Gordon, or in many cases by
Paul and Wallace. Bad cooks were taught how to succeed by simple
processes; and the secrets of the wilderness became as an open book to
those who wanted to learn.

Old Dobbin had managed to survive the storm, and when the troop started
on the homeward route he pulled the wagon that carried their tents and
other things. Needless to say, that as it was pretty much all down-hill,
and the tremendous amount of food had vanished, the ancient horse found
the going much easier than on his previous trip.

So successful had their first tour proven that the Stanhope Boy Scouts
began to talk of other outings which might be arranged later on; and
which will be treated of in the next volume of this series, to be called
"The Banner Boy Scouts Afloat; or, the Secret of Cedar Island."

After all their adventures none of them came back feeling any the worse
for the experience, and most of the boys declared they had had the time
of their lives.

To this day they have never really learned just what it was frightened
Ted and his cronies out of the neighborhood. Still, the fact that Pim
and Hank had possession of Ward's fine aluminum frying pan caused Paul
to believe the boys must have run across the two men, and been chased
away.

Before the camp was finally broken up Paul discovered an old hunchback
trying to steal more of the food. He was caught in the act, and it only
needed a look at the patch on the sole of his boot to tell that he was
the guilty one who had carried off their ham. He proved to be the fellow
the boys had heard about, who made a living catching rattlesnakes; but
as these were now scarce he was in poor circumstances. Paul forgave him,
and when camp life came to an end they left him all the food that
remained, proving their right to the name of Boy Scouts.

THE END

* * * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Several typographical errors in the original edition have been
corrected. The following paragraphs are as they originally
appeared, with corrections noted in brackets.

Chapter IV

["]'Hold on. Don't forget you are a scout, and that you've got to
look for the good that is in every fellow, they say," laughed his
companion.

Chapter VI

"Oh! no, it isn't that bad a case," laughed Paul, amused. "We ought
to be able to handle things without going to such extremes.
Besides, you know, I carried a number of those