“I know it,” answered Lester, in the same cautious whisper. “Mack’s men all believe that Enoch had some object in deserting as he did, and one of them said they wouldn’t go home until they caught him if they had to stay here a week.”
“That’s just what they said to me,” returned Jones. “The thing is getting interesting already, isn’t it?”
“Almost too much so. What do you suppose the teachers would do to us if Mack should hear of our plans?”
“They wouldn’t do anything but stop our liberty,” replied Jones. “Some of the best fellows in the school make it a point to desert every camp, and there’s nothing done to them. Stealing the schooner is what is going to do the business for us. We’ll be sent down for that, and it’s just what we want.”
“Have you seen anything of Enoch?”
“Yes; he’s all right. He’s gone down to Ryan’s to order dinner for us.”
“Where are the rest of the fellows?”
“Some of them are hiding about the village, and the others have gone down to Ryan’s. Enoch and I thought it best to tell them, one and all, to keep out of sight. If Mack and his men should hear of our plan, the fat would all be in the fire.”
“Would they arrest us?”