the
moment the moth catcher was put on the ground men and women alike began
to inspect the contrivance closely. It was fully twenty minutes before
the boys could connect the wires to the searchlight and the motor. Then
a scout was sent post haste back to headquarters to throw the switch and
let the current into the new line.

When this was done Nipper, who was in charge on this occasion, took his
place beside the contrivance. Scouts with staffs were detailed to keep
the small crowd back and away from the front of the machine.

"Are you all ready, Nipper?" said Bruce.

"Sure," said Nipper. Then, "say, is Mr. Ford here? I wish he was; I'd
like to have him see this. Oh, Bruce, if it will only work! I'm getting
as nervous as a cat." He glanced toward the automobile where the four
judges sat waiting.

"Tut, tut, don't get fussed," said Bruce, trying hard to conceal his own
suppressed excitement.

"All right, here goes," said Nipper as he turned the lamp switch, and a
moment later the motor switch.

Instantly a long arm of light reached out across the valley and focused
on the heavy growth of elm trees on the opposite hill side. The motor
began to hum and the fan to buzz loudly. Every one was attention. Every
eye was riveted in the long shaft of light that stretched forth into the
night. A minute they waited, two minutes, five minutes! Nothing
happened!

"Oh--this suspense is terrible," groaned Nipper.

"You're right, it is," whispered Bruce.

Every scout felt the same way. Was it a failure? Was their idea only
visionary, alter all? Oh, why didn't something happen to relieve the
tension. Why didn't--

"Look! There's a moth," said some one.

"Where?" asked half a dozen breathlessly.

"Out there! Look! Can't you see him?" said others.

Sure enough, coming down the long pathway of light was a solitary moth
winging its fitful way toward the lamp. Now it was in the light and now
it dodged out into the darkness. But always it returned a few feet
nearer to the waiting scouts. It seemed irresistibly drawn toward the
auto lamp.

"Come on, come a little closer and we'll have you," whispered Nipper
excitedly.

On it came toward the upturned mouth of the vacuum. It was ten feet
away, then eight, seven, six. Now it felt the air disturbance, for it
began to flutter harder. Then--_zipp_!

It was caught in the air current and in a twinkle disappeared down the
yawning month of the sucker.

A