f peanut shells?"

"Will you show us that, too?"

"Sure, but anyway I never use chalk for scout signs; I use charred wood.
Do you know why?"

"Because chalk reminds you of school?"

"Because it's got too much civilization in it."

"Do they put that in it?"

"No, but it's there. Gee whiz, I've got no use for civilization, I don't
care what kind it is."

"Well, what about that codger?" asked Scoutmaster Ned. "He said he read
the signal?"

"Sure, and he was the one that stopped us when that fellow ran away. Gee
whiz, I didn't see any signal but I didn't look behind. Maybe he's just
disguised as a rube, hey? Anyway, he stopped us, that's one sure thing,
because we stopped and that proves it, doesn't it?"

"There's nothing the matter with the road," Safety First repeated.

"That's what has me guessing," said Scoutmaster Ned. "He couldn't have
read the message, that little codger. He's just a poor, little country
kid. I'd give a doughnut to know how he happened to put that rope across
the road. He never, _never_ read that message, you can bet on that."

"I know! I know!" vociferated Pee-wee. "He had a--a--inspiration. Give
me the doughnut."

CHAPTER XXXIII

HARK! THE CONQUERING HERO COMES BACK

We need not linger in Bridgeboro, the native haunt of Scout Harris, and
of Roy Blakeley and his Silver-plated Fox Patrol, and the other
celebrities of Pee-wee's troop. For the adventures of these world heroes
may be found recorded by Roy's own hand.

It will be sufficient to say that the delegation from Kidder Lake
descended upon the peaceful home of Pee-wee Harris (peaceful during his
absence at all events) and carried it by storm. The anxiety of Mr. and
Mrs. Harris over the whereabouts of their son being set at rest by his
dramatic appearance at the head of his martial following, there was
nothing for them to do but surrender to Scoutmaster Ned, while the party
partook of breakfast in the fallen fortress.

"He will eat you out of house and home," warned Mrs. Harris; "I only
want to warn you beforehand."

"We are prepared for the worst," said Scoutmaster Ned, as he
contemplated his discovery wrestling with a saucer of breakfast food
across the table. "In return for our poor hospitality he is going to
show us how the world should be run, and we are to be his pupils. Now
that we have stumbled upon him we couldn't close our season without
him."

"I'll show you how to close it," said Pee-wee.

The one obs