Frank could not go to sleep immediately; the communication William had made, perplexed him very much; he did not clearly see any thing wrong in it; he was just going to ask him, if Mr. Reed knew of their project, but remembered that not another word could be said.
His thoughts naturally turned to home, and he wished himself there, quietly laid in his own room, without doubts or hopes in his mind. 'My mother told me I should meet with many temptations, to do what I thought wrong. I wonder if this is going to be one of them. I will look at my talisman: 'let it not appeal to you in vain,' were her last words that night. Frank joined to these reflections a sincere prayer for assistance from God, for the welfare of his parents, and dear little sister, and fell asleep.
Morning came; William did not speak of the subject of their last night's conversation; Frank, who was modest, and a stranger, did not like to introduce it. At one time, he thought of not joining the party to the woods; he knew that if he remained at home, he should be far from the temptation, whatever it might be: but he did not know what reason to give, for declining a proposal, with which he seemed so much pleased, the night before; he feared that he should be regarded as one of the cowardly boys, and get a bad name, the first thing, on coming to the school. He was called out of his room, suddenly, and did not look at his talisman; and after breakfast, joined the scholars in the play ground, without having come to any decision.
They all took it for granted, that he was going, and called on him to assist them in making preparations. Mr. Reed had lent them his hand-cart, in which they placed their knives, axes, hoes, and their baskets of provision, some tin tumblers, and a pitcher, to get water from the brook. Frank looked in vain for the box containing the balloon, and began to think the project had been abandoned. Presently William Gardiner called out,
'Boys, let's take some of our cloaks to sit on, or in case it would rain, or be chilly. I will run up and get mine; shall I bring yours, Frank?'
'O no, I scarcely ever need a cloak, and the weather is very fine to day.'
Several boys, however, approved the proposal, and William Gardiner offered to fetch them all from their rooms. He soon came out, with a large bundle of cloaks; then giving three cheers, off they started, fifteen of them. The others were either too young, to engage in such an expedition, or had gone to pass the holiday with their friends in town.
When they had proceeded about two miles, drawing the cart by turns, they halted, as William had described, and after some altercation, chose Albert Lawrence for captain. He was a tall, manly-looking boy, and as soon as the choice was made, took an epaulet out of the cart, which he said they had put in for the captain, and fastened it on his shoulder, and a cane, which he shouldered like a gun. The address was then made, but nothing was announced, as to the nature of the plan.
Only five boys remained on the left side. Frank was not one of these; almost unconsciously when he saw the majority start for the captain's right side, he went too. William Gardiner seized his hand; 'you are the right sort—one of the brave ones; I see I was not mistaken,' and he gave a significant nod to the captain. Although this speech was made with a look of approbation and kindness, it did not excite such a pleasant feeling in Frank, as the approving smile of his friends had always done before, and he made no reply.