“It surely will be,” murmured Buck. “Especially if you have never done that sort of thing before.”
“We won’t have any trouble if we start right,” said Ted. “If we show the right authority and set up a sort of military discipline we’ll get along very well. Most of these club boys are just small fellows and things shouldn’t be so difficult with them.”
By this time they had arrived at the club rooms of the Boys’ Club and there they found about half of the young boys assembled. Mr. Calvert was with them and the two trucks stood at the curb. With interest the two camp leaders looked the boys over.
They were young boys of the age ranging between twelve and fifteen and there was one boy sixteen. They seemed to be a lively bunch of young fellows who were all obviously keen for the trip before them. Some of the boys Ted and Buck knew, either by sight or by name, but there were several that they did not know. The boys all had variously assorted packs and kits with them and while waiting they were amusing themselves by chattering and tossing around a large hand medicine ball.
But if the two leaders did not know the boys, the boys knew them. There was an immediate rush toward them as they entered the yard before the frame building which housed the club. A number of boys plied them with questions.
“You’re really going to be the leader, Thorny?” a boy asked Ted, who nodded in smiling assent.
“I am, along with Buck,” he said.
“Gee, that’s great!” was the enthusiastic reply. A stout boy of fourteen pushed up to Ted, with an anxious look on his face.
“Mr. Thorn, is it true that we won’t have anything but oatmeal and bread on our camping trip?”
“Why, I don’t know!” puzzled Ted, looking toward Mr. Calvert, who winked. “Why do you ask that?”