s the short reply.
"How much are you going to charge for the use of your boat?" asked
Frank. "We're willing to pay for fast service."
"I think a couple of hundred dollars will be about right," was the
reply. "It's a little bit risky going out in the night."
Tommy was about to protest against the exorbitant charge, but Frank
motioned him to remain silent.
"The price is satisfactory," he said. "When can you start?"
"In an hour," was the answer.
After promising to meet the boys at the floating dock in an hour's time,
the owner of the motor boat took his departure, and the two lads dropped
into a smoky and smelly restaurant for supper.
The place was foul with evil language as well as evil smells, and the
boys did not remain long. Instead of sitting down at the table and
ordering their meal, they bought such provisions as they could get and
took their way to the water front. When they sat down to eat their
rather unpalatable repast, they saw that a boy of about their own size
and age was loitering not far away.
"I'll gamble you a five cent piece," Tommy whispered to Frank, "that
that is a Boy Scout! What do you say?"
"You're on!" exclaimed Frank.
Tommy struck three times on the planking of the dock with his open hand.
Instantly there came back to his ears the low snarling voice of a
bulldog. Then footsteps advanced down the dock, and the boy soon stood
close to the others.
"You're a Beaver?" he asked.
"And you're a Bulldog!" said Tommy.
The boys presented their hands, palm out, in the full salute of the Boy
Scouts and then stood examining each other's faces.
"Where's the Bulldog Patrol located?" asked Tommy.
"Portland, Oregon," was the reply.
"Do you live here now?" asked Frank, who had already been introduced as
a member of the Fox Patrol.
"I'm obliged to live here," was the answer, "because I can't get out of
town. I wish I could get away!"
"You may go with us," offered Tommy.
"Where?" was the question.
"To Cordova tonight, and to a camp out on a glacier tomorrow."
"Tickled to death!" exclaimed the boy.
"You're welcome!" declared Tommy;
"Who're you going with?" was the next question.
"He didn't give us his name, but he said he owned a fast motor boat, and
he said he'd get us there and back before noon tomorrow!"
"Jamison is the only man here who has a motor boat, but you want to look
out for him. He's as crooked as a corkscrew!"
"That's the impression I received w
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