r as an honored guest at his father's
table; for surely the wearer of a uniform must be entitled to unusual
privileges.

Of course the word had gone around for a meeting of the Stanhope No. 1.
But it was not to be held at the Shipley barn--oh! no, those boys had
had "quite a sufficiency," as Bobolink said, of their former quarters;
and Bluff admitted that his father would not dare use the building again
that year for his tobacco crop.

Jason Carberry, father of the twins, had asked as a favor that they make
use of his big smithy; and since the night air was cool, Paul had
accepted this generous proposition of the blacksmith on the spot.

So that was where they came together, a uniformed organization, at last.

CHAPTER XIII

"FIRE!"

"Man the bellows, somebody."

"Yes, stir up the fire in that forge, William. It's the coldest September
night on record, and that's a fact!" exclaimed Bobolink, as he pushed
the lively member of the Carberry team toward the smouldering fire left
by the blacksmith when he gave over his capacious smithy to the Boy
Scouts for their meeting.

"M-m-my dad s-s-says he once lost his t-t-t-tobacco c-crop in
S-s-september!" observed Bluff, shaking his head as he pushed toward
the fire.

The boys had had a fine meeting.

Besides the twenty-two in their new uniforms, four new recruits had been
present, to drink in with eager ears all that passed, and sigh for the
day to come when they too might shine forth in such resplendant suits.

Already was there much rivalry shown in the many competitions which the
young scout leaders had instituted. There was a class on aviation,
another that had taken up the mysteries of camping with all its
fascinating details; a third chose photography as the most entrancing
subject, and exhibited many pictures that were to be entered in the great
contest of the county for the banner.

Then several boys had doubled, for surely the knowledge of cookery went
hand in hand with that of camping; while a good stalker could at the same
time enter for a merit badge in the path-finding line.

Besides, though the season was late for swimming, several fellows who
knew just what their best accomplishment might be, had qualified to
enter this class.

On the whole the meeting had been a most interesting one. Every scout
was burning with enthusiasm, and many were the resolutions that Stanhope
must have what Bobolink called a "show-in," with regard to that coveted