Part 22 (1/2)
”Poke a hole in the water to breathe through,” suggested d.i.c.k.
”Say, I guess you vos making fun!” cried Hans, suspiciously. ”Maybe dare ain't no Pluicusisduster at all. Dot's-vot you call him?-Yah! He is a fish story!”
”Tom, you're discovered!” screamed Sam, and then there was a roar of laughter. Hans looked a bit sheepish, but took the fun in good part.
”Put I get square, see of I ton't!” he said, shaking his finger at Tom.
Sunday evening there was a light shower and the boys were much worried, thinking it might keep on raining. But the shower pa.s.sed by morning and the sun came out bright and clear.
”And now ho! for camp!” cried Sam ”Come on, the sooner we start the better.”
An early breakfast was procured, and the camping outfit, consisting of the tent, their fis.h.i.+ng and hunting outfits, blankets and extra clothing, and a quant.i.ty of food, canned and otherwise, was loaded on the big farm wagon.
”All ready?” asked d.i.c.k.
”All ready, so far as I can see,” answered Sam.
”Vait! vait!” cried Hans, ”I got to get mine ear coferings!” And he ran back into the house.
”Ear coverings?” queried Tom.
”Yes,” answered Fred, with a smile. ”His mother made him a pair of coverings of mosquito netting, so that ants or other insects couldn't crawl into his ears while he was sleeping.”
”Not such a bad idea,” said d.i.c.k. ”But he needed them more in the West Indies than he'll need them here.”
Soon Hans appeared with his ear coverings, and then the lads said good-bye. The whip cracked, and they were off on their outing. Little did they dream of how the holidays were to come to an abrupt end.
The road along the river was a rather rough one and they had to proceed slowly, for fear of jouncing off part of the load. But the lads were in the best of spirits and as they rode along they sang and cracked jokes to their hearts' content. Tom had the last of his ”doctored” cigars with him and he pa.s.sed this over to Jack Ness, and all had a hearty laugh when the hired man lit up and was treated to a dose of the ”worms.”
”By gum! I might have remembered about them cigars!” murmured the wagon driver. ”I laffed at Ricks an' now you got the same laff on me!”
”Never mind, Jack, you buy something worth smoking, when you go to town,”
said Tom, and slyly slipped a silver quarter into the hired man's palm.
It was noon-time when they reached the spot where they could get the sailboat. This was hired from a man living in the vicinity, and that individual's wife supplied all hands with dinner, for the boys did not want to touch their stores until necessary. Then the sailboat was loaded and the boys got on board.
”We'll have to row,” said d.i.c.k. ”There isn't breeze enough to do any good.”
”Well, rowing suits me,” cried Sam, and caught up an oar and Tom did the same.
”I'll spell you after a bit,” said Fred. ”It is not fair to let you do all the work.”
”So will I,” added d.i.c.k.
”Yah, and me,” nodded Hans.
”Good-bye, Jack!” cried all, and waved their hands to the hired man.