Don Strong, Patrol Leader

ired. Yet, as he slowly rode the bicycle, he s

the road. The air was s

ed toward Danger Mountai

made all the diffe

ear. Ritter and the two other scouts had nothing to say. Then by degrees the tensio

ey saw a man in the dist

Wall?" Ritter

ar. He wanted to be where he could hear wha

ng hard. Suddenly, as he s

to dismount,

us," said the Ea

jumped from the bicycle and walked with them.

different situation. He was sure that the Danger Mountain hike had been blocked-not for today alone,

roke-he had conquered. What had happened had been among scouts. They had settled it among themselves. He

s cheery. "Hello there, hiker

ers glanced at one

ty," Don sa

found it. How

e past Chris

the sta

cook anyt

d pleasantly. He felt his tires. "I guess I've worked up an app

esitated. Did Mr. Wall suspect so

stick with the f

w minutes later his retreating figure was ou

. He hadn't exactly expec

le patrol scout, "Th

in uniform, and a patrol leader in baseball clothes and sp

it look like?"

dy jumped on a bicycle and

from the Eagles. "Mr.

ooping around," cried t

him right here, had he

n the van. Twice, looking back over his shoulder, he saw Tim trudging with t

ster Beth had gone off to a church social. Barbara gave him his supper; and while he at

right at heart,

ey're all rig

is chair, and waited. It seemed that she was gone a long time. Suddenly he gave

e tomorrow, Don. You

f sleep, his thoughts drifted back to Tim walking with the others with his

s thinking about,"

hadn't. He had expected Don to tell. He had hurried forward ready to argue

ngling and boisterous striving for what he wanted. Yet, for all of his roughness, a finer streak of his nature could

d seen Mr. Wall's eyes travel in his direction as though picking him out as the ringlea

mself uncomforta

several chores undone. When he reached home his mother scolded and his father threatened. It was no new

't getting any fun out of scouting. He had been banished from baseball. If T

e," he said, and

you think a scout should do-the square thing?" He was confronte

e field early. He was the first boy there. He sat under the tree; and when

chance for me

im sharply. "Get

lay b

comes Don. Catch him. No curves-he worked n

roat; but Don acted as though there had never been a change in the team. Slowly his restraint wore

time. The others talked eagerly of the first aid contest that was scheduled for Friday night. For once he listened with

able was pushed u

ows," said Don. "Let's se

lints, and over by the bay window Wally and Alex did their bandaging. He and Andy and Bobbi

hy didn't you work hard before? You're too late now.

look?" Don

t here,"

re silent. Don'

sed out through the hall calling b

own," he said bluntly,

ndages to the first aid ki

n't he try at the other meeti

d it aside. "If he practiced

to get him to pract

k h

extra work? Can't you ima

ped the Danger Mountain hike. It cost nothing to try. He had no love for the job of intimating to Tim that his work was

orch and lifted his

ng cry cam

e fireworks

gate and advanced as

and Bobbie practicing

?" Don

long interva

t last. He swung around

dy. "I thought he'd

as over, he practiced again. Friday morning he was even ready for more; but that morning Bobbie had to wee

aseball field, he played

ball, and his throws t

Ted. "Go take a wa

"Don't you want me

l right. This is your bad day. Go

himself wondering, not what kind of baseball he would play on the

es were making one last hurried practice of the business of making a coat stretcher. Tim wished he could do a little

the hour of eight. The Eagles came insi

r fooling," he announced. "H

went back to their patro

ster ha

rs." Fifteen minutes later the inspection was over. Each pa

OL P

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x

f 7

elf. There was a deal of husky excited whispering. Of all the Wolf patrol, Tim alone was silent.

