“Oh, we can’t!”
Poke and Step both cried out in protest. Sam’s face grew determined.
“You’ll guess again about that! This is a thing we’re all in, and the trip will give us a chance to talk it over. And getting out will do both of you a lot of good.”
“But, Sam, there’d be no fun for us,” Step argued. “We’d just be wet blankets on the crowd and——”
Now and then a leader has to assert his leadership. Sam had not been head of the Safety First Club without learning some of the secrets of mastery. He shot a meaning glance at Tom Orkney, who understood, and nodded approval.
“Tend to Step, Tom,” Sam said curtly. Then he himself caught Poke’s collar, dragged that youth to his feet, and propelled him toward the door. Close behind him came Orkney, hauling along the struggling Step and paying no attention to his vociferous objections. And so down the path moved the little procession, to the edification and amazement of Lon and Varley, and the other members of the club, thus recruited to its full strength for the expedition to Sugar Valley.
CHAPTER XI
THE GREAT MINCE PIE OF SUGAR VALLEY
Being a youth in full possession of his faculties and powers of observation, Paul Varley understood perfectly that there was something curious in the fashion in which Step and Poke were loaded into the big sleigh; but he was also shrewd enough to perceive that there was no intention to let him into the secret. The late comers had been hailed impatiently or derisively, but Varley noted that none of the questions as to the cause of their delay was pressed. A nudge from Sam or Orkney, or a sharp glance, or a muttered word seemed to check inquisitiveness immediately. Paul saw, and heeded, and guessed the truth, in part, at least. Whatever might be amiss, the other boys regarded it as something not to be revealed outside the circle of the club. Satisfied of this, he took care to help them along by making talk.
Varley had no difficulty in finding topics. The weather, the clouds, the rapidly melting snow, the swollen streams they crossed—about all these things he put many questions. The boys, in turn, appealed to Lon. What did he think of the prospects, anyway?
Lon squinted at the gray sky, and then at the sloppy road.