“Yes, sir, there was.  We had a chicken for supper, that was taken from Farmer Field’s poultry-house.”

“Did you or Williams steal that chicken, Barstow?”

“No, sir, but we knew about it and helped eat it, and are just as much to blame as the boy who took it.”

“And, now, you mean to protect the thief?”

“Well, you see, Doctor, a good many fellows don’t look at hooking apples, or nuts, or chickens as real stealing.”

“What do you think about it?” asked the doctor.

“I think it was wrong and I am very sorry it happened.  It won’t occur again.”

“I have no fear that it will.  But it is too serious an offence to be lightly passed over.  In the first place you and Williams must see Farmer Field, tell him what you have done and pay for the chicken that was—­taken.  After that I will talk with you.  Now send Williams to me.”

When Dick Williams came in the doctor began: 

“Williams, how much do you love your mother?”

“Why, more than anyone else in the world, sir.”

“She is keeping you here at considerable expense.  Don’t you think you owe it to her to pay more attention to your studies?”

“Yes, Doctor, and I am going to do better hereafter.”

“How will your mother feel when she hears of this chicken-stealing episode?”

“Oh!  Doctor; she mustn’t hear of it that way.  We didn’t think of it as stealing last night, but this morning Ned and I talked about it and we are going to see Farmer Field and tell him what we did and pay for the chicken.”

“Do you mean, Dick,” and the good doctor’s voice shook a little as he asked the question, “that you and Ned decided to tell Farmer Field about the taking of his chicken, before you knew that I had heard of your camping out?”

“Why, yes, sir.  I supposed Ned had told you.”

“Your friend Ned is rather a curious boy, but when you are in doubt about the right and wrong of anything, you might do worse than ask his advice.”

“Oh!  I get enough of that without asking for it,” said Dick.

And the doctor laughed, but he soon looked pretty serious again, and said: 

“Dick, I think no one will tell your mother and she need never know, but I hope you will tell her all about it of your own accord.”

“Sure!” said Dick, “I couldn’t keep that or anythink else away from Mumsey for five minutes after I saw her.”

There was a significant pause, during which the doctor stroked his chin meditatively before asking: 

“Now, what in the world made you two boys go on that camping escapade?  I want you to tell me that, Dick.”

The boy hesitated a moment and then said: 

“Why, I really don’t know, Doctor—­we just wanted to.  You see, there are so many things to see and listen to at night that way.  Birds and animals, I mean.  Ned and I are going to be explorers some day, you know.”