he corners of his mouth. "The mission of Boy Scouts is more to
bind up, than to give wounds; though they are allowed to do this other
in extreme cases, where some person's life may be in danger. But you
remember, we ran across a nasty bobcat up yonder once before; and if so
be she happens to be laying for us, I'd like to be prepared for trouble.
A scout should never go around with a chip on his shoulder looking for
trouble; but if it finds him out, why, he's just _got_ to defend
himself. That's the way I look at it; and most others do too. Come on,
Bob, if you're ready."

When the two boys quitted camp Bob was walking as sprucely as ever. If
he still felt the effects of his long run he knew how to conceal the
fact in the finest way--Giraffe, Bumpus, Step Hen, Smithy, and Davy
Jones believed they had ever seen. Only Allan, being experienced in such
things, could see that Bob was laboring under a heavy strain, and had
his teeth tightly clenched; though the body might be weak, it was an
indomitable spirit that urged him on.

Between them the two boys had noted things when coming down the mountain
that afternoon, and in this way picked out the course they expected to
take on that same night. It was rough enough, especially when they had
to do their climbing in the dark; since carrying a lighted lantern would
be foolhardy in the extreme.

Bob's impatience took him in the lead most of the time. Thad cautioned
his impetuous companion in low whispers several times; and yet, knowing
what the motive was that drew Bob along in such feverish haste, he
could hardly blame him. At the same time he knew the danger of making a
false step when they happened to be close to the brink of some steep
descent, down which a roll meant instant death, or at least broken
bones.

As they climbed upwards they would pause every little while to get a new
supply of energy, as well as recover their breath. And at such times
both boys eagerly scanned the black gulf that lay below them.

It had not taken their keen eyes long to discover several lights that
seemed to move in eccentric circles and other movements. Nor was either
of them at a loss to understand what this implied.

"The moonshiner videttes are having another talk," Bob remarked, as they
sat and watched several lights carrying on in this weird fashion.

"Seems like it," said Thad, thoughtfully.

"I wonder now, what is being carried along the lines? It'd be a great
stunt, Thad, if we c