mer went on, "and
try to engage the woman in conversation. Tell her, if you can, who and
what we are, and the reason for our coming here in uniform. Tell her we
mean them no harm, but that we want our chum set free. Do you follow me,
George?"

"Of course I do," came the ready answer.

"You understand Italian, and talk it some, I've been told?" Elmer went
on.

"Oh, yes, I can really converse with some Italian men. Don't know about
a woman, though. But I'll do my best to make her see things straight."

"I like to hear you talk that way, George," continued Elmer; "the true
scout is always ready to do his best. And I think you're going to make a
fine addition to our troop before long."

"After I've told her, what then?" asked George, who looked pleased at
hearing these words of praise from one he respected as highly as he did
Elmer.

"Why, you must bring her along, and rejoin us. Lil Artha and Mark will
accompany you, because all ought to be in at the finish. You understand,
don't you, George?"

"I sure do. Come on, Ted, show me the way down to the old shack. As we
go along I'll be brushing up my Italian words so as to spring 'em on the
old lady. This way, Ted."

"And while you're jabbering with the woman, why, perhaps now I might be
amuthing mythelf doctoring the noble woundth of our two chumth,"
declared the fellow who was never so happy as when engaged in the work
of a doctor.

Why, some of the boys often called Ted "Sawbones," because he gave
himself over, heart and soul, to his one great hobby.

So the two of them vanished down the side of the hill. As their voices
died away among the thickets Elmer turned his attention to the task of
finding and following the trail of the Italians.

"Show me where you saw it last, Matty," he said.

"Here you are, then," came the reply; "that footprint is as plain as
anything."

"So it is," remarked Elmer, after studying the mark briefly. "Our chum
made that, I'm positive."

"Then he must have done it on purpose," said Matty, "because I've
noticed that one footprint right along."

Elmer smiled.

"Good for Nat," he remarked. "If he don't dare use his voice and call
out to us, he's doing everything in his power to show us the trail.
That's what he's learned of scouting tactics. I'm glad he remembered. It
shows how much a fellow can learn."

"That's right," remarked Matty; "I see it all plain enough right now;
but d'ye know the suspicion never did break in on me th