“Oh, darn!” exclaimed Jim, “I think they might let us go, anyway.”
“I’m not going to be discouraged yet,” declared Tom. “I’ll bet I can tease dad into letting us go, even if Cap’n Pem isn’t mate.”
But despite his statement, the two boys felt downhearted and discouraged the rest of the day, for it was even worse to have the captain’s and the owner’s consent and still be unable to go on the cruise than it would have been had their parents refused to listen to their pleas in the first place. And that evening, when Tom endeavored to wheedle his father into withdrawing the conditions he had made, he found him obdurate. While he was still arguing, Jim and Mr. Lathrop called and the latter declared that he, too, would stick to his original conditions. Very disconsolate were the two boys as they sat down to dinner, for they realized now that their cause was hopeless, that in giving their conditional consent their parents had known they were perfectly safe.
But presently their spirits began to revive and they were chatting and laughing as gaily as ever. Then, when the meal was nearly over, the door bell rang and the servant announced: “A gentleman to see you, Master Tom. He said to tell you he was mate of the Hector. He’s waiting in the library.”
“Mate of the Hector!” exclaimed Tom in puzzled tones, “I wonder what he wants. I didn’t know Captain Edwards had a mate yet. I’ll bet he’s come to tell us he’s mate just so we’ll know there’s no chance. Gee! I think Mr. Nye might have taken Cap’n Pem just for our sakes.”
“Nye’s sending the bark after oil, not to please you boys,” Mr. Chester reminded him as he left the room.
As Tom reached the library and glanced within, he started as if he had seen a ghost and stood speechless, staring with unbelieving eyes at the figure seated in the big Morris chair.
“Reckon I did surprise ye!” chuckled Cap’n Pem. “Jest signed on fer mate o’ the ol’ Hector an’ kinder thought——”
What he was about to say was drowned in the wild yell Tom let out as, turning, he dashed down the hall.
“Jim!” he shouted as he burst open the dining room door. “Jim! We’re going! It’s Cap’n Pem and he’s mate of the Hector! Hurrah! Hurrah!”