“Oh, I guess the scheme is all right.”
“Of course it is,” Lon encouraged. “It’ll do you good to stretch your legs, and mebbe you’ll manage to do a stroke o’ business, somehow. You never can tell, Sam, what’s waitin’ for you round the next turn in the road.”
“I guess that’s so,” Sam admitted.
“Sure it is!” said Lon with conviction. “That’s what makes travelin’ the roads worth while, sonny!”
CHAPTER IV
THE CLUB AT THE COUNCIL ROCK
Of the club there responded to Sam’s call Poke and Step, the Shark, Tom Orkney and Herman Boyd. The Trojan was not at home. On the whole, Sam did not regret the fact that Walker was not to be with them that afternoon: certain matters of common concern could be talked over more freely in his absence.
Poke’s marks of combat were not to be hidden. The bruised flesh beneath his eye was beginning to show a prismatic variety of coloring, in spite of the application of several remedies in favor among the youth of the town; but Sam did not fail to observe that the other boys were careful to maintain an air of noticing nothing out of the common in Poke’s appearance. It was significant testimony to the serious view they took of the whole affair. Even a black eye was not matter for jest. Presently, no doubt, Poke would tell the story; but until he chose to speak, his silence would be respected. Boys, as a rule, are not credited with a high degree of consideration, but at times can display a restraint which many of their elders would find it hard to equal.
On the march Sam managed to have a few confidential words with each of his companions, acquainting them with the Trojan’s promise to take no hasty step. He was gratified to find in each case strong approval of this decision, and just as strong desire to do anything possible to uphold the good name of the club and all its members.
“You tell us what’s the program, Sam, and we’ll stand by you”—that was the way Orkney put it, and the speech fairly represented the spirit of all the party.
A seven-mile tramp, of a fine day, is really play for healthy schoolboys. The club thought nothing of it. Sam felt his spirits rising, and began to be glad that he had accepted Lon’s counsel. He could even join heartily in a discussion of short cuts, and finally carry the decision in favor of the one he approved, which followed a woods road, and then a mere path. The country about the lake was thinly settled, with many wooded tracts, a few swampy patches, and a number of low ridges, from the top of the last of which Step was the first to catch sight of the shining blue of the water. The marchers streamed down the slope, and out upon a little promontory, pleasantly shaded by big trees and with a great rock almost at its tip.