take things in such a matter-of-fact
way the balance of the scouts followed suit.

Confidence thus begets confidence in others; and this in itself was one
of Elmer's reasons for acting as he did.

The minutes passed.

Several times did impatient Red get up on his knees to take a look down
the hill.

"Shucks! but they're a long time coming," he mumbled. "Perhaps, after
all, the old woman was too sharp for the bunch--perhaps she's tucked 'em
away in the cabin--turning the tables on our four chums--perhaps,
now----"

Right there Red stopped in his predictions of evil.

"There they come," said Elmer, quietly.

One hasty look satisfied Red that his comrade spoke only the truth.
Moving figures caught his eye just a little way down the slope.

These presently developed into four boys, three of whom were clad in
khaki. The other, who was, of course, George, the interpreter, kept
close at the side of the Italian woman.

Now and then she seemed to address some remark to George, which he
doubtless answered to the best of his ability. When his vocabulary
proved unequal to the task he would finish with a series of gestures
and shrugs as he had seen chattering Italians do.

And presently they reached the spot where the balance of the scouts held
forth.

The woman surveyed them as she came up, but Elmer noticed that she did
not seem afraid now.

"I guess you've done the business, George," he remarked to the new
recruit.

"Well," replied the other, with a broad grin, "that's what I think
myself, Elmer."

"She understands now who we are, and that we haven't any intention of
doing her men any harm--you explained all that?"

"Sure. And you can see now that instead of looking scared, she's ready
to grin if you give her any encouragement," replied George.

"And she knows that we want her to go out with us and have a talk with
her old man, telling him what a fool he's been making of himself. She
understands all that, does she?"

"Like a book, and is ready to do the trick. We'll have our Nat back in
short order, now," George continued, looking proud and happy because he
had been able to prove of such valuable assistance to his fellow scouts,
even before he got his uniform.

"All right, then. The sooner we start the ball rolling the better. Come
along, George."

Presently the two of them were escorting the Italian woman toward the
foot of the cliff.

When two thirds of the way there an angry, excitable voice stoppe