Nothing more was said about it, but there was a heap of thinking done; and no doubt every fellow present was making up his mind to be more vigilant, so that he might be the next to deserve favorable notice from the leader.
"You were right, Ted, for there he comes now," remarked Toby, as a figure came around the corner.
It was Red Huggins, sure enough; and he seemed to be hurrying.
"Knows he's late, and expects to be hauled over the coals," chuckled Ty Collins.
Elmer said nothing. But he was watching the coming of the late scout with an expression of rising curiosity on his face. Truth to tell, he noted something that none of the others had. Red Huggins looked more than "peeved" because he was arriving late at the meeting-place, when a scout is supposed to be always punctual to the minute. He was worried, worked up over something or other!
"Hurry up here, old molasses in Winter!" called Lil Artha. "Why, we were just going to leave you in the lurch. What sort of an excuse can you give for holding eleven comrades nearly ten minutes each? That means more'n an hour wasted. It's a crying shame, that's what!"
Red had by now reached them. He was panting a little, as though he might have run some distance, in order to make up for lost time.
"Wasn't altogether my fault, fellows," he started to explain.
"Oh! come now, no excuses are going to pass here!" broke in Toby.
"Give him a chance to say what he wants to, boys," remarked Elmer; and the late comer darted him a look of thanks.