“What did he want with you, Hugh, tell us?” appealed Arthur. “It had something to do with that trip to-morrow, didn’t it?”
“You are a good guesser, Arthur—it certainly did,” Hugh told him.
“Look here, I hope there hasn’t been any fluke, or that something’s happened to block the game?” Billy exclaimed, though he ought to have known that such a dreadful disaster would never have made Hugh grin as he was doing.
“It has been blocked for one scout, it appears, because his folks have decided at the last minute they don’t want him to go,” Hugh explained. “You see his brother was drowned only last summer, and they tremble at the thought of their only boy spending two long weeks aboard a boat at sea and in the coast harbors.”
Billy became almost white as he clutched the arm of the other.
“A boy drowned, did you say, Hugh? Why, that must be Benjy Scott you’re referring to! Am I right, Hugh? Oh! please hurry and tell me, for I’m nearly choking with suspense. Because you see it was his brother, Andy Scott, that just nosed me out of going on this bully trip. Is Andy the one that’s had to back down? Is that what our scout master said, Hugh? Tell me!”
“That was what happened, Billy,” replied the other as he held out his hand to the excited boy, “and when he tried to get you at your home, they said you were probably over here. Anyway, the lieutenant told me that as you were a close third on the list, and as Andy couldn’t go along with the rest, I was commissioned to say that the place was open to you, if you cared to accept!”
“What, me accept?” gasped Billy, beginning to recover his usual rosy color as the delightful prospect arose before him. “Why, I’d stay up half the night getting my pack ready so I wouldn’t miss that train! Whoop! think of it, will you! I’m to go along after all? The same old lucky jinx is playing his tricks on me. Hugh, loan me this list of yours; it will save me lots of trouble. And where’s my hat? I ought to slide over home in three shakes of a wolf’s tail and get busy packing up. No sleep for me to-night, I’m afraid, with my nerves all singing little songs of joy like they are right now. If I don’t see you again, Arthur, till at the train, here’s the best of luck to you with your wireless! Be sure to stay up around that tree station every day you can! We’ll try our level best to talk with you. Just to think how things change around! One minute I was eating my heart out with envy, and now I know I’m going along. Whoop! don’t stop me—I’m off!”
CHAPTER VII.
“ALL ABOARD!”
“That was the go-ashore whistle, Hugh! It means we’re due to leave the dock in five or ten minutes more!”