THE ACADEMY BOYS IN CAMP

he river where the steamer was waiting to take the party out to the island. The boys were laden with blankets,

le sounded, feeling sure that the culprit would confe

ing hug that would have done credit to the most affectionate

d been holding tight in his hand--one that Mr. Bernard had

but it gave Joe a g

know that I am more than

ess. Be sure I shall send for you at once if he should do so. Meanwhile don't g

every available point, and the band was playing

, as he stood on the top of the salo

said one or two boys

here yet, sir!

ere is Carver?"

le again!" shou

ing too!" exclai

for you. I forgot all about it," cried Max Bernard, the

ned the note ha

ef, and was afraid to tell. Ben Carver knew about it, but did not do it. We are

r sorrier in my l

again carefully, and then

here; but in this note which they leave behind,

d the throng of boys, which was chang

go back fo

ashore, led by David Winter, and were scampering like a herd of wild deer across the fields towards

before, Dave, Joe's "chum" and room-mate, keeping the lead all the way, but with such an effo

oor, and fell upon Joe, who, hearing the rush o

s the boy, too breathless to speak, incoherently gasp

anting and holding their sides, it was rather difficul

nd after all; he knew that,

hat Drayton had conf

you say the

dy kn

res!" adde

oldly. "I wish I had

You hunt him up!" ex

urself about him!" cried Dave

as feeling, and what a hard th

impatiently. "The boat is wa

Ned Gould, taking Joe's f

ound; he said he found it in the hall. Poor Ralph!" said Joe, exami

d Dave. "Come, get your things together quick!

a whoop that would have delighted the heart of a red Indian, the boys dashed downstairs, nearly

quite so brisk as that to the house had

ame in sight, and most of the boys leaped ashore and rushed to greet the hero of th

at was kept waiting till nearly noon, when he came with the tidings that Dray

n in regard to their sailing, the name of the vessel, and the time when it might be expected to return to

smack!"--"Such high

of the exclamati

was over

med away; the band played "Bonnie Dundee," a

t between the capes and towards Whaleback, which lay within sight, and among scores of white sails, from

two boys who looked about Drayton and Carver's size; but when they

I just know I saw them dodge; besides, I saw the tw

ocky perch, and the long line of jagged coast against which the waves were dashing furiously, the boys wondered how they were to get ashore.

d and speedily filled with boys, who were almost ready to

ll the boys, tents, bedding, stove, cooking utensils, and, last but n

boys, "Friday"), attended to that part of the labour, and long before the b

put up the tents; and some of the hungriest went grubbin

shell-fish,

help. You dig the clams, and I'll build up my fire and get re

clam-bake! Who

o be outdone, some of them worked with sticks, prying in the mud w

pt scholars; so that by the time the rocks were well heated, and the sea-weed gathered, the

ver, Jonas and his Friday pitched their cook-tent, set up

on hand waiting for the sea-weed to be removed, and a hun

ad "taken the sharp edge off their appetite," as they said, by eating them; otherwise Jon

e done to a turn!" cr

oodness in that good smell,

ty boys gave a prolonged "

testing those clams; but at last he said, in hi

er their assistance in removing the sea-weed; but

shan't have a clam. Off with you, till I get 'em

with a good deal of pushing and whooping, they widened the circle, and conten

emen!" said Jonas, pointing to the first h

asked Walter Martin, and a chorus of

and divide them into a half-dozen piles along the beach; wh

ly unnecessary so far as the boys were concerned, as they had been at the scene of

ard, permission was given to the h

rm biscuit, and finally a dessert of gingersnaps, a bar

ult to suit, and they pronounced it