The Boy Scouts of the Geological Survey Part 4

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

Putting out the three fires and sprinkling even the last embers thoroughly with water from the stream, the four friends started homeward, with Ralph and Jack mounted on Keno in the lead. Jack carried the lantern, while Ralph, with one hand on the bridle, the other holding the two eagles tied and balanced across the saddle, allowed Keno to pick his own way along the trail. The sagacious animal seemed to know every foot of the path; even in the gloom of night he made no misstep. Sherwood and Tom followed close, 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 the search party.

"You see, the Chief---that's what we call our Scout Master---was called 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 about five miles from Pioneer Camp. And when your mother telephoned to Tom, saying that you hadn't turned up all day, Ralph, and that she feared something terrible had happened to you, we insisted on going 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 Doctor Kane 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's mighty good of you all to take so much trouble."

"Tus.h.!.+ 'Taint no trouble, lad! Why, anybody wouldn't refuse to do sech a small favor for your ma. Even Bill Terrill---he dropped in at 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 get permission 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 them survey our land, on the faked excuse that the survey dad had made isn't correct."

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

"Because Perkins wants to annex a piece of our property, sink a shaft in it, and see if the ground promises to yield any iron.

He claims that the piece he wants, which is our northeast corner three-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 from Oakvale over to the main line, in a big loop, and Perkins may have a chance to sell some of his land. That's why he doesn't want to have it dug up, at present; he may strike ore. And that's why he's going to have his whole property surveyed."

"Ralph," said young Sherwood, after listening thoughtfully to his new friend's explanation, "you know the railroad company will have a survey made, on their own hook. Now it seems to me, if you know anything about surveying, that it would be a good chance for you to 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 a keen idea! Much obliged to you for it! You can bet I'll try."

Talking thus, the four beguiled much of the long tramp back to the farmhouse; Ralph almost forgot the pain of his injuries.

A bond of friends.h.i.+p seemed already to have drawn him and Sherwood together: a bond which was destined to be strengthened not only by the adventure of this night but also by many future adventures which they would share.

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

He guessed right. As they approached the farmhouse they discerned in the darkness a figure coming toward them with a stable lantern.

The figure swung this light to and fro, up and down, in wig-wag signaling, and Tom replied by whistling shrilly two short blasts, which meant "All right, we're coming." Then the figure hailed them 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 his impatience and anxiety might not be observed, and, obtaining the stable lantern, he had gone forth to see if the search party was not yet returning.

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

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

"Do as you're told, and don't grumble, old top!" laughingly replied Tom. "Hope your wounds and sprains and bruises and so forth will be 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 the remainder of the night there; Mrs. Kenyon would not hear of any one of them going over to Tom's house at that hour. So the doctor retired to the spare bedroom, Sherwood and Arthur occupied a broad couch or divan in the little parlor, where Tom Walsh and his young cousin slept even more comfortably on an extra mattress on the floor. Everyone was in good spirits, although tired and very sleepy; and the sun was high in the heavens before any one of that household awoke.

Anyone? No, not quite; for, with characteristic thoughtfulness, Tom Walsh, waking earlier than the others, stole quietly out into the kitchen and began to make the fire and grind the coffee for breakfast. Mrs. Kenyon, hearing him, came downstairs at once.

She, alone, had scarcely slept at all that night. Her fears for Ralph's health, as well as the thought of having soon to go all 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 a fust-cla.s.s 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 husband that any sensible woman'll be proud of, because I can see you've been well trained. By the way, Tom, how's Sue Turpin nowadays? And when will she name the happy day?"

Tom colored up to the roots of his thin, sandy, curly hair. So Mrs. Kenyon, too, had heard of his wooing of Susan Turpin, the miller's daughter! Well, why not, since it had become a pleasant topic 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 dear old mother told me, the last time she came over to see me, that you can no more cook than you can fly! And she thinks you're an 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," a.s.sented 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 more serious mood.

"Say, Mrs. Kenyon, why don't you ask them two Boy Scout friends of his 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 p.r.o.nounced Tom's suggestion a good one, provided the three boys could manage to get their meals properly. This they vowed they could do; so Kane, considering it best to take Mrs. Kenyon to the hospital for treatment as soon as convenient, urged her to consent to the plan. He left the farmhouse, after a delicious breakfast, taking Tom Walsh and Jack home in his car,---also the golden eagles, which he promised to deliver to Professor Whalen that very day.