seemed he had never been so far in thisdirection before, and after the first rush of angry despair hadpassed, he felt doggedly curious to learn whither he was going, and what landmark he would see first. 

For almost two hours he plodded on, burdened with his rifle and thepair of eagles, scratching his hands and face, tearing his clothes. It was a miserable, heart-breaking tramp, one which might have causeda less plucky lad to sit down and give way to doleful helplessness. Even Ralph felt an uncanny sense of utter loneliness, and heupbraided his own stupidity, as he chose to call it, in wandering sofar afield. 

At last he noticed a faint roaring noise at the right, and he turnedin that direction, blindly, aimlessly. As he advanced through theundergrowth the sound grew louder and louder, until finally heemerged from the thicket and stood upon the bank of a deep streamwhich rushed turbulently along and dropped over a ridge, fallingsixty or seventy feet into a cup-like hollow in the rock. 

Ralph uttered a cry of delight. "Why, it's my own waterfall! I'vebeen wandering in a big circle all this while, and here I am notfar from my boulder where---ouch!" The sentence ended in a loudwail of agony, for, taking a step forward, the young wayfarer'sfoot had slipped on a loose stone. His ankle was severely wrenched. 

For a few moments the pain was intense, almost unendurable. PoorRalph groaned aloud and sank down on the ground, biting his lipsin trying to keep tears of agony from welling to his eyes. Howcould he walk the remaining distance home? Even with an improvisedcrutch made from a forked branch of some tree, it would be well-nighimpossible to travel up and down the stony grades that stretchedbetween the place where he had met with this unfortunate accidentand the farmhouse. 

"Oh, if Keno had only not broken away!"

The futile wish was maddening in his present plight. He showeredsharp epithets upon the absent pony, until he remembered the probabilitythat Keno's return without him would be the means of sending someone to the rescue. This was some consolation, though it was butcold comfort in view of the fact that, had Keno not bolted, thismishap would not have occurred. 

However, there was no help for it now. Meanwhile, the badly sprainedankle was throbbing painfully, and Ralph's next thought was tothrust it, without taking off his shoe, into the cold runningwater in order to check the swelling. He held his foot there, shivering with relief, then he stretched himself out on the bank ofthe stream, in the warm sunlight. Whereupon, with anxious mind andweary body soothed by the loud splash of the waterfall, with thepain in his ankle considerably relieved, and with a soft, grassynook beside a rock offering repose, it was not very strange that, after closing his eyes drowsily, Ralph sank into a troubled slumber. 

When he awoke, the sun was only a little way above the tops of thehighest trees, and long golden shafts of light were slanting downthrough the branches, making an intricate tracery of shadows on theground. The air was beginning to have a decided chill, for thewind had shifted to the west and was blowing the spray of thewaterfall into Ralph's face. 

Strange that no one had come, in search of him! Of course hismother could not have hitched Keno to the old buggy and drivenhere, but she might have telephoned to Tom Walsh and asked himto find out what had become of the missing hunter. He made anotherbold attempt to walk, with the aid of a stout pine branch; buthe could not bear to put any weight on that cursed ankle. 

"Well, I guess I'm bound to spend the night here, " he told himselfgrimly, after several futile starts. "I hope mother'll not worry;she may not have noticed Keno, after all, if he went straight tothe barn. I remember I left the door open. And now what's thefirst thing to be done? Oh, I know: make a fire---and two smokefires for a distress signal. "

So he set about doing this, hobbling with difficulty over theuneven ground. The signal fires he placed about fifty feet apart, so that the wind should not confuse them; his camp fire he builtbetween three big rocks that formed a natural oven, over whichhe laid a hastily constructed grill made of green alder withes. On this grill he intended to broil whatever game he could bringdown with his rifle, for supper; and, as luck would have it, hedid not have to wait long before he "bagged" a large gray squirrel, which he dexterously skinned and prepared for cooking. 

While it was still daylight he gathered plenty of good firewood, for he realized that having no blanket or poncho he would needto keep up a brisk fire and to sleep as near it as possible. Fortunately, another rock adjoining the fireplace afforded shelteragainst the cool night wind. 

The next thing to consider was his bed. The ground was damp inplaces, but if he used leaves for a bed they might take fire andburn him while he slept. So he built another fire in a sort ofhollow at the base of the fourth rock, and after about an hour---duringwhich the squirrel was broiling deliciously---he raked away allthe hot ashes, and curled up on the dried warm ground. This provedto be a fairly comfortable bed and, after eating his nicely brownedsupper, and bathing his ankle again, he replenished the fire, taking care that it should not spread, and lay down beside thesheltering rock. 

Twilight deepened into darkness, the stars appeared one by one inthe vast black dome above him, the forest was deathly still savefor the noise of the waterfall which drowned all other sounds. Once, an owl, attracted by the fire, perched on a low overhangingbranch and stared into the flames with great blinking yellow eyes;then, startled by an uneasy movement of the sleeper, it flew awaywith a dismal hoot. 

Ralph's dreams were troubled, a medley of combats with featheredfoes, of lengthy altercations with Bill Terrill, of frantic diggingin the ground for impossible gold. Twice he was wakened by twingesof pain, and he lay there, open-eyed, gazing up through the branchesof the stars. 

"There's the Pole star and the Pointers, " he murmured, to diverthis mind from his suffering. "Of course, the Pointers go aroundthe North star once in twenty-four hours, so that makes a kindof clock. I could find my way home by those stars if I had to, but I can't walk, I can't walk!"

His voice trailed off into silence, and he fell asleep once more. Presently he was wakened, for a third time, by a man's voicecalling his name. Or was this only another dream? He sat upand listened intently. The call sounded from some point back onthe trail, and there could be no mistaking its reality; it wasloud, gruff, yet kindly. 

"Ralph! Oh-o, Ralph! Where are you, lad?"

Then came a tremendous clatter of loose stones and a crashing inthe undergrowth. 

The lone camper, benighted and forlorn, peered around him on allsides. At first he could see nothing beyond the glow of his ownfire, which intensified the weird shadows of the forest; but hecould hear the shouts and the ringing tramp of a horse's hoofson the stony ground. He raised his voice in answer to the call. 

"This way! Ki-i-o! Here I am!" he yelled excitedly. "Is thatyou, Tom?"

In a minute or two, as his eyes became accustomed to the pitchdarkness beyond the firelight, he beheld the flicker of a lanternshining among the tree-trunks. Simultaneously, he heard the snortingof a startled horse. He stood up, leaning against his rock, andgave a peculiar throaty call that ended in the name "Ke-ee-no-o"---andthen, to his delight, the intelligent old horse responded with aloud whinny of recognition. 

The next moment three shadowy forms, those of a man on horseback andtwo others on foot, detached themselves from the enveloping darknessand advanced into the light of Ralph's campfire. One of theunmounted searchers carried a lantern. 

They were Tom Walsh, ---on Keno, ---Jack Durham, and Tom Sherwood. 

"What in 'tarnation's the trouble, lad?" demanded Tom, as soonas the searching party had exchanged greetings with Ralph, ferventlyoverjoyed to see them. "We've been looking for you ever sincethree o'clock this afternoon. "

Ralph explained the object of his quest. 

"I got 'em, too, " he added, pointing proudly to the two eagles. "But when I started to go home, without Keno, and tried to take ashortcut through the woods, I got lost somehow; and besides, Isprained my ankle, so I can't walk. I just had to wait forsomebody to come after me. I hope mother hasn't been awfullyworried. "

"Well, she wasn't exactly what you'd call calm!" replied Tom. "But the doc is there at the house now, with her; she might belots worse. Does your ankle hurt bad? Can you ride home?"

"Sure I can! Let's start right away---unless you fellows want torest. You must be tired. "

"I'm not, " asserted Tom Sherwood. "How about you, Jack?"

The youngest boy gave a little sigh. "It's awfully nice up herein the woods by this fire!" he replied evasively. "Let's warmourselves and---and hear more about Ralph's adventures, and---doyou think Mrs. Kenyon will-----"

"Yes, I do, " interrupted his Cousin Tom. "Come on, youngster;you and Ralph get on the nag; Sherwood and I'll walk. Let's beon our way. "

So the matter was settled, to Ralph's satisfaction and relief. 

Putting out the three fires and sprinkling even the last embersthoroughly with water from the stream, the four friends startedhomeward, with Ralph and Jack mounted on Keno in the lead. Jackcarried the lantern, while Ralph, with one hand on the bridle, the other holding the two eagles tied and balanced across thesaddle, allowed Keno to pick his own way along the trail. Thesagacious animal seemed to know every foot of the path; even inthe gloom of night he made no misstep. Sherwood and Tom followedclose, the latter carrying Ralph's rifle. 

CHAPTER V

FRIENDS AT THE FARM

On the way home, Sherwood explained how he chanced to be one of thesearch party. 

"You see, the Chief---that's what we call our Scout Master---wascalled back to New York on business for a few days, perhaps a week;so he left Arthur and me at Tom's farm, because it's only aboutfive miles from Pioneer Camp. And when your mother telephonedto Tom, saying that you hadn't turned up all day, Ralph, and thatshe feared something terrible had happened to you, we insisted ongoing with Tom to look for you. But Tom said-----"

"I said she oughtn't to stay in the house all alone to-night, "Tom put in readily, "so I told Arthur to stay with her until DoctorKane showed up. I knowed it was his day to call at your house. See?"

"Yes, yes; I understand, " Ralph replied in a shaky voice. "It'smighty good of you all to take so much trouble. "

"Tush! 'Taint no trouble, lad! Why, anybody wouldn't refuse to dosech a small favor for your ma. Even Bill Terrill---he dropped inat your place to-day---even that cuss offered to go out and find you \when he heard the news from her. "

"Terrill! What was he doing at the farm to-day?"

