"Wall, you're a crazy youngster, that's all, but if yer sot on huntin' fer trouble, yer got only yerself to blame. Ye'll go before a justice uv the peace, the whole three uv year, and be fined ten dollars apiece, likely as not, an' I don't believe ye've got twenty-five dollars between the lot uv yer." "Right you are," said Roy. "We are poor but honest, and we spurn--don't we, Pee-wee?" "Sure we do," agreed Pee-wee. "Poverty is no disgrace," said Roy dramatically. The man, though not overburdened with a sense of humor, could not help smiling at Roy and he went away laughing, but scarcely crediting their purpose to venture into the den of "Old Man Stanton." "They're a queer lot," he said to himself. Within a few minutes the boys had gathered up their belongings, repacked their duffel bags and were picking their way across the marsh toward the drier road. "We're likely to land in jail," said Pee-wee, mildly protesting. "It isn't a question of whether we land in jail or not," said Tom, stolidly; "it's just a question of what we ought to do." "_We_ should worry," said Roy. CHAPTER VII THE "GOOD TURN" It was a draggled and exceedingly dubious-looking trio that made their way up the main street of Nyack. They had no difficulty in finding the office of "Old Man Stanton," which bore a conspicuous sign: WILMOUTH STANTON COUNSELLOR AT LAW "He'd--he'd have to get out a warrant for us first, wouldn't he?" Pee-wee asked, apprehensively. "That'll be easy," said Roy. "If all goes well, I don't see why we shouldn't be in Sing Sing by three o'clock." "We're big fools to do this," said Pee-wee. "A scout is supposed to be--cautious." But he followed the others up the stairs and stepped bravely in when Tom opened the door. They found themselves in the lion's den with the lion in close proximity glaring upon them. He sat at a desk opening mail and looked frowningly at them over his spectacles. He was thin and wiry, his gray hair was rumpled in a way which suggested perpetual perplexity or annoyance, and his general aspect could not be said to be either conciliatory or inviting. "Well, sir," he said, crisply. "Are you Mr. Stanton?" Tom asked. "We are Scouts," he added, as the gentleman nodded perfunctorily, "and we came from Bridgeboro. We're on our way to camp. Last night we got caught in the rain and we ran----" "Took refuge," whispered Pee-wee. "For that old boat on the marsh. This morning we heard it was yours, so we came to tell you that we camped in it last night. We made a fire in a can, but I don't think we did any harm, except we chopped up a couple of old stanchions. We thought they were no good, but, of course, we shouldn't have taken them without leave." Mr. Stanton stared at him with an ominous frown. "Built a fire in a can?" said he. "Do you mean in the boat?" "We used the exhaust for a draught," said Roy. "Oh--and what brings you here?"