flying ball. Then Dick let fly in turn, as Chippy sprang away to
the right. But no sooner did the latter's quick eye detect that the
ball had left Dick's hand than he dropped flat on his face, and the
ball skimmed just clear of him.

Down the hill streamed the two patrols, for the battle was over. By
the laws of the game no second shot may be taken at the same enemy.

'Who has won, Mr. Elliott?' cried the boys, as they raced up to the
place where the rival leaders were laughing at each other's failure in
bringing off the finishing touch.

'I shall call it a drawn battle,' said the umpire, 'with the advantage
slightly on the side of the Ravens, as their man has more flags than
the other;' and this decision gave much satisfaction, and all voted it
a first-rate piece of sport.

'Now back to headquarters!' cried Mr. Elliott. 'We'll make a fire, and
try our hand at baking chupatties, for some of you are not up to Test
12 yet.'

The Ravens were very keen on this, for none of them had yet tried their
hands on cooking a quarter of a pound of flour and two potatoes without
cooking utensils, and they were anxious to see how it was done.

'Cut over and fetch the basket, Dick,' said Mr. Elliott, as they gained
the sandpit; 'there's a score of oranges in it as well. They'll come
in handy after scouting over the heath.'

'Rather!' said Dick. 'A good juicy orange is just what I want, uncle;'
and away he ran.

'Shall we gather some sticks ready for the fire, Mr. Elliott?' said
Billy Seton.

'We'll have our oranges first, Billy,' replied the instructor. 'We can
soon get plenty of sticks if all hands turn to.'

A shout of surprise rang across the pit, and all eyes were turned
towards Dick. He was bending over the corner where the basket
containing the flour, potatoes, and oranges had been carefully hidden
under ferns and tufts of dried grass.

'It's gone!' yelled Dick. 'There's no basket here!'

Gone! All ran over to the place at once, and there was the hollow in
the sand where the basket had been set down; but the hollow was quite
empty, and the fern and grass had been tossed aside.

'Someone's bagged it!' cried Billy Seton. 'It's been stolen while we
were away at the Beacon.'

'There's nothing else to account for it,' said Mr. Elliott. 'Now, my
brave Boy Scouts,' he laughed, 'here's your chance to prove your mettle
and skill. Track this thief--for a thief has been here without doubt.'

The boys were full