“I PROMISE....”
The great day had come at last--the day when the six Cubs were to make
their Promise. The gamekeeper, the blacksmith, and the doctor had said
“Yes, certainly,” about their sons joining, and of course Hugh, Jack,
and Bob were wild with delight at the idea. Mr. Ogden had grunted,
and said, “Anything to keep them out of mischief,” when Miss Prince
asked his leave to form the Six, and when she had mentioned something
about funds, he had given her a £5 note. The order for kit was posted
to headquarters, and to-day the boys were clad in dark blue jerseys,
shorts (real _short_ ones), and green neckerchiefs, and smart Cub caps.
When the question of a Sixer and Second came up Bill and David had
announced, both at the same time, that _he_ would be Sixer; but Danny
had told them not to be so jolly cocksure, for he and Miss Prince had
talked the matter over very seriously and decided to give Hugh the two
stripes; for, as Danny said, he was a good chap, and would, he was
sure, make a proper Sixer, always thinking of his Six before himself
and trying to set a good example to the other boys.
David was to be Hugh’s Second; Bill (his twin), being the next oldest,
took third place; Jack Miles, fourth; Nipper, fifth; and little Bobby
Brown sixth.
And so they stood in a circle on this sunny Saturday afternoon, and
Miss Prince, in Cubmaster’s uniform, stood before them with Danny
at her side, six badges in his hand. Hugh was the first to come up.
Standing at the half-salute, a look of determination on his face, he
repeated the Promise slowly, clearly, and as if he said it with all his
heart. As Miss Prince looked into his truthful blue eyes, she felt sure
that he really meant the words he had said and would keep true to them
all his life.
“I trust you to keep that Promise,” she said, adding, as she clasped
his left hand, “you are now a Cub and a member of the great Brotherhood
of Scouts.” Danny put his cap on for him, and Miss Prince gave him the
badge.
Then he brought up each of his boys in turn. They all said the Promise
clearly, and with a true intention of keeping it. Then they gave the
Grand Howl.
“Now, Cubs,” said Miss Prince, “you mustn’t forget that you’ve got to
uphold the honour of the Brotherhood. To-morrow morning,” she added,
“we will all go to church together in uniform, and you must renew your
Promise before God, and ask Him to help you to keep it faithfully as
long as you live.”
Then the Circle was dismissed, and the newly-made Cubs dashed off
across the lawn, turning head over heels as they went. There was a
splendid tea laid out on the terrace, with a huge plum cake that was
the birthday cake of the Pack.
* * * * *
The following Saturday was a holiday. They had chosen, of course, to
spend it in the woods with Danny. In the afternoon the three other Cubs
joined them, and a fire-lighting competition began. Danny was to be
the judge of the fires--he was to give points in getting a good fire
burning for speed, and for the way the fireplace had been made. So
while the Cubs worked hard, he sat on a log and thought.
He liked his new job. It was great fun training this keen little lot
of Cubs; and he was so pleased to be able to help Miss Prince in this
way. But as he thought over things there was something that puzzled
him. The boys’ grandfather was such a strange old man. No one ever saw
him smile, or got a pleasant word from him. The village people hated
him; he was a hard landlord and a harder master. And somehow he never
seemed happy, though he was rich, and had a beautiful house and all a
man could desire.
“He looks to me,” said Danny to himself, “as if he was always afraid,
always dreading something--as if he had an awful secret weighing on
his conscience.” And then the detective instinct in him began weaving
mysterious stories around the gloomy figure of Mr. Ogden. Little did he
think, however, that before many months had passed a strange adventure
would befall him which should clear away the mystery surrounding the
Cubs’ grandfather. It was a call from Nipper that brought him back to
the present--“Danny, Danny, I’ve done!” Before long the six fires were
complete and the judging had commenced.
It was actually Nipper’s fire that won! He had had the luck to find
some large smooth stones with which to build his fireplace. Also he had
had the happy thought of borrowing Danny’s hat to fan his fire with.
Now he strutted with pride like a young turkey-cock.
“All bring your wood,” said Danny, “and pile it on to Nipper’s fire. We
will boil the water on it for tea.”
Before long tea was made and the seven boys were squatting round ready
to begin. It was then that a figure came on the scene--a figure whose
coming was the beginning of a long series of adventures such as the
Cubs had never even dreamed of.