"How had we better arrange about the nuts, Elmer?" asked Toby, when they were drawing close to the border of the town, with the twilight gathering around them.
"I've been thinking about that, Toby," replied the other; "and the best way all around would be for you to keep the whole lot in your barn. Some day we'll get together and divide up, because, as they stand now some bags have only walnuts, others hickories, while a couple have got most of the chestnuts in them."
"Are the rest agreeable, and do they trust me as far as that?" demanded Toby.
"Trust you with my pocketbook, Toby," George assured him.
"That's because there's never a red cent in the same, then," the driver flashed back, as quick as anything; "but see here, Elmer, what about the other four half-filled sacks?"
"I was coming to that," replied the scout master; "and unless somebody objects to the programme, why, I'll drop around after supper, say before nine o'clock, and between us, Toby, we'll lift all our own bags out, and stow the same away in that room in your barn that's got a lock to it. Then I'd like you to hitch up Nancy again, so we can go around and drop these other bags in the yards of the four fellows. It's apt to be pretty quiet along about that time, even if it's Saturday night; and not much danger of anybody spying on us."
"Just as you say, Elmer; I'm with you," replied Toby, who was a very accommodating fellow, and easily influenced; "I guess I'll feel stronger, and more like tackling the job after I've had my supper."
There was no objection to that plan, since it had already been decided to work things that way; and possibly George, as well as Ted, felt that they were escaping some hard labor when they allowed these two comrades to shoulder the burden.
At various corners the others jumped off the heavily loaded wagon, and made for their homes. It happened that no boys were abroad just then to ask where they had been, for supper time came early in most of the Hickory Ridge homes during the fall and winter days; and so Toby was not forced to explain that he and his four chums had been off nutting.
True to his word by half-past eight Elmer made his appearance at the Jones domicile, and with Toby and a lighted lantern proceeded to the big barn. Here they found that the wagon stood just where it had been left when Toby unharnessed Nancy, and stripping off their coats the two lads proceeded to complete their job.