"Oh, well, it will teach them to respect us anyway. And that will be something gained," said Simmons. "Mason, will you captain us?"
"Not much! No, I'll do my duty as a lieutenant, but I am no commander. Nor are you. You're too little."
"Napoleon—Nelson!" muttered Simmons. He would have liked the offer of the post, and his size was a sore point with him.
"Jack Brady must be captain," said Bacon firmly, and all agreed with him.
"However could we have forgotten him?" exclaimed Hughes.
"He's the right man, if he'll consent," remarked Mason. "But I wish I felt sure about that."
"Well, I see at the present moment he's hobnobbing with the enemy," said Hughes doubtfully.
"Oh, but he's really one of us, he has been all along," cried Simmons. "Here, Brady, you're wanted."
"At your service," said Jack merrily, and, breaking off his conversation with Trevelyan and Vickers, he joined the group of day-boys.