“Come back whenever you feel like it,” Mr. Merrimac invited the Cubs as he escorted them to the front door. “I’m always glad to see you.”
“Why, thanks, Mr. Merrimac,” Dan returned, startled by the elderly man’s cordiality.
“Later on, we’ll talk about the church building fund,” Mr. Merrimac added, apparently guessing why the boys had come. “Losing all that money upset me. If I get it back, I’ll not forget you.”
With this promise, Dan and Brad had to content themselves.
All week the Cubs worked on their armor and made preparation for the scheduled Round Table gathering. So enthusiastic were all the Cubs, that it had been decided, not only Den 2, but the entire Pack comprised of three Webster City dens, would take part.
Nearly every morning before school, Dan was up early making articles which could be used at the grand knighting ceremony.
“I’m glad to see you painting and making designs,” his mother praised his work. “I wish though, you’d conduct your creative experiments outdoors. Fresh paint doesn’t go well with the pattern of the kitchen linoleum!”
Dan took the hint and used the back porch for his work.
One morning while the dew was still heavy on the ground, he was painting a triangular banner to hang on the back of a ceremonial chair. Dan brushed on two red diamonds and then experimented with a few bright blue “X” marks sprinkled at random over the surface.
“Hard at work?” inquired a friendly voice.