A troop of Boy Scouts is on board a ferry, heading to a hiking spot. When it is time to get off, two of the scoutmasters, Bauman and Keller, ignore the rambunctious boys and watch some female hikers. However, the third scoutmaster, Johnny, jokes with the boys and keeps them in some semblance of order. When Bauman and Keller join them, the boys immediately become quiet and subdued and fall into line. Bauman and Keller give the order to march north, but Johnny tells them that he promised the boys they could go south this time. Bauman and Keller say it is a matter of discipline not letting the boys get what they want, and since it is two to one, and they all start hiking north. Johnny leads the way on the hike, and the boys break their formation and soon form a cluster around Johnny, while Bauman and Keller walk in the rear. Johnny teaches the boys about different trees and birds while they walk. When they stop for lunch and cook, none of the boys will eat the meat until Johnny pronounces it done. Keller says the boys have to wait an hour before swimming, so Johnny teaches them how to tie different knots. Keller and Bauman say that they have a trick to show everyone. Keller ties Bauman's wrists and ankles together while Bauman lies on the ground. Johnny and the boys inspect the knots and see that they are tight. Then, Bauman gets himself free. They repeat the process again, with Bauman tying up Keller this time and Keller getting free in seconds. Bauman and Keller say that Johnny should try it, since he is so knowledgeable and good at knots. Johnny is hesitant and is suspicious of the knots, but one of the kids yells out that Johnny can do it better than the other men. Johnny says he will do it. Bauman ties Johnny up, appearing to do the same thing but going much more slowly over the knots. Johnny cannot get out. He digs his teeth into his lower lip and pulls at the knots. Several of the boys walk away. Bauman asks if Johnny has had enough, but Johnny sees more of the boys walking away and says no. His hair is in his face, and his lip is bleeding. Bauman reveals that it is a trick and Johnny will never get out. At this point, all of the boys are gone. Bauman tries to cut Johnny free, but Johnny rolls away from the knife. An hour later, Bauman and Keller return with the boys and Johnny is still tied up. They untie him, and Bauman asks if he is all right, to which he responds yes. All of the confidence and affection is gone from the boys' eyes. Johnny tells them to fall into line, and they snap into place silently. They wait until Johnny has walked ten yards before the start, and they make no effort to close the gap between them.