“How long you stay here?” demanded Teddy Banes, suddenly.
“We won’t get back over the boundary line until this Jed Warren affair is settled,” answered Tom, firmly.
“Bah! You can do nothings. It makes me laugh.”
“Well, laugh, then,” retorted Tom. “I guess we won’t mind.”
“It seems pretty certain that I shall have to do some more writing in that book of mine,” Dave Brandon was saying to Bob Somers.
“And I guess that means another serial for the Kingswood High School ‘Reflector,’” said Larry Burnham. “What’s that, sergeant—do we want a bite to eat? No, thanks. We’ve had our canned goods, salt pork and other delicacies.”
“And I’m uncommonly glad to have found a good place to rest,” said Dave. “A thousand thanks, sergeant.”
Erskine nodded.
“You’re more than welcome,” he said. He turned toward Sam Randall, who had asked a question in regard to the duties and work of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police. “Yes; I don’t mind telling you something about it,” he answered.
Erskine was so disarmed by the liveliness and hearty good spirits of the crowd that his usually severe and frigid demeanor unconsciously slipped away.