The Boy Scouts Patrol

The Boy Scouts Patrol

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Title: The Boy Scouts Patrol
Author: Ralph Victor
Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5602] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on July 19, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BOY
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THE BOY SCOUTS PATROL
BY RALPH VICTOR
ILLUSTRATED BY
RUDOLF MENCL

CHAPTER
I. A MONKEY TRICK
II. FINDING MONEY
III. TWO AND TWO
IV. UP THE RIVER
V. OUT OF THE RIVER
VI. THE ENEMY MAKES A RAID
VII. THE COLONEL
VIII. TALKING IT OVER
IX. THE PURSUIT
X. LOOKING FOR A CLUE
XI. FORMING THE PATROL
XII. ORGANIZED

XIII. A CHALLENGE
XIV. A DEFIANCE
XV. PEPPER TAKES A MESSAGE
XVI. WHERE WAS PEPPER?
XVII. THE MESSAGE
XVIII. IN THE JUDGE'S OFFICE
XIX. A NARROW ESCAPE
XX. A NIGHT ALARM
XXI. A SURPRISE
XXII. THE RACE
XXIII. CONCLUSION

THE BOY SCOUTS PATROL

CHAPTER I
A MONKEY TRICK
"I think--" began a tall, slenderly-built lad of sixteen, speaking in a
somewhat indolent way; then suddenly he paused to look down through
the trees to where the river gleamed below.
"What's on your mind now, Rand?" his companion queried, a boy of
about the same age, nearly as tall, but more stoutly built, and as light in
complexion as the other was dark. The two were standing at the top of
the road that wound down the side of the mountain from the town of
Creston, which was perched, like the nest of some great bird, in a

hollow of the Palisades.
"I think--" repeated the first speaker, pausing again.
"That's right, Randolph," approved his companion briskly, "always
think twice before you speak once."
"I always do, Donald Graeme," retorted Rand; "but what I was really
going to say when you interrupted me with your irrelevant remark,
was--"
"Hurrah!" broke in Donald, waving his cap in answer to the hail of
another boy who was just then seen hurrying down the road toward
them. "Here comes Pepper in a rush, as usual."
It was just after dawn of a June morning that the boys were assembling.
It was still dark and gloomy, for it had rained during the night and the
storm had not yet passed, but the boys having planned a fishing trip for
this morning were not to be deterred by the fear of a wet jacket.
"Hello, fellows!" panted the newcomer, who was smaller and slighter
than either of the others, but who made up in activity and energy what
he lacked in size. His hair was a glowing red and with it went a temper
so quick that the nickname, Pepper, that some chum had given him,
was most appropriate. It is doubtful if any of his comrades really knew
his Christian name. Certainly he was always "Pepper" to every one,
even at home, although he was christened Philip.
"I say, I was afraid you'd be gone when I got here."
"Well, we would have been," drawled Randolph, "only we knew you'd
be late, and we took our time."
"Now that isn't fair, Rand," laughed the other, "you know I'm not
always late."
"Well, maybe not ALWAYS," conceded Rand; "but almost always.
What was the matter this morning--breakfast late?"

"Now, you know I didn't wait for breakfast," protested Pepper, adding
rather reluctantly, "though I did stop for a bite. But even if I am late I'm
not last. Jack isn't here yet, and he left home first."
"Oh, he's out on the trail somewhere, I suppose," surmised Donald.
"He's always chasing for news. He'll be coming along presently with a
whole budget. I believe he thinks the paper couldn't go on if it weren't
for him."
"'That reminds me,' as Dick Wilson says," interrupted Rand, taking