need fear nothing for the future."

CHAPTER XXIX

"EVERY SCOUT TO FEED A SOLDIER"

The returning scouts found Hillsgrove buzzing with preparation. In fact,
so changed was the atmosphere of the town that it was hard to believe
they had been away for little more than a week. Several of the young men
had already enlisted in army or navy. The post-office, courthouse, and
many of the stores displayed inspiring posters urging others to do
the same. A home guard was being organized for the purpose of dealing
effectually with any sort of disturbance from resident foreigners,
while a number of men, both young and middle-aged, talked of forming a
regular military troop to be drilled twice weekly on the green by army
officers or men who had been at Plattsburg.

It was all stirring and inspiring, and there is no telling to what
extent the members of Troop Five might have become involved had not
Mr. Curtis given them a serious talk at the first meeting after their
return from camp. Captain Chalmers had departed with his regiment to
take up guard duty along the line in one of the important railroads of
the State, leaving Mr. Curtis in general charge of the scout situation
at Hillsgrove; so that this talk was later repeated in substance at
meetings of the other troops.

"I know you're all very keen to get into things and do your bit," he
said, when the boys gathered around him in the parish-house. "The only
question, of course, is how you can be most useful without frittering
away your time. I've taken the matter up with headquarters, and talked
it over with the mayor and several other men, and have come to this
conclusion: first of all, we'll go ahead with our preparations for the
rally, but instead of having it a free exhibition, as we planned, we'll
charge admission and turn over the proceeds to the Red Cross. Next, I'm
going to organize a signaling corps and a first-aid division formed
of the real experts in each troop. There may be no immediate use for
either of these, but you'll be ready when the time comes. Then there
is the detail of helping to keep public order, in which the Boy Scouts
have always been especially useful. There is no telling when or where
you may be called upon, but your training and discipline helps you to
quick thinking and action."

He paused an instant, and then his voice took on a deeper, more earnest
note. "But more important than anything else just now is the need for
each one of you to