ng him to deliver it the next time he goes into the woods
to make an inspection trip. Mr. Fernald here will mail it for you when
he gets off the train."

"That's a bully idea, Garry. Didn't have brains enough to think of it
myself," chattered Dick.

"Never mind, old timer. Two heads are better than one you know, as the
barrel said," laughed Garry.

Diving into his pocket, Dick drew forth the substantial notebook he
always carried, and was soon busy writing a note, doing it as well as
the jogging motion of the train would allow.

Finally he finished the note to the Hermit, and hastily scribbling one
to Nate, enclosed the two in an envelope, addressed to the Deputy Ranger
in Millinocket.

"There," he said, as he sealed the flap of the envelope. "Seems funny to
be writing a note to the Hermit, doesn't it. The shoe generally used to
be on the other foot when we were on the Patrol. By the way, there's one
thing that's been puzzling me for some little time. What led you to
think we were in any way connected with the same branch of work that you
are, Mr. Fernald?"

"Oh, I'm no mind reader, or Sherlock Holmes," said Fernald with a hearty
laugh. "It simply happens that I saw you in the Chief's office at
Augusta, when I was there getting some final instructions. The Chief was
going to introduce me, but I told him I preferred getting acquainted in
my own way. To tell you the truth, at that time I thought the Chief had
gone crazy, sending boys, but after looking you over, and unsuccessfully
trying to pump you, I decided you boys had the right stuff in you, so
made myself acquainted. Then too, I had a quiet bit of fun with you. Own
up, now. Didn't you make up your minds that I was a suspicious
character, especially after I had tried to get out of you what your
business was?"

The boys looked sheepishly at each other, and then began to laugh.

"We must admit it, Mr. Fernald. We had you all ticketed as a person to
keep a sharp eye on, until you gave the signal," confessed Garry.

"That's right, boys, one cannot be too careful. When you are on a
mission of this kind, a mighty safe rule to follow is never to trust a
person until he has unmistakably proven himself to be absolutely
trustworthy. If you follow that rule, you'll never go wrong. Once in a
while, of course, you'll find yourself in a position where you must use
your own judgment. In that case, make sure you are dealing with a good
patriotic American citizen, and you'