pened it
yet. Come on, gather 'round and hear what he has to say."

With eager fingers he tore off the corner of the big envelope and ripped
open the top. And as he unfolded the letter every scout pressed closer
to get a glimpse of its contents. Bruce began to read aloud:

Mr. Bruce Clifford, Chief of the Scout Engineers' Fire Department.

Dear Sir: Your entry blank and fee for the tournament events reached me.
I am returning your fee herewith for, unfortunately, your company cannot
take part in the tournament. In the first place your organization is
only a juvenile company, and in the second place it is not an accredited
member of the Woodbridge Fire Department.

The fact that you have not a charter from the town authorities will also
prevent your little department from taking an active part in fighting
fires in this village, for the Champlain Valley Volunteer Firemen's
Association has passed a ruling preventing any individual not wearing a
badge of a recognized fire department from entering fire lines or
participating in fire fighting work. These rules are rigidly enforced by
my department. Very truly yours,

(signed) W.T. Blaney,
Chief Woodbridge F.D.

"Well, what do you think of that!" exclaimed Romper disgustedly.

"And after all our working and planning," said Jiminy bitterly.

"Oh, we're only juveniles," said Bud sarcastically, turning away to hide
his feelings.

And as for Bruce, he could hardly believe his eyes. He re-read the
letter and when he finished he slowly tore it into little scraps and
tossed them to the ground.

"Well, fellows," he said with a grim smile, "I fancy 'Old Nanc' won't
need the flags and bunting I ordered to-day. And I guess our little fire
department sort of busts up before it gets started. If old Blaney is
such a stickler for regulations they'll never let us fight any fires in
this town. Tough luck, isn't it?"

Tournament day had been declared a holiday in Woodbridge. Stores and
factories were closed and the village decorated from stable to Town Hall
with colored streamers, flags and bunting. Since early morning fire
companies had been arriving in town headed by bands and drum corps until
the place was crowded with uniformed figures from every section of
Vermont.

But in spite of all this gaiety Bruce Clifford and the Boy Scout
Engineers were dispirited. Indeed, for the past week they had been very
unhappy over the turn of affairs. They tried their hardest to