“What are you going to do now?” I asked him. But he didn’t pay any attention only kept groping until his hand hit on something he thought might do. I couldn’t see exactly what it was, it looked kind of shiny. Anyway he marched boldly up to the nest and stood on tiptoes and pushed the thing into the hole so it stuck there. “Now they’re all in and none of them can get out,” he said; “they’re sealed in. You can come back now, you needn’t be scared because I fixed it.” CHAPTER XIV HANDS OFF “Come on back, you don’t have to be scared any more,” the kid shouted. “Some hero,” I said. “He’s a regular _women and children first_ scout,” Hervey said. “Oh, they come before that with him,” said Warde. “He charmed them with fire,” Brent said. “They’re afraid of flame,” the kid said, very proud. “That’s something scouts are supposed to know about. They’re supposed to know how to do more than just talk.” “The pleasure is ours,” I said. “You lose and we win as you usually do if not oftener. Actions are better than words.” By that time the two girls were coming back, very slow and careful-like. “Are you _sure_ it’s all right?” Marjorie asked us. “Positively guaranteed,” I said. “Sir Harris drove them before him. He’s the only original boy scout shiveller. He shivelled them in with a shovel of fire. He’s the pied piper of Temple Camp, named after a mince pie. Behold the land is freed from wasps!” The girls came back ever so careful. “Are you sure there are none around?” they asked us. I guess they thought they could protect each other from wasps by hanging onto each other. Brent said, “We can now pick things up and proceed with the jelly cones.” “Are you sure they can’t get out?” Stella Wingate wanted to know. They were getting a little easier in their minds, I could see that. “You are all too silly for anything,” she said. “Pee-wee _acted_ while you _talked_. And I believe that _you_, Mr. Hervey, or whatever they call you, would have been just headstrong enough to knock it down. I suppose _that’s_ what you would have called one of your _feats_.” I said, “Sure, he’s very headstrong with his feet. How about the eats that you were going to cook when we were rudely interrupted by the flying corps?” “I am going to make as many jelly cones as Pee-wee can eat, so there,” said Marjorie. “Because he’s the hero of the day.” “He’s the hero of every day,” Brent said, “and the nights as well. Wait till you see him annihilate the jelly cones.” Marjorie said, “Well, he’s going to have the chance because he deserves it. But are you sure the wasps can’t get out?” she asked us. “Not as long as that plug stays in,” Pee-wee said. “But if anybody took it out——” “Good gracious!” Marjorie said. “We wouldn’t _touch_ it,” Stella put in, just shuddering.