"We didn't expect any reward, though," added Findlay, true to the traditions of Scouting. "And no one can say we cadged from him."
"Like that troop of Sea Scouts we read about the other day," added the Patrol Leader. "They got hold of a seaplane float somewhere, and then advertised for someone to give them a motor to shove into it. Give, mind you! It's like taking a button to a tailor and asking him to make a suit to take it for nothing. But we're lucky. I wonder when we start and how we're going to get there?"
"What I want to know," said Bedford, "is who's going to stay and look after the guardship? We're responsible to the Wootton Bridge Sea Scouts until they come home."
The others drew long faces at that. The proposition had not occurred to them before.
"Bradley and some of the other chaps will be coming down," declared Findlay. "Mr. Graham heard from them this morning."
Bradley was the Patrol Leader of the Otters, belonging to the same troop as Desmond.
"Yes, in a fortnight's time," said Hayes gloomily. "We don't want to wait till then."
"And they might want to come, too," added Findlay. "After all, they've got a right to. The Spindrift was given to the troop, and not to Mr. Graham and us five only."
"Mr. Collinson said 'you lads'," remarked the Tenderfoot.
"Coles," said the Patrol Leader, "you hop it! The palaver ended ten minutes ago. You're cook; it's nearly tea-time and we're hungry. Off you go."