ng here," Phil remarked. "They
never did it before."
"It is to give the scouts an outin', so the letter says," the captain
replied. "It is the Governor's treat, and he thought it would be so
nice to visit a place on the river where there is a troop. The
secretary wants to know why we have sent no account of what we have
done during the past year in connection with the prize-contest. He
says that all the other troops have done so, and he is surprised that
we have done nothin'."
"I guess there won't be anything to report now," Rod replied. "Don't
say anything about what we have done, captain, when you write."
"I don't intend to," and the old man glared upon the boys as if he had
been charged with some serious offence. "De' yez think that I'm goin'
to blab all about our good-turn? Not a bit of it. Let's git down to
business now, and arrange about that Review."
The following days passed very quickly. There were many things the
scouts had to do for the great event. The large field below the wharf
was obtained, and here boards were brought for the grand-stand, which
the captain was bound to have erected for the noted men who were
coming. Stately elm, beech, and birch trees stood at the back and
along the edge of the field, which would afford excellent shade should
the day be hot. Flags, too, were gathered, and these were to be hung
upon the grand-stand, while one big Union Jack was to surmount a pole
from the top of the tallest tree.
There was other work for the boys as well. They were not yet
second-class scouts, and the captain was most anxious that all should
pass the examination before the Review took place. He accordingly kept
the troop busy, and Doctor Travis was most helpful in his lectures and
in examining the boys. It was the day before the meeting when the
captain proudly presented each scout with his second-class badge.
"There, I'm thankful that's over," and he gave a deep sigh of relief.
"Yez kin hold up yer heads now among the rest. I wish it was the
first-class badge, though. Yez should have it by this time, and I
guess ye would if we hadn't spent so much time in earnin' money."
The morning of the Review was clear and warm, and the scouts in full
uniform were early on the grounds. The flags were all arranged, and
everything was in readiness for the meeting. Word had passed
throughout the parish that the Lieutenant-Governor was to be present,
and all during the morning people kep
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