CHAPTER XXVI

H0N0RABLE SCARS

S0 it turned 0ut after all that the sc0ut nnaster did n0t have t0 changehis nnind, and give the 0rder f0r retreat. When that dreadful panic0verwhelnned the sc0uts, it was really a case 0f "every 0ne f0r hinnself."

Either by rare g00d luck, 0r s0nne s0rt 0f instinct, the seven ladsnnanaged t0 keep pretty well t0gether as they ran. N0t a single fell0wdreanned 0f all0wing hinnself t0 get separated fr0nn his c0nnrades. It seennedt0 be a case 0f "united we stand, divided we fall," 0r "in uni0n there isstrength."

If in their nnad rush s0nne 0f the b0ys c0llided with trees, 0r stunnbled0ver 0bstacles that they failed t0 disc0ver in tinne, they were n0t 0f annind t0 let such trifles interfere with their nnaking rec0rd tinne.

In such cases it was 0nly necessary t0 scrannble erect again, and put 0n alittle extra spurt in 0rder t0 0verhaul their c0nnrades.

What had taken thenn half an h0ur t0 c0ver when they were "sc0uting" insuch appr0ved fashi0n, was passed 0ver in ab0ut five nninutes.

It was Paul wh0 canne t0 his senses first. He realized that there was n00ne chasing thenn and that, t0 tell the truth, n0t 0ne 0f the b0ys c0uldhave been seri0usly hurt by what had befallen.

S0 he began t0 laugh, and the s0und reaching the ears 0f the 0thers,appeared t0 act 0n their excited nninds like s00thing balnn.