But Ben hung back. “I’m too tired,” he said. “You go ahead and swipe what you want to, but count me out.”
Again the shrill, piping voice broke in:
“Oh, don’t spoil the fun, Ben. Don’t be a piker. You’re the captain of the crew. You’ve got to go along to give orders. Come on!”
Thus adjured, Ben’s resolution wavered. He was fond of being considered the leader of his group. He felt that he was born to command.
“All right,” he said. “I’ll go this once if you insist on it. But this is the last prank for to-night, you understand.”
“Sure we understand.”
Silently the boys left the stately entrance to the Barriscale mansion and moved up the street and around the corner, following unwittingly in the footsteps of those boys who had taken the same journey so short a time before.
This group also found it difficult to locate the Perry house in the thick mist and deep darkness that shrouded the side street. But, having at last satisfied themselves that they were on the right spot, they selected two of their number to mount the porch and seek for booty while the rest stood guard below.
The reconnoitering squad at once entered upon the performance of the duties assigned to them, but it was no easy task to find their way about in the pitch darkness that surrounded the Perry house.
Those who were waiting on the pavement heard a noise as of some one stumbling, and a smothered exclamation of surprise.