g themselves on the ground. After
a short rest, of course preparations for passing the night would be in
order; but a little breathing spell, first of all, was in order.

Thad walked away, in company with Allan and Bob White.

"Now, what in the wide world d'ye think they're going to do?" demanded
Step Hen, when the three had vanished from sight among the brush that
lay around.

"There you go," broke out Bumpus, "as curious as any old maid in all
Cranford, always wantin' to know the reason why. A pretty scout you'll
make, Step Hen; and it'll be a long time before you win any medals, or
pass an exam, for the proud position of a first-class scout. But I
wonder what they _do_ mean to do?"

The others laughed at this.

"After this, Bumpus, take the mote out of your own eye before you try
and get a fence rail from mine. But they're up to some dodge, take it
from me. And it'll be mean if they don't let us into the deal, sooner
or later," and Step Hen shook his head dismally as he spoke; for he was
most unhappy when he believed there was anything going on without his
being told all about it.

"Great country this," remarked Smithy, lying there on his back, and
looking up at the lofty peaks that were bathed in the glow of the
setting sun. "About as wild as anything I ever saw. Don't surprise me to
know that the men who were born and brought up here can defy the clumsy
officers of the Government, when they attempt to capture them. In my
humble opinion they'll just keep on making that moonshine stuff here in
the Big Smokies until the year three thousand, if the Washington people
hold that big tax on the real brand, so as to make it worth while."

"It sure is some ragged," remarked Davy Jones, yawning; for Davy did not
happen to be possessed of a soul that could admire the grandeur of any
rough scenery; and only thought what a nuisance it was to have to do so
much climbing all the while.

"Hold on there, Step Hen," exclaimed Giraffe, as the other started to
collect a handful of small sticks; "don't you dare think of starting
that fire. That's my particular job; the patrol leader gave it over to
me, you understand."

"Just to keep you good," sneered Step Hen, throwing the sticks down
again. "You keep on itching to make fires so much, that he just had to
bribe you to let up, or some day you'd set the river afire."

"Huh! no danger of you ever doing that, I guess," chuckled Giraffe.

All the same, he got up, and began to g