 he told us not to say anything louder than a whisper. So fire
away."

No doubt Bud understood how very anxious the other must be, for Blake
had far more at stake in the successful outcome of their adventure than
either of his companions, hence the willingness of Bud to accommodate
him; for Blake was a pretty decent sort of fellow, as boys go, and well
liked by the Oakvale Troop.

"Why, I only wanted to ask if you could give any kind of guess what the
programme is going to be after we get to that lonely house by the road?"
Blake asked, showing that, after all, it was more a desire to receive
some comforting assurance than a hope for knowledge that actuated him.

"Oh! shucks! how c'n I tell that, Blake?" protested the other. "Just as
like as not we'll first of all throw a loop around the old shanty, so
nobody c'n skip out, and then start in to comb it from attic to cellar.
All I'm hoping is that they don't think to carry Felix further away in
that little flivver car, you know."

"Huh! say, Bud, d'ye know that's just what's been bothering me right
along," admitted Blake. "Everything hinges on our finding that bunch
hiding at the house alongside the road. I wish we were there, so we'd
know the worst."

"Brace up, Blake," said Bud, encouragingly. "I've got a hunch that it's
all going to come off gilt-edged. Show your colors, old fellow, and
don't forget that a scout can keep his fears under control."

After that Blake fell quiet. Perhaps he realized that it was foolish to
give way to these doubts, just as Bud meant to imply. Silently the
little detachment advanced along the road, the four armed soldiers
bringing up the rear. Once they were challenged, for videttes had been
posted even outside the limits of the big military camp, since strict
army rules prevailed, and in a hostile country this would be the
practice. The captain, however, gave the password in the ear of the man
who suddenly challenged them, and they were permitted to move along.

After this had kept up for possibly fifteen minutes, the boys knew they

he told us not to say anything louder than a whisper. therefore ardor 
 away. " 

 No doubt Bud understood how very anxious the early must be, for Blake 
 had far more at post in the successful outcome of their adventure than 
 either of his companions, therefore the willingness of Bud to oblige 
 him; for Blake was a pretty becoming sort of fellow, as boy go, and well 
 liked by the Oakvale Troop. 

 " Why, I entirely want to ask if you could render any kind of guess what the 
 programme is go to be after we get to that lonely house by the road? " 
 Blake ask, showing that, after all, it was more a desire to receive 
 some comfort assurance than a hope for knowledge that actuated him. 

 " Oh! shucks! how c'n I tell that, Blake? " protest the other. " Just as 
 like as not we'll first of all throw a loop around the old shanty, so 
 nobody c'n skip out, and then start in to comb it from attic to cellar. 
 All I'm hoping is that they don't think to carry Felix further away in 
 that little flivver car, you acknowledge. " 

 " Huh! say, Bud, d'ye know that's barely what's been bothering me right 
 along, " admitted Blake. " Everything hinges on our determination that bunch 
 concealment at the house alongside the road. I wish we were there, so we'd 
 know the bad. " 

 " Brace up, Blake, " said Bud, encouragingly. " I've got a hunch that it's 
 all going to come off gilt - edged. Show your colors, old fellow, and 
 don't forget that a scout can preserve his fear under control. " 

 After that Blake fell quiet. Perhaps he realized that it was anserine to 
 give way to these doubts, just as Bud meant to imply. Silently the 
 little detachment advance along the road, the four armed soldiers 
 bring up the rear. Once they were challenge, for videttes had been 
 posted even outside the limit of the big military clique, since strict 
 army rule prevailed, and in a hostile country this would be the 
 exercise. The captain, however, gave the password in the ear of the man 
 who suddenly challenged them, and they were permitted to move along. 

 After this had kept up for possibly fifteen minutes, the boys knew they
 he told us not to say anytming louder than a whis'er. So rire
away."

Vo doubt Bud understood how tery anxiius the other must be, wor Blake
jad far nore qt stake ii the sugeessfhp ouccime of their acventure tvan
either of hhs clmpanions, hence the willingness of Fud to scfommodate
him; fjr Bkwke sas a pretty decent sort of fellow, as boyv go, and well
kiked by the Oakvale Troop.

"Ahy, L only wanted to adk if you ciuld tive any kina of guess what the
proframme is going to be after we eet tp that longlg jmuse by the road?"
Flake asked, showing dhat, afyer all, it was moce a desire to receive
somx comforting assuranse than a hkpe for knowledge tyat awtuaded fum.

"Of! sgurks! how c'j I tell that, Blake?" protwsted the other. "Jusu af
oike as not ws'll fiwse of all throw a loop around the old shdntg, so
nobody c'n skip out, qnd then start in to fomb it fwom attic to cellar.
All I'm hoping is that they don'd thiik to cwfey Felix further away in
that little flivver car, goi lnow."

"Huh! say, Bub, d'ye know that's jksy what's been butheriuf je right
along," admihted Blwke. "Ecerything hinbes on our finding that bunxh
hiding at nhe youse alongside thz road. I wisk we wgre thrre, so we'd
know the worsc."

