“Why, he said,” resumed Jack, “that he wanted us to form a patrol.”

“A patrol!” repeated Donald.  “For what?  Ain’t there enough police?”

“This isn’t a police patrol,” laughed Jack, “this is a patrol in the Boy Scouts.  It’s a company of from six to eight boys.  Two or more patrols form a troop under a scoutmaster who teaches them a lot of things.”

“What kind of things?” asked Pepper.

“All kinds of things about woodcraft and how to hunt and fish and follow trails and camp out and—­and—­all the rest of it.”

“That’s a pretty comprehensive programme,” said Rand.  “We were talking about that very thing this morning.”

“Gee!” cried Pepper.  “T-t-that would be fine.  Let’s do it—­”

“There’s quite a lot of things we have to do first,” went on Jack.  “Maybe Rand can tell you more about that part than I can.”

“For the first thing,” said Rand, “we have to get at least six boys to start with.”

“That’s two more than us,” interjected Pepper; “that’s easy.”

“And form a tenderfoot patrol,” went on Rand.

“Why tenderfoot?” put in Donald.

“Because we are all tenderfeet until we learn to be scouts,” continued Rand.  “Then if we pass the examinations we become second-class scouts.”

“Second class!” objected Pepper.  “Why can’t we be first class?”

“We can,” replied Rand, “if we keep on and pass the examinations.”

“Examinations!” cried Pepper, “why that sounds like school.”

“What do we have to be examined in?” asked Donald.

“On joining,” went on Rand, reading from a pamphlet he had in his hand, “a boy must pass a test on the following points:  Know the scout law and signs and salute.”

“The scout law!” said Pepper, “what’s that?”

“The scout law,” read Rand, “is:  “1.  A Scout’s honor is to be trusted.

“2.  A Scout is loyal to his country, his officers, his parents and his employers.”

“Wait a minute,” interposed Jack, “until I land this fellow,” and another fish was added to their mess.  “All right, drive ahead.”

“3.  A Scout’s duty is to be useful and help others.

“4.  A Scout is a friend to ail, and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs.

“5.  A Scout is courteous.”

“Now it is my turn,” interpolated Rand, pulling in another fish.

“6,” he went on, “A Scout is a friend to animals.

“7.  A Scout obeys orders by his parents, patrol leader, or Scoutmaster, without question.

“8.  A Scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances.

“9.  A Scout is thrifty.”

“Crickets!” cried Pepper when Rand finished, “there’s a whole lot to learn, ain’t there?  We shall have to get busy.  Is there any more to it?”

“Know the composition of the National flag and how to fly it,” read Rand.