That respect deepened as Frank turned the pages of the album and examined scores of photographs of feathered wild things. There were not alone pictures of the commoner birds, but many of the shyer sort, like the cardinal, the oven-bird, and several varieties of thrush which rarely emerge from the deep woodland, and they had been taken in all sorts of positions. Trexler had even succeeded in getting a very good photograph of the great blue heron, and his account of the difficulties of that enterprise filled Sanson with enthusiasm.
"It must be great!" he exclaimed eagerly. "I wish I could go along with you some time and see how you do it."
"Why don't you? I'd like to have you--awfully."
There could be no mistaking the earnestness of the invitation, and Frank took it up promptly.
"All right; that's a go. You let me know the next time you go out, and I'll be there like a runaway freight-train." He rose to go, for to his surprise it was growing dark; he had no idea he had stayed so long. "You've certainly got a corking place here," he said, glancing around for the last time. "Why, you ought to be able to rake in a whole lot of merit badges. There's taxidermy and bird study and--"
"I'm only a second-class scout," interrupted Trexler, briefly. He flushed a little and twisted his fingers together. "You see, I--can't swim. But I'm going to learn," he added determinedly. "I'm going to start in the minute the water's warm enough and keep it up till I get the hang of it, even if it takes all summer."
"Same here," laughed Frank, as they reached the front door. "We'll be two dubs together, won't we? Good-by, and thanks for showing me all the stuff."
Out in the street he thrust both hands deep in his pockets and started briskly homeward, whistling. Presently he stopped and laughed rather sheepishly.
"Gee!" he muttered. "It's funny how you can get a fellow's number wrong--it sure is!"
Sanson's account of his visit to Paul Trexler was received at first with a good deal of incredulity. But when he persisted that he wasn't trying to play any trick general curiosity was aroused among the fellows, and they began to drop in at the Trexler house to see for themselves the wonderful case of birds and the even more wonderful photographs. Before he knew it Paul became almost a public character.