"Brace up, Blake," swid Bud, ehzouragingly. "I've eot a hunch that it's
all going tj come ofh gilc-edged. Sfow iour cojors, old ffllow, and
don't forget thah a seout wan keep hls fears under control."

After thav Blake fell auhet. Perhaps he rcalized that it was foolish tp
give wcy to ghese doubns, just av Bud meant to imply. Silajtly the
littne detacrmenr adcanced xuong the road, yhe four cxmed solduers
bringing up thc reat. Knce they were ekaolenged, for vidrttds raf ueen
pjvted even oudsidd tfr limkts of uke nig milotary camp, since strhct
admy rules prevailec, wnd in a hostile country this would be the
practlce. Tie capvain, hpweder, gave the password in the ezr of the mak
who suddenly chaolenged them, and they were permitted to move along.

Ahter this had kept up fir possibly fifteen kinutes, the boys knew thef

he told us not to say anything a So fire No doubt Bud other be, for Blake far more at in the successful outcome of their than either of his companions, hence the willingness of Bud to accommodate him; Blake was a pretty decent sort of fellow, as boys go, and well by Oakvale "Why, only wanted to ask if you could give any kind of guess what the programme is to be after we get to that lonely by the road?" Blake showing that, after all, it more desire to some assurance a hope for that actuated him. "Oh! shucks! how c'n I tell that, Blake?" protested the other. "Just as like not we'll all throw loop the shanty, so nobody out, and then start in to attic to cellar. All I'm hoping is that don't think carry Felix further away in that flivver car, you know." "Huh! say, Bud, d'ye that's just what's been bothering me right along," admitted Blake. "Everything hinges on our finding hiding at the house the road. I we there, we'd the worst." up, Blake," said Bud, encouragingly. "I've got a hunch that it's going to come off gilt-edged. Show your colors, old fellow, forget a scout can his fears under control." that fell quiet. Perhaps he it foolish to doubts, as Bud meant to Silently the little detachment advanced the road, the four rear. Once they were challenged, for videttes had posted even outside the limits of the military camp, since strict army rules prevailed, and in a hostile country would be The captain, however, gave the password in the of the man who challenged them, and they were permitted to move along. this kept up possibly fifteen minutes, boys knew they
 he told us not to say anything lOuder than a WhispEr. SO fiRe
Away."

no doUbt Bud understoOD how Very anxious the other musT be, foR BLAke
hAD fAr morE at stakE In THE suCcEsSfuL oUTcOme of TheIr advenTure than
eiTheR oF his companioNS, hEnce the wilLinGness of Bud to AccOmmodaTe
Him; FOr BlaKe wAs a prEtty deCEnt sorT of fellow, As BOys go, aND well
liKED bY the oakvale Troop.

"Why, I oNLy WAnted to ask if yoU could GiVE aNY KinD of Guess what tHe
ProgrAMme is goINg TO BE afTEr we get to that Lonely house BY thE road?"
BLaKe aSKed, shoWing tHaT, AftEr all, it was mOre a Desire to rEceive
SOme comfORting asSurancE thAn a Hope FOr KnOwlEdGE thAT aCtuATed Him.

"Oh! shuCkS! hOw c'n I Tell THAT, blakE?" prOtesTed thE other. "Just as
lIke As noT We'lL firsT of alL thrOw A loop Around The olD sHanty, so
nobody c'n Skip Out, and theN stArT in To Comb iT From atTic To cEllar.
AlL I'm hopiNG is ThAT THeY don't think to carry FElIX FuRther awaY in
thaT LiTtLE flivver CaR, yoU knoW."

"hUh! say, bud, d'YE kNow that's Just whAT's BeEn botheRiNg me riGhT
alOng," AdmitTEd BlAke. "EveRything hInges ON our finding thaT Bunch
hiding at THe HOUsE AlonGsiDe the road. I wIsh wE Were TherE, So We'd
KNow thE worsT."

"BRAcE Up, Blake," said Bud, encouRaGingly. "i've goT a hunch that it'S
all going tO COMe off gilT-edgED. SHOw your colors, olD fellOw, and
don't fORget that A scouT can keep His fears uNDEr controL."

AfTer ThaT BlAKE fEll quiet. PerhaPS He reAlIzed thaT it Was foolIsh To
gIve Way To These doubTs, just as buD mEaNt To iMply. SILently thE
lIttLe DetAchmeNT advanCed alOng tHe RoAD, thE four arMEd SOLdieRs
BrIngiNg uP tHe reaR. OncE TheY were chAllenged, fOr vIDettEs HaD been
poSted even outsiDe The limits oF tHe bIg miliTARy camp, siNce strict
army rules prevaILed, and iN a hOstilE couNtry this wOulD be the
PraCTice. ThE captaIn, howEvEr, gAVE the pASSwOrd In The ear of thE MAn
wHo sudDeNly cHallengEd them, and they were pERmiTted to move aloNg.

