The parting time came at last, and the Gray Eagle took Don’s guests up the river. The four boys they left behind them were very lonely after that. Don’s first care was to strip the shooting-box and lock it. He did not want to go there any more, for there were too many things in it that reminded him of his absent friends. The antlers which had been given up to Egan for the exclusive use of his “blunderbuss,” the clock-bracket and wall-pocket that Curtis had fashioned with his knife, the camp-chair which had given away with a great crash and let Hopkins down upon the floor—all these spoke eloquently of the days that were gone, and Don could hardly endure the sight of them. Of course this feeling of loneliness wore away after a while, and the brothers enjoyed themselves during the holidays as they always did; but when the time came for them to return to Bridgeport, they were ready and waiting.
Their second year at the academy proved to be an eventful one. Some things happened which, like the night attack of the Mount Pleasant Indians, were not down on the programme; and what they were, and how Don and Bert behaved themselves at school, what they saw and what they did for amusement when they went home with Curtis at the close of the term, shall be told in “The Rod and Gun Club.”
THE END.
Transcriber’s Note
Hyphenation of compound words can be variable. Where it occurs on a line break, the most commonly used form is assumed.
Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here, with their resolutions. The references are to the page and line in the original text.
| [21.10] | [“]they became as shiftless | Added. |
| [30.9] | we have got o[n/u]rselves into trouble already. | Replaced. |
| [51.2] | We’ll duck them first.[’/”] | Replaced. |
| [53.13] | had better keep their distance.[”] | Added. |
| [73.19] | [“]You had better read the rules and regulations | Added. |
| [81.24] | of the teachers.[’/”] | Replaced. |
| [118.9] | “Is that so?[”] Then he’d better hurry | Removed. |
| [150.11] | we can lay our plans accordingly,[”] said Fisher | Added. |
| [171.2] | “Not a word[?/!]” | Replaced. |
| [209.9] | demanded Egan, in reply[.] | Added. |
| [218.22] | [c/C]orporal Mack | Replaced. |
| [224.19] | be careful how you talk to him[.]” | Added. |
| [227.18] | “See how they stare at ever[y]body. | Added. |
| [241.21] | abo[n/u]t in company with their parents, | Replaced. |
| [248.25] | ringing report of a musket, [fol-]followed | Removed. |
| [276.6] | and see where they go.[’/”] | Replaced. |
| [277.21] | very well posted in natural history.[”]. | Removed. |
| [281.12] | “Hasn’t he returned?” exclaimed Egan. [“]Then he’s lost. | Added. |
| [299.19] | and nodded to him.[”] | Removed. |
| [335.1] | “Nary word, Mr. Don. [“]Nary blessed word.” | Removed. |