Don Strong, Patrol Leader | Page 3

have time to be patrol leader. He goes to work for the Union
grocery store next Monday."
Don felt that everything had been turned upside down. So this was why
the other boy had been so friendly! Of course, he could go home and let
Tim think that the vote was his. But that would be cowardice. That
would not be a scout's way of meeting the situation.
"I'm going to vote for somebody else," he said uneasily.
Tim's good humor vanished. "You are?"
Don nodded. "You're too hot-tempered," he said. "You always get
things stewed up. You--"
"I don't see any wings on you or Alex," Tim cried wrathfully. "What
kind of a game is this?"
Don said nothing. What was the use, he thought. He walked on; and
after a moment Tim stood still and let him go his way.
Next morning a letter came from the Scout Scribe announcing the
terms of the contest for the Scoutmaster's Cup. The competition would
start at Friday night's meeting. For each scout present a patrol would be
awarded a point, while for each scout absent it would lose a point.
Another point would be lost for each scout who came to meeting with
buttons off his uniform, or with scout pin missing, or with hair
uncombed, or shoes muddy. Any patrol that did not live up to its orders
from the Scoutmaster would be penalized from five to ten points. At
the end of the first month there would be a contest in advanced first aid,

and points would be awarded to the patrols that came in first and
second.
Don read the letter twice and sat on one of the wooden horses and
stared at the ground. His sister Barbara, anxious to show a berry cake,
had to call to him three times before he heard her.
"What's the matter, Don?" she asked.
"Tim Lally wants to be patrol leader," he answered.
"Oh!" Barbara gave him a quick, understanding look.
Tim did not have a word to say to him that afternoon. Next day he
worked steadily helping his father on a rush order and did not get to the
field at all. When the work was done, he went upstairs and washed,
dressed in his scout uniform and came down to the dining-room.
Barbara came in from the kitchen to set the table. "Hungry?" she asked.
Then, after a moment: "Isn't Tim your catcher on the town team?"
Don nodded.
Barbara put her head close to his. "Scouting isn't all fun, is it?"
"It wouldn't be worth shucks if it was," Don said stoutly. And yet, as he
walked toward troop headquarters after supper, his steps were slow.
The command "Attention," came from Mr. Wall's lips as he entered the
meeting place. He hurriedly joined his patrol. The color guard and the
troop bugler stepped to the front, and the brassy notes of "To the
Colors" rose and fell. Standing stiffly at salute, the troop pledged
allegiance to the flag, and repeated the scout oath. The bugler stepped
back to the ranks.
Slowly Mr. Wall made his tour of inspection. When it was finished, the
scouts waited breathlessly. For the first time Don noticed a small
blackboard nailed against the wall:

PATROL POINTS
Eagle Fox Wolf
"The Eagle patrol," Mr. Wall said, "has one scout absent and two
scouts untidy--thirteen points."
The Scout Scribe wrote the points upon the board.
"The Fox patrol, all scouts present and two scouts-untidy--fourteen
points. The Wolf patrol a perfect score--sixteen points."
Silence in the patrols.
"Break ranks," the Scoutmaster ordered.
Instantly there was a babel of excited talk. Scouts who had cost their
patrols points through untidiness were upbraided by their comrades.
Andy caught Don's arm.
"We're off in the lead," he chuckled.
"It's staying in the lead that counts," said Don.
The shrill of Mr. Wall's whistle brought the scouts to attention again.
"Tonight we take up the theory of building a bridge with staves and
cords," the Scoutmaster said. "The Fox patrol was to have provided two
logs."
The Fox patrol hustled outdoors and returned in a moment with their
burden.
The scouts set to work to build a bridge from one log to the other. Mr.
Wall walked about, watching but offering no advice. After an hour the
bridge was completed.
"Scouts Lally and Davidson," said Mr. Wall, "see if it will hold you."

Tim and Alex stepped out on the structure. It held. A cheer started and
died. For the bridge was sagging. Abruptly it gave.
"Ten minutes for examination to see where the fault lies." The
Scoutmaster took out his watch. "Next meeting we'll try again."
Ten minutes later the lashings were untied, the staves were back in their
wall racks, and the logs were outdoors. Each scout was sure