He stayed in the hut that night, and had a splendid time. Every nurse and patient in the hospital wanted to have a look at him and hear about his wonderful flight. The next day his father came over and took him home.
“Good-bye! Good-bye!” he said, waving his hand to the Tommies who came to the gate to see him off.
“So long!” they cried. “Fly over and see us again, one day, kid!”
Dicky’s Chance
The excitement had been great the night the Cubmaster of the Erlington Pack had told his Cubs about the new badges. They had cheered themselves hoarse. Swimming was, of course, the badge they wanted most, but, as the Cubmaster pointed out, though it would be a ripping badge to get, there was not a swimming-bath or river anywhere handy, and the sea was forty miles away!
Athletes and Artists they had also voted for, but the Old Wolf reminded them that the first use of a Wolf Cub is not to be able to jump very high or draw very well, but to serve other people, and he suggested that the first badge to be worked for should be the “House Orderly.”
So on the following Friday night the twelve two-star Cubs had met together to learn home craft. The first lesson had been nearly all taken up with learning the very best way to light a fire. And before they went home the Old Wolf had called them round him in an eager circle. “Cubs,” he had said, “before we meet next week I want each of you to have practised ‘helping Mother,’ and to have lit the fire at least once for her. Now I want you all to think hard for three minutes by my watch, and then each to tell me a good way in which you could help mother.”
The Cubs thought hard with knitted brows. And when the three minutes was up each told of a good way in which he could help. One could weed the front garden; another could turn the mangle; one was going to spring-clean the whole house, although it was winter! One was going to “bathe baby”—which made everyone laugh. Only one Cub, Dicky Dean, failed to think of a way to help his mother. “Why, mother doesn’t do anything but sit on the drawing-room sofa and read!” thought Dicky.
“Come, Dicky, how can you help?” said the Cubmaster. There was a long pause. Then someone giggled. “His mother don’t want no helping, sir,” said a scornful voice; “she’s got paid servants!”
“Silence, there!” said the Old Wolf sternly. Then turning to Dicky, “Cheer up, old chap,” he said; “you’ll find a way if you try.” And Dicky went home thinking hard.