zement as he saw them kicking up their legs, and tearing around like
mad; for the sun had reached the turpentine in the paint, and made it
burn tremendously."

Karl gave a shout, and even Mrs. Stormways could not repress a smile,
though she felt that it was wrong.

"I heard about it from one of the boys, father; I don't want to tell his
name, you see, because it might get him into a scrape," said Karl, as he
managed to get his breath again.

Jack breathed easier, since he knew now that his brother had not been
concerned in the adventure; still, there was that other thing--but he had
promised Paul not to believe, or even suspect, anything so early in the
game.

"I admit that it does seem ludicrous; and no doubt if I had been there I
must have been strongly tempted to laugh at the comical spectacle those
six pigs must have presented. But it is the spirit of the thing that
looks so bad. Growdy never harmed a boy in his life, he says, and only
wants to be let alone; but they went out of their way to play a malicious
trick on the old man. It took him the whole of Sunday to scrape that
paint off the hides of his pigs; which I consider a pretty hard
proposition. And I repeat what I said before, that I'm pleased to know
a son of mine would not be guilty of so mean a trick."

Karl left the table just then, and his brother fancied that he looked a
bit confused, as though his conscience were troubling him, but then Jack
hoped he might be mistaken.

CHAPTER IV

THE FIRST SCOUT LEADER

Paul had said that he would be away the greater part of the day, his
father having asked him to go to the city on an important errand.

Consequently there was no opportunity for the two chums to confer upon
any of the matters that were interesting then.

But all the boys had agreed to meet at the house of Nuthin' that evening,
to plunge deeper into the subject of organizing at least one scout patrol
in Stanhope.

As usual Paul called for Jack, and as the latter's parents knew what was
on tap, there was no opposition shown to his going out.

"Has anything happened to-day?" whispered the visitor, as he was joined
by Jack in the hall.

"Yes, I was out a lot with the fellows, and doing some chores around; but
I mustered up enough courage just before supper to go upstairs," replied
the other, his voice giving plain warning as to what was to follow, for
it showed the strain.

"And counted the coins again, perhaps to find them short