Well, out with it then, and don't pull it up till yez receive orders."

CHAPTER XXVI

THE BEST "GOOD TURN"

There was great excitement throughout Hillcrest over the capture of the
log-stealers. In a short time everybody knew how the scouts had kept
watch during the night, and how the three tug-boatmen were forced to
remain in their anchored boat, with the captain guarding them while the
scouts went for the magistrate and constable. There was a feeling of
satisfaction that this had been so successfully accomplished, as it would
no doubt put an end to such contemptible business in the future.

It was only natural that the trial should arouse unusual interest. It
was held in the large public hall, and the building was packed with eager
and curious spectators. Nick Taftie, the unscrupulous business man, was
present. He had tried to get away across the border into the United
States, but had been caught and forced to attend the trial. Everything
was against him. The three boatmen told of the many logs they had stolen
for him during other years. Taftie's lawyer fought hard and long, but
all in vain. The evidence was too strong against him, and he was
convicted. He was condemned to a term in Dorchester Penitentiary, and in
addition, he had to settle for all the logs he had stolen from people
along the river. The three boatmen were let off with a fine and a
warning.

The city papers made the most of this affair, and the day after the
arrest they had long columns telling of what the Hillcrest troop had
done. They mentioned, also, how these same scouts had captured the
robbers on Kidd's Island, and how the famous singer, Anna Royanna, had
visited the troop and had sung at their entertainment. Great credit was
given to the scouts for having rounded up the gang of river-thieves. It
was explained further that the boys had collected drift-logs for the
purpose of earning money to win the Lieutenant-Governor's prize.

All this so impressed three lumber-merchants in the city that they
united, and sent a cheque of one hundred and fifty dollars to the
Hillcrest troop. This caused intense excitement among the scouts when
they met at Headquarters, and the captain read to them the letter he had
received. With whoops, worthy of a band of painted Indians on the
warpath, the boys charged upon their scoutmaster in order to see the
wonderful cheque. Then a babel of voices ensued as they discussed how
much money they ha