Bill accepted the invitation eagerly. Hal asked if they couldn’t go too, but Mr. Folsom said they might be in the way. “You can see everything from here, boys. One thing you had better do, though, Hal, and that’s take a trip home this afternoon and let your mother see that you’re all right. You can spend the night and come back here tomorrow if you haven’t had enough of it. Herrick, you come along too and have some dinner with me this evening. I can’t promise as good as you gave, but you won’t go hungry. Harry, come and walk down to the beach with me.”
By half-past two the Jupiter was safely off the ledge and by three the whole flotilla of boats had disappeared around Toller’s Rock. The boys had meanwhile decided to follow Mr. Folsom’s advice and return to town for the night. Hal was loath to leave their property unprotected, prophesying that they’d find even the tent stolen in the morning. But after he had removed almost everything movable except the tent to the Crystal Spring he felt easier in his mind. They were to take the sloop. The Crystal Spring had stood the gale well, but she had managed to swing her stern onto a sand bank and it took quick work to get her off before the tide fell. As they moved out of the river mouth Hal waved a fond farewell to the Corsair.
“I shall never see you again,” he mourned. “Bill Glass said the other day that he guessed he’d have to have a motor boat, fellows, and here’s his chance.”
“Look here,” said Bee, “I’m beginning to think we were all wrong about the pirate. I don’t believe he stole those things, after all.”
“Well, who did then?” asked Hal.
“I don’t know, but I’ll bet it wasn’t Bill Glass. I like Bill!”
The wind had died down to a fresh breeze out of the north, but there was enough of it to send even the Crystal Spring along at a good pace and it was only a little after five when she sidled into Herrick’s Cove. Jack had tried to refuse Mr. Folsom’s invitation to dinner, but the others would not hear of it.
“Besides,” said Hal, “he particularly wanted me to bring you. He—there’s something he wants to see you about.”
So after a brief visit with Aunt Mercy and Faith the boys crossed the Neck and took the ferry to town. Jack had changed into his best clothes, and Hal and Bee, still in camp attire, pretended that he was ashamed to be seen with them and walked behind him all the way up the hill to the house. Mrs. Folsom proved to be a rather plump, pleasant-faced, placid lady and Jack concluded that Mr. Folsom had stretched it a little when he had told about the “conniption fits.” She welcomed Jack warmly and rather embarrassed him with her praise of his conduct. Mr. Folsom reached home late and dinner wasn’t served until long after seven, by which time there were three very hungry boys waiting. The dinner itself was more elaborate than any Jack had ever partaken of and he had to watch Hal closely to see which knife or fork to use. After dinner they went out to a wide screened porch that was furnished just like a room, with electric lights and deep chairs and tables and rugs and books, and Mrs. Folsom made coffee in a funny copper contrivance and Mr. Folsom, stretching himself in a long wicker chair, lighted a cigar and turned to Jack.
“Herrick, Harry tells me you’re still running that water boat your father had. Doing pretty well, are you?”