Not to be outdone, the Hawks, led by Walter Osborne and Blake
Merton, lifted their voices in a shrill "_Kree-kree-eee_," which
rose piercingly above the Wolves' "_How-ooo-ooo_!" Then the Otters
and the Foxes added their characteristic cries to the din, and
away off in the shadows where the contagion of the noise penetrated,
Indian Joe gave vent to a warwhoop of delight.

"Much noise---sound good!" he muttered to himself. "Don't know what
all about. Never mind. Boys glad. See 'em go!"

The whole troop, glad indeed to have a legitimate excuse for lusty
activity after the mental exercises of the evening, had jumped to
their feet _en masse_, and, headed by the howling Wolves, were
parading joyously around the campfire.

Bud Morgan was borne on the shoulders of the leaders, and there was
nothing to suggest the student of rocks and rivers and undulating
hills in his happy abandon to the situation.

In fact, the majority of the boys had already forgotten the contests
in the temporary excitement and the uproar.

Lieutenant Denmead, after exchanging a word and a good-humored smile
with his assistant, hurried to his cabin, and returned a moment
later with a small volume in his hand. Then, at his signal, Mr.
Rawson lifted the camp bugle, which he had secured hastily, and
blew the assembly call.

At that, the boys, quite ready to quiet down again after their