ut Troop Captain. When
the four of them were together, she and Dorothy McClain, Lance and
Don, Lance often accused her of talking for Don.

At this instant, however, Sheila Mason extended her hand toward Donald
with a friendly gesture.

"We have been anxious for the opportunity to explain to you and Lance
that in asking the Boy Scouts not to pay visits to our camp this
summer, we did not intend to include you. We have talked of this to
your sister, but Dorothy has had no opportunity, she tells me, to
speak of it to you. We realize you could not have taken part in the
rude behavior of the other boys the night following our making camp
here at the border of the forest."

Sheila Mason, the Troop Captain of the Girl Scouts of the Eagle's
Wing, was only about ten years older than the youngest member of her
Troop.

In the early morning sunlight she looked charming in her brown khaki
skirt and white blouse. Her long, light hair was braided close about
her small head, her fair skin tanned by the outdoor life of the past
few weeks, and color brighter than at any time in her life.

It was now midsummer, with days of unusual heat and nights of
enchanting coolness.

There was no trace of severity in the Troop Captain's manner or
appearance, but Donald McClain flushed uncomfortably and closed his
lips into the obstinate lines Tory so well recognized.

She wished Dorothy for a moment would be less faithful to her task of
preparing breakfast. Mingling with the other outdoor fragrances, the
odor of the coffee gave Tory a sensation of momentary faintness from
sheer hunger.

Don had squared his shoulders. Not sixteen, he was nearly six feet in
height and splendidly built.

"You are mistaken, Miss Mason. I was with the other Boy Scouts the
night we came over to your camp. We meant to frighten you a little and
to find out a few of the mistakes you were pretty sure to make on your
first camping venture, nothing worse! We had no idea you'd take a
little teasing so seriously. Some of us may not have behaved as well
as we should, but nothing for the girls to have made a tragedy over."

Donald was not intending to offend the Girl Scout Captain more deeply,
but tact was not his strong point.

Why did Lance fail to come to his brother's rescue? Tory flashed an
indignant glance at him. He possessed, when he wished, the gift of
expression his brother lacked. Lance's occasional moods of silence
were due either to disappointment or ang