t. He entered into the games and recreations
"for all he was worth," and won the regard of his companions.

His ability as a ballplayer was no less of a surprise to them than it
was to himself, for he had not played ball since his junior year in
high school. His pitching proved to be clever and varied, his delivery
of the horsehide sphere being as good as Tom Sherwood's---which is no
faint praise.

Early that same afternoon the boys learned that the schedule promised
by the Scout Master was posted on the wall of his cabin, and that
Assistant Rawson had been dispatched to Oakvale for the supplies
listed in Ransom Thayer's outline for study and practice.

"The notice says that Mr. Thayer will begin work, with us at nine
o'clock sharp next Monday morning," announced Don Miller of the Foxes.

He had already seen the bulletin and made some inquiries of Lieutenant
Denmead, in order to coach his patrol more intelligently.

"Are there any 'points' for knowledge of trees and plants?" asked
Shorty McNeil.

"I didn't read everything carefully, Shorty," replied Don, "but I do
remember the word 'vegetation.' Maybe that will cover your specialty."

"I hope so," was the earnest rejoinder. "I can't do anything with
the mathematical end of this stunt, I tell you right now. But
leaves, and flowers, and different kinds of bark!---they are as
easy to read as print! And I would like to bring in a point or
two for our patrol."

At this moment Walter Osborne approached, walking rapidly from the
direction of headquarters.

"Hullo, Don," he called. "Have you seen the schedule? Great, isn't
it? Brings in about all our scoutcraft up to date!"

Walter hurried on, scarcely waiting to hear Don's reply in his
eagerness to overtake Blake Merton.

"I say, Blake," he began enthusiastically on reaching the fellow-hawk,
"do you know that this geological survey is going to give us fine
training in signaling? I hadn't realized it before, but maybe you
have, because of your experience over at Ralph's."

"Yes, I was interested in the simple system the railroad men used,"
Blake responded. "It is an eye and hand language worth learning."

"Well, I confess that I know nothing about it. And I didn't pick
up much from the work we had here while you were away. With all
credit to the Lieutenant, he does not know the practical side of
geological surveying, and while he interested us all, he did not
give us the real stuff that we shall get