[Illustration: MISS ELLISON GREETED TOM WITH A MYSTERIOUS SMILE. Frontispiece--Page 27] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TOM SLADE WITH THE COLORS BY PERCY K. FITZHUGH Author of TOM SLADE, BOY SCOUT TOM SLADE AT TEMPLE CAMP TOM SLADE ON THE RIVER Illustrated by THOMAS CLARITY Published With the Approval of THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS : NEW YORK ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright, 1918, by GROSSET & DUNLAP ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Tom Makes a Promise 1 II. "Bull Head" and "Butter Fingers" 13 III. Roscoe Bent 21 IV. The Cup of Joy 27 V. The Main Trail 40 VI. Tom and the Gold Cross 49 VII. The Trail Runs Through a Pestilent Place 56 VIII. An Accident 60 IX. Roscoe Joins the Colors 66 X. Tom and Roscoe Come to Know Each Other 70 XI. Tom Meets a Stranger 79 XII. Tom Hears of the Blond Beast 85 XIII. As Others Saw Him 93 XIV. Tom Gets a Job 101 XV. The Excited Passenger 109 XVI. Tom Makes a Discovery 116 XVII. One of the Blond Beast's Weapons 124 XVIII. Sherlock Nobody Holmes 129 XIX. The Time of Day 137 XX. A New Job 145 XXI. Into the Danger Zone 152 XXII. S O S 160 XXIII. Roy Blakeley Keeps Still--For a Wonder 172 XXIV. A Soldier's Honor 181 XXV. The Face 190 XXVI. Roscoe Bent Breaks His Promise 199 XXVII. The End of the Trail 215 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TOM SLADE WITH THE COLORS CHAPTER I TOM MAKES A PROMISE Tom Slade hoisted up his trousers, tightened his belt, and lounged against the railing outside the troop room, listening dutifully but rather sullenly to his scoutmaster. "All I want you to do, Tom," said Mr. Ellsworth, "is to have a little patience--just a little patience." "A little tiny one--about as big as Pee-wee," added Roy.