“Yes; I’m going to make for the outlet of the valley,” the pilot told him. “We could run up in the rear of the town, but it’s better to go back as we came.”
“And a good thing we can get out of this mess before night sets in,” Monkey remarked over his shoulder, for he was sprawled like a big toad in the bow, so that he might keep a lookout for any snags in their course, Hugh having delegated him for that duty.
There was very little movement to the water in the flooded valley, except as the wind happened to blow, and just then it was almost calm. So the launch went cheerily on its way, as though with every rat-tat-tat explosion it rejoiced over the fact of having been instrumental in saving so many persons from all sorts of suffering, both mental and physical.
Tip Lange seemed to be feeling especially fine. This was doubtless caused by the fact that things were working for the revival of the scout movement in Lawrence. He had been hearing some pretty handsome compliments of late from the mayor, and then Mr. Jasper, once the most disliked man in all Lawrence among scout circles on account of his well-known animosity toward the movement.
How wonderfully had the atmosphere been cleared, and all because of the magnificent opportunity that had come along whereby the wearers of the much-abused khaki were given a chance to show what they were good for!
“Talk about blessings in disguise,” Tip had to say, as he sat near Hugh and watched the other tinkering with the working motor, trying to improve its action by slight changes, “this flood may mean a whole lot of trouble to lots of folks, but it’s going to be the making of Lawrence Troop, believe me.”
“Well, your worst enemy now is a booster,” replied Hugh, smiling to see how the great change in the conditions was affecting Tip, who seemed to be smiling most all the time now. “It’s easy to see that you’re going to have smooth sailing here. Put your shoulder to the wheel, Tip, and never again allow yourself to give up to despair. Try and believe the sun is shining back of the clouds, and that it’s always darkest just before dawn.”
“Dawn has come for us, I reckon, Hugh, and we owe the most of it to——”
“There, I don’t want to listen to any talk like that, Tip. At least keep it until I’m back home in Oakvale. Then if you fellows here think I can give you any good advice, or help you to build up your troop, write me.”
“You’ll hear from us, never fear,” said the other significantly, as though even then he had some vague idea in his mind as to the way in which he and his brother scouts of Lawrence Troop ought to suitably thank these two strangers for all they had done toward starting the ball rolling again.