The Banner Boy Scouts Read online

  CHAPTER XIII

  "FIRE!"

  "Man the bellows, somebody."

  "Yes, stir up the fire in that forge, William. It's the coldest Septembernight on record, and that's a fact!" exclaimed Bobolink, as he pushedthe lively member of the Carberry team toward the smouldering fire leftby the blacksmith when he gave over his capacious smithy to the BoyScouts for their meeting.

  "M-m-my dad s-s-says he once lost his t-t-t-tobacco c-crop inS-s-september!" observed Bluff, shaking his head as he pushed towardthe fire.

  The boys had had a fine meeting.

  Besides the twenty-two in their new uniforms, four new recruits had beenpresent, to drink in with eager ears all that passed, and sigh for theday to come when they too might shine forth in such resplendant suits.

  Already was there much rivalry shown in the many competitions which theyoung scout leaders had instituted. There was a class on aviation,another that had taken up the mysteries of camping with all itsfascinating details; a third chose photography as the most entrancingsubject, and exhibited many pictures that were to be entered in the greatcontest of the county for the banner.

  Then several boys had doubled, for surely the knowledge of cookery wenthand in hand with that of camping; while a good stalker could at the sametime enter for a merit badge in the path-finding line.

  Besides, though the season was late for swimming, several fellows whoknew just what their best accomplishment might be, had qualified toenter this class.

  On the whole the meeting had been a most interesting one. Every scoutwas burning with enthusiasm, and many were the resolutions that Stanhopemust have what Bobolink called a "show-in," with regard to that covetedbanner, which was to fall to the leading patrol of the county.

  They were now almost ready to "break camp" for the evening, and beforedoing so indulged in a little general talk. Many had ideas which theywished to advance, in order to discover what the attitude of theircomrades might be.

  "Mr. Chairman," said Wallace Carberry, when he found a little lull in thebuzz of conversation, "I have a proposition I'd like to put before themeeting before we disband."

  "Hear! hear!" shouted several of the boys, notably those who had beenseen in close confab with Wallace, and hence probably in touch with hisscheme.

  "All right, Number Seven; let's hear what it is," replied Paul, readily.

  Every member of each patrol had a number. These began with the scoutleader, who of course had to take the "initial sack," as Bobolink, stillbaseball wild, put it. Jack, as his assistant in control, came as NumberTwo; Bobolink next; Bluff captured Four as his distinguishing feature;Nuthin' being Five, and the twins the next pair, for it would never do toseparate William and Wallace, while Tom Betts was Eighth and last.

  "If the gentlemen present will give me the floor, with the privilege ofthree minutes in which to explain what I have in mind, I will be glad tocomply."

  Wallace was very precise in his way of putting things. This did nothappen only when in school, or as he stood up to address a meeting ofhis chums. He could not unbend his dignity even under the most trivialconditions.

  William was just the reverse; and so full of frolic and fun that the boysalways declared the pair to be unequally matched, since in dispositionthey were exact opposites.

  And yet under it all there was the same abiding affection that generallymay be found between twins.

  "Hear! hear!" shouted the boys once more.

  "Let's have it, Wallace, old sport. It's bound to be a jim-dandy idea!"declared a loud voice that seemed to spring from the ceiling; but no onewas deceived, for they knew only too well how Bobolink could throw hisvoice pretty much where he pleased.

  "Silence!"

  When Paul, who in the absence of a regular scout master, occupied thechair, uttered this one word every sound ceased; and after that there wasno excuse for Wallace to hesitate longer.

  "Some of us have been talking it over, Mr. Chairman, and we wouldrespectfully request that you name an early date when we can go out intothe woods for several tests of skill. There is much keen rivalry among anumber of us already, which can only be settled by an open trial. Firstof all there is the interesting water-boiling test of woodmanship. Wewant to know who is the leading light in that class so we may push himforward to enter the general competition with other Boy Scout troops. AmI understood, Mr. Chairman?"

  "I think you have made your meaning plain, and the one particularcompetition you mention happens to be the most interesting of all,"replied Paul.

  "Then may we hope that you will name an early day for the trial to comeoff? Unfortunately school begins shortly now, and outside of Saturdaysand holidays the several Fox patrols may not have much chance to practicebefore the grand trial comes off. Make it as early as possible, Mr.Chairman."

  "How would to-morrow do?" asked Paul, only too anxious himself toascertain how the boys would "toe the mark."

  Wallace looked at his backers, and there were vigorous nods in answer tothe question seen upon his face.

  "It seems to be the unanimous consensus of opinion, Mr. Chairman, thatto-morrow would suit first rate. Please give us the hour for assembling,and you can depend on our being on deck," Wallace remarked.

  "Two o'clock ought to answer. That will give us plenty of time to try outa lot of stunts I shall arrange for."

  "Where shall we meet?" asked Jud Elderkin.

  "H-h-how about our b-b-barn, fellows?" queried Bluff, grinning.

  There was an instantaneous howl of derision, and every right hand went upso that the thumb and forefinger might compress a nose.

  "Another year might do, Bluff!" called one.

  "What isn't fit for storing tobacco can't be a proper meeting place forrespectable Boy Scouts!" declared another, energetically.

  "Oh! he's only bluffing, fellows; don't mind him!"

  "In fancy I can smell it now," sang another, mockingly.

  "We'll meet just outside this very blacksmith shop, and at two sharp,"declared the chairman, decisively; "and any scout who is tardy willbe given one or more bad marks that he must carry as a load in thecompetition. Punctuality is a leading trait in Stanhope Troop No. 1,you understand. Any other proposition?"

  The boys began to talk among themselves, and for a short time there wasa constant buzz that sounded like a big hive of bees.

  Jack found himself in contact with Paul while this was going on. He hadbeen doing his duty to the best of his ability as he understood it; andwhile the meeting was in progress had proven conclusively that he had athorough knowledge of the many things a full fledged scout must know.

  Jack meant to graduate from the tenderfoot class in the shortest possiblespace of time. Any scout may do this by being diligent in the pursuit ofvarious lines of woodcraft.

  "Well," said Jack, as he pushed alongside his chum, "this has been adandy meeting, all right. And there are four new fellows knocking at thedoor; with perhaps more to follow, when Stanhope learns what great timeswe have."

  "Yes, and I guess we'll need new recruits right along. You know that someof the boys will fall by the wayside soon after the novelty has wornoff," remarked wise Paul, who delighted in studying human nature as hesaw it around him.

  "Listen! fellows! The fire alarm!" shouted Joe Clausin, just at thatinstant.

  Every voice was hushed.

  Clear upon the night air rang out the sound of a tocsin--the stroke of ahammer upon a steel rim from a locomotive wheel, and which was hung aloftin the only firehouse in Stanhope.

  It was a thrilling sound at any time, and especially to a company ofboys newly enlisted in the great cause of humanity--of lending a handto neighbors who might be in trouble. So after several more clear,resounding strokes had pealed forth, calling the volunteer departmentout to fight the fire demon, one scout started wildly for the doubledoors of the smithy.

  He was immediately followed by others, and in almost the twinkling of aneye the Carberry blacksmith shop was emptied of its late noisy crowd.