The Banner Boy Scouts Afloat | Page 3

George A. Warren
banner to that troop which excelled in an open tournament
also participated in by two other troops of Boy Scouts from the towns

of Aldine and Manchester; the former on the east bank of the Bushkill,
about six miles up-stream, and the latter a bustling manufacturing place
about seven miles down, and also on the same bank as Aldine.
In this competition, after a lively duel between the three wide awake
troops, Stanhope won handsomely; and had therefore been given the
banner, which Wallace Carberry proudly carried at the head of the
procession whenever they paraded.
The second book, "The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour; Or, The Mystery
of Rattlesnake Mountain," was given over almost exclusively to
descriptions of the wonderful things that came to pass when Stanhope
Troop spent a part of their vacation camping out in order that those
who were backward in their knowledge of how to take care of
themselves when in the open should have a good chance to learn many
of the secrets of Nature.
So many strange things happened to the boys when up on Rattlesnake
Mountain that it would be utterly impossible to even mention them here;
but if you wish to know all about the mystery they solved, and the
numerous other exciting events that befell them, you must get the
second volume.
There was to be a special meeting, which the acting scout master had
called for this evening; and Bobolink, Jack, and Tom Betts expected to
be back from their errand in time to answer to their names when the roll
was called.
It was only to oblige Jack that the other two had left home half an hour
earlier than was really necessary. Jack had asked them, over the
telephone, to drop around, as he had to go out to his father's mill before
he could attend the meeting in the church, where a room in the
basement had been kindly loaned to them by the trustees.
"What's all this mean about you going to the mill at this queer old
hour?" Bobolink was saying, as the three boys continued to walk on
abreast, the speaker carrying the silver-plated bugle which he knew
how to manipulate so well when the occasion allowed its use.

"Why, you see it's this way," Jack went on to explain. "My father
knows a man of the name of Professor Hackett, though what he's a
professor of you needn't ask me, because I don't know. But he's a bright
little gentleman, all right; and somehow or other he looks like he's just
cram full of some secret that's trying to break out all over him."
Bobolink laughed aloud.
"Well, that's a funny description you give of the gentleman, I must say,
Jack; but go on--what's he got to do with our making this trip to the big
mill tonight?"
"I just guess it's got everything to do with it," replied the other. "You
see, the professor had a number of big cases sent up here on the train,
and they came today, and were taken to the mill; for my father
promised to keep them there a couple of days until the owner could
take them away. What under the sun's in those big boxes I couldn't tell
you from Adam; all I know is that he seems to be mighty much afraid
somebody's going to steal them."
"Wow! and are we going there to stand guard over the blooming old
things?" exclaimed Bobolink in dismay; for he would not want to miss
that special meeting for anything.
"Oh! not quite so bad as that," answered Jack, with a laugh. "But you
see, that professor wrote my father that he wanted him to hire a trusty
man who would stay in the mill over night until he could get up here
from New York and take the boxes away, somewhere or other."
"Oh, that's it, eh? And where do we find the guardian of the treasure? Is
he going to bob up on the road to the mill?" Tom Betts demanded.
"He promised father to be on deck at seven-thirty, and it'll be close on
that by the time we get there, I reckon," Jack continued.
"And what have you got to do about it?" asked Bobolink.
"Let him in, and lock the door after he's on duty," replied Jack,

promptly. "You see, ever since that attempt was made to burn the mill,
when those hoboes, or yeggs, thought they'd find money in the safe,
and had their trouble for their pains, my father has been mighty careful
how he leaves the office unfastened. He couldn't see this man, Hans
Waggoner, who used to work for us, but talked with him over the
'phone, and told him I'd be there to meet him, and let
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