. By means of these the boys could be tested as
to their knowledge of those things so important to the boy scouts.

He made many charts showing the different footprints of wild animals, as
well as those of the domestic cat and dog. By following the tracks of
a rabbit a most interesting as well as instructive story could be made
out. It was possible just from the marks on the ground, or the snow, to
tell how the animal had been frightened into wild flight, by what sort of
enemy it had been pursued, where the swoop of owl or eagle had brought
specks of blood upon the leaves or white snow, and finally the picked
bones of poor bunny would reveal the secret of the windup of the chase.

So, in every case, the student of nature could weave a story out of
the marks discovered. It was so in the days of the Indian, when old
Leatherstocking and his long-barreled rifle were leading factors in the
life of the wilds. Daniel Boone and his pioneers used to read such signs
as easily as any boy might the pages of this book. And the deeper any lad
dips into such fascinating studies the more he wants to learn.

When half past nine came Paul said he must be going.

"I've had a jolly evening of it, Jack, and enjoyed every minute with you.
When we get the boys together again we can have half a dozen competitions
going on at once," he said as he arose and stretched himself.

"That's so," replied the other, following suit; while even Carlo arched
his broad back, and prepared to follow them downstairs; "and the best
of this thing is that the more you go into it the greater it gets. I'm
fairly wild to keep it up."

Just as the boys reached the lower floor the telephone bell rang, and
Jack, being near, stepped over to the small table in the hall on which
the receiver rested.

"Yes, sure, he's here. Hold the wire," Paul heard him say, as he smiled;
and then turning to his friend Jack continued: "here, Paul, take hold.
Somebody wants to talk with you. Says he called up your house, and they
told him you were over at my home."

Paul of course wondered who could be wanting him so positively that he
even followed him over to the Stormways house.

"Hello! hello!" he said, quietly.

"That you, Paul?"

"It's Bobolink, I guess," remarked Paul, for the benefit of his chum who
stood by, listening curiously.

"That's right," continued the voice over the wire.

"What's doing to make you chase me up this way, Number Three?" Paul went
on.

"That'