CHAPTER XVI

WHYN DECIDES

There was considerable excitement among the Hillcrest troop when Captain Josh and Rod returned home.  The rest of the scouts were at the wharf to meet them, and marched with them at once to Whyn’s room.  The new scout suit was greatly admired, and the jealous ones had enough sense to keep quiet.  In fact, they were too much ashamed to say anything, so they sat and listened to what was going on.  Whyn was delighted, and made Rod stand before her while she examined him with critical eyes.

“My, I wish you all had suits like that,” she sighed, “then you would look something like a troop.  Soldiers never seem of much account until they get their uniforms on.”

Captain Josh then told of the trouble they had had with Peter McDuff, and how at last he had been compelled to pay what was right.

“Good for you!” Whyn exclaimed.  “You’re the right kind of a scoutmaster to have.  I shall tell that to Douglas when I write again.”

When the captain told about the parade of the six hundred scouts, and what the Lieutenant-Governor had said, the enthusiasm became very keen.  The scouts’ eyes sparkled with interest, and all began to talk at once.  Yes, they would win the prize, they declared, and they would buy a motorboat with the money they earned.  Though they had spoken about such a boat before, the captain had scoffed at the idea, saying that the Roaring Bess was good enough for him.  But deep in his heart he longed for a motor-boat even more than the boys.  The yacht was all right for pleasure, but it was hardly suited for business, such as fishing, and carrying passengers over the river.  If the scouts could earn enough money to buy a motor-boat he could have the use of it.

How to earn the money was the important question, and many were the ideas suggested.  One boy thought they might catch rabbits next winter; another wished to go over to the big island and dig for gold which Captain Kidd was supposed to have buried there.  All expressed their views except Rod.  He waited until the rest were through before speaking.

“Let us leave it to Whyn,” he at last suggested.  “She always has some plan, and will know what we might do first.”

“That’s good,” the captain agreed.  “We can’t do better than that.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” the girl laughingly replied.  “You might make a mistake if you let me choose.”

“No, no,” came in chorus.  “You’ll do all right.”

“Very well, then, I’ll do the best I can, though you’ll have to give until to-morrow to decide.  I want to sleep on it to-night.”

“But no lyin’ awake, remember,” the captain warned.  “Ye’re not to stay awake thinkin’ it all over.  If ye do, I’ll wash my hands of the whole affair.”

“No fear of that, captain,” and Whyn smiled up into his face.  Such a smile as that was worth a great deal to the old man, though he never spoke of it to any one.  “There is one thing, however,” the girl continued, “which must be done before we begin to earn that money.”