Something in his tone silenced the laughter and from one end of the trestle table to the other the fellows forgot the sizzling ham and eggs before them and looked eagerly at Roy.
"You've been up to something!" cried Chub.
"I've been up half the night," answered Roy.
Excited yells and exclamations followed this announcement. Fellows jumped from their places and crowded about him.
"Out with it!" they cried. "What's up? Where did you find the boats? When was it?"
And so Roy began at the beginning, hugely enjoying the amazement the story created. Time and again he was interrupted by excited questions; thrice Chub literally fell on his neck and hugged him until torn away by eager members of the audience. And when the story was finished they dragged Roy from the bench and sat upon him and pummelled him joyfully. He was more than satisfied with the sensation he had created; he was even glad for the sake of his aching ribs that it hadn't been any greater. And then he was dragged off to the beach and made to go through the narrative all over again, pointing out where he stood and where "Jim" stood, Mr. Buckman following as interestedly as any. And in the middle of it they found the note under the stones.
"Found!" (it ran) "Five boats. Owner may have same by applying to Hammond Academy and describing property."
"Cheeky dubs!" growled Post.
Chub, who during the last few minutes had been looking grave and sorrowful, broke in aggrievedly.
"It was mighty mean of you to keep the whole thing to yourself, though," he said. "You might have let me in on it."