"He drove over with ol' Si Perkins and two other wise guys, to getpermission from your ma to------"

"Oh, I know! I know what they want!" exclaimed Ralph. "The mean, cowardly sneaks! They shan't bully mother into letting themsurvey our land, on the faked excuse that the survey dad had madeisn't correct. "

"What 'ud they want to do that for?" queried Tom. 

"Because Perkins wants to annex a piece of our property, sink ashaft in it, and see if the ground promises to yield any iron. He claims that the piece he wants, which is our northeast cornerthree-acre, really belongs to him. "

"Can't the dispute be settled by law?" Tom asked, in surprise. 

"It was---once. But now the old grafter has dug up some technicality. "

"And you've got to fight him, eh?" said Tom. "Well, go to it, lad!Go to it! I'll stand by you!"

"Why doesn't he experiment on his own land?" was Tom's next question, born of a lively interest he felt in the controversy. 

"Because the B. N. And C. Railroad wants to run a branch line fromOakvale over to the main line, in a big loop, and Perkins mayhave a chance to sell some of his land. That's why he doesn'twant to have it dug up, at present; he may strike ore. And that'swhy he's going to have his whole property surveyed. "

"Ralph, " said young Sherwood, after listening thoughtfully to hisnew friend's explanation, "you know the railroad company will havea survey made, on their own hook. Now it seems to me, if you knowanything about surveying, that it would be a good chance for youto join the railroad's surveyors and get in a little fine work on_your_ side of the fence, so to speak. Don't you think so?"

"I never thought of that!" Ralph eagerly responded. "That's akeen idea! Much obliged to you for it! You can bet I'll try. "

Talking thus, the four beguiled much of the long tramp back tothe farmhouse; Ralph almost forgot the pain of his injuries. A bond of friendship seemed already to have drawn him and Sherwoodtogether: a bond which was destined to be strengthened not onlyby the adventure of this night but also by many future adventureswhich they would share. 

"There's a light yonder!" exclaimed Jack, suddenly, waving hislantern as he spoke. "Somebody has seen us 'way off, and is comingto meet us. "

He guessed right. As they approached the farmhouse they discernedin the darkness a figure coming toward them with a stable lantern. The figure swung this light to and fro, up and down, in wig-wagsignaling, and Tom replied by whistling shrilly two short blasts, which meant "All right, we're coming. " Then the figure hailedthem with a whoop of joy, and ran forward. 

It was Arthur Cameron. Leaving Mrs. Kenyon in Doctor Kane's charge, he had slipped out of the house by the kitchen door so that hisimpatience and anxiety might not be observed, and, obtaining thestable lantern, he had gone forth to see if the search party wasnot yet returning. 

When Ralph entered the house, leaning on Sherwood and Arthur, hismother burst into tears of thankfulness for his return and ofpride in what he had achieved. She was distressed on learningabout his sprained ankle, and, following Doctor Kane's directions, she lost no time in the preparation of hot and cold applicationsand bandages. Ralph was sent to bed as soon as he had modestlyrelated his adventures, and had drunk a hot milk-punch (whichhe declared was "nasty") in order to offset any chill which hemight have contracted by sleeping out in the open. 

"As if I weren't used to sleeping practically in the open, everynight of the year!" he complained to Sherwood, as he slid downbetween the sheets, which his mother had carefully warmed. 

"Do as you're told, and don't grumble, old top!" laughingly repliedTom. "Hope your wounds and sprains and bruises and so forth willbe much better tomor-----I mean, later in the day. It's 2 A. M. Now. Good night!"

"Good night! I'll see you later. "

It was arranged that Doctor Kane, Tom, and the boys should spend theremainder of the night there; Mrs. Kenyon would not hear of any oneof them going over to Tom's house at that hour. So the doctorretired to the spare bedroom, Sherwood and Arthur occupied a broadcouch or divan in the little parlor, where Tom Walsh and hisyoung cousin slept even more comfortably on an extra mattresson the floor. Everyone was in good spirits, although tired andvery sleepy; and the sun was high in the heavens before any oneof that household awoke. 

Anyone? No, not quite; for, with characteristic thoughtfulness, Tom Walsh, waking earlier than the others, stole quietly out intothe kitchen and began to make the fire and grind the coffee forbreakfast. Mrs. Kenyon, hearing him, came downstairs at once. She, alone, had scarcely slept at all that night. Her fearsfor Ralph's health, as well as the thought of having soon to goall the way to New York with Doctor Kane and undergo an operation, had banished slumber. Seeing Walsh engaged in his kindly efforts, she smiled as she laid a restraining hand on his arm. 

"Tom Walsh, you dear man, go right back and get your forty winks!"she said. "What do you mean by this?---and in my house, too!"

"You think I can't cook breakfast, eh? I want you to know I'm afust-class cook!" said Tom, in genial protest. "Sit down there, now, and let me-----"

"I won't! You're a good soul, Tom, and I know you'll make a husbandthat any sensible woman'll be proud of, because I can see you'vebeen well trained. By the way, Tom, how's Sue Turpin nowadays? Andwhen will she name the happy day?"

Tom colored up to the roots of his thin, sandy, curly hair. SoMrs. Kenyon, too, had heard of his wooing of Susan Turpin, themiller's daughter! Well, why not, since it had become a pleasanttopic of gossip in the countryside? But he made no immediate reply, except a grin, and Mrs. Kenyon continued tactfully:

"Yes, an excellent husband, Tom---but never a cook. Your dearold mother told me, the last time she came over to see me, thatyou can no more cook than you can fly! And she thinks you'rean angel, too! So just you hand me that coffee-pot and that frying-pan, and trot out to the poultry house and get me some fresh eggs. "

"All right, if you say so, " assented Tom. "I'll feed the horse, too. Suppose Ralph won't be up an' around for quite a spell yet?"

"No; I guess not, " answered Mrs. Kenyon, relapsing into a moreserious mood. 

"Say, Mrs. Kenyon, why don't you ask them two Boy Scout friends ofhis to stay here and help him with the farm work while you're away?"was Tom's suggestion. 

"Oh, I simply can't go away and leave the poor boy now!"

"Nonsense!" replied Tom. "You've got to go, if the doc says so. Anyway, Ralph'll be O. K. And them two boys'll be pleased to stay. I know they will. Take my advice and ask 'em. "

"I'll---I'll see. "

When Doctor Kane was consulted on the subject, he pronounced Tom'ssuggestion a good one, provided the three boys could manage toget their meals properly. This they vowed they could do; so Kane, considering it best to take Mrs. Kenyon to the hospital for treatmentas soon as convenient, urged her to consent to the plan. He leftthe farmhouse, after a delicious breakfast, taking Tom Walsh andJack home in his car, ---also the golden eagles, which he promisedto deliver to Professor Whalen that very day. 

Two days later he returned with a check for one hundred and fiftydollars, and a letter expressing the professor's complete satisfactionat having obtained the fine specimens. When he returned to Oakvaleagain, Mrs. Kenyon went with him, in his care. 

The parting of mother and son was a tearful one, though Ralph, choking down the big lump in his throat, tried manfully to cheerhis mother with every hope of recovery. 

"It won't be very long before you're home again and everything'llseem wonderful and bright and new to you, mother, " he said. "Anddon't you worry about me, for I'm getting along fine. I can hobblearound quite spry with this crutch. And Tom and Arthur are on deck, you know. We'll behave ourselves and not get into any mischief, and by the time you're home again we'll have done all the planting. Good-bye, good-bye! I'll write to you every day. "

CHAPTER VI

A NOCTURNAL VISITOR

Tom Sherwood threw out his arms and yawned loudly. "I'm sleepy, " hemumbled. "Guess I'll turn in, if you fellows are going to sit upmuch longer. "

"Good idea, Tom, " commented Ralph, looking up from the letter hewas writing. "You've been making a holy show of yourself for thelast half hour, and I've been expecting every minute to see youdislocate your jaw. "

"It's being out in this air all day and doing such a lot of manuallabor, " said Tom, as he staggered to his feet. 

"Oh, say, I hope you're not doing too much! You know, Tom, you'renot used to farm work. " Ralph laid down his pen and blotted theletter with much deliberation. His pale face, from which thefreckles had faded noticeably during a week of indoor confinement, wore an expression of deep concern. "And it's not easy, I cantell you!"

Arthur Cameron chuckled. Though he said nothing, the expression onhis face was one of such utter disbelief that even Tom noticed itand turned on him, frowning. 

"Well, what are you looking at me like that for?" he demanded, without being able to hide a grin. "Haven't I been exercising?Haven't I? What have you got to say about it? Didn't I spade upthat old melon-patch and plant sixteen rows of carrots in it, thisafternoon?"

"I never said you didn't, old scout, " said Arthur. 

"I know you've been working like a cart-horse, Tom, " interposedRalph, who had hobbled around the fields for the first time thatday, directing the labors of his friends. "You and Art have donewonders all week, and I'll never be able to thank you enough forall the help you've given me. It's simply great to have such palsas you two! And mother'll be delighted to know that everything'sgoing so swell. I had a letter from Doctor Kane to-day---guessI told you? He said the operation was very successful and she'sdoing finely. "

"Mighty glad to know it!" Tom declared warmly. "Did he say whenshe could come home?"

"In a few days. But you fellows can't leave then! No, sir-ee!We're going to have some fun after all this work is over, andmother and I will want you to stay and loaf for a while. I canshow you where to get some dandy photos of nesting birds, andI know where a pair of red foxes have a kennel every spring. You can take pictures of the vixen and her cubs, if you go aboutit carefully at the right time of day. "

Arthur's eyes shone with pleasant anticipation. He was delightedwith the prospect of getting some good photographs to show theboys in Pioneer Camp. But Tom, though he also looked forwardeagerly to the reunion of the troop at camp, shook his head withregret at the thought of leaving the farm. Ralph had told himmore about the dispute over the boundary, and about his father'sdreams of finding iron ore on the land; Tom was interested, forRalph's sake, in having the land surveyed and examined. 

