volumes of rock history,---how this proved that in ages past water
had forced a channel through the hills; how that gave evidences of
internal disturbances, of molten masses, of slowly cooling and
hardening structure.

Many of the boys had had courses in textbook geology and had gathered
"specimens," but this man made all these things new and wonderful and
fascinatingly interesting.

Day after day passed and still the enthusiasm grew. "Dry facts"
wore absorbed unconsciously; angular diagrams of mathematical
relations appeared on the big blackboard so clearly and concisely
that even Shorty Mcneil ceased to dread the problems; hours were
cheerfully spent at the big mess table in making out tabulated
reports and drawing neat maps; and many more hours were spent with
compasses and levels, telescopes and heliotropes measuring and
judging distances and noting results on the hills and by the lake
near camp.

"The man is a born leader and a born teacher," said Lieutenant
Denmead, commenting on Mr Thayer one day "We shall hear from him
yet."

All too soon the two weeks of study were over and the squad competitions
were on. Then they, too, were completed and notice of the results was
eagerly awaited by the four patrols.

At length the evening came when the announcements were to be made
public. Mr. Thayer had accepted an invitation to be present and
to make the final report.