CHAPTER XIII
THE RESULT OF THE SURVEYS
Promptly at nine o'clock on the following Monday morning, a clean-cut,well-knit, strong-featured young man stood before an eager-facedgroup of khaki-clad scouts in Pioneer Camp.
The businesslike attitude of the young instructor, Ransom Thayer,was reflected in the appearance of the boys; and from the firstcrisp greeting of Mr. Thayer to his curt dismissal an hour and ahalf later, the interest and attention of his auditors never wavered.
His first lesson emphasized the historical phase of geology; andas he talked and pointed here and there in illustration, it seemedto the boys that every stone and boulder and pebble and overhangingcliff responded with the story of its life. This crevice, thatoblique angle, this smooth indentation, that rough mass,---eachmarking had its significant meaning to the enthusiastic leader.
Walter Osborne said to Blake after "school" was over for the morning,"I have always felt as though the trees of the forest were alive,but now it seems to me that every rock is a breathing, changing,growing thing, too."
That afternoon Mr. Thayer led his troop afield and showed them othervolumes of rock history,---how this proved that in ages past waterhad forced a channel through the hills; how that gave evidences ofinternal disturbances, of molten masses, of slowly cooling andhardening structure.
Many of the boys had had courses in textbook geology and had gathered"specimens," but this man made all these things new and wonderful andfascinatingly interesting.
Day after day passed and still the enthusiasm grew. "Dry facts"wore absorbed unconsciously; angular diagrams of mathematicalrelations appeared on the big blackboard so clearly and conciselythat even Shorty Mcneil ceased to dread the problems; hours werecheerfully spent at the big mess table in making out tabulatedreports and drawing neat maps; and many more hours were spent withcompasses and levels, telescopes and heliotropes measuring andjudging distances and noting results on the hills and by the lakenear camp.
"The man is a born leader and a born teacher," said LieutenantDenmead, commenting on Mr Thayer one day "We shall hear from himyet."
All too soon the two weeks of study were over and the squad competitionswere on. Then they, too, were completed and notice of the results waseagerly awaited by the four patrols.
At length the evening came when the announcements were to be madepublic. Mr. Thayer had accepted an invitation to be present andto make the final report.
Breathlessly the boys waited, the four leaders scarcely able tocontrol their anxious interest, while the Scout Master, his assistant,and Mr. Thayer took their places within the circle near the councilfire.
At last!
"To every one, congratulations! To the Fox patrol, points forexcellence in botanical knowledge. To the Wolf patrol, pointsfor excellence in mathematical accuracy. To the Hawk patrol,points for superior general field work. To the Otter patrol andits leader, Tom Sherwood, the title and honor, 'Official GeologicalSurveyors to the Troop'!"
* * * * * * *
"News! news!" cried Arthur Cameron, bursting in upon Ralph and Tom,who were sitting in the boathouse on the shore of the lake.
They had just come back from a canoe trip up the stream that flowedinto Pioneer Lake, a few hours' trip during which the Indian guidewho had been sent with them had taught them how to navigate rapidsin a canoe. Never had Ralph enjoyed more exciting sport thanshooting downstream in the swirling rapids and among the perilousrocks!
"News for me?" he asked, springing up alertly and seizing a letterArthur handed to him. He broke the seal, tore open the envelope,and unfolded a letter bearing the heading of the B.N. and C. Railroad."Oh, Tom, listen to this!"
"_Mr. Ralph Kenyon,_"
"_Dear Sir: Owing to the recommendations of our official surveyors,we are prepared to make you a fair offer for the northwest quartersection of your property, to be utilized in laying a branch line ofthe B.N. and C. Will you kindly authorize your attorney to conferwith us upon this matter, at your earliest convenience?_"
"_Yours very truly, Nelson R. Slater, Atty. B.N. & C. R.R."_
Words cannot describe Ralph's rejoicing at this news. Vague as itwas, merely suggesting, not stating any terms, he felt that it wasthe dawn of new hopes, a stepping-stone on the path of hislong-cherished ambition.
Requesting Tom and Arthur to say nothing about it at present, hehurried to the Scout Master's cabin or office and confided thewhole scheme to Denmead, who straightway drew him into a long,serious, business-like discussion of the prospect, giving himan abundance of good sound advice.
"How can I ever thank you, sir, for all your kindness in bringingme this good luck?" Ralph asked again and again, before he startedfor home.
"By distinguishing yourself as a student in the School of Mines andby becoming, in due time, an efficient, broad-minded leader in yourscientific profession," was Denmead's only answer. "The little I'vedone for you, my boy, is too slight to merit thanks; but the workyou may undertake is vastly important, and I want you to make agreat success."
He shook Ralph's hand, laying the other on the lad's broad shoulder.
"Good-bye, for the present, Ralph," he added. "Let me know if there'sanything I can do for you hereafter."
"I---I will, sir," stammered Ralph, swallowing hard. "Thanksever so much!"
He turned to go, for the launch was waiting at the camp's pier totake him down the lake, where Tom Walsh would meet him with his wagonand drive him home.
"I must say good-bye to the boys now," he added in a tone of regret."I've had the time of my life here, sir, and I think camp is great!"
"One moment, Ralph. I believe Rawson has some even better news foryou."
Rawson had entered and was standing in the doorway.
"Yes, I have," he replied, smiling. "I kept it from you until thelast minute, because it's so good it won't spoil! Ralph, in oursurveys we found abundant signs of iron deposits on your property.These have been further investigated during your visit here.Beyond a doubt there are undeveloped mines on your land, boy!"
"Then---then father's dream---it may come true! He always saidthat, always believed it! And now---now------"
"Your lawyer will explain to you the terms of your father's will incase a mining company should be organized," continued Denmead. "Ofcourse, I don't know what they are, but I assume that when you reachyour majority you'll be the chief owner of any mine on your land,and a director in the company. Success to the future, Ralph! Mayhealth and wealth and happiness be yours!"
With a sudden boyish impulse, Ralph gave both Scout Master Denmeadand George Rawson a bear-hug of sheer joy, and then he ran out tobid his other friends good-bye. Presently he was in the launch,gliding swiftly across the lake, his weeks at Pioneer Camp a memorythat would linger with him always.
The events already recorded took place in the first half of thesummer. Later, the regular routine of camp life was followed. Noweek was allowed to pass without some contest in strength, skill,or endurance. Now it was the Signalers' Game, in which the troopwas split up into three divisions: the enemy, the defenders and theattackers. Again it was a stalking game, which tested the clevernessof the boys in reading signs and following trails. Often, too, therewere tests in water polo, in spearing the sturgeon and in swimmingdiving, and paddling.
More than once Indian Joe was called upon to guide the boys on somelong hike, lasting several days. At these times, the scouts hadrigid training in scaling cliffs, fording streams locating pointsof the compass, selecting camp sites, making tents, buildingbonfires, cooking hasty meals,---in the thousand and one details ofthe woodsman's life.
All these experiences developed a strong, healthy, happy crowd ofboys, each one self-reliant and resourceful; and before the end ofthe summer, Lieutenant Denmead and his assistant felt that they hadevery reason to be proud of the scouts of Pioneer Camp. Some of theboys,---like Hugh and Billy and Alec,---who had been prominent inthe troop activities in previous seasons, were inc
reasingly missed.
Where they were during the late spring and early summer months isrevealed in another story of this series, entitled "The Boy Scoutsof the Life Saving Crew."
THE END
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends