'He gave twenty-eight shillings for the donkey,' concluded Dick, 'and this will go a long step towards setting him up again. The poor old chap's horribly frightened of the workhouse at present.' 'Ah,' said his father, 'the road-hog is the curse of decent motor-drivers. One black sheep can cover the whole flock with discredit. Well, now, boys, jump in, and I'll run you into Bardon in triumph.' 'Oh no, no, father,' cried Dick; 'thank you very much, but that would spoil the whole thing. We must finish it out to the last step on foot.' 'What Spartans!' said Mr. Elliott; 'still ready to face six miles of hot, dusty road after a week's tramping.' 'Yes, father, we must do it,' replied Dick. 'To finish up in a motor-car would take the shine off the whole affair.' 'Well, well, as you please,' laughed Mr. Elliott; 'then, you can hand that money back. Your uncle and I are out for a spin, and we'll slip over as far as Eston, and see Mr. Joseph Thatcher, and console him for his loss with your offering. If one motorist upset him, it's only right for another to do the friendly.' Dick hailed this proposal with delight, and handed back the seventeen shillings and four-pence farthing. 'I'll be bound the poor old chap will get enough to buy a new donkey before all's done,' chuckled Dick. 'Can't say,' said Mr. Elliott, preparing to back and fill till he had his car round; 'depends on whether your uncle's got any loose silver to throw away. Well, we shall catch you up again long before you reach Bardon.' The car sped away, and the boy scouts watched it for a moment, then marched on down the Bardon road. 'Bit of a temptation, worn't it, to tumble into the car?' said Chippy. 'Oh, Chippy, that would have spoilt it all!' cried Dick. 'My foot's giving me beans rather, but I'm not going to chuck it for a six-mile tramp.' 'I know just how ye feel,' replied the Raven; ''twould ha' seemed to tek' the polish off, but I was thinkin' o' yer foot.' 'That will be all right after a day or two's rest,' said Dick; 'but with the end of the journey in sight I mean to stump it out.' A couple of miles on he was stumping it out steadily, when all thoughts of lameness and soreness were put to flight by a joyous vision; for just as they gained the heath two files of marching figures came into sight in the distance. The familiar uniforms at once caught the eye of the two patrol-leaders. 'Scouts!' cried Chippy. 'Our own patrols!' yelled Dick. 'Look, Chippy; our patrols have come out to meet us!' At this instant the two marching figures were seen by the advancing patrols, and on dashed Wolves and Ravens, eager to greet their leaders. Dick and Chippy hurried to meet them, and at the next moment the two leaders and their comrades met, and there was such an outburst of cheering, questioning, shaking hands, and chanting of the scouts' war-song and chorus--a general merry babel of welcome and greeting!