mself
about to start down for supper.

"H'lo, Mr. Carroll," said Tom; "alone in your glory?"

"The boys have gone down," said Mr. Carroll. "They'll be sorry to have
missed a visit from Tom Slade."

"Comfortable?" Tom asked.

"Couldn't be more so, thank you. We can almost see home from up here,
though the boys prefer not to look in that direction."

Tom glanced about. "Sometimes new troops are kind of backward to ask for
things," he said. "We're not mind readers, you know. So sing out if
there's anything you want."

"Thank you."

"Kid comfortable?"

"Yes, he's giving his attention to pie and awards."

"Hm," said Tom, seating himself on a stump. "Pie's all right, but you
want to have these fellows go easy on awards. The boys here in camp are
a bunch of jolliers. Of course, you know the handbook----"

"Oh, yes."

"And you know Tyson doesn't stand to win any medal for anything he did
last night. Strictly speaking, he saved your lives, I suppose, but it
isn't exactly a case for an award."

"Oh, mercy, no."

"I'm glad you see it that way, Mr. Carroll. Because sometimes scouts get
to enjoying themselves so much here, that they forget what's in the
handbook. These things go by rules, you know. I like Gilbert and I
wouldn't want him to get any crazy notions from what these old timers
say. There's some talk among the boys----"

"I think the little fellow's responsible for that," Mr. Carroll
laughed. "Gilbert is level-headed and sensible."

"You bet," said Tom. "Well, then, it's all right, and there won't be any
broken hearts. I've seen more broken hearts here at camp than broken
heads.... You're a new troop, aren't you?" he queried.

"Oh, yes, we haven't got our eyes open yet."

"Goliath seems to have his mouth open for business."

"Yes," Mr. Carroll laughed. "Shall we stroll down to supper?"

"I've got one more call to make if you'll excuse me," said Tom.

"Come up again, won't you?"

"Oh, yes, I make inspection every day. You'll be sick of the sight of
me."

He was off again, striding down the little hill. He passed among the
tents, around Visitors' Bungalow, and toward the cabins in Good Turn
Grove. Somewhat removed from these (a couple of good turns from them, as
Roy Blakeley said) was the cabin of Mr. Denny's troop.

The boys were getting ready to go down and they greeted Tom cheerily.

"Where's Hervey?" he asked.

He had not seen Hervey since late the previous night, just after
returning fr