ELMER CHENOWITH, Patrol Leader, and also Assistant Scout Master
MARK CUMMINGS TED (THEODORE) BURGOYNE TOBY (TOBIAS) ELLSWORTH JONES "LIL ARTHA" (ARTHUR) STANSBURY CHATZ (CHARLES) MAXFIELD PHIL (PHILIP) DALE GEORGE ROBBINS
"RED" (OSCAR) HUGGINS TY (TYRUS) COLLINS JASPER MERRIWEATHER TOM CROPSEY LARRY (LAWRENCE) BILLINGS HEN (HENRY) CONDIT LANDY (PHILANDER) SMITH
JACK ARMITAGE, Patrol Leader NAT (NATHAN) SCOTT
(OTHERS TO BE ENLISTED UNTIL THIS PATROL HAS REACHED ITS LEGITIMATE NUMBER)
[Illustration: It proved to be interesting work.]
Copyright, 1912, by The New York Book Company
CHAPTER PAGE I.--IN CAMP ON THE SWEETWATER 17 II.--THE SUDDEN PERIL 26 III.--GINGER PLAYS WITH FIRE 33 IV.--A NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN SUPPER 41 V.--WHAT WAS IT? 49 VI.--THE BOY SCOUTS' WATER-BOILING TEST 57 VII.--THE LOST SKY TRAVELER 65 VIII.--A BLAZED TRAIL 73 IX.--WHAT THE LONE CABIN CONTAINED 81 X.--WIGWAGGING FROM THE MOUNTAIN PEAK 89 XI.--THE HAIRY THIEF THAT WALKED ON TWO LEGS 97 XII.--LAYING A GHOST 105 XIII.--TAKEN BY SURPRISE 113 XIV.--THE THINGS THAT MAKE BOYS MANLY 121 XV.--HOW THE TRAP WORKED 129 XVI.--THE LAST FLICKERING CAMP FIRE DIES OUT 137
A TROOP of khaki-clad boys had been marching, rather wearily perhaps, along a road that, judging from all indications, was not very much used by the natives.
The afternoon was waning, so that a summer's night would soon begin to close in around them. Dense woods lay in all directions, the foliage of which had afforded very pleasant shelter from the fierce rays of the August sun. "Halt!" came the loud order.
"Hurrah! we're going into our first camp, fellows!"
"Pull off your lids, boys, and give a salute!"
"What a dandy old place for a camp. How d'ye suppose he came to pick this out, Elmer?"
"That's as easy to tell as falling off a log, Toby. We have to use water to cook with; and just notice this fine stream running past us," returned the boy addressed, who seemed to be the second in command of the detachment of scouts. "Besides," he added, "you forget that we aimed to reach the Sweetwater River by evening, so that we could start up the current in our boats to-morrow morning. And this, I reckon, is the stream that we're looking for."
"Hurrah again, fellows! The day's hike is done. Now for a bully rest!"