As the boys gathered around and started to partake of their breakfast the farmer and his family poured out of the house bearing all manner of additions to the menu, even to a couple of apple pies, which seems to be a standard early morning dish in the country along the Susquehanna, even as doughnuts are in New England.
Of course the boys fared like kings, and would not soon forget that splendid breakfast. When they packed their kits ready to make a fresh start, the girls insisted on pressing various little additions to their larder upon them, so that what with the apples, cookies, and the like, some of the boys could hardly manage to strap up their haversacks.
And there was Hiram looking so forlorn over their going that Thad took pity on the poor fellow.
“I’m going to remember you, Hiram,” he told the farmhand, as he squeezed his big hand warmly, “and after we get home I’ll send you a bunch of reading matter in connection with this scout movement, as well as several cracking good books that have been written covering the activities of our Silver Fox Patrol.”
“Gosh! I hope yeou do that same!” ejaculated Hiram, brightening up; “’cause I’m jest bustin’ to larn all about it. I’d give a heap if I ever hed a chanct to wear a suit like them be, an’ camp out in the woods. I hearn thar be a troop o’ scouts a-formin’ over in Hicksville, an’ by jinks I’m a-goin’ to put in a application, as sure’s my name’s Hiram Spinks!”
“I hope you do, Hiram,” the patrol leader told him, “and if I can do anything at any time to help out, let me know. First of all I’m going to mail you an extra handbook or Boy Scout Manual I’ve got knocking around home; and if you’re feeling a touch of the fever now, that’s guaranteed to give it to you ten times worse.”
So they said good-by to the hospitable farmer and his family, none of whom would accept a single cent in return for what they had done for the scouts. Indeed, they vehemently declared they were heavily in the boys’ debt on account of their having helped save the farmhouse after it had been set on fire by the action of the hobo thieves, surprised at their work of robbing the farmer’s desk.
Thad had been off somewhere while the rest were finishing their packing. When he came back Allan, who noticed the expression on the face of the patrol leader, guessed he must have met with a certain amount of success. Apparently he knew what the other had started out to find; at least his first remark made it look that way.
“Well, was it there, Thad?” he observed.
“As plain as print,” came the immediate reply, accompanied with a smile of satisfaction, such as a fellow may assume when he is in a position to say “I told you so!”