"Row, brothers, row," said Gerald "Kape it up, you're doin' fine."
"How are we going?" asked Rand.
"Almost as fasht as Oi c'ud walk," replied Gerald in his richest brogue. "Av ye hit it up a bit mebbe ye c'ud be in toime to see the ind av it to-morrow, Oi dunno."
"But truly, Geraid," asked Donald, "how are we doing?"
"As weil as c'ud be ixpected av a lot of farmers," replied the irrepressible Gerald. "Ye moight do worse, Oi dunno. Mebbe av ye tho't ye were hoeing potatoes ye c'ud do betther. Can't ye hit up a bit?"
"I guess we can; a little," replied Rand, who was rowing stroke, slightly increasing his effort. "How is that?"
"Betther," responded the other, and the boat shot ahead a little faster.
The Uncas crew were out for a final spin over the course before the race, which had been set for the following day. Beside the Uncas and the Highpoint, the Alton, from farther up the river, had also entered. It was not thought, even by their friends, that the Uncas had much chance against the others, whose crews, particularly the Alton's, were much heavier and stronger.
"Is that better?" asked Rand, after they had rowed a short time.
"'Tis a thrifle betther," replied Gerald. "Av ye do as well to-morrow, mebbe we won't be disgraced intirely, Oi dunno."
"Come now, Gerald," pleaded Jack, "tell us how we are doing?"
"Shure, Oi don't want to discourage ye intirely," replied Gerald, "but ye didn't do any betther than three minutes in the lasht moile."
"Three minutes!" shouted Don; "did we do it in that?"
"Hurrah!" cried Jack; "we'll be in it yet."
"In what?" asked Dick.
"In the water," chuckled Jack.
"You will be," retorted Donald, "if you spring anything like that on us again."
"That reminds me—" began Dick.
"What does?" asked Donald.
"What is the matter, Gerald?" broke in Rand, as the coxswain, with a sudden exclamation, threw the rudder hard down and called:
"Up oars, all!"
The boys raised their oars just in time as the shell grazed the stern of a heavy skiff, which a boy, who was rowing, had stopped just in the course of the shell.
"Hey, there!" shouted Rand as the boats swept apart: "what are you trying to do, run us down?"
"What are you trying to do, yourself?" retorted a man, who was sitting in the stern of the skiff. "Don't you think anybody has any right on the river but you? Think you own the whole place, don't you?"
"But you had plenty of room without getting in the way," persistedRand. "I think you did it on purpose."
"Aw, go wan!" returned the man. "Don't get too funny or I'll come over there and take you over my knee."
"Come over and try it, if you think you can do it," replied Rand hotly.
"Monkey Rae again," murmured Jack. "I thought we had got rid of him."
"Keep cool, Rand," advised Don; "it isn't worth while making a fuss over."
"He ought to have his head punched," put in Dick.
"Who?" asked Jack. "Don?"
"No; that fellow in the boat," answered Dick.
"That isn't the way to teach him good manners," objected Jack.
"It's the only way you can teach some people," argued Dick. "Who is he?"
"Oh, that's the man that took our boat up the river," replied Jack.
"What do you think he was trying to do?" went on Dick.
"Trying to steal it, of course," replied Jack.
"I mean now."
"Oh, smash us up so we couldn't row to-morrow," guessed Jack.
"But what for?" persisted Dick.
"Oh, just pure ugliness, I guess," replied Jack.
"Then, you know, Monkey has it in for Rand for the thrashing he once gave him for beating his dog."
"Does he carry malice like that?" asked Donald.
"He will carry it all his life," replied Jack, "and then some more. Then Monkey doesn't like any of us because he was always behind us in school. He says we got ahead by favor, for we aren't any smarter than he is."
"Let fall!" ordered Gerald. "Let's try it again."
The boys bent to their work, but they had lost their vim, and they did not strike their pace again.
"I don't understand about Monkey," began Jack, as they drew into the landing. "There is something back of all this, and I mean to find out what it is."
"What have you been doing," cried Pepper, who was waiting for them on the landing, "fishing?"
"No; monkeying," answered Rand. "Jim Rae got in the way, and we had to stop for fear of smashing into him."
"Why didn't you do it and get rid of him?" asked Pepper.
"It would more likely have got rid of us," replied Rand; "and I guess that is what he was trying to do."
"Who's there?" called Rand sharply. He was sitting with Donald andPepper on the steps of the piazza, in front of Mr. Scott's house.
