“We can sleep aboard very comfortably,” added Jerry.
“And it’s a good deal easier to cook,” remarked Bob, innocently enough, whereat his chums burst into laughter.
“Oh, well, you don’t need to eat if you don’t want to, Ned!” spluttered the stout lad, for his tormentor was poking him in the ribs, under pretense of seeing how much fatter he had grown.
“Don’t let him worry you, Chunky,” consoled Jerry. “He’ll be glad enough to sit up at the table when the gong rings. Now then, help me get this trunk up on the rear,” for a trunk, containing some of the things they would not need for a time, was to be put on the luggage carrier of the auto.
“Well, boys, take care of yourselves,” cautioned Mrs. Hopkins, as Jerry took his place at the wheel. The tall lad generally did the steering for his chums.
“We’ll try to,” answered Ned.
“And, Jerry,” his mother went on, coming down the path to kiss him good-bye, “don’t be too harsh with the professor, even if you find he is against you.”
“All right, Momsey, I’ll try,” was his answer, after a moment of thought.
“And it may be all a mistake,” she added. “I’m sure I hope it will prove to be so.”
“I do, too,” added the tall lad. “All ready, fellows?”