first, but during supper in the big tent he thawed considerably, and
later, at the council-fire, he applauded the various stunts with the
enjoyment and simple abandon, almost, of a boy. When these were over
he rose to his feet, and the firelight gleaming on his face showed it
softened into lines of genial good-fellowship.

"I've had a mighty good time to-night, boys," he said, glancing around
the circle of eager, young faces. "I just want to thank you for it
and tell you frankly that what I've seen of Hillsgrove Boy Scouts has
changed my mind completely about the whole proposition. If you fellows
are a fair sample of scouting generally,--as I begin to suspect you
are,--I see no reason why you should not consider this camp a permanent
thing, to come back to every year and be responsible for and do with
as you like. I should very much--"

The wild yell of delight which went up drowned the remainder of his
remarks. Leaping to his feet, MacIlvaine called for a cheer, and the
three times three, with a tiger at the end, was given with a vigor that
left no doubt of the boys' feelings. When comparative quiet was restored
Mr. Thornton thanked them briefly and said he would like to shake hands
with every one of the scouts present.

Laughing and jostling, the boys formed in line, and as each paused before
the banker, Captain Chalmers introduced him. Tompkins was just behind
Ranny, and he could not fail to notice the extra vigor Mr. Thornton put
into his handshake.

"I'm very glad to meet you, Phelps," he said genially. "Your father and
I are old friends. In fact, I dined with him at Hillsgrove only a few
days ago. And by the way, I was immensely taken with those bird-houses
on the place and want some like them for my own. He told me you had put
them around just before you came down here. Did you make them yourself?"

The usually self-contained Ranleigh turned crimson and dropped his eyes.
"N-no, sir," he stammered. "They were made by--by--another--I'll write
the address down, and--and give it to you afterward."

He passed on, and the boy behind him took his place. In a daze Dale felt
his hand shaken and heard the sound of Mr. Thornton's pleasant voice,
but the words were as meaningless as if they had been spoken in another
tongue. Muttering some vague reply, he dropped the other's hand and was
swept on by the crowd behind.

Out of the whirling turmoil of his mind one thing alone stood forth
sharply. Those were _his_ bird-h