Accordingly Ray, Tony, Dick, and I accompanied Edwards down to the small shanty in which Jerry Bunce lived, situated on the shore of the lake, some distance from the boat house dock.
Jerry Bunce was at home, but at first, to our consternation, would not listen to our proposition.
“I ain’t a goin’ to hev no wild crowd o’ students a playin’ the mischief with my boat,” he said emphatically.
It required considerable argument to convince him that we would do the boat no harm. He feared all manner of trouble from the expedition, and raised objection after objection. Edwards, however, had set his mind on having the boat, and he had a persuasive and convincing manner that eventually overcame old Jerry’s opposition.
“Wall, I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” he said at length. “If ye must hev the boat to-night, and you’ll do it no harm, I’ll let it to ye fer fifty dollars—not a cent less.”
We closed with him gladly at this figure, and the bargain was soon completed. The steamer was to be ready at the place arranged that night at eleven o’clock.
CHAPTER X
A NIGHT EXPEDITION
“Hist! Look out for the fence!”