Nipper's drawings after the plan had been explained to him. Finally,
his eyes sparkling with amusement, he laid the drawings onto his desk and
remarked:

"By Jove, you fellows are about the keenest observers I've met in some
time. It all grew out of watching a vacuum cleaner, eh? Well, well,
well, I think that idea is remarkable. I'm certain it will work. You
should have it patented immediately. Make another set of drawings for
me, Nipper, and I'll send them down to my patent attorney in Washington.
Perhaps you may have struck it richer than you expect. You may be able
to put the device on the market. Who knows? In the meantime get busy
and build one and let me see how it works."

"We are going down and buy the material right away," said Bruce,
enthusiastically, "and father says he will have the suction fan made over
in his shop. It can be built of sheet iron and won't cost much, you
know."

"All right, go ahead. I'll come over to headquarters now and then and
watch you work," said Mr. Ford.

CHAPTER IX

WORKING TO WIN

Not since the days preceding the Firemen's Tournament when the motorcycle
fire department was being outfitted had the scout engineers been busier
than they were the following few weeks. Every afternoon after the
academy let out, and every evening they could spare from their studies
was devoted to the construction of the moth trap. They worked with snap
and vim, for upon the success of their product depended the possibility
of a troop motorboat.

And it was well that they had this enthusiasm, for a time limit had been
set on the contest. According to the information received from the
Mayor's office the contest would close the last Monday in June and the
five days following would be devoted to testing the various methods and
appliances entered. With the assistance of Mr. Ford the lads had already
made their entry, sending drawings and details of their device to the
committee of judges. But in spite of their fast work It was apparent
that they would not complete their contrivance until the middle or latter
part of the week set for the test.

They were determined that $100 of the $200 offered by the town should be
added to the troop's account in the Woodbridge bank, however, and when
scouts take that attitude in any matter one can rest assured of a period
of industry. They worked like beavers and the _rap, rap, rap_ of
hammers, the _buzz-z-z_ of band and jigsaws and the _h