"I can stand it," said Matt. "But have all the fellows go away so they won't hear me if I holler."
"All but one or two," agreed the doctor. "I'll need one or two boys to hold things."
"Use the fellows who were with me, then!" asked Matt. "They know just about how foolish I can be so it won't be anything new to them."
The doctor laughed.
"That's the way heroes talk sometimes," he said. "I'm glad to hear you say it."
"They know all about me being a hero," said Matt. "But they know I learned something in that cave."
"All ready, now," said the doctor. "You hold the bowl," he said to Apple. "And now that you have scrubbed your hands you may hold this pan of instruments," he said to Chick-chick. "And I guess we haven't anything for you to hold," to Glen.
"He's going to be the anesthetic," said Matt. "Take hold of my hands, Brick, and if I holler, punch me."
It was the first time he had addressed Glen by the name which had become so familiar to the others, and both knew that in the word all differences were swept away.
That day there was great rejoicing all through the camp at the return of the lost boys, great rejoicing at the success that seemed sure to come to the plans of Jolly Bill Spencer, and mingled with the rejoicing an underlying vein of excited speculation whether a close search of the cave would not disclose the ancient treasure of bullion or at the very least some booty stored there by the robber band.