"They are building a new house over near the Grislow place. Can't we do something there?"
"Maybe we can," said Dave. "Let us look over the ground."
By the time the Gee Eyes met everything was in readiness, and Ben Basswood brought Carl Sultzer to the meeting, which was held in an old boathouse down the river. In the meantime the other members had attired themselves in cotton robes of red, with black hoods over their heads and a yellow tassel dangling over one ear. Some had wooden swords, one a wooden hammer, and others stuffed clubs.
As Carl Sultzer, a fat boy with a round, ruddy face, was thrust into the room, he was surrounded and all present began to chant:
"Hoopra! hoopra! Dilly duddy! Here he comes so fat and ruddy! Hoopra! hoopra! Dilly dee! Stranger, stranger! Bend your knee! Hoopra! hoopra! Dilly dud! Do you want to join this club? If you do, down to the ground, Make to us a bow profound!"
As the chant went on Carl Sultzer was forced to his knees and was made to bow until his nose touched the floor.
"Vot is dis ding, annahow?" he asked, in a trembling voice. "Is dis der Chee Eyes Club, I ton't know?"
"This is the renowned Gee Eyes Club," came in a solemn tone.
"Wouldst thou join us, base stranger?" asked another voice.