“O, we are not afraid to trust you,” said one of the new members; “but you don’t know the old colonel as well as we do. He knows a thing or two, and if he don’t find out something about this business, I shall be most agreeably surprised. So mind what you are about.”
“Now, never mind me,” replied Tom, confidently. “I tell you I know just what I am doing. We’ll have an answer within forty-eight hours. That’s not long to wait.”
But, on this point, Tom soon changed his mind. Two days, he found, was a long time to wait, especially for one so impatient as he was. The hours seemed lengthened into weeks; and, as if to make the time hang more heavily on his hands, he failed in all his lessons, was obliged to stand guard at night, and, on the second day, received orders to remain in his dormitory during play-hours. This was very provoking. He fully expected Johnny Harding would be on hand that evening with an answer to his letter, and he wanted to meet him, in order that he might have a long talk with him, and learn exactly what the boys in the village thought of their scheme. But he had faithful friends upon whom he could depend, and when dress-parade was over, and he was about to ascend to his quarters, he found opportunity to whisper to several of the Night-hawks to “keep an eye open,” which they all readily promised to do.
Tom had not been mistaken in his calculations when he had selected Johnny Harding as the most reliable member of the society, for, about half-past four o’clock, the fifth captain, in obedience to the instructions he had received from his chief, made his appearance on the south side of the grounds. He walked rapidly along the road, watching the games that were going on inside the inclosure, when a ball, propelled by some vigorous striker, bounded over the fence and fell into the road before him.
“I say, my friend!” shouted one of the students.
“Say it yourself!” replied Johnny, good-naturedly.
“Will you be kind enough to throw that ball back here? You were just in time to be of assistance to us,” continued the student, as Johnny pitched the ball back into the grounds. “We are not allowed to go over this fence.”
“That’s all right,” said Johnny. “I don’t need any thanks. Perhaps some of you can do as much for me now. Have any of you seen a large bow-kite over this way?”
“No,” answered several of the students. “Have you lost one?”
“If you find one,” continued the messenger, “with the word Nantucket painted on it in large capital letters, you may know that it is mine; and I would be greatly obliged if you would keep it safe until I call for it.”