“I guess he’s got the rule mixed up with some other rule,” another suggested. “Everything is all jumbled up in his massive dome.”
Since the scouts were in the habit of observing at least the spirit of this good rule, the group concluded that Pee-wee’s ominous warning referred to some other rule. He had been greatly excited, as was natural when setting off upon a cruise of perhaps a mile or more.
There was one scout among them, and only one, who entertained any serious thoughts about Pee-wee and his epoch-making enterprise. This was Billy Simpson. He could not rid his mind of the thought that his position in the Raven Patrol was somewhat that of a usurper. He had sized Pee-wee up very accurately and he had an uncomfortable feeling that the little former mascot was merely on a sort of adventurous spree and did not realize what he had done in his thoughtless resignation from the patrol.
“WE’RE GOING TO MAKE A FORTUNE,” PEE-WEE YELLED DEFIANTLY.
It consoled him somewhat, and eased his conscience, to know that at least Pee-wee was having the time of his life as a leader, even though he had only two followers. He could not do otherwise than laugh at Pee-wee, but all the while he had a queer feeling about the whole matter. He hoped that everything was all right and that Pee-wee knew his own mind.
As if there was anything that Pee-wee didn’t know....
CHAPTER XVII—TEARS
Pee-wee had sticking in his belt an envelope which he had sealed and addressed to the Hoptoad Patrol. Being the only one in authority in that patrol he now opened it and read aloud the letter within it which he had likewise written himself. Its contents must have surprised him greatly for he scowled as he read the portentous words:
The cruiser Hop-toad will go to the other side of the lake and we will get it into Goldenrod Cove so as it’s wedged in, kind of. Then we’ll eat.
After that we’ll write a message with an onion and cast it in the sea—that’s the same as the lake. That message will tell them they can hike around the lake in sixty minutes and we’ll charge them five cents each to cross our property and I’ll be the treasurer and we’ll divide up even. If anybody wants to back out he can say so now or he can stay till the death.