merton," he said. "Now, about four miles across the
State line is Hardport. You can see the smoke from its factories, and
the railroad yards there, because it's quite an important little city.
Now, there is a straight road from here that leads there--the
continuation of this very road we are on now. What I want you to do is
to circle around"--he pointed on the map--"and strike into Hardport from
the other side. Find out, if possible, what troops of the Blue army are
in the neighborhood, and particularly along this main road. If they
occupy it in force, report as quickly as possible. If they advance
immediately after war is declared, return, but try to see if there is
not some way in which our own troops can get behind them."

"Am I to go into Hardport itself, sir?"

"Yes. And you need not stop, if challenged. Your car is regarded as
bullet proof, and the only way in which they can legitimately capture
you is by stretching a rope or providing some sort of an obstruction
that enables two of them to get a foot on your running board. Remember
your rights, and don't surrender to a mere challenge from a sentry. And
keep your hood well down, so that they won't recognize you."

"I understand, sir. What time am I to start from here?"

"Start as soon as you like. You'd better get off and circle pretty
widely, so as to get used to the car. But don't cross the State line,
whatever you do, before twelve o'clock. That is strictly against
orders."

There was a lot of good-natured talk among the Scouts when they heard of
the great chance to distinguish himself that had come to the Assistant
Patrol Leader of the Crows.

"Gee, Jack's lucky!" said one member of the Whip-poor-will Patrol.

"He is not!" defended Pete Stubbs, loyally. "He's a hard worker. He's
spent a lot of his own time in the last year learnin' all about an
automobile. He knows how to run one, and he knows how to fix it, too, if
it goes wrong on a trip. That isn't luck, and don't you call it luck!"

"I didn't mean anything against Jack when I said he was lucky, Pete. No
call to get so mad about it!"

"I'm not so mad, but it does get my goat to hear people say that
everything that happens to Jack Danby that's good comes because he's
lucky. I guess he isn't any luckier than any of the rest of us, but he
sticks to the job harder."

No amount of coaxing, of course, would have induced Jack to tell what
his orders were; and as a matter of fact, only one or two of the