sually took new boys as it found them, anyway, concerning
itself with their actions and not with the history of their lives. Half
the scouts in the big summer community didn't know where the other half
came from, and cared less. From every corner of the land they came and
all they knew or cared about each other was limited to their intercourse
at camp.

"You don't suppose that's true, do you?" one of them asked when Mr.
Carroll had gone.

"What? About Willetts?"

"Sure."

"Dare say. He's about due for the G. B., I guess. But if you want to
cook a fish you've got to catch him first."

"Where is he, anyway?" one asked. "I thought his foot was so bad."

"I saw him limping off this morning, that's all _I_ know," another said.

"It would take more than a lame ankle to keep _him_ at camp," said Dorry
Benton of Roy's patrol. "Did you see that crazy stick he was using for a
cane?"

"The wandering minstrel," another scout commented.

"He stands pat with Slady, all right."

"Gee, you can't help liking the fellow."

"I have to laugh at him," Westy said.

"You can't pal with him, that's one thing," another observed.

"That's because you can't keep up with him; even Mr. Denny has a sneaky
liking for him."

"Do you know what one of his troop told me? He told me he always wears
that crazy hat to school when he's home. Some nut!"

"Reckless, happy-go-lucky, that's what he is."

"Come on over and let's look on the bulletin board."

They all strolled, half idly, to the bulletin board which stood outside
the main pavilion. It was a rule of camp that every scout should read
the announcements there each afternoon. Then there would be no excuse
for ignorance of important matters pertaining to camp plans. Upon the
board were tacked several announcements, a hike for the morrow, letters
uncalled for, etc. Conspicuous among these was the following:

Hervey Willetts will report _immediately_ to his scoutmaster at
troop's cabin, upon his arrival at camp.
WM. C. DENNY.

CHAPTER XVII

TOM'S INTEREST AROUSED

On that same day a solemn little procession picked its way carefully
down the trail from the storm-wrecked summit of the mountain. Four of
the county officials bore a stretcher over which was tied a white sheet.
With the party was Tom Slade who had guided the authorities to the
grewsome discovery of the previous night. In this work, and in the
subs