“We’ll give all the farmers on the mainland and Islesboro some,” said Paul.
“We might make a good trade on them for eggs and butter!” remarked the business man of the crowd.
“Ha, ha! Mose allus said Bill woul’ be a milyunair some day,” laughed the cook.
“I tell you what we might do with some of ’em!” now suggested the Captain, thoughtfully. “Last summer, I had some old ones that I threw out and my wife filled them with moss and loam, and then planted some sorts of ferns in ’em. When they were wired and hung up on the porch, they looked mighty fine, I can tell you!”
“Great! That’s just what we’ll do for a surprise. We’ll hang them all around the bungalow for mother!” cried Billy.
“And make a lot for Aunt Miriam for lending us the Zeus,” added Fred.
“We can go to Sprague’s Cove and dig up some of those swell ferns—and there are whole carpets of thick moss there,” said Billy, eagerly.
“Then we’ve found a use for the nests!” sighed Paul, who feared to find any stock on hand valueless.
The next case was filled with stationers’ assorted goods. Alas! the briny had done its worst here. The pens, knife-blades and wire paper-holders were already rusting and besides that a peculiar glutinous slime covered the articles in the case. It was this same sour odour that, coming from the inside of the case had first attracted the boys’ attention to the box when the Captain brought it in.
“Wire baskets! Gee, do we need any more?” asked Dudley, sarcastically.