ON MYSTERY TRAIL




CHAPTER I

THE THREE SCOUTS


At Temple Camp you may hear the story told of how Llewellyn, scout of
the first class, and Orestes, winner of the merit badges for
architecture and for music, were by their scouting skill and lore
instrumental in solving a mystery and performing a great good turn.

You may hear how these deft and cunning masters of the wood and the
water circumvented the well laid plans of evil men and coöperated with
their brother scouts in a good scout stunt, which brought fame to the
quiet camp community in its secluded hills.

For one, as you shall see, is the bulliest tracker that ever picked his
way down out of a tangled wilderness and through field and over hill
straight to his goal.

And the other is a famous gatherer of clews, losing sight of no
significant trifle, as the scout saying is, and a star scout into the
bargain, if we are to believe Pee-wee Harris. I am not so sure that the
ten merit badges of bugling, craftsmanship, architecture, aviation,
carpentry, camping, forestry, music, pioneering and signaling should be