"More monkey tricks," responded Rand. "Monkey is going to surprise us to-night."
"Is he now?" asked Gerald; "and phat is he up to now?"
"He is going to smash the shell so we can't row to-morrow," replied
Donald.
"Faith, I think he'll find it a hard nut to crack," asserted Gerald, dropping his brogue in his indignation. "Though there isn't anything surprising about that. I don't think Monkey could surprise us, except by trying to be good."
"And I don't believe he'll try that," laughed Pepper.
"What shall we do about it?" asked Gerald. "Tell the colonel?"
"I am no sure there is anything to it," said Donald. "And it may be possible we can take care of Monkey and Sam ourselves. In my opinion, it would no be a bad plan to go down to the boathouse and capture them if they come."
"That isn't a bad idea," agreed Rand. "We can slip away, one at a time, so if they see us they won't suspect anything. I will go first and the rest of you can join me later. There isn't any moon to-night, and we can easily find places to hide around the house."
"Faith," whispered Gerald, "we'll beat them at their own game."
Acting upon Rand's suggestion the boys separated, each taking a different course, meeting later at the boathouse. The place was in darkness when Rand, who was the first to arrive, got there. Making a hasty examination by the light of a match he saw that the shell was all right. Keeping in the dark, he waited until the others, slipping up like so many shadows, had come.