amp was well known in that section
of the country, and Ralph had often heard of it from Tom Walsh and
Tom's young cousin, Jack Durham, who had joined the troop. At one
time, before his father's death, Ralph had longed to become a member
of the troop; but one duty or another had prevented him in the
summer, and now it seemed out of the question. Daily work, the
necessity of earning a living for his mother and himself, and the
management of his farm, demanded all his attention, and gave him no
time for play.

On the fourth day of Ralph's new hunt, he was obliged to drive over
to Oakvale to bring home groceries and provisions as well as seeds
which he had ordered. In the town market he saw Doctor Kane talking
to a tall, bronzed, soldierly-looking man who wore a khaki uniform
with the Scout Masters' badge embroidered on the coat-sleeve.
Accompanying this man was a half-breed Indian, known in that
vicinity as Joe Crow-wing, or "Injun Joe," the guide and chief
woodsman of Pioneer Camp. The half-breed hung about in the
background, conversing with two lads also dressed in scout uniform.

Catching sight of Ralph, the doctor beckoned to him.

"Come here, my boy," he said, in his cordial way, as the young
fellow approached, "I want you to meet Scout Master Denmead, who's
up here arranging for the opening of camp next month. Denmead,
this is Ralph Kenyon, a very particular friend of mine."

"Glad to know you, Kenyon," said the Scout Master, grasping Ralph's
hand. After talking with him for a few minutes, he called the
two other boys over from the counter on which they were sitting
and introduced them to Ralph as Tom Sherwood and Arthur Cameron.

"Aren't you fellows up here earlier than usual?" asked Ralph,
presently, finding his habitual reserve wearing away.

"Yes, we are," replied Tom Sherwood. "You see, we graduated from
Hilltop last February, and when we found out that the Chief was
coming up here, we asked him to take us in tow for a while before
camp regularly opened."

"He's going to give us a course in geology," added Arthur Cameron,
"and we're going to make a survey around here this summer."

"Geology!" repeated Ralph. "That's my pet subject. Some day, you
know, I'm going to study mining engineering."

"That so? Well, come along with us for a 'prelim,'" suggested
Arthur, in the true scout spirit of friendliness.

Ralph sighed and shook his head.

"Wish I could!" he admitted. "Haven't time to spare,