" called

m becam

e greatest number of points at the finish will have five credits to its blackboard score; the second patrol, three points; the thi

t before the scouts had much time to th

scouts from each patro

ex represent

g," calle

made. There was little to choose,

," called the

rk. But this time the Fo

their patrol. Bobbie yel

ed only a second

bone," was th

ts. The shouting increased as the Fox bandager fumbled the binding knots. Wall

ndaging points sure,"

bully

age," said

s finished onl

r bandage was

dage," orde

lled it apart and began again. The Fox and Eagle patrols jumped to their feet and pleaded

ied the Foxes

d," crie

by. "His bandage look

te spiral for all the fingers. When this last job w

all." The contestants walked back to

tell us now," w

"That's what makes things exciting,

Don ca

you can look over my scoring pad and see how I sc

yelled

"Shut up, you shrimp. Wa

ited scout. "-Eagles," he went on,

les clamored about their patro

im; and Tim nodded and swa

the wild urge to win that stirred him on the diamond. But the breathless anxiety that r

time Don and Ritter re

rder was for a

e teams worked rapidly. There was a hush

aid when he exami

Don took off the splints a

nd then applying a tourniquet. On this the Eagle scouts

t look?" An

t was no surprise to him when Mr. Wall gave first place to the

jubilantly. He pushed a pa

lf

o

gl

turn was next-his, and

spiration," ca

e his head. Andy held his wrists lightly. Tim knelt astride the

ch, walked back and for

too slow? He wondered ho

ed not look. Presently

" and he scramb

uefully. "You surely

we made out,

demonstration of fireman's lift, he shut h

later the li

han any of them," c

nt in and stand at attention. Patients must no

st from th

, you

up, Foxes;

, Tim;

the staves. His fingers

me Andy's voice

ight? He saw the Eagle stretcher-makers begin

down on the stretcher. Quick! Ther

burden. Mr. Wall c

from the watchers. "Buttons

turned fiery red. Was he always going to be the fellow who made his patrol

thers have coats ope

the other co

formed a pushing, excited ring around Mr. Wall and th

. Each patrol has excelled in some one t

and the cl

test," Mr.

he night had come. This next event would

ear the door. At the word it will make its stretcher, lift in the p

s,

r the

o such thing now as each scout keeping with his own patrol. Eagles, Wolves and

Tim," s

chance. The palms of his hands beg

buttons," wh

the word

to him to go faster, faster, faster, but he forced himself to make sure that

d excitedly. "Get him

cher. Tim sprang to the front of the staves, Andy to

Wolves!" cried

o Mr. Wall with his burden. He brok

be heard above the noise. "That's

s and the Foxes carrying their loads slowly, with precious ca

He could hear tense v

t. He came to a stop

his neck and a squirming elbow was poked in his side. He did not loo

ed, but glad because now the lesson will be driven home. An injured person must always be carried c

y heard. The points were awarded-Fox patrol, first; Eagles, second; Wolve

place, anyway, Tim. The Foxes have 11 poi

e had fallen down again. Bonehea

board was

OL P

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x

f 7

, and only one point behind first place. Now we're sec

llow in the troop had worked hard. Even Alex, after finishing in the grocery store, had worked at night. And yet in spite

mfortable. While the room rang with cheers for the victorious F

a blow. Sneaking away! He stopped. With a careless, cocky

e said defiantly.

d have peeled off his coat in an instant. He was not scared of physical force; but he was afr

rters, and a bright light streamed out through the open door. Shouts, and cheers, and laughter, came faintly to his ears. The

on, and blamed for everything, and spoken of with a doubtful shake of the head. Once he had not minded these things

to leave. One group, talking excitedly, p

way and came his way. Tim drew a quick

, Mr.

im. Comin

s,

ell in

Wolves lost tonight,"

that mistake-once,

ed to say next didn't come so easily. "How-" He hesi

n the way a fellow handles the laws and the oath. If h

mebody to go to

leader, Tim. He's t

oing to bed, Tim lay awa

right way,

next morning, he sat on the grass and tried t

month," Don told him,

the anno

ook hi

"telegraph, semaphore, and Mor

n't k

telegraphy. How about you and

t want to fail again. Neither did he want

ingly. "If I had somebody to

. Could this be ro

ou now," he cried. "W

he house. Tim went down near t

ough, as they corrected each other's mistak

Don't give up the ship," and was delighted when he found that

appeared and lean

Tim," he

r anything else. Don sent him, "Give me liberty or give me death." He stumbled and sl

egretfully and mopped the sweat from his face. It was Saturday, and this afternoon the nine

Tim strode off briskly, and Bobbie,

for the signa

no

t make any mist

Andy, or Alex, or any of the bigger scouts, Tim would not have minded so much. But to

ren't you glad Don is going

r head. Go on, now." He gave the astonished boy a push. Then, scowling blackly, he passe