“We meet here to-night after a hard day’s work, pleasant as work always is, but hard nevertheless. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you will occupy a bunk which your companions have made ready for you, and that you did not yourself hammer so much as a single nail. Arthur Van Arlen and Wigley Weigand, both weary and one lame, after a frightful experience, were here and helped to make the boat safe and comfortable for _you_. They were loyal to the Raven Patrol. I hope you may be moved to appreciate the interest and spirit which they displayed while you were playing ball. “When you have an opportunity, Wesleigh, I would like to have you read the scout laws again and bear in mind particularly your obligation of loyalty to your scoutmaster, which of course, means to your scout duties—your troop and your patrol. I kept my word with you to-day and you did not keep your word with me. The house-boat is ready for our cruise, and I hope that you, along with all the members of the troop will find the trip enjoyable. That is all, Wesleigh, unless you have something to say.” Oh, gee, you should have heard the silence—I don’t mean _heard_ it—but there wasn’t a sound. Then Westy said, “I haven’t got anything to say.” And then he sat down. I knew that it was time then for me to do what I wanted to do, but I couldn’t get up because I felt all shaky. I was holding to the pole of the Silver Fox emblem that was right beside me, and, oh, cracky, I felt funny. All of a sudden I heard Mr. Ellsworth say that he wouldn’t say anything to Roy Blakeley because the patrol was going to have an election and then I heard Will Dawson, of my patrol, say under his breath, sort of, that there’d be only one fellow to vote for me, and I knew he meant Westy Martin. Gee, I’m glad I heard him say that because it gave me a kind of an idea what to say and it made me mad, and when you’re mad you have courage—you know what I mean, you can get up and talk. Jiminy, I knew I couldn’t make a speech like Mr. Ellsworth with all long words, and besides I had to be careful that it didn’t seem as if I was just answering him back. So then I grabbed tight hold of the emblem pole because, I don’t know, it seemed to give me courage kind of, and it was _my_ emblem and _my_ patrol for a few minutes yet, anyway. But oh, didn’t my hand tremble. Anyway I could see that Mr. Bennett was sort of listening and I wasn’t so much scared after I got up. This is what I said, only I didn’t say it as well as it sounds here on account of being nervous, but I should worry as long as I knew I was right, hey?