"In short, it is fraught with peril," said Roy.
"You got _that_ out of a book, too," said Pee-wee, disgustedly,
"_fraught with peril_!"
"I think it is too much of an undertaking," said Roy, ignoring him. "We
can get round-trip tickets."
Pee-wee almost fell off his chair.
"But, of course," continued Roy, soberly, "a scout is not supposed to
think of himself--especially a Silver Fox. I am a Silver
Fox--sterling--warranted. A scout is a brother to every other scout. He
ought to be ready to make sacrifices." (Mr. Ellsworth began to chuckle.)
"He ought not to stand by and see a fellow scout in danger. He ought not
to stand and see a poor Elk go headlong----" (Hisses) "He ought to be
ready with a good turn regardless of his own comfort and safety." (Hoots
and laughter) "I am ready with a good turn. I am ready to sac----"
(Jeers) "I am ready to sac----" (Jeers) "I am----" (Cries of "Noble
lad!") "I am ready to sac----"
"Well, go ahead and _sac_, why don't you?" shouted Pee-wee in disgust.
"You're a hyp----"
"Hip--hooray!" concluded several scouts.
"You're a hyp--hyp--hypocrite!" Pee-wee managed to ejaculate amid the
tumult.
"I am ready to sac----"
"Oh, go on, sac and be done with it!"
"I am ready to sacrifice myself for Tom Slade," finished Roy,
magnanimously. "Tom," he added, extending his hand across the table with
a noble air of martyrdom, "Tom, I will go with you!"
The meeting broke up gaily, Mr. Ellsworth saying that he would certainly
communicate Roy's generous and self-sacrificing offer to National
Headquarters as a conspicuous instance of a memorable and epoch-making
good turn.
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