ou looking at me like that for?" he demanded,
without being able to hide a grin. "Haven't I been exercising?
Haven't I? What have you got to say about it? Didn't I spade up
that old melon-patch and plant sixteen rows of carrots in it, this
afternoon?"

"I never said you didn't, old scout," said Arthur.

"I know you've been working like a cart-horse, Tom," interposed
Ralph, who had hobbled around the fields for the first time that
day, directing the labors of his friends. "You and Art have done
wonders all week, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for
all the help you've given me. It's simply great to have such pals
as you two! And mother'll be delighted to know that everything's
going so swell. I had a letter from Doctor Kane to-day---guess
I told you? He said the operation was very successful and she's
doing finely."

"Mighty glad to know it!" Tom declared warmly. "Did he say when
she could come home?"

"In a few days. But you fellows can't leave then! No, sir-ee!
We're going to have some fun after all this work is over, and
mother and I will want you to stay and loaf for a while. I can
show you where to get some dandy photos of nesting birds, and
I know where a pair of red foxes have a kennel every spring.
You can take pictures of the vixen and her cubs, if you go about
it carefully at the right time of day."

Arthur's eyes shone with pleasant anticipation. He was delighted
with the prospect of getting some good photographs to show the
boys in Pioneer Camp. But Tom, though he also looked forward
eagerly to the reunion of the troop at camp, shook his head with
regret at the thought of leaving the farm. Ralph had told him
more about the dispute over the boundary, and about his father's
dreams of finding iron ore on the land; Tom was interested, for
Ralph's sake, in having the land surveyed and examined.

"Why don't you go to bed now, too?" asked Tom, when they had
finished talking about animal photography. "You need the rest, I
know, Ralph."

"I'm going, in a few minutes, just as soon as I finish this letter.
Trot along, boys!"

"Well, good night," grunted Arthur, as he disappeared into his room.

"Good night."

"Don't be too long at it, Ralph."

"No, I won't. Good night, old top."

His gaze followed Tom as his sleepy guest slouched out of the room,
and when he heard Tom's heavy footsteps on the creaking stairs,
he took up his pen once more. Propping his head with his other
ha