"We won't talk of Tom any more," said Mr. Ellsworth. "That's a tale that is told. It's a closed book." "It isn't with me," said Roy bravely. "I want you to tell the boys--there'll be some girls there, too, if they want to come----" "Oh, joy!" Roy commented. "I'm glad to see you bucking up," said the scoutmaster. "I want you to tell the boys," he went on to Roscoe, "a little about life down in Camp Dix. Tell them how you enlisted." "I didn't enlist--I was drafted." "Well, it's much the same--you were glad to be drafted. There were a whole lot of you fellows who didn't get around to enlisting who were glad enough when the call came. You didn't need any urging, I'll bet." "N-no," said Roscoe. "And so I want you to tell these scouts, just in your own way, what it means to be a soldier. Dwell on the sense of honor which this fine military discipline gives. Tell them what is meant by a parole, and what it means to break a parole--which is just breaking your promise. I don't care so much about the guns and swords just now--I mean as far as to-morrow night is concerned. But I'd like these scouts to know that there's something besides fighting to being a soldier--a real one. I'd like them to know that a soldier's word can be trusted, his promise depended on. If anything that has happened in my troop," he added significantly, "has given them a wrong impression--you correct that impression. See?" "I'll try to." "That's it. You know, Roscoe, most boys, and some scouts even, think that a soldier is just a fellow who shoots and makes raids and storms fortifications and all that. There's many a boy thinks he can be a soldier by just running off to the war. But that's where he's got a couple of more thinks coming, as Roy here would say. Uncle Sam wants soldiers, but he doesn't want to be lied to and cheated----" Roy winced. "I want you to give them just a little off-hand, heart-to-heart talk about the other end of it--how a 'soldier's wealth is honor,' as old What's-his-name, the poet, says." "I'll try to," said Roscoe. "Then there's another thing. I'm off with the engineering corps myself pretty soon. And my three patrols are going to feel pretty bad to see me go, too. That so, Roy?" "You bet it is," said Roy. "Tell them they ought to be proud to see me go. They'll listen to you, because you're a regular A-One, all-around soldier, you're nearer to their own age, and you're an outsider. Tell them how tickled you were to get your name down on that little old roll of honor----" Roscoe rose suddenly. "Don't--please don't," said he. "What's the matter?" Mr. Ellsworth asked. "Nothing--only--I have to go home now. I--I understand, and I'll do it--I'll--I'm not much on speechmaking, but I know what you mean, and----" "That's right, you get the idea," Mr. Ellsworth exclaimed, rising and slapping him on the shoulder. "I won't keep you any later, for I know they're waiting for you around in Rockwood Place."