"Of course not, now that you vouch for them—unless they want to go there," he added.
"Can you take us with you, Mr. Richards?"
"I am on my way to Charmount to board the boat for Boothbay. I shall be glad to have your company."
"Have we your permission, officer?" asked Alvin, looking round at their guardian, as he partly rose to his feet.
The constable was uneasy. Moving about in his seat, he asked:
"I say, young men, you haven't any hard feelings agin me?"
Keyes Richards overheard the question and his waggishness could not be repressed.
"You boys have a clear case against Gabe; you ought to have no trouble in soaking him for ten or twenty thousand dollars damages."
"Is that a fact?" asked Alvin, pausing in stepping from one car to another, as if suddenly impressed by the idea.
"Gabe owns one of the finest farms in Lincoln county; you will have no trouble at all to get it from him."