"Put everything in the cistern?" cried Frank. "They must have meant the cistern back of the carpenter shop."
"Is there one there?"
"Yes."
"Then that must be it."
"I'll go and find out at once."
"You won't say that I told you, will you?" asked Charlie, anxiously. "If Sidney heard of it he'd hammer the life out of me the first chance he got."
"I'd like to catch him at it," returned Frank, with flashing eyes. "If he ever lays his hands on you just you let me know. But I won't mention you if you'd rather have it that way."
Fearful that he might be suspected of exposing the plot, Charlie declined to go to the carpenter shop, so Frank started off alone. On the way he picked up Matt and Fred, and at the shop Link joined them.
"We'll have to get a lantern to look into the old cistern," said Link. "It's as dark as pitch down there. What a mean thing to do!"
A lantern was procured and lit, and the crowd of boys hurried to the cistern and raised the lid.