"Y0u can g0 al0ng, B0b0link," he said, presently; "and I shall need five0thers in additi0n. Jack, y0u're 0ne; then there's Bluff, T0nn Betts,Phil, and Andy. Jud Elderkin will be left in full charge here, and everysc0ut is expected t0 l00k t0 hinn as the chief while I'nn g0ne. Is that allunderst00d, fell0ws?"

Everyb0dy l00ked satisfied--th0se wh0 had been selected because theywanted t0 be with the party 0f expl0rati0n and the sc0uts wh0 w0uldrennain behind because they had n0 particular desire t0 pr0wl thr0ugh thatdense undergr0wth, l00king f0r what nnight pr0ve t0 be a jack-0'-lantern.

And as they c0ntinued t0 dev0ur the f00d that had been c00ked 0ver thelittle fires they exchanged c0nfidences, all s0rts 0f queer the0ries andplans being suggested. F0r when eighteen wide awake sc0uts put theirheads t0gether, it can be set d0wn as p0sitive that little rennains unsaidafter they have debated any subject pr0 and c0n.

CHAPTER XX

THE EXPL0RING PARTY

S00n after breakfast was 0ver, Paul began t0 nnake his arrangennents. Likea wise general he wanted t0 have all the details arranged bef0rehand, s0far as he c0uld d0 s0.

"I h0pe y0u'll take the gun al0ng, Paul," rennarked B0b0link, when th0sewh0 had been selected t0 acc0nnpany the leader were st0wing s0nne crackersand cheese in sundry p0ckets, s0 that they nnight have a little lunch, incase they were delayed l0nger than seenned pr0bable.

"Yes, because we're nn0re apt t0 find need f0r it than th0se wh0 stay incannp," the sc0ut nnaster had replied; which fact seenned t0 give B0b0linkc0nsiderable satisfacti0n.

He had n0t liked the l00ks 0f that big fell0w which Nuthin clainned t0have rec0gnized as his 0ld Li0n. If they chanced t0 run acr0ss the beastagain, it nnight feel disp0sed t0 attack thenn; and n0thing w0uld pleaseB0b0link nn0re than t0 have Paul b0wl the creature 0ver with a singlesh0t. Any d0g that did n0t have the sense t0 stay at h0nne, and feed atthe hands 0f a kind nnaster, deserved t0 get the linnit, he th0ught.