do something to help another. Yes, I'm in
the same boat myself, for you see my badge is turned upside-down. How
many are there who would like to wipe out that debt, and clean the slate
for the day?"

Paul held up his hand as he spoke. Immediately every fellow followed
suit, even those who had been fortunate enough to ease their conscience
so early in the day feeling perfectly willing to repeat the obligation.

As I have said before, it is a rule with most scouts to do some little
thing of a helpful nature every day. Sometimes this takes the form of
assisting a poor widow with her firewood, running an errand for a
mother, helping a child across the street where horses act as a source
of danger--there are a thousand ways in which a boy can prove his right
to the name of a true scout, if he only keeps his eyes about him, and
the desire to be useful urges him on. But of course some lads are always
blind, and they never make good scouts.

"Now you see how high up this fine spring is, fellows," Paul went on;
"and then perhaps they don't even know about it, because they are
strangers here. The horses can't get up here any more than old Dobbin
could. You carried two buckets of water down to him, and he thanked you
when he drank it. See the point, fellows?"

"It's great, and we'll do it!" declared several at once.

"Once we put out a fire; and now we can quench a big thirst!" shrilled
William.

"Huh! if you expect to fill up that camel and elephant I see our finish.
Why, my stars! they never could get enough!" lamented Bobolink.

"But do you like the idea, fellows? Every one agreeable say yes!"
persisted Paul.

A thunderous response followed, during which Bluff managed to get in a
few bangs at his drum, and Bobolink tooted his bugle shrilly.

Immediately there were signs of animation about the caravan. Heads of
women performers began to protrude from a couple of dingy-covered
wagons, and every eye was turned up to the rocky hillside where the
flags fluttered in the morning air.

"Come on then, let's get down to the road, boys," remarked Paul,
starting to lead the way.

"Bring on your buckets," said William, gayly, "we're the boys when it
comes to running a line of pails. Hey! you, mister with the big
elephant, don't you want a drink of the coldest spring water on earth?
We've got it up yonder, and it won't cost any of you a cent either."

The man seated on the neck of the lumbering elephant brought the animal
to