is so jolly," Rod explained. "Her eyes are laughing all the
time, and she is never cross."

"Humph!" and the invalid gave her head a toss. "If she had to put up
with what I have to she would not feel that way."

"Oh, but she does, Miss Arabella. She has pains all the time, and she
can't walk a step. She hasn't walked for a long time."

"She hasn't! Well, how can she laugh and not be cross?"

"I don't know for sure. But I guess she is trying to be a scout."

"What has that to do with it?"

"Quite a bit. You see, a scout has to smile and whistle no matter what
happens. If he jams his finger or stubs his toe, he must smile and go
on whistling just as if nothing had happened. It's hard at first, but
after you learn how to do it you feel good all the time."

"And so you think I should do the same, eh?" and the woman fixed her
eyes upon the boy's face.

"Not exactly, Miss Arabella," and Rod gave a little chuckle. "You
might smile more than you do, but I don't think you could whistle. But
maybe you can. Did you ever try?"

"No, I never did," was the snapping reply, "and I detest girls and
women who can."

"But Whyn whistles," Rod explained, "and I'm sure you'd like her if you
saw her. You ought to see her, Miss Arabella. I believe she'd make
you better. And, besides, you'd do a good turn if you went to the
Anchorage. Whyn doesn't see many women and she'd be so pleased to see
you."

"What do you mean by a 'good turn'?" the invalid asked. "Is it
something else the scouts have to do?"

"Sure. You see, a scout is supposed to do a good turn each day. That
is, he must try to help somebody or something. When I put that key
down your neck, Miss Arabella, it was only my good turn which I was
doing. Captain Josh said it was the best thing to do to stop nose
bleeding. Now, if you'd go to see Whyn that would be your good turn,
see?"

"H'm, I guess I've got all I can do to look after myself without trying
to do good turns to others," the woman sniffed. Nevertheless, when Rod
had gone she thought over everything he had said, and for once forgot
all about her own troubles.

CHAPTER XIII

THE VISIT

The morning after Rod's visit to Miss Arabella's, Mrs. Britt was busy
in the kitchen making doughnuts. The scouts were coming that
afternoon, and once a week, at least, she had some treat for them, and
she knew what they liked. Mrs. Britt's interest in the boys was as
keen as her husband's, and