leader.

And so the delighted Davy hastened to comply; indeed the manner in which
he thrust the stick into the willing hands of the other seemed to
indicate a fear on his part lest the scout-master alter his mind. And
once the club had changed hands he appeared to believe the thing was
settled beyond recall.

"Do you think they might attack us, Thad?" asked Smithy, who was
somewhat pale, but showing a resolute front in this crisis.

"I don't know any more than you do, Smithy," replied the other; "they
had some scheme in view when they scooped the boat, and hid it from us.
As I said before, I can't make up my mind whether they only want to make
time by cutting off all chances of pursuit; or else mean to come down on
us."

"What do you suppose they'd be apt to do to us for giving them so much
trouble, and taking their boat?" continued Smithy.

"What Paddy gave the drum, perhaps," remarked Davy; "a beating. But if
you two fellers can only manage to keep out of their hands a little
while, I ain't afraid about my being able to reach shore, and the camp.
Then what, Thad?"

"Just what I said--have one of the boys, Giraffe perhaps, because he's a
good runner, start over to Rockford. I think from the rough map a
charcoal burner made of this section of country for me, that town can be
only about seven miles or so across country, though the going might be
pretty rough. Here, take my little compass, in case he is afraid he may
get lost in the woods," and Thad detached the article in question from
his silver watch chain.

"I'm glad you said Giraffe," remarked Davy; "because if it had been
Step-hen, who is also a clever long-distance runner, he'd have been sure
to lose himself, because he says he's going to take the first chance,
just because somebody took his old compass. Then, when he gets to
Rockford you want Giraffe to get Faversham the 'phone; is that it,
Thad?"

"Yes, and tell his story to the Chief--all about the queer things that
have happened to us up here since we made camp,--the coming of the bear;
then our finding the boat; the tracks on the island; how we had a visit
from the bear man, and what his companion told you to do in case you
ever saw the imprint of a shoe that had a crooked patch across the sole.
I reckon Mr. Malcolm Hotchkiss'll know what to do when he gets all these
facts in his head. And then Giraffe can rest up before he tries to come
back to-morrow."

"I got it all just as you stated it, Thad,"