Part 8 (2/2)

Mrs. Henderson did not know what to do. Up to now Bob's pranks had been bad enough, but to play this trick on the minister, and at the annual donation supper, where nearly every person in the village was present, was the climax. She felt that she had been much humiliated.

Bob's father heard what had happened, and came up to his son.

”Bob,” he said, in a curiously quiet voice, ”you must go home at once. I shall have to punish you severely for this.”

Bob knew what that meant. He wished, most heartily, that he had not played this last prank. But it was too late now.

”I told you I thought he was up to something,” whispered the captain to Mrs. Henderson.

”Yes, you were right,” she admitted. ”Now my mind is made up.

Captain, I wish you would take him to sea with you at once! I can stand his foolishness no longer!”

Bob was out of the room by this time and did not hear his mother's decision.

”Do you mean that, Lucy?” asked Captain Spark eagerly.

”Yes, I do. I am determined. Bob shall go to sea. Perhaps it will teach him a lesson, and he will mend his ways.”

”It will be the making of him,” declared the captain heartily. ”I'm glad you decided this. I'll make arrangements at once.”

CHAPTER VII

BOB IS DELIGHTED

The excitement caused by Bob's prank had somewhat quieted down, and the preparations went on for giving the young people their supper.

Several of Bob's chums, however, fearful that they might be suspected of having taken part in the trick, left the church.

As a matter of fact, though, Bob alone was concerned. He had thought of the trick, procured a bottle of liquid glue from the drug store, and, watching his chance, had poured it on the chair. Then he had told his chums of it, and they had withdrawn with him to the gallery to watch events, which came quickly enough.

At the supper-table of the young people, little was talked of but Bob's prank, and opinion was pretty evenly divided as to what would happen.

”Maybe the minister will have him arrested,” suggested one girl.

”Oh, I don't think so,” was the opinion of another. ”Mr. Blackton is a kind-hearted man, and he likes Bob.”

”But I don't believe he'll like him after tonight.”

”Maybe not. It was a mean thing to do, but I couldn't help laughing when the minister stood up and the chair went with him, swinging around every time he moved, the legs. .h.i.tting everybody.”

”Yes, it was odd. I had to laugh, too.”

The girls and several of their companions indulged in merriment at the recollection. The minister soon returned to the church parlors, wearing a different pair of trousers, and he seemed to have regained his good humor.

”Who was the boy who wanted me to remain seated all the evening, and perhaps longer?” he asked.

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