“It would be just like Paul to lay plans that way,” acknowledged Jack. “I know him like a book, and believe me, he gets more pleasure out of making his enemies feel cheap than the rest of us would if we gave them a good licking.”
“Paul’s a sure-enough trump!” admitted Bluff. “Do you know what he said when he was showing that scrawl to us fellows? I was close enough to get part of it, and I’m dead sure the words ‘entering wedge’ formed the backbone of his remark.”
“Do we go, snow or sunshine, then?” asked Bluff, as they came to a halt on a corner where several of the boys had to leave the rest, as their homes lay in different directions.
“That’s for Paul to decide,” Jack told him. “But we know our leader well enough to feel sure it’s got to be a fierce storm to make him call a trip off, once all preparations have been made.” 66
“Oh! don’t borrow trouble,” sang out Bobolink. “Everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high. Just keep on remembering that to-morrow will be Christmas, and all of us expect to find something in our stockings, so to speak.”
“There’s one word of warning I ought to speak before we separate,” said Jack, pretending to look solemn as they stood under a corner street lamp.
“Now the chances are you’re referring to that Lawson crowd again, Jack,” suggested Bobolink.
“This time it comes nearer home than the Lawsons,” said Jack, seriously.
“Then for goodness sake tell us what you have on your mind,” urged Tom Betts, impulsively.
“As the second in command in our patrol,” Jack went on gravely, “since Paul failed to say anything about it, I feel it my solemn duty to warn several of our number to be extra careful how they gorge at Christmas dinner to-morrow. Too much turkey and plum pudding have stretched out many a brave scout before now. If there are several vacancies in our ranks Monday morning we’ll know what to lay it all to. I beg of you to abstain, if you want to feel fresh and hearty at the start.”