This was certainly astonishing news to the scouts.  Several weeks ago they would have given shouts of delight at the suggestion.  But it was different then.  At that time they were almost sure of winning the prize, and had often thought of the day when it would be presented to them amid the cheers of the other scouts.  But now such a thing was impossible.  Every cent of their savings had already been withdrawn from the bank to help Whyn, and they had nothing to show at the Review for all their efforts.  They were, therefore, silent when the captain finished speaking.  The latter noted this, and surmised the reason.

“I know jist what ye’re thinkin’ about, lads,” he continued.  “We’ll go to that meetin’ empty-handed, so to speak.  But that needn’t matter.  We know that we’ve done right, and I think we should fall in line with the Governor’s idea, and try to give the visitin’ troops a good time.”

“So do I,” Rod replied.  “Though we can’t get the prize, it will be nice to meet the other scouts, see how they march, and what they look like.  I think it will be great to have them come to Hillcrest.”

“I wonder what made them think of coming here,” Phil remarked.  “They never did it before.”

“It is to give the scouts an outin’, so the letter says,” the captain replied.  “It is the Governor’s treat, and he thought it would be so nice to visit a place on the river where there is a troop.  The secretary wants to know why we have sent no account of what we have done during the past year in connection with the prize-contest.  He says that all the other troops have done so, and he is surprised that we have done nothin’.”

“I guess there won’t be anything to report now,” Rod replied.  “Don’t say anything about what we have done, captain, when you write.”

“I don’t intend to,” and the old man glared upon the boys as if he had been charged with some serious offence.  “De’ yez think that I’m goin’ to blab all about our good-turn?  Not a bit of it.  Let’s git down to business now, and arrange about that Review.”

The following days passed very quickly.  There were many things the scouts had to do for the great event.  The large field below the wharf was obtained, and here boards were brought for the grand-stand, which the captain was bound to have erected for the noted men who were coming.  Stately elm, beech, and birch trees stood at the back and along the edge of the field, which would afford excellent shade should the day be hot.  Flags, too, were gathered, and these were to be hung upon the grand-stand, while one big Union Jack was to surmount a pole from the top of the tallest tree.

There was other work for the boys as well.  They were not yet second-class scouts, and the captain was most anxious that all should pass the examination before the Review took place.  He accordingly kept the troop busy, and Doctor Travis was most helpful in his lectures and in examining the boys.  It was the day before the meeting when the captain proudly presented each scout with his second-class badge.