"Well, boys, you made a very serious mistake, but even serious mistakes can be rectified; and I understand that you have voluntarily done so already, so far as was in your power. Voluntary rectification is everything. Little more can be asked, and we'll say no more about it."
Then he turned to Buck with an extremely friendly manner, holding the young man's hand in a warm clasp.
"Mr. Hardy, I am deeply indebted to you," he said. "I shudder to think of what my boys might have suffered but for you and your commanding influence over that lawless crowd."
"Judge—Judge Ridgway, you—you make me ashamed," stammered Buck, awkwardly, his eyes lowered. "What I did for them was nothin' to what Ted did for me. That boy made me feel like I'd never get any peace o' mind till I'd bagged about sixteen o' them Germans."
"You're the right stuff!" declared Judge Ridgway, with a suddenly renewed grip of Buck's hand.
After smiling with the greatest satisfaction into Buck's uplifted eyes, he addressed the three young men collectively: "I want you all to spend the night at my house."
"Oh, Judge, we don't want to impose——" began Peters.
"Not a word; you've got to come, all of you," declared Judge Ridgway merrily, as he noted the looks exchanged by the embarrassed young backwoodsmen. "I want you to help my boys tell their wonderful story. Even Ulysses after all his travels never found a keener listener than I shall be."
He was about to add that all had now better start on the homeward tramp, when he noticed the old swamp-squatter lingering to say good-by.
"Come back and stay all night, Mr. Smith," he hospitably invited. "Then you can make an early start in the morning."