“I feel that I’ve already lost a mighty fine time by my silly opposition to the scouts,” Benjy frankly admitted. “I was all wrong, and I guess it was only my natural pig-headedness that kept me so. But I’ve seen a great light, Hugh. They say it’s better late than never. I want to enjoy some of those good times you fellows have. Besides, I expect I’ve got something to wipe out, because of late I’ve given my brother Tom more or less worry.”
When a scout goes about recruiting in the happy way Hugh did there is hardly a limit to his capacity for bringing new members into a troop. Those boys of Oakvale who wore the khaki had been highly favored by fortune in that opportunities for doing big things had ever knocked at their door.
Those readers who have had the pleasure of enjoying many of the previous books in this series will remember with satisfaction how they followed the fortunes of Hugh and his chums at the time they set out to improve the sanitary conditions of the community in which they lived.
Then there was the time of the great flood in a neighbouring town where several of the boys chanced to be visiting, during which they proved that they were made of the right kind of stuff, and won the admiration of the people of the inundated district.
The temptation is strong to mention several other instances where scout pluck and endurance won the day against heavy odds. For example, there was the time when the lads were camping in the vicinity of a great plant where a strike broke out, and rioting resulted. It may be remembered how they took hold and showed what they knew of “first aid to the injured,” winning the approbation of the Red Cross doctor and nurses when later on they came upon the scene.
During the County Fair the scouts also played a part that made them many new friends, acting as messengers and guides to the exhibitors and visitors, and even running a successful field hospital in the fair grounds.
To continue a little further it may also be remembered how they were unexpectedly called upon to fight the forest fires that threatened to ruin many farmers and others who had their homes within reach of the flames. Those boys who read that story will not soon forget how Hugh and his mates acted their part against heavy odds, and how splendidly they convinced a doubter that scout activities always made a boy more manly, as well as rendered him a far better citizen, of which any community might well be proud.
Then there was the time some of the Oakvale boys in khaki met with a remarkable adventure in connection with the motion picture players, which has been narrated at length in a recent volume.
Last, but far from least, while mentioning some of these interesting and instructive facts, it would hardly be fair to omit the occasion, not so far in the past, when some of those same fellows earned the right to have their names written on the Scouts’ Roll of Honor, as well as managed to receive the valuable medal which is presented to those members in good standing who save human life at the risk of their own. If you have not already enjoyed reading that story lose no time in securing it, as you will be well repaid for your time and money.
But passing over these never-to-be-forgotten happenings of the past we must once more come back to Hugh and his chums at the time they labored so zealously to create a new moral atmosphere in the home town where they lived, and of which they were naturally very fond.