The Boy Scouts Along the Susquehanna

nes later on, after the expedition had covered several more miles of ground, and seemed to be desc

added Step Hen. "Not having any tents along makes it a poor business try

all of one mind ther

"We'll turn in here, and see if the farme

about as fine as silk, I'm telling you," and Giraffe, who had rejoined his comrades, looking just the same as ever, ru

g began barking furiously, and at the sound several people came out of the house, and the big barn as well; so that while the sc

girls, and the stout young hired help named Hiram, all of whom were fairly dazzled by the sig

and not having tents along with them, made bold to ask the farmer if they might

inary conditions, for he looked like a severe man; but somehow he was quite captivated by the manly appearance of these lads. Besides, he had doubtless

leeping in my hay, if you promise me not to li

no damage done from our staying over. We will want to make a cooking fire somewhere, but it can b

," put in Giraffe, "we'd be glad to pay you the full market p

s that end of the farm. I look after the crops and the stock. Now, if

g Giraffe, who was a big eater, a meaning look; "bu

ver staring at the uniforms of the scouts with envy in his pale eyes, some of the boys gave chase to a couple of am

rned with a brimming bucket of morning's milk, as well as a pitc

and altogether the sight of so much r

and in pursuing his hobby to the limits was able to get fire at his pleasure, whether he had a match or not. And in more than a few times in the past

happened to lie handy. This he had built at the spot selected by Thad as perfectly safe; for what

He observed everything Giraffe did when he made that cunning little out-of-doors cooking range, and noted that while the double row of stones spread wide apart at one end

Giraffe liked to be in the lime light; and he was also an accommodating chap. He saw that the farmhand was intensely interested, as

ake a fierce heat, and leave red ashes that hold for a long time; and it is over such a bed tha

pus busied himself getting some fresh water from the well near by, and fixing th

ited while supper was being cooked. The odors that arose when the cut-up chicken was browning in the pan along with some slices of salt pork, and the coffee steaming

mortal ears than they did that night in the barnyard of that Susquehanna farm, with the eight khaki-clad scouts sitt

he invitation of Giraffe to hold off supper, and join them, and the big fellow seemed to be enjoying h

ld about the aims and ambitions of the scout movement. He found a very attentive and appreciative audience; and it was possible

re of the judge's second wife to get rid of it. Thad of course only went so far as to say that the judge mourned the loss of an article which he really valued highly on account of its association with his

if the hobo had passed along that way, he might have applied at the farmhouse for a meal, thou

r the next comer to read. Some places they say are good for a square meal; then at another place you want to look sharp, for the farmer's wife will ring pies on yo

re's one thing I hate it's a tramp. I've had my chickens stolen, my hogs poisoned, and my haymow out in the past

them. Bumpus, as has been remarked before, was an accommodating fellow, and he allowed himself to be coaxed to sing one song after another, with all of them joining in the chorus, until he

It must have been a tremendous and pleasant break in the monotony that usually hangs like a pall upon all farm work. No wonder, Thad thought,

all he could of these new and remarkable friends, and had announced his

they had been through since sun-up, all of them were pretty tired, and their one thought w

marked Allen, as he and Thad took

k out for a downpour. I'd be glad if we ran on that Wandering George before the rain sta

o flood stage, owing to so much snow m

ly hot a few days back it must have started the snow melting at a furious rate. If we get

fireplace, with the caution of a hunter who knew how necessary it always is to see that no glowing

, but you never find him neglecting to take the proper precautions. Yes, it's cold to the touch. Let's hun

to get settled in their various nooks and the talking died down until in the end no one said a single word, and already Bumpus

y out that did not present themselves to such happy-go-lucky fellows as Bumpus, Step Hen, Davy, and perhaps Giraffe. So Thad lay there for quite some time,

had burrowed with the rest. Possibly he may have swathed his face, as well as his body, in the folds of his blanket, in order to prevent any ro

hat his thoughts became confused, a

truggled up to a sitting position he could fancy that he heard some one calling

Allan, as he clutched the arm of hi

hing wrong up at the farmhouse. The other fellows are stir

ing their way to freedom. No sooner had they gained their feet than they

nd saw that the darkness of the night was split by a glare from up in the direction of the

can to fight the flames. Hi! everybody on deck-Giraffe, Step Hen, Davy, and the rest of