“Cut it out, fellows,” laughed Bob. “Captain, we’ll send you a telegram just as soon as those chaps are rounded up.”
The former seaman smiled quizzically. To his mind, talking about the trip in a brightly-lighted room and actually undertaking it were two such widely different propositions that he had little confidence in the boys sticking to their determination. “They may possibly go as far as the city limits,” he thought, “but that long stretch of lonely road and the blackness will send ’em back.”
“Sure you want to try it?” he said, aloud.
“Yes, sir, the very worst way,” laughed Bob. “Now, Charlie——”
“LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELVES, BOYS”
Blake, anticipating what he was about to say, and noticing a peculiar grin on Tom’s face, held up his hand.
“I’m going,” he said, in remarkably sour tones.
“That’s fine.”
Captain Bunderley gave each a hearty grasp of the hand.