camp-fire was the place to hunt up a scout, if he was not to be found anywhere else. during the day, the members of the big woodland community came and went upon their wonted enterprises, and a particular one was apt to prove elusive to the searcher. but at camp-fire, one had but to wander around among the main group and then among the smaller and more exclusive satellite groups back in the shadows, to find any scout who had not been discoverable throughout the busy day. even the blithe and carefree hervey willetts, the wandering minstrel of temple camp, usually sauntered in from some of his dubious pilgrimages along about eight-thirty, in time to hear the last of the camp-fire yarns.
in this sprawling assemblage, artie van arlen sought for allison berry, patrol leader of the gray wolves from new haven, connecticut.
the ravens’ proud custody of the gray wolves’ much coveted emblem of the single eye had not impaired the mutual regard of these two patrols. they were housed at opposite extremities of the big camp community, and having each its own enterprises and associates, the respective members seldom met. but there was certainly nothing but the most wholesome rivalry between the two groups.
artie found allison berry in a group of a dozen or more scouts somewhat back from the camp-fire, and he called him aside. the two sat on a rock outside the radius of warmth and cheer where they would not be heard or seen.
“haven’t seen you in a dog’s age,” said artie.
“when i come you won’t see me,” said allison.
“is that so?” artie laughed. “well, it’s up there any time you want it.”
“thanks for telling me,” said allison. “when we want it we’ll just drop up.”
“any time,” said artie. “say, berry, i’ve got something funny to tell you. we’ve got a new member in our patrol who used to live near some beach or other down your way; he says he knows you. his name is wilfred cowell.”
“get out!” exclaimed allison. “why he—why the dickens didn’t he come and let me know? i should think i do know him. did he—where do you live anyway?”
“bridgeboro, new jersey. he only just moved there lately; we’ve only been up here since friday.”
“i saw the little kid; he said you were putting up the banner. well—what—do—you—know! will cowell! where is he anyway?”
“he went down to terryville with another fellow to the movies to-night,” said artie. “he’ll hunt you up, i guess.”
“i’ll—i’ll be glad to see him,” said allison. he had intended to say that he would hunt wilfred up, but had cautiously refrained because he preferred not to give any suggestion that he might visit the ravens’ stronghold. “christopher, i’ll be glad to see him,” he said.
“one of our fellows pumped it out of him that he’s some swimmer,” said artie. he was too loyal and too considerate of wilfred to say that his new member had volunteered this information. “we pumped it out of him that—you know that scarf pin he wears?”
“i ought to, my father gave it to him for saving my life,” said allison. “you’ve got some scout there, boy.”
“yes?”
“i’ll say you have.”
“funny how you both happen to be here,” said artie.
“oh, this is a pretty big camp,” said allison.
“well,” laughed artie, “we’ve got your old acquaintance and we’ve got your banner; you’ve got to hand it to us. aren’t you afraid i’ll get your watch away from you, sitting here in the dark?”
“i’ve been intending to call,” said allison. “but we’ve had so many things to do since we got here. i may drop around late some night next week.”
“you’re always welcome,” said artie.
“you sleeping pretty well these days?”
“oh, muchly.”
“we’re terribly busy just now getting our radio up,” said allison. “we’re not thinking about much else.”
“what could be sweeter?” said artie.
allison berry had managed this little chat very well, watching his step even in his surprise at hearing about wilfred cowell. so that artie, when he strolled away, remained in sublime innocence of the fact that all the while (and ever since the bridgeboro troop had arrived in all its glory) it was the intention of allison berry to take the emblem of the single eye away from the ravens late that very same night.
