Part 7 (2/2)

”Come, Frank,” said Ben. Lake, ”let's hear what you have got to say.

Suggest something.”

”Well,” answered Frank, who was always ready with some plan for amus.e.m.e.nt, ”I have been thinking, for two or three days, of something which, I believe, will afford us a great deal of sport. In the first place, I suppose, we are all willing to pa.s.s part of the day on the river?”

”Yes, of course,” answered the boys.

”The next thing,” continued Frank, ”is to ascertain how many sail-boats we can raise.”

”I'll bring mine.”

”And mine,” called out several voices.

”Oh, that's no way to do business,” exclaimed William Johnson, who always liked to see things go off in order. ”Let all those who have boats hold up their hands.”

Sixteen hands came up, and Frank said,

”We shall be gone all day, and, of course, we want plenty of provisions.”

”Of course.”

”Well, then, what I thought of proposing is this: Let us take three or four of the swiftest sailing-boats, and give the provisions into their charge, and call them smugglers, and let the other boats play the part of revenue-cutters, or a blockading squadron, and let the smugglers try to land the provisions on Strawberry Island, without being caught.”

”That's capital!” shouted several.

”It's better than shooting game, at this time of year,” said one.

”Yes, and being scolded all day by that tyrant,” observed another, who had belonged to the Regulators.

”It will take some time to make all our arrangements,” said William, ”and I move that we adjourn to our house, where we can hold our meeting in order.”

This was readily a.s.sented to, and William led the way, followed by all the boys, who were highly delighted at Frank's plan of spending the Fourth.

George Butler was speedily chosen president of the meeting, and, in less than half an hour, their arrangements were completed.

The Speedwell, Champion, and Alert--the latter a fine little schooner, owned by George and Harry--were to act the part of smugglers, and Ben.

Lake and Thomas Benton, who had no boats, were chosen by the smugglers to a.s.sist them. The provisions, of which each boy was expected to furnish his share, were all to be left at Mr. Butler's boat-house by six o'clock on the following evening, where they were to be taken charge of by the smugglers, of whom Frank was chosen leader. It was also understood that the smugglers were to carry the provisions all in one boat, and were to be allowed to take every possible advantage of the ”men-o'-war,” and to make every effort to land the provisions on the island.

The other thirteen boats, which were to act as ”coast-guards,” were to be under the command of Charles Sheldon, a shrewd, cunning fellow, who had the reputation of being able to handle a sail-boat as well as any boy in the village.

The coast-guards were also divided into divisions of three boats each, and a captain was appointed for each division.

These arrangements, as we have said, were speedily completed; and, although the coast-guards were almost wild with delight at the prospect of the exciting times that would occur during the race, they were confident that the smugglers could be easily caught, and even some of the smugglers themselves seemed to think that their chances of landing the provisions were small indeed.

As the meeting was about to break up, one of the coast-guards exclaimed,

”We'll have easy times catching you smugglers.”

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