"Why not?"
"Fraid you'd not let me go," said Solomon, with a broad grin, that instantly was suppressed by a demure cough.
"Nonsense," said the doctor; and then turning away, he spoke a few words apart with Mr. Long.
"Well, boys," said the doctor, at last, "this project of yours doesn't seem to me to be altogether safe, and I don't like to trust you in this way without anybody as a responsible guardian."
Bart smiled.
"O, sir," said he, "you need not be at all uneasy. All of us are accustomed to take care of ourselves; and besides, if you wanted a responsible guardian for us, what better one could be found than Captain Corbet?"
The doctor and Mr. Long both shook their heads. Evidently neither of them attached any great importance to Captain Corbet's guardianship.
"Did you tell your father how you were going?" asked the doctor, after a few further words with Mr. Long.
"O, yes, sir; and he told me I might go. What's more, he promised to charter a schooner for me to cruise about with Phil and Pat after I arrived home."
"And we got permission, too," said Bruce.