“And may I add a word,” spoke a voice, as the girls moved off. The boys turned to behold Professor Clatter.
“It was fine!” he declared. “Not even by the use if my Rapid Robust Resolute Resolvent, my Peerless, Permanent Pain Preventive or my Spotless Saponifier could a more noble victory have been won. I congratulate you. Pactolus congratulates you, and when we find the golden river we’ll make a crown of victory for you. But what I want to add most especially is, that our mutual friend Tithonus Somnus has just arrived. His wagon is over near mine, and he and I entreat you to come and see us, and partake of such humble fare as we may afford.”
“Do you mean all of us?” asked Cap.
“The entire nine!” cried the medicine man warmly. “We will dine out of doors, and Mercurio will serve the viands.”
“What say, fellows; shall we go?” asked Cap, for the members of the Varsity team were gathered about the Smith boys.
“Go? Of course,” answered Graydon. “We can break training now, and we’ll eat golden rivers or Resolute Resolvent or even Spotless Saponifiers! Lead on!”
“You say Tithy has arrived?” asked Bill, as the little throng moved over the campus, it having been arranged that as soon as they got off their uniforms they would go to the professor’s wagon.
“Yes, he heard that I was headed here, and followed.”
“What business is he in now?” inquired Pete.
“Oh, he is selling a wonderful instrument. It is a pocket knife, a glass cutter, a can opener, hammer, screw driver, and twenty-six other tools, more or less, combined into one. Tithy is enthusiastic over it. Well, I’ll go to tell him you are coming, and then I will bid Mercurio set the table.”