Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading TeamTHE BOY SCOUTS PATROLBY RALPH VICTORILLUSTRATED BYRUDOLF MENCLCHAPTERI A MONKEY TRICKII FINDING MONEYIII TWO AND TWOIV UP THE RIVERV OUT OF THE RIVERVI THE ENEMY MAKES A RAIDVII THE COLONELVIII TALKING IT OVERIX THE PURSUITX LOOKING FOR A CLUEXI FORMING THE PATROLXII ORGANIZEDXIII A CHALLENGEXIV A DEFIANCEXV PEPPER TAKES A MESSAGEXVI WHERE WAS PEPPERXVII THE MESSAGEXVIII IN THE JUDGES OFFICEXIX A NARROW ESCAPEXX A NIGHT ALARMXXI A SURPRISEXXII THE RACEXXIII CONCLUSIONTHE BOY SCOUTS PATROLCHAPTER IA MONKEY TRICKI think began a tall slenderlybuilt lad of sixteen speakingin a somewhat indolent way then suddenly he paused to look downthrough the trees to where the river gleamed belowWhats on your mind now Rand his companion queried a boy ofabout the same age nearly as tall but more stoutly built and aslight in complexion as the other was dark The two were standing atthe top of the road that wound down the side of the mountain fromthe town of Creston which was perched like the nest of some greatbird in a hollow of the PalisadesI think repeated the first speaker pausing againThats right Randolph approved his companion briskly alwaysthink twice before you speak onceI always do Donald Graeme retorted Rand but what I was reallygoing to say when you interrupted me with your irrelevant remarkwasHurrah broke in Donald waving his cap in answer to the hail ofanother boy who was just then seen hurrying down the road towardthem Here comes Pepper in a rush as usualIt was just after dawn of a June morning that the boys wereassembling It was still dark and gloomy for it had rained duringthe night and the storm had not yet passed but the boys havingplanned a fishing trip for this morning were not to be deterred bythe fear of a wet jacketHello fellows panted the newcomer who was smaller and slighterthan either of the others but who made up in activity and energywhat he lacked in size His hair was a glowing red and with itwent a temper so quick that the nickname Pepper that some chumhad given him was most appropriate It is doubtful if any of hiscomrades really knew his Christian name Certainly he was alwaysPepper to every one even at home although he was christenedPhilipI say I was afraid youd be gone when I got hereWell we would have been drawled Randolph only we knew youdbe late and we took our timeNow that isnt fair Rand laughed the other you know Im notalways lateWell maybe not ALWAYS conceded Rand but almost always Whatwas the matter this morningbreakfast lateNow you know I didnt wait for breakfast protested Pepperadding rather reluctantly though I did stop for a bite But evenif I am late Im not last Jack isnt here yet and he left homefirstOh hes out on the trail somewhere I suppose surmised DonaldHes always chasing for news Hell be coming along presentlywith a whole budget I believe he thinks the paper couldnt go onif it werent for himThat reminds me as Dick Wilson says interrupted Rand takinga pamphlet from his pocket and holding it out to his companionsspeaking of trails what do you think of thatWhat is it asked Pepper eying it suspiciously Looks as ifthe cat had been walking on it goodness I hope not I thoughtyou were always hungry but if you are only beginning I foresee afamine ahead of us And to think of all the good food that is wastedon you Pepper went on Donald reflectively Why to look at youany one might think that you never had had enough to eatThat shows how deceiving looks are replied Pepper Though Inever did have enough he added plaintivelyOf course not returned Donald there isnt as much as thatanywhereAs much what asked RandFood grub provisions victuals replied Donald setting offalong the road at a pace that put a stop to any more talkThey had gone perhaps about halfway down the hill toward theboathouse when a big bay horse drawing a light wagon in which werethree boys came quickly around a turn in the road It bore downon them so suddenly that only by a rapid scramble up the bank bythe side of the road did Rand and Donald save themselves from beingbowled overThe newcomers would have driven on with a jeering laugh only thatPepper angry at what obedience neatness and order are Scoutvirtues Endurance selfreliance selfcontrol and an effort tohelp some one else are Scout objectivesAh cut it out protested Pepper As Alphonse says that makesme the ennui It sounds like a boarding school prospectus Tellas what its aboutWell then replied Rand in words adapted to your comprehensionit is about hunting scouting camping tracking and Colonel Snowis interested in the organization He says that it is fineSpeaking of tracking interjected Donald in my opinion it wereno bad plan to be making tracks toward the boathouse if we are goingto get anywhere the day It is getting bright in the east and itlooks like a clear day after all And I may also take occasionto remark that I havent had my breakfast yet and this Boy Scoutbusiness doesnt sound inviting on an empty stomach We can discussit with more comfort when we have had a biteThats the talk approved Pepper That suits me down to theground Im beginning to get hungry myselfBeginning exclaimed Donald MyThat isnt a bad guess laughed Rand It is supposed to representthe track of a bearWhat are you going to do Rand questioned Donald hunt bearsNot at present answered Rand though I should like to wellenough This is a booklet about the Boy ScoutsThe Boy Scouts demanded Pepper whats themShades of Lindley Murray exclaimed Rand do I hear arightWhats them And you a graduate of number one Really Pepper BlakeI dont believe we can let you in on this What do you think aboutit DonI have my doubts about it replied Donald gravelyBut what is it persisted Pepper It sounds good to meThat is better drawled Rand It not only sounds good but itis