llage without purchasing anything. They had
plenty of food for supper in their haversacks, and though their tea and
sugar and so on were finished, they did not intend to buy more. Even
to purchase in small quantities would leave them with some on their
hands, and they were not willing to spend the money. It was no mean,
miserly spirit which moved them. Their scout's pride was concerned in
carrying out the journey at as low a cost as possible, working their
own way, as it were, through the country. For the money, as money,
neither cared a rap. It must also be confessed that Dick was rather
keen on handing back to his father a big part of the ten shillings.
Dick remembered the twinkle in his father's eye, when Mr. Elliott
handed over the half-sovereign for way money. The smile meant that he
felt perfectly certain that the two boys would soon run through the ten
shillings and have to turn back. Dick had perfectly understood, and
the more he could return of that half-sovereign the prouder be would
feel.

They pressed on across the common with a distant fir coppice for their
landmark and goal. Such a place meant a comfortable bed for the night,
and as soon as they gained its shelter Chippy cried halt, and forbade
Dick to stir another step.

'It's been gettin' wuss and wuss lately,' said Chippy. 'Ye don't say a
word, an' ye try to step out just as usual, but it's gettin' wuss an'
wuss.'

'Oh, I don't mind admitting it's a trifle sore,' said Dick, 'but it
will be all right in the morning.'

'Hope so,' said Chippy. 'Now you just drop straight down on that bank,
an' I'll do th' odd jobs.'

Dick protested, but the Raven was not to be moved. He forced his chum
to stretch himself on a warm, grassy bank while he made the
preparations for camping that night. A short distance away a rushy
patch betokened the presence of water. Dick pointed it out. 'I'll go
over there and wash my foot,' he said.

'Right,' said Chippy, 'an' dab some more o' that fat on the cut.'

Dick found a little pool in the marshy place, and the cool water was
very pleasant to his wounded foot, which had now become sore and
aching. When he returned, Chippy was emerging from the coppice with
armfuls of bedding; he had found a framework in the rails of a broken
fence which had once bounded the firwood.

'Here, Chippy, I can lend a hand at that,' said Dick. 'There's no
particular moving about in that job.'

'Aw' right,' said the Raven; 'the