CHAPTER X
CAMP LIFE
After a long march through magnificent forests, along winding streams,up and down the sides of steep hills, the boys and their leaderand the guide reached Pioneer Camp late the following afternoon.
A rousing welcome awaited them, and almost the first news they heardwas that Tom Sherwood had been elected leader of the Otter patrol,during Alec Sands' absence.
Tired as he was, Tom received this information with due appreciationof the honor. He was glad to hear also that the troop was gettingup a baseball game for the morrow, to be played by two teams chosenfrom all four patrols. In this way he hoped to be able to tell justwho were the best players in his patrol and who needed coaching forfuture games.
As Pioneer Camp was nearer Oakvale than his farm, Ralph knew hecould learn the decision of the railroad officials sooner than ifhe had stayed at home. He had sent word to the village postmaster,asking him to forward all letters to Pioneer Camp until furthernotice, and meanwhile he waited in feverish suspense. So muchdepended on the surveyors' report!
The second evening of Ralph's visit to Pioneer Camp was given overto verbal "examinations" on the subject of geological surveying.To create real fun in the competition, Lieutenant Denmead conductedthe test like an old-fashioned spelling school. The various patrolswere lined up in open opposition, and the boys were increasinglyinterested as one by one they missed some question and retired fromthe ranks in laughing confusion.
Finally the light of the campfire revealed only four up-standingcontestants: Tom Sherwood and Sam Winter of the Otter patrol, BudMorgan of the Wolves, and Blake Merton of the Hawks.
"They can't faze Blake," whispered Walter Osborne, hugging himselfjoyfully, as once again Blake gave a calm and sure rejoinder to theScout Master's query.
"No wonder!" replied Don Miller. "He has had all this practicalwork over at Ralph Kenyon's!"
"What's the matter with Bud Morgan?" asked Arthur Cameron. "He makesme proud to be a Wolf! He has always been loony over surveying,you know."
Just at that moment Sam Winter joined the boys who were lookingon at the finish.
"Welcome to the company of the honorably defeated, Sammy," calledDick Bellamy softly. "And here comes Tom!" he added. "Now itlies between Bud and Blake.---hush! What is the Chief saying?"
"As a final test, I will ask each of these boys to write a listnaming the twenty mineral specimens that Mr. Rawson has collectedin the last two days," announced Lieutenant Denmead. "The listthat is most nearly correct will give the troop championship forthe course of study to its writer."
Profound silence fell upon the eager group around the campfire asRawson brought out his box of specimens, with paper and pencils forthe boys.
At the end of ten minutes the lists were claimed and soon afterRawson handed to the Scout Master the successful paper.
Bud Morgan had won the competition,---and the Wolves howled in glee!
Not to be outdone, the Hawks, led by Walter Osborne and BlakeMerton, lifted their voices in a shrill "_Kree-kree-eee_," whichrose piercingly above the Wolves' "_How-ooo-ooo_!" Then the Ottersand the Foxes added their characteristic cries to the din, andaway off in the shadows where the contagion of the noise penetrated,Indian Joe gave vent to a warwhoop of delight.
"Much noise---sound good!" he muttered to himself. "Don't know whatall about. Never mind. Boys glad. See 'em go!"
The whole troop, glad indeed to have a legitimate excuse for lustyactivity after the mental exercises of the evening, had jumped totheir feet _en masse_, and, headed by the howling Wolves, wereparading joyously around the campfire.
Bud Morgan was borne on the shoulders of the leaders, and there wasnothing to suggest the student of rocks and rivers and undulatinghills in his happy abandon to the situation.
In fact, the majority of the boys had already forgotten the contestsin the temporary excitement and the uproar.
Lieutenant Denmead, after exchanging a word and a good-humored smilewith his assistant, hurried to his cabin, and returned a momentlater with a small volume in his hand. Then, at his signal, Mr.Rawson lifted the camp bugle, which he had secured hastily, andblew the assembly call.
At that, the boys, quite ready to quiet down again after theiroutburst of overflowing spirits, dropped into line with the promptnessof long practice and awaited their Scout Master's word.
"Be seated, Scouts of Pioneer Camp," he directed, returning theirsalute and seating himself on his favorite log. "In the few minutesremaining before 'taps,' I wish to emphasize the meaning of thebusiness and the fun of the evening. I am gratified by the interestyou have shown in our field work and in these tests, but I amsatisfied that we can add to the introductory knowledge that we havegained a more practical and helpful course.
"This is what I propose: First, I will give you two weeks of 'summerschool' training in geology and surveying under the tutelage of ayoung man who is a thoroughly trained geological surveyor. He wasrecommended to me by my friend Mr. Brett of the B.N. and C. Railroad.The young man, Ransom Thayer, is willing to come to us on onecondition. He has been technically trained, and he insists uponstrict attention to the matter in hand and strict school disciplinein return for his services. He has arranged a schedule of hoursboth for camp study and recitation and for practice in surveying,and has left ample time, also, for recreation, such as swimming andball-playing.
"His proposition appealed to me as being both generous and just, andI had confidence enough in the Scouts of Pioneer Camp to accept iton the spot!"
A spontaneous cheer burst from the boys at this point.
"Well, tell me, do you like the idea?" urged the Scout Mastersmilingly.
"Now, boys, tell him!" cried Walter Osborne, springing to his feetand facing the troop.
"Let her out! Now!"
"Rah! Rah! Rah!" yelled the scouts, jumping to their feet."Rah! Rah! Rah! _Lieutenant Denmead_!"
"_Kree-kree-eee_!" shrilled the Hawks. "_How-ooo-ooo_! _Yap-yap-yap_!_Skee-eee-eee_!" barked and squealed the others.
As the Scout Master raised his hand, silence fell upon the companyagain.
"The plan for the two weeks of study is only preliminary," thelieutenant continued. "Following that, we will organize the patrolsinto four squads of geological surveyors. Each squad will be giventwo days to make an accurate geological survey of a sectionpreviously selected and surveyed by Mr. Thayer. The scouts will noteits dimensions, the quality of its soil, the height of its hills,the extent of its valleys, the growth of its vegetation, itsstratified zones, its mineral deposits,---in a word, whateverpoints Mr. Thayer shall designate to you in his course of studyunder the head of the 'geological survey,' is to be included in anaccurate report, neatly recorded and finally submitted to Mr.Thayer for his marking.
"And last of all a system of 'points' will be established for thecourse, by which the patrols may be credited for certain accomplishmentsin the line of this particular training, in addition to the pointswon by the neatness and accuracy of the reports. The patrol winningthe highest final rating will be given the title: Official GeologicalSurveyors to the Troop!"
As the Scout Master made this elaborate announcement in his mostgrandiloquent manner, the boys responded laughingly, clapping theirhands appreciatively, but uttering no word.
"That is all for to-night, boys," resumed Lieutenant Denmead aftera moment, "but it will give you food for thought and a subject foryour dreams! Details will be posted soon, and, meanwhile, let yourenthusiasm grow.
"This little book in my hand will have to keep its story to itselffor to-night, as the hour is late; but to-morrow I will read to youa brief account of a national hero who found a knowledge ofsurveying a great help to him in his military capacity. Good night,boys."
"Good night, sir!" came the hearty response.