The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour

s a chance to make his escape. But he had a pair of impetuous comrades along; and aroused by

ving heap of blankets and folded tents, where the alarmed intruder was

there just at that moment, and seen all the weird goings-on that were taking place. Still, an investigation would have proven th

was set upon by a couple of energetic scouts. He dodged most of the blows, aimed wit

face of the caged Tiger that neither of his assailants could get

lous and unequal performance as soon as possible. And in so doing he h

one could have possibly foreseen the cat

he believed one of those threatening clubs was about to descend upon his head, whirling to the right, a

rrendered not another blow would have fallen. Nor could he guess that the ferocious aspect of these

itive happened to collide with a pair of oars that stood up

bow to the fall of the leading one. Scissors struck the oars and they in

ausing in sudden horror, a

lamp had broken, depositing its dangerous fluid all around. Kerosene in these days is not the same deadly explosive it used to be in o

prep

d up to than just at that critical moment, when the oil

his hands. Nor was Jack an instant behind him, only he happened to seize upon a

and beat them furiously. Such prompt action was sure to meet with its reward, for it would

n half a dozen places. It was then that William, who had just a brief time before been pursuing t

himself of a blanket. Instead of whipping this at the creeping flames which the others promised to take good care of, William turned h

ts come home to William. Not for nothing had he learned what

rew that blanket, and then seiz

ng on grimly; "quit your kicking, you silly

aten the fire out, and in imagination he felt it still eating into his tender skin, he con

the four friends looked at each other, and tried to smile; but it was a poor job. Their faces were as white as parchment, an

nd the prisoner was sitting down on the floor, examining several sor

he recovered his lost breath in part; for he had been kicking at the fir

very little delay in attacking the flames would have allowed them to get such headway that no effort on the

am, possibly with something of this id

ocked down and broken. Good it wasn't gasoline, or nothing could have saved

t?" asked Jack, as the sco

ept a singed blanket or two, and some marks on that tent. Boys, we ou

ved by so many good people of Stanhope, a heap of as

ng of animosity was now driven from even the hearts of William and Bobolink. Indeed,

k off, an' it looks only a little red. Here, Paul, ain't we got something in our medicine chest good for

t right away," declared Paul, as he star

sk finding the medicine chest, which, up to now had contained all their simple remedies. Paul had

k lent their assistance; and the dismal groans of

s he overturned some of the blankets on

, Jack!" declared Bobolink, wit

gical manner with ordinary burns, and the boys had particularly requested that he be sure and bring another supply for use on

e found a wonderfully large collection, for just then it probably seemed good policy for Scissors to

ul, when he had almost used up the entire con

or once upon a time he and the caged Tiger had been nex

, boys. Aint you going to turn me loose now?" asked Sci

le in the manner of the other, he commenced gru

more than Bud did his. If you can walk, come right along to the door. I was opening it

t if the Carberry Twin had made a movement as though about to pick up that padded instrument of torture again

w steps that led to the level. Then Pa

about the affair, on their side, still that closing scene in the little drama had sent a thri

tened up, boys," said Paul, as he started

f the floor. After that they endeavored to remove all traces of the brief fire, and in this they were fortunate, for ha

he broom, after some water has been sprinkled. We're going to get there

emies!" ventured Bobolink; as he, too, hunted for a broom in the fur

ime there was an industrious quartette engaged in the labor of reconstruction. When Paul finally gave the sign

water could be had; soap and towels were forthcomi

one of their number was expected to stand guard at two hour stretches; though no