ou've not
been harder on me than one might expect. And I'm so happy now, with this
noble lad by my side, and the knowledge that my wife still lives, that I
couldn't bear you any ill feeling. I hope you'll be a big success in
your new business; and here's my hand, if you care to take it."

"Hurrah!" cried Bob, feeling like throwing up his hat when he saw the
two men, enemies for so long, shaking hands in a friendly way.

Thad himself had never felt so light-hearted. It seemed as though all of
their troubles had suddenly taken flight, and the future looked bright
indeed. This hike through the Blue Ridge had turned out ten times more
wonderful than any of them had ever dreamed, when the undertaking was
first discussed, away up in Cranford. It had given Bob back a father
whom he had believed was dead; and presently Bertha, too, would be taken
from the guardian who had no real legal right to her charge.

The Boy Scouts would be able to go back to their home town with a
feather in their hats, after accomplishing so many wonderful things.

But how were they going to get down to the faraway camp? Would Mr.
Quail, who must be weak on account of having been kept in the cavern so
long, be able to stand the rough trip? Perhaps, after all, they had
better stay there during the balance of the night, and wait for daylight
to come.

Thad was perfectly willing to leave all this to the gentleman himself;
and presently he became aware that they were even then discussing it.

His long and bitter association with those cold walls, and that Still,
must have given Mr. Quail a dislike for the sight of them; because he
expressed himself as only too willing to start down without delay.

"It's true that I'm not as strong as I might be right now," he admitted;
"but that weakness ought to pass away as I get the fresh air. Besides,
having my boy at my side will work wonders. Yes, please do not let my
condition keep us here one minute longer than is absolutely necessary."

And so they all started down. Since there was no longer any need for
secrecy, Polly carried the lantern along.

After all, it was not such very hard work. With a light to show them
what they had to avoid, and a pilot who knew every foot of the
mountainside, they made very fair progress indeed. Even Mr. Quail
declared he was getting stronger all the time, as he drew in big
quantities of the sweet mountain air, so different from that he had been
enduring so long, tainted wit