ap, so that their last
condition would be really worse than the first.

"No damage done, after all," remarked Paul, as he brushed off his
clothes; while the others gathered around, and Nuthin' came down to
secure the treacherous rope.

"Barked my shins some, now; and sooner or later I've just got to take it
out of that crowd!" muttered William, limping around, and shaking his
head.

"Better do it soon, then," observed Bobolink, "for after you've taken
the oath of allegiance to the scouts you dassent tackle a feller without
losing marks."

"H'm! is that so?" grunted the injured member, regretfully; for to be
deprived of the boon of fighting would be taking some of the joys of life
away from the pugnacious Carberry twin.

"Fall in again, boys!" said Paul, cheerily.

"Not the same way, I hope, captain!" ventured Bobolink; at which there
was a laugh, and the incident seemed closed.

The boys had no doubt but that their rivals must have been observing much
that went on in the lighted rooms, possibly also trying to catch what was
being said.

"What of it?" demanded Paul, when some one suggested this; "if they heard
what I read out of that manual so much the better. Let them subscribe to
those rules, and life will be worth living alongside Ted and his
cronies."

"But you see they just can't!" declared Bobolink, quickly.

"Which is to say they won't. All right. Once we get out troop formed,
public sentiment will be on our side. If they try to worry us the good
people of Stanhope, backed by the Women's Club, will see to it that the
nuisance is stopped. Isn't that so, Paul?" remarked Jack, with conviction
in his voice.

"Them's my sentiments, as some character in fiction used to remark. We
can afford to laugh at all these little plans to annoy us. Of course, if
they go too far, why we may have to turn and do something ourselves,"
said Paul, seriously.

"Bully! Hasten the time!" cried William, ceasing to limp for the moment
in his new delight.

"Oh! but Paul doesn't mean a regular give and take fight. If we pitch in
at all, I'm afraid it'll have to be doling out punishment in the way the
good dad does when he plies the stick and says it hurts him worse than it
does the bad kid," declared Bobolink; at which there was a roar.

On the following day there was more or less skirmishing about town by
various eager lads, seeking recruits for the rival troops.

Paul was as busy as a beaver, and at several points conferr