"Why don't you go to bed now, too?" asked Tom, when they hadfinished talking about animal photography. "You need the rest, Iknow, Ralph. "

"I'm going, in a few minutes, just as soon as I finish this letter. Trot along, boys!"

"Well, good night, " grunted Arthur, as he disappeared into his room. 

"Good night. "

"Don't be too long at it, Ralph. "

"No, I won't. Good night, old top. "

His gaze followed Tom as his sleepy guest slouched out of the room, and when he heard Tom's heavy footsteps on the creaking stairs, he took up his pen once more. Propping his head with his otherhand, and shading his eyes from the lamplight, he wrote on. In afew minutes the springs of Tom's bed creaked violently as hedropped down on it, and soon the sound of his heavy breathing inthe room above showed that he was dead to the world. 

Ralph's eyelids began to droop drowsily. In vain he struggled tokeep them open. He put his head down on the table, with a sigh, and before he realized it he was asleep. 

The next thing he knew was that he found himself sitting up, wideawake. He had a distinct impression that he had been roused by thesound of a human voice. How long he had slept he could not tell. The lamp had gone out and the room was in inky darkness. As he satlistening, all at once he heard a sound of some one moving aboutthe room. 

"Wonder if we forgot to lock the kitchen door?" was his firstthought. Then he spoke aloud: "Who's there?"

No answer. 

"Who is it?" Ralph demanded, in a louder tone. "What are you doing?What do you want?"

Still no answer. Only an impressive and uncanny silence. 

Reaching out for his walking stick, which lay on the table besidehim, Ralph got up from the chair without noise or further ado, and took a few steps forward. As he did so, a burly form crashedagainst him in the darkness, knocking him down. Unhurt, thoughconsiderably startled, Ralph sprawled upon the carpet and staredquickly up at the window, by which the intruder would have to passin order to reach the doorway leading into the kitchen. At thesame moment, he raised his voice and called out:

"Tom! Arthur! Come down here! Oh, Tom!"

"Curse you!" muttered a harsh voice. "Shut up, or I'll-----"

"Tom!" yelled Ralph, defiantly. He would have risen at once andgrappled with the intruder, only, with a weak ankle, he did notcare to run the risk of a nasty blow or a bad fall. He yelledlustily instead, and in a minute he heard Tom spring out of bedand come tearing down the stairs. 

But his mysterious assailant lost not a moment in making a getaway;he did not even wait to slip out by the rear door, through whichhe must have entered. Springing to the window, he smashed itwith a kick, and was in the act of crawling through and droppingto the ground outside, when Tom flung himself upon him and draggedhim back into the room. Fear of cutting himself on the brokenglass evidently made the scoundrel yield more readily than hewould otherwise have done. As it was, he put up a game fight, notwithstanding that Ralph, forgetting his ankle, joined in thefray. 

The three rolled over and over in a confused heap. Tom felt astinging blow on the side of his head, which made scores of starsdance before him in the darkness, but he never relaxed his gripon the man's collar. Ralph, too, was pounded and battered andchoked by a powerful hand at his throat. Suddenly there was anaudible rip, something gave way in Tom's hands, and the man, hurlingthe two lads from him with a frantic lunge, got to his feet anddashed out through the kitchen. Before Ralph and Tom could recoverthemselves, they heard him running down the road, just outsidethe window, at full speed. 

"Great Scott! he's gone! he got away from us!" ejaculated Tom, in disgust. "Where are you, Ralph? Where's a light, a match?"

"Here I am!" Ralph answered, scrambling to his feet. "What onearth has Art been doing all this time? Didn't he hear the rumpus?"

"You bet I did!" exclaimed Arthur, coming into the room. "Iheard your yells, and I ran downstairs after Tom, but---but Istumbled into the parlor, thinking the fight was in there. ThenI heard one of these dining-room chairs being knocked over, andI rushed in-----"

"You were just a minute too late!"

Ralph groped for a matchbox on the mantel-shelf, struck a light, andapplied it to the wick of the lamp. When the room was again visible, he told his friends what had happened. 

"I don't know why he broke into this house; there's no money here, "added Ralph, "unless-----" He stopped short with a gasp, and, going over to a wall cupboard, opened one of the drawers. "Gone!"he cried. "The money I got for those last pelts! It's gone, beforeI had time to put it in the bank! The thief has taken it!"

"Who could it be?" asked Arthur, after a brief, sympathetic silence. 

"I can't guess. Tim Meadows, the man who helped me with the plowinglast fall, was too honest to---no, it couldn't be Tim! Perhaps---what's that you've got in your hand, Tom?"

With a start, Tom looked down. Clutched in his right hand was afragment of a man's coat collar and the shreds of a green and yellowstriped tie. 

"It's a clew!" said he, with the air of a professional sleuth. 

CHAPTER VII

BOY SCOUT DETECTIVES

On one of the fine courts back of the big summer hotel at Oakvale anexciting game of tennis was drawing to a close. The players weretwo patrol leaders of a troop of Boy Scouts who were awaiting thearrival of "Chief" Denmead, their Scout Master, before going overto Pioneer Lake for the opening of camp. Walter Osborne, of theHawk patrol, and Donald Miller, leader of the Foxes were veryevenly matched. The latter was conceded to play the steadiest, surest all-around game, though Walter frequently surpassed himin single shots or astonishing rallies. 

That the set had been a hotly contested one was shown by the scorein games being 9 to 8 in favor of Miller. If he could make the nextgame, the set would be his, and with it the championship of thetroop. He was counting on the fact that Walter was apt to go topieces at a critical moment; this helped to keep the playingfairly even. 

Perched on a barrel, overlooking the court, George Rawson, theAssistant Scout Master, was scoring; while several other scouts hadvarious points of vantage and were watching the game with eagerinterest. 

In the middle of a rally, Don hit the ball a low, smashing stroke, intending to place it in the far corner of the court. Instead, itgrazed the net and dropped dead on the serving line, beforeWalter could return it. 

"Vantage out!" called Rawson. 

Walter laughed a trifle "sore-ly" as he returned the balls for hisopponent's next serve. He hated to lose, but he was a lad whocould take defeat gracefully if he had to, and this last play onlyserved to put him on his mettle. 

Don's first ball was a cut, but Walter returned it easily, and anew rally commenced. The captain of the Foxes played a net game, trusting to his height and reach to stop every ball that came over, while Walter preferred to, stand well back on the court where hecould place them better. 

Back and forth flew the ball with such swiftness that Rawson had allhe could do to keep track of it. All at once, Walter lunged forwardto return a particularly difficult shot which Don had placed closeto the net. Biff! he just caught it and gave it a swift cut whichsent it whizzing past Don's extended racket to the base line, whereit raised a little spurt of dust. 

Amid a murmur of applause from the young spectators, Rawson decidedin an instant. 

"Out!" he called. "Game and set. "

Before the cheers had died away, Walter walked up to the net andshook hands with the victor. 

"If you play like that when you're rusty, as you said you were, Don, "he said pluckily, "I'd hate to be up against you when you're inpractice!"

"Oh, no, you wouldn't, old scout!" was Don's hearty response. "Why, I remember times when you put it all over me! I'm afraid of thatfamous serve of yours still!"

"Whoop-ee!" yelled Cooper Fennimore, a scout in Don's patrol, springing up and waving his cap around his head. "That's someplaying, I tell you! For a chap that hasn't had a racket in hispaw for three months, that's going some!"

"Talk about speed!" put in another Fox. "Gee! I'm glad I wasn'tin Walter's place!"

The boy to whom these remarks were addressed, Blake Merton, a Hawkand one of young Osborne's staunchest friends, flushed. 

"If you had been in Walter's place, you would have lasted about twominutes!" he retorted. His naturally quick temper---usually keptin control---often flared up and led him to say things which heafterward regretted. 

"Huh!" exclaimed the Fox, scornfully. "You seem to think WalterOsborne can win all the time! Don did start in rusty, but he soonwarmed up---just a little!"

"Let's play a set, Coop, you and I, " suggested Blake Merton, turninghis back upon Don's elated follower. "Do you feel like it?"

"Sure thing, Blake! But I guess you won't have any trouble inputting me down and out. "

"Cut out the modesty!" laughed Blake. "It was all I could do tobeat you yesterday, and you know it. "

So another court was soon occupied, with Dick Bellamy scoring. Dickbelonged to the Otter patrol, and as Alec Sands, who formerlycaptained the Otters, was not going to be in camp that summer, Dick was Tom Sherwood's only rival for the leadership. Already theOtters had held informal discussions of Dick's and Tom'squalifications, but it was still uncertain which of the two wouldbe elected. Each was popular and had a good record in woodcraft, athletics, and scout games. Another question was: Who would be chosenfor leader of the Wolf patrol, in the absence of Hugh Hardin and hischum, Billy Worth, that summer?

"Rough or smooth?" called Blake, tossing his racket in the air. 

"Rough, " answered Cooper. 

"Smooth it is, " the other declared, with a grin. "I'll take serve. "

Blake had a peculiar and difficult cut on which he prided himself inserving. It was seldom that anyone could touch it until after hehad played with Blake for some time, and Cooper was no exception tothe rule. 

"Fifteen love, " announced Dick from the barrel. 

They crossed the court, and Blake tried the cut once more. Thistime Cooper was ready for it and sent it back with a swift underhanddrive, and a rally began right at the start. The game promised tobe a good one and it drew many interested watchers, though most ofthe boys had followed Rawson and the two patrol leaders over tothe hotel. 

