"Oh, sure; I put it into your head," said Roy, in disgust. "I'm a wonderful scout—I ought to have a tin medal! It was you brought me that letter back. It was Pee-wee got the bird down and won a boat for us—and I've turned him out of it," he added, bitterly.
"No, you——"
"Yes, I have. And it was you that tracked him, and it was you spelled this out and it's you—it's just like you, too—to turn around and say I put it into your head. The only thing I've done in this whole blooming business is try to insult Mary Temple—only—only you wouldn't let me get away with it," he stammered.
"Roy," interrupted Tom, "listen—just a minute." He had never seen Roy like this before.
"Come on," said Roy, sharply. "You've done all you could. Come on back!"
Tom was not much at talking, but seeing his friend in this state seemed to give him words and he spoke earnestly and with a depth of feeling.
"It's always you," said Roy. "It's——"
"Roy," said Tom, "don't—wait a minute—please. When we got back to the boat I said we'd have to find him—don't go on like that, Roy—please! I thought I could find him. But you see I can't—I can't find him."
"You can make these tracks talk to you. I'm a——"
"No, you're not; listen, please. I said—you remember how I said I wanted to be alone with you—you remember? Well, now we are alone, and it's going to be you to do it, Roy; it's going to be you to bring Pee-wee back. Just the same as you made me a scout a year ago, you remember? You're the only one can do it, Roy," he put his hand on Roy's shoulder, "and I'll—I'll help you. And it'll seem like old times—sort of—Roy. But you're the one to do it. You haven't forgotten about the searchlight, have you, Roy? You remember how you told me about the scout's arm having a long reach? You remember, Roy? Come on, hurry up!"