alf an hour then!" called his chum.

"About that," replied Paul. "I'll have these little medicine cases
finished by then. Mother has been helping me with them. She used to
belong to the Red Cross Society at one time; and besides, a doctor's
wife has need of knowing about stuff that's good for stomach-aches,
colds, snake bites and such things."

That half hour seemed next door to an eternity to the impatient Jack.
Every time he allowed himself to think of the vandals throwing all their
carefully gathered stores around, and perhaps cutting great holes in
those lovely khaki-colored tents, warranted waterproof by the maker,
Jack nearly "threw a fit," as he expressed it, in his boyish way.

Finally there was a ring at the door, and the young scout flew to let
his chum in.

"Oh! I hope you haven't overdone it, Paul, and waited too long," he
said, as he snatched up his cap, and prepared to hurry out of the door.

"Why," replied Paul coolly, "it was hardly a half hour; and I told the
boys to meet us down at the campus of the high school about eight.
There, you can hear the clock striking now. You're nervous, that's all,
Jack."

"I reckon I am, for it seemed to me you were hours coming. I hope they
don't try any of their games before we get on deck," observed the
anxious scout.

"Not much danger of that, because, you see it's too early in the night.
When fellows are up to any mean dodge they like to wait till all honest
people are abed. The thief shuns a light, you know; and even Ted Slavin
hunts up a dark place when he tries to play one of his tricks."

Paul spoke as though he had made a study of the town bully, and knew his
weak points, which was the actual truth.

"Why can't they let us alone?" grunted Jack, falling into step with his
comrade, as they walked down the street. "We never think of bothering
them; it's always the other way. They just like to act ugly about
things; and it's worse since we won that banner for our troop. But you
know they're intending to hike out up in the same quarter we've
selected? That was done with a purpose too, Paul, mark me!"

"I'm afraid so," returned his comrade, slowly; "and just as like as not
they expect to give us trouble while we're in camp. Well," and his voice
took on a vein of determination that told how he was aroused at the
thought of what might happen; "there must be a limit to even the
forbearance of a scout, you know; and if they push us too far, we will
have to tea