“So we did,” said Bart; “we were captured—we’re escaped prisoners of war.”
“Captured! Prisoners of war!” cried Bruce.
“Yes,” said Bart.
“How?”
“About an hour ago we came up and fell into an ambush.”
“But how did you manage to get away?”
Upon this Bart told them all about it, and his story was received with unbounded delight, and gave rise to no end of fun. What was best was, the fact, not merely that they had escaped, but that they had brought off the basket also in safety.
Suddenly Bart looked at his watch.
“Brethren of the ‘B. O. W. C.,’” said he, “it’s only sixteen minutes after four. Thus, after so many adventures,—after ambushes, fights, and captivities,—we have succeeded in keeping our appointment, and are not more than sixteen minutes behind time.”
Upon this Solomon carried the basket into the camp, and the others followed, and prepared to take their lunch as coolly as if nothing had happened.