Wolf toffs,' thought Chippy. 'I wish I'd a chance to slug
'im now. I'd soon knock 'is top-'at in the gutter.'

The vengeful Chippy was staring at Dick's glossy silk hat and
irreproachable gloves, when Dick looked up straight into the other
boy's face. At the next moment Chippy was taken utterly aback, for
Dick stepped forward and gave him the full salute. Chippy could
scarcely believe his own eyes when he thus received the honours of a
patrol-leader.

But he tucked his bundle between his legs, for the pavement was dirty,
returned the salute, and proffered his left hand.

'Wot cheer, brother!' murmured Chippy in his husky whisper, for he
could think of no more appropriate salutation.

'Oh, I'm all right,' said Dick. 'How are the Ravens getting on?'

'Peggin' away,' returned Chippy. 'We done most o' the things out o'
them books.'

'Ah!' said Dick. 'Now about that challenge. When would you like to
try a friendly turn against us?'

'Any Sat'day arternoon,' cried Chippy eagerly. 'Yer would meet us,
then? Yer leader ain't agin us now?'

'Well, it isn't the same leader,' replied Dick. 'The leader you saw
has left us. We tried to get him to come back, but he wouldn't come.
I'm the leader now.'

'Good, good!' said Chippy gleefully. 'Wot about nex' Sat'day at three,
up at yer sandpit?'

'Yes, I think I can arrange for that,' returned Dick.

'We'll be there, an' proud to come,' said Chippy, whose face shone
again with pride and satisfaction. 'An' we'll put up the best we know
to gie yer a good practice.'

'We shall get all the practice we want if there are a few more like you
among the Ravens,' laughed Dick.

'A bit of luck,' said Chippy modestly, 'that wor all. Well, I must get
on. I'm in a job now, an' goin' on an errand. An' when yer at work,
there's Law 2 to reckon with--playin' a straight game wi' yer boss.'
So the patrol-leaders gave each other the full salute, and each went
their way, for Dick's sister was now waiting for him.

'Who's your friend, Dick?' asked his sister. 'He looks like a ragged
errand-boy.'

'That's just what he is,' replied Dick; 'but he is also a brother
scout, and so I was doing the civil.'

'Good gracious!' said his sister. 'I didn't know boys like that were
in it.'

'They run in all shapes,' replied Dick, 'as long as they run straight.'

CHAPTER IX

THE WOLVES AND THE RAVENS

On the next Saturday afternoon, accordingly, the Wolf and Raven Patrols
fr