And Hiram, having already reaped the fruits of his first venture in this fascinating field of human endeavor, naturally looked forward to the time when perhaps his name, too, might be linked with those for which he felt such reverence.
When Tubby's uncle returned he was well satisfied to go East alone and leave his nephew in such good hands.
During the remainder of their stay in San Francisco the boys never once caught a glimpse of Jared Applegate. If he still remained in the City he made it a point to religiously avoid meeting any of his former school companions.
Rob had determined that he might let the crabbed old farmer and his wife know they had met Jared while on the Coast, so as to ease their minds, if they had not heard from their bad son for a long while, though he decided he would say nothing about the deplorable circumstances under which the meeting had taken place.
"I never liked the old farmer and his wife," Rob had said to the others, when they were discussing the matter their last evening at the Fair, sitting at their ease, disposing of some ice cream, and watching the throng pass by. "But I suppose they have feelings like the rest of us, and in their own way, care for their boy. It would only give them a new stab to be told that Jared was as bad as ever, and do no good; so I hope none of you will whisper anything about that little episode."
Being true scouts, and with malice toward none, the others readily agreed to do as Rob asked. They could easily afford to forget that unpleasant adventure, since things had turned out so wonderfully well for them.
"And to think that this is our last night at the Exposition," said Tubby, with a vein of despondency in his voice. "I tell you I'm awfully sorry, much as I want to see the folks at home again. I'll never, never forget all I've seen out here, let me tell you; for even if half of the civilized world is at war and killing each other off by tens of thousands each day, you'd never know it in this beautiful land of peace and plenty."
"Hear! hear! Tubby's getting poetical!" exclaimed Andy, pretending to pound on the table with his fist.
"Well, it's enough to stir anybody up that's got a soul for things besides old fakers with red fezzes and turbans, who make out to be fortune-tellers from Egypt and such places, when the fact is they were born in Cork or Hoboken!" the other shot back at him.
"It is the greatest Fair that ever was held," said Rob. "When we get back home to Hampton we'll tell every boy we know that if he has a chance to come out here and fails to take advantage of the same, he's missing the treat of his life, barring none!"
"We all can subscribe to what you say, Rob," agreed Tubby.
"And that isn't all," continued the scout leader. "Think of the things we've been allowed to put through. There was the fetching of that fragile exhibit all the way across the continent, without any accident. And Hiram here has struck the first round on the ladder of fame. Even that doesn't exhaust the list of our pleasures, because we've still got another treat before us."
"Meaning the homeward trip, I guess?" ventured Hiram.
"Yes, when we find ourselves among the mighty Rocky Mountains that the Canadian Pacific Railroad climbs in passing from Vancouver to the East, we can feast our eyes on the grandest natural mountain scenery of the world. As for me, I'm anxious for the time to come when we'll be enjoying it."
As they were starting for Vancouver in the morning, with the intention of passing over the railroad line that pierced the famous Selkirks, it would seem that Rob would not have long to possess his soul in patience.
And since they finished with the Great Panama-Pacific Exposition on going to their hotel that night, it would seem that this is the proper place for us to say good-by to the four chums. But while our story must end here, there can be no telling what the future may have in store for Rob and his comrades of the Eagle Patrol; and if fortune is kind enough to throw them in the way of further adventures and triumphs, we hope ours may be the pen selected to place these events before the readers who have so long accompanied them in their numerous journeys.
THE END.