“I don’t think we shall have any difficulty in carrying out that resolution,” answered Chase, “for it is plain that they have made up their minds to have nothing more to do with us.”
“In the next place,” continued Wilson, “we ought to go straight to Walter Gaylord and tell him to look out for himself, and to give Coulte and his sons a wide berth. I never heard of such a cowardly way of taking revenge before, and I could not sleep soundly again if I did not do something to prevent it. And in the third place, we ought to go home and tell our fathers everything we have heard. They will know just what ought to be done.”
“I will agree to that—all except calling on Walter,” replied Chase. “I don’t want to meet him or any of the Club. If Mr. Gaylord or Uncle Dick should see us in the yard, they would order us out without giving us time to make known our business.”
“We need not go there in the day-time. We will wait until after dark, and tell the person who answers our knock at the door that we want to see Walter a moment. Now that I think of it, what have these fellows done that we dislike them so much?”
If one might judge by Chase’s actions, it was a question that he did not care to answer. He looked very sheepish, gazed down at the handle of his riding-whip, and had nothing to say.
“It was very mortifying to be beaten in that boat-race, after we had bragged so lustily of our muscle and long wind, and all that,” continued Wilson; “but it was fairly done, and we ought to have accepted the result like gentlemen.”
“That’s a fact,” said Chase; “although it was a severe blow to me to have that little upstart, Fred Craven, elected Vice Commodore, when I wanted the position so badly, and tried so hard to get it.”
“Well, he is a good sailor, and popular among the students; and perhaps you can thank yourself for your defeat. I tell you, Hank, this day’s work has opened my eyes. I am going to turn over a new leaf and behave myself from this time forward, if I know how. Why, man alive, just think of it! What will the folks in Bellville say about us when it becomes known that we have been associating with fellows who have dealings with smugglers? Gracious! We’re getting rather low down in the world, the first thing you know. Let’s whip up, and get our things out of that house before Bayard returns.”
The boys urged their horses into a gallop, and in half an hour drew rein and dismounted in front of the porch at Mr. Bell’s dwelling—a rambling old structure, which seemed in a fair way to crumble to pieces, and from the outside looked as though it was entirely deserted. The wide hall, which was destitute of furniture, echoed loudly as the boys passed through it, and the stairs creaked as they ascended them. They made their way to the room they occupied without meeting any one, and began to pack up their clothing. Wilson put on his overcoat, while Chase threw his cloak over his arm, picked up his saddle-bags, and turned and looked at his companion.
“I say!” he exclaimed, suddenly. “Don’t this look rather—it isn’t just the right thing now, is it?”