to see them. "We've been looking for you ever since
three o'clock this afternoon."

Ralph explained the object of his quest.

"I got 'em, too," he added, pointing proudly to the two eagles.
"But when I started to go home, without Keno, and tried to take a
shortcut through the woods, I got lost somehow; and besides, I
sprained my ankle, so I can't walk. I just had to wait for
somebody to come after me. I hope mother hasn't been awfully
worried."

"Well, she wasn't exactly what you'd call calm!" replied Tom.
"But the doc is there at the house now, with her; she might be
lots worse. Does your ankle hurt bad? Can you ride home?"

"Sure I can! Let's start right away---unless you fellows want to
rest. You must be tired."

"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 Art