always
seems to work around so that someone else gets all the glory. It makes
me feel like a---- Listen to them over there now, talking about
_signaling_. Pee-wee, you gave us an awful scare. It didn't seem natural
on top of the cabin last night without you--you little mascot! We're not
going to have another word to say about this, kid--I'm your patrol
leader, remember. We're going to hit it straight for camp now--the three
of us--the Big Three--and you're with us because we can't do without
you. Do you get that?"

"Roy," said Pee-wee, speaking with difficulty. "I--I had an--adventure."

"Well, I should think you did."

CHAPTER XIII

TEMPLE CAMP

The scouts of the village stood upon the wharf and waved a last good-bye
to the three as the _Good Turn_ chugged merrily away.

"I'm going to give that fellow the full salute," said Tom, raising his
hand to his forehead. "He's a wonder."

The scouts on shore received this tribute to their comrade with shouts,
throwing their hats in the air and giving three lusty cheers for the
"Silver Foxes and the Elks" as the launch, swerving out into midstream,
bent her course for Catskill Landing.

"He sure is a wonder," said Roy.

"I told him all about you," chimed in Pee-wee, "and all the stunts you
can do."

"He seems to be prouder of his Ford jokes than of his signal work,"
laughed Roy. "He----"

"Oh, crinkums, he knows some dandy Ford jokes, and his wrist is so
strong from paddling that he can stick a shovel in the ground and turn
it around with one hand; oh, he's got that paddle twist down fine, Roy;
but, gee, he says you're all right; even before you came he said that;
as soon as I told him who it was that signaled----"

"Do you think they'll come up?" Roy interrupted.

"Sure they will; I told them all about the camp and how they could have
a cabin to themselves--they're only a small troop, one patrol, and he
wants to know you better; gee, I told him all about you and how you
could----"

"All right, kiddo," laughed Roy.

"They're coming up in August. Say, that fellow's got eleven merit
badges, but the one thing he's crazy to get is the gold cross."

"He'll get it," said Tom, who had been wiping the engine.

"He says the trouble is," added Pee-wee, "that he can't save anybody's
life with great danger to his own--that's what it says in the Manual,
isn't it?"

"Yes," said Tom, quietly.

"He says the trouble is nobody ever gets in danger. The trouble wi