ams, up and down the sides of steep hills, the boys and their lead

ews they heard was that Tom Sherwood had been elected

troop was getting up a baseball game for the morrow, to be played by two teams chosen from all four patrols. In this

er than if he had stayed at home. He had sent word to the village postmaster, asking him to forward all letters to Pion

al fun in the competition, Lieutenant Denmead conducted the test like an old-fashioned spelling school. The various patrols were lined up in ope

ing contestants: Tom Sherwood and Sam Winter of the Otter pat

ugging himself joyfully, as once again Blake gave a

. "He has had all this practica

ur Cameron. "He makes me proud to be a Wolf! He

ter joined the boys who wer

led Dick Bellamy softly. "And here comes Tom!" he added. "Now

ns that Mr. Rawson has collected in the last two days," announced Lieutenant Denmead. "The list t

nd the campfire as Rawson brought out his box o

utes the lists were c

he Scout Master th

competition,--and the

ch rose piercingly above the Wolves' "How-ooo-ooo!" Then the Otters and the Foxes added their characteristic cries to the

to himself. "Don't know what all abo

fter the mental exercises of the evening, had jumped to their feet en masse,

here was nothing to suggest the student of rocks and rivers

already forgotten the contests in th

ed to his cabin, and returned a moment later with a small volume in his hand. Then, at his sig

outburst of overflowing spirits, dropped into line with the pro

fore 'taps,' I wish to emphasize the meaning of the business and the fun of the evening. I am gratified by the interest you have shown in our fiel

friend Mr. Brett of the B.N. and C. Railroad. The young man, Ransom Thayer, is willing to come to us on one condition. He has been technically trained, and he insists upon strict attention to the matter in hand and strict sch

erous and just, and I had confidence enough in th

r burst from the b

ike the idea?" urged the

Walter Osborne, springing to

er out

lled the scouts, ju

ah! Lieutena

"How-ooo-ooo! Yap-yap-yap! Skee-eee

ed his hand, silence fel

y of a section previously selected and surveyed by Mr. Thayer. The scouts will note its dimensions, the quality of its soil, the height of its hills, the extent of its valleys, the growth of its vegetation, its stratified zones, its mineral de

accomplishments in the line of this particular training, in addition to the points won by the neatness and accuracy of th

s most grandiloquent manner, the boys responded laughingly

ent, "but it will give you food for thought and a subject for your dream

our is late; but to-morrow I will read to you a brief account of a national hero who foun

ir!" came the