"I had another boy some years back, I want to tell you," he said,
softly. "He was drowned while swimming in the river. His companions
succeeded in getting Tad out, but they were utterly ignorant as to
how to go to work to restore him to consciousness---and so my boy
died. I believe before Heaven that if they had been raised in the
knowledge of the things you Boy Scouts learn in these days, my poor
wife and I need not have suffered such a cruel loss. When I learned
something about the education of a scout, I made up my mind that since
I had still one son left to me there would never be a repetition of
that calamity. He is now a patrol leader in his troop in Brooklyn,
and can swim like a duck. Come, let's go over and see what the worst
is going to be."

Hugh gladly accompanied the genial stage manager. His heart burned
within him, not with silly pride, but sincere gratification, on account
of what he had just heard. The boy's mind was so wrapped up in the
glorious possibilities that an aspiring scout ever has at his finger-tips
that commendation like this always pleased him. It was Hugh's ambition
to have the Oakvale Troop embrace every lad of suitable age in and
around his home town. He would not have a single one refused an
opportunity to enjoy those privileges and advantages which membership
with the scouts assures.

So they joined the circle around the temporary "hospital." The doctor
had not allowed the anxious crowd to press in too closely, for he
understood the value of plenty of fresh air and working room when
engaged in cases of this kind. Besides, most of the picture players
knew from former experiences what they must do, and were only eager to
be of any possible help.

Even the women, clad in their strange gowns of a bygone age, and wearing
astonishing head-dresses and shoes, showed remarkable courage. Their
nerves had been steeled by long association with perils of various
types, so that they manifested none of the weaknesses people expect
to find in connection with the gentler sex. One of the leading actresses
was assisting in washing quite an ugly wound that a poor fellow had
received in his arm. He seemed to be bearing his suffering like a
hero, and acted as though he rather enjoyed having one of the heroines
play the part of nurse to a humble understrapper.

Hugh allowed his eyes to fall with pardonable pride upon his chum,
Arthur, for he saw that, as usual, the ambitious amateur sur