ght on them
just as soon as you're ready," suddenly remarked Jack. "That will give
them something else to think about."

"Oh, say, Jack, cut it out, won't you?" pleaded Sam. "I don't like the
kids any better than you do, but one of them saved my life to-day, and
I'm not going into anything that will harm them."

"Hear him rave!" sneered Jack. "Why last night, when we talked it
over, you thought it would be a prime joke. It isn't as if it would
hurt them. It'll just give them something to study up, that's all.
They think they're such fine trailers and tracers that it would be a
shame not to give them a chance to show what they can do."

"That's right, Sam," cut in Bill; "it's more of a joke than anything
else."

"Well," agreed Sam weakly, "if you put it in that way, I suppose it's
all right; but I tell you I don't like it."

"Why, you'll have the laugh of your young life after we've pulled the
stunt off," remarked Bill. "When will we do it, Jack?"

"Not to-night, that's certain," responded the other. "I've had enough
excitement for one day."

"What's the matter with to-morrow night, then?"

"I'm agreeable. How about you, Sam?"

"I wish you fellows would leave me out of it," rejoined the bully's
timid chum.

"Like they left you out of their patrol, eh?" sneered Bill, knowing
that he was touching the other on a tender spot.

"All right, to-morrow night suits me," snapped Sam, flushing angrily at
Bill's remark--as that worthy had intended he should. "Here's my house.
We'll meet at Bill's 'boudoir."'

"Right you are," chuckled Jack. "Oh, say, it's going to be the joke of
the century!"

CHAPTER IV

SAM IN DIRE STRAITS

"Kree-ee-ee!"

Merritt paused the next morning in front of Tubby's home, and gave the
"call" of the Eagle Patrol with a not uncreditable resemblance to the
scream of a real eagle.

The cry was instantly echoed--though in a rather thicker way--from
inside the house, and in a minute Tubby, who knew that some one of the
patrol must have uttered the call, appeared at his door, munching a
large slice of bread and jam, although it was not more than an hour
since breakfast.

"Say, you, did you ever hear an eagle scream with his mouth full of
bread and jam?" demanded Merritt, as the stout youth appeared.

"Eagles don't eat bread and jam," rejoined Tubby, defending his
position. "Have some?"

"Having had breakfast not more than an hour ago, I'm not hungry yet,
thank you," po