human
I wonder if it could be Ruddy? he murmured.
gpt
I wonder?
human
Sure it was, asserted Chot.
gpt
I'm a Boy Scout, and I know a lot of different animals' footprints. I can tell a rabbit's when I see 'em in the snow. This is your dog all right, Rick!
human
But where is he?
gpt
He must be somewhere around here, spoke Tom.
human
I guess the junk man and the sailor drove here, and left the wagon for the night. Then they went on somewhere else with your dog.
gpt
But where did they go?
human
That's what we got to find out, said Chot.
gpt
I'll tell you what we've got to do, he added, drawing his chums toward him, and speaking in a low voice, though no one but the two boys was within hearing distance, as far as the lads knew.
human
We got to stay here until that junk man comes back after his horse and wagon. Then we'll make him tell us where the dog is.
gpt
S'posin' he won't?
human
We'll make him! If he hasn't got your dog, Rick, maybe the sailor has, and we'll find out where he went. We've got to stay here until that junk fellow comes back. He'll come all right. He won't go away and leave his horse and wagon.
gpt
Where can we stay?
human
In the log cabin, of course, answered Chot.
gpt
Some of the older Boy Scouts camp out here two or three nights. There's a fireplace in the cabin where you can cook, and an old oil stove; and there's some sleeping bunks. Course it isn't real good, but Boy Scouts don't mind.
human
Do you mean we should stay camping out here all night?
gpt
Sure, stay camping here all night--or until the junk man comes back, answered Chot.
human
Why not?
gpt
I'd have to ask my mother, Rick said.
human
I promised to be back before night, and it's almost dark now.
gpt
I'll tell you what we can do, he said.
human
We'll all go back home--we got to get things to eat, anyhow, and some blankets. Then we'll come back here and stay all night.
gpt
All alone?
human
There's three of us, retorted Chot.
gpt
I stayed out all night once with some Boy Scouts. Course we had the Scout Master with us----
human
Oh, well, no wonder!
gpt
Well, maybe I can get our Scout Master to come back with us now and stay all night, went on Chot.
human
He'd like it. That's what we'll do! We'll go back home, get something to cook for supper, bring some blankets and stay all night. We'll camp out in the log cabin. It'll be lots of fun!
gpt
Will you sure get the Scout Master?
human
Sure I'll get him! promised Chot.
gpt
He'll come. Now come on! Let's hurry back home and get the things.
human
S'posin' the junk man and the sailor come back while we're gone? he asked.
gpt
Then how we going to get Ruddy?
human
I didn't think of that, admitted Chot.
gpt
Let's see, he said, musingly.
human
We passed a house a ways back, just before we saw this cabin. We could stop there and ask 'em to sort of keep an eye on this shack until we get back.
gpt
Yes, we could do that, agreed Rick.
human
But it's going to take us a long time to go home and come back.
gpt
Oh, maybe we'll get a lift,