"There is nobody there," declared Donald; "it's just your imagination."
"But I certainly saw something move behind that bush over there," insisted Rand.
"And I, too," confirmed Pepper.
"You are always seeing things, even when there ain't any," continuedDonald.
"And you can't see them until they hit you with a club," retortedPepper.
"Any one there?" called Rand again, going to the spot which Pepper pointed out, and followed by the others.
"Sh!" was the whispered reply from behind the bushes. "It is onlyI."
"Who are you?" demanded Rand.
"Win Moore," replied a small boy, coming out.
"Why, hello, Win," said Rand; "what were you trying to do, play spook?"
"No," replied Win, "but I thought maybe Gerald was here."
"He isn't here," answered Rand. "Do you want to see him?"
"Yes," hesitated Win; "I have something to tell him."
"I am sorry he isn't here," continued Rand. "Anything I can do for you?"
"There isn't any one around, is there?" went on Win doubtfully.
"Nobody but Pepper, Don and I," replied Rand. "You know them. What is it?"
"They are going to smash the shell to-night," whispered Win, looking fearfully about him.
"They are going to do what?" exclaimed Donald.
"Say it again," said Rand, doubting that he had heard aright.
"They are going to smash the shell to-night, so you can't row to-morrow," repeated Win.
"Who are?" demanded Donald, still incredulous.
"Monkey Rae and Sam Tompkins," answered Win.
"How do you know?" asked Pepper.
"I heard them planning," explained Win. "I was up in the woods to-day and I heard some one talking, and I listened to hear who it was."
"What did they say?"
"Monkey said he guessed there'd be a surprise party here in the morning, when you found you didn't have any boat to row with. Sam asked how they could do it, and Monkey said they would go down to the boathouse to-night, after it got dark, and fix it. Sam didn't want to go very much, but Monkey said it was all right, and nobody would know who did it."
"Do you think he meant our shell?"
"Sure," replied Win. "He said he was going to get square with Rand Peyton and Pepper Blake. So I hid in the bushes until they went away, and I came down here to tell Gerald."
"Thank you, Win," said Rand; "we are ever so much obliged to you."
"Don't let them know I told you," pleaded Win, "or they will half kill me for telling."
"Sure not," promised Rand. "You can slip off again and no one will know you have been here."
"Well, what do you think of that!" exclaimed Pepper, when Win had gone.
"Shure, an' phat mischief are ye's plotting now?" demanded Gerald, who came across the lawn as his brother slipped away.
"More monkey tricks," responded Rand. "Monkey is going to surprise us to-night."
"Is he now?" asked Gerald; "and phat is he up to now?"
"He is going to smash the shell so we can't row to-morrow," repliedDonald.
"Faith, I think he'll find it a hard nut to crack," asserted Gerald, dropping his brogue in his indignation. "Though there isn't anything surprising about that. I don't think Monkey could surprise us, except by trying to be good."
"And I don't believe he'll try that," laughed Pepper.
"What shall we do about it?" asked Gerald. "Tell the colonel?"
"I am no sure there is anything to it," said Donald. "And it may be possible we can take care of Monkey and Sam ourselves. In my opinion, it would no be a bad plan to go down to the boathouse and capture them if they come."
"That isn't a bad idea," agreed Rand. "We can slip away, one at a time, so if they see us they won't suspect anything. I will go first and the rest of you can join me later. There isn't any moon to-night, and we can easily find places to hide around the house."
"Faith," whispered Gerald, "we'll beat them at their own game."
Acting upon Rand's suggestion the boys separated, each taking a different course, meeting later at the boathouse. The place was in darkness when Rand, who was the first to arrive, got there. Making a hasty examination by the light of a match he saw that the shell was all right. Keeping in the dark, he waited until the others, slipping up like so many shadows, had come.
"Seen or heard anything?" asked Donald, as they consulted behind the house.
"Not a thing," responded Rand. "Perhaps they have given it up."
"You can no depend upon what they may do," commented Donald.
"That's right, old Solomon," agreed Pepper; "so it's just as well to be prepared for anything."
"What shall we do if they come?" asked Donald.
"Jump out and scare them to death," suggested Gerald.
"No," advised Rand. "Let's give them a chance to get in. If they go to the door or window, Don or I will give the call and we will all rush on them and grab them."
"Don't wait too long or they may spoil the shell," said Pepper.
