together the evidence and followed up the wounded rider, and his
thankfulness and gratitude were beyond expression.

'To think he was barely a field away from home, and couldn't move
another step!' cried Mr. Hardy--for that was the farmer's name. 'And
then you tracked him down in that clever fashion. Well, if you two are
not a credit to Baden-Powell's Scouts, my name isn't George Hardy.'

'Your son is a scout too, I think,' said Dick. 'I saw he was wearing
our uniform and badge.'

'Of course he is,' cried Mr. Hardy. 'He's fairly crazy about
it--thinks of nothing else, he's so keen on it. There's a patrol over
in the village yonder, and he's joined it. He's what they call a
second-class scout at present, and he wants to become first-class. So
off he set on his bike for a fifteen-mile ride, as it seems that's one
of the things he's got to do.'

'Test 7,' grunted Chippy.

'Ah, very likely,' agreed Mr. Hardy. 'I don't know the numbers.
Hallo! that's good. Here's the doctor.'

He sprang up, and took the medical man to the bedroom, while Joe came
into the kitchen, wiping his face.

'Met the doctor on the road, so that's lucky,' said Joe, and then began
to ask the scouts about the accident; for Fred was a great favourite,
and all were anxious to know how ill had befallen him.

Dick and Chippy would now have resumed their interrupted march had they
not been desirous of hearing the doctor's report on their brother
scout's condition.

Twenty minutes passed before Mr. Hardy returned to the kitchen, and his
face shone with joy.

'He'll pull through,' cried the farmer. 'Doctor says there's a chance
for him yet. But if he'd lain there half an hour longer there'd have
been no mortal hope of saving him, and I can never tell you how
thankful his mother and me do feel towards you.'

'Oh, very likely someone would have found him in time if we hadn't
tracked him,' said Dick.

'Never in this world,' said Mr. Hardy solemnly--'never in this world!
That path is but little used. The village lies t'other way. He might
have lain there for hours and hours.'

'Well, we're very glad we were so lucky as to be of service,' said
Dick; 'and now we must push on our way. We're making a scouting
journey, and have to finish it by to-morrow night.'

'Nay, nay,' cried the farmer; 'you'll have dinner, at least, before you
go. 'Twill be ready soon, and I'd take it very onkindly if you left us
without bite or sup.'

At this mom