Don Strong, Patrol Leader | Page 5

no sense
in worrying about Tim. Tim might get over his disappointment and not
make a bit of trouble.
Next morning, while he built bird-houses, his mind was busy with
eager plans for his patrol. The first-aid contest would really be a test of
skill. With the exception of Bobbie Brown and Wally Woods, every
member of the Wolves was a first-class scout. They knew the theory of
their first aid. The thing to do was to make them freshen up in the
actual work of doing.
"We'll have to get on the job at once," Don told himself. "I'll call a
patrol meeting for Monday night. If Bobbie comes around--"
Bobbie rode up to the gate. "Hello, Don."
"Hello, Bobbie. I was just hoping you'd show up. Take a scout message
for me?"
"Sure!" The boy held on to the palings of the fence and did not
dismount.
"Pass the word that there'll be a patrol meeting at my house Monday
night."
Bobbie rode away as though the message had to be delivered within the

next five minutes. Don smiled, and then grew thoughtful. Wouldn't it
be fine if all scouts were as keen and as alert as that?
Tim did not come to the field that afternoon. On the way home Don
met Mr. Wall.
"Well," the Scoutmaster smiled, "how's the new patrol leader?"
"All right, sir."
"Think you're going to like it?"
"Yes, sir."
"It has its hard spots," Mr. Wall said seriously, "just like any other job.
It isn't all milk and honey. There are lots of things you could do when
you were a scout that you cannot do now. Not that they are exactly
forbidden by the scout laws. They're forbidden by you, yourself. Do
you understand?"
The boy nodded soberly. "I think so. You mean that when I was a plain
scout I could skylark and cut up a bit, but that now I must be out in
front setting the pace. I can't ask any of the fellows to be what I am not
myself."
"Exactly. And there's another thing. Don't get discouraged when your
plans go wrong. Get your grip and hold on. Scouts are only human.
They're not angels."
Don smiled.
"I mean that. Scouting wasn't made for angels. It was made for
everybody, fellows like you and me. And just because we're not angels,
we sometimes kick things around and don't seem to play fair. When
that happens--"
"Yes, sir?" said Don.
"That's the time we need scouting most," Mr. Wall said gravely.

It seemed to Don that the Scoutmaster was giving him a warning. But
though he puzzled his head and wondered, he could not fathom what
Mr. Wall might mean.
He told Barbara and his mother about Monday night's meeting and said
that he would take the scouts up to his room out of the way. Barbara
told him indignantly that he would do nothing of the kind. The scouts
would meet, she announced, in the cool dining-room.
Monday, as soon as supper was over, she began to prepare for the
coming of the patrol. Don wanted to help, but she routed him from the
place. He went out to the porch and sat there in the gathering darkness.
A vague sense of uneasiness stole over him.
Presently Bobbie Brown rode up and left his bicycle inside the gate.
Soon he was followed by Alex Davidson and Andy Ford. Then came a
long wait. At length two figures loomed in the dusk.
"Who's there?" Don called eagerly.
"Ritter and Woods," came the answer.
Don suddenly knew the cause of that vague uneasiness. The meeting
had been called for eight o'clock, and it was now five minutes after, and
there was no sign of Tim.
But none of the others seemed to think of the missing scout. Alex was
bubbling over with the wonder of his first day in business. He told of
how many orders he had delivered, and how much money he had
collected, and how careful he had to be in making change. Don listened
nervously. By and by he struck a match and glanced at his watch.
"Quarter past eight," he said.
"How about starting?" said Andy.
Don led the patrol indoors. The dining-room lamp shed a soft glow
over the table. Chairs were drawn up, and at each place was a

sharpened pencil and a few sheets of paper.
"I'll bet Barbara thought of that," said Andy,
At any other time praise of Barbara would have brought a quick smile
to Don's face. Now, however, he sat down soberly and gave the order to
call the roll. Andy cleared his throat.
"Patrol Leader Strong."
"Here," said Don.
"Assistant Patrol Leader Ford. No doubt about me being here."
"Scout Davidson."
"Here," said Alex.
"Scout Ritter."
"Here."
"Scout