"I'll go down and keep watch on the place 'till you get back," offered this boy. "And I'll stay with you all night, if dad'll let me."
"That's fine!" exclaimed Rick and his chums echoed this sentiment.
And they had not finished talking about this before the farmer, who had heard their story, not only gave permission for his son to help, and aid in standing guard through the night, but also offered to run Rick, Chot and Tom over to Belemere in his auto.
"I'll bring you back, too!" he said.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll find Ruddy now!" declared Rick, who was both excited and delighted.
There was some more excitement when he reached home. His parents were beginning to be alarmed about him. But he quickly told what had happened, and as the Scout Master, summoned by Chot over the telephone, agreed to accompany the boys back to the cabin, Rick was allowed to go with them.
"Oh, I do hope he'll be all right!" said his mother. "He's never been away from home like this before!"
"It will do him good, and we can safely trust him with the Scout Master," said Mr. Dalton.
"Oh! oh!" Mazie had exclaimed when she heard the plans. "Are you going to sleep in the cabin all night, Rick?"
"Well, I won't sleep all night," he answered, as he rolled up his blankets and took his bundle of food. "We got to stay on watch, some of us, to catch the junk man, or the sailor, if he comes back with the junk fellow, to get his horse and wagon. That's how we'll get Ruddy."