"We have decided to break up our camp here and move to Pine Island."
"Be you?" said Poodles.
"We be," answered Vallington.
"If we had known it, I don't know that we should have come," added Pearl.
"What possible difference can it make to you whether we camp at Pine Island or at Cleaver Island?"
"I don't know."
"It is too late to back out now; you have found out where we are going, and you must go with us, to help keep the secret," said our general, decidedly.
Pearl and Poodles looked at each other, and evidently wished to consult together; but there was no opportunity.
For my own part, I was not satisfied with their conduct, and I determined to keep a close watch upon them; for it seemed to me, from their appearance, that they intended to make mischief. I whispered my suspicions to Vallington, who thought it was well enough to keep an eye upon them; but he did not believe ten such fellows as they were would attempt to interfere with the plans of the company. I assured him Pearl was a smart fellow, and under his lead the party might make trouble.
As the wind was not only fresh, but fair for our passage to Pine Island, I rigged one of the tent poles as a mast for the flat-boat, intending to save the boys the hard labor of towing her seven miles. I secured another pole across the mast for a yard, to which I bent on the canvas of one of the tents for a sail. There was a heavy steering oar in the boat, which answered the purpose of a rudder. Having adjusted all this gear to my satisfaction, we pushed off, and I took my station at the helm of the flat-boat, which was crowded with boys.