ppenings
make a fellow sit up and take notice, when he tries to picture them so
plainly that the other can read it right off the reel. I had a tough nut
to crack this morning."

"About that little adventure of Tom Betts in the river," interrupted
Jud. "Tell me how you did it. A crooked little mark would show the
river; but I'm blessed if I can see how you made out the drowning act,
and the rescue."

"I'll tell you how I did it," Paul went on; "and when Mr. Gordon comes
we'll find out if he understood my letter, or thought it meant
something else. I'm only a beginner in this business, you know, and
expect to improve, for I see where we can have lots of fun out of it."

"But the letter?" said Jud, impatiently.

"In the river I had several of the boy scouts bathing. All had their
hands down but one, whose arms were up over his head. That told of his
being in danger. Then on the bank I showed a ring around two, one on the
ground. Just beyond these, two were moving off, arm in arm. That ought
to tell him that the drowned boy recovered. And when the company formed
to go on the road I was _very_ particular to have the exact twenty-one
in line. How's that?"

"Great," cried Jud, excitedly; "you've got me head over ears in this
picture writing business, and I'm going to study it up. There's a book
home that has a lot about it. Me to swallow the same when we get back.
And while we're up here I'm going to get you and our scoutmaster to
teach me what you know."

"All right," laughed Paul, getting up. "Now notice that I stick this
where he will be sure to see it. And perhaps we'd better be on the hike
once more, because we don't know what we've got ahead of us. Number
Three, give the call to break camp!"

CHAPTER XX

CAMP SURPRISE

On the march the scouts had more than a few times amused themselves by
practicing some of the many maneuvres they had learned. For instance, a
detail was left with signal flags on a prominent knoll; and later on,
when the main company had arrived at a certain point half a mile further
along the road, a series of communications would be exchanged between
the two detachments.

As a record of all such wigwagging was kept, it would be easy to learn
just how proficient they had become in manipulating the various colored
flags, or in making the many different arm gestures that conveyed the
meaning of the intended message.

Among their supplies they also carried a complete telegraph equipme