"I pray not," said Grenfel. "But we don't know, Fleming. For the
last few years -- ever since the trouble in the Balkans finally
flamed up -- Europe has been on the brink of a volcano. We don't
know what the next day may bring forth. I've been afraid - " He
stopped, suddenly, and seemed to consider.

"There is danger now," he said, gravely. "Since the Archduke
Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, Austria has been in
an ugly mood. She has tried to blame Servia. I don't think
Russia will let her crush Servia -- not a second time. And if
Russia and Austria fight there is no telling how it may spread."

"You'd want us to win, wouldn't you, Harry, if we fought?" asked
Dick, when Mr. Grenfel had passed on to speak to some of the
others.

"Yes, I think I would -- I know I would, Dick," said Harry,
gravely. "But I wouldn't want to see a war, just the same. It's
a terrible thing."

"On, it wouldn't last long," said Dick, confidently. "We'd lick
them in no time at all. Don't you think so?"

"I don't know -- I hope so. But you can't ever be sure."

"I wonder if they'd let us fight?"

"No, I don't think they would, Dick. There'd be plenty for the
Boy Scouts to do though, I believe."