<h2> <SPAN name="chp_38" id="chp_38"></SPAN>CHAPTER XXXVIII </h2>
<h3> THE FIXER <br/> <br/> </h3>
<p>"All right, you can do as you choose," said Pee-wee; "only I'm
just telling you. There's always better fishing on the east side
of an island because that's what Uncle Jeb up at Temple Camp said
and he knows--he knows--"</p>
<p>"He knows all the fish personally," said Charlie Norris.</p>
<p>"You think you're smart, don't you?" thundered Pee-wee. "There's
a better spring over there than there is here and then besides,
the rain will drain out better on account of the ground being
higher, because I know all about camping, you can ask my
scoutmaster. It won't be so cold over there at night, either; you
see. You move the tents over there, gee whiz, Arabs move their
tents every day, and look at gypsies, they keep moving all the
time."</p>
<p>"It will be a scout movement," said Scoutmaster Safety First,
rather impressed with Pee-wee's arguments.</p>
<p>"I'm game for anything," said Scoutmaster Ned. "Variety is the
spice of life. The housing situation--"</p>
<p>"I know all about the housing situation," said Pee-wee; "my
father owns a house and the water's calmer on the east side of an
island, because I can prove it by the Pacific Ocean."</p>
<p>"The Pacific Ocean is west of here," said Scoutmaster Ned. "At
least it was when I went to school. I dare say it's there yet.
Put another log on the fire, Nick. How about it, Pete? Where's
the Pacific Ocean? I'll leave it to Pete."</p>
<p>"It's in the school geography," Pee-wee shouted from the other
side of the camp-fire, "and it's on the east of China. You have
to know where you're at before you can tell where it is and
there's better fishing in China than there is here, because in
Japan they catch sardines! Temple Camp is on the east side of
Black Lake, and anyway there's a dandy place over there for tents
and there are a lot of birds' nests and there's a better spring
and you don't have to carry water so far and you always spill a
lot of it and there are a couple of pine trees and the leaves
don't fall off them, because there aren't any leaves and leaves
keep the rain and wind off but not if there aren't any and these
trees are getting bare--"</p>
<p>"Enough! Enough!" said Scoutmaster Ned, rising, and sticking his
fingers into his ears. "We ask for an armistice. All we ask for
is three hours' time in which to move--"</p>
<p>"I'll fix it," vociferated Pee-wee.</p>
<p>"We surrender to the world's greatest fixer," said Scoutmaster
Ned. "The high authority from Temple Camp--"</p>
<p>"He isn't so high!"</p>
<p>"Size don't count," roared Pee-wee.</p>
<p>"Shall be followed," said Scoutmaster Ned. "To-morrow morning
we'll move to the east side of the island in view of the thriving
metropolis of East Ketchem. Its four lights will cheer us at
night. This spilling of water must be stopped. Pretty soon the
island will be under water and then where will we be?"</p>
<p>"Worse off than in school," called a voice.</p>
<p>"I am for the pine trees," said Scoutmaster Ned. "I am for the
high land and the fishing and the birds' nests and the shelter.
In short, I'm for Scout Harris!"</p>
<p>"I'm for the view of East Ketchem as long as I don't have to go
there," said Fido Norton.</p>
<p>It was the silly, tail end of the season; they were ready to do
almost anything, except go to school. They were going to have the
last minute of the last day of this delightful little
supplementary season, this autumnal climax of their camping life.
But aside from this resolution they cared not what they did.
Pee-wee, instead of getting on their nerves, had gotten into
their spirits. A change of location wouldn't be half bad. And
Pee-wee was right too, in much that he had said; they realized
this. And he admitted it.</p>
<p>"Sure, I'm right," he said; "you leave it to me. I'll fix it.
We'll move over there to-morrow and if you're sorry now you'll be
glad of it because--"</p>
<p>"Oh, it will be a day of rejoicing," said Scoutmaster Ned.</p>
<p>"Anything goes," said Charlie Norris.</p>
<p>"Lead and we'll follow, Scout Harris," chimed Fido Norton.</p>
<p>"One place is as good as another if not better," shouted another
scout.</p>
<p>"All in favor of moving, say Aye."</p>
<p>"Aye!" shouted Pee-wee, in a voice of thunder.
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