Cooper won the first game, and the second was in progress, when theattention of some of their companions was drawn to a horse andbuggy driven by two boys, appearing on the brow of the hill andcoming along the road which skirted the tennis courts. The occupantsof the buggy were Tom Sherwood and Art Cameron, and as they drewnear they were hailed with shouts of delight. 

"Oh, you farmer!"

"Hayseed, where've you been planted?"

"Welcome to our city!"

"Come over here and get next to this game. "

They did so, after tying Keno to a post and giving him his noondayrations which they had brought with them from the farm. The storyof the championship match that had just been played was related tothem in full detail; they in turn stated the errand on which theyhad come. 

"You know we've been staying at Ralph Kenyon's farm, having agreat time, " Tom, explained. "Well, last night, after Art andI had gone to bed, some mean cuss, a thief, got into the house, attacked Ralph---who's one of the best fellows on earth, boys---andstole some money Ralph had been saving. In the tussle we managedto grab a piece of his coat and his tie, and we've come over toput them in the hands of the Oakvale constable, to see if he canidentify them. "

"Good for you, Tom! Tell us about the fight!"

"Oh, it wasn't much of a fight, " Tom evaded. "But first I wantto know how many of you fellows would like to make up some surveyingparties---four in each crew---and offer your services to the B. N. And C. Railroad to help survey Ralph's land. We can do it, youknow, as assistants to the railroad's regular surveyors, and perhapswe can show them that it would be better to buy part of Ralph'sproperty for their loop line than to buy any of his neighbor's, oldSilas Perkins. And, if we can do this, why, it'll be the greatestthing ever for Ralph, because he's a good sort, and he wants to goto college, and he'll-----"

Tom paused for breath. Enthusiasm for his friend and interest inRalph's ambition to get an education had carried him beyond thelimit of his usual brief remarks. Such a long speech was a surpriseto himself as well as to his auditors. They listened attentively, and not a few among them caught the spirit of the plan. 

"D'you think the Chief'll let us do it?" asked one. "You know, we're due in camp by the first of next week. "

"Oh, I think he will. You know he has already promised to give usa course in geology this summer, and a lesson in surveying thissection. Then he's always willing to give us a chance to put whatwe've learned into practical use. "

"We'll ask him when he gets here at two o'clock. "

So the matter remained open; and Blake and Cooper, who had stoppedplaying, resumed their interrupted game. The others watched them, forgetting more serious affairs. ---All but Tom, who felt restiveand impatient to enlist the services of the constable, and tocarry out his other idea. Glancing at his watch, he saw that itwas after half-past one. In about half an hour the train wouldarrive, bringing the Chief and perhaps a few more scouts. Hedecided to stroll over to the station and meet them and submithis plan for Denmead's approval. 

With Tom Sherwood to think was to act. He left his friends at thehotel, and telling Rawson where he was going, set out in thedirection of the station. His way took him first along Main Streetand thence down one of the narrower side streets or lanes whichbranched off on each side. 

Oakvale was scarcely more than a large village, but it boastedmany shops, two drugstores, a public school, a post office, andfour saloons. As Tom passed one of these haunts he saw a groupof men standing on the corner. They were gathered around arough-looking specimen of humanity who stood with one leg thrownacross the top of a low hydrant haranguing his boon companions. 

"An' Perkins says ter me, 'Now, jist yeou hold yer hosses an' keepyer shirt on, Bill, ' says he. 'We don't want no foolin' with thetkid. ' Waal, I didn't like ther way he spoke, and so I got kind-erhuffy, and he says, 'Here! take yer pay, and git aout! Beat it!'And here I am!"

"Fired again, eh, Bill?" said one of the loungers. 

There was a loud guffaw, and another man dealt Bill a resoundingslap on the back. Whereupon the sidewalk meeting adjourned. Asthey passed between the swinging doors of the saloon, Tom touchedthe last man on the arm. 

"Can you tell me where the constable's office is, sir?" he inquiredpolitely. 

"I'm Constable Thompson, " replied the man, displaying his badge, forhe realized that a Boy Scout would require some proof of thestatement. "What d'you want, sonny?"

Very briefly and to the point, Tom stated his case against theunknown thief who had broken into Ralph's farmhouse during theprevious night. Then he showed Thompson the clews. The constableexamined them carefully, and seemed to recognize them. While hewas doing so, the man called Bill appeared in the doorway andbeckoned for him to come inside. 

"Ain't you off'n the water wagon, Thomp?" he asked, with a repulsivechortle. "Come on! What's the mat------?" He broke off abruptlyas his eyes fell upon the torn remnants in the constable's hands. "What---what you got there?" he mumbled, turning pale. "Got abargain in-----?"

"No, " replied Thompson curtly. "Straight goods, Bill Terrill. Andit won't be a bargain for---a burglar, unless I'm mistaken. So long!I've got to hustle or I may miss my guess and my man. "

So saying, he nodded to Tom to follow him and strode away, leavingBill Terrill on the threshold of discovery. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE SURVEYING SQUAD

Terrill's words about "no foolin' with that kid, " coupled with hisstartled look when he beheld the fragments of clothing, had starteda train of reasoning in the constable's mind. All he said to Tom, however, was: "Come with me, boy. I'm not hankering for Bill'scompany just now, though I may be keen to see him later. Come along. "

Turning another corner, he led Tom across a vacant lot to a small, unkempt, dingy old house at the end of the path. In the yard ofthis dwelling a woman was hanging clothes on a line and a numberof mongrel hens were taking dust baths under some lilac bushes. The breeze wafted the fragrance of these blossoms to Tom's nostrilsas he and Thompson approached them. 

"Hello, Mrs. Terrill!" said Thompson. "Busy day for you, eh? Whydon't you make Bill help you with the wash?"

"Bill's got enough to do washin' his innerds---with liquor!" grufflyretorted the woman, who seemed to be greatly vexed, even angry, atthe mention of her husband's name. "And just as if I haven't putup with him time and time again about it! I won't do it no more!And him daring to complain about my cookin' and my not mendin' hisclothes! Why, this mornin' he come home late, with his coat alltorn and his-----"

"What?" almost shouted Thompson. "What did you say, there m'am?"

---"I said his coat was all torn, " repeated Mrs. Terrill, pleasedto find a listener who appeared to be sympathetic. "You know how'ternal careless he is, Mr. Thompson, and how much trouble he gives me. "

"I do, I do indeed. " The constable slowly drew out of his pocketthe clews Tom had given him. "Could this be a piece out o' Bill'scoat?" he asked in an offhand manner calculated to avert suspicion. 

"That's it!" exclaimed Bill's long-suffering wife. "What of it?"she added quickly. "Anything wrong? I guess he must've got intoa fight, his face was so battered, but I hope-----"

"Hold on, Mrs. Terrill! Enough said!" interposed the constable, who felt sorry for the way he had led her into a trap. "I madea bet about these rags, and now I'm going to put it up to Bill. Do you know where I can find him?"

"No, I don't, but I guess _you_ know, " the woman replied sharply. "What's your bet?"

"I'll tell you bye and bye, if I win, " said Thompson, with a forcedlaugh, as he and Tom walked away. "Now, boy, you heard what shesaid, " he continued, when they were out of earshot. "You witnessedwhen she identified these rags. I reckon Bill Terrill's our man. "

As quickly as possible they returned to the corner, where Thompsondived into the saloon, only to reappear after a few minutes---alone. 

"Friend William has skipped out, " he declared grimly. "His palsare in there, but our naughty little bird has flown! Never mind;I'll get him. He's either skulking around town somewhere or he'smade tracks to the station, hoping to get the 2. 10 to New York. You said you were on your way to the station, didn't you? I'll gothere first with you. "

Sure enough, when the train pulled in at the station, there wasBill Terrill waiting to board it! He had not counted on suchquick work on the constable's part, and was not aware of the assistancehis own wife had unwittingly rendered, so he had merely tried toget away before he was "spotted" among the crowd of idle menand boys gathered on the station platform. When he felt Thompson'sheavy hand on his shoulder, he started, tried to dodge him andescape, and, failing to do that, broke into a torrent of vileoaths and half-drunken protests as he was escorted away to thevillage jail. 

Meanwhile, having told Thompson where he and Ralph and Art couldbe found if wanted later, Tom saw the Scout Master and four boysmaking their way over to the side of the platform, where a bus waswaiting to take them to the hotel. He was just in time to jointhem, and soon he was telling his story to Denmead. 

"That's a good idea of yours, Tom, " said the Chief, when Tom hadfinished. "I'll find out how many of the boys know anything aboutsurveying, and then I'll go and see Mr. Brett, one of the railroadofficials, and learn what can be done. I'd like to help yourfriend Ralph Kenyon. I was sorry to hear that he met with anaccident lately. It's a shame he killed those splendid eagles!Professor Whalen showed them to me. Why, I'd have been only tooglad to pay the lad well for the privilege of studying the birdsin their wild state. He ought to have protected them, as a Scoutwould do, not killed them! But Dr. Kane told me it was hissuggestion to Ralph. "

"Yes, sir; so I understand, " Tom answered. "Ralph isn't a scout, you know, sir; and he needed the reward the professor offered---neededit in a hurry---so he earned it honestly, even though he'd havechosen not to shoot the birds. He said he was mighty sorry afterward. "

"I'm glad to know that. I thought he'd regret it. Well, we won'tcry over spilled blood now; it's much too late. By the way, how'she getting along?"

"Great, sir; he was able to walk around a little, without his cane, when Arthur and I left him this morning. "

"Are you going back to the farmhouse until we start for camp?"inquired Denmead. 

"If you've no objections, sir. "

"None at all, my boy, as long as you can help your friend. You mustask him to visit us in camp when he has time. "

"I will, I will!" exclaimed Tom. "I know he'd enjoy it. "

"And if this surveying scheme of yours---or was it Ralph's?"

