The three chums shouted with delight.
“But, remember,” Mr. Temple warned. “I want you to go on this expedition, bearing the same advice the mother gave her daughter. You may ‘hang your clothes on a hickory limb, but don’t go near the water.’ In other words, if there is any fighting, stay out of it. Unless, of course, you are personally attacked, or your side is hard pressed.”
“Righto, Dad. We’ll remember,” said Bob.
“And now, boys,” said Inspector Burton, “I have my arrangements to make. So, if you will meet me at the pier—or, better, aboard the Sub Chaser—at seven o’clock tonight, I’ll excuse myself.”
He arose, asking Ensign Warwick to accompany him.
“As for me,” said Mr. Temple, when the two officers had left the room, followed by Inventor
Bender, “I’m worn out, and am going to take a nap. You boys have two or three hours of spare time. It would do you all good, in view of your trip tonight, to try to snatch a few hours’ sleep. But I suppose it would be impossible for you to compose yourselves?”
“Couldn’t be done, Dad,” agreed Bob. “We’ll go out and look at the town for an hour or so. We can be back around five-thirty, get a bit of dinner, with you, and then go to the boat.”
[CHAPTER XXI—AT SANTA CRUZ ISLAND]
It was early twilight when a taxicab deposited Mr. Temple and the chums at the entrance to the pier. At the suggestion of Inspector Burton, the boys had purchased and donned corduroy trousers. Each carried also a heavy sweater to be worn later against the evening chill, for they had been warned that with the going down of the sun the air would become sharp.