"Posilutely," said Roy; "we'll start with me. Who discovered America? Ohio. Correct." "What?" yelled Peewee. "Columbus is in Ohio; it's the same thing--only different," said Roy; "you should worry. How about it, Tomasso?" Tom was laughing already. It would have done Mr. Burton and Mr. Ellsworth good to see him. "We were having a hot argument about the army, before you came in," Connie Bennett said. "Peewee claims the infantry is composed of infants...." "Sure," Roy vociferated, "just the same as the quartermaster is the man who has charge of all the twenty-five cent pieces. Am I right, Lucky Luke? Hear what Lucky Luke says? I'm right. Correct." "Who's going to boss the meeting to-night?" Doc Carson asked. "How about you, Tom?" Grove Bronson inquired. Tom smiled and shook his head. "I just like to watch you," said he. "It's your job," Doc persisted, "as long as Mr. Ellsworth is away." There was just the suggestion of an uncomfortable pause, while the scouts, or most of them, waited. For just a second even Roy became sober, looking inquiringly at Tom. "I'd rather just watch you," Tom said, uneasily. "He doesn't care anything about the scouts any more," Dorry Benton piped up. "Since he's a magnet," Peewee shouted. "You mean a magnate," Doc said. "What difference does it make what I mean?" the irrepressible Peewee yelled. "As long as you don't mean anything," Roy shouted. "Away dull care; let's get down to business. To-morrow is Saturday, there's no school." "There's a school, only we don't go to it," Peewee shouted. "For that take a slap on the wrist and repeat the scout law nineteen times backward," Roy said. "Who's going to boss this meeting? "I won't let anybody boss me," Peewee yelled. Roy vaulted upon the table, while the others crowded about, Tom all the while laughing silently. This was just what he liked. "Owing to the absence of our beloved scoutmaster," Roy shouted, "and the sudden rise in the world of Tomasso Slade, alias Lucky Luke, alias Sherlock Nobody Holmes, and his unwillingness to run this show, because he saw General Pershing and is too chesty, I nominate for boss and vice-boss of this meeting, Blakeley and Harris, with a platform...." "We don't need any platform," Peewee shouted; "haven't we got the table?" "It's better to stand on the table than to stand on ceremonies," Dorry Benton vociferated. "Sure, or to stand on our dignity like Tomasso Slade," Westy Martin shouted. "Put away your hammer, stop knocking," Doc said. "Are we going to hike to-morrow or are we going to the city?" "Answered in the affirmative," Roy said. "Which are we going to do?" Peewee yelled. "We are!" shouted Roy. "Do we go to the city?" Doc asked seriously. "Posilutely," said Roy; "that's why I'm asking who's boss of this meeting; so we can take up a collection." "All right, go ahead and be boss as long as you're up there," Connie Bennett said, "only don't stand on the cake." "Don't slip on the icing," Westy shouted.