going to offer you seven shillings a week.'

Chippy's eyes seemed ready to come out of his head. As for saying
anything, that was impossible, for the simple reason that his throat
was at present blocked up by a lump which felt as big as an apple.

At last he pulled himself together, and began to stammer thanks. But
Dick would not listen to him.

'That's all right,' cried Dick. 'I was bound to have a shot, you know.
We're brother scouts, Chippy, old boy--we're brother scouts.'

CHAPTER XXI

CHIPPY GOES ON SCOUT DUTY

Chippy had been at work for Elliott Brothers rather more than a
fortnight, when one day he went down to the waterside warehouse for
some samples. The firm had a huge building at the farther end of Quay
Flat, where they stored the goods they imported.

He was told that he must wait awhile, and he filled up his time by some
scout exercises, giving himself a long glance at a shelf, and then
shutting his eyes and reciting from memory the various articles piled
upon it.

His eyes were still shut, when he heard voices. He opened them, and
saw Dick's father, the head of the firm, walking into the room,
followed by the warehouse manager.

'This is a most extraordinary thing, White,' Mr. Elliott was saying.
'There's certainly a thief about the place, or someone is breaking in
at night.'

'It's a most mysterious affair, sir,' replied White. 'The place was
locked up as usual, and I unlocked everything myself. Every padlock
and fastening was in order, and no window had been tampered with.'

'Yet there's a lot of valuable stuff gone,' said Mr. Elliott. White
shook his head. He seemed utterly bewildered and unable to explain
what had happened.

'I shall go to the police at once,' said Mr. Elliott.

'Yes, sir; there's nothing else for it,' agreed the manager; and the
two, who had been talking as they went through the great storeroom
where Chippy was waiting, passed out at a farther door, and disappeared.

Chippy left his practice, and fell into thought. Things had been
stolen from the warehouse. That was plain enough. The Elliotts were
being robbed. Chippy was on fire in a moment. His friends and
benefactors were being robbed. It was clear that Mr. Elliott meant to
set the police to watch the place. Chippy promised himself that a
certain boy scout would also take a hand in the game. Skinner's Hole
was close by, and his home was not four hundred yards from the
warehouse. That would