The Captain smiled, and after a few moments' pause said: "I am guilty of theft. But I plead extenuating circumstances. I forgot what I said about recreation, and was so over-anxious to have my infant Patrol grounded in the first lessons of scout duties that I stole time from the hour. Who is there here just enough to sentence me?"
"We have no jury, but in lieu of a speaker, allow me to speak for myself: your zeal shall be your excuse, but hereafter see that you do not commit the same offense," spoke Julie, with a judicial air.
The Captain and girls laughed heartily, and thus ended the first reading of Scout Laws. Mrs. Vernon closed the book and got up from the knotty seat of rope, and asked the girls if they had thought of any form of recreation.
"We still have to be informed by the Court if the time stolen from our forty-five minutes must be returned or deducted?" countered Julie.
"The Court thinks you should have the full time given you for any useful recreation--not for foolishness," said Mrs. Vernon.
"Well, would the Court adjudge a good hike to be useful?" demanded Joan.
"The Court most certainly would, and will even offer to accompany the jury, or whatever body you call yourselves."
"Then it's us for a hike, girls!" cried Joan.
The suggestion met with favor, and soon the newly-made Scouts were climbing the steep grade of the mountainside. It was more than an hour before voices were again heard, and Hepsy whinnied as if to ask "What sort of scouts are you, anyway, to listen to a law read about animals and how to treat them, and then go away without giving me my breakfast?"
The moment the girls heard the appeal from the mare, they understood and ran pell-mell to get Hepsy the oats. When she saw they were measuring out her breakfast, she craned her neck as far as it would stretch, and pawed the ground impatiently.
Mrs. Vernon held her head with both hands and cried as if in despair: "Merciful goodness! What sort of a Captain am I to forget our faithful old scout Hepsy?"
"Will Hepsy get sick now, Verny?" asked Betty, worried.
"No, but she is so famished she may eat me up if I venture near her with a pail of water! That is all that might happen."
"If she does, there will be a second result, too. Hepsy'll sure have an awful case of indigestion after dining!" retorted Julie, causing the others to laugh.
