sort of poker when the fire needed attention.

Hugh did something still more practical. He stooped down and calmly
selected a certain blazing brand from the fire. This was of such a
nature that when properly handled it could be made to serve as a
pretty fair torch.

When Bud saw what the patrol leader was doing, he grunted and
nodded his head as though comprehending things. Bud always could
"see through a mill-stone that had a hole in it," as he was accustomed
to say; in so many words, he was quick to grasp things after some
smarter fellow had blazed the way. A "hint was as good as a nod"
to Bud.

"Fine thing, Hugh!" he commented admiringly. He realized how valuable
such a light might prove under the circumstances.

Ralph removed the piece of board that served to hold the door shut,
and boldly led the way outside. The others pressed closely at his
heels, Hugh holding the spluttering torch above his head and Bud
gripping his club with the full intention of using it should the
occasion warrant such action.

All was dark and still without. The night wind moaned in the branches
of the trees where the leaves had fallen, or rustled the brown foliage
of the oaks; but they could see no hostile form.

"Oh! he skipped out, all right, sure he did!" declared Bud, with
something like a sneer in his voice. "He knew I had glimpsed him,
and he didn't have the nerve to hold over and meet us face to face.
Wonder if it would make him run any faster if you banged away a
couple of times with your gun, Ralph?"

The idea did not seem to appeal to Ralph, however, for he made not
the slightest effort to act upon it. Standing there, he stared around
at the gloomy woods and waited to see what Hugh would so.

The latter had also taken a fair survey of the singular picture as
seen by the weird light of the torch. Presently he stepped forward
and turned the corner of the shack. Ralph followed him closely,
while Bud, still holding his cudgel in an aggressive manner, posted
himself at the corner, where he could not only watch what the other
fellows did but at the same time keep an eye on the door. He did
not mean to leave the way open for anybody to sneak into the shack
while their attention was directed elsewhere,---not if he knew his
duty, and he believed he did.

Now Hugh, being an experienced scout, first of all thought to make
sure that they had really been spied upon. This he knew could be
readily ascertained by examini