with Mr. Thayer."

"True for you," responded Blake. "All the fellows felt that way
after the tests last night, I guess. Those questions showed them
how few facts they had really learned. It was not hard for Bud and
me, because we have both had experience before now."

Meanwhile Bud Morgan himself was in the midst of a group of eager
Wolves.

"You must coach us, Bud," Arthur Cameron said. "We shall miss Hugh
and Billy in this, but you must see that they hear a good report of
us when it is over."

"That's right," agreed the other boys.

"Let's make Bud Morgan our patrol leader until Hugh comes back," cried
little Jack Durham, the recruit of last season.

"All in favor?" yelled Arthur. "Hands up!"

Hands and voices rose together and a united "_How-ooo-ooo_!"
rent the air.

"All right, fellows, I'll do my best," said Bud Morgan as the noise
stopped. "I'll try to act in Hugh's place, just as Tom Sherwood
is doing for Alec, if you will all stand by!"

"We will," promised the boys.

"Then listen! Mr. Thayer is going to put us through a big course
in a little time. We shan't like all the work, perhaps, but we
shall each like something,---for it touches so many things. There
are the long tramps in the fresh air, the measuring of distances,
the analyzing of the soil, the naming of the trees and plants,
the locating of mineral deposits, and the working out of problems."

Bud paused for breath, holding one hand poised with fingers outspread,
just as he had been counting them off as so many points to note.

"Now, then," he continued, "it's up to us to listen and learn,---and
to beat the other fellows to it!"

"_How-ooo-ooo_!" came an approving chorus.

At that moment a distant squealing told that the Otters were waxing
enthusiastic, also. Down by the pier at the lakeside, Tom Sherwood
had gathered his patrol,---to which Ralph Kenyon had been added for
the period of his visit.

Tom had just been explaining some facts that he had learned while
with the surveyors on Ralph's farm, and even Buck Winter had shown
a responsive interest.

Dick Bellamy, as usual, was keenly alive to the prospects in store,
foreseeing plenty of fun as well as work.

"I'll tell you one thing, fellows," he began.

"And that's not two," interrupted Sam Winter impudently.

"Somebody, please put the lid on that youngster a minute," continued
Dick, looking at Sam in well-assumed indignation. "As I was saying,---or
about to say,-