The next night after school, all the Cubs except Mack, who had a paper route, gathered at the Holloway beach for canoe practice.
Dan, Brad, Chips and Fred had passed their swimming tests with flying colors. Red, less skillful at water sports, was assigned to painting paddles.
Mr. Hatfield provided him with a number of interesting Navajo designs, telling him to make his own selection.
“If you do a good job of painting, Red, we’ll exhibit your paddle at the Indian pow-wow,” he promised. “An award is to be made to the Den that turns in the most artistic one.”
“I’ll come up with a prize winner!” Red grinned. A talented art student in the Webster City elementary school, he was confident of his ability. “Right now, though, I’ve got other things on my mind.”
“Weird faces on the cliff?” the cubmaster prompted.
“My honor’s at stake,” Red declared. “If you’ll just give me a chance to prove—”
“All in good time,” promised Mr. Hatfield. “First, canoe practice, and then we’ll hike to the ravine to satisfy our curiosity.”
While Red busied himself on the beach, painting paddles, the other Cubs, took turns using the canoe Mr. Halloway had provided for their use. Brad and Dan already had mastered the knack of guiding the craft skillfully and were developing strong arm muscles.
After a hard paddle against the current, the two Cubs returned to shore to give up their places to Chips and Fred.