The Scout discipline and what might be called the Scout ritual, to which the boys had been subjecting themselves for several years, was immediately apparent in the murmurs of approval which greeted Jack’s suggestion. To those who have followed the career of the Boy Scouts of Creston on the Hudson, in the preceding volumes of this series, it is scarcely necessary to introduce the young men with whom this narrative starts.
The formation of the Patrol of Boy Scouts, at the suggestion of Colonel Snow, a retired officer of the United States army; a mysterious robbery, and a gallant rescue from the waters of the Hudson, are told in the first volume, “Boy Scouts’ Patrol.” The second volume leads them into adventures and difficulties incident to an excursion on motor cycles that have come to each of them as a reward for their aid in the rescue referred to which are told under the title of “Boy Scouts’ Motorcycles,” in the course of which Jack is captured by moonshiners on whom the boys turn the tables. “Boy Scouts’ Canoe Trip,” brings the chums into conflict with Sound pirates, during a canoe trip along the Long Island shore, and give Pepper and Dick, who are lost in a fog, a chance to help a foghorn operator of the United States Lighthouse Service, out of a very serious state of affairs. “Boy Scouts in the Rockies,” the fourth volume, tells of the perils attending a trip into the Canadian Northwest, in search of a lost mine in which they have been given each an interest by the owner, Mr. Royce; their rescue of the latter from enemies who are also hunting the same mine; of hunting among the Indians, and of the rediscovery of the lost mine which has been named Uncas, in honor of their patrol.
The fifth volume, under the caption, “Boy Scouts’ Aircraft,” relates how their interest in aviation is aroused by the evolutions of a military aviator viewed during a visit to an army post; of the building by themselves of a glider with which they win a contest of these elementary aircraft, the prize being complete airship motors of the highest efficiency. With these engines they equip two aeroplanes and meet with various adventures of a thrilling nature, including an aerial kidnapping and pursuit in aeroplanes, the winning of an aeroplane meet, and the discovery and deciphering of the Narwhal’s Tusk, which starts them on their way to Alaska.
The preceding February, the boys had graduated from Highcrest Academy, and some weeks before that event Colonel Snow, who had been for several years on friendly terms with the boys; had been the means of inducing them to form the Scouts’ Patrol, and had looked after their promotion to be first grade Scouts, had been in consultation with their parents over a mysterious matter of which they had as yet learned nothing.
One day in March, as the boys were gathered in the club room in Mr. Scott’s house, discussing plans for a Scout encampment, of the Patrols of the nearby towns, Colonel Snow entered the gate, and they crowded out on the porch to greet him.
“We were just planning to extend our Scout knowledge and experience by an actual encampment, this summer—sort of ‘Spring maneuvres’ you know, like the regulars and National Guard,” said Rand.
“Perhaps I can offer you something of actual field experience,” said Colonel Snow. “That’s what I’m here for, and if you have time I’ve a proposition to make ... rather a cold one, however.”
“I-i-ce c-c-cream soda?” inquired Pepper, flippantly, amid reproving frowns from the other Scouts.
“Why, you can’t even think of that without shivering in your speech,” said Jack, with scorn.
“Don’t mind him, Colonel Snow, his appetite is like the poor, it’s always with us,” apologized Rand.