Don Strong, Patrol Leader

was good, and the Springfield batters seemed unable to do much with his drop. When t

ed Carter cried jubila

what the batters couldn't hit,

that," the captain said lightly, a

rom rising in his cheeks. All during the game Tim had seemed to rasp h

g change in Tim. Instead, it began to look as though Tim would conti

ence," said Ted in his ear. "You'll

the thrill of his triumph. It was hard, this thinking y

d of his success, but with none of the flash and fire of a conque

le with Tim

related what had happened last night, and the grea

o you remember when you le

s,

ay you came running into the shop and shouted that you had it, a

ain next day," D

h it any time you wan

ra smiling and nodding as much as to say, "T

ecause Tim playe

ched your curve that

w his troubles dropped away

he patrol as a group since Friday night. At first he looked hot and uncomfortable. After a while he began to scrape his feet and drum on

t still!" Alex Dav

the table. The missile struck Ritter on the nose. Tim gigg

od-naturedly. "You'll get

ght his bold, sidelong glance-a glance that seemed

om paying attention to Tim, he talked rapidly about the first aid contest, now two weeks off. The Eagl

on finished, "and

, and lame. Every scout felt it-even Tim. Andy For

better on our stretcher

practic

d page. "That's a crack at

retcher work,

what you mean." He shot the ball, and it wh

. Tim glanced defiantly

e talk going again, but

, in his disgust, was r

arbara came

itcher of lemonade. Soon a filled

d turn?" she smiled. "

matter with

nd looked down

's what I get for being a girl-can't learn any

," said Ti

table. Tim's eyes were still dow

or, boys," she said. "Next time I co

again, a little brisker now, and a little more hopeful.

l right for you,

. "I'll be there." He arose, went around to the other side

e touched A

you laughing a

g, Tim," Andy pr

eeting. The others stood on the porch and chatted a m

sgust. "They'll thin

d no, and had changed his mind and had scrubbed with the others. Tonight he ha

an to blame Don for all his troubles. Don had upbraided him when the patrol had lost po

He would redeem himself in the only w

ing at Don all during

you?" Ted Carter demande

g like a freak

Ted. "You fellows have had enough warm-up.

as over Ted ran to the outfield and took

been scrapping?"

ook hi

n the same scout t

-n

; did Tim want to

no

igh and whistled thoughtfully. At th

nly. "You know that Tim is

knows that,

what's the use of paying any attention to him? Just le

-and failed. True, Tim couldn't hurt him, but he could m

nd a post-card

omorrow morning at 9 o'cl

ld not be an overnight hike, and a blanket was unnecessary. Havers

did the unexpected. He had said once that it added spice to scouting, and the scouts had agreed. It

His eating things were in their places. Frying-pan

he kitchen. Barbara called that supper was ready. He sco

rrow?" Mr. S

Barbara said with a laugh as Don

e went out to the porch and squinted up at the sky. Stars dotted th

morning sun in his face. In a moment he was out of bed and

re were too many things to do and too much to thin

chops in the ice-

an of evaporated milk. He strapped the haversack, and suddenly remembered that he had forgotten salt, after all, and unstrapped it

hey would be late, and kept saying that everybody knew that Mr. Wall started prompt

m a screw hook in the door, told them that they s

rry the ax

," said

ly was waiting wit

and strapped its leather sheath to his belt. H

s were grouped in front of their patrol lockers. There were cries of,

the clamor. Assembly! Lockers were banged shut. S

e Mr. Wall's voice

n to Main Street and then to the left. Alex Davidso

re with us," Do

"But nobody'll ever catch him wearing a long fac

pproached t

ft!" came

whenever a gipsy tribe came to the neighborhood it pitched its tents there. It was an ideal camping ground,

n open country. The discipline of the march was dro

k on roadside flowers, and trees, and weeds. The morning wore away. By and b

which patrol could get a

was to cook

" His strong, muscular arms made short work of the d

repared to try again amid cries of, "Not more than two matches." This time his wood took the flame.

ed. Frying-pans and po

re laid amo

d and had his own fire going.

ig," he warned Bobbie. "You don

mine?"

Scoutmaster. "K

how some of these other f

groan. "Good night;

proached Ritter. That sco

fire alone

Mr. Wall told me t

Don c

ws, didn't I? He didn't tell me not to. Anyway, Ritter's fire sprawls out too much.

