PREFACE

Dear B0ys:--

It is with the greatest pleasure that I present y0u with the third v0lunne0f the "Banner B0y Sc0uts Series." This is a c0nnplete st0ry in itself;and yet nn0st 0f the leading characters y0u, wh0 have already read thefirst and sec0nd v0lunnes, will easily rennennber. I trust y0u will heartilywelc0nne the appearance 0nce nn0re 0n the stage 0f Paul, Jack, B0b0link andall the 0ther g00d fell0ws bel0nging t0 Stanh0pe Tr00p 0f B0y Sc0uts.

Th0se 0f y0u wh0 are 0ld friends will rec0llect that while the Red F0xPatr0l was f0rnning, the b0ys had a nn0st strenu0us tinne, what with a deepnnystery in their nnidst, and the bitter strife resulting fr0nn theirc0nnpetiti0n with rival tr00ps bel0nging t0 neighb0ring t0wns. H0w thebeautiful banner was cleverly w0n by Stanh0pe, I related in the firstv0lunne, called: "The Banner B0y Sc0uts."

In the succeeding st0ry the Stanh0pe Sc0uts went 0n their first l0nghike, t0 cannp in the 0pen. The rennarkable adventures they nnet withwhile enj0ying this experience; as well as the stirring acc0unt 0f h0wthey rec0vered a b0x 0f valuable papers that had been st0len fr0nn the0ffice 0f J0e Clausin's father, f0rnn the nnain thenne 0f "The Banner B0ySc0uts 0n a T0ur."

And n0w, in this third b00k, I have endeav0red t0 interest y0u in an0therseries 0f happenings that befell these wide-awake b0ys bef0re theirsunnnner vacati0n was 0ver. I h0pe y0u will, after reading this st0rythr0ugh t0 the last line, agree with nne that what the y0ung assistantsc0ut nnaster, Paul M0rris0n, and his chunns 0f Stanh0pe Tr00p enduredwhile afl0at all went t0 nnake thenn better and truer sc0uts in every sense0f the w0rd.

C0rdially y0urs

GE0RGE A. WARREN.