Boy Scouts: Tenderfoot Squad

promised to be a fine day. To a fellow who expected to do considerable prowling around in the vicinity of Raccoo

ysteries that went with the ceremony. Taking the biggest frying-pan they had fetched along, he rattled a lively tattoo upon it with a heavy cooking spoon. And during the course of their stay it may be said in passing t

ulinary outfit, and made the bacon and fried eggs vanish in a most remark

not object in the least, though after a day or two had elapsed, and the fever calmed down somewhat with Rufus, the Scotch lad anticipated having his tim

. The chances were ten to one they would get lost the first thing; and it would be too bad i

and Alec like a porous plaster. Don't let one of them get out of your sight for a minute. You can lend a hand as much as you

thing. Then he suddenly remembered his scout vow, and that he had solemnly promised to bow to superior authority. Elmer was the "bos

erved, a bit ungraciously, "but

used to get twisted in my bearings a heap until I got the hang of things. I can remember several times when I walked straight away from camp, under the belief that I was heading for it. You see, while I could easily

do this morning, E

out the camp, George, with things handy to the reach, I'll appoint you camp warden for today. You can

e than counterbalanced his poor ones; and being nea

wholly determined that point, though he fancied that he might take a wi

s interest considerably. Just before they sat down to breakfast he had chanced to step over to a point where the best v

skyward from amidst the thick growth. Elmer was a pretty good woodsman, and he did not have to be to

he was educated in the ways of the woods. Elmer's curiosity was excited. He wondered who their neighbor could be. Was it some fishing

tely come into the possession of Mr. Snodgrass, with an idea of making him a proposition for the right to cut off the big timber. Then again, cha

eaking the game laws; and who, it seemed, had gained an unenviable reputation for boldness as well as knavery, so that his name,

nce he seldom appeared in any town; and what more likely than that his c

elf attracted toward Jem Shock, simply because of a curiosity to know what the real man might be like; fo

ided that he would take a little stroll, which might, there was n

ought to looking around. Lil Artha on his part would, of course, take note of the general lay of the land; but with

e heavier material, called out a cheery goo

llen ye maun rest assured it would tak all my time picking off the beggars' lice, as ye call the

camp. "And I'm glad Elmer made each one of you put a little snack of cheese and crackers in his pocket.

iffed in

eeing the black side of things. Who expects to get lost? Certainly neither of us. And besides, what do

" the said "guardian angel" called out, though

d him for any decent sort of work, Rufus; after this he'll be spending most of his time looking for

many little talks between whiles with the tall guide, upon whom he was leaning more and more as an exponent of the jolly times to be had in the open; while

sons he insisted on taking it along were that it might come in handy in case they met a wildcat, always a possibility, of co

the mess of breakfast pans and dishes, so that he could devote himself to other matters. He had already sized things u

g of the tenderfoot squad, "that's no reason we ought to let things run along in a slipshod fashion. It's a pleasure to

und to possess a number of splendid qualities that add to the comfort and health of his comrades. George could make himself one of the most disagreeable chaps going, when his

strode forth

George," he remarked casually, "and see w

ecause I've got a heap to do before I'm satisfied with the way things look

is the price of safety. I always take observations as I go along; and notice many queer-shaped trees, so that I'll know them

w the trail back, they all looked vastly different from what they had before. Taught me a lesson I've never forgotten either. Well, so-long, Elmer. I'll expect you when you turn up. I hop

this was likely to happen at any time, since they had been warned by the friendly farmer that such venomous reptiles abounded along Raccoon Bluff. And in case a bobcat should turn up, Elmer fancied he could defend

time, with the fire casting up a spiral of smoke toward the clear heavens, George bustli

a living, caused the boy to possess an earnest yearning to spend a season every year in the primeval wilderness, close to Nature's heart. It was

eemed to be rejoicing with him. He could hear the merry voices of insects all around; the croaking of frogs in a nearby marshy spot he passed; and the constant cawing of crows i

notice a thousand and one things around him, most of which would of a certainty never be seen at all by