“I’ll show you the Brownie salute,” Connie offered. “It’s like this.”
She raised her right hand smartly to the temple, the first two fingers straight. The ring finger and little finger were held down by the thumb.
“The two straight fingers stand for the two parts of the Brownie Promise,” Vevi told the captain. “Want to hear the Promise?”
The captain said he did, so she recited it.
“‘I promise to do my best to love God and my country, to help other people every day, especially those at home.’”
The captain said it was a very nice promise indeed. He reminded the girls that they had told him almost everything about themselves except their names.
“I’m Vevi McGuire, and this is Connie Williams. At Rosedale we live next door to each other.”
“Now tell us your name,” urged Connie.
“Why, I’m Cap’n Tarwell. Just an old sea dog that’s lost his bite. I like to walk in the fog.”
“Tarwell?” Connie repeated the name thoughtfully. “Why, that same name was in the old Bible at the ship cabin.”