Boy Scouts on a Long Hike | Page 6

time anyone
approached too closely, as though possessed by a fear lest he be
tempted to repeat his recent act.
"Come on, everybody," said Eben, making a start, "I refuse to hang out
a minute longer. Seems like I c'n just get a whiff of the steak a sizzling
on the gridiron at our house; and say, when I think of it, I get wild. I'm
as hungry as that bear that came to our camp, and sent us all up in trees
like a covey of partridges."
"If you're as hungry as that after just an afternoon's signal practice,
think what'll happen when we've been hiking all day, and covered our
little forty or fifty miles?" suggested Andy, chuckling.
"Oh! come off, Andy, you don't really mean that, do you?" called out
Eben over his shoulder. "I'm good for twenty-five miles, I think; but
you give me a cold feeling when you talk about fifty. And poor old
Noodles here will melt away to just a grease spot, if the weather keeps
on as warm as it is now."
"Don't let him worry you, Eben," sang out Seth. "I heard Paul telling
how at the most we might try for thirty the second day, so as to get
ahead a bit. But what is going to count in this test is regularity--keeping
up an even pace each day of the four. And chances are we'll own that
fine trophy by the time we get back to Beverly again."
"Didn't I hear something about our having to register at a lot of places
along the way?" asked Jotham.

"Yes, I believe that's a part of the game," replied Seth. "It's only right,
just to prove that we haven't cut across lots, and shirked any. Mr.
Sargeant and the two members of the committee mean to wait up for us
at each station, and kind of keep an eye on us. I guess they want to
encourage us some, too, when we come in, dusty and tired and feeling
pretty near fagged out.
"Some of the other fellows, Steve Slimmons, Arty Beecher, and two
more, who expect to start our second patrol in the fall, wanted to go
along with us; but Mr. Sargeant preferred to limit it to just the Beavers.
He said we were seasoned scouts by this time, while the other fellows
might be called tenderfeet; and it would be a pity to run chances of
losing the prize, just because one of them softies fell down."
Fritz offered this explanation, and somehow at mention of Steve
Slimmons' name a slight smile could be seen flitting across more than
one face. For well did the scouts remember when this same boy had
been accounted one of the toughest lads in all Milltown, as that part of
Beverly across the railroad tracks was called.
At that time he had been called "Slick" Slimmons, and in many ways
he deserved the name, for he was a smooth customer. But
circumstances had arisen, as told in a previous volume of this series,
whereby Steve had gone through a rather serious experience, and had
his eyes opened to the fact that in leading such a wild life he was
carrying the heavy end of the log.
He had broken with the tough crowd of which he had been a member
up to then, and now was hand in glove with Paul Prentice and his
scouts, in fact considered himself a member of Beverly Troop.
The active lads found little trouble in negotiating the descent leading
down to level ground. Even Noodles had become many times more
agile than before he donned the magical khaki of the scouts; for the
various duties that had to be performed from time to time by every
member of the patrol had done wonders for the slow moving
German-American boy.

With their goal now in sight, the six scouts started off at a lively pace.
If any of them felt in the least bit tired he was evidently determined not
to show it to his comrades, or any one they might happen to meet on
the road leading to Beverly. Pride is a great thing at certain times, and
helps ride over many difficulties.
So, in due time they separated, each fellow heading toward his own
home. And the last words they called back to each other were in
connection with the great hike upon which they expected to start on the
following morning, which would be Tuesday.
Many anxious looks were cast upward toward the blinking stars that
night, and speculations indulged in as to the probable kind of weather
that would be doled out to them while on the road.
And more than one scout lay awake long after he went to bed, trying to
lift the