Thad figured, from the clock in the heavens which he knew how to read so well, (figuring on the position of the moon, and the multitude of stars, from Sirius, and the blazing Belt of Orion, the Hunter, in the northeast; to bright Venus in the west, now just about to vanish behind the mountain ridge,) that they had been gone all of two hours, when once more they approached the burning fire. They could see some of the scouts around the blaze, and as they drew near, the voice of Davy Jones called out sternly: "Halt! who goes there?" "Friends!" replied Thad, carrying out the humor of the thing. "Advance friends, and give the countersign!" the sentry demanded. "Silver Fox Patrol!" replied the scoutmaster, continuing to stride forward, and closely followed by all the others of the returning party. "Did you get him, Thad?" asked Davy, instantly allowing his boyish curiosity to over-ride all soldierly qualities. "That's what we did; and he's here with us, as hungry as they make them," replied the patrol leader. "Oh! I only hope you kept lots of grub; I'm that hungry I c'n hardly walk," declared Giraffe. "After snatching all you did too, when you went off?" complained Step Hen. "But think what we've done since, will you?" argued the tall scout, as he pushed into camp, and hastened to settle down in a good spot, with the air of one who naturally anticipated being waited on by his chums. "Well, we cooked a lot more," Smithy hastened to remark; "because, you see, we just calculated that you would be fairly ravenous, after your exertions. And so this is Aleck Rawson; delighted to meet you; my name is----" "Cut that out; we call him plain Smithy!" broke in Step Hen; "and I'm Step Hen Bingham. The fat feller is Bumpus Hawtree; this other is Bob White; while the one who gave you that challenge is Davy Jones. He'll shake hands with you by offering one of his feet, because he's standing on his head about as much as the other way." And Aleck went around, shaking hands heartily. Plainly they could see that he was more than delighted to meet with such a hearty reception; and just when it seemed as though he needed friends the worst kind. So the newcomers were quickly waited on, and found that a bountiful supply of supper had indeed been prepared against their coming, and by boys who knew what a mountain appetite meant, too. By degrees those who had been left in camp were told just how the rescue had been effected; and then Aleck started in to tell something about his experiences.