the autumn. You will find the woods more friendly
then. Even the birds and chipmunks and squirrels seem to say, "Come on,
let us get together and be friends, for it's getting cool."

But to return to Pee-wee's-voice. On the last day of the autumn camping,
the silver stunt cup was to be awarded. It was an open secret that this
was to go to Nick Vernon, and the scouts of both troops were agreeable
enough to this disposition of it.

Many of them had performed conspicuous stunts, but they were all agreed
that Nick's feat in flashing the message by searchlight was the stunt of
the season. Perhaps Nick's personality, and consequent popularity, had
something to do with this. At all events when the two troops were
ordered to congregate under the old half-naked elm, to which they had
returned after their inglorious invasion of the east, it was generally
understood that the ceremony of presentation was to be purely
perfunctory having no surprises for anybody.

Safety First had been asked to do the honors but he had insisted on
Scoutmaster Ned making the address. That address has even been memorable
in West Ketchem history. It was (as Scoutmaster Ned himself said) the
best address ever made on Frying-pan Island, because it was the only
one.

"Bunch," he said "this is the happiest day of the year, for school opens
to-morrow (groans). Hereafter, whenever I see a frying-pan I'll think of
you and wish you were in it, being fried to a turn. (Laughter.) Don't
laugh, it's no laughing matter. I'm on the verge of nervous presumption
or whatever you call it, and I'll be glad to get rid of you--every one
of you!

"I've been asked to hand out this cup and it goes to St. Nicholas Vernon
because he sprawled the nice clean sky all up with scribbling and all
that kind of stuff. Nobody read the message but that makes no
difference, because the proof of the message is in the sending just the
same as the proof of the pudding is in the eating. How about that, Scout
Harris?

"I guess you fellows are all satisfied and I should fret my heart out
whether you are or not. Nick showed resource, and alertness, and a lot
of other stuff that's in the handbook, page something or other. If it
isn't there it's somewhere else. Shut up and give me a chance to speak.
Here you go, Nick, catch this. Your silver cup of joy is full and we
shall all live happily ever afterwards. Anything more, Safety First?"

Nick Vernon never seemed more at ease, and less intere