home."

"Well, then," declared Jack, positively, "they mustn't have a chance to
get you, if we can help it. But here we are close to the camp. Do you
mean to tell them now?"

"It might be just as well," answered the leader, seriously; "every
fellow would be put on his mettle then, knowing what was hanging over
his head. And the sentries will hardly dare go to sleep on post. I know
they realize the nature of such an offense; but many of these fellows
are only tenderfeet when it comes to actual service; and what would you
expect of boys anyway?"

Jud was the first to see that something was wrong. As he jumped up and
hurried over to confer, others took the alarm. Joking ceased, and a
look of real concern might be noticed upon many a face that, but a brief
time before, was wreathed in broad smiles.

Then Paul explained. The moment he mentioned the name of Ted Slavin
angry looks were exchanged between numbers of the scouts. They knew only
too well, whenever that bully was around, there was apt to be trouble.

"They're after our good grub, that's what!" suggested one, immediately.

"But they don't get it, if we know it," declared another, positively.

"We're for peace first, last and all the time, even if we have to fight
for it," observed William, showing his white teeth with one of his
famous grins.

"That's the ticket. We seek no quarrel with anybody; but we're like Paul
Jones' flag of the Revolution, with a rattlesnake coiled, and the motto,
'don't tread on me!' Isn't that it, fellows?" exclaimed Wallace
Carberry.

"Leave it to Paul here; he knows what to do," ventured Jack.

"Sure," called out Bobolink, lustily; "whatever Paul says goes with us.
Think up a good one, please, Paul, and teach those pirates a lesson
they'll remember. They've been wanting a good licking this long time
back."

"After what we did to them only last night?" demanded Jack. "If your
left leg was sore this morning, what d'ye think the other fellow's felt
like?"

"Thirty cents, I reckon," replied William, promptly.

Paul soon had his plan of campaign practically arranged. As it was
plainly the intention of the marauders to steal a portion or all of
their supplies, these were taken from the wagon and stored in the
duplicate mess tent. As this happened to be in the middle of the camp
the chances of any hostile force being able to reach it without
attracting attention from those on guard seemed too remote to cause
anxiety.

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