Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister, and Honey were all looking forward to the Chapel in the Woods yearly cub campout. Mama checked off their list of items: sleeping bags, lanterns, picnic basket, tent, matches, cooking pots and fishing poles, When Papa packed up the car. 

"I can't wait to sleep under the stars, Brother said 

"And we're going to win the annual canoe race down the Rand River this year. I just know." Sister said.

After the cubs settled, they joined Preacher and Mrs. Brown who were busy sorting life vests and paddles near the river. The annual canoe race was set for later that day.

There would be two canoes in the race. One was paddled by Sister, Brother, Cousin Fred, and Lizzy Bruin--the other by Too-Tall Grizzly

"The race will do down the rapids and around the bend in the river to the finish line at the old oak tree. "announced Preacher Brown. "We'll meet up there!'

Finally, the time came. The two teams pushed their canoes into the water.

"Ready, get set . PADDLE!" called Preacher Brown.

The teams paddled as fast as they could. At first, the two canoes were neck-and-neck. Then. Brother and Sister's canoe pulled ahead. They were better paddlers than the Too-Tall gang.

"Look out!" called Lizzy. "We're coming to the rapids!"

White water boiled up ahead of them.

"Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" called Brother as they shot into the rapids.

They swept past Big Bear Rock

"Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" called Lizzy as they curved around Swirling Whirlpool

"Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" called Fred as they bumped down Twenty Steps Falls.

When they reached the bottom, they looked back. The Too-Tall gang was nowhere to be seen.

"I guess they decided not to risk the falls," said Brother.

"Hooray!" cried Sister. "We're going to win!"

"Hooray!" they all cried.

But as the cubs drifted around the bend in the river, they saw an amazing sight. There, tied to the old oak tree that marked the finish line, was a canoe. And there, leaning against the tree, was-the Too-Tall gang!

The cubs' mouths hung open.

"How," they gasped, "did you get ahead of us?"

"Nothin' to it!" said Too-Tall with a grin. "We just paddled around one side of Big Bear Rock while you paddled around the other side."

"Yeah!" smirked gang member Skuzz. "You were so busy with your

'Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!' that you never noticed us."

The gang began to dance around pretending to paddle.

"Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" they chanted.

Just then, Preacher Brown and the other campers came up to see the end of the race.

"So, that's all there was to it, eh, Too-Tall?" said Preacher Brown, folding his arms. "Are you sure you're being completely honest?"

"What do you mean?" asked Too-Tall, nervously.

"It seems to me I remember a shortcut around here .." said Preacher

Brown. He pushed aside a clump of cattails at the water's edge.

"Look!" cried Lizzy. "It's a hidden creek!"

"A shortcut!" said Brother. "Too-Tall never went down the rapids.

He just paddled down this hidden creek to win the race!"

"You cheated!" they yelled at the Too-Tall gang. "You were dishonest!"

"Well, I guess we were ... a little!" admitted Too-Tall.

"Too-Tall," said Preacher Brown, shaking his head, "' An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies."

"That's Proverbs chapter twelve," said Fred, who liked to memorize things. "And it says, The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.'

"Whoa!" said Too-Tall, imagining the Bible verses coming alive with swords and tongues. "Awesome!"

"Yes," agreed Preacher Brown. "The blessings of honesty are awesome, indeed!" And with that, Preacher Brown awarded Sister, Brother, Cousin Fred, and Lizzy blue ribbons for winning the race fair and square.