"Quite well. Of course, you know that your father and your Uncle Sam were wounded by some flying shells, and that your Uncle Dick suffered from a gas attack. But they are all recovering rapidly, and I don't doubt but what they will soon be as well as ever." "Somebody said that dad had won a medal of honor," said Jack, his eyes lighting up with expectancy. "It is true. He did win such a medal. And he deserved it. Probably he will give you all the particulars when he arrives." That was all Colonel Colby could say at the time, because many others wanted to shake his hand, from Captain Dale down through all the teachers and the cadets to the school janitor, and even the women working in the kitchen and the men in the stables. He had been on good terms with all his hired help, and now they showed a real affection for him which touched his heart deeply. "Just think of it! Our fathers may be back in ten days!" exclaimed Andy. "Isn't it the best ever!" And he commenced to dance a jig just to let off steam. The boys lost no time in telephoning to the girls, and it may be imagined that Martha and Mary were indeed glad to hear the news. The next day, just as the session was closing, the Rovers were informed that a man and a boy were out on the campus waiting to see them. They hurried out and found themselves confronted by John Franklin and his son Phil. "I've been promising myself right along that I'd come and see you fellows," said John Franklin. "But somehow I couldn't get around to it. But now that my son and I are going back to Texas I felt I'd have at least to say good-bye and thank you once again for what you fellows did for us." "And as my father wasn't able to reward you, I thought maybe you wouldn't mind if I made each of you something out of wood with my jackknife," put in Phil Franklin, somewhat awkwardly. "You know, handling a jackknife is one of my specialties," he added, with a grin. "So please accept these with our compliments. You can divide them up to suit yourselves." He handed over a package done up in a newspaper, and, unfolding this, the Rovers found four articles carved out of hard wood. One was an inkstand, another a miniature canoe, a third an elaborate napkin ring, and the fourth a tray for holding pins and collar buttons. "Why, those are real fine, Phil," said Jack, as he looked the articles over. "You don't mean to say you did all of this work with a knife?" questioned Andy admiringly. "Every bit of it," was the reply. "They are beautiful," was Randy's comment, after an inspection. "Better than you could buy in the stores," added Fred. "I'm pleased to know that you like my son's handiwork," said John Franklin. "They are real good," said Jack. "But we don't feel like taking these things without giving you something in return," he added hastily. "Oh, that's all right!" cried Phil Franklin. "You've done enough for us already. You keep the things and don't say anything more about it."