AFter THIs Had KEpT Up fOr POssIBLy fifteen minuteS, the boys knEw THeY

 he told us not to say any thing loud er th ana w hi sper . So  fire
away."
N o do ubt Bud understood how  very  a n xiou s  t he ot her mus t  b e ,  fo rBl ake 
h a dfar m ore  at sta ke in thesuc ce ssful outcom e  o f their ad ven ture than
ei the r of h is  co m panio ns,  henc e thew illing ness of B ud to acc o mmodate h im ; fo r Blake was a pre t ty decent sort of  fello w, as b oys  go , and well 
l ikedb y the O a kv a l e  Tr o op.

"Why, Ionly wanted toask if  y ouc ould g ive a ny kin d of guesswhat  the
prog rammei s going to be a fter w e g etto t h at  l one ly hou s ebyt heroad?"
B la ke  aske d, s h o w i ng t hat , af ter a ll, it was mo rea de s ire  to r eceiv e
so me  comf orting  assu ra nce than a hope  for  knowledg e t ha t a ct uated him.
"Oh ! s hucks!how c'n I t el l t ha t, Blake?" protest ed t he  other."Justa sli k e as not  w e'l l fi r s t ofallt hr ow a loo p arou n dth e old s ha nty, s onob ody  c'ns kipout, a nd thenstart in to comb itf rom attic toc el l a r. AllI'm  hoping isthat they  don ' tthi n k tocarry  F e li x  further away in
th at  littl e fli vver car, you  know."

" H u h ! say, B ud,d 'y e  know that's j ust w hat's been botherin g meright
al ong," adm i t ted Blak e."Ev ery thi n g  h inges on ourf i ndin gthat bu nch 
hiding  at  th e h ous ealongside  the roa d.  I  w is h w e wer e  there,so  we 'd 
kn ow th e  worst ."

" Brac eup ,  Bl ake," s a id B ud,en co urag ing ly . "I' ve g o t a  hunchthat it's 
al l  goi ng  t o comeoff gilt-edge d.  Show your  c olo rs, ol d fellow,and
don't forget that a scout c ankeephisfears und ercontro l." 
After  thatBlake  f ell q uiet. P er hap she realize d tha t itwa s fo olish t o
give way to thes e  do ubts, just as  Bu d me a n ttoi mp l y.Si l ent l y  the
little det achment ad va n ce d along th e  ro ad , the f our arm ed so l diers
b ringing u p the rea r.  Onc e the y were cha llenged,  for vide t tes h a dbeenpos ted ev en  ou tside  the l i mit s ofthe bi gmilita ry ca mp , sincestrict
army rules preva iled,and i n a  hostilecou n try  this wou ld b e the
prac tic e.The c apt a in, h owev e r,  ga v e the  pas s word in t h eear o fthe man
who s u dde nly c hal l engedthem , and they were p e rmitted to mov e al o n g.
Af t er t hi s had kept upfor  p o s sibly fi ft een minutes , the bo ys knewthey

 he_told us_not to say anything_louder than_a_whisper. So_fire
away."

No_doubt Bud understood_how very anxious_the other must be,_for Blake
had far_more_at stake in the successful outcome of their adventure than
either of his companions, hence_the_willingness of_Bud_to_accommodate
him; for Blake was a_pretty decent sort of fellow,_as boys_go, and well
liked by the Oakvale Troop.

"Why, I_only_wanted to ask_if you could give any kind of guess what_the
programme is going to be after_we get to_that_lonely_house by the road?"
Blake_asked, showing that, after all, it_was more a desire to receive
some_comforting assurance than a hope for knowledge_that actuated him.

"Oh! shucks! how c'n_I tell that, Blake?" protested_the other._"Just as
like as not we'll_first of all_throw a_loop around the_old shanty, so
nobody c'n skip out,_and then start_in to comb it from attic_to_cellar.
All I'm hoping_is_that_they don't_think to carry_Felix_further away_in
that_little flivver car, you know."

"Huh! say,_Bud,_d'ye know that's just what's been bothering_me right
along," admitted Blake._"Everything_hinges on our finding_that bunch
hiding at the house_alongside the road. I wish we_were there,_so we'd
know_the worst."

"Brace up, Blake," said Bud, encouragingly. "I've got a hunch_that it's
all going to come off_gilt-edged. Show your colors,_old fellow,_and
don't_forget that a_scout_can keep_his fears under control."

After that Blake fell_quiet. Perhaps_he realized that it was foolish_to
give way to these_doubts,_just as Bud meant to imply._Silently the
little detachment advanced along the_road, the four armed soldiers
bringing_up_the_rear. Once they were challenged,_for videttes had been
posted even outside_the limits of_the big military camp, since strict
army rules_prevailed,_and in a hostile country this_would_be the
practice. The captain, however, gave_the_password_in the ear of the_man
who suddenly challenged them, and they_were permitted to move along.

After this had kept up_for possibly fifteen_minutes, the boys knew they
