HOME AGAIN--CONCLUSION
Saying good-by was harder than the boys had anticipated. They had really
enjoyed themselves so immensely up there at the ranch in the wilderness
that the thought of never seeing it more brought gloom upon their
spirits.
Of course, the fact that they were heading toward home, and the dear
ones awaiting their coming, made their sorrow lighter.
They had sent their trunk away on the previous evening, so that it would
be at the far distant station awaiting their coming. On horseback, then,
they were to cover the route that on their arrival they had done on a
buckboard.
Mr. Mabie, Reddy and Billy accompanied them, the stockman and Billy to
bring back the mounts after the train had borne their young friends
away. Reddy, of course, expected to accompany the boys East, to at least
visit his family. He could not promise to remain at home, for the magic
of the magnificent country of the Northwest called loudly to him; but he
was taking home his savings, and meant to make his parents happy.
"I'll never forget all the good times you've given us, Mr. Mabie," said
Frank, as he squeezed the hand of their good friend when the whistle of
the approaching train was heard as it came booming out of the cut, a
mile away.
"My dear boy, on my part I can never thank you and your jolly chums half
enough for the delightful time you've given me. It will seem dreary here
after you're gone. I haven't been so happy for years," was the reply of
the stockman, as he beamed upon the cluster of bright faces around him.
"But you know you promised to make us a visit when we're home from
college next Christmas. Don't forget that, sir!" declared Will.
"I certainly will not, if I'm alive. And Will, one of the inducements
for such a long journey is the expectation of seeing that remarkable
book of interesting views, containing reminders of so many of the
exploits of the Outdoor Club. I'm sure that alone would repay me for the
trip," laughed the other.
"You won't forget about shipping those skins and things, sir? We want
them for reminders of the happiest trip this club ever took. Every time
we look at those rugs we'll think of you and your Big M ranch," remarked
Bluff.
"They'll go in a few days, boys, just as soon as the skins are in proper
shape for transportation, depend on it. And I'll let you know when
Pierre is placed under arrest, and the exiled chief, Running Elk, goes
back to his people with all honor."
The last they saw of Mr. Mabie and Billy, they were waving their big
hats vigorously on the little station platform. Then a curve of the road
shut them out, and the four chums settled back in their seats to talk
over the thousand and one matters that claimed their attention.
It is not in youth to grieve for long. They felt bad at leaving the
scene of these recent happy events; but presently, in anticipation of
the reunion with loved ones at home, this was temporarily forgotten.
Will bemoaned the fact that he had not one single film left.
"And there are so many things I'd like to take on the way home," he
sighed, "and which I let slip on the way up."
"Yes," remarked Jerry laughingly, "it's wonderful what game you see
when you haven't a gun. But what's the matter with you trying to get a
roll at the first town? Perhaps we may stop long enough, and they may
have photographic supplies at the station."
"Thank you for the suggestion, Jerry. It was a bright thought--for you;
but I mean to take advantage of it, and make inquiries."
Jerry gave him a queer look. Will was a fellow he could not fully
understand. He seemed to be made up of contradictions, sometimes simple,
and again shrewd; now as timid as a girl, and under certain conditions
showing the bravery of a lion. Jerry knew Bluff as he did his own
nature, and could dispute with him with energy, but in the case of Will
he was always glad to drop the subject before he found he had burned his
fingers.
Nothing of moment happened on the journey, at least nothing worthy of
mention. Will did manage to secure a roll of films at the first town. A
messenger came to the car with it, and Frank always supposed from that
that his eccentric companion must have wired ahead for supplies. When
Will wanted anything he meant to get it, if there was any possible way
of so doing.
In due time they arrived at the station in Centerville, where a host of
relatives and friends awaited their coming. There was a roar of many
voices as the four chums appeared in view, and our boys quickly found
themselves being hugged and kissed in a most indiscriminate fashion.
If some of the girls, in the confusion, kissed the brothers of their
friends, as well as their own, that was not to be wondered at, and
everybody seemed as happy as could be, despite these natural blunders.
Finally they managed to push outside the station.
"Where's Hank Brady?" called Frank aloud.
"Here!" said that worthy, stepping forward from the motor-car, and
holding out his hand eagerly to the friend who had been so instrumental
in assisting him to get his slipping feet on steady ground.
"Hello, Hank! Here's your brother Teddy!"
In this abrupt fashion did he bring the two face to face. Hank turned
white, and stared hard at the bronzed young cowboy for a moment; then he
caught hold of him, and the long separated; brothers were in each
other's arms.
"Sure, the old folks will be happy this night, Ted, to see you again! I
never hoped they'd find you when I asked Mr. Frank to keep on the
lookout," was what Hank was saying, as he turned a moist eye in the
direction of the boy who had done so much to bring happiness to his
home.
Bluff and Nellie were seen talking earnestly close by. Probably he was
telling her about the surprise she gave him in that last letter when
revealing what she had done with his wonderful hunting-knife.
Now that they were home again, with vacation nearing an end, the boys
would not have so much time to indulge in their pastimes on the lake, so
that they were keen to make hay while the sun shone. Consequently, they
fairly haunted the lake, and the canoes were in use every day from that
time on. Nor were they alone in this love of the open, for many an
evening each canoe had its complement of fair ones, whose sweet voices
blended with those of the four outdoor chums as they paddled in the
moonlight over the rippling water.
College was ahead of them, but as they expected to keep together still,
the Outdoor Club was not to be disbanded by any means. Often in future
days they expected to once more sit around a campfire in company,
enjoying the delights of an outing, and recalling many of the wonderful
experiences that came their way in days that were past.
And there, written down in Frank's diary, or logbook, were the accounts
of their first camp above the loggers' settlement, at the head of the
lake; the one on Wildcat Island; then the third, among the Sunset
Mountains, when they solved the mystery of Oak Ridge's ghost; and also
their wonderful cruise down a Florida river and along the border of the
great Mexican Gulf; while this journey to the cattle ranch of Mr. Mabie,
in the wilderness of the Northwest, would complete the list.
How many times, as they read of these exploits, and surveyed the
splendid pictures Will had secured during their various campaigns, would
the scenes of the happy past come before their mental vision! They could
hardly expect to equal these glorious days in the times to come, but no
one who knew their love for the open would dare predict that the Outdoor
Club would cease to exist with the going to college of its four members.
Perchance they may yet have other camps in strange places, and perhaps
it may be our pleasant duty to chronicle the happenings of the four
chums when again they erect their tents, or it may be, paddle their
canoes on other waters.
Wherever they go, and in whatever line of business they may find their
life work, it can be taken for granted that the lessons learned when
living this life of self-reliance in the open must always prove of the
greatest value to The Outdoor Chums.
THE END