Part 14 (1/2)

”It takes Pee-wee toones,” said Warde

”Poor kid,” Roy said

Again neither spoke A loose board creaked somewhere in the darkness A crude little weathervane, the handiwork of some departed soldier, rattled nearby

”_Listen_,” said Roy ”Do you hear that voice again?”

As he spoke a long, discordant cry could be heard so in a spasested so to siain it was quite grotesque, bearing no rese

”What do you suppose it is?” Warde asked

”It's a--I don't know,” said Roy doubtfully ”I never heard anything just like that before”

The sound was not continuous, but came at intervals

”Do you knohat I'd like to do?” said Warde ”I'd like to get just one good look at Blythe while he's lying asleep I'd like to see his face calm and still like in the picture I'd like to see it when he isn't looking at ht by the idea ”Let's go Maybe we can tell better”

They returned to their cah the dismantled fra elm

Pee-as there, tied in a bowline knot, the official knot of the Raven patrol, sleeping the sleep of the righteous

”If he should hear us, reot your flashlight?” Warde asked

”Sure,” Roy whispered ”Walk softly”

They entered the sleeping shack, ”Blythe's Bunk,” and tiptoed to the spot where Blythe usually lay Then Roy turned on his light

The two scouts stood appalled, speechless Blythe's old shabby coat which he always folded and used as a pilloas there with the depression one away

[Footnote 2: Edition of 1910, containingand important matter omitted from subsequent editions]

CHAPTER XXI

THE DIAGONAL MARK

Warde had always his ith him ”_Shh_, don't wake up the troop,” he whispered ”Come outside”

”We'll need them all--alarm--” Roy whispered excitedly

”Shut up and come outside,” Warde whispered e, led the way out into the night ”He hasn't gone away,” he said o aithout his coat? Stick your flashlight here, _quick_; here's our chance”

Warde held the collar of the poor threadbare coat close to Roy's light