I hope you'll have a fine trip--like when we came
up. I wish you could all stay longer. It makes me kind of homesick to
see you all go."
"We might have stayed longer," said Roy, coldly, "only--is that all you
want to say to me?" he broke off.
"I just want to say good-bye and----"
"All right, good-bye," said Roy, and walked away.
Tom watched him for a few seconds, then went on down to supper.
CHAPTER XVII
THE WINNING OF THE GOLDEN CROSS
The wind had become so strong that it was necessary to move the mess
boards around to the leeward side of the pavilion. Several fellows
remarked on the pungent odor which permeated the air and a couple who
had been stalking spoke of the woods fires over beyond Tannerstown.
Garry was not at supper, nor the little sandy-haired fellow, but the
others of his patrol came down before the meal was over.
"Guess we'll cut out yarns to-night," said Jeb Rushmore, "and hike out on
a little tour of inspection."
"There are a couple of tramps in the woods this side of the cut, right
up the hill a ways," said Tom.
"We need rain, that's sure," said another scout.
"Maybe we'll get some with this wind," remarked another.
"No, I reckon it's a dry wind," said Mr. Rushmore, looking about and
sniffing audibly. "Gol smash it," he added, rising and sniffing still
louder. "Thar's somethin' in the air."
For a minute he stood near his place, then strode off up the hill a
little way, among the trees, where he paused, listening, like an animal
at bay.
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