“Sure!” said Nelson. “I’ll never forget that beef broth she fed me!”
They caught the five o’clock launch, as they had planned, and climbed the hill to camp just as the last supper-call was blowing.
“That sounds good,” muttered Dan. “It’s like getting home.”
When they entered Poplar Hall and sought their seats at the tables it was at once evident that the news of yesterday’s escapade had preceded them. Such a hand-clapping and cheering as burst forth was quite disconcerting, and Nelson, at whom the most of it was directed, poured milk into his bowl of cereal until it overflowed and ran into his lap. After supper the Four were mobbed and made to give a public recital of events; but long before Bob, to whom the task of narration fell, had finished they were summoned to the office. After all, it wasn’t so bad. Mr. Clinton had some forcible things to say to Dan on the subject of standing up in a canoe during a wind, but after that he demanded the story and became so interested that they began to take courage. And afterward he complimented Nelson and shook hands with him.
“It was a bad business,” he said gravely, “but it’s happily over with, and there’s no use denying that you all acted in a sensible, plucky way. I’ve had a letter from this Mr. Carey in which he begs me to go easy with you. I don’t think I should have been very hard on you anyhow. It was an accident arising from a piece of foolhardiness that none of you are likely to repeat. It will probably be worth all it has cost as a lesson to you. It is a good thing to learn the limitations of a canoe. You’d better get to bed early to-night, all of you, and I’ll ask Doctor Smith to have a look at you, Speede, and see if you need any medicine. Good night.”
“Good night, sir,” they chorused. And outside they heaved sighs of relief.
“I think,” said Dan thoughtfully, as they picked their way across the darkening clearing toward Birch Hall, “I think it’s about up to us to settle down and be good for a while.”
TELLS HOW THE FOUR LAID PLANS AND HOW BOB PREPARED FOR A VICTORY
Nelson awoke the next day to find himself a hero. Being a hero has its discomforts, and Nelson encountered them. The smaller boys dogged his footsteps and were proud and haughty for the rest of the day if they succeeded in getting a word from him. The older boys had less transparent ways of showing their admiration, but show it they did, and Nelson, naturally somewhat shy, suffered much annoyance. This state of things, however, lasted but a few days, for the end of the vacation was almost at hand and the inhabitants of Camp Chicora had many things to occupy their minds. The water sports were almost due and on the next Saturday but one came the final game with Wickasaw, to decide the summer’s supremacy in baseball. On the following Monday the long trip began for all save Bob, Nelson, and Dan, who were to return home on that day.