ange. For a rumor had gone through the troop that the reason Mr.
Wall had announced no contest for this month was because he was going to
uncover a surprise. Don could not help feeling that the Wolves would
stand very little chance. Tim, at odds with his patrol leader, would
surely lack the zest and the spirit necessary to cope with unexpected
orders.

Over Friday night's meeting hung the promise of something to happen.
Roll-call and inspection brought to light no derelicts. The score board
read:

PATROL POINTS

Eagle 170 1/2
Fox 177 1/2
Wolf 175 1/2

The ranks broke. Usually there was play for a few minutes. Mr. Wall
rapped for order at once.

"Next week," he said, "the contest for the Scoutmaster's Cup comes to an
end. The final ordeal will start Friday. It will be a two-day test of
your mettle. It will take place at Lonesome Woods. A treasure has been
hidden there, and blazed trails will lead to the hiding place."

The room was still--startlingly still.

"This time," Mr. Wall went on, "we will have a real test of scouting. For
that reason, I have decided to award ten points to the winning patrol.
There will be no second or third points."

The troop stirred. Ten points! That gave every patrol a chance. Even the
Eagles, if they won, would be tied with the Foxes for winning honors.

"Each patrol leader will select a scout to accompany him into the woods.
They will enter Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Each patrol will start
from a different part of the woods. They will find trees blazed with
whitewash. They will follow this blaze. When night comes they will camp."

"Each two scouts by themselves?" asked a voice breathlessly.

"By themselves," the Scoutmaster answered, "unless they desire to risk
capture."

The patrols murmured softly. Gosh! This was a real stunt.

"Each of the three trails leads toward the treasure; it has been hidden.
When a patrol comes to a blaze mark that has a circle around it, they
will know that that is the last blaze, and that the treasure is near. Two
things they must then do--search for the treasure, and avoid capture by
another patrol. Any patrol surprised by another patrol will be considered
captured and out of the contest."

"But suppose a patrol finds the treasure, what then?" called another
voice.

"Then that patrol must make its way safely from the woods and avoid
capture. If it is captured, it surrenders the treasure to the captors."

"Why," cried D