I'm pretty sure I can make one that will catch anything in a
hundred-mile radius."

"That's a good idea," assented Rob; "if you can do it we can get a lot
of good out of it, I don't doubt."

"What's the good of wireless when we've got wig-wagging and the
semaphore code," spoke up Simon Jeffords, who was inclined to doubt the
use of any other form of telegraphy but that in which he had perfected
himself.

As for Martin Green, Walter Lonsdale and Joe Digby, they contented
themselves with hoping that they might receive their badges as
second-class scouts when the camp was over.

"I can take the whole tests except cooking the meat and potatoes in the
'Billy,'" bemoaned young Green, a small chap of about thirteen.
"Somehow, they always seem to burn, or else they don't cook at all."

"Well, cheer up, Martin," laughed Rob. "You'll learn to do it in camp.
We'll make you cook for the whole time we're out there, if you
like--that will give you plenty of practice."

"No, thank you," chimed in Andy Bowles. "I've seen some of Mart's
cooking, and I think the farther you keep him from the cook fire, the
better for the general health of the Eagle Patrol."

At this moment there came a rap on the door.

"Come in!" shouted Rob.

In reply to this invitation, the door opened and a lad of about fifteen
entered. His face was flushed and he bore in his hand a long sheet of
green paper.

"Hello, Frank Farnham," exclaimed Rob glancing at the boy's flushed,
excited face. "What's troubling you?"

"Oh, hello, Rob. Excuse me for butting in on your ceremonies, but I
was told Paul Perkins was here."

"Sure he is, Frank," exclaimed Paul, coming forward. "What's the
matter? It's much too warm to be flying around the way you seem to
have been. Come in under this fan."

He indicated an electrically driven ventilator that was whirring in a
corner of the room.

"Quit your fooling, Paul," remonstrated Frank, "and read this circular.
Here."

He thrust the green "dodger" he carried into the other's hand.

"What do you think of that, eh?" demanded Frank, as Paul skimmed it
with delighted eyes.

The circular contained the announcement of a lecture on aeronautics by
a well-known authority on the subject who had once been a resident of
Hampton. To stimulate interest in the subject, the paper stated that a
first prize of fifty dollars, a second prize of twenty-five, and a
third prize of ten dollars would be given to the three lads of