"Come on, boys. Let's get started, if you are ready," he said. "We have a long walk ahead of us, if we expect to camp on Florida Mountain to-night."
"Great snakes!" said Bill. "That listens good to little Willie!" And he gave a yell that brought people out of their houses, all up and down Park Street.
"Boys," said Pa, just as we were starting, "remember that your folks are trusting you and, as we understand it, a Scout's honor is to be trusted. Remember, too, that it is a Scout's duty to obey orders and that the one to give you orders while you are away is Mr. Norton. And let me add that he has my full sympathy. If he isn't worn to a frazzle before he gets back, I'll miss my guess."
In another minute we were off, the folks calling good-bys after us and shouting for us to remember this and not to forget that and not to do something else.
Mr. Norton drove the horse at the start because he knew that we would want to march through town, and away we went, with our bows and arrows on our backs, and Skinny, with his rope and hatchet, which he called his tomahawk.
At the Gingham Ground we found the boys of Eagle Patrol drawn up by the side of the road. They saluted and cheered as we passed.
"If we have good luck this time, we'll take you next year," called Mr. Norton. "I'm new at the business, myself, and eight youngsters are all I want to tackle the first time."
"Skinny! Oh, Skinny-y-y!" yelled Jim, when we were almost out of hearing.
We stopped and waited to find out what was wanted.
"Don't kill all the game-e-e. Save some for seed."