ys looked on eagerly as Mr. Elliott fetched the vase after No. 8
had voted and returned to the group of his comrades.

'First of all,' said Mr. Elliott, 'I shall shake the vase well, so that
the papers may be thoroughly mixed up.'

He did so, then held the vase upside down, and the papers fell out. He
opened them one after the other. There were six circles and two
crosses. It was an immense majority in favour of Chippy's challenge.

'Six to two,' announced Mr. Elliott. 'The Wolf Patrol is willing to
meet the Ravens from Skinner's Hole.'

'Then they'll meet them without me!' burst out Arthur Graydon, his face
scarlet with rage, for he had quite expected to carry the patrol with
him. 'I shan't be patrol-leader any longer!'

He whipped off his badge and flung it on the table, and was gone before
anyone could stop him or remonstrate with him. He snatched his cap
from the stand in the hall, and was out of the house in a flash. The
Wolf Patrol had lost their leader!

'That's Arthur all over,' murmured Billy Seton. 'He's frightfully
shirty. But I didn't think he'd hook it.'

'Oh, he'll think better of it when he's cooler,' said Mr. Elliott.
'We'll get on with our game. But I'll say that I'm quite with you in
your decision.'

'Half a minute, please,' said Reggie Parr, flushing to the roots of his
hair. 'I'm going to come out into the open. The other cross was mine.
But I don't want to leave the patrol.'

'You needn't leave it, old man,' cried Billy Seton. 'We should be
jolly sorry to lose you.'

'I'll run with the rest,' jerked out Reggie. 'But I shouldn't like to
stop and keep quiet about the cross.'

'It's forgiven! It's forgotten! Come to my arms!' sang out Billy, and
pretended to embrace his comrade as a lost sheep returning to the fold.
This caused much laughter, and the Wolf Patrol, save for their lost
leader, were completely reunited, and plunged into Kim's game with
great earnestness.

CHAPTER VIII

THE PATROL-LEADERS

A few days later Dick Elliott was standing outside a shop in Bardon
High Street waiting for his sister, who was inside. He was on his way
to a party, and so was dressed in full fig, a thing he hated very much,
but had to put up with on such occasions.

Presently a second boy came along the pavement towards him. It was
Chippy, with a big bundle under his right arm. Chippy looked at the
smart figure staring into the shop-window, and recognised it.

'One o' them