“Yes,” said Dan quietly.
“It’s just this way—you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you can make good——”
“I’m afraid Walter has talked me up more than I deserve,” broke in Dan. “He’s a good friend——”
“How long have you known him?”
“Ever since we were little fellows. He has been spending his summers on his grandfather’s farm, and our farm was close by, so Walter and I naturally were together a good deal. This summer he hired me to take him fishing.”
Ned’s keen glance of surprise was not lost upon his companion, but as he did not speak Dan too became silent as the two boys followed Walter and Chesty, who were not far in advance. In the silence suddenly the words of the latter to Walter became plain to Dan and Ned. “Where did you pick up your bucolic?” Chesty was saying.
“Picked him up in the hayfield,” Walter laughingly replied.
“His hair is full of hayseed.”
“Well, what of it?”