De belooning van Hi

Summary

Jan Kespers wants to become a boy scout, but his parents will not allow him to join the local group known as The Black Arrow. One day, Hi, a charming young East-Indian member of the club, has his outpost in a tree from where he can observe what is going on. He notices a suspicious person who is creeping after two ladies who are walking in the dunes. Hi sees how this man suddenly jumps up, grabs hold of the vanity-bag of one of the ladies and runs away with it. Quick as a cat, Hi slips down from the tree and follows the thief to a lonely place where he buries the bag in the sand, together with other stolen things. Hiding behind a tree, Hi takes from his pocket the camera he got that morning from his father and takes a photo of the thief. Together with some scouts he has met, Hi hurries to the police station. A scout arrives and tells the police that the thief is sitting in a pub, but, when the police come there, he has already left. Nevertheless, the thief is traced to his home and is arrested. When shown the photo Hi had taken, the thief confesses. He attempts to escape, but Hi flings himself upon the thief who is then captured and taken to gaol. The stolen articles are dug up and from a hand-bag falls a card with the name "Mrs Kespers". "I know that lady!" says Hi, and asks if he may return the bag to her. Mr and Mrs Kespers are surprised and delighted when Hi tells them his story. Mr Kespers wants to give Hi some money as reward, but this the boy refuses. "Please be so kind as to reward me", says Hi, "by allowing Jan to become a member of our scout group. Father and Mother Kespers can no longer refuse...

For Hi this is the best reward for his good deed.