Luckily there had been a double portion made ready, because Frank expected that when the two boys got in they would be almost famished.
“If you hadn’t shown up in another hour or so, Will and I intended to start out and try to find some trace of you,” he told the returned hunters.
“Yes,” added Will, “and I told Frank I wanted to be sure to carry my camera along, because the chances were we’d find that the old bull moose had treed you both, and it would make a cracking good picture!”
Later on Frank started for Lumber Run Camp. He took Will along, for the latter had been so wrapped up in taking pictures that he had not had much exercise of late.
They had no difficulty in reaching the lumber camp, and found Mr. Darrel there. He was deeply interested in all they had to tell him.
“Well, I’m glad to learn who it was tried to burn us out here,” he said. “And while he may not want to take the reward I’ll see that Teddy has it before spring. He’s a big husky boy, and I think if he’d like to stay up here with me, I could make a pretty fair lumberjack out of him.”
“How about Bill Nackerson, sir?” asked Frank. “He is in a bad way, and ought to be taken to a hospital at once or he may lose one or both feet. I’ve done all I could, but he needs special care and treatment.”
The lumberman frowned, and then his face cleared.
“After all, it isn’t best to hold resentment long,” he told Frank, who was more than pleased to hear him speak in that way. “That man is a rascal, I surely believe; but he’s down and out just now, and I can’t bear malice to a wretch whose feet are in such a bad way. Yes, I’ll see that he’s taken to town in a wagon that’s going to start early in the morning. It’ll be past your place an hour after sun-up. Have him ready to go. And I’ll forget all about his evil work. But he owes a heap to the outdoor chums.”
Frank and Will got back just as the shadows of night were gathering. When Bill Nackerson heard how forgiving the lumberman had proven, especially since he understood how the truth about the fire at Lumber Run Camp was known to Mr. Darrel, he shed tears. Frank hoped they were genuine, and not of the crocodile kind.