The boys' faces fell a little at the prospect of delay.
"But I don't mind saying," continued Mrs. Bouncer, "that as far as I'm concerned I'm willing that Bob shall go."
A jubilant shout rose from her small audience.
"That means I can go," cried Bob, cavorting around the room, "because dad always is willing to let ma do as she likes in things like this."
"Don't be too sure," warned Mrs. Bouncer with a laugh, but Bob felt that his cause was won.
"Now, I'm going to shoo you boys out," said Mrs. Bouncer, rising to resume her interrupted work, and the boys capered out into the sunshine of the late July morning.
"That settles it for two of us anyway," exulted Frank.
"It doesn't just exactly settle it, of course," remarked Bob. "But I'm 'most sure that dad will let me go. He hasn't forgotten that he was a boy once himself."
"Now all we have to do is to make sure that Sammy can go, too," said Frank.
"And find his gold mine," put in Bob, slyly.