pped, and a
child's life saved over in Aldine or Manchester," declared Wallace, with
a proud glance toward Paul.

"Or any account of the rival troops attending a fire in a body, and
working to beat the band until their new uniforms were next to ruined,"
spoke up Nuthin'.

"I guess the boys of Manchester must feel pretty small when they listen
to the story of how a Red Fox scout walked right into a burning building,
and snatched up a baby that had been forgotten; hey, how about that,
fellers?" shouted William, pointing his finger at Jack.

"We're hitting up the pace. We're going strong, and bound to make things
hustle right up to Thanksgiving Day! Every fellow do his level best to
bring that banner home to Stanhope!" cried Jud Elderkin.

"We can do it!" yelled half a dozen in chorus.

"Why, its easy money, boys. Just organized, and not a second class scout
in the troop yet, but look at what we've done. Give us a little time,
and we're going to make the Beavers and Bald Eagles, and all the rest
of 'em, sit up and take notice!" avowed Nuthin'.

"And wait until you hear the inspiring sound of my bugle, which I expect
to have at the next meeting," said Bobolink, proudly.

"Huh! that won't h-h-hold a c-c-candle to my d-d-drum!" declared Bluff,
waving his arms wildly, as though he could already imagine the great fun
in store when that instrument came to hand.

And so the meeting broke up, with the scouts disbanding for the day. Some
lingered to try once more the various stunts that interested them most.
It seemed as if every fellow's heart might be wrapped up in the desire to
win that coveted trophy, and bring the banner to his home town.

Strange to say there had not been a single mention of the other Stanhope
organization. None of them believed that Ted and Ward would be able to
make the least show in the competition. They knew the habits of these
fellows only too well. As a rule, they never won, save through trickery;
and in the eyes of the committee appointed by the donor of the banner,
anything that smacked of double dealing would be rigidly barred from the
game.

Paul and Jack, as usual, walked home together, arm in arm.

As the recognized leaders in the movement that had so lately struck the
boys of Stanhope, they must always have much to talk over.

Besides that, they had their own personal affairs to discuss.

"Well," said Jack, finally, when they found that they were alone, the
nearest comrades being f