Wita-tonkan opened the Council and called upon Fiji, the Chief of the Grey Foxes, to make the ceremonial rubbing-stick fire, also appointing Zan Baker, Founder of Wickeecheokee Band, Tally Keeper of the Council, thus conforming to the conditions of courtesy and co-operation.
When the Chief of the Council called for reports of Scouts, a surprise was afforded the Pentagoets.
Captain Ed rose, saluted, was recognised, and began in an official Woodcraft manner:
“Oh Chief! I have to report that Constabule Jotham Heald sent word that $15 reward awaits at the Camden Police Station for you boys’ share of the money paid by the owner of the recovered launch.”
After the excited applause had subsided, Billy sprang up, saluted, and inquired earnestly, “Oh Chief! I would like to ask the Captain if we aren’t going to get anything for helping capture those thieves?”
Every one in the Council laughed at Billy’s mercenary tendencies.
“Oh Chief! I will answer the young Brave’s question!” cried Uncle Bill, now jumping up. “We all admire and value the astuteness of this young detective’s work and I fear that my namesake has had his hopes buoyed high from having read of the exorbitant rewards obtained by city “tecs”; however, let me assure him that most of those sums are press stories and the ‘long green’ is seldom seen by the hard-plugging officers whose families have to live according to the ‘low-cost menus’ furnished by some philanthropic magazines—on two and a half cents a day!”
Billy’s face had gradually been changing its expression of eagerness to disappointment, so the Captain explained:
“The talk of a reward for the thieves was mostly just talk! In fact, the launch-owner added an extra five to the five dollars reward for catching the rascals. But we were quite a posse, you know, so it only amounted to thirty-seven cents a piece, when divided.”
Fumbling through his pockets, the conscientious Captain finally brought forth a yellow cotton bag once filled with “cut plug” but now elevated to the position of a bank.