"And so we will," burst out Jack. "Come along to camp with us, Bill, and we'll fix you up. It's a shame, the way your guardian treats you. And your uncle can't be much better."
"Oh, he used to be kind to me," said the unfortunate lad, "but I don't believe he knows how things have gone with me. If I could find him I think he would take care of me."
"Well, maybe we can help find him for you," said Nat.
Little time was lost in getting back to the temporary camp, and there Will, who was weak and faint from hunger, was given a light meal. Then the whole party went on to the main camp, Will riding behind Jack, for the latter's horse would carry double.
"My, but you certainly are doing this up in style," remarked the ragged lad as he saw the fine tents and noted how comfortably Jack and his chums lived, in spite of the fact that they were far from civilization. His arrival created quite a sensation.
"Oh, when Jack Ranger does a thing, it's done good and proper," said Bony. "It's the first outing out of the gun club, and he wants to make a record, I guess."
"I want you all to have a good time, that's all I want," was Jack's reply.
Some better clothes were found for Will, and after a good meal some of the hopelessness faded from his face. He told of his wanderings in the mountains, and how he had worked his way from camp to camp, and from stage station to stage station.
"But you're done tramping around now," said Jack.
"Have you--have you got room for me here?" faltered Will.
"Have we? Well, I guess!" was Jack's hearty answer. "You can stay here as long as you like, or until you find your uncle. You've accepted my invitation to come camping, after all, and I guess your guardian would be surprised if he could see you now."
"I guess he would," remarked Will with a smile.
There was plenty of room in the big sleeping tent, and a bed was made up for the wanderer. It was the first good night's rest he had had in nearly a week, he said.
As they had plenty of fresh meat in camp they did not go hunting for several days, but Jack and his chums could not remain inactive, so they all, including Will, went on short jaunts about the camp. A gun was provided for the newcomer, and he proved that he was a good shot, at least on jack-rabbits, which abounded in that region.