"Left wheel!" came the command, as the van drew abreast of an opening
where a wagon road entered the woods.

Still those two curious ones trailed in the rear, determined to ascertain
what it was that took the Fox Patrols out of town this day.

Presently, surrounded by the giant trees, still green with their summer
foliage, Paul gave the command to halt and break ranks.

Immediately the twenty-six lads began fraternizing. Those owning cameras
started to look around for openings where some promising view offered.
But most of the scouts clustered around the leader, eager to hear what
the programme of the day would embrace.

"First comes the fire test. There are a dozen fellows who have come
prepared to qualify for that. And I think we shall have an interesting
competition. Here, all who have hatchets get busy, and cut wood."

Paul himself led the way, for he delighted in using the little camp axe
which he often "toted" into the woods, when hunting or camping.

The sound of chopping soon resounded through the timber, and by degrees
quite a pile of wood had been accumulated. But all this was simply to
loosen up the muscles of the competitors; for they were not to be allowed
to use any of this fuel, which was for the main campfire.

Once this had been started, Paul distributed a dozen tin kettles that had
been brought along. These were all of the same size. Moreover, they had a
plain mark two-thirds of the way up, which was to limit the amount of