"I'm not," asserted Tom Sherwood. "How about you, Jack?"
The youngest boy gave a little sigh. "It's awfully nice up here in the woods by this fire!" he replied evasively. "Let's warm ourselves and—-and hear more about Ralph's adventures, and—-do you think Mrs. Kenyon will——-"
"Yes, I do," interrupted his Cousin Tom. "Come on, youngster; you and Ralph get on the nag; Sherwood and I'll walk. Let's be on our way."
So the matter was settled, to Ralph's satisfaction and relief.
Putting out the three fires and sprinkling even the last embers thoroughly with water from the stream, the four friends started homeward, with Ralph and Jack mounted on Keno in the lead. Jack carried the lantern, while Ralph, with one hand on the bridle, the other holding the two eagles tied and balanced across the saddle, allowed Keno to pick his own way along the trail. The sagacious animal seemed to know every foot of the path; even in the gloom of night he made no misstep. Sherwood and Tom followed close, the latter carrying Ralph's rifle.
CHAPTER V
FRIENDS AT THE FARM
On the way home, Sherwood explained how he chanced to be one of the search party.
"You see, the Chief—-that's what we call our Scout Master—-was called back to New York on business for a few days, perhaps a week; so he left Arthur and me at Tom's farm, because it's only about five miles from Pioneer Camp. And when your mother telephoned to Tom, saying that you hadn't turned up all day, Ralph, and that she feared something terrible had happened to you, we insisted on going with Tom to look for you. But Tom said——-"
"I said she oughtn't to stay in the house all alone to-night,"
Tom put in readily, "so I told Arthur to stay with her until Doctor
Kane showed up. I knowed it was his day to call at your house. See?"