“Who else?” called out Edwards.
A chorus of voices responded eagerly.
“This won’t do,” said Ray. “We can’t go over in a mob, without discipline. That would spoil our chances. We must pick out and organize a regular party as Edwards proposed, and fifty would be enough. Who will make up the company?”
“Let Percy Randall look after that,” suggested Edwards, “and we can arrange the other details. First let us see Jerry Bunce and obtain the use of his boat. We will fix the hour of departure at eleven o’clock to-night—not at our dock, for proctor Murray will be back this afternoon and he would see us. We will have the boat anchored around the bend down the river just beyond Packer’s woods, and the fellows must go through the town by twos and threes so as not to arouse suspicion. There will be a rowboat at the shore to take us aboard——”
“Hold on, Edwards,” said I. “Suppose you can’t get the steamer? You speak as if it was definitely arranged.”
“I do so,” he answered, “in order that we may not have to meet again. I don’t think there will be any trouble about the steamer, but if there is any change of plan, Percy Randall can let his men know. Since we have made up our minds, we had better not linger around here any more.” Then, turning to Percy, he added: “Pick out fifty or sixty of the strongest fellows and have them on hand at eleven o’clock sharp.”
“All right,” answered Randall, “and now, fellows, those of you that don’t happen to be chosen must not be disappointed. You can all see that this is the best plan, and that a large mob would spoil it. If you lie awake to-night you’ll probably see some fun when we get back.”
“Come now, fellows, let us disperse,” said Ray. “There is nothing to be gained by standing around here any longer. We will only betray our plans.”
At this the crowd quickly broke up, and the campus soon resumed its usual aspect—with that one marked exception—the absence of the old cannons, a change more noticeable than ever now that the throng had dispersed.
“Perhaps we had better satisfy ourselves at once about the boat,” said Edwards. “Suppose we go down to see old Jerry?”