"Both, sir. At least, we talked it over together. "

"If it can be carried out, and if the railroad will buy part ofRalph's farm, he will be able to go to the School of Mines?"

"Yes, sir, that's what he wants to do. You don't think, then, thatthere's any chance of finding iron ore on the property?"

"How should I know? Stranger things than that have happened, Tom. "

Talking thus, they reached the hotel. Denmead was immediatelysurrounded by his troop of scouts, to whom he introduced the newrecruits, and presently they all fell to discussing plans forthe summer. 

As the afternoon waned, Tom made ready to drive back to the farmhouse, declaring that he knew the way perfectly, and even if he didn't, old Keno wouldn't make any mistakes. Arthur decided to stay withthe others at the hotel, but Tom did not mind this at all, beingquite willing to return alone. The Scout Master promised to sendword just as soon as he had interviewed Mr. Brett, or his secretary. 

"If, for any reason, we should decide to go direct from here toPioneer Camp, and should not go up around Silver Lake and thenceto Ralph's farm, to call for you, Tom, " he added, "I will sendJoe to the farm, and he will guide you to camp through the backwoodsnorth of Pioneer Lake. That will be an interesting experiencefor you, and Joe is good company. Take good care of yourself, myboy, until we all meet again at camp. "

"Certainly. Good-bye, all!" Tom sprang into the buggy and gatheredup the reins. "Good-bye!" he called out again as Keno turned andtrotted up the road at a brisk rate. 

They watched him until horse and buggy were silhouetted against thesky on the brow of the hill; and, when he vanished down the furtherside in a hollow, they separated into little groups and went theirways in search of amusement. 

Tom made the long drive homeward without further adventures. It wasafter sundown when he arrived at the farm and found Ralph, who wasreally an excellent cook, preparing supper. Broiled chicken, sweetpotatoes, asparagus and radishes grown under glass, custardpudding---it was a feast for these healthy, famished youths, andthey did ample justice to it; so ample, in fact, that each hadto let out his belt one notch! And what a good talk they had overthe events of the day! Tom was as interested in hearing all aboutwhat Ralph had done and seen as Ralph was in Tom's more varied account. 

The fact that Bill Terrill was the thief did not greatly surpriseRalph. However, he feared that very little, if any, of his moneywould be recovered, when he learned that Bill and his cronies hadbeen drinking together. In this, we may add, Ralph was happilydisappointed, for a few days later he received from ConstableThompson a crumpled ten-dollar bill, ---the remains of the stolenhoard!

The news that Scout Master Denmead would personally take up thematter of the survey was a great satisfaction to Ralph. It wasmore than that, it was a source of the most rosy-hued hopes anddreams in which he had indulged himself for many a long day. Almost the last thing Tom said to him before dropping off to sleepwas:

"The Chief'll persuade 'em to do it, I know he will. He can doanything. He's great!"

And that night Ralph dreamed that his farm, all of it which was notbought by the railroad, was converted into a great mine in whichscores of men were at work. 

* * * * * * *

Two days later a party of four men drove into the farmyard, with axes, tape, level and other implements for surveying. They beganoperations at once and did not cease until close of day, when, declining Ralph's invitation to spend the night, they returnedto Oakvale. On the following day they came back, with anothersquad. Of this squad Blake Merton was lineman and George Rawsonrodman. The second squad began working from the eastern boundaryof the Kenyon farm, and Tom spent part of the day with them. Ralphcould not walk far, as yet, though with every day his ankle wasgetting stronger. 

Each night so long as the work of the survey lasted, Rawson, ---whowith Blake had accepted Ralph's invitation to stay at the farm, ---spentan hour or two with the three boys, going over with them the methodsof surveying and explaining the local geological formations. 

Meanwhile, at Pioneer Camp, Lieutenant Denmead was giving similardaily instruction to the troop, with frequent brief trips forpractical demonstration. He had not thought it best to ask thatmore of the scouts might assist in the railroad survey, fearing thatthey would hinder the trained workers. But Rawson and the boys were togive the rest a detailed report of their work on their return to camp. 

CHAPTER IX

AWAITING A DECISION

While these important operations were in full swing, Dr. Kanebrought Mrs. Kenyon home, completely cured and inexpressibly gladand grateful. Her return, although hailed with rejoicing by Ralph, upset the decidedly masculine housekeeping arrangements which he andhis friends had established during her absence. 

Mrs. Kenyon could find no fault with the neat and clean conditionof the house, nor with the way the dishes were washed and placedin order on the shelves. She was, however, considerably surprised, not to say startled, at the culinary efforts of her son and hisguests, and she declared she could not understand "how anyone cansleep in those beds, the rough-and-tumble way they're made!" Butafter making them properly, she realized that there were now notenough beds to go round. Hence Ralph and Blake for two nightsslept in the hayloft in the barn. 

The railroad surveyors returned to Oakvale in due time, havingfully established the previous survey which Ralph's father hadcaused to be made. There could be no further dispute now over theboundary lines, and "Old Man Perkins' claim hadn't a leg to standon, " as Tom Walsh expressed it, when the report was read to him. Nothing remained now but to await the decision of the railroadofficials as to whose property they would buy. 

The three lads, Ralph and Tom and Blake, had gained some valuableexperience in their work with the surveying squad. Toward theend, Ralph had been able to go about with the others everywhereexcept on the stony slopes of the hills, where the walking wasdifficult. His work on the garden patches completed, he had abrief interval of welcome leisure to spend with his helpful guests. 

"Well, boys, I guess we'll start for camp to-morrow, if Joe turnsup to guide us, " Rawson said the evening after the survey wascompleted. "Why don't you come with us, Ralph? I'm sure yourmother can spare you for a few days, and we'd all be delighted tohave you make us a visit at camp. "

"Yes, you bet we would!" added Blake. "You'll come, Ralph, won'tyou?" Tom asked in his quiet, cordial way. 

"What do you say, mother?" said Ralph.. "Can you---I mean, won'tyou be glad to be rid of me for a few days and have Aunt Sarah makeyou a visit here?"

"Not glad to be rid of you, son, " returned Mrs. Kenyon, smilingfondly. "But I wish you would go! It would be real fun for you. Your aunt is coming surely, so. I shan't be lonely at all. Go along, like a good boy. "

"All right, I will. Thanks for inviting me, Mr. Rawson. "

Thus it was arranged that Ralph should accompany them on a hikethrough the backwoods that extended for many miles between hisfarm and Pioneer Lake, southward. Earlier than usual he rosenext morning and attended thoroughly to the chores; then, aftera hearty breakfast, the four hikers bade Mrs. Kenyon good-byeand set out for a place in the woods where Joe was to meet them. This place was at the lower extremity of a small lake calledPlacid, which was cupped in the hills about two miles from the farm. 

"We'll play we're prospectors and look for signs of iron deposits onyour land, as we go along, " said Rawson. 

They went steadily on for over an hour, pausing only to test invitingrocks with their hammers and to allow Tom to take some photos ofbirds and plants. Unfortunately the foxes' den appeared to bedeserted that spring, and Ralph felt a pang of regret at the thoughtthat perhaps the foxes that usually took up their abode there hadfallen victims to his traps. "I hope I won't have to set any moretraps for the wild creatures of the woods and streams, " he said tohimself. "I see now it's much better sport to get snapshots of them. "

Presently the glitter of the little lake among the trees attractedthem, and they pushed on through the thickets down to the shore. 

"Wonder if it's too cold for a swim?" said Tom, eagerly. 

"A quick plunge won't do us any harm, " assented Rawson. "Shall wetry it, boys?". 

All were heartily in favor of the idea. In a few minutes they hadstripped off their clothes and waded into the water. 

"Don't go far out!" cautioned the young Scout Master. "The water'snone too warm at this time of year, and anyone of us might get acramp suddenly without a moment's warning. "

While the boys amused themselves by racing close to the shore, heswam ahead of them, but no further out. Rounding a wooded pointthat jutted out into the lake, he found, to his surprise, that hewas facing Loon Island. He had no idea that he had come so far. The boys were not in sight, but their shouts and laughter assuredhim that they were all right, obeying his instructions; so he struckout toward the little island. A few vigorous strokes brought himto the shore---he could almost have waded across from the point---andhe climbed upon a rock and sat in the warm sunshine. How deliciousit felt on his body! What fun to stretch his muscles in the exercisewhich he liked best of all---swimming!

"Nothing to equal the first dip of the season!" said the young man, half aloud. "I feel like a schoolboy in a pond!"

All at once his quick ear caught the faint splash of a paddle closeat hand, and he sat motionless on the rock, and waited. Thesound grew more distinct, and presently a canoe, manned by asolitary individual, came into sight around the shore of the island. Rawson uttered an exclamation of surprise, for the man was "Injun Joe. "

Bareheaded and stripped to the waist, his thick blue-black hairtousled in the breeze, his lean, muscular, lithe torso gleaminglike bronze in the sunlight, Joe paddled with a strong, swift strokewhich sent the light craft dancing over the water. As heapproached the rock on which George was seated he moderated hisspeed, and swerved toward a strip of beach. For a moment hehesitated, holding the canoe still by extending the paddle flat outon the water; then he headed straight for a safe landing betweentwo boulders. 

Five minutes passed---ten. Still George waited, watching a littlespiral of smoke curl up into the air. Then the canoe came into sightagain, bobbing gently away from the island. Now it was empty. 

"Hello! He's not in it!" Rawson exclaimed, shading his eyes withone hand. "The canoe has floated away with his clothes! He'llhave to swim for it!"

In another moment he saw Joe scramble up on one of the boulders, fling off his remaining clothes, and dive into the water in pursuitof the flighty craft. Reaching it, the Indian did not climb aboard, but swam back to shore, pushing it in front of him. Then Rawsonstepped down from his rock and slipped along the bank until heemerged from the undergrowth just where Joe was landing. 

