There was also the interest in the plan aided and abetted by Mr. Bartlett, who contributed liberally toward raising a certain sum. This was presented to the genial cook, whose good nature had endured through the entire stretch of camp life.
Mr. Bartlett made the presentation, heartily applauded by the boys.
“Here’s ten dollars we’ve chipped in, Sunny Jim,” he said to the astonished cook, whose eyes danced with pleasure. “We want you to buy the best watch you can find in Cliffwood for the money. Every time you look at it think of Camp Russabaga. And I voice the sentiments of every boy here when I say we hope to have you cook for us again next summer. Give Jim three cheers, lads, for he deserves well of us.”
That was one of the proudest moments of Sunny Jim’s life, though he had lost his voice apparently, so that he could only stand, nod his woolly head violently and grin.
We shall hope to meet Dick and his many friends again in the pages of another volume. That the seed of his prophecy regarding the brightening of Cliffwood’s skies in the matter of athletic sports among the younger element was not doomed to fall by the roadside, or among thorns that would choke it, can be guessed from the title of our next book, which will be called “The Y. M. C. A. Boys at Football; Or, Lively Doings On and Off the Gridiron.”
All of the lads were up before daylight on the last morning on Bass Island. The tents came down and were hastily packed, while breakfast was being prepared. Indeed, a trip across with both boats had been made before the campers sat down to the morning meal.
“It’s our last breakfast on Bass Island, boys,” said Mr. Bartlett, looking around at the circle of eager faces; “and if I know what I’m talking about we’ll all remember for many a day the great times we’ve had up here. We hope we shall have good luck in developing and printing the pictures, because they’ll illustrate our story about the gorilla. And last, but not least, we’re glad to know that little Josh Jones is well on the road to recovery. When we get all the stuff over to the mainland we’ll stand around and give dear old Bass Island one last jolly cheer. Then it’s home for us. Now hurry and finish, for we ought to start before long.”
With this last glimpse of the Y. M. C. A. Boys we will draw the curtain and say good-bye.
THE END