When it was finished, the
scouts waited breathlessly. For the first time Don noticed a small
blackboard nailed against the wall:

PATROL POINTS

Eagle
Fox
Wolf

"The Eagle patrol," Mr. Wall said, "has one scout absent and two scouts
untidy--thirteen points."

The Scout Scribe wrote the points upon the board.

"The Fox patrol, all scouts present and two scouts-untidy--fourteen
points. The Wolf patrol a perfect score--sixteen points."

Silence in the patrols.

"Break ranks," the Scoutmaster ordered.

Instantly there was a babel of excited talk. Scouts who had cost their
patrols points through untidiness were upbraided by their comrades. Andy
caught Don's arm.

"We're off in the lead," he chuckled.

"It's staying in the lead that counts," said Don.

The shrill of Mr. Wall's whistle brought the scouts to attention again.

"Tonight we take up the theory of building a bridge with staves and
cords," the Scoutmaster said. "The Fox patrol was to have provided two
logs."

The Fox patrol hustled outdoors and returned in a moment with their
burden.

The scouts set to work to build a bridge from one log to the other. Mr.
Wall walked about, watching but offering no advice. After an hour the
bridge was completed.

"Scouts Lally and Davidson," said Mr. Wall, "see if it will hold you."

Tim and Alex stepped out on the structure. It held. A cheer started and
died. For the bridge was sagging. Abruptly it gave.

"Ten minutes for examination to see where the fault lies." The
Scoutmaster took out his watch. "Next meeting we'll try again."

Ten minutes later the lashings were untied, the staves were back in their
wall racks, and the logs were outdoors. Each scout was sure he knew just
what was wrong with that bridge and no two scouts agreed.

"Squat!" came the next order.

There was a rush for camp stools piled in a corner. Still grouped by
patrols, the scouts faced Mr. Wall.

"The Wolf patrol," he said, "is to select a new leader. So long as Patrol
Leader Morris will not serve under his successor, the Council of Patrol
Leaders feels that he should not vote in this election. The Scout Scribe
will distribute pencils and paper. Each member of the Wolf patrol will
write the name of his candidate. When I call his name, he will deposit
his ballot, folded, in my hat. The patrol leaders will count the
ballots."

Don's throat was dry. When he received his paper and pencil his hand
shook. He wrote "Andy Ford" quickly