CHAPTER XXXV
JACK MEETS MABEL--CONCLUSION.
"Well," remarked Mr. Swaim, when the aeroplane had been put back in theshed, "I'd like to have you boys come to dinner with me. We don't haveanything very elaborate in camp----"
"We don't care for elaborate things," interrupted Jack. "We're campingon our own hook, and I was just thinking we had better begin to think ofgoing back, or Budge and Long Gun may get worried, and start out afterus."
"I'd take you back in the aeroplane, only I can't carry you all," saidMr. Swaim. "However, let's have dinner, and then you can decide what todo."
The meal was much enjoyed, and at its conclusion, Will remarked:
"Have you decided what to do with me, Uncle Andy?"
"Well--no--not exactly," replied Mr. Swaim. "Do you want to stay withme, or go back with your friends for a while? One thing is certain,you'll not go back to that rascal of a Lewis Gabel. I'll take you fromhis charge."
"I'd like to go with Jack and his chums," said Will, "only they'll begoing back East soon, I expect, and they haven't got an extra horse forme to ride."
"We can easily manage that," said Jack. "I've got to send word to TankerIke to come and get our camp stuff, and he can just as well bring alongan extra horse with him. So don't let that worry you."
"I'm afraid I'm giving you a lot of trouble," said Will.
"Not a bit of it. Come, and welcome."
"If you can manage it, I think it will be the best plan," said Mr.Swaim. "My camp isn't much of a place for a boy, but I will soon becoming East, Will, and then I'll look after you. In the meanwhile takethis to use for the spending money that Mr. Gabel wrongfully kept fromyou," and he handed his nephew a substantial sum.
The boys took a last look at the aeroplane, and bidding Mr. Swaimgood-by, set off on a long tramp over the mountain for their camp.Fortunately the weather was fine, and they were not hampered by anystorm, so they reached their tent late that afternoon.
"Jugitback?" asked Budge, as calmly as if they had been gone only anhour or so, and he pulled out a long string of gum, and began to work itback into his mouth again.
"Yes, we're here," said Jack. "Did you and Long Gun get along allright?"
"Sure'syou'reafoothigh."
"Well, we'll soon begin packing for home----"
"Home? You mean Pryor's Gap, I guess," exclaimed Nat. "You're not goingwithout seeing Mabel; are you?"
"That's none of your affair," retorted Jack, his face reddening underhis tan.
"We ought to have one more hunt before we go," said Sam.
"That's what," put in Bony, and Jack agreed.
They spent two days more tramping over the mountains after game. Willkilled a fair-sized bear, Nat got a large deer, and Jack bowled over agreat ram, that had a fine pair of horns, which our hero declared he wasperfectly satisfied with, as they would appropriately fill a certainspace on the wall of his room.
"And now," he said, as they were gathered around the camp fire thatnight, "I think the outing of our gun club is almost at an end."
"Got to go to Pryor's Gap yet!" murmured Nat from the shadows, and therest of them laughed.
The next day Long Gun started on his horse to take word to Tanker Ikethat the boys were ready to come back. He was gone two days, which thelads put in by packing up, and taking little trips, not far from theircamp. The third day the Indian returned with the freight wagon, drivenby Ike, who also brought along an extra horse for Will.
"Well!" he exclaimed, "you certainly had great luck," and he looked atthe collection of skins and horns. "But it's about time to go back.There's a big storm coming, and it'll be here soon."
"We must take plenty of water this time, so if a tank springs a leak onthe desert we won't get thirsty," said Sam.
"We're not going to cross the desert," spoke Jack.
"Why not?"
"Because we're going back by way of Pryor's Gap," explained Jack boldly,and he did not heed the shouts of laughter that greeted hisannouncement. "We promised to call on Mr. Pierce, you know," he added.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Pierce, with the accent on the _Mister_," shouted Nat, andthen he dodged behind the wagon to get out of Jack's reach.
Two days later they were at Pryor's Gap, and Mr. Pierce was glad to seethem. He insisted that they stay several days at his house, to whichJack agreed. But his host did not see much of our hero, for, somehow,there were many sights of interest about the Gap, and no one seemed ableto point them out to Jack, save a certain brown-eyed maiden--but there,what's the use of rubbing it in?
"Well, I hope you lads will come camping out here again, soon," said Mr.Pierce, as the members of the gun club prepared to take their leave.
"I hope we can," said Jack. "We have enjoyed the hospitality of you andyour daughter very much."
"Especially the daughter," put in Nat, in a voice intended only forJack's ear. "You old duffer, you monopolized her."
"Humph!" exclaimed Jack. "Who had a better right?"
"Good-by, boys!" called Mr. Pierce.
"Good-by," chorused the members of Jack Ranger's gun club.
"Good-by," spoke Mabel, with a blush, but she only looked at Jack. "Comeagain."
"We will," said our hero decidedly, as he held her hand at parting alittle longer than perhaps was strictly necessary. But, as we askedbefore, what's the use of rubbing it in?
"We certainly had a great time," observed Will, as they started off fromPryor's Gap.
"The best ever," agreed the others.
"I wonder what we'll do next year," spoke Sam.
But what they did will be told in the next volume of this series, to beentitled "Jack Ranger's Treasure Box; or, The Outing of the SchoolboyYachtsmen." In that story we shall meet all our old friends again andlearn the particulars of a most unusual mystery, and how it was solved.
A few days later the boys were in a train that was swiftly taking themback East, and to Washington Hall, which institution, as Jack learned ina letter from his father, that was waiting for him at Denver, had beenrepaired, and was ready for the students.
"Oh, dear, to think of going back to studies again," sighed Nat, as hethought of the fun they had had.
"Never mind, we'll have some sport yet," consoled Jack. "ProfessorsSocrat and Garlach are still available."
"Yes, and think of the experience we have had," said Will.
"Oh, well, we always have some sort of queer experience when we go outwith Jack Ranger," added Nat. "All out for Pryor's Gap," he shouted, asthe train pulled into a station. Then he ducked down behind a seat toescape a wad of paper that Jack threw at him.
THE END
Jack Ranger's Gun Club; Or, From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail Page 36