"Doing very well. I've had to have Rupert in to frighten him into staying in bed," Ricky said. "The doctor thinks he ought to be there a couple of days at least. But Jeems doesn't agree with him. Between keeping Jeems in bed and keeping Rupert out of the swamp I've had a full day." Rupert sat down on the foot of the bed. "You'd know this Boss and Red again, wouldn't you?" "Of course." "Then you'll probably have a chance to identify them." There was a grim look about Rupert's jaw. "Ricky's told me all that you overheard. I don't know what it means but I've heard enough for me to get in touch with LeFleur. He'll be out tomorrow morning. And once we get something to work on--" "I'm beginning to feel sorry for our swamp visitors," Val interrupted. "They'll be sorry," hinted Rupert darkly. "How about you, Val, beginning to feel hungry?" "Now that you mention it, I _am_ discovering a rather hollow ache in my center section. Supper ready?" "Half an hour. I'll bring you up a tray--" began Ricky. But Val had thrown back the sheet and was sitting on the side of the bed. "Oh, no, you don't! I'm not an invalid yet." Ricky glanced at Rupert and then left. Val reached for his shirt defiantly. But his brother raised no objection. The painful stiffness Val had felt at first wore off and he was able to move without feeling as if each muscle were tied in cramping knots. "May I pay Jeems a visit?" he asked as they went out into the hall. Rupert nodded toward a door across the corridor. "In there. He's a stubborn piece of goods. Reminds me of you at times. If he'd ever get rid of that scowl of his, he'd be even more like you. He warms to Ricky, but you'd think I was a Chinese torturer the way he acts when I go in." There was a shade of irritation in Rupert's voice. "Maybe he's afraid of you." "But what for?" Rupert stared at the boy in open surprise. "Well, you do have rather a commanding air at times," Val countered. If Ricky had told Rupert nothing of Jeems' confession, he wasn't going to. "So that's what you really think of me!" observed Rupert. "Go reason with that wildcat of yours if you want to. I'm beginning to believe that you are two of a kind." He turned abruptly down the hall. Val opened the door of the bedroom. The sunlight was fading fast and already the corners of the large room were filled with the gray of dusk. But light from the windows swept full across the bed and its occupant. Val hobbled stiffly toward it. "Hello." The brown face on the pillow did not change expression as Val greeted the swamper. "How do you feel now?" "Bettah," Jeems answered shortly. "Ah'm good but they won't le' me up." "The Doc says you're in for a couple of days," Val told him.