CHAPTER XX

"HOLD THE FORT!"


As a rule it did not take these boys long to decide upon their course of
action. And in the present instance they had so little choice that
unusually prompt results might be expected.

"We'd better tell the other fellows, to begin with?" ventured Allan.

"Yes," remarked the scout-master, promptly, "it wouldn't be fair to keep
things like this from the boys. They're just as much interested in how
it turns out as we are. And, besides, we may get a bright idea from
somebody."

"You never can tell," added Allan; and some of those same other scouts
might not have felt complimented could they have heard him say these
words, as they seemed to imply that miracles did sometimes happen, when
you were least expecting them.

But having made up their minds on this score the pair walked over to the
camp under that friendly ledge.

Upon their arrival every eye was immediately glued upon Thad. It seemed
as though Giraffe, Bumpus, Davy and Step Hen must have guessed that the
scout-master had made some sort of exciting discovery, and now meant to
take them into his confidence.