“And in this bracing air we hope to raise the finest crop of boys in the world.  But let’s return to the house, lads.  It’s time we had a bite, for I’m sure your appetites must be sharpened by this little adventure.”

The ranchman cast many a secret admiring glance toward Jerry as they rode home.  He fell back with Frank on purpose to speak his mind, while the other three galloped on ahead, laughing and shouting, as boys off on a vacation always do.

“I like that chap, Jerry,” he remarked earnestly.  “He’s a lad after my own heart.  What he said about not wanting to shoot defenceless game gave me a wrench, for we cherish notions along that same line up here in the wilderness.  Of course, the grizzly, as I said, does not come under that law, for he’s too terrible a customer to be given much rope.”

“Sometimes he takes his own rope,” laughed Frank, secretly delighted to hear this honest praise of his chum.

“Which is quite true for you, Frank.  That cowboy will not soon get over the humiliation of having his lariat give way.  He feels very sore about it now,” remarked the stockman, casting a side look toward where a couple of his herders were wrangling over something as they brought up the rear.

“I’m so glad you gave Jerry that chance.  He’s the most enthusiastic sportsman I ever met, and so honorable in his dealings with the wearers of fin, fur and feather.  No danger of the woods ever being depopulated while he’s around,” Frank said, with his customary generous view of anything that concerned his chums.

“It was what you may call an inspiration.  My first idea, of course, was to cover the boy and face the bear.  I did not doubt my own ability to down him, but somehow I was tempted to take chances with the lad.  I’m glad now I did it.  He stood the racket like a veteran.  I’d be a happy man if I’d only been left a boy like your chum for my own.”

The ranchman spurred on ahead at this, and Frank made no effort to overtake him, for he felt sure he had seen tears glistening in the other’s eyes, and could appreciate his feelings, for the stockman’s only child, a boy, at that, lay with the mother in the ranch cemetery.

Breakfast was ready for them, and what a glorious meal the boys made!  Just as Mr. Mabie had said, they proved as hungry as wolves.  That clear mountain air seemed to tone them up after their long railway journey, and Frank laughingly declared their host had better send away for a new stock of provisions if he expected to keep them satisfied.

Bluff was the first to leave the table.  Frank had seen him eating hurriedly toward the close of the meal.  He knew without being told what ailed his comrade.

“He’ll never be happy until he gets it, fellows!” sang out Jerry, who, of course, had also noticed the hurried departure of the anxious one.

They could hear Bluff tossing things around hurriedly in the other room, where they expected to bunk, and to which the big trunk had been finally carried.