Oliver shook his head. He knew well enough that once Gus had made up his mind there was no use to argue with him.
“Let us go below,” continued the stout boy; “I have a surprise for you.”
“What is it?”
“Never mind; come along.”
So Oliver followed him down the broad steps and along the passageway, and Gus entered a stateroom.
“My stateroom!” cried Oliver. “How did you know it?”
“By the register. It is mine also. We are to be room-mates. Aren’t you glad?”
Glad? Indeed Oliver was. The feeling of loneliness, so acute but a quarter of an hour before, was all gone now.
While they were below, Gus told much of what had passed in Rockvale after Oliver’s departure. To be sure the boy had been gone but two days, yet that was long enough for all the other boys to wonder what had become of him.
Gus’s haste in leaving was amply proven by the contents of his valise, all tumbled in one mess. There were two extra shoes, but they were not mates, and most of the clothing he had brought was just such as he did not desire.