Bar and Val were quite ready to take advantage of Puff’s hint about the boat, and George Brayton frankly declared his regret at not being able to go with them.
“Only, Mr. Vernon,” he added, “you must not let your fishing prevent you from doing something with your grammar.”
“I won’t,” said Bar, and then even Mrs. Wood became interested in so very unusual a method of attempting the intricacies of the Latin tongue.
At that very hour, however, a brace of active-looking youths were slowly descending the hillside from the cow pastures, and one said to another:
“Hiram Allen, that was very remarkable conduct on the part of Solomon’s dun heifer.”
“Very,” replied Hy; “but, Zeb, don’t you suppose they suspect us?”
“Of course they do,” said Zeb; “but I’ve the dun heifer’s word of honor that she won’t tell how she got into the Academy.”
“No, she won’t tell,” said Hy, thoughtfully, “but it would be a rough thing on you and me if we got found out.”
“Solomon took care of that with his customary wisdom,” said Zeb; “he came right over to our house and made himself sure that I had been in my peaceful couch all the time.”
“We’d better keep it, even from the boys, unless it’s Bill Jones,” said Hy.