inst
him very strongly, Tom felt it was his duty to prepare the other for
disappointment.

"Even if Dock denies that he ever saw the paper, we mustn't let
ourselves feel that this is the end of it, you know, Carl," he
started to say.

"I'll be terribly disappointed, though, Tom," admitted the other boy,
with a sigh that told how he had lain awake much the last two nights
trying to solve the puzzle that seemed to have no answer.

"Oh! that would only be natural," his chum told him, cheerily; "but you
know if we expect to become scouts we must figure out what they would
do under the same conditions, and act that way."

"That's right, Tom," agreed the other, bracing up. "Tell me what a
true-blue scout would figure out as his line of duty in case he ran
up against a snag when his whole heart was set on doing a thing."

"He'd just remember that old motto we used to write in our copybooks at
school, and take it to heart--'if at first you don't succeed, try, try
again!' And Carl, a scout would keep on trying right along. He'd set
his teeth together as firm as iron and say he'd solve that problem, or
know the reason why."

"Tom, you know how to brace a weak-kneed fellow up all right."

"But you're not that kind, Carl. Only in this case there's so much at
stake you hardly do yourself justice. Remember how Grant went at it,
and when he found that Lee met all of his tactics so cleverly he got
his back up and said he'd fight it out on that line if it took all
summer."

"I see what you mean, and I'm game enough to say the same thing!"
declared the other, with a ring of resolution in his voice.

Tom felt wonderfully relieved. He knew that Carl was capable of great
things if only he succeeded in conquering his one little failing of
seeing the gloomy side of passing events.

"Well, here we are at Dock's place. It's not a particularly lovely home
for any fellow, is it? But then his father is known to be a hard
drinker, and the mother finds it a tough job to keep her family in
clothes and food. My folks feel sorry for her, and do what they can at
times to help her out, though she's too proud to ask for assistance."

"Dock promises to be as bad as his father, I'm afraid, only so far he
hasn't taken to drinking," remarked Carl.

"There's some hope for him if only he keeps away from that," ventured
Tom. "But let's knock on the door."

No sooner had his knuckles come in contact with the panel than there
was a furious barking