quite willing to return alone. The Scout Master promised to send
word just as soon as he had interviewed Mr. Brett, or his secretary.

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

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

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

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