Next morning the patrols assembled early. Mr. Wall dispatched a scout to the baker's for two dozen loaves of bread. Another boy hurried off to the grocer's shop for molasses, cocoa, and evaporated milk. When these had been put safely in place, the last strap was adjusted. The trek wagon was ready for the journey.
"You fellows get home," Mr. Wall ordered, "and get back here on time. Remember, the same rule as always—individual cooking. Two or three scouts or a whole patrol can team up, but each scout must bring enough food to feed himself for three meals—supper tonight, and breakfast and dinner tomorrow. The troop treasury furnishes the bread, molasses and cocoa. Everybody understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"All right. We leave here at one o'clock sharp."
The Scoutmaster could have saved himself the warning. At 12:30 o'clock the last scout was there, haversack and blanket on his back, ax and canteen on his hip.
At 12:55 the bugle blew. The scouts fell into line.
"Each patrol," said Mr. Wall, "will take its turn hauling the trek wagon.
The Wolves first."
Don's patrol dropped back.
At one o'clock the bugle sounded again.
"Forward!" cried Mr. Wall. "March!"