Part 28 (1/2)

”Joe, can you have breakfast ready then?”

”Yes, sir.”

”Mills, will you breakfast with us?”

”Thanks--I sure will if Joe makes the coffee.”

”Then it's settled. Now, Tom, you can go to bed as early as you like.

I'm going to turn in right away.”

(”Sounds like a hint!”) Joe whispered.

Tom nodded. He saw that the camp was all right, bade the doctor good-night, and with Joe and Mills walked up the path toward their camp.

”Well, Joe,” Mills said, ”they're keeping you busy, eh? Sorry you can't come along to-morrow--we might find a hole somewhere for you to fall into.”

”I'll let Spider do a few flipflaps now,” said Joe. ”I've had my turn.”

”If anybody tumbles, I hope it's the M. D.,” Tom laughed. ”He's just a little bit fond of Dr. Kent,--strikes me.”

”s.h.!.+ You forget he's climbed the Matterhorn,” said Mills.

He went on to his cabin, and the boys settled down in their own tent.

”Well, old Joey, here you are home!” Tom cried, giving him a slap. ”Gee, wifey, it's been lonely for a whole week without you!”

”And it's some nice to get back,” said Joe. ”It sure seems like home, this little old tent, and Mr. Rogers' little old cot. Slept on the floor last night, and on the ground all the other nights. Oh, you cot!”

He sank luxuriously down, wrapped in his blankets, and let Tom blow out the lantern.

”Home!” he sighed, sleepily. ”Just a little old tent, but home--with old Spider snoring in the other bunk.”

”I don't snore!” Tom retorted. ”It's you who snore.”

”You may if you want to,” said Joe. ”It would take more'n a snore to keep me awake to-night. Oh, you cot! 'Night, Spider.”

”'Night, Joe.”

If either of them snored, no one knew it, except the porcupine that came sniffing around the tent, and then, disappointed, went off through the forest.

CHAPTER XVI--Tom Goes Up a Two Thousand Foot Wall, With an Alpine Rope, and Learns the Proper Way To Climb

The scouts were up again before five, and hurried to the camp, where the doctor was still sound asleep.

”Sound is right!” Spider laughed.

But he woke when he heard them getting breakfast, and by the time he was dressed and breakfast was ready, Mills came up, followed by Popgun and the packhorse, both saddled.

As soon as breakfast was over, the two men and Tom stowed away in their pockets the sandwiches Joe made for them, made sure that all the spikes were in their boots, and swung into the saddle.