The Boy Scouts Along the Susquehanna

emark that it's going to rain like cats and dogs before a

s you say

uehanna not a great ways off, you have to go and put a damper on

ng here on this log, resting up. In the first place just notice how gra

tive sign; it often clouds

his time, and don't you forget it, Step Hen.

e boy answering to the singular name of "Step Hen," but who, under other c

he active boy whom they called Davy, as he laughed softly to himself; "and they said heavy rains coming al

ed the boy called "Giraffe," possibly on account of his unusually long ne

told us to fetch our rubber ponchos along this trip

ort. They constituted the full membership of the Silver Fox Patrol connected with the Cranford Troop of Boy

es in this Series need not be told just who these enterprising lads are; but for the pur

y mentioned; "Step Hen" Bingham; Davy Jones, an uneasy fellow, whose great specialty seemed to lie in the way of wonderful gymnastic feats, such as walking on his hands, hanging by his toes from a lofty limb, and kindred remarkable reckless habits; Cornelius Hawtree, a very red-faced, stout youth, with fiery hai

he Atlantic to the Pacific. They had been through considerable in the way

ny miles away from their home town; and seemed to be bent upon some obj

etch along their rubber ponchos, there was a craning of necks, as everybody tried to set eyes on the face of Thad. Of course Giraffe had the ad

Mr. Scout Maste

he place of the regular scout master, when the latter could not be present. As Dr. Philander Hobbs, the young man who gave of his time and energies to help the cause along, found h

ted their eagerness t

with him; and when I saw the chances there were of a storm coming down on us, I made up my mind we ought to go prepared.

t winter, when the schoolhouse burned, and we had a fine vacation before the new brick one was complet

proudly, and the possession of which told that he must be the bugler of the troop-"Horn! that reminds

ind a horn's a good thing only on certain occasions. Now, when I'm just gettin' the

mes, I notice," Smithy remarked sagely; and not a protest was raised, showin

wamps of Louisiana; and although some months had since passed, it would seem as though the events

t way, the leader of the scout patrol had organized an expedition to go South during the unexpected vacation, to look for a certain man who had once wor

h many thrilling, likewise comical adventures, had actually traced this man, and managed to rec

er, after the manner of troops afield. Each fellow carried a blanket, folded so as to hang from his shoulder, and with the two ends

out carried a coffee pot; and doubtless the necessary tin cups, kniv

ong which they had been tramping for hours that day, making inquiries whene

th our story, it had better be explained before we follow Thad and his chums any f

come and see Judge Whittaker, one of the most respected citizens of Cranford. Wondering what the str

day. The Judge first of all told him that he had long observed the doings of the scouts with growing admira

elivered from New York to take the place of the one that had to be opened by an expert because the time-lock had gone wrong, had actually sewed a very valuable paper in t

rcoat with the red lining hanging around; and thinking it a useless incumbrance, she had figured that it w

ot be found. When he asked his wife, she was compelled to admit that three days before, after pitying a shivering hobo who c

lf, and buy back the coat, which the hobo could not imagine would be worth more than a dollar or so at the most. T

because he fancied that most of these professional detectives were only too ready to demand blackmail if given h

would be able to follow the hobo who wore the faded army overcoat, and in due time come up with him. Then Thad was to

days, here and there learning that a man wearing such a coat had been seen to pass along. Part of t

n, now in Alaska, had worn it during the Spanish-American war, and was unwilling to have it come to such a disgraceful end. All they thought about was the fun of tracking the hobo and eventually bringing back the old engineer corps overcoat to its late owner. That was glory enough f

managed to pick up told us this Wandering George, as he likes to call himself, can't be a great distance ahead of us now.

poor fat Bumpus gave an audible groan when he pried himself loose from that comfortable log. He was not built for long hik

and long distance pedestrian. "Sorry to say there won't be any wagon following us to pick up stragglers

t to look at the speaker contemptuously;

ng? Have you forgotten all about the race between the hare and the tortoise; and didn't the old slow-moving chap come in ahead, after all? I've known Bumpus to beat you out before this. You may have to use a cr

," observed the freckled-face scout, as

periences he could get better work out of his followers when they relaxed. Still, they kept pretty wel

ils, boughs from trees, and such brush as they could find. Having their blankets along, and being

were well equipped for meeting and overcoming such difficulties as might arise to confront them on a trip like the present one; in fact, they took keen delight

ion, had actually pushed ahead with the leaders. If he limped occasionally he did his best to conceal the fact by mumbling something about the nuisance of

a discovery of apparently vast importance, which he suddenly co

smoke of a fire rising over yonder alongside the road; and Thad, tell me, ain't there a couple of trampy looking fellows sitting on stones

ed eyes, used to observing things at long distances, told them that in all probability the two men who occupied the roadside camp belonged to the order of hoboes; for their

used their hearts to beat with additional rapidity as