ads darted frantically off. Several came near
having a collision right in the start, which would have been fatal to
their chances for winning out; since the water in their kettles must have
been spilled; and according to the rules of the contest they could not
refill the same without journeying to the creek, which Paul had made sure
was fully fifty yards distant.

It was a laughable, as well as interesting sight.

Having reached the various places mentally selected as the scene of their
intended operations in fire building, the boys set down their kettles,
and commenced to feverishly whack away at dead branches, or other wood.

In several instances two of them happened to pick out the same place, and
naturally there was considerable rivalry between them, as well as an
exchange of remarks intended to irritate and delay.

"Look at Wallace, will you!" observed Jack, presently; "nearly all the
others have smoke going, but he's chipping away as steadily as you
please. Why, he seems in no hurry at all. I guess he doesn't want to
come in ahead!"

"Wait, my boy," laughed Paul. "You don't know that sly fox. He's up to
all the dodges at fire making, and believes in a good start. Some of
those smokes never will amount to much, for they just struggle along, and
threaten to go out because it takes all the puffing the fellows can give
to keep them alive. Now he's going to strike up. Only one match needed
with Wallace, you see."

"And how his blaze jumps! You were right; he made sure he had enough fine
kindling first, before starting in. Now he's adding larger stuff; and
what's this he's doing with those stones?"

"What do you suppose?" said the scout leader, nodding his head
approvingly. "Making a little fireplace where he can perch his kettle,
and have the hottest part of his fire under it. Note also that the
opening is in the direction of the breeze. That allows the flame to be
fanned. Wallace will never have to blow out his cheeks and puff to keep
his blaze going."

By this time some of the contestants were bobbing their heads to
ascertain just how Wallace had done it; and made haste to follow suit.
All were willing to take pattern from a past master who knew the wrinkles
of the game.

One upset his kettle, and despairing of having any show, withdrew from
the race.

Eleven fires kept on burning, some of them under protest, apparently,
for they did not give much promise of landing their unlucky builders as
victors.