he Boy Scout Engineers never forgot the shout that went up when Chief
Blaney carried the unconscious form of Bruce to safety. They were mighty
proud of their leader. But they were prouder still when, a week later,
Bruce was summoned into the presence of Mayor Worthington and Chief
Blaney and presented with a parchment charter which officially informed
him that the fire company of Quarry Troop had been officially made a
member of the Woodbridge Fire Department, to be known thereafter as
Chemical Company No. 1, with Brewster W. Clifford as the Chief.

CHAPTER IV

WHEN THE CIRCUS CAME TO TOWN

Twelve Scouts, nearly half of Quarry Troop No. 1, now popularly known as
the Boy Scout Engineers, were gathered in the meeting room at
headquarters. In fact, they had been literally driven there when the
Woodbridge Academy let out at halt past two on Friday afternoon. You
see, it was raining so hard that there was no other place to go. But,
then, the old machine shop was the best place in the world for the boys,
rain or shine, so _that_ didn't make much difference. What really did
matter was the monotony of it all. For five days now the region round
about Woodbridge had been literally deluged with a spring downpour.
Otter Creek had swollen to twice its normal size, springs were gushing
from most unheard-of places and rivulets were racing down hillsides that
usually were, to quote Nipper Knapp, "dry as a smoked herring."

"By George, I do wish this rain would let up. What we want is a chance
to get out of doors a bit. I haven't stretched my legs in a week," said
Romper Ryan glumly, as he gazed out of the big front window.

"Well," said fat Babe Wilson with his usual sarcasm, "if it don't dry up
soon the whole blamed world is liable to shrink." Then, as an after
thought, he added, "That might bring St. Cloud City so near Woodbridge
that we could at least see the circus parade."

"Aw-w, what'er you bringing up that circus subject for again," said
Jiminy Gordon, who didn't like to be reminded of the pleasure he had
decided to forego.

"Yes," chorused two others who were equally reluctant about facing the
sacrifice they had voted themselves; "forget about that blooming
circus."

"Say, you fellows needn't hop on me just because I want to have a little
fun with you," protested Babe. "I'm as good a sport as any of you.
Don't you suppose I agreed when you voted not to go to the circus. I
know it would be foolish