The other boys jumped from the "rig" and scurried homeward for supper.
"Young man," was Mr.Prescott's greeting of his son, "from all I hear, you boys went in for a bigger list of adventure than you outlined to us before starting away." "It wasn't on account of any wishes of ours, Dad," laughed Dick.

"We fairly had the extra excitement thrust on us." "I hope you've had a good time, my son, and supper is ready for you," remarked Mrs.Prescott practically.
"Run upstairs with your mother and have your meal," directed the elder Prescott.

"I'll watch the store while your mother is thrilling over the doings of the week." "Mother," was one of Dick's first questions upstairs, "did Dan's homing pigeon get back with our message ?" "Oh, yes." "Then all you parents were easy about our safety." "Quite.

But I can't tell you how worried I was when I heard of your adventures with that terrible thief." "He didn't bother us much, mother.

We were small boys, but there were too many of us." "But suppose he had shot one of you ?" "He didn't have any firearms, mother, until one of the officers made the mistake of throwing a pistol at him." Then Dick had to go over all the adventures of the snowbound days.
"As soon as I clear up here," said Mrs.Prescott, "I'm going down into the store and tell your father some of the exciting things you've been telling me.