"Why doesn't he experiment on his own land?" was Tom's next question, born of a lively interest he felt in the controversy.
"Because the B.N. and C. Railroad wants to run a branch line from Oakvale over to the main line, in a big loop, and Perkins may have a chance to sell some of his land. That's why he doesn't want to have it dug up, at present; he may strike ore. And that's why he's going to have his whole property surveyed."
"Ralph," said young Sherwood, after listening thoughtfully to his new friend's explanation, "you know the railroad company will have a survey made, on their own hook. Now it seems to me, if you know anything about surveying, that it would be a good chance for you to join the railroad's surveyors and get in a little fine work on your side of the fence, so to speak. Don't you think so?"
"I never thought of that!" Ralph eagerly responded. "That's a keen idea! Much obliged to you for it! You can bet I'll try."
Talking thus, the four beguiled much of the long tramp back to the farmhouse; Ralph almost forgot the pain of his injuries. A bond of friendship seemed already to have drawn him and Sherwood together: a bond which was destined to be strengthened not only by the adventure of this night but also by many future adventures which they would share.
"There's a light yonder!" exclaimed Jack, suddenly, waving his lantern as he spoke. "Somebody has seen us 'way off, and is coming to meet us."
He guessed right. As they approached the farmhouse they discerned in the darkness a figure coming toward them with a stable lantern. The figure swung this light to and fro, up and down, in wig-wag signaling, and Tom replied by whistling shrilly two short blasts, which meant "All right, we're coming." Then the figure hailed them with a whoop of joy, and ran forward.
It was Arthur Cameron. Leaving Mrs. Kenyon in Doctor Kane's charge, he had slipped out of the house by the kitchen door so that his impatience and anxiety might not be observed, and, obtaining the stable lantern, he had gone forth to see if the search party was not yet returning.
When Ralph entered the house, leaning on Sherwood and Arthur, his mother burst into tears of thankfulness for his return and of pride in what he had achieved. She was distressed on learning about his sprained ankle, and, following Doctor Kane's directions, she lost no time in the preparation of hot and cold applications and bandages. Ralph was sent to bed as soon as he had modestly related his adventures, and had drunk a hot milk-punch (which he declared was "nasty") in order to offset any chill which he might have contracted by sleeping out in the open.
"As if I weren't used to sleeping practically in the open, every night of the year!" he complained to Sherwood, as he slid down between the sheets, which his mother had carefully warmed.