On their arrival at the yacht-club pier the boys were overwhelmed with questions, and a doctor was summoned for Sam, who, as soon as he found himself safe, began to groan and show most alarming symptoms of being seriously affected by his immersion.

The boys were not able to conceal the fact that they had accomplished a brave rescue, and were overwhelmed with congratulations.  Merritt especially came in for warm praise and commendation.

“You will certainly be granted your Red Honor,” declared Mr. Wingate, who, besides being commodore of the Yacht Club, was one of the gentlemen whom Rob had persuaded to act as Scout Master for the new patrol.

Merritt escaped from the crowd of admiring motor-boat men and boys as soon as he could, and hastened home for a change of clothes.  On the arrival of Dr. Telfair, the village physician, he pronounced that there was nothing whatever the matter with Sam but a bad fright, and prescribed dry garments and hot lemonade.

“Don’t I need any medicine?” groaned Sam, determined to make the most out of his temporary notoriety.

“No, you don’t,” growled the doctor; “unless,” he added to himself, “they put up ‘courage’ in bottles.”

“I suppose those boys will be more stuck up than ever now,” said Jack to Bill Bender, as, having perfunctorily thanked their rescuers, they started for home with the almost weeping Sam.

“Sure to be,” rejoined Bill.  “It’s all your fault, Sam, for taking us out in that fool hydroplane.”

“My fault!  Well, I like that,” stuttered out Sam.  “You asked me to come, and you know I wanted to come back when the boys told us it might come on to blow; but you called me a ‘sissy,’ and said I was too timid to own a boat.”

“Um—­er—­well,” rejoined Bill, somewhat confused, “that’s so.  But anyhow, to return to what we were talking about, it’s given those kids a great chance to set up as heroes.”

“Well, we can work that scheme we were talking about last night on them just as soon as you’re ready,” suddenly remarked Jack.  “That will give them something else to think about.”

“Oh, say, Jack, cut it out, won’t you?” pleaded Sam.  “I don’t like the kids any better than you do, but one of them saved my life to-day, and I’m not going into anything that will harm them.”

“Hear him rave!” sneered Jack.  “Why last night, when we talked it over, you thought it would be a prime joke.  It isn’t as if it would hurt them.  It’ll just give them something to study up, that’s all.  They think they’re such fine trailers and tracers that it would be a shame not to give them a chance to show what they can do.”

“That’s right, Sam,” cut in Bill; “it’s more of a joke than anything else.”

“Well,” agreed Sam weakly, “if you put it in that way, I suppose it’s all right; but I tell you I don’t like it.”

“Why, you’ll have the laugh of your young life after we’ve pulled the stunt off,” remarked Bill.  “When will we do it, Jack?”