“You’ll have to go through your initiation when we get home!” said Chippie with a grin.
Then came a final “sweep down, fore and aft” to clean up the deck; and, after the sails had all been carefully furled and the gear stowed away, the last good-bys were said and the “Four Square Club” left the dock for the station and took the train to Northbridge together. Dick went along as far as East Northbridge—one station nearer—and the last thing he said was:
“Remember the meeting on Wednesday, boys, and we’ll put Bill through the initiation. Gee!” said he, looking out of the window as the train slowed up, “I’ll be blowed if that isn’t Dad out there now, come to fetch me, with the little mare!”
Every member of the Club turned to gaze at Dick’s father, and watched Dick sling his sea-bag into the back of the open buggy. Then, as he lightly took his seat, the mare, who had been prancing a little, gave a slight spring forward, and they were off.
“Did you notice,” said Tom to the other fellows, “how he gave the mare her head? No hauling and tugging at her mouth!”
“You bet I did!” answered Bill.
CHAPTER XXIV
A Guest of the Club
The initiation of Billy took place at the old shack on Duck Island a few days later; and the first formal meeting of the Four Square Club was held immediately after.
Tom called the meeting to order as usual, and they all four sat down on the floor in the customary way; only this time they were careful to sit in the four corners of an imaginary square instead of in a triangle. In the middle of the square thus formed Tom had laid a small iron hoop which he had found in the cellar, and explained that it was intended as a memorial of the manhole in Captain Craven’s turret, like the circle in the center of the square in the Club emblem, and it was voted to use the hoop as a symbol at every formal meeting.
Then the Charter of the Club was read by Dick, and, after that, there was a pause which Tom was the first to break: