“Let him go and enjoy himself as he feels like,” commented Rob. “That’s everybody’s privilege when they come to a show as tremendous as this one is. And, Tubby, I think you’re too hard on Andy. I happen to know that he’s been devouring every book on travel and exploration he can find anywhere. The subject fills his mind.”
“Then he really does mean to make that his life work, Rob? I thought it was just a sort of cloak, as you might say, to cover his wanting to see these Oriental humbugs carry on. Fortune-tellers ought to be suppressed by law; they do lots of harm, I understand, especially where silly people believe in ’em.”
Rob came very near remarking that, for one who scorned their class, Tubby himself seemed to be bothered considerably over a certain foolish prophecy; but on second thought he concluded not to add to the color in the fat boy’s cheeks by embarrassing him.
Being now free from the two chums who had such peculiar and strong notions as to what they wanted to devote all their time to, Rob and Tubby started in to spend several hours to the best possible advantage.
They were not merely seeking amusement, but instruction as well; and there were copious fountains to be tapped within the borders of those extensive grounds of the wonderful Exposition that would repay the laborer manyfold for his trouble.
“I tell you I’m mighty glad I happened to run across you, Rob,” Tubby remarked, for perhaps the tenth time, as they watched the process of the Government fish hatchery, where millions of eggs were transformed into tiny objects that looked like animated specks in the water, but which under proper care would some day be placed in certain lakes or rivers or in the sea, to add to the prosperity of the nation that was fast learning how to conserve its food supplies.
“And I’m just as pleased on my own account,” the scout leader told him. “You see how my two chums are bound to desert me, each crazy along his own particular line, and bound to follow his pet whim through thick and thin.”
“Haw! then I’m the only sensible one of the lot, seems like!” grunted Tubby, with beaming face. “Thank you for intimating as much, Rob. I do seem to fancy many of the same things that strike you as worth seeing. ’Course I sort of enjoy the humbug of the Zone, but a little goes a great way. My better nature craves educational value for the time spent in coming away out here!”
When Tubby said this so grandly he tried very hard to keep a straight face; but discovering the gleam of merriment in Rob’s eyes, he burst into a laugh.
“Well, it’s part way true, anyhow, Rob,” he declared. “I am having a real good time keeping up with you, even if we’re walking miles and miles, and my shoes are getting to pinch me something fierce.”