“Yez needn’t look like that,” the captain told them.  “Ye’ve got only yerselves to blame that ye’re not ready.  Ye’re like too many people today who expect to get things without workin’ for them.  But this troop is not run on sich lines.  Some day ye’ll come bang up aginst another troop, and how’ll ye feel if ye git licked.  Why, when I asked some of you boys to tie a clove-hitch ye handed me out a reef-knot, which is nothin’ more than a ‘granny’ knot, which any one could tie.  I want yez to do more than other people kin, or what’s the use of havin’ a troop?  So git away home now, fer we’ll have no more fun until yez git through with yer work.”

Rod was delighted at the idea of going to the city with the captain.

“I’ll look after the boy,” the latter told Mr. and Mrs. Royal, “and I’ll see that he gits fair play, too.  Ye’ll certainly be proud of him when he comes back wearin’ his scout suit.”

The Royals were most thankful at the change which had come over the bluff old captain.  It seemed almost incredible that such a transformation should take place in him in such a short time.  It was the influence of their little boy, they were well aware, which had done it, and they often talked about the way they had been criticised for having taken the lad into their home and hearts.  They thought, too, of his mother, and the mystery concerning her instead of lessening, deepened as the months rolled by.  She never failed to send her weekly letter, and the money each month.  Rod’s bank account was steadily growing, for the Royals had not spent one cent of it, even though at times they felt the need of some of it when the money due from the parish was much in arrears.

They were greatly puzzled that Rod’s mother did not come to see him.  In every letter she wrote of her longing for her boy, and how she hoped to come some day.  She had said the same thing for years until it had become an old story now.  To Rod his real mother was a visionary person, who wrote to him every week and sent him money.  But apart from these things she was of little interest to him.  His world was in Hillcrest, and not far away in some big city.

The next day Captain Josh and his charge reached the city, when they went at once to Peter McDuff’s store.  They were kept waiting for some time, as the owner was not in.  When he returned the captain stated the object of their visit, and how the boy wished to get his money in order to buy his scout suit.

Going into his little office, McDuff remained there for about ten minutes, which seemed much longer to those waiting outside.  When he did come out he handed the captain the account he had made up, and then proceeded to thumb over several bills.

Captain Josh examined the paper carefully, and then handed it to Rod without a word of comment.  The latter gave one quick glance, and his face became pale, while his eyes grew big with astonishment.