eat 'em alive," Westy said.

I said to Pee-wee, "Do you know what insubordinate is? Well, that's what
_you_ are. Keep still while I talk. You're only my official staff."

The man said, "Well, you'd better pick up your official coffee-pot and
saucepan, and state your terms. I'm not sure that I want an irresistible
army of invasion going through my house."

"Irresistible armies of invasion aren't so bad," the kid piped up. "I'll
tell you how it is----"

"Keep still," I said, "or I'll put you in the megaphone." Then I said to
the man, "We started from Blakeley's Hill and we pledged ourselves to go
straight west----"

"Without deviation," the kid shouted; "do you know what that means?"

I said, "We pledged ourselves to go straight west till we come to a
certain tree on west ridge, and not to turn to the right or the left. So
you see we'll have to go right through your house."

The man just sat there a little while, kind of thinking. I began to get
anxious.

The kid said, "You know scouts always wipe their feet when they go in a
house. Maybe they're kind of wild, but they always wipe their feet."

I could see the man was trying hard not to laugh, and he just sat there
thinking. Then he said, "Since you admit scouts are wild I think I won't
let them go through my house."

"Now, you see," I whispered to Pee-wee.

"Oh, they're not so _very_ wild," he said.

All the time the man seemed to be thinking and he said, "If you could
just climb over the house now; wouldn't that be better? Since you can do
anything? I think you said you are _irresistible_."

_Good night!_ I could have strangled that kid. I said, "We'd like to go
the easiest way."

The man said, "Ah, then you _don't_ really care for hard things? You are
what might be called parlor scouts. I see. How about your appetites?"

"I'll tell you about our appetites!" the kid shouted.

I said, "Believe me, we can give you the best recommendations."

Then the man said, "Well, I'm sorry I can't let you go through the
house."

I said, "You don't think we'd take any food, do you?"

He said, "Not that, but I'm afraid going through the house is out of the
question. If you would care to try climbing over it I'll supply you with
ladders. While my gardener is getting the ladders, cake and pie will be
served. That is my proposition. If you care to take me up, all right. If
not, we part friends. A man's house is his castle; I dare say you've
heard that. If you are so