If any of the boys had come to camp that summer with the idea that times would be dull there they were beginning to find out how badly they had been mistaken. As Bill Price said, “there was something doing every minute and no time to sleep in between.” They had scarcely recovered from the trip to White Earth when there was more excitement and it started from an old familiar cause. When they were working in the nursery one morning about ten o’clock they heard a wild yell down toward the turn in the Park Rapids road.
It was impossible to determine who it was at that distance, but someone was swinging jauntily along and commanding them in stentorian tones and no uncertain terms to get to work. It was impossible long to mistake that manner and Greenleaf shouted, “It’s Johnson.” They all trooped down to welcome him, for his sunny disposition and free comradeship had made him a favorite with everyone.
“Good,” he called as he saw them approaching. “Coming out to welcome the president, are you? Where are the keys of the city?”
“Glad to see you, freshie,” Merton said grasping his hand warmly. “Where did you blow in from? We thought you had given up the idea of coming up.”
“From the city of Arago. Hello, Greenleaf. Morris, you’re black as a nigger. Look at the mustache on Steve. All of you look sort of black and hairy. You are sure a hard-looking bunch. You see I walked out to the hotel at Arago last night and completed the trip this morning.”
“What are you going to do here?” Merton asked.
“Me? Oh, I’m going to work for the State Forest Service as special patrolman. Have to report to the ranger at Park Rapids tomorrow. Thought I’d pay you a visit.”
They had been walking up the road and now walked onto the campus by the library. All of them were interested in the news from the outside.
“Look at that old lake,” Johnson exclaimed eagerly. “Looks good to me. Good swimming?”
“Fine,” Bill said, “you’ll have plenty of chances to try it. Come on down and see the boathouse. Scotty has a fine canoe, and there’s a bunch of good boats.”