e as
possible.

"How are we to know that this Morton is qualified to give instruction?"
he asked, looking round at the boys.

"The gentleman is out of order. He will please address his remarks to
the Chair, and not to the audience," said the presiding officer.

"I beg pardon, Mr. Chairman," said John mockingly. "I forgot how
tenacious some people are of their brief authority."

"Order! order!" called half a dozen voices.

"The gentleman will come to order," said the chairman firmly, "and make
way for others unless he can treat the Chair with proper respect."

"Mr. Chairman," said Frank, rising, "I will mention, for the general
information, that Mr. Morton has acted as an officer of militia, and
that I consider his offer a kind one, since it will take up considerable
of his time and put him to some trouble."

"I move that Mr. Morton's offer be accepted, with thanks," said Henry
Tufts.

The motion was seconded by Tom Wheeler, and carried unanimously, with
the exception of one vote. John Haynes sat sullenly in his seat and took
no part in it.

"Who shall belong to the company?" asked the chairman. "Shall a fixed
age be required?"

"I move that the age be fixed at eleven," said Robert Ingalls.

This was objected to as too young, and twelve was finally fixed upon.

John Haynes moved not to admit any one who did not attend the academy.
Of course, this would exclude Frank, and his motion was not seconded.

It was finally decided to admit any above the age of twelve who desired
it, but the boys reserved to themselves the right of rejecting any who
should conduct himself in a manner to bring disgrace upon them.

"Mr. Chairman," said Frank, "in order to get under way as soon as
possible, I have written down an agreement to which those who wish to
join our proposed company can sign their names. If anybody can think of
anything better, I shall be glad to have it adopted instead of this."

He handed a sheet of paper to the chairman, who read from it the
following form of agreement: "We, the subscribers, agree to form a boys'
volunteer company, and to conform to the regulations which may hereafter
be made for its government."

"If there is no objection, we will adopt this form, and subscribe our
names," said the chairman.

The motion for adoption being carried, the boys came up one by one and
signed their names.

John Haynes would have held back, but for the thought that he might be
elected an officer of the ne