And it might be taken for granted that the official photographer of the camp had seized upon an opportunity when the two prisoners' faces were in full view, so that no one could afterwards reasonably doubt their claim to having captured the desperate men so long wanted by the Rockaway authorities.
Of course the camp was left in full charge of the assistant scout master, Elmer Chenowith, with a parting injunction from Mr. Garrabrant that the boys were to render his representative just as much respect as though it were himself.
There could be no doubt about that being done, since Elmer was a universal favorite among his fellows, and had hardly an enemy in all Hickory Ridge.
"I reckon, suh, we can manage to get along all right while you are away," Chatz Maxfield had called out reassuringly, after the boat had left the landing, with Ginger working industriously at the oars, the two prisoners huddled amidships, and the scout master seated astern, where he could keep his eye pretty much all the time on the slippery customers.
"If I wasn't positive about that, Charles, I'd never be leaving you," was what Mr. Garrabrant replied, as he waved his hand to them.
Presently the fast-moving boat swept around a bend, and was lost to view. Several of the boys sighed a little, and looked a bit downcast. Despite their assumption of freedom from homesickness they could not help feeling that their leader would perhaps be in "dear old Hickory Ridge" that afternoon, and might even pass by their beloved homes, which it seemed they had not seen for an age.
Of course Elmer, who had roved more or less, was not in this class. He knew better than to make fun of them, however. Between himself and Mark they had many a quiet laugh over the way the fellows made out to be so free from care.
"I bet you it seems like a coon's age to some of them since they said good-by to mother and father," Mark managed to remark, as they stood there watching the rest gaze down river after the vanished link that was to bind them with civilization.
"Sure it does," Elmer had agreed. "Do you know that little story about the kid who ran away from home, and what an eternity it seemed to him?"
"I don't seem to remember," replied the other. "What happened, Elmer?"