time boys dipped into
its edges, but soon came out. Lonesome Woods, indeed!

"We'll have to explore that some day," said Mr. Wall.

"The mountain?" Tim asked eagerly.

"The woods," the Scoutmaster answered.

A shout broke from the troop. With Mr. Wall along there would be nothing
to fear. When would they go? Next week?

"We'll take it up at Friday night's meeting," the Scoutmaster promised.

"Why can't we do the mountain?" Tim demanded.

"Because Danger Mountain is a bad spot. Broken bones are a heavy price to
pay for foolish daring."

Tim stared off at the mountain. "It doesn't seem so hard," he said, and
his eyes lighted with eagerness. Mr. Wall's face became grave.

The hike home was all downhill. The scouts swung along gayly. The
prospect of penetrating Lonesome Woods shortened the miles. What would
they find? What strange adventures would befall them?

"Adventure? Piffle!" said Tim. "Give me Danger Mountain."

"Sssh!" warned Ritter. "Mr. Wall will hear you."

"Gee! Can't I even say what I'd like?" Off in the distance a dog barked.
Tim barked in reply. The dog answered. It became a duel of sound.

Tim was in his glory. Weird, nerve-racking screeches came from his
throat. Presently the uproar became unbearable.

Mr. Wall's whistle shrilled. The noise stopped.

"What's the matter back there?" Mr. Wall demanded. "Can't the patrol
leader keep order?"

"Cut it out, Tim," said Don.

"Go on!" Tim answered sullenly. "Say it louder so Mr. Wall will hear
you." He slouched through what was left of the hike and did not speak a
word to anyone.

"He surely can make things pleasant," said Andy. "Some day he'll go too
far and Mr. Wall will bundle him out of the troop, and it will be good
riddance."

Don said nothing. He wanted to be relieved of the burden of Tim's
trouble-making, but not by expulsion. That, he thought, was no way for a
fellow to end as a scout. If Tim would only be a little bit more like the
other fellows in the patrol!

But the chances of Tim doing that seemed remote. He had his good
moments--times when it seemed that he had struck the right road and was
on his way to better things. Always, though, something happened to turn
him aside.

Next day there was baseball practice. Don came to the field eager for a
warm-up. He nodded hopefully to Tim, and took his place, and noticed that
Ted Carter was loitering near by.

"Come on," cried Tim. "Let's see if you can do a little better pitching