"He's real mad this time," said Bob.
"Yes, I guess we'll have to apologize, same as Jed Burr did," agreed Frank. "Come on!"
Together they raced after Sammy, and, catching up to him, they grasped him by either arm. They spoke quickly and eagerly by turns.
"We didn't mean anything."
"We were only fooling."
"Maybe there is a hermit on Pine Island after all."
"We—we apologize!" burst out Frank.
He said it in such a comical manner that Sammy, hurt as his feelings had been, could not stand out against his chums any longer. A smile came over his face, and then Bob and Frank laughed too.
"All right, Sammy," declared Frank. "We believe you. Tell us about the hermit. Maybe we can go up there and see him."
"And about the ghost, too," added Bob.