Finally, as far as a careful count went, it seemed as though all who meant to start out on the long tour had arrived.
Paul made a gesture to the official bugler, and immediately Bobolink raised his instrument to his lips. The roll of the drum had become familiar music to those listening hundreds; but when the clear notes of the bugle floated through the morning air there was an instantaneous raising of hats, and hardly had the assembly call died away than a stupendous cheer seemed to make the very church tremble.
"Fall in! fall in, fellows!"
Every boy knew his place.
At the head of the double line stood the flag bearer, Wallace Carberry carrying the glorious
Stars and Stripes, while further back, Tom Betts waved the beautiful prize banner which Stanhope Troop had fairly won in the preceding Autumn, when competing with the other troops of the county.
Then came Bluff with his busy drum, and Bobolink holding his bugle ready to give the signal for the start.
After that the scouts came, two and two, each in his appointed place, and the leaders of the second and third patrols heading their commands.
Paul was of course compelled to act in the place of Mr. Gordon, so that temporarily Jack served in Paul's stead with the Red Fox Patrol.
Amid great cheering and waving of hats and handkerchiefs, the troop finally put their best foot forward as one man, and headed away up the road that would, after many miles of weary marching, take them to their distant goal.