The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour

r that evening, Jack Stormways was c

o you suppose your folks would let you camp o

en decided, as the boys would be needing a good rest before starting off o

e? He got a hint that our friends, the enemy, mean to be at it again. This time they are th

imself to be on hand, rain or shine. How can they hold us back?" asked J

hat would be the use of our tramping away up there in the Rattlesnake

hole outfit for two weeks anyhow! Oh! Paul, do you mean-would they dare tr

aid this; for the real meaning of what his com

the past they've shown how little they cared for other people's rights when they wanted to do anything mean. Bobolink had it on

hat are you going to do about it, Paul?" de

where all our things are heaped up. Bobolink says he can come. I'll ask William if either h

it comes to trouble; ready to run at the drop o

nly be beginning our camping experience one day in advance, for to-morrow

He never forgets the time he was a boy, and often says he en

now. Got some things to d

ke my gun along?" que

number of those stout sticks into the gym the other day, and William amused himself fastening a lot of cloth around them, so that they look like the stuffed

in half an hour the

elping me with them. She used to belong to the Red Cross Society at one time; and besides, a doctor's

vandals throwing all their carefully gathered stores around, and perhaps cutting great holes in those lovely khaki

the door, and the young sc

waited too long," he said, as he snatched up

oys to meet us down at the campus of the high school about eight. There,

coming. I hope they don't try any of their games

o any mean dodge they like to wait till all honest people are abed. The thief shuns a light,

udy of the town bully, and knew his w

thering them; it's always the other way. They just like to act ugly about things; and it's worse since we won that banner for our troo

ll," and his voice took on a vein of determination that told how he was aroused at the thought of what might happen; "there mu

it ain't in boy nature to keep it up everlastingly. Some fellows think it a big joke. And

uestion, whom they found sitting on the fence adjoining the green fronting the hand

link?" demand

ght in the old days before the scout movement struck Stanhope; and who was loth to forsak

with you? I told him to

idn't know how long you might be getting around, one of us had better begin to scr

along. Now, it may be that the Slavin crowd have a picket out so as to watch the gym, and see

made a long detour, so as to a

ym door, haven't you,

old Peter for it this afternoon. Thought that perhaps I mig

ndow if they found the door locked?" continued W

d a big job to tackle. I wouldn't put it past such reckless fellows to set fire to the church if hard pushed. If they stopped at t

te silence; for they were now drawing near the old stone building that had

en suddenly tolled. A young moon hung tremblingly in the western sky, promising to increase steadily in size, and give them more than one br

pot, off and on, for years. Paul knew just where every tree reared its leafy branches, and could easily in

Thus far all seemed quiet and peaceful. If any of the Slavin c

ack, with his keen eyes, had discov

faintly to whisper i

e sun dial,"

stand in the cemetery connected with the church; and that it had been placed up against

some object seemingly perched on the st

as always a possibility that the figure woul

f the Stanhope troop could communicate, should they happen t

ed several times upon the bit of veneering. Immediately they saw the sitting boy begin to fumble, as though h

.

," whispered

the reply, as the figur

re?" asked Jack, cautious

t, that came nosing around. Guess that swift bu

nd please talk in whispers. Here's the

asement of the church, which was used as a gymnasium

sked Bobolink, as he s

whole stack of things is piled up in the center, so we needn't tumble over

at a chance it looks like to try my little game of tag. Talk to me about baseball! Why, it won't be in the

he had worked on so industriously, in the expectation that some fine day they mi

rom the pile, and each of them made as comfo

d Bobolink, after he had fussed around for fully ten minutes, co

authority; and after that no one dared to ut