s crowd!" jeered one fellow
who must have had leanings toward the Slavin party; he had been detected
in cheating so often in every game boys played that for months now he
found himself left severely alone by decent fellows, and it was reported
had applied for admission to the patrol Ward and Ted were getting up.

Out of the town, and straight to the spot where the lost boy had last
been seen Paul led his squad. He knew that it would be only a miracle if
the many feet that had trod the ground over would have left any trace of
the child's little shoes; but he still had hopes that the training some
of his scouts possessed would bring more or less success.

The unique sight of all those lanterns on the road had attracted many
people, so that when they arrived at the spot Paul had in mind, fully
thirty followed, a number of them boys who came only to make sport of the
scouts.

"Spread out, fellows," said the scout leader, quietly, "and examine every
foot of ground. If you find a single impression of Willie's little shoe,
give the signal, and I'll come; but hold your places every one."

Immediately the scene became an animated one. Lanterns flashed hither
and thither, swinging close to the ground; while young eyes searched
diligently for a trace.

In less than five minutes the signal sounded, and Paul hurried over to
the one who had given the same. Jack was at his elbow, and between them
they examined the mark, to ascertain in what quarter it pointed.

Then the advance was taken up in that direction.

Again came the thrilling cry that told of a new footprint that had been
found.

This time it was Wallace Carberry who had made the discovery. He talked
so intelligently about it that Paul determined to keep him close by.
Wallace would be a valuable advisor in case he and Jack disagreed at any
time as to what the signs meant.

So they went on for an hour, finding a footprint now and then to
encourage them. These came at more frequent intervals when they got far
enough away to avoid the trampled soil where the crowd had hunted all the
afternoon.

Those who had followed were now missing. They had seen that the scouts
meant business, and did not care to wander so far from town. Hence, Paul
presently found that he and his patrol had the woods almost to
themselves.

Several times though he had seen other lanterns wandering around, and
guessed that these were carried by some of the Slavin crowd, also
diligently combing th