Meanwhile Bud Morgan himself was in the midst of a group of eager
Wolves.

"You must coach us, Bud," Arthur Cameron said. "We shall miss Hugh
and Billy in this, but you must see that they hear a good report of
us when it is over."

"That's right," agreed the other boys.

"Let's make Bud Morgan our patrol leader until Hugh comes back," cried
little Jack Durham, the recruit of last season.

"All in favor?" yelled Arthur. "Hands up!"

Hands and voices rose together and a united "_How-ooo-ooo_!"
rent the air.

"All right, fellows, I'll do my best," said Bud Morgan as the noise
stopped. "I'll try to act in Hugh's place, just as Tom Sherwood
is doing for Alec, if you will all stand by!"

"We will," promised the boys.

"Then listen! Mr. Thayer is going to put us through a big course
in a little time. We shan't like all the work, perhaps, but we
shall each like something,---for it touches so many things. There
are the long tramps in the fresh air, the measuring of distances,
the analyzing of the soil, the naming of the trees and plants,
the locating of mineral deposits, and the working out of problems."