“Like an old salt,” replied Pepper.

The boys set to work on the knots and in a few minutes had them all tied, to the colonel’s satisfaction, whereupon he proceeded to administer the Scout’s oath.

“Raise your right hands, with the thumb resting on the nail of the little finger, the other three fingers pointing upward.  This represents the three promises of the oath.  Now, repeat after me:  On my honor I promise that I will do my best: 

“1.  To do my duty to God and my country.

“2.  To help other people at all times.

“3.  To obey the Scout law.

“You all promise this—­”

“We do,” responded the boys.

“Then,” concluded the colonel, “you are now members of the Boy Scouts, and I know you will be an honor to it.”

“We will do our best,” responded Rand.

“And now,” continued the colonel, “in celebration of the organization of—­By the way, you haven’t chosen a name yet, have you?  What kind of a name do you want?”

“Oh, I s-s-say,” stammered Pepper.

“Sing it, Pepper,” suggested Donald.

“L-let’s have an Indian name.”

“Want to indulge your savage instincts and live in a wigwam?” asked Rand.

“It’s a tepee, not a wigwam,” corrected Pepper.  “But we can go hunting and have a good time in the woods.”

“All right, Pepper,” agreed Gerald, “an Indian name is good enough for me.”

“Have you any name in mind?” asked the colonel.

“The Oneidas used to roam about here, didn’t they?” asked Jack.

“No,” replied the colonel, “they were farther north.”

“What Indians were in this section?” asked Rand.

“The Haverstraws held all the land about here,” replied the colonel.

“We want something more original than that,” said Jack.

“Something aboriginal,” put in Gerald.

“I guess that’s it,” laughed Jack.  “How about Mohicans?”

“I have it!” cried Pepper.  “What’s the matter with Uncas?”

“Who were they?” asked Dick.

“It wasn’t they,” replied Pepper, “it was him.  Don’t you remember he was the last of the Mohicans.”

“That’s a very good name,” commended the colonel.

“Then Uncas it is,” agreed the boys.

“Now that you have agreed upon a name,” continued the colonel, “what do you say to having a real Scout dinner in the woods?”

“That s-strikes me favorably,” exclaimed Pepper.

“Then if you will make a fire I will go on a hunting expedition and see what game I can secure,” said the colonel.  “Better get to work, boys, for I won’t be long.  You will find some meal and salt in the shack, Rand, to make some bread.”

“All right,” responded the boys, “we will have everything ready when you get back.”

The boys fell to work at once, Jack and Don gathering the wood for the fire, while Rand and Pepper mixed the dough for the bread, Dick and Gerald agreeing to do the cleaning up afterwards.  By the time the colonel came back the fire was blazing and the bread baking on some stones, which were set up in front of the fire.