Josiah was forced to run now in good earnest, and Sadie was left on the corner looking after them very seriously until they were lost to view in the distance.
Tom and Bob continued on at a rapid pace, slackening the speed only when it was absolutely necessary, and on arriving at the rendezvous found eight of Tom’s and Bob’s friends, who had been waiting with every evidence of impatience.
Bill Foss was among the number, as was very proper since he had been selected to fill the responsible position of Master of Ceremonies, and Josiah fancied his unusual show of good-humor and friendship arose from the fact that he was ashamed of his behavior on the previous day.
He greeted the country boy with a warmth which was hardly warranted in view of the fact that they had been acquainted such a short time, and introduced him in the most friendly manner to each of the young gentlemen who had done their share toward buying materials for the feast.
“Where’s Saunder’s boat layin’?” Bob asked, as he saw that every boy had a package under his arm, thus showing he was ready to proceed to the meeting place.
“Down here by the dock,” Bill replied. “We would have had her ready before this; but Sim Jones an’ his gang are ’round there, an’ we didn’t want ’em to see where we was goin’.”
“You ain’t ’fraid of them, are you?” Tom asked quickly.
“Indeed we ain’t; but you see there’s no need of gettin’ up a row now, ’cause we haven’t any more time than we want to spend in the canal-boat. I’ve jest come over from there, an’ I’ll tell you she’s fixed great! We’ve bought a lot of candles, so needn’t come back till we get ready.”
At this point Jimmy Skip went out to reconnoitre, and on his return reported that Sim Jones and his friends were no longer to be seen, consequently there was nothing to cause the would-be feasters any further delay.
The boat which had been borrowed did not appear to be very staunch, and certainly was not cleanly.