"I've got him!" exclaimed the boy. "Now, fellows, quick! Make his legs fast."
No need to say "quick," for the boys were up and busy making fast the beast before the surprised farmer had a chance to exclaim.
"So you like the real thing in gloves?" asked Ed while pulling at the rope. "Well, I fancy you will make something real—perhaps a robe—for the best record of this trip. Oh, I say, fellows, let's buy the brute, have him done up properly, and offer his coat to the girl who comes home with a record."
Shouts of glee followed this suggestion, and the girls, seeing that the animal was made safe, were now running back from the cottage to add their voices to the excitement.
Clip insisted upon helping to tie the ram—she declared he had done his share toward making it uncomfortable for her—while Daisy, in her timid way, wanted to do something to the "saucy thing" for upsetting her, and Jack suggested that she "box his horrid ears."
Cora glanced at her watch.
"If it's all the same to the gentlemen," she said, "we will continue on our way. We have lost a full hour already."
"Lost!" repeated Walter meaningly.
"She said 'lost,'" faltered Ed with similar intent.
"Not actually lost," corrected Cora, "but at least dropped out of our itinerary."