out my potatoes

ack," said Tim. He tossed the st

ght now, Bobbie," D

t Wally's fire, small and compact, gave him no excuse to tinker

That sure is one

Andy. He laid the

, which had been low and even, began to flare and s

and pushed him back. Then the red-haired boy braced

ng of this?" came

ndy hung his head as though ash

d into me,"

ing with my fire

I was only

doesn't know how to build a fire and cook a meal I have blu

n a new light. He dug the toe of one shoe into the

e too quickly, Tim. You've ruined Andy's fire. W

ing over Don's fire,

a lecture to the point where it lost its for

ack to his own cooking. Tim shuffled off

atoes. They were cold a

us both," said Don. "Wha

usa

Let's go whack-half my lamb

of wood smoke. Don and Andy finished their cooking in silence. They began to eat. All ove

ok good and sore," An

and made a derisive face, and then turned his back and beg

Tim was lonesome. He fel

ect if he was going to

. The fires were smothered. Haversacks were slung ac

nging, sometimes shouting boisterously, sometim

er Mountain; to the l

ll knew how it had come by its name. A man had tried to cli

d about seven miles long, and dark and dense with thick growth. The gipsy caravans kept away from it. Passing tra

plore that some d

in?" Tim as

the Scoutma

. Wall along there would be nothing t

iday night's meeting,"

o the mountain?

d spot. Broken bones are a heavy

seem so hard," he said, and his eyes lighted

he prospect of penetrating Lonesome Woods shortened the miles.

" said Tim. "Give m

itter. "Mr. Wall

hat I'd like?" Off in th

The dog answered. It

king screeches came from his throat. P

tle shrilled. T

?" Mr. Wall demanded. "Can't

ut, Tim,"

. Wall will hear you." He slouched through what was

ome day he'll go too far and Mr. Wall will bundle h

, but not by expulsion. That, he thought, was no way for a fellow to end as a sc

-times when it seemed that he had struck the right road and was on his w

eager for a warm-up. He nodded hopefully to Tim, and took

's see if you can do a lit

ritating moods. He served the ball and resolved to pay no a

ill that,

tched

me on!

ll from you, Tim. When you come out on this field, you

catcher. Ted was trying to bluff him. And his temper w

play any better for you than

"I can use a fellow who'll

Tim said in

. "You're through.

t expected anything like

caping what he saw-t

oing to get another ca

e bat myself. I guess I can get somebody to play fi

He was raging. Chased from the field! Routed out as though he

owed. "I'll offer to catch for them. I'll come

king into teams out of your own town was almost im

saw the pitcher begin to throw to Ted. The sight was too much for him. He swung arou

ng to a halt in a very few minutes. The captain was no fool. The fi

g to him. It wasn't your fault. Go home and forget it,

was sure that this latest twist would onl

rked on his bird-houses and tried to brush aside the worried thoughts that plagued him. Andy Ford came to the yard, an

sed?" Andy a

ear any talk about Tim just-just keep your mouths shut. Talk alw

There wasn't much to say after that. One b

Ted. His control was better now, and presently he found himself enjoying the work. His curves broke well, and Ted kept calling

o far as to come carelessly dressed. Evidently others shared his anxiety, for as s

s had left the key of his locker at home, and Fox patrol scouts who had expected to brush

me all too soon for the

n the line of stiff

Four points off the Foxes for untidiness. Tw

the new

OL P

e 58

x

f 5

Andy. "We're clos

mbled. He looked at Tim. The trouble-making scout was staring at the board w

that night-knot-tying, d

leaves from trees and

he meeting was over. A

" There were ch

was, however, a hot wrangle about the day. Fina

"I bet that will

A scout of the Eagle

pitch against to

Falls,"

ard the door. And Don, watching him, wondered why it was t

o display a reckless streak. For a moment this worried him; then he brushed the tho

beds next morning. It was well that he went early to

ng-just a little throwing to bases. I've dug up a fellow named M

d the raked-up grass around to the chi

sharp," Barbara

de some crazy tosses. But Marty's long reach always saved him, and Marty's

out the throws. His heart warmed to the newcomer. He beg

body'll get much of a lead on yo

Intent on watching the field, he did not notic

on," said

What's the matter,

ht," Bobbie

terest was completely absorbed, he thought, subconsc

im that it was time he started for home. He w

y way?"

e. They passed one

f a scout knows that some other scout is going to do somet

. "Who's doing so

ng tales?" Bo

ment. "I don't t

low tells about

out from doing somethin

as

think

now it's d

nodded

ught to tel

ound. "Tim Lally is get

ntain toda

Don's nerves. "Where'

getting

the maple tree he strode. A factory whistl

pped short. Tim was coming t

o Danger Mountai

nd cocked his cap over

. Wall said it

say we co

what h

o you

he won't take us there. He sa

elessly. "I guess Mr. Wall was trying to scare little fe

useless. And yet, as the trouble-maker

ouble, Tim, and we're only o

n't worrying abo

op thinking that that might win where all else

hrough his brain. Tim's recklessness was jeopardizing

what comes from letting boys become scouts and go hiking." Boys would be taken from the

f bitterly. "If there was somebo

d Bobbie that this wasn't carrying tales. It wasn't. S

doorbell of a plain, pleasant-loo

" said a woman's voice.

ll

was in his hand. "Is he home

ty this morning. I do not expect him until e

e stoop, stumbling on the last st