"That is Atherton, constable."
"Look here, young gentleman, can you give us any information as to what occurred?"
The Scout accurately described the appearance of the two men whom he saw commit the assault. The policeman, hardly able to conceal his surprise at the detailed description, laboriously wrote the particulars in his notebook; the Head was also surprised at his pupil's sense of perception. Only Mr Trematon maintained a composed bearing. Inwardly he was proud that his instruction in scoutcraft had borne such good fruit.
"Let me see," remarked the Rev. Septimus. "Atherton is, I believe, a—er—Scout?"
"Yes, sir," assented the Scoutmaster.
"He ought to be a detective, sir," observed the constable. "Only it's a great pity he didn't inform us at once. We might have nabbed those rascals."
"He quite realises that," said the Head. "One thing, he has been the means of saving life under very trying circumstances. The capture of the assailants is, after all, a secondary matter. Trematon, you ought to be proud of your Scouts if they are all like this one."
"I trust they will prove themselves equal to the occasion should necessity arise, sir," replied the Scoutmaster.
