stle and excitement until the
hour of departure arrived on Monday morning.

Tom and Carl walked home together.

"I could see what ailed you, Carl," the patrol leader was saying as he
locked arms with his chum; "you felt as though things were going
against you when George announced that Dock had left town."

"Because now I'll not have a chance to try out that second plan we'd
arranged for, and which I had great hopes might succeed," complained
Carl, gloomily.

"Cheer up," urged the other, in his hearty fashion; "perhaps things are
working your way after all. How do we know but that a glorious chance
may come up and that you can win out yet? Dock has gone to Big Bear
Mountain, where we expect to camp. In a whole week or more we're apt to
run across him maybe many times. And Carl, something seems to tell me
your chance is going to come while we're off on this hike. Dock hasn't
settled with Mr. Culpepper yet, that's certain; and he's got that paper
hidden away still. Keep up your hopes, and it's sure to come out all
right yet. Besides, think what a grand time we're going to have on our
outing!"

CHAPTER X

READY FOR THE START

On the following day, which was Saturday, there was considerable
visiting among the scouts who so proudly wore their new khaki suits.
Conferences were of hourly occurrence, blankets brought out for
inspection and comment, packs made up and taken to pieces again, and
all manner of advice asked concerning the best way to carry the same.

Each boy had a written list of what he was expected to provide. This
was a part of the wonderful system Tom Chesney had inaugurated. He had
told them it was copied from the methods in vogue in the German army,
so that in case of a hurried mobilization every man capable of bearing
arms in the whole empire would know exactly what his particular duty
was.

This scout was to carry a generous frying-pan, made of sheet-steel to
reduce the weight; another had to look out for the coffee-pot, which
was also to hold enough for at least six thirsty campers. So it went
on through the whole list of necessities.

There were to be two messes of five or six each, and the second had a
duplicate list of cooking utensils, as well as food to look after.
Nothing had been omitted that Tom, assisted by several others who had
had more or less camping experience, could think of.

It was about eleven this Saturday morning when Tom, doing a little work
among his vegetables