“Then we’re sunk,” Mack groaned. “Without Brad and Dan, we may as well give up without even entering the event.”
“A Cub doesn’t quit,” Midge said severely.
“Who can we put in besides you?” Mack demanded. “You’re pretty fair, but there’s no one else to back you up. Chips, Fred or me—we’re not in the class of Dan or Brad.”
Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Holloway held a brief conference concerning the final event on the program. They too were fully aware that without Brad or Dan, the competition could not be won.
“Even if we do trail miserably, we’ll enter the event,” Mr. Hatfield decided. “We can’t have Den 1 saying we’re poor sports.”
“Midge is our best bet. He’s very nearly as good as Dan.”
“But not the equal of Brad,” Mr. Hatfield said ruefully. “And we have no one else. Neither Mack or Chips is strong and they’re only fair swimmers. Fred can swim well enough, but he hasn’t practiced paddling enough to develop much skill.”
“We have no choice,” the Den Dad replied. “It will have to be Fred.”
A short course had been marked on the river with buoys. In this, Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Holloway had taken no part, leaving the matter entirely to Den 1 leaders.
The two canoes were carried down to the beach, ready for launching.