"FIRE!"
"Man the bellows, somebody."
"Yes, stir up the fire in that forge, William. It's the coldest September
night on record, and that's a fact!" exclaimed Bobolink, as he pushed
the lively member of the Carberry team toward the smouldering fire left
by the blacksmith when he gave over his capacious smithy to the Boy
Scouts for their meeting.
"M-m-my dad s-s-says he once lost his t-t-t-tobacco c-crop in
S-s-september!" observed Bluff, shaking his head as he pushed toward
the fire.
The boys had had a fine meeting.
Besides the twenty-two in their new uniforms, four new recruits had been
present, to drink in with eager ears all that passed, and sigh for the
day to come when they too might shine forth in such resplendant suits.
Already was there much rivalry shown in the many competitions which the
young scout leaders had instituted. There was a class on aviation,
another that had taken up the mysteries of camping with all its
fascinating details; a third chose photography as the most entrancing
subject, and exhibited many pictures that were to be entered in the great
contest of the county for the banner.
Then several boys had doubled, for surely the knowledge of cookery went
hand in hand with that of camping; while a good stalker could at the same
time enter for a merit badge in the path-finding line.
Besides, though the season was late for swimming, several fellows who
knew just what their best accomplishment might be, had qualified to
enter this class.
On the whole the meeting had been a most interesting one. Every scout
was burning with enthusiasm, and many were the resolutions that Stanhope
must have what Bobolink called a "show-in," with regard to that coveted
banner, which was to fall to the leading patrol of the county.
They were now almost ready to "break camp" for the evening, and before
doing so indulged in a little general talk. Many had ideas which they
wished to advance, in order to discover what the attitude of their
comrades might be.
"Mr. Chairman," said Wallace Carberry, when he found a little lull in the
buzz of conversation, "I have a proposition I'd like to put before the
meeting before we disband."
"Hear! hear!" shouted several of the boys, notably those who had been
seen in close confab with Wallace, and hence probably in touch with his
scheme.
"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 scout
leader, who of course had to take the "initial sack," as Bobolink, still
baseball wild, put it. Jack, as his assistant in control, came as Number
Two; Bobolink next; Bluff captured Four as his distinguishing feature;
Nuthin' being Five, and the twins the next pair, for it would never do to
separate William and Wallace, while Tom Betts was Eighth and last.
"If the gentlemen present will give me the floor, with the privilege of
three minutes in which to explain what I have in mind, I will be glad to
comply."
Wallace was very precise in his way of putting things. This did not
happen only when in school, or as he stood up to address a meeting of
his chums. He could not unbend his dignity even under the most trivial
conditions.
William was just the reverse; and so full of frolic and fun that the boys
always declared the pair to be unequally matched, since in disposition
they were exact opposites.
And yet under it all there was the same abiding affection that generally
may 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 one
was deceived, for they knew only too well how Bobolink could throw his
voice pretty much where he pleased.
"Silence!"
When Paul, who in the absence of a regular scout master, occupied the
chair, uttered this one word every sound ceased; and after that there was
no excuse for Wallace to hesitate longer.
"Some of us have been talking it over, Mr. Chairman, and we would
respectfully request that you name an early date when we can go out into
the woods for several tests of skill. There is much keen rivalry among a
number of us already, which can only be settled by an open trial. First
of all there is the interesting water-boiling test of woodmanship. We
want to know who is the leading light in that class so we may push him
forward to enter the general competition with other Boy Scout troops. Am
I understood, Mr. Chairman?"
"I think you have made your meaning plain, and the one particular
competition 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 come
off? Unfortunately school begins shortly now, and outside of Saturdays
and holidays the several Fox patrols may not have much chance to practice
before the grand trial comes off. Make it as early as possible, Mr.
Chairman."
"How would to-morrow do?" asked Paul, only too anxious himself to
ascertain how the boys would "toe the mark."
Wallace looked at his backers, and there were vigorous nods in answer to
the question seen upon his face.
"It seems to be the unanimous consensus of opinion, Mr. Chairman, that
to-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 out
a 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 up
so 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 for
respectable 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 will
be given one or more bad marks that he must carry as a load in the
competition. 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 was
a constant buzz that sounded like a big hive of bees.
Jack found himself in contact with Paul while this was going on. He had
been doing his duty to the best of his ability as he understood it; and
while the meeting was in progress had proven conclusively that he had a
thorough knowledge of the many things a full fledged scout must know.
Jack meant to graduate from the tenderfoot class in the shortest possible
space of time. Any scout may do this by being diligent in the pursuit of
various lines of woodcraft.
"Well," said Jack, as he pushed alongside his chum, "this has been a
dandy meeting, all right. And there are four new fellows knocking at the
door; with perhaps more to follow, when Stanhope learns what great times
we have."
"Yes, and I guess we'll need new recruits right along. You know that some
of the boys will fall by the wayside soon after the novelty has worn
off," remarked wise Paul, who delighted in studying human nature as he
saw it around him.
"Listen! fellows! The fire alarm!" shouted Joe Clausin, just at that
instant.
Every voice was hushed.
Clear upon the night air rang out the sound of a tocsin--the stroke of a
hammer upon a steel rim from a locomotive wheel, and which was hung aloft
in the only firehouse in Stanhope.
It was a thrilling sound at any time, and especially to a company of
boys newly enlisted in the great cause of humanity--of lending a hand
to neighbors who might be in trouble. So after several more clear,
resounding strokes had pealed forth, calling the volunteer department
out to fight the fire demon, one scout started wildly for the double
doors of the smithy.
He was immediately followed by others, and in almost the twinkling of an
eye the Carberry blacksmith shop was emptied of its late noisy crowd.