CHAPTER VII.
SOWING THE SEED.
The second day of the County Fair promised to show even a greater attendance than the opening one had done. Of course, the really fine weather had considerable to do with the success of the undertaking, for it would be hard to imagine a more complete failure than such an exhibition always proves when an unfortunate rainy spell comes along just after it had started.
Once again did the scouts appear in full numbers, eager to undertake another afternoon’s work. At home and abroad, as well as in the school-room, they had been hearing nothing but encouraging words, and were thus primed for excelling their previous record.
Walter Osborne saw the scout master looking at him with a quizzical smile on his face, as soon as he arrived at the camp. He shook his head rather dolefully in the negative.
“That name gets on my nerves, for a fact, Hugh!” the Hawk leader confessed.
“Then, after all, you didn’t dream the answer last night, or have it pop into your head the first thing this morning?” asked Hugh.
“Same old story,” said Walter. “I’d open my mouth to say where I had met that boy, and then get no further. I mean to keep an eye on him part of the afternoon. Perhaps I may glimpse some little way he has about him that will freshen up this silly old memory of mine. A fine scout I’m turning out to be when I can’t remember a little thing like that.”
“Oh! don’t bother your head too much about it,” Hugh advised him; “that is, I hope you won’t let it interfere with your duties.”
“I can promise you that, Hugh. My folks had word from Uncle Reuben and Aunt Ruth this morning. They hope to land in Oakvale on that six-twenty train this evening, so I expect to go right down from here and meet them in time for supper.”
“I’m glad they’ll be here for the last two days of the Fair,” remarked Hugh, “for it certainly will be worth seeing.”