“But what shall I do without her?” Mrs. Sinclair asked.  “She is all I have near me, and I shall miss her so much if she remains with you.”

“You can come and see her as often as you like,” Mrs. Britt replied.  “We shall be so glad to have you.”

And so it was arranged that Whyn was to stay for several weeks at least, and the girl was delighted when she heard the news.

“You are the dearest and best people in the world, excepting mamma,” she told the captain and Mrs. Britt.  “It is so nice to be here, and when I know that mamma can come to see me often I do not mind staying.”

“But ye’ll have to behave yerself, young woman,” the captain replied.  “No more lyin’ awake at night, remember, worryin’ about the scouts.  And ye’ve got to eat more than ye have in the past.”

“Oh, no fear of that,” and Whyn laughed merrily.  “I am going to eat so much that you will be glad to send me away.”

It did not take the captain long to get the scouts down to steady work.  As the holidays were now on they often met during the afternoons, when the captain drilled them in marching, instructed them about the flag, and taught them how to tie a number of knots.  It was necessary for them to know such things before they could obtain the tenderfoot badges.  They had to learn the Scout Law as well.  It was not all work, however, for the captain often took the boys for delightful spins upon the river in the Roaring Bess, and soon all the scouts were able to handle the yacht in a creditable manner.

It soon became evident that they must have a building of their own where they could meet on wet days.  The Commissioner had told them that there was nothing like a club-room for their meetings.  The captain had been thinking this over for some time, and at last offered the use of an old rafting shanty near the shore, and which could be easily seen from Whyn’s window.  This building was fairly large, made of boards, and the roof covered with tarred paper.  It was well lighted by four windows, which showed up the dirty condition of the room in an alarming manner when the captain and the boys first inspected the place.  There were remnants of old bunks, tables and chairs, while broken boxes were scattered about.  But after two days of steady work a great change took place.  The boys were willing and eager, and inspired by the captain they toiled until their backs ached.  Holes in the roof were patched, the broken door mended, several chairs were brought from the boys’ homes, and when all was done they were delighted at what they had accomplished.  They now no longer dreaded wet days, for they had a place to meet where they could carry on their work to their hearts’ content.  The captain had two good flags, which he placed upon the wall, and the boys brought magazine pictures, and tacked them around the room.  In this way the place was made very cosy.

Whyn was delighted with the progress which the scouts made upon their club-room, which she called “Headquarters.”  She could see it from her window, and often she would sit and watch as the boys worked around the building, cutting down some of the underbrush, and cleaning up the ground.  When their work was done they always came to her room, and talked over everything with her.