"Not if he should threaten to expel you?"
Joe hesitated for a moment, and then said, "He would hardly do that, but if he should,--no, not even then."
"Joe Chester, you are a good fellow! Give us your hand! Now mum is the word!"
CHAPTER II.
A COSTLY "YES."
It was near the close of the summer term, the end of the school-year, and the boys were looking forward with brightest anticipations towards the camping season. Provided their school reports had averaged well throughout the year, the boys were given a fortnight of camp-life before scattering to their several homes.
Sometimes they had gone to the mountains with their tents and accoutrements for hunting and fishing; sometimes to Lake Myrtle; and last year they had explored Barrimore river from the mouth to the source.
This year Mr. Bernard had obtained permission to take his boys out to Whaleback, an island containing about a hundred acres, uninhabited save by the family of the lighthouse-keeper.
There they would be "monarchs of all they surveyed," and no one would be disturbed by their noise--consequently no one to complain of "those dreadful boys."
This excursion was the great treat of the year for the Academy boys, and through the spring months it was the favourite theme for conversation.