ntly a faint, scarcely perceptible stir swept down the lines of
waiting scouts. What was coming? they asked themselves eagerly. Dale
Tompkins caught the captain's glance fixed on him for a moment, and
wondered uneasily whether anything was the matter with his equipment. He
had no time to grow seriously disturbed, however, before Mr. Curtis
returned to the head of the troop and the captain faced the audience.

"I dare say you have all heard more or less about our scout law and
the high principles it inculcates in every boy who promises to obey
it," he said in his pleasant, easy manner. "I'd like to tell you briefly
about the way two scouts right here in our own town applied some of the
most vital of these principles. The first incident happened late last
fall, when a powerfully charged electric wire was blown down in a storm
and dangled in the street. A small boy saw it, and, without realizing the
danger, grasped it in both hands. Instantly the current, passing into
his body, made him helpless. He screamed with pain and struggled to tear
himself loose, but in the throng that quickly gathered no one dared to
touch him. No one, that is, until one of the scouts I speak of appeared.
He had been a tenderfoot only a few days, but he was a true scout at
heart. Without hesitation he gripped the child by one shoulder and was
instantly flung the width of the street. Recovering, he remembered
something he had read about electricity and insulation, remembered
that paper was a good non-conductor and rubber even better. In a flash
he had wrapped about his hands some of the newspapers he carried, flung
down his waterproof delivery-bag to stand on, and went again to the aid
of the child, this time successfully. It was not only a brave deed, but
he kept his head; and when the danger was over he slipped quietly away
without waiting for either praise or thanks."

A burst of applause and hand-clapping came from the audience, and while
waiting for it to subside the captain glanced again toward Dale Tompkins.
This time he did not meet the boy's questioning glance, but saw only
drooping lids and a face flushed crimson. His smile deepened a little as
he raised one hand for silence.

"A few months later the other scout was skating with a companion on
Crystal Lake. He could swim only a few strokes, but when the second boy
broke through the ice he did not hesitate an instant in going to his
rescue. He was dragged into the water and nearly drowned