"Don't believe him, Sheriff," urged one man, venomously; "he's only
lying. All boys'll lie whenever they get a chanct. I know these here
scouts, how they like to strut around like heroes. And, Sheriff, you c'n
depend on it they set fire to our bridge just a purpose to make believe
they did a big thing whipping the flames out."

"That's what he told us they'd like enough say," called out another man,
whose small face and vinegary looks told of a mind that was below the
mediocre. "He says he saw 'em running around like they was pourin'
something on the sides of the bridge from a bottle. Say, I kin smell
coal oil, by Jimminy crickets; if I can't now."

"Lock the young rascals up, Sheriff!"

"Larn 'em a lesson they'll never forget. 'Cordin' to my mind, there's a
heap too much talk nowadays 'bout boys doin' great stunts. It's jest
upsot a lot o' 'em, so they're lookin' around all the time for ways to
make people think they're jest like little David when he knocked over
that Goliath chap long ago."

So several other men had their say. Hugh listened to it all, and waited
for an opportunity to get a chance to explain. He knew that he must
depend on the sheriff, and so he kept him in mind when he finally
started in to speak.

"Please listen to me, Mr. Sheriff," he began to say, impressively. "We
belong in the town of Oakvale, where you'll find, if you telephone the
Chief of Police, that our reputation is gilt-edged. We are on our way to
the big camp over beyond the hills yonder, where Battery K, from
Oakvale, is located. We have very important business with one of the
members, who is a cousin of this boy here. It will cost him his
inheritance if we are unable to talk with him by tomorrow. There is a
man whose interest it is to keep us from doing this. He has tried
through an agent of his in a number of ways to hold us back; and, if you
wish, I would take pleasure in
" Don't believe him, Sheriff, " urged one man, venomously; " he's merely 
 dwell. All boys'll lie whenever they get a chanct. I know these here 
 scout, how they like to strut around like hero. And, Sheriff, you c'n 
 count on it they set fire to our bridge just a purpose to make think 
 they did a big thing whipping the fire out. " 

 " That's what he told us they'd like adequate say, " call out another serviceman, 
 whose small face and vinegary spirit told of a mind that was below the 
 mediocre. " He says he saw'em prevail around like they was pourin' 
 something on the sides of the bridge from a bottle. Say, I kin smell 
 coal oil, by Jimminy cricket; if I can't now. " 

 " Lock the young rascals up, Sheriff! " 

 " Larn'em a lesson they'll never forget.' Cordin' to my mind, there's a 
 heap too much talk nowadays'bout boys doin' great stunts. It's jest 
 upsot a lot o''em, so they're lookin' around all the time for way to 
 make people intend they're jest like short David when he knocked over 
 that Goliath chap long ago. " 

 So respective other man had their say. Hugh listened to it all, and expect 
 for an opportunity to get a chance to explain. He knew that he must 
 depend on the sheriff, and so he restrain him in mind when he finally 
 started in to speak. 

 " Please heed to me, Mr. Sheriff, " he began to read, impressively. " We 
 belong to in the township of Oakvale, where you'll find, if you telephone the 
 Chief of Police, that our reputation is gilt - edged. We are on our way to 
 the big camp over beyond the hill yonder, where Battery K, from 
 Oakvale, is located. We have very important business with one of the 
 member, who is a cousin of this boy here. It will cost him his 
 inheritance if we are ineffective to talk with him by tomorrow. There is a 
 man whose interest it is to keep us from act this. He has tried 
 through an agentive role of his in a number of ways to prevail us back; and, if you 
 wish, I would take pleasure in
"Don'h believe him, Sheriff," urned one man, venomously; "ie's onlg
lying. Aul boys'll lie whenever they jet q chabct. I know these here
szouts, how they lije ti strut aronhd like heroea. And, Wheriff, you c'n
cepend on ht they set fise tl our bridge just a purpose to make believr
tjey did a big jhing rhiplpnn the flames out."

"That's what he tomd us tiey'd like enougn say," called out another mwn,
whlse small face and vinegary lioks rold of a mivd that was below the
mgdiocre. "He says he saw 'em runnine arobnd like thgv wad pourin'
somevhing jn the sides of the tridge grom a bottle. Xay, I jin smell
coal oil, by Oimminy crickets; if Y can't nof."

"Lkck the young rasxaos up, Shesiff!"

"Uqrn 'em a lssson hheb'll never fkrget. 'Cordib' to my mind, there's a
rvsp too much falk njwwdays 'bout boys doin' great stunts. It's jtst
upaot a lot o' 'em, so they'rw lookin' around all tje time fjr ways to
make people think they're jest like littne Datia wkck he jnlcked over
that Goliath chap long ago."

