Part 9 (1/2)
”Why too late?”
”Because it is ti for home,” answered Jack
”No trouble about that,” replied the colonel ”I alk back with you, and we can talk it over as we go along Let's see, there are four of you here?”
”Yes, there are four of us,” replied Pepper
”Then you need two more to start with”
”Don't you lock your door when you go out?” was Jack's irrelevant query when they were ready to start
”Not usually,” replied the colonel ”There is no one to bother us up here in the woods Do you think there is any need of it?” he asked quizzically
”I should think there was,” declared Pepper, ”if Monkey Rae is about”
”I hadn't thought of that,” ad me some of my own advice, aren't you? Always be prepared I don't know but what I had better follow it”
Going back into the house he returned with a padlock hich he fastened the door
”There's Gerald Moore, he would join us,” began Jack, taking up the subject of the patrol again
”Gerald Moore!” exclaimed Rand in a doubtful tone
”What is the matter with him?” asked the colonel
”He is the son of the janitor at the bank,” replied Rand, ”and--”
”Anything wrong about him?” continued the colonel
”No,” replied Rand, ”but--”
”Oh!” said the colonel dryly, ”I see I suppose you all know the scout law”
”Not yet,” replied Jack ”Rand read it to us, but we haven't learned it yet”
”Let ly, ”how does nuo?”
”It says,” read Rand, ”a scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout, no s
A scout accepts the other man as he finds him, and makes the best of him”
The colonel made no co,” acknowledged Rand after a little hesitation ”I have no objection to Gerald”
”When we are going into battle,on the way for a moment, ”we don't stop to consider to what class the s, and this is a battle you are going into, one to make the most you can out of your lives, and if you can help soreater is your reward”
”I see,” replied Rand, ”and I won't forget it”