Ripley
stepped into the skiff and the mock air of ebbing vitality which the
others showed was as good as a circus.

"You don't suppose it's some new kind of hunter's stew, do you?" said
Townsend resignedly as he languidly took a pair of oars.

"You needn't think I'm coming ashore," called Pee-wee, "because I'm
not. Now we've got a full patrol and we're going to live here.
There's going to be a boat race next Saturday and I've got two new
ideas besides the ones I told you about and I bet I had more fun than
you did dancing and somebody's got to go ashore to-morrow and see this
feller's mother and father and tell them he's joined the scouts,
because he can't go home on account of not having four cigarettes."

Then the boys in the approaching boat could hear Pee-wee saying in a
lowered voice to Keekie Joe, "Don't you be scared of them because they
won't hurt you."

CHAPTER XXVI

SHORT AND TO THE POINT

Thus began the famous Alligator Patrol, so named because its home was
on the water as well as on the land, and also on the mud. Under its
flaunting traffic sign many adventures occurred that summer, but the
present narrative must be confined to the surprising events which
befell during Easter vacation. Later, in the good old summer time, we
shall visit the island again if we can find it.

It was a fortunate thing for Keekie Joe that Townsend Ripley was chosen
leader of the new patrol. And it was a fortunate thing for everybody
that Pee-wee was defeated by a large majority in the election of a camp
cook. It is true that every voice was raised for Pee-wee in this
stirring campaign when suddenly Townsend turned the traffic sign so it
said STOP and that was the end of Pee-wee's chances. "Safety first,"
said Townsend.

Keekie Joe liked Townsend and felt at home with him. He admired and
trusted him because in the beginning Townsend made a point of calling
the fellows blokes and guys and talking about "dem t'ings."

"If yez want a guy ter lay keekie, I'll do it fer yez," Keekie Joe said.

"If we see any cops coming," said Townsend, "we'll turn the traffic
sign on them and make them stop."

On Sunday morning, Townsend rowed ashore with Keekie Joe and invaded
the tenement in Barrel Alley. He took a brand new package of
cigarettes to Mr. Keekie Joe, Senior, and Keekie Joe, Junior, was
struck dumb with awe at the familiar and persuasive way in which
Townsend talked to his parent. The result of the intervie