"Soak him a good one on the ribs and he'd most likely blubber," whispered Aleck. "Speak to me, sir?"
"I did," answered the man in the yachting costume. The strength of his voice was in full accord with the size of his frame. "Do any of you boys know Bob Somers?"
"Bob Somers!" cried Phelps, arching his eyebrows in surprise. "Well, ra-ther!"
"And a tall, gawky chap named Tom Clifton?" came from the boy in the checkered cap.
"I should say so."
"And Joe Rodgers?" asked the big man.
"Yes, sir!"
"Then I suppose you know Dave Brandon and Charlie Blake?"
"No mistake about that, cap'n," answered Phelps, whose curiosity was receiving additional impetus from the visitors' questions.
"Will you kindly direct me how to reach Bob Somers' residence?"