“If you could only do that, Hugh, I’m sure it would make a great difference,” Tom hastened to exclaim. “Joining the scouts has been a good thing for thousands of boys all over the country. They are put on their honor. No fellow can subscribe to the twelve cardinal rules of the organization with his whole heart and still do things that he would be ashamed to have his folks at home know. I hope you can coax Benjy into joining. I tried it once or twice, but somehow he didn’t seem to enthuse worth a cent. But there’s Benjy coming down the street right now. Guess I’ll be going.”
“Leave it to me,” said Hugh, as he shook hands with Tom, who was turning away. “I’ve had some experience in approaching fellows who pretend to scoff at scout doings, and perhaps I can manage Benjy. I’m glad you spoke to me, Tom. Be sure it’ll go no further. So-long! Meeting to-morrow night, remember!”
CHAPTER III.
“STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!”
Hugh made up his mind, on the spur of the moment, that it might be unwise for him to attempt anything at once. He wanted a little time to think things over, and lay out some plan of campaign, for Hugh did not, as a rule, believe in doing things hastily.
Besides, Benjy must have noticed him talking with Tom, and would immediately jump to the conclusion that it was a conspiracy between them. The result would be disastrous for the success of any future missionary work.
When Benjy came face to face with Hugh, the latter spoke pleasantly. He noticed that the boy colored up, and, although he answered the friendly salutation, he immediately assumed a reckless, indifferent air, and went along whistling as though he had noticed their heads together, and would snap his fingers at them.
Hugh found himself wondering whether it could be conscious guilt that made Benjy fire up so, or simply boyish indignation over being suspected and watched in that way.
“It’s going to be some job managing that boy,” the scout master candidly admitted to himself; but, then, somehow, he always found additional interest in a task that tried his patience, and his powers of endurance, for there could be very little satisfaction in beating an antagonist who was handicapped.
Hugh was unusually quiet on that evening at the supper table, a fact his folks may have noticed. But then they were accustomed to seeing the boy look grave, for owing to the position he held in the scouts, Hugh often had to wrestle with matters that did not give most of the other fellows a moment’s thought.
Later on, Hugh, having gotten his lessons, observed that he was going over to the home of Professor Marvin, where there was to be a little meeting of people interested in town improvement.