"No, I ain't crazy. But I know a thing or so, and I want to talk to you two in private," went on the tramp, and motioned again to Ham and Carl.
"What do you want?" asked Ham, curiously. He could see that the tramp was not crazy.
"Come here,—or send that other boy away."
"Gosh, got a state secret, eh?" said Barney Hedge. "All right—I'll keep out of it. If you want help, call," he added, as he circled away to a distance.
"What do you want anyway?" questioned Carl, half angrily. "We are not in the habit of associating with tramps."
"We are gentlemen's sons," added Ham, drawing himself up proudly.
"Say, do gentlemen's sons blow up boathouses?" asked Kiddy Leech, in a low but distinct tone.
At this question consternation seemed to seize both Ham Spink and Carl
Dudder, and their faces grew pale as they stared at the tramp.
"Wha—what's that?" stammered Ham, faintly.
"I asked you if gentlemen's sons blew up boathouses."