"It seems to be the unanimous consensus of opinion, Mr. Chairman, that
to-morrow would suit first rate. Please give us the hour for assembling,
and you can depend on our being on deck," Wallace remarked.

"Two o'clock ought to answer. That will give us plenty of time to try out
a lot of stunts I shall arrange for."

"Where shall we meet?" asked Jud Elderkin.

"H-h-how about our b-b-barn, fellows?" queried Bluff, grinning.

There was an instantaneous howl of derision, and every right hand went up
so that the thumb and forefinger might compress a nose.

"Another year might do, Bluff!" called one.

"What isn't fit for storing tobacco can't be a proper meeting place for
respectable Boy Scouts!" declared another, energetically.

"Oh! he's only bluffing, fellows; don't mind him!"

"In fancy I can smell it now," sang another, mockingly.

"We'll meet just outside this very blacksmith shop, and at two sharp,"
declared the chairman, decisively; "and any scout who is tardy will
be given one or more bad marks that he must carry as a load in the
competition. Punctuality is a leading trait in Stanhope Troop No. 1,
you understand. Any other proposition?"

The boys began to talk among themselves, and for a short time there was