"Yes, you do, my boy--every bit of it and more, and now," he added, seeing that the strain was telling on Bert, "I think you, Dick, and Tom had better get Bert home as quickly as you can. This daughter of mine insisted on staying until you revived, but I guess she will excuse you, now. I'd ask you to take supper with us to-night, but I know that what you most need is rest. It is only a pleasure deferred, however." As they turned to go, the girl held out her hands to Tom and Dick, and lastly to Bert. "I am very, very grateful," she said, softly. "And I am very, very grateful that I have been given a chance to serve you," he answered, and watched her disappear with her father through the bushes. Then he turned to Dick and Tom. "You fellows deserve more credit than I, a thousand times more," he said, in a voice that was a trifle husky. "Huh," said Tom, "all that I did was to run to the nearest house for a rope, and all Dick did was to hand you the rope, while Professor Davis and I hauled you in." "Yes, that's all," Bert repeated, softly, "that's all." "Well, come on, Bert, it's time you got back to college. I guess you're about all in," said Dick, putting his arm through Bert's and starting off in the direction of the college. "Say, you forgot something," Tom said, suddenly. "You forgot all about old Pete." "So we did," Dick exclaimed; "suppose you go and get the fish and poles, if they are still there, and join us at the crossing." And they did meet at the crossing, and jogged along home, their bodies tired, but their hearts at rest, while their friendship was welded still more strongly by one other experience, shared in common. CHAPTER X A WILD RIDE It was a rather gloomy morning on which the team started for the college where they were to play one of the most important games of the series. If they won, they would eliminate the Grays and have only to contend with the Maroons; if they lost, all their splendid work of the season might have gone for nought. They were a sober bunch, therefore, as they gathered at the railway station to await their train. There was little of the usual joking and horse play to be seen, but this may have been partly due to the depressing state of the weather. As the train came in sight, however, they chirked up somewhat at the thought of having something to occupy their minds, and piled aboard their special car in a little more cheerful mood. A dense, clammy fog hung low over the ground, and it was impossible to see more than a hundred feet or so into it in any direction.