ng
with the work of the others.

Then the acting scout-master mentioned the rules governing the sport.

"I'm going to give each scout just three matches," he remarked, "and he
is put on his honor not to have another one about him. Then you will
line up here, after you have each selected a spot inside the boundaries
where you mean to conduct your experiment in quick-fire making. For five
minutes you can look around, so as to get your mind fixed on just where
you will get your kindling, and water. Then at the word you start. Now,
line up here, and get your supply of fire sticks."

After the time limit had expired the word was given. All of the patrol
save the scout-master started to get busy; and it was a comical sight to
see some of them running around in a haphazard way, having lost their
bearings in the sudden excitement.

Bumpus was early out of the game. He did succeed in getting his cup
filled with water at the lake some little distance away, but of course
in his clumsy fashion he had to stumble, and spill most of it on the way
to his chosen station. And as one of the rules insisted that each cup
should be at least three-quarters full of water, Bumpus gave up the game
in abject despair, contenting himself with watching his more agile
companions, and cheering them on.

Smithy also had his troubles. He took so long to get his cup filled,
actually washing it out because he discovered a few coffee grounds in
the bottom, that the others were building their fires before he awoke to
the fact that again had his love for neatness lost him all chance of
making a favorable showing. So he too threw up the job as hopeless; but
from his determined looks Thad knew Smithy would do better the next
time.

This left but five competitors at work. Step-hen was doing very well,
and Allan knew just how to get tinder with which to start a quick fire;
but even these two could not be said to be in the same class with
Giraffe.

Fires had ever been his hobby, and what he did not know about starting a
blaze could be put in a very small compass. More than that, Thad noticed
that Giraffe certainly had good powers of observation. During that
period of five minutes when those who had entered the contest were given
an opportunity to look around, Giraffe had certainly used his eyes to
advantage.

While the others had hastened to the border of the lake to fill their
cups with water, the shrewd Giraffe had simply stepped over to a tiny
littl