h as to say: "See how you can get there by keeping everlastingly at it?" That was the fat boy's best quality: persiste

he began to hunt all around for his hat, which he often mislaid. He was finally informed coolly

been torn from some of Hampton's finest trees; chimneys had been demolished in several places; and it wa

saw what a wreck the storm had made of the building, none of them doubted any longer that a vacation period was bound to result. And strange to say, while some o

dy remarked gleefully, as they all tur

is rosy face that any one might have thought he was on the eve of starting on a picnic instead of a serious

e you get away on this journey," remarke

you're hinting abo

in town, you know, and finding the brace and nicked bit that chawed a hole th

lum, and shrugged his p

too, finding that shaving with the tell-tale mark! But if I don't get a chance to spy around between now and the time we leave Hampton, I'll keep it in mind. And every time

e dictionary. Fortunately these periods did not crop up very often, or his chums would not ha

ough my boat," Rob remarked; "because when once Tubby sets his mind on anything it's bou

ht be pretty sick. This was Uncle Mark. The fever he had contracted in the hot depths of the African jungles had taken such a hold upon his s

icate that Tubby had done considerable talking, even to promising that he would coa

etween Uncle Mark and the boys for the first half hour of the conference. Of course the old traveler was able to go further i

onsidered everything carefully, and I actually believe you would have a far better chance for success than if I entrusted the mission to a man, who would be sure to get mixed up with some of the rival factions and lose out. Besides, I

life that this fact alone would endear him to all boys who had red blood in their veins. And scouts in particular, with their love for outdoors and the myriad secrets of the wilderness, might be expected

could not have too much information concerning the country

al Villa had given him years ago. At that time the present leader of the rebel forces in Nor

to General Villa that you come direct from his old friend, Doctor Matthews, all you have to do is to show him that; and if he is the man of his word that I firmly believe him to be, there is nothing he can do for you that he will refuse. But more than that, I expect to entrust you with

more so, sir,"

ng the expedition for me?" continued the other eagerly. Tubby gripped the sides of his ch

ew that several things had to be taken into con

sort of chance that your cattle have been guarded, because of this friendship for you on the part of Villa; and you tell us that he is a man who ne

fathers or mothers over to see me, and I'll try my best to win them to your way of thinking. It means everything to

Long Island, and he believes in me from the word go. Merritt, here, has a coaxing way about him that generally gets what he wants from his father, who is the jolliest big man you ever saw

at scouts can take care of themselves anywhere. Since I joined the Eagles I've shown so muc

. If my cattle have been spared all these months, it may be that General Villa, believing I never mean to return to Mexico, and needing money to buy supplies for his troops, may feel that

lways been a habit of mine not to let the grass grow under my feet. And if things turn out

ar what was being said, hardly knew whether to look pleased or worried. To have her onl

iting a country about which they had been reading so much as they had of Mexico lately? That the unhappy republic was in the throes of civil w

anch, and had such blind faith in the ability of these clever scouts to take care of themselves

nue to hope they might decide to undertake the mission of trying to save the last valuable possession he had in the wide world. After which they went out

t to-morrow; so Merritt, you and Andy had better see how the land lies with your fathers;