sturdy friend, and that pleased him.

CHAPTER III

WHAT THE SPY SAW

The boys who had fought the fire and saved the farm were so tired the
next day that most of them, including Jack Danby and Pete Stubbs, were
glad to spend the whole day in rest. The work had been more exhausting
than they had been able thoroughly to understand in the heat and rush
of getting it done. The next day saw them with aching muscles, sore
feet, and eyes that still smarted from the acrid wood smoke. It was
Sunday, so, of course, there was no reason why they should not rest as
much as they liked.

"We sure want to rest up today, Jack," said Pete Stubbs, in the
afternoon, when they had gone to Grant park to lie on the grass and
watch a game of baseball that was being played by two teams of young
men who had no other day for games of any sort. "Tomorrow's field day,
you know."

"I know it is, Pete. I've been practicing long enough to remember
that!"

Monday of that week was a holiday in that State, and all the Scouts had
the day to themselves. Durland, always trying to think of things to
make life in his Troop interesting and happy, had devised the plan of a
field day, in which there should be games of all sorts. There was to
be a baseball tournament between the three Patrols for the championship
of the Troop, and a set of athletic games, including running, jumping,
and all sorts of sports. There were eight Scouts in each Patrol, and,
to make up a full nine, each had been allowed to select one boy from
its waiting list so that the roster might be complete.

Jack Danby was the hope of the Crow Patrol in these sports. He was a
wonderfully fine athlete for a boy of his age, and was proficient in
many games. There had been no other real candidate for the post of
pitcher on the Crow baseball team, and he was expected to make a new
record in strike-outs the next day.

"How's your arm, Jack?" asked Pete Stubbs, anxiously. "You didn't
strain it yesterday, did you, digging that ditch?"

"Not a bit," said Jack, with a laugh. "It did it good, I think. I'm
not much of a pitcher, but if we get licked tomorrow the work I did
yesterday won't be any excuse. I'm as fit as any of the others, and I
won't mind admitting that anyone who pitches better than I do tomorrow
deserves to win."

"Gee, Jack, I hope I do some hitting! I'm crazy to make a home run!"

"Don't worry about it, Pete. That's the worst way you can do if you
really