"We will just give them a chance to get inside," went on Rand, detailing his plans. "I think it will be better if we each hide in a different place. Pepper can go over there behind those bushes and watch the road. Don can watch the door, and I will go on the other side and look out for the window."
"And phat will Oi be doing?" asked Gerald, who could not resist his fun-making instincts.
"You can hide down by the shore and watch the river."
"We ought to have some kind of a signal if we hear them coming," suggested Pepper.
"Like Paul Revere, 'one if by land, and two if by sea,'" quoted Rand. "If you hear them coming down the road, Pepper, you can give the whip-poor-will call, and Gerald, if he hears anything, can give the owl call."
"Owl right," responded Gerald, as they each went to their appointed stations.
The night was warm and pleasant. No sound, except the soft lapping of the waves on the shore, the chirp of a cricket or the occasional croak of a tree frog, disturbed the quiet of the night. As the time wore on, without any disturbance, the watches began to doze until Gerald was suddenly roused with a start by a splash in the water and saw a boat gliding silently toward the landing.
"Faith, it looks as if there might be some fun after all," whispered Gerald to himself, softly hooting a couple of times and concealing himself behind an upturned boat.
"What was that?" asked one of the rowers at the sound of Gerald's call.
"Aw, it's nothing but an owl," replied the other. "Whatcher 'fraid of?"
The boat was now at the landing, and the taller of the two stepping out fastened the boat and went toward the house, calling upon his companion to follow.
"There will be some fun here in the morning," chuckied the foremost, whom Gerald now recognized as Monkey Rae.
"Sure there ain't anybody 'round?" asked the other, hesitating.
"Of course there ain't," responded Monkey confidently. "Aw, come on! What yer 'fraid of? Nobody knows anything about it but you and I, and we ain't a-shoutin' it."
"I thought I heard a noise," demurred the other.
"Oh, bother!" returned Monkey impatiently. "You're always hearing something."
"How are we going to get in?"
"Don't worry about that," answered Monkey, "I fixed the window all right to-day."
While talking Monkey had opened the window and started to crawl into the house. "If you're afraid to come in," he said scornfully to the other, "stay outside and keep watch. It won't take me more than a minute to crack this shell."
At this instant Rand, with a shrill, clear whistle, sprang out from his hiding place and in a moment all was confusion.
"Shure, the fat's in the fire now," chuckled Gerald to himself.
As the whistle sounded Monkey sprang back through the window, landing in a heap almost at Rand's feet, but was up and off before Rand could get a hold on him, and sped after his companion, who had started off at the first alarm, in a race down the landing to their boat.
"Hi! stop them, Gerald!" shouted Rand, dashing after them.
Donald, at the alarm, rushed toward the window, and, tripping over a coil of rope, stumbled against a stack of oars, sending them down with a crash that could be heard a mile. Picking himself up, he ran after Rand down the landing.
There was a splash in the water, and the sound of rapidly receding oars, but there was no one at the landing.
"What has become of Gerald?" asked Rand, looking around.
"He can't be far off," replied Donald, "Give him a call."
"Hello-o-o, Gerald!" shouted Rand, but Gerald did not answer.
"Hello, there! What's ail the noise about?" demanded Colonel Snow, who had followed Pepper onto the landing. "Why, boys, what are you doing here?"
"We can't find Gerald," explained Donald, who was looking in ail kinds of impossible places.
"I shouldn't think you would in such a place as that," said the colonel, as Donald turned over some small boxes. "What is it now, hide and seek, or has Gerald been losing himself?"
"I don't know," replied Rand. "We heard that Monkey Rae was going to smash the shell tonight, so we came down to catch him, but he got away from us."
"Monkey Rae again!" exclaimed the colonel. "I should think there was at least half a dozen of him the way he gets around. But what has that got to do with Gerald?"
"Why, Gerald was out here on the landing, and now we can't find him. I don't know what has become of him, or if he is just hiding for fun," explained Rand; "though I don't see where he could hide here," he added.
"Sure of that?" questioned the colonel. "Let's take another look around." Lighting a lantern from the boathouse they made a thorough search of the place without finding anything of their missing comrade.
"Perhaps he got tired of waiting and went home," suggested the colonel.
"That wouldn't be Gerald," averred Rand and Donald. "He wouldn't go off and leave us without saying anything and, besides, he was here when they came, for he gave us the signal."
