The Boy Scouts of the Flying Squadron

d serious when their comr

ling that it must mean considerable to Bud to have his idea st

the pile of blankets, are you

e papers there when I went out, and I was the last to leave, you

ou have sharper eyes than I seem t

about for several minutes, hunting all through th

eader. "It was careless of you to leave your preci

d head as though endeavo

's the matter. What did I lay down here? Some parts of the plans for the model, that goes without saying; but seems like I've got a paper in my pocket right now. Let's see,

d Hugh, smiling again when he saw that

eave any part of my precious papers floating around, and only good luck has saved me from being left high and dry. But perhaps those fellows will think they've got hold of so

to keep his secrets locked up, and not let them lie around loose. You'll find that there are plenty of sly thieves ready to

one," announced Hugh. "How shal

rest you both. Only don't roam too far afield in looking up interesting things. With that mysterious pair h

amused themselves first of all by closely examin

look as though the man who wore them really did slip inside while we were away. Chances are, he wonders what boy

ort only a few inches from the door, as if the man stood here listening before stepping in,

hours ago?" asked Bud, who was sitting cross-legged close by and l

de when I came out of the cabin last, and you can see that he stepped into th

if my mind wasn't so much wrapped up with this aeroplane stability device, I couldn't have missed seeing that little trick mysel

it, the less I feel like saying we'd better let the thing alone because it doesn't concern us. When things come to such a pass that unknown persons even sneak into your cabin in your absence and steal what they believe to be val

the kind to stick to a fellow through thick and thin. And please inform that taller walking mystery for me,

etty late in the year to do much in the way of tracking, but Ralph knew several places along a nearby stream where he had often caught mink that were using the burrow

ned of wild animal life. Hugh's scout education had given him a pretty good insight into these things; but he knew th

ed with Bud, whereby he could summon them to his assistance in case there was

gaged in mending his disabled aeroplane model, they considered that they could saunter off again to investigate

ted him greatly. Ralph was the best kind of a chum with whom to be wandering through the forest. He knew many things in connect

s, though he declared that he was making satisfactory progress and wo

something of the air of a conqueror about him. Hugh noticed this with a smile, th

he great heap of splendid flapjacks made by Ralph disappeared, until only the empty platter remained. But then, they we

The former young trapper had a host of reminiscences to fall back on, now that he was lo

zed specimen of the forest monarch, which, after being put to the ax, had broken many limb

I'll warrant you discovered a hive of bees in this tree and meant to

ound that way. Yes, I felt amply repaid for all my work after cutting through the tree, because two years ago times

tree,--by tracking the bees

up. Then with a pair of old opera glasses, I watched his flight just as far as I could see him. Going over to that point, I repeated the experiment. After doing it for about six times I saw my loaded bee rise, an

ved the other scout. "But it's too late this year, because, unless a very

gation. Time passed so quickly and pleasantly that, almost before either of them suspected it, the sun started to go down. And about the same moment they heard Bud giving the

connection with his new invention. Bud was a novice in the business. He would doubtless learn in due time how many bitter d

erything cooked by Bud had vanished, the three chums again

he morrow come, when he could improve on the trial of his model aeroplane. Then again

ittle while he would go to

d this that he thrust his head inside ag

xcitedly. "Perhaps you'll be able to tell me whatever it means, and i