His ability as a ballplayer was no less of a surprise to them than it was to himself, for he had not played ball since his junior year in high school.  His pitching proved to be clever and varied, his delivery of the horsehide sphere being as good as Tom Sherwood’s—–­which is no faint praise.

Early that same afternoon the boys learned that the schedule promised by the Scout Master was posted on the wall of his cabin, and that Assistant Rawson had been dispatched to Oakvale for the supplies listed in Ransom Thayer’s outline for study and practice.

“The notice says that Mr. Thayer will begin work, with us at nine o’clock sharp next Monday morning,” announced Don Miller of the Foxes.

He had already seen the bulletin and made some inquiries of Lieutenant Denmead, in order to coach his patrol more intelligently.

“Are there any ‘points’ for knowledge of trees and plants?” asked Shorty McNeil.

“I didn’t read everything carefully, Shorty,” replied Don, “but I do remember the word ‘vegetation.’  Maybe that will cover your specialty.”

“I hope so,” was the earnest rejoinder.  “I can’t do anything with the mathematical end of this stunt, I tell you right now.  But leaves, and flowers, and different kinds of bark!—–­they are as easy to read as print!  And I would like to bring in a point or two for our patrol.”

At this moment Walter Osborne approached, walking rapidly from the direction of headquarters.

“Hullo, Don,” he called.  “Have you seen the schedule?  Great, isn’t it?  Brings in about all our scoutcraft up to date!”

Walter hurried on, scarcely waiting to hear Don’s reply in his eagerness to overtake Blake Merton.

“I say, Blake,” he began enthusiastically on reaching the fellow-hawk, “do you know that this geological survey is going to give us fine training in signaling?  I hadn’t realized it before, but maybe you have, because of your experience over at Ralph’s.”

“Yes, I was interested in the simple system the railroad men used,” Blake responded.  “It is an eye and hand language worth learning.”

“Well, I confess that I know nothing about it.  And I didn’t pick up much from the work we had here while you were away.  With all credit to the Lieutenant, he does not know the practical side of geological surveying, and while he interested us all, he did not give us the real stuff that we shall get with Mr. Thayer.”

“True for you,” responded Blake.  “All the fellows felt that way after the tests last night, I guess.  Those questions showed them how few facts they had really learned.  It was not hard for Bud and me, because we have both had experience before now.”

Meanwhile Bud Morgan himself was in the midst of a group of eager Wolves.

“You must coach us, Bud,” Arthur Cameron said.  “We shall miss Hugh and Billy in this, but you must see that they hear a good report of us when it is over.”