and went forth in search of their camp outfit
and friends.

CHAPTER XI

TOM IDEALIZES WORKING CLOTHES

After the reunion at Fenton the high school boys enjoyed many
days of "hiking" and of all-around good times, yet nothing happened
in that interval that requires especial chronicling.

Nor in that time did Dick & Co. hear any more of Reuben Hinman,
as they were now some distance from Fenton.

"We'll make Ashbury to-night," Dick announced one morning. "We'll
go about two miles past the town, halt there for two or three
days' rest, and then---back to good old Gridley for ours."

"Gridley's all right. Fine old town," Tom declared. "But as
for me, I wish we didn't have to go back there for another two
months, instead of feeling that we have to be there in a fortnight
from now."

"This has been a great hike," Dick agreed, "and a fortnight of
life of a kind that has had nothing but joy in it. Yet we've
the years ahead to think of, haven't we?"

"What has that got to do with going back to Gridley?" demanded
Danny Grin.

"Well, what are we going to the high school for?" questioned Dick
Prescott.

"I'm going because the folks send me," Dan declared. "Can't help
myself."

"Don't you want to get anywhere in life?"

"I suppose I do," Dalzell assented half dubiously.

"Danny boy, I'm ashamed of you," Dick exclaimed, though his eyes
were smiling. "Are you content, Dan, to grow up and use your
fine muscles in performing the duties of a day laborer?"

"Not exactly," Dan answered.

"You'd rather be president of a big railroad company?"

"Yes, if I had to choose between the two jobs."

"Then perhaps you can get a glimmering of why you're in high school,"
Dick went on. "When you compare the railway president and the
laborer, the difference between them lies a good deal in the difference
in their natural abilities. Yet a lot depends, too, upon the
difference in their training. You don't find many college graduates
wielding the pick and shovel for a living, nor many high school
graduates doing so, either. By the way, Dan, what are you going
to do in life?"

Dalzell shook his head.

"Then within the next year you had better go after the problem
and make your decision hard and fast. Fasten your gaze on something
in life that you want, and then don't stop traveling until you
get it, and it's all yours! A boy of seventeen, without an idea
of what he intends to do in life has already turned down t