“Gosh!” Chips exclaimed. “We didn’t know we had wandered into the out-of-bounds area. Did we, Red?”
“We sure didn’t,” the other returned earnestly. “We just started off looking for wood to make Indian bows. We didn’t find what we wanted, so we kept walking.”
“Then we found these feathers,” Chips took up the tale. “About that time, we heard Dan call. We didn’t do any harm.”
“Perhaps not,” admitted Mr. Holloway. “But that’s neither here nor there. The point is, through your carelessness, you’ve cast reflection on all the Cubs. Brad and Dan pledged the Den’s honor to Mr. Silverton.”
Chips hung his head. Red, twisting the gray feathers in his hands, avoided the level gaze of the Den Dad.
“We didn’t know we were breaking the rules,” Chips mumbled. “Dan only gave us one look at the map. How were we to tell—”
“Alibis don’t go with me,” said Mr. Holloway. “Well, the deed is done. The next question is, what are we to do about it?”
“If we get away from here before Saul Dobbs catches on, no one will be the wiser,” Chips said.
“And is that what you think we should do, Chips? Sneak out of here and keep quiet?”
“Well, I don’t know,” Chips said, hanging his head. “It was just a mistake.”