ve no fear concerning his ability to fill the role. He
had proven equal to the task before now; and there were not a few,
particularly among those acknowledging the magical Red Fox as their
totem, who secretly cherished a belief that Paul knew more about the
secrets of Nature than any _two_ mature scout masters.

Every chance that offered the scouts were abroad, as busy as bees in the
honey season; only instead of laying up sweets these energetic chaps
sought new information. They followed the trails of fox, 'coon and
rabbit; they watched the habits of the noisy crows holding a caucus in
the woods; they kept company with the red squirrel and the frolicsome
chipmunk as they stored away the chestnuts and juicy hickories for their
winter's supply of food.

And on every occasion they labored to make themselves perfect in those
branches of wood lore, and the knowledge of useful things, which they
expected would play a prominent part in the approaching competition.

Just as Paul and Wallace had predicted, it was found that nearly every
fellow had a love for Nature and her wonderful secrets somewhere in his
system; even though with a few this breath had to be fanned vigorously in
order to keep it alive.

Of course they were annoyed again and again by Ted Slavin and his envious
followers; for the bully of the town had drifted back to his old ways, as
might have been expected.

When peaceful tactics failed to stop these malicious tricks, the scout
master personally appealed to the authorities, and a warning was issued
that, for a time at least, dismayed the disturbers of the meetings. But
when they could do so in secret, they never lost an opportunity to play
some sly trick.

Another thing that had been anticipated came to pass. This was the utter
failure of Ward's cronies to maintain any interest in the duties of
scouts. Those twelve cardinal virtues that must at all times be held up
before the fellow who expects to become and remain a Boy Scout in good
standing, failed to appeal to these rough and ready chaps. It would
indeed require a revolution in boy nature to make Ted Slavin, or his
crony, Scissors, trustworthy, loyal, helpful to others, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient to his superior officers, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean and reverent!

Just a few days before Thanksgiving the scout master came to Paul with
the distressing news that he had received an imperative summons from his
firm to go out on the road; s