"I don't understand you," replied Laybold.
"You don't? Well, your head is thicker than a quart of molasses. Didn't you fellows ask me to get up a secret society?"
"Yes."
"Well, I have done it; but you popsquizzles don't seem to know your own chickens. The new institution is to be called the Bangwhangers, of whom you are which. Now, don't tell any one who isn't a Bangwhanger anything at all about it."
"I see."
"I should think you might, if your ears were only half as long as a donkey's."
The students tumbled into the boats; and, as most of the officers were busy preparing ballots for the election on the following day, none of them went on shore, the boats being in charge of the several coxswains. Ordinarily the seamen would not have been permitted to visit the shore without at least one officer in each boat; but as it did not seem possible that any mischief could be done on this uninhabited island, the rule was waived. The students landed; and in a few moments several boats from the Josephine and Tritonia brought a majority of the crews of these vessels. Scott and several of his most intimate friends went to the highest part of the island.
"Every Cantwell man may join our society; no one else," said Scott, after he had told them the name.
"All right."
"And we will give them the first degree at once."