At half past seven the mayor, with several of the city officials, accompanied the Lieutenant-Governor as he rode up in a big auto.  They all dismounted and took their seats upon the temporary grand-stand which had been erected.  They had not long to wait ere the sound of music was heard, and presently down the street the head of the big procession appeared in view.  As the scouts swung up, Rod’s heart beat fast, and even the captain stood straighter than usual.  There was something inspiring about the way those boys, six hundred strong, advanced, in full uniform, with sloping staves.  They marched well, with bodies erect, and as they moved by the stand they gave the full salute.  Then they swung around and lined up before the Lieutenant-Governor.

By this time a large crowd had gathered, and a cheer went up at the splendid conduct of the scouts.  When this had died down, the mayor spoke a few words of encouragement, and then introduced the chief official of the province.

Captain Josh and Rod were quite near and could hear every word the Lieutenant-Governor uttered.  He was proud of them, so he said, and his heart had been greatly stirred by what he had witnessed.  He was glad to know that there were so many scouts in the city, and he wished that all the scouts in the province were present on this occasion.

After speaking for awhile, and giving them some words of advice, he outlined a plan over which he said he had given considerable thought.  He wanted the scouts to be thrifty, and to open up bank accounts.  He hoped to meet them again in a year’s time, and that troop, whether in the city or any other part of the province, showing the biggest bank account in proportion to its size, would receive a prize.  A friend of his, who wished to remain unknown, had made this suggestion, and offered to present a bugle-band to the winning troop.  Each bank-book had to be handed in to the Provincial Secretary, together with a detailed account as to how the money had been raised, and signed by the scoutmaster.  Further instructions would be given later.  All other troops which had competed would each receive a troop-flag.

When he was through the scouts gave him three rousing cheers and a “tiger.”  After the National Anthem had been sung, the band once more struck up, the scouts formed into line, and were soon swinging on their way back to their various headquarters.

Captain Josh and Rod said very little as they walked along the street toward the hotel where they were to spend the night.  But when once within the room which had been assigned to them, the captain laid his right hand upon his companion’s shoulder.

“Hillcrest troop must win that prize, lad,” he remarked.

“Can we do it, captain?” was the reply.

“Do it?  Sure we kin.  We may be the smallest troop in the province, but we’ll show them a thing or two.”

In his dreams that night Rod saw once again the six hundred scouts.  But they seemed different now, for among them was the Hillcrest troop receiving from the Lieutenant-Governor the coveted bugle-band, amidst the wild cheers of the other troops.