"Mighty careless of you, Joe, " he said, laughing. 

Startled, Joe looked around to see whence came the familiar voice. His eyes met Rawson's, and he grinned with pleasure, as soon ashe had recovered from the surprise of seeing the unexpectedapparition of a naked white man in those wilds. Red man and whiteman, children of the wild, in a state of nature, shook hands infriendly greeting. Then Rawson explained how they had been waitingfor Joe to appear on the scene. 

"What have you got there, Joe?" he finally asked, pointing to abrisk little fire and a pile of flat stones heating therein. 

"Got heap plenty fine fish, " answered Joe. "We have dinner hereon island, what?"

"All right. Lend me this old canoe, and I'll go and get the boysand bring them over, while you are cooking the fish. "

This was done; and when all had dressed and piled into the canoe, ajolly and hungry party gathered on the island. Joe showed them howto broil the fish on the hot stones; they brought out theirsandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, and milk, and all "fell to" with akeen appetite. Joe remembered seeing Ralph at the market inOakvale, and he grunted approvingly when informed that Ralph wasto be a visitor at camp. 

They paddled across the lake and began the journey through thewoods on the southern shore. But they had not gone far when theywere overtaken by a thunderstorm, which drove them to the shelterof a cave at the base of a cliff forming one side of a broad ravine. The rain fell in torrents, mingled with hail, the thunder rolledand reverberated among the hills, and the skies were riven by vividflashes of lightning. Within the cave, however, they were snugand dry. 

"We're safe here, " said Rawson, "and we'll camp here for the night. "

CHAPTER X

CAMP LIFE

After a long march through magnificent forests, along winding streams, up and down the sides of steep hills, the boys and their leaderand the guide reached Pioneer Camp late the following afternoon. 

A rousing welcome awaited them, and almost the first news they heardwas that Tom Sherwood had been elected leader of the Otter patrol, during Alec Sands' absence. 

Tired as he was, Tom received this information with due appreciationof the honor. He was glad to hear also that the troop was gettingup a baseball game for the morrow, to be played by two teams chosenfrom all four patrols. In this way he hoped to be able to tell justwho were the best players in his patrol and who needed coaching forfuture games. 

As Pioneer Camp was nearer Oakvale than his farm, Ralph knew hecould learn the decision of the railroad officials sooner than ifhe had stayed at home. He had sent word to the village postmaster, asking him to forward all letters to Pioneer Camp until furthernotice, and meanwhile he waited in feverish suspense. So muchdepended on the surveyors' report!

The second evening of Ralph's visit to Pioneer Camp was given overto verbal "examinations" on the subject of geological surveying. To create real fun in the competition, Lieutenant Denmead conductedthe test like an old-fashioned spelling school. The various patrolswere lined up in open opposition, and the boys were increasinglyinterested as one by one they missed some question and retired fromthe ranks in laughing confusion. 

Finally the light of the campfire revealed only four up-standingcontestants: Tom Sherwood and Sam Winter of the Otter patrol, BudMorgan of the Wolves, and Blake Merton of the Hawks. 

"They can't faze Blake, " whispered Walter Osborne, hugging himselfjoyfully, as once again Blake gave a calm and sure rejoinder to theScout Master's query. 

"No wonder!" replied Don Miller. "He has had all this practicalwork over at Ralph Kenyon's!"

"What's the matter with Bud Morgan?" asked Arthur Cameron. "He makesme proud to be a Wolf! He has always been loony over surveying, you know. "

Just at that moment Sam Winter joined the boys who were lookingon at the finish. 

"Welcome to the company of the honorably defeated, Sammy, " calledDick Bellamy softly. "And here comes Tom!" he added. "Now itlies between Bud and Blake. ---hush! What is the Chief saying?"

"As a final test, I will ask each of these boys to write a listnaming the twenty mineral specimens that Mr. Rawson has collectedin the last two days, " announced Lieutenant Denmead. "The listthat is most nearly correct will give the troop championship forthe course of study to its writer. "

Profound silence fell upon the eager group around the campfire asRawson brought out his box of specimens, with paper and pencils forthe boys. 

At the end of ten minutes the lists were claimed and soon afterRawson handed to the Scout Master the successful paper. 

Bud Morgan had won the competition, ---and the Wolves howled in glee!

Not to be outdone, the Hawks, led by Walter Osborne and BlakeMerton, lifted their voices in a shrill "_Kree-kree-eee_, " whichrose piercingly above the Wolves' "_How-ooo-ooo_!" Then the Ottersand the Foxes added their characteristic cries to the din, andaway off in the shadows where the contagion of the noise penetrated, Indian Joe gave vent to a warwhoop of delight. 

"Much noise---sound good!" he muttered to himself. "Don't know whatall about. Never mind. Boys glad. See 'em go!"

The whole troop, glad indeed to have a legitimate excuse for lustyactivity after the mental exercises of the evening, had jumped totheir feet _en masse_, and, headed by the howling Wolves, wereparading joyously around the campfire. 

Bud Morgan was borne on the shoulders of the leaders, and there wasnothing to suggest the student of rocks and rivers and undulatinghills in his happy abandon to the situation. 

In fact, the majority of the boys had already forgotten the contestsin the temporary excitement and the uproar. 

Lieutenant Denmead, after exchanging a word and a good-humored smilewith his assistant, hurried to his cabin, and returned a momentlater with a small volume in his hand. Then, at his signal, Mr. Rawson lifted the camp bugle, which he had secured hastily, andblew the assembly call. 

At that, the boys, quite ready to quiet down again after theiroutburst of overflowing spirits, dropped into line with the promptnessof long practice and awaited their Scout Master's word. 

"Be seated, Scouts of Pioneer Camp, " he directed, returning theirsalute and seating himself on his favorite log. "In the few minutesremaining before 'taps, ' I wish to emphasize the meaning of thebusiness and the fun of the evening. I am gratified by the interestyou have shown in our field work and in these tests, but I amsatisfied that we can add to the introductory knowledge that we havegained a more practical and helpful course. 

"This is what I propose: First, I will give you two weeks of 'summerschool' training in geology and surveying under the tutelage of ayoung man who is a thoroughly trained geological surveyor. He wasrecommended to me by my friend Mr. Brett of the B. N. And C. Railroad. The young man, Ransom Thayer, is willing to come to us on onecondition. He has been technically trained, and he insists uponstrict attention to the matter in hand and strict school disciplinein return for his services. He has arranged a schedule of hoursboth for camp study and recitation and for practice in surveying, and has left ample time, also, for recreation, such as swimming andball-playing. 

"His proposition appealed to me as being both generous and just, andI had confidence enough in the Scouts of Pioneer Camp to accept iton the spot!"

A spontaneous cheer burst from the boys at this point. 

"Well, tell me, do you like the idea?" urged the Scout Mastersmilingly. 

"Now, boys, tell him!" cried Walter Osborne, springing to his feetand facing the troop. 

"Let her out! Now!"

"Rah! Rah! Rah!" yelled the scouts, jumping to their feet. "Rah! Rah! Rah! _Lieutenant Denmead_!"

"_Kree-kree-eee_!" shrilled the Hawks. "_How-ooo-ooo_! _Yap-yap-yap_!_Skee-eee-eee_!" barked and squealed the others. 

As the Scout Master raised his hand, silence fell upon the companyagain. 

"The plan for the two weeks of study is only preliminary, " thelieutenant continued. "Following that, we will organize the patrolsinto four squads of geological surveyors. Each squad will be giventwo days to make an accurate geological survey of a sectionpreviously selected and surveyed by Mr. Thayer. The scouts will noteits dimensions, the quality of its soil, the height of its hills, the extent of its valleys, the growth of its vegetation, itsstratified zones, its mineral deposits, ---in a word, whateverpoints Mr. Thayer shall designate to you in his course of studyunder the head of the 'geological survey, ' is to be included in anaccurate report, neatly recorded and finally submitted to Mr. Thayer for his marking. 

"And last of all a system of 'points' will be established for thecourse, by which the patrols may be credited for certain accomplishmentsin the line of this particular training, in addition to the pointswon by the neatness and accuracy of the reports. The patrol winningthe highest final rating will be given the title: Official GeologicalSurveyors to the Troop!"

As the Scout Master made this elaborate announcement in his mostgrandiloquent manner, the boys responded laughingly, clapping theirhands appreciatively, but uttering no word. 

"That is all for to-night, boys, " resumed Lieutenant Denmead aftera moment, "but it will give you food for thought and a subject foryour dreams! Details will be posted soon, and, meanwhile, let yourenthusiasm grow. 

"This little book in my hand will have to keep its story to itselffor to-night, as the hour is late; but to-morrow I will read to youa brief account of a national hero who found a knowledge ofsurveying a great help to him in his military capacity. Good night, boys. "

"Good night, sir!" came the hearty response. 

CHAPTER XI

THE NEW PROJECT

"Well, how does it strike you, Spike, ---this idea of a summerschool?" inquired Cooper Fennimore the next morning as the Foxescame back from their early dip in the lake. 

"Um, ---well, " replied Spike slowly, rubbing his chin as he had seenold men do when in deep thought, "how does it strike you?"

"Ex-actly right, now that I've thought it all over, " respondedCooper. "At first I was enthusiastic because the Lieutenant wasand because the rest took it up like wild-fire. 

"Then, last night after the camp was quiet, I began to think itlooked like all work and no play; like a pretty strenuous vacationafter months of hard study, you know!" Cooper looked at spike andgravely winked. 

"Oh, yes, you old fraud!" jeered spike, poking his chum in the ribs. "We all know that you are almost worn out with mental application!"

