This was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Bob reached over and snatched the letter out of Frank's hands, and together with Sammy ran over to a large rock near the shore of the cove, with Frank in hot pursuit.
Bob and Sammy reached the goal first and dodged around, keeping the rock between themselves and Frank as the latter tried to recover his letter.
"Oh, come, fellows, that isn't fair," protested Frank. "It's my letter, you know. Hand it over."
"We'll read it for you first," chuckled Sammy.
"So you won't have to hurt your poor eyes," mocked Bob.
Frank saw that the odds were against him, so he tried to compromise.
"I won't tease you any more," he said. "Give it to me and I'll read you every word of it right off."
Frank was as good as his word, as the others knew he would be, and without any further nonsense read the letter aloud.
Bob and Sammy listened with the utmost eagerness, their hearts beating fast as they realized all the letter meant.