“Not a bit,” protested Mr. Bentley. “I was willing to agree with him after he told me of how you saved the ship on that stormy night and how you pursued and captured the rascal that tried to kill his cousin. Oh, you see I know all the deep dark secrets of your lives.
“That’s the kind of fellows we’d like to have in the Forest Service when they get old enough,” he went on. “Frank here tells me that he’s got his eye on you for the radio work, but if he doesn’t book you for that, come to me and see how you like the work of a forest ranger.”
“Speaking of forestry work,” said Bob, taking advantage of the opening to turn the conversation away from him and his chums, “I want to tell you, Mr. Bentley, how we enjoyed your talk over the radio. We thought it was splendid from start to finish.”
“And that message at the end almost knocked us off our chairs with surprise and pleasure,” put in Joe.
“So you got that, did you?” returned Mr. Bentley, smiling. “I wasn’t dead sure that you’d be listening, but put it in on a chance. Well, you see I’ve kept my word.”
“And mighty glad we are that you have,” said Herb. “The only trouble with your speech that night was that it was too short. I could have kept on listening all night.”
“I’m glad you felt that way,” replied Mr. Bentley. “I didn’t know but what I was boring my audience stiff. If I’d only been able to see the people I was talking to, I could have told something by the looks on their faces. But the dead silence and the lack of response rather got on my nerves. I’d have felt a lot more comfortable if I’d been fighting a forest fire.”
“Rather queer idea of comfort, don’t you think?” laughed Bob.
CHAPTER VIII
AT RISK OF LIFE
Mr. Bentley joined in the general laugh that followed Bob’s remark.