"What is the measure of damage?" Ned asked when the story was ended.
"The hut is destroyed," said Charley; "and the tar," added Jack. "We can make another hut in an hour, but the destruction of the tar just as we were ready to use it is a more serious matter."
"Yes, it will delay us a couple of days longer with the boat," said Ned, "and that's a pity. Let's see, this is Wednesday morning—for it's nearly daybreak now. If this hadn't happened we might have got away from here by next Wednesday,—just four weeks from the day we came. Now, however, we shan't get away before the Friday or Saturday following."
"Well, that will be the appointed time," said Charley.
"The appointed time?" asked Ned, "what do you mean?"
"Why, don't you remember? You told Maum Sally we'd be gone a month, and she warned you not to stay a day longer than that."
"Oh, yes, I forgot that! It will be curious, won't it, if we get away Saturday? I hadn't the least thought of staying a week when we came."
"Nor I," said Jack. "If we had suspected what we were coming to we never would have come at all, I imagine."
"I don't know about that," said Charley, doubtfully. "We came for adventures, and we've had them, if I know what such things are. And we've really had a good deal of fun."
"That's true," said Ned; "we couldn't expect to sleep on feather beds, or to have much luxury of any kind on such an expedition. And, after all, our little hardships haven't hurt us. My foot is about well now, and your dog-bite, Charley, is in a fair way to heal. So, if we get away safely we're all the better for the trip. It will all seem like fun when we get back to school and think about it."