“Wonder if I ought to tie Frisk to the kennel?” the yellow dog’s new master was saying as Hugh started away.
“No use,” laughed the other. “Why, you couldn’t drive that dog away from here after you’ve put the rest of that meat by his kennel. He’ll make himself at home and stay around for keeps. Look at him jumping, Billy! I really believe he knows what we’re talking about. See him go into the kennel, sniffing around as if he just understood it was going to belong to him, big as it is! He’s a fixture here from now on, let me tell you. So-long, Billy. See you at the meeting to-night, sure?”
“I should say yes, Hugh,” came the quick reply. “I just seem to feel that there are going to be big things happening in this little city of ours before many days, and that the scouts are going to have a hand in the pie. I’ll call up a lot of the boys on the ’phone and tell them to be on deck, because you’ve got a scheme to offer that’s bound to make the old town sit up and take notice. That’ll get them wild to hear what it is, and we’ll have a full house.”
“And I’m going to think it all over and then see what some of the ladies have to say about our taking the job on our hands; but I’ll be able to tell you more about it to-night, so good-bye till then.” And Hugh went off with his customary snappy stride.
CHAPTER III.
THE FIRE CALL.
“Hello, there, Hugh! Where away in such a rush?”
It was some two hours later, when the assistant scout master, mounted on his bicycle and spinning along the road, heard a voice hail him after this manner. As he slowed up, another boy, a bright-faced, wide-awake fellow of about his own age, came speeding out of a side road and drew alongside.
This was no other than Alec Sands, who had for a long time past been Hugh’s most zealous rival and the cause of many tempestuous scenes in the troop. All this was changed now, and the boys seemed to have become very good friends. As to how this came about, certain incidents recorded in previous stories of the series would doubtless explain to the reader.
“Why, I’m bound on an errand out to Farmer Doolittle’s place,” said Hugh; “and if you haven’t anything better to take up your time, I’ll invite you to go along, Alec. I’ve hit on a scheme that I’m expecting to propose to the boys at the meeting to-night, and I’d like to have your opinion about it.”
“I’ll be only too glad to give you that, if it’s worth anything,” replied Alec; “but before you say a single word, I want to tell you that I’m in favor of anything you hatch up. I never knew a fellow who could plan like you do, Hugh. If I have to play second fiddle to anybody, I’m glad it’s you. Now hit up the pace and tell me what you’ve got on deck.”