“It’s all right now, Bob!” he cried. “Come along, Josiah;” and he started down the Bowery, while the employee of the museum, satisfied that there would be no further disturbance, re-entered the building.
“What made you stay so long?” Bob asked when the four had put a safe distance between themselves and the collection of wonders.
“It didn’t seem to me as if I’d been there half an hour when we heard you shoutin’.”
“Well, it’s all right now, I reckon; but we must get on lively, or the fellers will be tired of waitin’.”
“How long had you been hollerin’?”
“Not a great while. Jest as soon as we begun, that big chump come out to drive us off; but if you hadn’t showed up we’d yelled a spell longer, whether he liked it or not.”
“Don’t stop to chin now,” Tom said impatiently. “We can’t ’ford to fool ’round a great while, an’ a swell dinner waitin’ for us to eat it. Where’s Sadie goin’?”
“I’ll stop off at the old corner,” the match-girl replied quickly. “I s’pose you’ll pass it?”
“Yes, it’s jest ’bout as near. Now keep close to us, for we don’t want any more funny business of gettin’ lost.”
Josiah and his companion were careful to remain immediately in the rear of Bob and Tom, although at times it was necessary almost to run, so rapidly did the two merchants walk.