"But, finally, " continued Cooper, doubling up slightly at thefriendly nudge but giving no further attention to the interruption, "finally, I concluded that if my health could stand the strain, Iwould like nothing better than this nice stiff little course inground work. "

"'Ground work, ' eh? Look here, Cooper, it is too early in the dayto attempt a pun. "

"Pun? Not at all, " Cooper retorted. "Don't you know my presentambition? _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 CooperFennimore, Adviser in Extra-ordinary to the President-----"

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

"------_then_ you will remember when you studied the ground workof 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 likingthe summer school scheme and wanting to be a landscape artist?"

"I surely was, were, and am, " replied Cooper, as the boys slippedinto their places. "I've been watching my uncle-in-law builda house and lay out his grounds, and if I couldn't hit on a betterplan than his, I'd-----"

"Dig a hole, crawl in, and pull the hole after you?" prompted Spikeas Cooper paused for a comparison. 

"Just about, " agreed the other; and then both boys found theirnearest ambitions fully met by the camp cook's incomparable baconand eggs. 

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

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

"I'm mighty glad that you are in for all this study course that'scoming, Ralph, " said Torn Sherwood as they sauntered along. 

"So am I, " responded Ralph promptly. "It is more than kind ofLieutenant Denmead to ask me to remain for it. I shan't feel sogreen when I go to the School of Mines, you know, either, for thisMr. Thayer is a graduate and I can learn a lot from him. Then itmeans so much to be with you fellows! It has been a lonely placeon the farm sometimes!"

"I can believe that, " agreed Arthur Cameron, who had joined the boysand overheard their conversation. "Just the few days I was outthere showed me what it might be. "

"Come on, fellows!" urged Dick Bellamy, swinging two bats in largecircles as though they were Indian clubs. "We're going to beatour best records to-day, you know!"

All this interested Ralph Kenyon immensely and for a few weekshis concern for his own personal affairs was merged with the pleasuresand the novelty of the life in camp. Often he wished that hehad more time to spend with these boys, who welcomed him to theirfellowship, although he was not even a tenderfoot, with heartygood 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. 

His ability as a ballplayer was no less of a surprise to them than itwas to himself, for he had not played ball since his junior year inhigh school. His pitching proved to be clever and varied, his deliveryof the horsehide sphere being as good as Tom Sherwood's---which is nofaint praise. 

Early that same afternoon the boys learned that the schedule promisedby the Scout Master was posted on the wall of his cabin, and thatAssistant Rawson had been dispatched to Oakvale for the supplieslisted in Ransom Thayer's outline for study and practice. 

"The notice says that Mr. Thayer will begin work, with us at nineo'clock sharp next Monday morning, " announced Don Miller of the Foxes. 

He had already seen the bulletin and made some inquiries of LieutenantDenmead, in order to coach his patrol more intelligently. 

"Are there any 'points' for knowledge of trees and plants?" askedShorty McNeil. 

"I didn't read everything carefully, Shorty, " replied Don, "but I doremember the word 'vegetation. ' Maybe that will cover your specialty. "

"I hope so, " was the earnest rejoinder. "I can't do anything withthe mathematical end of this stunt, I tell you right now. Butleaves, and flowers, and different kinds of bark!---they are aseasy to read as print! And I would like to bring in a point ortwo for our patrol. "

At this moment Walter Osborne approached, walking rapidly from thedirection of headquarters. 

"Hullo, Don, " he called. "Have you seen the schedule? Great, isn'tit? Brings in about all our scoutcraft up to date!"

Walter hurried on, scarcely waiting to hear Don's reply in hiseagerness to overtake Blake Merton. 

"I say, Blake, " he began enthusiastically on reaching the fellow-hawk, "do you know that this geological survey is going to give us finetraining in signaling? I hadn't realized it before, but maybe youhave, because of your experience over at Ralph's. "

"Yes, I was interested in the simple system the railroad men used, "Blake responded. "It is an eye and hand language worth learning. "

"Well, I confess that I know nothing about it. And I didn't pickup much from the work we had here while you were away. With allcredit to the Lieutenant, he does not know the practical side ofgeological surveying, and while he interested us all, he did notgive us the real stuff that we shall get with Mr. Thayer. "

"True for you, " responded Blake. "All the fellows felt that wayafter the tests last night, I guess. Those questions showed themhow few facts they had really learned. It was not hard for Bud andme, because we have both had experience before now. "

Meanwhile Bud Morgan himself was in the midst of a group of eagerWolves. 

"You must coach us, Bud, " Arthur Cameron said. "We shall miss Hughand Billy in this, but you must see that they hear a good report ofus when it is over. "

"That's right, " agreed the other boys. 

"Let's make Bud Morgan our patrol leader until Hugh comes back, " criedlittle Jack Durham, the recruit of last season. 

"All in favor?" yelled Arthur. "Hands up!"

Hands and voices rose together and a united "_How-ooo-ooo_!"rent the air. 

"All right, fellows, I'll do my best, " said Bud Morgan as the noisestopped. "I'll try to act in Hugh's place, just as Tom Sherwoodis doing for Alec, if you will all stand by!"

"We will, " promised the boys. 

"Then listen! Mr. Thayer is going to put us through a big coursein a little time. We shan't like all the work, perhaps, but weshall each like something, ---for it touches so many things. Thereare the long tramps in the fresh air, the measuring of distances, the analyzing of the soil, the naming of the trees and plants, the locating of mineral deposits, and the working out of problems. "

Bud paused for breath, holding one hand poised with fingers outspread, just as he had been counting them off as so many points to note. 

"Now, then, " he continued, "it's up to us to listen and learn, ---andto beat the other fellows to it!"

"_How-ooo-ooo_!" came an approving chorus. 

At that moment a distant squealing told that the Otters were waxingenthusiastic, also. Down by the pier at the lakeside, Tom Sherwoodhad gathered his patrol, ---to which Ralph Kenyon had been added forthe period of his visit. 

Tom had just been explaining some facts that he had learned whilewith the surveyors on Ralph's farm, and even Buck Winter had showna responsive interest. 

Dick Bellamy, as usual, was keenly alive to the prospects in store, foreseeing plenty of fun as well as work. 

"I'll tell you one thing, fellows, " he began. 

"And that's not two, " interrupted Sam Winter impudently. 

"Somebody, please put the lid on that youngster a minute, " continuedDick, looking at Sam in well-assumed indignation. "As I was saying, ---orabout to say, ---I have often wished that I knew more about thequeer formations along the banks of rivers where I have gone onfishing trips. My father has always had a good deal to say about'erosion, ' and 'glacial periods' and 'stratification' and 'naturalboundaries, ' and I shall feel mighty proud to go back home knowinga few of 'them things, ' as Injun Joe would say. "

This was an unusually serious speech from the imaginative andsometimes irrepressible Dick, and the boys were correspondinglymoved by it. 

"Oh, if it is like _that_, " acknowledged Sam Winter, in a differenttone of voice than he had previously used, "we-----"

"We will all want to do our best, " finished his brother. "I haveoften wondered about the same things on my tramps after photographsof animals. I've come across lots of queer formations and odd rocksand natural caves and things. "

As Buck ended his remarks a little lamely, Bud Morgan hastened to say, "You fellows have the idea now, ---and mark my word: the Otters aregoing to win out!"

CHAPTER XII

AN ILLUSTRIOUS EXAMPLE

That night the Scout Master was much gratified at the interestmanifested by the boys as they assembled around the council fire. It was plain that they had all found "food for thought" in what hehad told them on the previous evening. Their questions showed thatthey were anxious to understand how to make the most of the promisedcourse, and that they realized it was bound to prove intenselyinteresting. 

"Some of the boys asked me to remind you of the book you had lastnight, " said Don Miller, coming up to Lieutenant Denmead as thelatter had a moment's freedom. 

"Surely! I must not forget my promise, " responded the Scout Master. "See that the troop is assembled and ready, Miller, and I will securethe volume. "

A few moments later the erect, impressive figure of the lieutenantfaced the waiting assembly of silent scouts. 

"Scouts of Pioneer Camp, " he said, "among the heroes of our nationis one whose name is particularly familiar to you and to whompublic honor is frequently given. His character has borne thesearchlight of investigation for more than a century, and as aman of fine moral fiber and a military leader of superior judgment, he still stands preeminent. I refer, boys, to General GeorgeWashington!"

So impressive and so compelling were these words that instinctivelythe patrol leaders rose to their feet and stood at salute. In aninstant every scout had joined them, and the Scout Master gravelyreturned the proffered courtesy. 

At a gesture the boys sat down again, and the lieutenant, sitting sothat the fire light fell steadily on the open book in his hand, beganto read:

"'George Washington was not more than thirteen or fourteen yearsof age when he was encouraged to put his skill in mathematicsinto definite use by learning surveying. He applied himself sothoroughly that before long he surveyed the land about the schoolhousewhich he attended. As he was the first pupil who had performedsuch a practical piece of work, his schoolmates were deeply interestedin his exploit. '"

"'A little later, when he had advanced so far in his study asto give him some idea of the proper use and handling of the chainand compass, he began to put his knowledge into practice by takingsurveys of the farms lying in the immediate neighborhood of hisschoolhouse. '"

"'Assisted by his schoolmates, he would follow up and measure offthe boundary lines between the farms, such as fences, roads, andwater courses; then those dividing the different parts of the samefarm; determining at the same time, with the help of his compass, their various courses, their crooks and windings, and the anglesformed at their points of meeting or intersection. This done, hewould make a map or drawing on paper of the land surveyed, whereonwould be clearly traced the lines dividing the different parts withthe name and number of acres of each attached, while on the oppositepage he would write down the long and difficult tables of figuresby which these results had been reached. All this he would executewith as much neatness and accuracy as if it had been left with himto decide thereby some gravely disputed land claim. '"

Lieutenant Denmead paused and glanced at the group of faces steadilyturned toward him. Then he resumed:

"'The habit of mind thus cultivated continued through life; so that, however complicated his tasks and overwhelming his cares, he foundtime to do everything, and to do it well. He had acquiredthe magic of method, which of itself works wonders. '"

"'When about sixteen years old, George Washington was asked by hisfriend, Lord Fairfax, to make a survey of the latter's extensivelands, a vast territory lying between the Potomac and RappahannockRivers. He undertook the commission in the early spring, when themountains were still white with snow and the streams had swolleninto torrents. He was clad in a buckskin hunting shirt, withleggings and moccasins of the same material, the simple garb ofa backwoodsman, in perfect keeping with the wildness of the sceneshe had to encounter. In his broad leathern belt were stuck along hunting-knife and an Indian tomahawk. As he rode his horse, he frequently carried in his left hand his useful compassstaff. '"

"'The enterprise upon which Washington had entered was one ofromance, toil, and peril. It required the exercise of constantvigilance and sagacity. Here and there in the wilds ran narrowtrails through dense thickets, over craggy hills, and along thebanks of streams; but when they might lead the young surveyorinto the camps of squatters or Indians, no one could tell. '"

As the Scout Master stopped again, he found the boys listeningwith breathless interest, and he guessed that many of them werefollowing the explorations of Washington in imagination. 

