g in the middle of the diamond.

Sanson and Bob Gibson reached him first, but the others were not far
behind. Thumping, pounding, poking him in the ribs and executing around
him an impromptu war-dance, they swept Dale toward the bench, jabbering
excitedly the while. In a happy sort of daze the boy heard the hearty
congratulations of Mr. Curtis. Then, when the throng had spread out a
little, he suddenly found himself face to face with Ranleigh Phelps.

For a second there was an embarrassed silence; then the blond chap put
out his hand.

"You did mighty well, Tompkins," he said, with a touch of constraint
in his manner. "I wish--" He paused an instant, and a faint color crept
into his face. "I'd just like you to know," he went on rapidly, "that I
haven't kept you out of the box all season because--because of--wanting
to take all the pitching myself. I--I--didn't think you'd make good. I
was wrong, of course. I--I'm sorry it's too late to--prove it to you."

That was all. Without waiting for a reply, he turned away. But Dale's
face glowed. Somehow those brief words from Ranleigh meant more to him
than the exuberant congratulations of all the others.

CHAPTER XVIII

A QUESTION OF MONEY

With the inter-troop baseball series a thing of the past, Sanson and
Trexler promptly turned their attention to swimming. They had already
been out to the lake several times, but with baseball practise almost
every day, it had not been possible to spend very much time there. Now,
however, they both took advantage of every free afternoon, and before
a great while Paul emerged from that first hopeless, helpless state
when it seemed as if he were never going to be able even to support
himself in the water. He was still far from being a good swimmer, but
at least he could behold the miraculous ease and skill of the other
fellows without a feeling of despondent envy.

Frank Sanson naturally made much quicker progress. Knowing the rudiments,
he did not, like Paul, have to start at the very beginning. His
strength and endurance, too, were greater than his friend's, and he
had practically none of Trexler's nervous timidity to combat. All he
needed was practise, and he was not long graduating from the novice class.

The latter was uncommonly large this year. It was the first time the
boys had had the freedom of Crystal Lake, and practically every scout who
did not know how to swim seemed bent on learning before the summer camp
start