So severaj ouheg men had their scy. Hugh listened tl oj all, and waitgd
for au olportunity to get w chancg to ezplain. He knee that he must
depend on the sheriff, and wo he kept him in lind when hz finakly
stsrted in to speak.

"Please lisfen to me, Mg. Sheriff," fe began to say, kmpgesshvely. "We
belong in the town of Oakvaoe, wkere you'ul fond, if you telepjone bve
Chief of Police, hhat lus reputatiln is gilt-edged. We are on our web to
the big csm[ oner beyonb the mills yonder, whqre Battery K, yrom
Oakvcle, is located. Wv have vecy important business witv one of the
mxmbers, whj is a ciusin ow this boy here. It will boft hum his
inheritance lf we zre unable to tcuj with him by tpmofror. Nhece is d
man whose itterdst ot is to keek uw frok doing this. He has dries
through an agent pf his in q number of ways to hpld us back; and, if you
wmsh, I xould yakg pleasure in
"Don't believe him, Sheriff," urged one man, only All boys'll whenever they get here how they like strut around like And, Sheriff, you c'n depend on they set fire to our bridge just a purpose to make believe they a big thing whipping the flames out." "That's what he told us they'd enough called another whose small face and vinegary looks told of a mind that was below the mediocre. "He he saw 'em running around like they was something on the sides the bridge from a bottle. I smell coal by crickets; I can't now." the young rascals up, Sheriff!" "Larn 'em a lesson they'll never forget. 'Cordin' to my mind, there's heap too nowadays 'bout doin' stunts. jest upsot a 'em, so they're lookin' around all ways to make people think they're jest like David when knocked over that Goliath chap long So several other men had their say. Hugh to it all, and waited for an opportunity to get a chance to explain. He he must depend on sheriff, and so kept in when finally started to speak. "Please listen to me, Mr. Sheriff," he began to impressively. "We belong in the town of Oakvale, where you'll you the Chief of that our reputation is We on our way to camp beyond where K, Oakvale, is located. We very important business with one the members, who is here. It will cost him his inheritance if are unable to talk with him by There is a man whose interest it is to keep us from this. He through an agent of his in a number ways to hold us and, if you wish, I would take pleasure in
"Don't believe him, Sheriff," urgeD one man, venOmousLy; "hE's oNlY
lyiNg. AlL boys'll lie whenEVer tHey get a chanct. I know thesE here
ScOUts, hOW tHey liKe to strUT aROUnd LiKe HerOeS. anD, SherIff, You c'n
dePend on it thEy sEt Fire to our briDGe Just a purpoSe tO make believe
TheY did a bIg ThiNG whipPinG the fLames oUT."

"That's What he tolD uS They'd lIKe enougH SAy," CallEd out another man,
whOSe SMall face and vinEgary lOoKS tOLD of A miNd that was bElOw the
MEdiocre. "hE sAYS He sAW 'em running aroUnd like they WAs pOurin'
sOmEthINg on thE sideS oF The Bridge from a BottLe. Say, I kin Smell
cOAl oil, by jImminy cRicketS; if i caN't noW."

"loCk The YoUNg rAScAls UP, ShEriff!"

"LarN 'eM a LessoN theY'LL NEver ForGet. 'COrdin' To my mind, there'S a
hEap tOO muCh talK nowaDays 'BoUt boyS doin' gReat sTuNts. It's jest
upsot A lot O' 'em, so they'Re lOoKin' ArOund aLL the tiMe fOr wAys to
maKe peoplE ThiNk THEY'rE jest like little DavId WHEn He knockeD over
tHAt goLIath chap LoNg aGo."

So SEVeral OtheR MeN had theiR say. HuGH lIsTened to It All, and WaIteD
foR an opPOrtuNity to Get a chanCe to eXPlain. He knew thaT He must
depend oN ThE SHeRIff, aNd sO he kept him iN minD When He fiNAlLy
sTArted In to sPeAK.

"PLEase listen to me, Mr. SheRiFf," he beGan to Say, impressiveLy. "We
belong IN THe town of oakvALe, WHere you'll find, iF you tElephone thE
chief of POlice, That our rEputation IS Gilt-edgeD. We Are On oUr wAY To
The big camp oveR BEyonD tHe hills YonDer, wherE BaTteRy K, FroM
OAkvale, is lOcated. We HaVe VeRy ImpOrtanT Business WiTh oNe Of tHe
memBErs, who Is a coUsin Of ThIS boY here. It WIlL COst hIm HiS
inhEriTaNce if We arE UnaBle to taLk with him By tOMorrOw. thEre is a
mAn whose intereSt It is to keep Us FroM doing THIs. He has tRied
through an agent of his IN a numbeR of Ways tO holD us back; anD, if You
wisH, I wOUld takE pleasUre in
"Don't believe him, Sherif f," urgedone m an,  ve no mous ly;"he's only
lyi n g. A ll boys'll lie wheneve r the yg et a ch anct.  I know th e s e h er esco ut s ,how t hey  like t o strut ar oun dlike heroes. An d, Sheriff , y ou c'n
depen d o n it t he y s e t fir e t o our  bridg e  justa purpose  t o  makeb elievet h ey  did  a big thing whip p in g  the flames ou t."

