'Oh, nonsense!' cried two or three boys. 'We were watching on each side and in front too closely for that.'
Chippy grinned. 'Yer worn't watchin' close enough to see wot wor in the waggon from Bland's Mill,' he remarked.
'You were in the waggon?' cried Billy Seton. Chippy nodded, and went on to explain.
'But at that rate,' said Arthur, 'you abandoned your duty of laying a track.'
'Well,' said Chippy, 'there's plenty o' track now. I've bagged the lot of yer long afore the track's finished. I reckon I'm in my rights theer.'
'Yes,' said Dick; 'there's a good deal in that. In my opinion it was a jolly smart bit of work.'
'Rather,' cried Billy Seton; and he began to sing the Scout's Song: 'Ingonyama' (He is a lion); and Dick responded with the 'Invooboo' chorus (Yes; he is better than that: he is a hippopotamus).
But Arthur Graydon's angry voice struck in: 'Stop that fooling, Seton and Elliott,' he said. Then he went on: 'Wolf Patrol, you will at once return to the sand-pit and then home. March!'
The patrol fell in at once, for orders must be obeyed instantly, and without question.
'Wot about my challenge now?' cried Chippy.