All the while I didn't go down to see Bert, and he didn't come up to camp. I just didn't want to go unless I had the letter. Reggie hiked up one day and wanted to know if he could borrow a pair of smoked glasses. "The fellows here don't smoke," Doc Carson told him. It was a shame to guy him, he was such a nice fellow, but oh, boy, I had to laugh to see him start back with that pair of big auto goggles on. But anyhow, all the fellows admitted that the Gold Dust Twins were all right. They were terrible bunglers when it came to scouting, and they even laughed at themselves; that was the best part of it. But you know what a tin horn sport is. Well, they weren't that, anyway. They had one of those long fancy brass things with a wax taper to light their camp-fire with; honest, it was a scream. I guess it was used in the parlor at home, to reach the chandelier with. Well, it got to be Tuesday and no letter came. Oh, wasn't I discouraged. I just started out through the woods, because I didn't want to see anybody. All of a sudden, who should I meet but Pee-wee. He motioned to me to keep still, because he was stalking a hop-toad. Even though I didn't feel much like laughing, I had to laugh. "Why don't you track an angleworm some day?" I said. He said, "What's the matter with you lately?" "Nothing much," I told him. "You don't hang out with the fellows at all," he said; "we're having a lot of thrilling adventures." "Thrilling, hey?" I said; and I just had to laugh, because it was the same old Pee-wee with his hair's-breadth escapes and thrilling adventures, and all that stuff. "Well," I said, "you want to be careful; it's pretty dangerous business stalking hop-toads." "I came all the way from Catskill scout pace," he said. I said, "Bully for you." "I did it in fifty-two minutes," he said; "scout pace is my middle name. Are you worrying about anything?" "I'm worrying because I don't get a letter, kid," I said; "if it doesn't come to-morrow--" "Don't you worry," he said; "it'll come to-morrow. I'll fix it for you." "You're one bully little fixer," I said (because he was always talking about fixing things), "but if Uncle Sam doesn't bring it, _you_ can't. But, anyway, you and I are going to have a good hike, you little raving Raven," I said; "just as soon as we can. I know I haven't seen much of you, Pee-wee, but it isn't because I don't like you." He just said, "_Hsh_" and went off on tiptoe through the woods, stalking his hop-toad. He's a mighty nice little fellow, Pee-wee is. And he's a bully little scout. Scout pace and good turns, those are his specialties. He just stalks hop-toads on the side. * * * * * Late that night Mr. Ellsworth came back. The bus brought him up from Catskill. I didn't see him, but early in the morning on my way over to wait for the mail, I met Vic Norris and Hunt Ward of the Elks.