"Yes, that's his light, all right," said Billy.
"That you, Discoverer?" Townsend called, as the light bobbed gayly nearer and nearer. It was coming up the channel.
"Sure," called Pee-wee. "I've got something new! I've got a big surprise for you!"
"Another?" said Townsend.
"It's alive," Pee-wee shouted. "Is the party all over?"
"Oh, absolutely," Townsend called; "you closed it up. Have you got two or three salted almonds over there?"
"Sure," Pee-wee shouted reassuringly, "six or seven."
It was funny with what an air of humorous resignation Townsend Ripley stepped into the skiff and the mock air of ebbing vitality which the others showed was as good as a circus.
"You don't suppose it's some new kind of hunter's stew, do you?" said Townsend resignedly as he languidly took a pair of oars.
"You needn't think I'm coming ashore," called Pee-wee, "because I'm not. Now we've got a full patrol and we're going to live here. There's going to be a boat race next Saturday and I've got two new ideas besides the ones I told you about and I bet I had more fun than you did dancing and somebody's got to go ashore to-morrow and see this feller's mother and father and tell them he's joined the scouts, because he can't go home on account of not having four cigarettes."