at patrol of
his at Upper Chain about. I suppose you're still leader of the Bull
Moose, Pat?"

Pat shook his head. "Yes and no," said he. "You see I've been away so
much that I had to resign. A patrol to be what it should be needs a
leader on the job every minute, and so one of the boys at the sawmill is
leader now, and he's a good one, too. He's a Scout of the first class
and is working for merit badges now. He's got five already--personal
health, physical development, taxidermy, signaling and stalking--and has
won a medal for saving life. When I happen to be at home I just give
them my valuable advice." Pat grinned.

"Oh, we've got some little patrol up there in the woods, and I'm just
waiting to be shown what your city Scouts have got on us," he concluded.

"That takes care of to-morrow, then," said Hal. "We'll plan doings next
week so that Walt can be with us out of school hours. Then Friday night
we'll head for the good old woods. My, but that does sound good to me!
Ten days up among the big trees, where there's snow enough to make a
footprint without having to photograph it in order to prove it isn't a
fake; where the foxes and the other critters with nice fur coats are
sitting 'round waiting to put their little footsies in our traps; where

"The Red Gods dwell
Neath a mystic spell;
The red flame glows,
And the red blood flows,
And a man's a man
For a little span."

A sofa pillow full in the face cut short this poetic outbreak, followed
by an inquiry from Pat as to Hal's experience on snow-shoes.

"Never had 'em on in my life, but I'm crazy to," replied that exuberant
youth. "Bought a pair yesterday purpose for the trip. Don't look to me
as if it can be much of a trick to walk on 'em."

"Did you buy any liniment to go with them?" asked Pat.

Hal looked puzzled. "Liniment? What for?" he demanded.

"Oh, just to be prepared. You know a good Scout always is prepared,"
replied Pat evasively, at the same time tipping Walter a wink.

"Meaning what?" persisted Hal.

"It's a long, long way to Tipperary, especially on snow-shoes," was
Pat's enigmatic reply. "I'd lay in a good supply of that liniment if I
were you."

Hal made a wry face at Pat. "Quit your kidding," said he. "We'll take a
gallon of liniment if you say so. Now tell us what else we'll need. Do
we take guns?"

Pat shook his head. Then seeing a look of disappointment in both faces
he hastened to say that the closed seaso