“I move you, Mr. Chairman,” said Hoop, rising and bowing to Sandy, “that the christening exercises take place tonight.”
“Good stuff!”
“Second the motion!”
“Moved and carried,” proclaimed Sandy. “All in favor— Thank you, gentlemen. The motion is carried. The exercises will take place tonight at the witching hour of—of eleven-thirty at the Haunted Tarn. A full attendance is requested. And if any fellow forgets to turn out he will be court-martialed. The usual regalia, gentlemen.”
“Fine!” said The Fungus. “And there’s a moon tonight. But won’t half-past eleven be a little early, Sandy? Marm never puts out her light until about eleven.”
“We’ll use the emergency exit,” said Ned gayly. “I’ll sneak down and unlock the back door after Queen Hulda goes to bed and we can get in that way when we come back. Marm will be fast asleep by that time. Wish I was in the pond now.”
“So do I,” agreed Hoop. “My, but it’s hot for this time of year, isn’t it? When we came back last year—”
“Rained like fury,” said Spud. “Remember?”
“Do we?” laughed Dutch. “Do we remember your suit-case, Spud? Oh me, oh my!”
“What was that?” asked Sandy. “Was I there?”