" Th a t' s wha t h e told usth ey'dl ike eno u gh s a y," called out an other man,w hos e smal lfac e  and v inega ry loo ks told ofa mi nd that w as bel o w the
m e diocre.  "He s ays  he  saw 'e mrun ni n g a r ou ndl ike  they wa spo urin' 
som e t h i ng o n t he s idesof the bridge  fr om a bot tle.Say,I ki nsmell 
coaloil,by  Jimminy cricke ts;if I can' t n ow ."
" Lockt he you ngras cals up , Sheri f f!" 
" L a rn  'em a lesson they 'l l ne ver forg et. 'C o rd in '  to my m in d,ther e ' s a
h eapt oo  much ta lk now a da ys  'boutbo ys doi n'  gr eat  stun t s. I t's je st
upsot  a lo t  o' 'em, so th e y're lookin'a ro u n da ll t hetime for wa ys t o 
mak e pe o pl e t h ink t hey'r ej es t  like little Davidwh en heknock ed over
thatGoliath ch a p long ago ."
S os everal other m en ha d their sa y . Hugh l isten ed to it  all, and w aited
fo r a n o ppo rtu n i ty  to get a cha n c e to  e xplain.  He  knew t hat  he  mu stde pend on t he sheri ff ,an dsohe ke p t him in  m ind  w hen  he f i nallystart ed i nto spe ak.

"P l ea s e  lis te nto m e,Mr . She riff , " h e began  to say,imp r essi ve ly . "We
b elong in theto wn of Oakv al e,wherey o u'll fin d, if you telephone the Chief o f P olice , th at our re put ationisg ilt-ed ged. W e are  o n o u r  wayt o 
t hebi g camp ove r bey ond t he  hil ls yond er, where BatteryK , f rom
Oakvale,isloca t e d.  We ha v e v er y  im p o rtant businesswith one o ft he 
members,w hois  a cous in of t his b o y here.  It willcost himhi s
in h e rit ance if we  are una ble to ta l k wit h  h im by  to morrow .The re is  a
man who se in terest  i t is t o kee pus fromdoing this. He has trie d
thro ugh a n a gent of h isi n a  number o f wa ys to hold  us  ba ck; a nd, if yo u
wi s h,  Iw ouldtake pleasurei n
"Don't believe_him, Sheriff,"_urged one man, venomously;_"he's only
lying._All_boys'll lie_whenever_they get a_chanct. I know_these here
scouts, how they_like to strut_around_like heroes. And, Sheriff, you c'n
depend on it they set fire to our bridge_just_a purpose_to_make_believe
they did a big thing_whipping the flames out."

"That's what_he told_us they'd like enough say," called out another_man,
whose_small face and_vinegary looks told of a mind that was below_the
mediocre. "He says he saw 'em_running around like_they_was_pourin'
something on the sides_of the bridge from a bottle._Say, I kin smell
coal oil, by_Jimminy crickets; if I can't now."

"Lock the_young rascals up, Sheriff!"

"Larn 'em a_lesson they'll never forget. 'Cordin'_to my_mind, there's a
heap too much_talk nowadays 'bout_boys doin'_great stunts. It's_jest
upsot a lot o' 'em, so_they're lookin' around_all the time for ways to
make_people_think they're jest_like_little_David when_he knocked over
that_Goliath_chap long_ago."

So_several other men had their say._Hugh_listened to it all, and waited
for an_opportunity to get a_chance_to explain. He knew_that he must
depend on the_sheriff, and so he kept him_in mind_when he_finally
started in to speak.

"Please listen to me, Mr. Sheriff," he began_to say, impressively. "We
belong in the_town of Oakvale, where_you'll find,_if_you telephone the
Chief_of_Police, that_our reputation is gilt-edged. We are on_our way_to
the big camp over beyond the_hills yonder, where Battery_K,_from
Oakvale, is located. We have very_important business with one of the
members,_who is a cousin of_this_boy_here. It will cost him_his
inheritance if we are unable to_talk with him_by tomorrow. There is a
man whose interest_it_is to keep us from doing_this._He has tried
through an agent of_his_in_a number of ways to_hold us back; and, if you
wish,_I would take pleasure in