The captain boy and his four assistants laid hold of the case and raised it gingerly from the table.
"Which way, sir?"
"By way of the porch," said Sam. "Careful now! I'm responsible for this stuff, and I'd hate to have to replace some of it—especially that bracelet. That's it; steady! Take it easy."
The five boys moved slowly across the lobby to the main entrance, clinging grimly to the glazed box that contained so many wonderful trinkets. Their eyes, hitherto incurious concerning its contents, were now fascinated.
"Nothing like a little judicious barking," whispered the boatman to Rosalind as they followed in the rear of the procession.
The owner of the bracelet was mystified. Something, she knew, had not been confided to her. But there was no time to demand an explanation.
Out upon the porch the burden-bearers, breathing rapidly, turned in the direction indicated by Sam, and began a laborious journey between tables and chairs.
"Take it slowly," cautioned the boatman. "There's no hurry."
"If we don't hurry, we'll have to set it down!" gasped the captain. "It's heavy!"
"Tired, eh? Well, take a rest. No use running a chance of dropping it. Here—not that way! Tilt the end of it up on the rail. There! Now ease up on it. That's it. Take a breathing-spell."