"I move that we write out just what we intend to do, and that all the
fellows in the room sign it as charter members. Then we'll try to double
our dozen by a week, and rush things along. We already have enough for
the first patrol and half a second. If we expect to compete with those
other troops in the struggle for supremacy we've got to be awake and
doing."

"You never said truer words, Paul. What sort of a binding agreement had
we ought to get up?" asked Bobolink, pretending that it was Tom Bates who
spoke; for really the boy had a wonderful gift of ventriloquism, and
often amused himself, and his friends as well, by sending his voice into
strange places, to the wonder of those who were not aware of his tricks.

"I thought that over, and wrote out what I believed would cover the
ground. If you listen now, I'll read it to you," returned the chairman.

"Hear! hear ye! All keep silent while our honored chairman reads the
document to which we expect to subscribe our names and seals!" called
William, pompously.

What Paul had written was simply that those whose names were found below
had united themselves together with the idea of forming a troop that
could be connected with the regular Boys Scout organization as
incorporated.

Then every boy present wrote his name beneath the agreement, after which
they went into executive session, the parents of A. Cypher being kindly
but firmly requested to retire from the room, while the election of
officers proceeded, and other necessary steps were taken to perfect the