"This next paragraph, " he said, "reminds me of some of our ownexperiences on a hike. Listen: 'My companions and I, ' wroteWashington in his journal on April eighth of that year, 'campedin the woods; and after we had pitched our tent and made a largefire we pulled out our knapsacks to recruit ourselves. Everyone was his own cook. Our spits were forked sticks, our plateswere large chips. As for dishes, we had none. '"

"I shall read only two more brief paragraphs:"

"'Washington's success as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax called theattention of the Virginia authorities to him and to the unusualaccuracy of his surveys. As a consequence, he was appointed publicsurveyor, deriving a discipline therefrom which was of great serviceto him in his later career. By making him an able civil engineer, it laid the foundation of his future eminence in a military capacity. And by making him known to the principal landholders of the State, it led to his appointment, at the age of nineteen, to the officeof adjutant-general, with the rank of major. This gave him thecharge of a district, with the duty of exercising the militia, inspecting their arms, and superintending their discipline. '"

"That is all, boys, " concluded the Scout Master, rising and closingthe volume. "But as we take up our course in surveying, with theadditional interest of its geological significance, we may like toremember that we are following in the footsteps of no less a manthan George Washington!"

CHAPTER XIII

THE RESULT OF THE SURVEYS

Promptly at nine o'clock on the following Monday morning, a clean-cut, well-knit, strong-featured young man stood before an eager-facedgroup of khaki-clad scouts in Pioneer Camp. 

The businesslike attitude of the young instructor, Ransom Thayer, was reflected in the appearance of the boys; and from the firstcrisp greeting of Mr. Thayer to his curt dismissal an hour and ahalf later, the interest and attention of his auditors never wavered. 

His first lesson emphasized the historical phase of geology; andas he talked and pointed here and there in illustration, it seemedto the boys that every stone and boulder and pebble and overhangingcliff responded with the story of its life. This crevice, thatoblique angle, this smooth indentation, that rough mass, ---eachmarking had its significant meaning to the enthusiastic leader. 

Walter Osborne said to Blake after "school" was over for the morning, "I have always felt as though the trees of the forest were alive, but now it seems to me that every rock is a breathing, changing, growing thing, too. "

That afternoon Mr. Thayer led his troop afield and showed them othervolumes of rock history, ---how this proved that in ages past waterhad forced a channel through the hills; how that gave evidences ofinternal disturbances, of molten masses, of slowly cooling andhardening structure. 

Many of the boys had had courses in textbook geology and had gathered"specimens, " but this man made all these things new and wonderful andfascinatingly interesting. 

Day after day passed and still the enthusiasm grew. "Dry facts"wore absorbed unconsciously; angular diagrams of mathematicalrelations appeared on the big blackboard so clearly and conciselythat even Shorty Mcneil ceased to dread the problems; hours werecheerfully spent at the big mess table in making out tabulatedreports and drawing neat maps; and many more hours were spent withcompasses and levels, telescopes and heliotropes measuring andjudging distances and noting results on the hills and by the lakenear camp. 

"The man is a born leader and a born teacher, " said LieutenantDenmead, commenting on Mr Thayer one day "We shall hear from himyet. "

All too soon the two weeks of study were over and the squad competitionswere on. Then they, too, were completed and notice of the results waseagerly awaited by the four patrols. 

At length the evening came when the announcements were to be madepublic. Mr. Thayer had accepted an invitation to be present andto make the final report. 

Breathlessly the boys waited, the four leaders scarcely able tocontrol their anxious interest, while the Scout Master, his assistant, and Mr. Thayer took their places within the circle near the councilfire. 

At last!

"To every one, congratulations! To the Fox patrol, points forexcellence in botanical knowledge. To the Wolf patrol, pointsfor excellence in mathematical accuracy. To the Hawk patrol, points for superior general field work. To the Otter patrol andits leader, Tom Sherwood, the title and honor, 'Official GeologicalSurveyors to the Troop'!"

* * * * * * *

"News! news!" cried Arthur Cameron, bursting in upon Ralph and Tom, who were sitting in the boathouse on the shore of the lake. 

They had just come back from a canoe trip up the stream that flowedinto Pioneer Lake, a few hours' trip during which the Indian guidewho had been sent with them had taught them how to navigate rapidsin a canoe. Never had Ralph enjoyed more exciting sport thanshooting downstream in the swirling rapids and among the perilousrocks!

"News for me?" he asked, springing up alertly and seizing a letterArthur handed to him. He broke the seal, tore open the envelope, and unfolded a letter bearing the heading of the B. N. And C. Railroad. "Oh, Tom, listen to this!"

"_Mr. Ralph Kenyon, _"

"_Dear Sir: Owing to the recommendations of our official surveyors, we are prepared to make you a fair offer for the northwest quartersection of your property, to be utilized in laying a branch line ofthe B. N. And C. Will you kindly authorize your attorney to conferwith us upon this matter, at your earliest convenience?_"

"_Yours very truly, Nelson R. Slater, Atty. B. N. & C. R. R. "_

Words cannot describe Ralph's rejoicing at this news. Vague as itwas, merely suggesting, not stating any terms, he felt that it wasthe dawn of new hopes, a stepping-stone on the path of hislong-cherished ambition. 

Requesting Tom and Arthur to say nothing about it at present, hehurried to the Scout Master's cabin or office and confided thewhole scheme to Denmead, who straightway drew him into a long, serious, business-like discussion of the prospect, giving himan abundance of good sound advice. 

"How can I ever thank you, sir, for all your kindness in bringingme this good luck?" Ralph asked again and again, before he startedfor home. 

"By distinguishing yourself as a student in the School of Mines andby becoming, in due time, an efficient, broad-minded leader in yourscientific profession, " was Denmead's only answer. "The little I'vedone for you, my boy, is too slight to merit thanks; but the workyou may undertake is vastly important, and I want you to make agreat success. "

He shook Ralph's hand, laying the other on the lad's broad shoulder. 

"Good-bye, for the present, Ralph, " he added. "Let me know if there'sanything I can do for you hereafter. "

"I---I will, sir, " stammered Ralph, swallowing hard. "Thanksever so much!"

He turned to go, for the launch was waiting at the camp's pier totake him down the lake, where Tom Walsh would meet him with his wagonand drive him home. 

"I must say good-bye to the boys now, " he added in a tone of regret. "I've had the time of my life here, sir, and I think camp is great!"

"One moment, Ralph. I believe Rawson has some even better news foryou. "

Rawson had entered and was standing in the doorway. 

"Yes, I have, " he replied, smiling. "I kept it from you until thelast minute, because it's so good it won't spoil! Ralph, in oursurveys we found abundant signs of iron deposits on your property. These have been further investigated during your visit here. Beyond a doubt there are undeveloped mines on your land, boy!"

"Then---then father's dream---it may come true! He always saidthat, always believed it! And now---now------"

"Your lawyer will explain to you the terms of your father's will incase a mining company should be organized, " continued Denmead. "Ofcourse, I don't know what they are, but I assume that when you reachyour majority you'll be the chief owner of any mine on your land, and a director in the company. Success to the future, Ralph! Mayhealth and wealth and happiness be yours!"

With a sudden boyish impulse, Ralph gave both Scout Master Denmeadand George Rawson a bear-hug of sheer joy, and then he ran out tobid his other friends good-bye. Presently he was in the launch, gliding swiftly across the lake, his weeks at Pioneer Camp a memorythat would linger with him always. 

The events already recorded took place in the first half of thesummer. Later, the regular routine of camp life was followed. Noweek was allowed to pass without some contest in strength, skill, or endurance. Now it was the Signalers' Game, in which the troopwas split up into three divisions: the enemy, the defenders and theattackers. Again it was a stalking game, which tested the clevernessof the boys in reading signs and following trails. Often, too, therewere tests in water polo, in spearing the sturgeon and in swimmingdiving, and paddling. 

More than once Indian Joe was called upon to guide the boys on somelong hike, lasting several days. At these times, the scouts hadrigid training in scaling cliffs, fording streams locating pointsof the compass, selecting camp sites, making tents, buildingbonfires, cooking hasty meals, ---in the thousand and one details ofthe woodsman's life. 

All these experiences developed a strong, healthy, happy crowd ofboys, each one self-reliant and resourceful; and before the end ofthe summer, Lieutenant Denmead and his assistant felt that they hadevery reason to be proud of the scouts of Pioneer Camp. Some of theboys, ---like Hugh and Billy and Alec, ---who had been prominent inthe troop activities in previous seasons, were increasingly missed. 

Where they were during the late spring and early summer months isrevealed in another story of this series, entitled "The Boy Scoutsof the Life Saving Crew. "

THE END