“Dat’s jes’ what I wants ter know, chilluns,” declared Toots. “Dat boy ain’t heah, an’ I’s po’erful feared de old skillerton debbil has cotched him.”
“Why—why,” said Jack, “I woke him and he took my place.”
“But nobody roused me,” declared Rattleton.
“Nor me,” asserted Browning.
“Git up, chilluns—git up!” squealed Toots, excitedly. “We’s gotter find dat boy in a hurry! ’Spect he’s in a berry bad scrape!”
[CHAPTER VIII.—THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED.]
By this time the boys were fully aroused. An investigation showed that Merriwell’s wheel was gone.
“Didn’t I tole yeh old debbil skillerton would done cotch some ob us!” cried Toots, in great distress.
“I hardly understand what the skeleton could have wanted with Merry’s wheel,” observed Browning.
“G’way dar, boy! Didn’ de skillerton ride a hawse!”