Step Hen sighed with relief. The great burden of responsibility had fallen from his shoulders on to those broad ones of the scoutmaster. Yes, Thad would surely know what to do--he always did when the emergency arose. And that was what made his chums feel such implicit confidence in their leader. And Step Hen thought that while he was about it, and the message business working so very smoothly, he might as well let Thad know of their success; so he managed to say: "We got two sheep!" "Good again." "Smithy shot one--I got other--had warm time I tell you. Anything new at the camp?" "Sure. They came and paid us a visit," Thad replied, slowly, so that not a word did Step Hen lose as he spelled the message out. "Do you mean Kracker?" he demanded. "Yes. He tried to ride over us rough-shod; but we took him down a peg. Sent the three men away--kept their guns--looking out for them all the time--if you happen to meet hold them off--Toby will know." That was an extra long one to take, and several times Step Hen had to wave his torch so as to interrupt the sender, and have him go back to the last period to repeat what he had to communicate. For of course Step Hen, like all new beginners in wigwag work, telegraphy, and kindred things, was a better hand at sending than receiving; because in the one case he knew in his own mind what was coming next, and was not apt to get confused; while in taking a message, if he lost one small fraction of the same, while his mind was grappling with that, he failed to catch the next letter, and thus was apt to become hopelessly entangled. But thanks to the intelligent manner in which Thad managed his end of the air wire, and the positive way in which he moved his fire pencil, the message was finally all grasped, though Step Hen was rapidly becoming exhausted by his efforts, and the mental strain that bore on him so heavily. "Better quit thar!" advised the guide, who kept a close watch on things, and was able to understand just what the tired boy was enduring. "Pretty soon, Toby," replied Step Hen, slowly. "I've done better than I ever thought I would, and Thad knows about that Artemus Rawson. He'll see to it that Aleck isn't around when they come to camp. Oh! ain't I glad though I brushed up my code work with him early in the morning, though. That business with Aleck in the night made me ashamed to be so dull. I want to ask him one more question, for there he's waving to know if I'm done." "Get through quick, then; we orter be back in camp," said the guide, not unkindly, but because he saw the condition of Step Hen. "What is it?" Thad was signaling, waiting each time after asking the question, to receive an answer. "Will you have Aleck hide himself?" asked the other. "Sure thing." "We'll head back to camp in morning--have to get Smithy's horns first," went on Step Hen. "Has he taken to growing a pair?" Thad asked, quizzically. "His sheep I mean--lies back a bit--look for us about noon." "That all?"