go to planning trouble for me," expostulated
Jeems. "I don't mind dodging sharks and being tied up by fierce
outlaws, like Jo and Tom, but I won't be an umpire."

"That's settled," laughed Jo. "Anyway, if we can't indulge in
baseball, we will have a game of horseshoes, behind the blacksmith's
shop at River Bend.

"I wonder how the _Sea Eagle_ and the old Captain are getting along?"
said Jeems.

"We will see in about ten days," replied Jim. "But I'm not worrying
with the old man and the engineer aboard. We will stop long enough to
say howdy to 'em, leave our gold or most of it aboard ship and then
hike for home."

"Do you think it will be safe on the ship, Jim?" inquired Jo
anxiously.

"As safe as anywhere," said Jim nonchalantly.

The Frontier Boys rode steadily southward, taking a more direct way
and an easier one than that by which they had come. They took no
chance of running into Gus Gols or his gang of cutthroats. They were
fortunate in not being molested or way-laid, and for the first five
days the weather was fine, but the morning of the sixth day it began
to snow just as they rode out of camp. The boys did not worry,
however, as they were through the worst of the mountain trip. Indeed,
they rather enjoyed the soft and silent fall of the snow; it was a
change.

"Boys, this is Christmas weather!" cried Jeems.

"We will spend our Christmas at home this year, boys!" said Jim,
turning in the saddle and looking down the line, each one riding
jauntily and easily through the rapidly falling snow that softly
flaked their weather-hued faces and starred the coats of their horses.
"All in favor of this proposition say aye!" continued Jim.

"Aye!" roared the boys in chorus.

"You, too, Jeems," urged Jim, "won't leave you out. Make it unanimous
this time!"

And they did. As for the reader, he must not be left out in the cold
and the snow, and he, too, is invited to be present at the boys'
Christmas at home, for it is bound to be a jolly affair, and the
Frontier Boys are nothing if not hospitable. The record of their trip
overland eastward and of their home-coming is bound to be full of
interest and incident; for the boys, besides being hospitable, are
also very enterprising and venturesome.

* * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise,
every effort has been made to remain true to the author's words and
intent