“Rest assured that he did see us!” Frank replied, noting the boy’s preparations for a visit to the city. “Where are you going?”
“Why, don’t you want to know what he’s up to?” asked Alex.
“Of course, but you——”
“Oh, yes I can!” broke in the boy. “I can take Captain Joe with me and shadow him like a Sherlock Holmes!”
“Of course we can!” decided Jule, also making ready for a visit to the city. “You see, he doesn’t know us, and——”
“Don’t you ever think he doesn’t!” Case interrupted. “That boat lay close to the Rambler in the South Branch for a number of days, and you may be sure that he has a mental photo of everyone of us. Better cut this visit out!”
“You said,” turning to Frank, “that you would like to know what he wanted in the city! Well, then!”
“Run along!” Clay decided, seeing that Frank was about to appeal to him for advice. “I see no harm in the boys going, but they would better leave Captain Joe on the boat.”
“I guess Captain Joe wants to feel the soil under his feet, just the same as we do,” Alex exclaimed, patting the dog on the head, “but we’ll leave him on board if you think best.”
“He will be certain to get into a quarrel with some Brazilian pup,” laughed Jule, “and may bring on international complications, so we’d better kiss him bye-bye and be on our way.”