That night the Troop and the Pack met at Troop Headquarters. Much ginger beer flowed. Then the Scoutmaster blew his whistle and, standing, on a soap box, addressed the assembled company. It was a long speech, but everyone listened, spellbound, for he told them the whole story of Danny’s adventures, since the first day, after the paper-chase.
When he had done, the Troop and Pack broke into cheers.
“Order, order!” shouted the Leaders, as the Cubmaster mounted the soap box.
“Your grasping Scoutmaster has tried to steal Danny and get him for his Troop,” he said. “But Danny has chosen to stay with us. I must announce that he has been elected Pack Leader, by the unanimous vote of the Pack—and we are jolly proud of him.”
“Speech, speech!” called everyone, and someone put Danny on the soap box.
“I wish you’d all chuck it,” he said. “I don’t deserve any praise. It was simply ripping fun—just what I had always longed for. I’ve had great luck, that’s all.”
“Your Pack Leader will need a cap several sizes larger soon,” said the Scoutmaster to the Cubmaster, as he opened the morning paper the next day.
Before long there was a letter of thanks from the Government, a medal, and a cheque for £100.