“It’s glorious, Don!” he said. “It’s the best news I’ve heard in months. But, say, Don, if you’re going to Egypt, why can’t I go along?”
“That would be great,” responded Don enthusiastically. “I’d be tickled to death. And I’m sure my uncles would have no objection. You know what they think of you. They think you’re about the finest boy that ever wore shoes. But how about your father? Would he be willing to have you go?”
“He isn’t in New York, worse luck,” replied Brick. “He’s gone out West on a business matter. But I’ll try to get him by telegraph or long distance ’phone. Oh, Don, I’ve just got to go with you! I’ll go if I have to swim!”
“Pretty long swim,” laughed Don. “But do your best, old boy, and I’ll talk to my uncles; though I’m sure they’ll be willing.”
The boys talked for a few minutes longer, and then Don hung up the receiver and rejoined Fred on the porch.
“From Brick Allison,” he explained. “He’s wild to go with us to Egypt.”
“I don’t wonder,” commented Fred. “But now, Don,” he went on, rising as Emily came out on the porch, “I guess we’d better go, for I know you’ll have a thousand things to do in getting ready for your trip on such short notice.”
The next few days were busy ones. Clothes suitable for the hot climate of Egypt had to be bought, arrangements made for letters of credit, passages booked on the steamer, and a host of other details attended to that had to be crowded into their hurried preparations.
The captain and professor kept the wires hot in their calls on the various shipping offices, and were delighted to find that they could get passage on a steamer going directly to Alexandria in Egypt, thus obviating the necessity of going to England first, an arrangement that would save them several days. At a time when every day counted, this was an item of prime importance.
No answering cable had come from Mrs. Sturdy, a fact that increased their uneasiness and gave an added intensity to their longing to be off.