d, as one boy, had pounced on
Tompkins and was pummeling him and rolling him about over the ground to
the accompaniment of shouts and laughter and jocular, approving comment.

Glancing sidewise at Caleb Grimstone, the scoutmaster's eyes widened
with surprise and sudden comprehension. The old man's gaze was fixed
on the flushed, laughing face of the kicking, protesting victim. His
own brown face glowed; his stern, tight lips were relaxed in a smile
which was almost tender.

CHAPTER XXX

THE SILVER CROSS

In spite of their long and careful preparation, the members of Troop
Five were not a little keyed up and excited when the night of the big
scout rally finally arrived. Each boy dressed with unusual care, and
the majority reached the parish-house some time before the hour named
for assembling. From here they marched in good order to the old-fashioned
frame building, whose entire third floor constituted the masonic hall,
where the performance was to come off. Another troop was close on
their heels, and, in their hurry to get there first, the boys pushed
and jostled one another on the narrow, twisting stairs. But in the
hallway above they paused to fall in, and at the word of command from
Mr. Curtis they marched through the double doors into the brightly
lighted assembly-room, wheeled smartly to the right, and took up their
position at one side of the doorway.

The hall was already well filled and resounded with the buzz of
conversation. Pretty girls in Red Cross costumes flitted among the
audience seeking contributions and memberships. By eight o'clock the
rows of chairs that packed over half the big room were occupied, and
there were people standing. When the doors were finally closed and the
entertainment began, the place was almost uncomfortably jammed by a
throng of proud mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters of the
performers, to say nothing of a great many other members of the
community who were interested in the movement or curious to see the
result of the past year's work.

The first thing on the program was a review and inspection of the entire
scout body by Captain Chalmers, who had unexpectedly obtained leave of
absence for the occasion. When this was over, there followed a brief
pause, during which the captain, standing before the long, double row
of boyish figures, in their trim, immaculate uniforms, conferred in
whispers with Scoutmaster Curtis, whom he had summoned from the line.
Insta