their
comrade, Bob, and themselves.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

HOME AGAIN--CONCLUSION.

THE mountain hike had come to an end.

One and all, the Boy Scouts declared that they had seen about enough of
this wild country of the Blue Ridge, and would be glad to turn their
steps toward dear old Cranford. They believed they could find other ways
to enjoy themselves that offered better inducements than climbing the
sides of mountains, with suspicious moonshiners watching their every
move.

Of course, now that Old Phin Dady had taken them under his protection,
they had no reason to fear any bodily harm. And what Thad had done for
Cliff Dorie must go pretty far toward making them friends among the
ignorant mountain people. But because Old Phin meant to desert his
former calling for one that would have the sanction of the law, did not
mean that moonshine stuff would not continue to be made up in the dells
back of the trail in the Smoky Range. There were many others who knew no
other means for making a slim livelihood, than by cheating the
Government of the heavy tax it placed on strong drink.

So the scouts decided, by a unanimous vote, that they had seen enough of
these parts; and would hail with delight an order to turn their backs on
it all. Besides, did they not know that both Bob and his father would be
fairly wild to hasten to the waiting mother and wife in that Northern
home?

They made the start as soon as they could get in marching order. Polly
and her father accompanied them through the mountains. This was
considered best, lest some suspicious moonshiner think it his duty to
take a pot shot or two at those figures far down the valley, wearing the
khaki uniform he hated.

At every cabin they passed, the natives swarmed out to see the strange
sight of Old Phin walking amiably by the side of the boy soldiers, as
they supposed the scouts to be. Once or twice there was an ugly
demonstration, some of the natives fancying that the mountaineer must
have surrendered, and was being carried off to jail. It took
considerable explaining to get these people to understand the truth
about things, and that Phin was on the best of terms with the boys.

Finally he dared go no further, because as yet he did not know what
success his agents, the drug men, had in Washington; and there was
danger of revenue men sighting him at any moment, when trouble must
break out, since there had been war between them for so long.

When the lit