is chum in surprise.

"You certainly have the fever pretty bad, old fellow," he remarked, "and
to tell you the truth, I've been thinking along the same line myself. If
half a chance offered I'd like to be the one fortunate enough to recover
that box for Mr. Clausin. But of course there isn't the least bit of
hope that way."

Paul could not lift the curtain of the future just then, and see what
strange things were in store for himself and his chum. Had he been given
only a glimpse of that future he would have been deeply thrilled.

"The boys are all assembled, Paul," observed Jack, presently.

Accordingly, the scout leader of the first patrol, and acting
scoutmaster in the absence of Mr. Gordon, found that he had duties to
perform. Paul, in spite of his wishes, had been elected president of the
local council, Jud being the vice-president, Bluff treasurer and Nat
Smith secretary.

The meeting was especially called for a certain purpose, and every
fellow knew that the committee appointed to recommend what the programme
for the vacation campaign should be, was about to make its report.

Consequently, other business lagged, and there was a buzz of excitement
when, with the decks cleared, the chairman of the meeting called upon
the spokesman of that committee to stand up.

William, the humorous member of the Carberry twins, immediately bounced
erect; and it happened that he stood just under the framed charter
granted by the National Committee to Stanhope Troop. Every eye was glued
upon his face, for it had been a matter of considerable speculation
among the scouts as to where they might "hike" for the Summer vacation,
so as to have the most fun.

William was the exact image of his brother Wallace, though their
dispositions could hardly have been more unlike. The former was brimming
over with a high sense of humor, and dearly loved to play all manner of
practical jokes. His greatest delight it seemed, was to pose as the
steady-going Wallace, and puzzle people who looked to the other Carberry
twin as an example of what a studious lad should be.

Still, William as a rule never reached the point of cruelty in his
jokes; and in this respect he differed from Ted Slavin, who seldom
counted the cost when carrying out some horse-play that had taken his
fancy.

The spokesman of the committee looked around at the many eager faces,
and then bowed gravely. William could assume the airs of a serene judge
when the humor seized h