Therefore it was impossible for them to act upon Jimmy’s suggestion, and at the same time they felt decidedly awkward in refusing.
It seemed as if Master Skip could read their thoughts, for he added almost immediately:—
“We don’t expect you two fellers to buy anything. We started to get up a reg’lar dinner here, an’ are goin’ to do it ourselves, or go without any.”
“Bob an’ I would like to chip in our share if we had the cash; but we was flyin’ kinder high yesterday, an’ are mighty nigh broke now.”
This remark served as a reminder to Bill Foss that he accepted the hospitality of these two on the previous day, and at the same time had acted decidedly disagreeable. Therefore, in order to make amends, he very quickly adopted Jimmy’s plan.
“Come along,” he said as he clambered on the dock once more. “If we’re goin’ to do the thing there’s no use foolin’ ’round, an’ after we’ve had our time out, all hands of us’ll go for Sim Jones an’ his crowd.”
The other subscribers to the feast followed him without delay, and the young gentlemen from Baker’s Court were left to “keep ship” until their companions returned.
“It’s kinder tough for them to put out all the money,” Tom said reflectively; “but I don’t see how we can help it.”
“I mighter done my share,” Josiah replied thoughtfully; “but I wanted to save what I had to get presents for father an’ mother, an’ I’d rather do that than have anything to eat.”
“There’s no use talkin’ about it,” Tom said, more than willing to put the very unpleasant subject from his mind. “If them fellers invited us here, it was ’cause they wanted us, an’ now they can go ahead an’ do as they please. Some other time we’ll get even with ’em. I wish I’d thumped Sim Jones when I had a chance this mornin’. It seemed to me that I oughter done it.”