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.

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