A very few minutes afterwards they were seated in the train and speeding toward Brimfield.
"And now," said Amy brightly, "all we've got to do is to give our little song and dance to Josh!"
CHAPTER XI
BRIMFIELD MEETS DEFEAT
The interview with Mr. Fernald was not, however, the ordeal they had feared. The principal pointed out to them that they should have returned from Thacher to Wharton by trolley with the other students, and not experimented with a strange automobile. When the boys had shown proper contrition for that fault Mr. Fernald allowed a note of curiosity to appear in his voice.
"Now," he said, "about this burglary, Byrd. What--a--what was all that?"
So Amy narrated in detail and they exhibited their presents and the principal was frankly interested. He smiled when he returned Clint's scarfpin. "You young gentlemen had quite an adventure, and I consider that you behaved very--ah--circumspectly. I congratulate you on your rewards. If I remember rightly, Byrd, you lost a watch last Winter."
"Yes, sir, I left it at the rink."
"This is much too fine a one to lose. See if you can't hold on to it. You may be excused from church attendance this morning. If you'll take my advice you'll clean up and then get some sleep. As near as I can see you didn't have much last night."