There came a pause. Then slowly John Thornton rose and stood for a moment facing them in silence.
"I want to thank you, boys," he said at length, in tones which emotion had rendered brusk and almost harsh. "It--it has been a privilege and more than pleasure to see your surprising work this afternoon and to be with you in this way to-night. I am proud of you--prouder than you can ever know. I can say nothing more than this," and his voice rang out suddenly with a note that stirred them inexplicably: "If only the youth of our country will measure up to your standards in the crisis that is before us, we need fear nothing for the future."
The returning scouts found Hillsgrove buzzing with preparation. In fact, so changed was the atmosphere of the town that it was hard to believe they had been away for little more than a week. Several of the young men had already enlisted in army or navy. The post-office, courthouse, and many of the stores displayed inspiring posters urging others to do the same. A home guard was being organized for the purpose of dealing effectually with any sort of disturbance from resident foreigners, while a number of men, both young and middle-aged, talked of forming a regular military troop to be drilled twice weekly on the green by army officers or men who had been at Plattsburg.
It was all stirring and inspiring, and there is no telling to what extent the members of Troop Five might have become involved had not Mr. Curtis given them a serious talk at the first meeting after their return from camp. Captain Chalmers had departed with his regiment to take up guard duty along the line in one of the important railroads of the State, leaving Mr. Curtis in general charge of the scout situation at Hillsgrove; so that this talk was later repeated in substance at meetings of the other troops.
"I know you're all very keen to get into things and do your bit," he said, when the boys gathered around him in the parish-house. "The only question, of course, is how you can be most useful without frittering away your time. I've taken the matter up with headquarters, and talked it over with the mayor and several other men, and have come to this conclusion: first of all, we'll go ahead with our preparations for the rally, but instead of having it a free exhibition, as we planned, we'll charge admission and turn over the proceeds to the Red Cross. Next, I'm going to organize a signaling corps and a first-aid division formed of the real experts in each troop. There may be no immediate use for either of these, but you'll be ready when the time comes. Then there is the detail of helping to keep public order, in which the Boy Scouts have always been especially useful. There is no telling when or where you may be called upon, but your training and discipline helps you to quick thinking and action."