“Do you?” demanded Mr. Coleson.
His look penetrated the eager interest of the boys and he thought he saw something in Nicky’s expression that meant more than it showed.
“You—Nicky, aren’t you?—you know something,” he declared. “Now, what is it?”
Cliff and Tom also saw a strange expression in Nicky’s eyes.
As a matter of fact, Nicky had just recollected a part of his family’s legend that had not come into his mind before for the reason that it was not written down anywhere and had been told to him only once by his uncle.
Nicky, glancing at his two young companions, wanted to smile. Both were making vigorous efforts to make him realize that they were signaling; each scratched a left ear almost wildly. It was the call for a secret communication.
Nicky folded his arms and stood, pretending to pore over the map, his brows knitted. He was watching for the next sign, although he already sensed what it would be.
His guess was correct. Cliff was making the sign to call for the part of their oath that said “Telling All, I tell nothing!”
Nicky, deliberately, grinned at his chums.
Turning to Mr. Coleson Nicky made a flat statement.