"Well, he isn't here now," decided the colonel after another look around. "Hello, Gerald!" he called, and the boys sounded the call on their bugles.
"He ought to answer that if he is anywhere around," said Rand.
"Do you think they could have carried him off?" asked Pepper.
"I don't know what to think," replied the colonel. "It's queer.You boys certainly have an amazing faculty for getting into trouble."
"But how did you get here?" asked Rand.
"I was just taking a stroll," replied the colonel, "when I heard the noise and came down to see what it was."
"W-W-WHAT was that?" stammered Pepper. "I t-thought I heard a cry.T-t-there it is again," as a faint call came from the river.
The three boys were standing on the landing with Colonel Snow, still discussing the mysterious disappearance of Gerald.
"T-that you, Gerald?" shouted Pepper.
"Where are you?" cried Donald; but, without waiting for a reply, he threw off his coat and shoes and plunged into the river, swimming in the direction from which the cry had come,
"He's all right!" came the reassuring cry from Donald a little later. "I have got him," and shortly afterwards reappeared paddling a boat in which was the bewildered Gerald, who was helped onto the landing by the colonel and the others.
"H-h-how did you g-get into the boat, Gerald?" asked Pepper whenGerald had somewhat recovered from the effects of his experience."Did you think it was a good time to take a row?"
"It looks that way," replied Gerald. "But when Rand called to me to stop them I ran out to try and head them off, but something gave me a rap on the head and the next thing I knew I found myself lying in that boat. Say, I feel as if I had a head like a pumpkin."
"I s-should think it would feel more like a s-squash," commentedPepper.
"That is going altogether too far," asserted the colonel indignantly. "It might have had a very serious ending. I think that there is a bad quarter-of-an-hour in store for that Rae boy if I can get hold of him in the morning."
As there was no likelihood that Monkey Rae would return to renew his attempt to injure the boat the house was locked and the boys went back to the town discussing, as they went, the events of the evening. The colonel was very indignant.
When they came near to the top of the hill they were met by Jack, who was running at full speed down the road.
"Hello!" called Rand when he came near. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Hello," returned Jack, slowing up and joining the others. "Where have you been? I have been looking all over for you."
"Down to the boathouse," replied Rand.
"Down to the boathouse!" exclaimed Jack. "What took you down there tonight?"
"Why, we heard that Monkey was g-going to s-smash the boat," answeredPepper.
"Monkey!" cried Jack. "I wish I had been there——"
"Wouldn't have done you any good," said Donald. "He was too quick for us."
"Was any one with him?" asked Jack.
"Only Sam Tompkins."
"Ah!" returned Jack. "What did I tell you?"
"Don't know," replied Pepper; "you tell us so many things that we can't remember them all. What did you tell us this time?"
"About Monkey Rae and Sam Tompkins, and the queer coins you picked up in the road that day."
"I believe you did say something about Monkey and the coins," admitted Donald, "but I no paid much attention to it."
"But what has that got to do with the present excitement?" askedRand.
"Listen to this," exclaimed Jack, stopping under an electric light to read a circular that he drew from his pocket.
"Three hundred dollars reward. Escaped from jail. Three hundred dollars will be paid for the arrest and detention of one James Rae, alias 'Limpy,' who escaped from the jail at Melton on June fifth. Said Rae is about forty years old, stoutly built, and five feet eight inches in height. Has smooth face, red hair, and walks with a limp. James Robinson, Sheriff."
"W-w-why, t-t-that must be M-M-Monkey Rae's father," stammered Pepper when Jack had finished reading. "I knew he was away somewhere, but I didn't know he was in prison."
"Shure, there's lots of things ye don't know, me darlint," interjectedGerald.
"And he is the man who was with Monkey on the river," added Rand.
"And the man that was in the boat the other day," put in Dick.
"I hope they catch him!" said Pepper vindictively.
"Go for him, Pepper," encouraged Gerald.
"And that is what Monkey stole the fish for," continued Pepper.
"Of course it was," replied Jack. "Didn't I tell you there was something back of this monkey business?"
"But I no see it yet," remarked Donald.
"Of course you don't," said Jack. "You want it explained with a diagram. It was Rae who robbed Judge Taylor's office, and Monkey and Sam Tompkins helped him. He was hiding in the woods when we saw him."
"But what has that got to do with the coins?" demanded Donald.
"Why, they stole them out of the judge's office and lost them where Rand and Pepper found them. I've been studying this thing out ever since the night we were in the judge's office. You see, there was suspicion of some of us and I wanted to clear it off. It's all as clear as day now."
