Part 4 (1/2)

Silence.

All at once an uneasy feeling crept around the table. Alex forgot his business adventures of the day and glanced quickly from face to face.

”Tim may come later,” he said.

Don looked at Bobbie. ”Did you tell him?”

Bobbie nodded.

”What did he say?”

”N--nothing.”

Every scout knew at once that Tim had said something. Don shut his lips tightly.

”I guess Tim forgot,” Andy suggested.

Don grasped at this straw. Not that he believed it, for he didn't; but it gave him a chance to ease the tension. He forced a smile and said that Tim might come bolting in at the last minute. The moment the roll call was completed, he turned the talk to the Scoutmaster's Cup. He didn't want to give the scouts a chance to sit there and think.

”We're in the lead now,” he said, ”and it's up to us to stay there. It will be easy if every fellow will do his part. Attend every meeting and come ready for inspection. When Mr. Wall gives us a job to do as a patrol, let us dig in and do it right. And let us work hard so that we'll stand a good chance of winning the monthly contests.”

”The first contest is easy,” said Ritter. ”We all know our first aid.”

”We know it,” said Don. ”But can we do it? That's what counts.”

”It's like riding a bicycle,” Ritter argued. ”You never forget.”

Don had not expected anything like this. He didn't want the patrol to be c.o.c.ksure--he wanted it to work. But there would be small chance of work if each scout was going to think that practice was unnecessary.

”Wait until I get some bandages,” he said. He ran up to his room and came down with a little white roll. Ritter smiled confidently.

”Let's see you make a spiral reverse bandage,” Don invited.

Ritter took the bandage and went to work on Alex's arm. Presently, after having gone half way to the elbow, he flushed and pulled the bandage off.

”It's sloppy,” he said. ”I see your point. I need practice.”

”We all need practice,” said Don. There were no further objections to hard work. The talk became eager as details were planned. The patrol would practice Wednesday afternoon at troop headquarters. Don would work with Ritter on splints, and Tim and Andy and Bobbie would form a team for artificial respiration, fireman's lift and stretcher work. Wally and Alex would practice straight bandaging at night after Alex had finished his labors at the Union grocery store.

Bobbie accepted the arrangement in silence. As the meeting broke up and the scouts crowded into the hall, he pulled at Don's sleeve.

”Must I work with Tim?” he asked.

”Tim's strong and you're light,” Don explained. ”You can be handled easily on the fireman's lift and stretcher work.”

Bobbie wet his lips and seemed to want to say something more. Abruptly, though, he turned away and followed the others out to the porch.

”How about Tim?” Ritter asked. ”Shall I tell him about Wednesday?”

Conversation stopped. The feeling of tension came back.

”I'll see him at the field tomorrow,” said Don. ”I'll tell him myself.”