“Easy. Come over here, and I’ll tell you. Come on, Doc, and you, too, Norton.”
The two lads thus addressed, together with the Smith boys, moved forward on the little boat.
“I saw Spider Langdon and Beantoe Pudder looking at us,” explained Bateye, when they were safe in a corner of the craft, “and I didn’t want them to get on to us. Now here’s my scheme. We can have some fun, and, at the same time give the department a chance to show off,” and with that Bateye began to whisper the details of his plan.
It did not take long to disclose it, and at the conclusion he asked:
“Will you do it, fellows?”
“Will we? Will a cat eat warm milk?” demanded Pete, as if there was no question about it.
“But say, there won’t be any come-back, will there? We got into trouble enough with the railroad people, and by flying our kite with Susie Mantell on the tail of it last year, so I’m not looking for any more,” said Cap Smith solemnly.
“Oh, this will be all right,” Bateye assured them. “Now I’ll come over about eight o’clock, and make a noise like a tree toad. Then you come out. But lock up Waggles, your dog, or he might give the scheme away.”
“We will,” promised Bill, and then the boat tied up at the wharf, and the ball players in advance of the crowd rushed off.
“Say, I’ll bet there’s something doing,” said Beantoe Pudder to Spider Langdon, as they followed the throng.