That's a good idea of yours, Tom," said the Chief, when Tom had
finished. "I'll find out how many of the boys know anything about
surveying, and then I'll go and see Mr. Brett, one of the railroad
officials, and learn what can be done. I'd like to help your
friend Ralph Kenyon. I was sorry to hear that he met with an
accident lately. It's a shame he killed those splendid eagles!
Professor Whalen showed them to me. Why, I'd have been only too
glad to pay the lad well for the privilege of studying the birds
in their wild state. He ought to have protected them, as a Scout
would do, not killed them! But Dr. Kane told me it was his
suggestion to Ralph."

"Yes, sir; so I understand," Tom answered. "Ralph isn't a scout,
you know, sir; and he needed the reward the professor offered---needed
it in a hurry---so he earned it honestly, even though he'd have
chosen not to shoot the birds. He said he was mighty sorry afterward."

"I'm glad to know that. I thought he'd regret it. Well, we won't
cry over spilled blood now; it's much too late. By the way, how's
he getting along?"

"Great, sir; he was able to walk around a little, without his cane,
when Arthur and I left him this morning."

"Are you going back to the farmhouse until we start for camp?"
inquired Denmead.

"If you've no objections, sir."

"None at all, my boy, as long as you can help your friend. You must
ask him to visit us in camp when he has time."

"I will, I will!" exclaimed Tom. "I know he'd enjoy it."

"And if this surveying scheme of yours---or was it Ralph's?"

"Both, sir. At least, we talked it over together."

"If it can be carried out, and if the railroad will buy part of
Ralph's farm, he will be able to go to the School of Mines?"

"Yes, sir, that's what he wants to do. You don't think, then, that
there's any chance of finding iron ore on the property?"

"How should I know? Stranger things than that have happened, Tom."

Talking thus, they reached the hotel. Denmead was immediately
surrounded by his troop of scouts, to whom he introduced the new
recruits, and presently they all fell to discussing plans for
the summer.

As the afternoon waned, Tom made ready to drive back to the farmhouse,
declaring that he knew the way perfectly, and even if he didn't,
old Keno wouldn't make any mistakes. Arthur decided to stay with
the others at the hotel, but Tom did not mind this at all, being
quite willing to return alone. The Scout Ma