Tom loosened up and decided he would get a sweater, too, and the joint deliberation over a suitable color put an end to their immediate thought of the stranger scouts.
“A kind of a blackish white would be good,” said Roy.
Artie suggested a pale lavender. The salesman was greatly amused at their talk, but Tom was somewhat nettled and embarrassed, and he was glad when the completion of the business put an end to their nonsense.
On the way back to the boats and afterwards they speculated somewhat about the two scouts. There was no particular reason for their doing so except that the red-headed boy lingered in their minds with his trim appearance and his vivacious manner. Later, they recalled his jaunty, careless air, his friendly salute and his winning smile, almost with a shudder.
“We saw the kind of scout that Raymond believes in,” taunted Roy, upon their return to the boats. “He had on the full uniform, belt-axe, whistle, bugle, gaiters, hat——”
“That’s right,” said Mr. Ellsworth, winking at Raymond. “That’s what they’re for—to be worn.”
“There was only one thing wrong with him,” Roy concluded.
“What?” demanded Raymond, quite boldly for him.
“He was made of wood,” said Roy.
“Well, then, let him serve as a terrible example,” laughed the scoutmaster. “I dare say there are a few others like him.”