“Hurrah!” he fairly screamed. “We can go! I’ve a scheme! Oh, Jim! Oh, Cap’n Pem! It’s bully! Oh gosh, we’ll put one over on Dad again!”
“Whatever be ye talkin’ on?” demanded the old whaleman. “’Pears like ye’ve gone plumb crazy.”
“Listen!” cried Tom, as he quieted down. And in earnest tones he explained his scheme to old Pem and to Jim.
“Gee!” commented Jim, “that will work. Tom, you’re a wonder.”
“Derned if ’twont,” agreed the old whaleman. “I’ll be swabbed if I don’ reckon we’ll all be a-goin’ erlong o’ the Narwhal arter all.”
A few moments later the boys were speeding towards New Bedford on a trolley car. Alighting near the water front they hurried to Mr. Nye’s office.
There was a long conference with the genial shipowner. Then another visit, with Mr. Nye accompanying them, to a broker’s and to a law office. Several hours later two grinning, jubilant boys made their way back to Fair Haven and entered Mr. Chester’s home.
“Well, Dad, they’ve invited us!” exclaimed Tom, as his father turned at their entrance.
“What?” cried Mr. Chester incredulously. “You mean to say the Narwhal’s owners have asked you to go on a cruise—without your mentioning it to them?”
Tom grinned and Jim chuckled. “They sure did,” declared Tom. “And they’re going to take Cap’n Pem and Cap’n Edwards and Mike—and Ned if they can find him—and all the others that were on the Hector that can be hired.”