his hat the
fine trophy of flags he had captured.

Chippy was some little time at his task, for he had now five black
flags--his own and four recaptured from Billy--and five yellow flags;
four he had already seized, and the fifth was Billy's own original
badge. He was scarcely ready to renew his quest, when a long, shrill
call rang from Mr. Elliott's whistle. This signal had been arranged
for the moment when only two rival scouts remained in the field. Now
the battle must be finished during the next twenty minutes, or the
contest was drawn. Some such sharp close was necessary, or a pair of
over-cautious opponents might scout about or hide up and never find
each other.

The two left in were the rival leaders. Just about the time that Billy
was drawn into range, Dick bagged the other Raven, and when Mr. Elliott
saw the two defeated scouts running for the Beacon he sounded his
whistle.

The scouts out of the game had not had a dull time of it. If they were
not in the combat, they enjoyed a splendid view of it as spectators.
From the top of the hill almost every movement of the fighters below
could be watched, and the excitement now rose high among both Wolves
and Ravens as they saw their leaders running through the cover below in
eager search of each other.

There was no hanging about in hiding. That would mean the loss of too
much precious time, but each patrol-leader moved warily as well as
swiftly as he sought his opponent. Neither sight nor sound was made on
top of the hill. That would have been unfair: the men below must be
left unaided or unhindered to fight it out. But there was laughter
which no one could suppress when Dick and Chippy passed each other on
either side of a thick hawthorn copse and neither had the least idea
that the other was near. Then there was a joyful murmur among the
Wolves as Dick swung round the far end of the copse, saw Chippy, and
darted after him. But the Raven was on the alert, and observed Dick
almost at once, and turned to the combat.

Now it depended on the sureness of the eye and the speed of the throw;
whoever touched the other first with his ball would secure the victory
for himself and his patrol.

CHAPTER X

THE PATROL'S SURPRISE--A THIEF

There were several quick feints, but neither loosed his ball. Then
Dick ran right in, and Chippy threw straight at him. The Wolves raised
a howl of joy when their patrol-leader made a clever swerve and dodged
the