"Whin the fog's so thick ye c'ud cut it with a knife," put inGerald. "Give us a diagram av it."
"Why, the robbery was done by Rae and some of his pals," explained Jack. "They sent Monkey up between the buildings and he opened the window and got in and then opened the doors for the others. When they got through all they had to do was to walk out, and Monkey closed and fastened the doors after them and went down the same way as he got in."
"But how do you know that Rae did it?" asked Rand.
"By putting two and two together," replied Jack. "I knew that the coins you found were like some that had been stolen. Monkey Rae and Sam went over the road just before you found them. They had not been lying there long, or they would have been covered up in the dirt, or some one else would have found them."
"'Tis no way impossible," admitted Donald.
"Then some of the tools they used had been taken from Wilson's blacksmith shop, and you know Dick said that Monkey and Sam used to come in there almost every day, so that it was quite probable that they took them; that's number two."
"Go on," urged Rand. "It is growing interesting."
"Well, there isn't much more; but I saw, from this circular, that Rae had escaped from prison, so I concluded that the man we saw in the boat was Rae, and I put the two and two together and worked it out that it was he who robbed the judge's office."
"What was he after?" asked Pepper.
"I don't know exactly," replied Jack; "but it was papers of some kind."
"Well, it does look as if you were right," conceded Donald; "but you haven't got any proof."
"No," admitted Jack; "but I have given the officer the tip, and told him about the shack in the woods where Pepper saw Rae. They are going to make a raid on it tomorrow, and perhaps they will find some of the stolen property in their possession; then we have the impression of a hand on this paper, and we can get one of Monkey's hands and see if they aren't the same."
"Faith, hunting is wan thing and finding's anither," commentedGerald.
Which proved to be quite true in this case, for when the officers reached the cabin in the woods they found it deserted and dismantled. The occupants had evidently taken alarm and disappeared, leaving no trace, although the boys were destined to meet them again under decidedly unpleasant circumstances.
The race had been set for 9 o'clock in the morning, but, with the sun, there had come up a strong breeze from the west that had stirred up the water into such a lumpy condition that any kind of time would be impossible, and the advantage would be all on the side of the Altons. So the race was put off from time to time in the hope that the wind would die down so as to equalize the chances, and it was not until late in the afternoon that the committee decided to have it rowed, although the wind was still blowing and the water rough.
The course, as agreed upon, was a straight-away three miles over a clear stretch of the river from off the Creston landing.
"What have you got there?" asked Dick, as Rand pulled a coin from his pocket and began rubbing it up on his sleeve.
"That's his mascot," laughed Jack. "It's the coin he found in the road, and he keeps it for luck."
"Well, I guess it has its work cut out for it, all right," went on Dick. "He will have his hands full—if it is a he—to keep us in the procession. Alton has a crew of blacksmiths."
"So much the more weight to carry," replied Rand, who made the best of everything.
"Not much chance for us," put in Jack.
"Oh, I don't know," returned Rand.
"'Stranger things than that have happened,' as the old woman said when she kissed her cow."
"You mean as the man said when he married his cook," correctedDonald.
"Well, there wasn't anything strange about that," returned Rand, "if she was a good cook."
"Or if her cooking was good," added Jack.
"Are you ready, all?" now called the starter, and each one of the different crews grasped his oar with quickened tension as the coxswains responded: "Ready!" and there followed the sharp report of the pistol.
As the report rang out the oars of the three crews, all like a piece of accurate machinery, struck the water at the same instant and the boats leaped forward as if shot from a spring.
At the start the weight of the Alton crew told, and their boat darted to the front, only to be hugged a moment later by Highpoint, while the Uncas trailed just behind them.
"Easy, boys, easy," cautioned Gerald. "There are three miles of it, you know."
The three boats were all together. Alton a bit in the lead, but without any daylight showing between them. The Uncas last, but still in the race.
"Shure, 'tis foine, ye'r doing," cried Gerald. "Ye have thim all scared. See how they are running away from ye!"
For the first mile there was no change, Alton still leading, but the pace was telling, and Highpoint was creeping up—Uncas still in the rear.
In the next mile there was still no change in the order, and it looked like Alton's race, but as the second mile was passed Highpoint poked its nose in front, Uncas still hugging them. "Now, then!" cried Gerald, as they entered on the last half mile, "hit it up, boys; we are still in it!"
