“Oh I say, fellows!” cried Bob. “I don’t believe any one will touch the boat.”
His friends burst out laughing at the woe-begone expression on his face, and the manner in which Bob placed his hands over the region of his stomach.
“I guess one of the carpenters will watch the Dartaway until we come back,” suggested Jerry, and the man who had the contract for the boat house agreed. He did not go home to dinner.
Bob seemed to hesitate on emerging from the dining room after the meal. Ned noticed it and asked:
“Didn’t you have enough of that chicken, Chunky?”
“Oh yes,” replied Bob with a sigh.
“Then what’s the matter?”
“I was thinking we might get stuck out in the river aboard the boat,” said the fleshy youth.
“Why you’re not afraid, are you? You can swim.”
“No, I’m not exactly afraid of that.”