Rod could hardly wait now until breakfast was over, so anxious was he to rush over before school to speak to the captain about his new plan.  He finished the few chores he was in the habit of doing, and then sped across the field as fast as his legs would carry him.

The captain was in his shop near the house, but he was not working as Rod opened the door and entered.  He was sitting on a bench, with his face buried in his hands.  He looked quickly up as the boy walked in, as if ashamed to fee caught in such a manner.

“What’s up now?” was his gruff greeting.  “Ye needn’t startle one out of his senses.  Why can’t ye knock in a proper manner?”

“Oh, captain,” Rod panted, paying no attention to the rebuke, “I want to talk to you about something.”

“Go ahead, then.  It must be mighty important to bring ye here this mornin’ in sich a hurry.”

“It is, captain, and it’s about Whyn.”

“About Whyn, eh?  What d’ye want to tell me about her?”

“That she can’t get better, unless she goes to a specialist.  Doctor Travis told grandad all about it last night.”

For an instant the old man looked keenly into the clear eyes of the boy standing before him, and a deep love for this manly chap entered his heart.

“Sit down,” he ordered, and his voice was husky.  “So ye’re interested in Whyn, eh?”

“Oh, yes.  I don’t want her to die.”

“Neither do I, lad.  Neither do I. But what are we goin’ to do?  Tell me that.”

“Help her, captain.  The scouts can do it.  We’ve got money, and why shouldn’t we give it for Whyn’s sake?”

“What, take the money we’ve earned?”

“Yes.  We’ve nearly four hundred dollars.”

“But what about the prize, Rod?”

“Oh, we can get along without that, but we can’t do without Whyn.”

“Ye’re right there, lad,” and a mistiness came into the captain’s eyes.  “But it’ll take a lot of money to send her to that specialist.  Four hundred dollars won’t go very far.”

“But it will help,” Rod urged.  “It will be our good turn, anyway.  And say, captain, wouldn’t you do a great deal for Whyn?”

“Sure, lad, indeed I would.  Do almost anything, in fact.”

“Well, then, suppose you sell the Roaring Bess.”

“Sell my boat!” This was almost too much for the captain.

“Yes, why not?  You can get another, can’t you?”

“I suppose so,” was the slow response.

“And if that isn’t enough, you can sell your place.  You would do it for Whyn’s sake, wouldn’t you?”

This was more than the captain had expected.  He crushed back a naughty exclamation, and rose slowly to his feet.

“Look here, Rod, what d’ye think I am?  A saint?  Git away to school now, or ye’ll be late.  I’ll think over what ye’ve said, and discuss it with the troop this afternoon.  Ye’ll see the boys at school, so tell them to meet here as soon as they git out.  Ye’d better not tell them anything about yer plan until I’ve had time to think it over fer awhile.”