heless. The choir could not come, and
so there would be no singing. Several of the members were away, so
Parson Dan had told her, and the others would not come without them.
The people will think it so strange, she said to herself, and the
scouts will feel badly. Whoever heard of a concert without singing and
music of some kind.

Ere long the crowd began to gather about the large platform which
Captain Josh and the scouts had built in front of their club-room.
Then it was that the performance began. First came a staff-drill by
all the boys. They did it well, and were called upon to repeat it.
This was followed by signalling. The scouts were lined up, each
holding two small flags in his hands. The captain in a deep voice
called out the letters from A to Z, and not one boy made a mistake. He
next picked out letters at random, and closed by an exhibition of
sending and receiving a short message. One boy stood about fifty yards
away, and sent words which were received by another at Headquarters.
This won the hearty approval of the spectators, which rejoiced the
hearts of the scouts. After this came military drill, and here the
captain was in his element. One would have thought that he was on
board of the _Roaring Bess_, giving orders to his crew. He paced up
and down, shouting out in a tremendous voice, "Right--turn!"
"Form--fours!" "Quick--march!" "Mark--time!" and so on. It was really
excellent the way the boys rose to the occasion, showing to all what
training and discipline could accomplish.

They had barely finished their marching ere Rod darted suddenly away
toward the front of the Anchorage, and as Whyn followed him with her
eyes she saw that he was hurrying to meet a large auto which had just
arrived. Several people were in the car, and soon they were
accompanying Rod to Headquarters, which they entered.

The watching girl was puzzled over this, and wondered who they could
be. They must be people Rod knew, and was expecting, she reasoned.
But why did they go into the club-house instead of staying outside?

Presently she saw Rod reappear and go straight to Parson Dan, who was
sitting near a large willow tree. A short whispered conversation
ensued, and then the clergyman followed the boy into the building. It
seemed a long time to Whyn before the former came out again, and when
he did, he at once mounted the platform, and motioned the people to be
quiet. This latter was hardly necessary, as all o