CHAPTER

       I A Meeting in the Barn

      II What it Means to be a Boy Scout

     III The Disappearing Coins

      IV The First Scout Leader

       V Checking a Coward

      VI A Strange Suggestion

     VII The Trap that Peleg Set

    VIII Turning the Tables

      IX “Well Done, My Boy!”

       X An Unexpected Offer

      XI Caught Napping

     XII The Rival Troops

    XIII “Fire!”

     XIV Jack’s Chance

      XV The Honor Brand

     XVI The Fire Test

    XVII Clearing Skies

   XVIII Carlo Does His Turn

     XIX The Warning Over the Wire

      XX Such Glorious Luck

     XXI The Meeting

    XXII Scouting in Earnest

   XXIII The Red Car

    XXIV A Call for Help

     XXV A Camp in the Woods

    XXVI What Woodcraft Told

   XXVII Ted Finds Something

  XXVIII Forced to Tell

    XXIX The Capture

     XXX Found Out at Last

    XXXI Well Done, Stanhope Troop!—­Conclusion

PREFACE

My Dear Boys: 

Knowing that ninety-nine lads out of every hundred love outdoor life above all else, I have taken it upon myself to give you a series of what I hope will prove to be clean, wide-awake, up-to-date stories, founded upon a subject that is interesting our whole nation—­the Boy Scouts of America.  You know what a hold this movement has taken upon the rising generation of our broad land.  There never was anything like it before—­there never may be again.

At first many people made the mistake of believing that it was simply a new military order, and that boys who joined were to be taught the duties of soldiers, and learned how to fight.  They know better now.  It is really the greatest movement for Peace ever started.  Not only that, but the lads who belong to this vast organization are taught how to be manly, self reliant, brave, courteous, kindly and steadfast.

When you examine the roster of the officers who have loaned their names to help along the good cause you will find such honored signatures as those of President William Howard Taft, ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, and many others dear to the hearts of our boys.

This glorious field opens up a very tempting opportunity for a series of stirring stories concerning the fortunes of real Boy Scouts, who have gone into the movement heart and soul, with a desire to excel in all they undertake; and at the same time enjoy themselves hugely.  I only hope and trust that you may be pleased with what you read in this book, about the doings of the Red Fox Patrol, of Stanhope Troop, and that the story will do you much good.