CHAPTER III. ON A MISSION.
While the three Boy Scouts are trudging back toward Hampton, we will takethe opportunity to introduce them more fully to our readers who may nothave met them before. Rob Blake, the son of the local banker in theseashore village of Hampton, Long Island, had, some time before thepresent story opens, founded the Eagle Patrol. The early days of itsexistence formed the basis of the first book of the series, for the ladsflocked eagerly to its standard, and the Patrol was soon in a flourishingcondition, with a well-equipped room above the local bank building, afine, up-to-date structure. The adventures of the Patrol in camp andScout life in general were various and exciting. The boys made someenemies, as was natural, for many boys wished to belong to their Patrolwho could not be admitted; but in the end, thanks mainly to their Scouttraining, all things came out well for the Eagles.
In the second volume we found "The Boy Scouts on the Range." In this bookfull details of Scout principles as put into practice in a wild andlawless country were related. The pursuit of Silver Tip, the giantgrizzly, popularly supposed to bear a charmed life, was an interestingfeature of their experience in the West. Indians and cattle rustlers madetrouble for the boys and their friends, but, although the boys wereseveral times placed in jeopardy and danger, they emerged with creditfrom all their dilemmas.
Still following the lads' fortunes, we found them in the third volume ofthe series, "The Boy Scouts and the Army Airship," deeply interested inthe subject of aerial navigation. They managed to give material aid incertain experiments that the government carried on at a lonely house onthe sea coast near Hampton, and became involved in some thrillingincidents which still further put to the test their ability andcleverness.
In "The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp," the scene shifted to the Adirondacks,whither the boys went, primarily on a quiet camping trip. But they becameinvolved in an exciting search for a long missing treasure, immured in anancient and almost inaccessible cave in the heart of a wild region. Howthey won out against apparently insurmountable obstacles makes excitingand instructive reading.
"The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," the fifth volume, related some surprisingevents that occurred when the boys' aid was called into requisition inconnection with a new type of submarine which foreign powers were doingtheir best to appropriate, but which was intended for the United StatesGovernment. Readers of that volume will readily recall Rob's abductionand marooning on a desert island and the pernicious activities of a greenmotor boat which was used by the agents of a foreign power. Rob'smarvelous swim across a narrow inlet, through which the tide boiled likea mill race, and the interchange of Scout signals with astonishingresults, are only two of the incidents that go to show that the EaglePatrol was always to be relied upon to do its duty and live up to thestrict letter of the inspiring motto, "Be Prepared."
For the next few days the lads of the Eagle Patrol were busy indeed withpreparations for what was to them a very important piece of work. Thiswas nothing more nor less than the placarding of the town withannouncements that a team made up of the Eagles would play the Hamptonnine in the first baseball game of the season, the proceeds to be equallydivided. The Boy Scouts' half, of course, would go toward the generalpatrol fund for the purchase of equipment and so on.
Each of the lads had a duty to perform in this connection. Hiram Nelson,whose father was in the printing business, was to get up the posters,which were to be printed on big, yellow sheets. Andy Bowles, whose uncleconducted a livery stable, arranged for rigs to convey the youngbill-posters around the country; while Tubby Hopkins,--since the duty waspartly of a culinary nature,--undertook to make the paste. This, despiteunkind remarks to the effect that, unable to restrain his appetite, hemight be tempted to eat it! In this manner the different duties weredistributed and each member of the patrol took an active part in thework.
Rather to Rob's surprise, and likewise to the astonishment of the otherlads, Jared Applegate's name appeared as pitcher for the Hampton team.But, after all, there was nothing so very astonishing in this, for Jared,before he left for New York, had been a clever pitcher on the HamptonAcademy team, which had beaten some of the best ball players on LongIsland. Sam Lamb, the regular pitcher for the Hamptons, it was laterlearned, had sprained his wrist in jumping on a moving train, and Jaredhad eagerly volunteered to take his place. He had made open boasts aboutthe town that he meant to "knock some of those tin soldier kids higherthan so many kites."
"Let him do his best," was all Rob had said, when Andy Bowles, thediminutive bugler of the Eagles, brought him this information.
When not engaged in preparations for "billing" the surrounding country,which occupied almost all the time they could spare from their studies,the Scouts practiced hard and faithfully. They had a good team, but theyhad to admit that the town boys, too, played very good ball. As the dayfor the contest, a Saturday, drew near, excitement began to run high.Jared never spoke to any of the Scouts, all of whom, by this time, knewof his disgrace while a member of the Black Wolf Patrol. Possibly he didnot wish to run a chance of being snubbed; but be that as it may, when hepassed any of the uniformed youngsters he kept his eyes on the ground.This did not prevent him, however, from hanging around when the Scoutswere at practice and making all sorts of contemptuous remarks concerningtheir play.
The Saturday before the game, the lads started out in differentdirections to put up their bills. Those whose duties lay within easydistance of Hampton went on foot; but the others took rigs. Among thelatter were Rob, Merritt and Tubby Hopkins. With them they carried a goodthick bundle of bills, plenty of paste and long-handled brushes. It was abeautiful day and they were in high spirits as they drove along thepleasant country roads.
Their way took them by Farmer Applegate's place.
"Let's plaster up a few on the old grouch's barn," suggested Merritt witha laugh.
"No; I don't want to do that," declared Rob positively, "although heisn't entitled to much consideration. It was a shame the way he treatedFred Mainwaring's sister."
"Such a pretty girl, too," chuckled Tubby, with a mischievous look atMerritt. Rob intercepted the glance and turned red, at which both hiscompanions teased him more than ever. Luckily for Rob's peace of mind,however, at this juncture something occurred to cause the current ofTubby's thoughts to flow in another direction.
Beyond the farm buildings a spotted pig was nosing about contentedly inthe middle of the road. As his eyes lighted on the porker, Tubby gave ashout of delight.
"We can use him," he cried delightedly.
"There you go again. Always thinking about something to eat," snortedMerritt.
"Not this time," retorted Tubby indignantly; "anyhow, I've never heard ofyour being absent at meal times. But on this occasion it's alive and inhis proper person that Jake is going to be useful to us."
"In what way?" asked Rob.
"As a living advertisement," chuckled the stout youth, his round cheeksshaking as he eyed the unsuspecting Jake.