ent Mrs. Hardy came in, and thanked the clever scouts warmly
for the great service they had rendered. She seconded her husband's
invitation, and as one o'clock struck in thin chimes from a tall
eight-day clock, they sat down to a plentiful dinner. Over the meal
the talk turned on the journey the scouts were making, and the farmer
and his wife were deeply interested in their adventures.

'But look here, now,' said Mr. Hardy; 'this fine piece of work you've
done for us--and we shall never forget it--has fetched you out of your
way, and cost you a lot of time.'

'We'll make it up before dark,' said Dick.

'Ay, by overtiring yourselves,' said the farmer. 'Now, suppose I run
you along a piece of your way in my trap. I've got a Welsh cob that'll
slip us along as if he'd but a feather behind him. I'll set you ten or
twelve miles on your road, and be thankful if you'd give me the chance.'

The scouts looked at each other. It was a temptation. It was an
undeniable temptation. It would make the march into Bardon a very
simple affair on the morrow.

Then Chippy spoke up, his keen eye reading Dick's puckered brow and
considering face.

'Yer want to march all the way,' he said quietly.

'I didn't at first, Chippy,' replied Dick. 'The offer of the lift
seemed splendid, and it is immensely good of you,' he went on, turning
to Mr. Hardy. 'But I'll tell you just where I stand. I'm under a sort
of agreement with my father that it's to be a genuine march all the
way. If I had a lift from you, it would hardly be fair as I see it.
But that doesn't apply at all to my chum; he's quite at liberty to come
with you.'

'I'll take one or both, and be proud to do it,' cried the farmer.

'Much obliged,' said Chippy in his hoarsest notes; 'but me and my
comrade march together.' Nor could either of the scouts be shaken from
his determination.

CHAPTER XLVI

DICK'S ACCIDENT

Dick and Chippy took the road again an hour after dinner amid a volley
of cheers raised by the labourers on the farm. The men had gathered in
the stockyard to see them start, and gave them three times three and a
tiger; for the Hardys were very popular with their dependents, and,
beyond that, the men felt respect for coolness, pluck, and skill for
the sake of the qualities themselves.

The two scouts felt a glow of delight in this achievement such as no
words can describe. They marched on their way with a swinging stride,
as if they stood on ai