“Well,” replied Jim, with a laugh, “we set out to surprise you, and I guess we succeeded.”
“There’s no doubt of that,” said Bob; “but tell me how you found the way to this spot.”
The visitors were not quite willing to give the whole truth, and Tom ventured the explanation.
“We came most of the way in the cars,” said he, “but got off at a little station a few miles out to tramp across the country, thinking we might pick up some game on the way. We didn’t make out very well, and rode to Black Bear Swamp in the stage. There we got out again and set out to find you.”
“How did you know where to look?”
“The driver told us you had a camp out this way somewhere, and we thought we might stumble over it.”
This narrative was so brief in the way of details that the boys ran some risk of having it overturned when the account of the driver and his passenger should be heard, but fortunately for them, Durrell and Lenman forebore any references to the unworthy part played by the youths, and Bob Budd remained ignorant of the real cause of the abrupt flight of his friends, and their taking to the shelter of Black Bear Swamp.
“I’ve had the tent up for three days,” added the host, who was about the age of his guests, “and it’s so well stored with eatables and drinkables that I come out every night to take a look at it, so as to make sure no tramps or thieves are prowling around. I was about to go home when you hailed me. Shall we go to the house or stay here till morning?”
“I don’t see that this can be improved on,” replied Tom, looking admiringly about him; “we’re pretty well tuckered out, and I would as lief stay here till morning anyway.”
“Those are my sentiments,” added Jim, much pleased with the survey.