Morning came, and found them up and doing; for Thad was most anxious to return to the camp near the foot of the rapids. After so many days he felt sure the three boys left at the camp would be dreadfully worried concerning the absent ones, and especially Bumpus; because, of course they still considered him as a poor, ignorant tenderfoot scout, blundering along after a fashion, and hardly knowing enough to come in out of the wet, when it rained.
Ah! yes, there were a number of tremendous surprises in store for Dave and Bob and Smithy, when the full story of Bumpus’ achievements was told by the glowing camp-fire; and mostly at that by those who had followed his trail through the big timber, reading the signs as they appeared, and observing the remarkable progress the fat member of the Silver Fox Patrol made, once he started thinking for himself.
They had enough venison left for one good meal all around, including the two timber cruisers. Thad was worried about these men. He did not know what to do with them, truth to tell.
If he sent them away with weapons and ammunition; there was always a chance that sometime later the fellows might again run across them, and give trouble.
On the other hand, it seemed rather cruel to turn them loose in the wilderness, so far away from civilization, and without arms, by means of which they might obtain food, or defend themselves in case of trouble.
Upon putting it up to Hank and Pierre themselves, the men, quite downcast now, declared that they were done “cruising” in that section, and meant to get out of it just as fast as their legs could carry them.
“Let us off this time, younker,” Hank pleaded. “We got our lesson rubbed in good an’ hard, I reckons. I’m even willin’ to have Fatty here kick me as many times as I did him; though I do say as how he paid it all up when he played that fine trick on us.”
It was not surprising, therefore, that the gratified Bumpus, in the goodness of his heart, asked Thad to forgive the two men.
“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” Thad decided. “Leave their guns here, and take the men to the camp with us. Then, if we decide to turn them loose, they’ll have to come half a day’s journey back to get the guns.”
And so it was decided to arrange matters.