to see that you're
a Boy Scout. I mean to be one some day, but I'm only a tenderfoot now! I
haven't had any chance for advancement yet."

"What Patrol?" asked Will.

"Beaver, Chicago!" was the reply.

"That's my patrol!" exclaimed Will in amazement.

"You're the scoutmaster," the boy said, "I've seen you in Chicago."

"Strange I don't remember you!" replied Will.

"Oh, I'm only a tenderfoot," was the answer, "and of course, you don't
know all the new boys!"

"What are you doing here?" asked Will.

"I'm running away!" was the reply. "You see," the boy went on, "I got
tired of living in Chicago, and sleeping in alleys in summer and warm
hallways in winter, so I just made up my mind I'd make a break for life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

"But how did you come to walk up into this country?"

"I started out to get a job herding sheep," was the answer, "and I kept
travelling, and travelling, without getting any job, and so here I am,
hungry, and ready to go back to Chicago on the slightest provocation!"

"What's your name?"

"Chester Winslow."

"Well, Chester," Will laughed, "it won't take me long to get you
something to eat, and then you'd better go to bed. You'll have to double
up with another stranger who came along earlier in the evening, but I
guess you can sleep two in a bed, especially as the bed is made up on
the ground and you can't fall out."

The boy ate a very hearty supper, and five minutes later Will heard him
snoring. When daylight came and the sleepers arose, Katz stumbled out of
his tent with angry exclamations on his lips.

"What's doing here?" he shouted. "Have I come into the home of the Forty
Thieves? When I went to bed last night I had a police badge, and a
rifle, and a revolver, and quite a lot of money! Now I haven't got a
thing except the clothes I've got on! What kind of a game do you call
this? If it's a joke, it's a mighty poor one!"

Will went to the tent Katz had occupied and looked inside. There was no
one there, and he hastened back to the angry man.

"Where's the strange boy who slept with you last night?" he asked.

"Strange boy?" repeated Katz scornfully. "You can't work that game on
me! You boys have taken my property, and you'd better be giving it up!
If you don't there'll be trouble!"

"We're not afraid of any trouble from you!" Tommy said, with an angry
snort. "If you go to accusing us of stealing your stuff, you'll get your
crust caved in!"

Then the