“Nothing.  Maybe by next Friday he’ll be over it.”

But next Friday found Tim unchanged.  He mingled with the other scouts, but from his patrol leader he held aloof.

A Fox scout reported late, and the Foxes lost a half-point.  The score read: 

PATROL POINTS

Eagle 154-1/2
Fox 161-1/2
Wolf 159-1/2

“Wow!” cried Bobbie.  “Only two points behind now.”

A gain by the Wolves meant little to Don just now.  A belief was slowly growing in his mind that Tim had the makings of one of the best scouts in the troop.  The right kind of patrol leader, he thought, would have had Tim where he belonged before this.  He felt that he had been a failure.

He longed for advice and the wisdom of an older head.  Barbara or his father would not do tonight; he wanted somebody who knew scouting.  When the meeting was over he went slowly to Mr. Wall with his troubles.

“The little blue bugs surely have you tonight,” the Scoutmaster said cheerily.  “Let’s reason this out.  A month or so ago a frightened scout told me that some of my boys were off for Danger Mountain.  Remember?”

Oh, yes, Don remembered.

“Tim led that expedition.  Do you think he’d do a stunt like that now?”

“No, sir.”

“Nor I,” the Scoutmaster said gravely.  “He’s swinging around, probably because he’s tied up with fellows who want to be real scouts.  Would you call that failure?”

The boy was silent several minutes.  “No, sir,” he said at last.

Mr. Wall clapped his shoulder.  “Then there’s nothing left to worry about, is there?”

Don was somewhat surprised to find that there was not.  The cloud had vanished.  He went home with his mind at peace.  He had given Tim his own head of late, and even Mr. Wall said that Tim was coming around.  He’d give him his head again, and wait for the sulks to wear off.

But it was hard to work with Tim all next day against the Ironside nine, and to find him, even in the heat of the struggle, stiff and unbending.  And it was harder still to see the days of the next week pass and bring no change.  For a rumor had gone through the troop that the reason Mr. Wall had announced no contest for this month was because he was going to uncover a surprise.  Don could not help feeling that the Wolves would stand very little chance.  Tim, at odds with his patrol leader, would surely lack the zest and the spirit necessary to cope with unexpected orders.

Over Friday night’s meeting hung the promise of something to happen.  Roll-call and inspection brought to light no derelicts.  The score board read: 

PATROL POINTS

Eagle 170 1/2
Fox 177 1/2
Wolf 175 1/2

The ranks broke.  Usually there was play for a few minutes.  Mr. Wall rapped for order at once.