Again and again they all passed in for more until not only the big fish was utterly gone but serious inroads had been made by them in the other mess.
“You see, I gauged our appetites fairly well after all,” Steve was saying, as if to clear himself of any reproach along the lines of greediness.
At length they one and all declared they were through, whereupon Toby sat up eagerly, and turned an appealing face toward Jack.
“The time has come for you to keep your promise, Jack,” he went on to say, considerably to the amazement of Steve. “So please start in and tell 123 us who that man is we saw digging today; what he’s after up here in the Pontico Hills; and just who the rich old lady in Chester may be who put up the cash to finance this expedition. The whole story, mind, and nothing held back.”
124CHAPTER XV
JACK LIFTS THE LID
If Toby’s manner was a trifle dictatorial when he made this demand, perhaps he might be excused for feeling so. At least Jack did not seem to mind in the least, if his smile stood for anything.
Toby had waited long, and suffered horribly. Minutes had dragged out in an almost intolerable fashion as he watched the lagging sun creep down the western heavens. But at last his time of triumph had come, when according to the arrangement made between them he could ask Jack to redeem his promise of a full confession.
As for Steve, he was staring as hard as he could, staring with his mouth partly open after a habit he had when astonished. Of course he soon grasped the idea, and across his face there began to creep a broad smile. He gave Toby a grateful look, as though disposed to crown him with a laurel wreath becoming a victor.
“Just as you say, Toby, the time seems to have arrived when you fellows ought to be told the whole story,” began Jack, as he settled back into an easier position. “After what you saw today, and the discovery we both made, it would be silly for me to keep you in the dark any longer. I 125 only bound you not to bother me about it until we’d had our supper, when Steve also might hear, and so save me considerable talking.