“I’m only wondering what they’ll say when they come to find out how they’ve been so badly sold, that’s all,” replied the inventor, again indulging in one of his laughing fits.
“Did they get it?” demanded Rob, instantly, guessing that there was a reason for all this hilarity on the part of the other chum.
“Oh! he slicked it out of my pocket the cutest way you ever saw,” replied Hiram. “I felt his hand going in, so I held my breath to give him all the chance I could; and he did it, too, sure he did!”
“Got the papers, you mean, don’t you, Hiram?” asked Rob.
“The dummy you made up for me, Rob.”
Then both the others had occasion to smile broadly.
“Hope they’ll enjoy reading those letters the boys wrote me while we were over in Europe last fall,” Rob remarked.
“I’d give a heap to see them when they find what a wonderful windfall they’ve struck to pay them for all their trouble,” said Andy.
“Well, let’s get a conveyance and start for the Alexandria without any more delay,” advised the scout leader.
“Me for a comfy bed to-night,” Hiram laughed; “better get a room with plenty of space for all of us, Rob. After this excitement to greet us on reaching California, I think it would be as well to stick together till we’ve unloaded our cargo, and have our time to ourselves.”