ch a thing, Dick. You see, I haven't been here so very
long and he was in the patrol when I joined."

"Oh, yes, so he was! Well, I'll tell you, then. You know he's studying to
be an engineer, at the Polytechnic. And he lives at a boarding house, all
by himself. Not a regular boarding house, exactly. He boards with Mrs.
Johnson, you know. Her husband died a year or two ago, and didn't leave her
very much money. He hasn't any father or mother, but he always seems to
have plenty of money. And he can play all sorts of games, but he won't do
them up right. He says he doesn't care anything about cricket!"

"How old is he?"

"Sixteen, but he's awfully big and strong."

"He certainly is. He looks older than that, to me. Have you ever noticed
anything funny about the way he talks?"

"No. Why? Have you?"

"I'm not sure. But sometimes it seems to me he talks more like the people
do in a book than you and I do. I wonder why he doesn't like me?" pondered
Harry.

"Oh, he likes you as well as he does anyone, Harry. He didn't mean
anything, I fancy, when he said that about your being chosen just now. He
was squiffed because Mr. Wharton didn't take him, that's all. He thinks he
ought to be ahead of everyone."

"Well, I didn't ask to be chosen. I'm glad I was, of course, but I didn't
expect to be. I think perhaps Leslie Franklin asked Mr. Wharton to take
me."

"Of course he did! Why shouldn't he?"

Just then the coming of the train cut them short. From almost every window
men in uniform looked out. A few of the soldiers laughed at their scout
garb, but most of them only smiled gravely, and as if they were well
pleased. The two scouts made for the nearest compartment, and found, when
they were in it, that it was a first-class carriage, already containing two
young officers who were smoking and chatting together.

"Hullo, young 'uns!" said one of the officers. "Off to the war?"

They both laughed, which Harry rather resented.

"We're under orders, sir," he said, politely. "But, of course, they won't
let us Scouts go to the war."

"Don't rag them, Cecil," said the other officer. "They're just the sort we
need. Going to Ealing, boys?"

Harry checked Dick's impulsive answer with a quick snatch at his elbow. He
looked his questioner straight in the eye.

"We weren't told to answer any questions, sir," he said.

Both the officers roared with laughter, but they sobered quickly, and the
one who had asked the question flushed