um several
times, Tom could see the lines on his forehead, and he was also able
to give a pretty good guess why this should be so.

Of course, it was all on account of the fact that when George made his
announcement concerning the movements of Tony Pollock he had stated
that Dock Phillips was one of the group that had left town, bent on
spending a week on Big Bear Mountain.

This meant that the new scheme which Carl had expected to "try out" on
the coming Saturday night could not be attempted, because the object of
his attention would be far away.

Tom meant to comfort his chum after the meeting, when they were walking
home together. He could see further than Carl, and would be able to
find more or less encouragement in the way things were working.

Scout affairs were certainly picking up in Lenox of late. Perhaps the
coming to town of Rob Shaefer and Stanley Ackerman, who had both
belonged to troops in the past, may have had considerable to do with
it.

At any rate the new Wolf Patrol numbered five, and other boys were
showing a disposition to make application for membership. Rob Shaefer
was booked for the patrol leader, because of his previous experience
along those lines, as well as the fact that he was becoming well liked
in Lenox boy circles.

The other new boy, while a pretty fair sort of fellow, did not have the
same winning qualities that Rob did. Some of them even thought he felt
envious because of Rob's popularity, though if this were true, he took
the wrong means to supplant his rival in the affection of their new
friends.

As this would be the last chance to talk things over, every little
detail had to be settled before the meeting broke up. Each boy who
expected to accompany the expedition starting out to explore Big Bear
Mountain was directed what to carry with him.

"And remember," Mr. Witherspoon told them as a final caution, "we
expect to do much tramping under a hot June sun, so that every ounce
you have to carry along will tell on your condition. Limit your pack to
the bare necessities as we've figured them out, and if necessary the
strong will assist the weak. That's about all for to-night, boys. Seven
sharp on Monday morning outside the church here, unless it's stormy.
The church bell will ring at six if we are going."

The boys gave a cheer as the meeting broke up. And it was a
merry-hearted lot of lads that started forth bound for various homes
where there would be more or less of a bu