Though Den 1 to show its sportsmanship, limited their competitors to the same number of boys, they were able to select their strongest Cubs. Den 2 had no such choice.
Without Brad and Dan, they were greatly handicapped.
At the signal from Mr. Hatfield, each side tried to touch an end of the stick to the floor. Den 1 succeeded almost at once, achieving another ten points.
“Thirty-six to twenty-three!” Ross Langdon rubbed it in. “Why, this isn’t even a competition.”
“Quiet, you!” Midge growled. “It could be different if all our Cubs were here.”
“So you’re already cooking up an alibi?” Ross gloated. “Poor losers!”
“That’s not so!” Midge retorted furiously. “You’re welcome to the silver plaque if you can win it. We’ve beaten you enough times before.”
“Brad and Dan didn’t show today because they’re afraid of being licked in the canoe race,” Ross went on.
“You know that’s not true.”
“Then why didn’t they come?”