"Your mother has written to Captain Hooper?"
"Yes, and got word back in to-day's mail."
"Good!"
"I'm to buy a lot of things down to Carley's store and then go home and start to pack up. Come on."
Arm in arm, the two chums made their way to the large general store, where Tom Barnstable was again encountered. Here Mont purchased some extra underclothing his mother said he needed. While he was at this Tom Barnstable came close to him.
"When are ye goin' away?" he asked.
"Monday morning, six o'clock."
"Don't fergit the old man, Mont. We've had lots of good times—fishin' an' huntin', ye know."
That was Tom Barnstable, good-natured and willing to do, but an absolute beggar at the slightest chance.
"I won't forget you, Tom, not I," said the merry-hearted lad. "Here you are," and he slipped a shining dollar into the man's hand. A moment later he called one of the store clerks aside.