"

"I know she will, if George can only succeed in convincing her that
we're friends, not enemies."

"Then we're waiting till they arrive?" asked Red.

"I'm going to give the signal for retiring as soon as the boys get their
breath back," remarked the scout master.

"Well, they might be in better places, because the sun feels scorching
to me right now," grumbled Red.

"Then pick out your new roost, and be ready to migrate as soon as you
hear the whistle. Pass the word along, too, Red."

Presently it was understood that when the scout master gave the signal
every fellow was expected to crawl or dart away, seeking through one way
or another to get out of the fire zone.

"I hope George has succeeded in explaining everything to the woman by
now," remarked Red.

"I'm sure he has, and that the whole of them are even now on the way
here to wind up this business," Elmer declared most confidently.

When ten minutes had gone by, and he felt sure that all of the scouts
knew what they were expected to do, Elmer took out his whistle.

Then the shrill notes sounded, cutting the air as though charged with
irresistible force.

Immediately everybody got busy. Khaki-clad figures could be seen darting
this way and that, but none of them made any attempt to advance. This
sort of move might be expected to anger the Italians, without doing any
good, and the scouts had been warned against it.

There came no second discharge of firearms, and from this fact it seemed
evident that the unseen enemy understood that there was nothing hostile
connected with this action on the part of the scouts.

Again did Red and Elmer find themselves good neighbors as they arrived
at a pile of rocks, behind which they sought shelter.

"All safe?" asked the former.

"Yes, as far as I know," came the answer. "Landy fell all over himself,
and started to roll downhill, but one of the other fellows pulled him
up. He was limping to beat the band, but I hope it's nothing serious."

"No danger," chuckled Red. "Landy is too well padded to suffer much from
a fall. Now do we just wait here till the others fetch the lady?"

"That's a part of the contract," said Elmer; "so just make yourself as
comfy as you can."

"And watch the big rock there, eh, Elmer?"

"Oh, if you want. We would feel pretty cheap if they took a sly sneak,
and left us in the lurch."

Elmer settled down as though he thought there was no use borrowing
trouble. And seeing their leader