"The mascot's working overtime," panted Dick, "but he's making good."
The boys quickened their stroke in response to Gerald's call, and inch by inch, the Uncas pulled up on their rivals and, just as the finish was reached, slid across the line a scant six inches in front. It was only six inches, but enough, and though the boys could scarce sit up, their fatigue was forgotten in the joy of the unexpected victory.
"Tra-la-la," trilled Gerald on his bugle, but its notes were drowned by the call of the leader of the Highpoints for three cheers for the Uncas, which were given with a will by both the losing crews.
After cheering each other, until they were hoarse, the three crews went their ways with an agreement to row another race later in the season.
"That's one for the mascot," drawled Rand, when the boat had been rowed to the landing, where the colonel, with Pepper and others, were waiting for them.
"Well, boys," said the colonel, after he had congratulated them on their victory, "you look as if you had been doing a day's work on a farm."
"Well, I don't know," responded Rand. "It was hard work, but I think, after all, I had rather be the man with the row than the man with the hoe."
"That reminds me—" began Dick.
"It does, eh?" questioned Donald. "Well, I don't know why, I am sure."
"That, speaking of roses—" went on Dick.
"Roses!" ejaculated Jack. "Who said anything about roses?"
"Well, talking about roses, anyhow—" continued Dick.
"I don't see anything about here to remind you of roses," contendedDonald.
"Can you tell me," persisted Dick, "what kind of rows never come singly?"
"The kind you have to hoe," responded Donald, whose father had a garden.
"I guess that's right, Don," agreed the colonel
"Shad roes," proclaimed Dick.
"Pooh!" sniffed Don; "that has an ancient and fishlike flavor."
"Which reminds me," remarked the colonel, "that I provided some refreshments, as a consolation for your defeat, but as you won I suppose you won't care for them now."
"Speaking for myself," said Dick modestly; "it sounds good to me."
"I hope I am not too late to congratulate you on your victory," said a pleasant voice, and the boys looked up to see a young gentleman standing in the doorway of the room, where, having finished the repast the colonel had provided, they were sitting around talking over the details of the race.
"I have been looking for you for a couple of weeks," he went on, coming into the room and offering his hand to Rand. "It was a splendid race and pluckily rowed, and you deserved to win."
"Thank you," replied Rand. "Did you say you were looking for me?"
"For all of you," replied the gentleman. "I see you don't remember me. I am Frank Whilden, whose sister you saved from drowning the other day. Come in, Nellie," he called to a young girl who was standing outside. "These are the young men who came to our rescue."
"I just want to thank you all—" began Nellie.
"Oh, it was no anything," returned Donald.
"It was very much to me," began Nellie.
"I mean," explained Donald confusedly "it's no great thing to make a claver about."
"But it was a great thing to have saved you," interposed Rand, with an emphasis on the you.
"That's very nice," replied Nellie. "Won't you shake hands with me, all around?"
"Faith, you won't be asking me twice to do myself the favor," replied Gerald. "Sure I wasn't there to have the pleasure of saving you, but I would have been there if you had sent me word."
"Don't forget the most important part, Nellie," her brother reminded her when she had finished shaking hands.
"Mother sends her regards to you all," went on Nellie, "and hopes you will accept the little present she has sent you."
"But we don't want any reward for what we did," protested Rand."It was reward enough to have helped you."
"This isn't a reward," continued Nellie; "just a little token of her esteem. We had it sent down to-day. Frank and I thought if you didn't win the race it might console you a little. We do hope you will like it."
Frank had gone from the room, but returned now with a handsome Dart motorcycle.
"Crickets!" cried Pepper. "I-i-it's a beauty, ain't it?" while the boys gathered around it to examine it. "S-s-say——"
"Whistle it, Pepper," said Jack. "I don't know what it is you want to say, but I guess we all agree with you."
"We can take turns using it."
"We can draw lots for the first ride on it."
"Or toss up for it," proposed Donald.
"I am glad you like it," began Nellie.
"We most certainly do," chorused the boys; "and we are ever so much obliged. We couldn't have had anything that would have suited us nearly so well."
"There are five more just like it outside," went on Nellie; "one for each of you, and we hope you will get a lot of pleasure from them."
"But we can't accept all these," protested Rand, while the others stood silent in stupefied amazement.
"Crickets!" exclaimed Pepper. "I will be awful sorry to-morrow."