Bobby Blake on a Plantation; Or, Lost in the Great Swamp

e Wee, who was inclined to question the wisdom of the arrangement. To put off a meal on any pretext was to him a violation of the proper order of things. Still, as it o

e from their minds and conjecture was rife as to what changes if any it would make in the routine of the school. The incidents of

reat. One or two had forgotten watches or scarf pins in the confusion, but cherished t

se your joke book, Bi

d," put in Fre

nfully at his wou

ed loftily. "I get the best things I spring on you

ng us the other day that you couldn't get anything o

d him with a

you fellows a simple question, and I'm willing to bet that no

f the challenge, and the scorn in B

ced. "Every one of you has roo

we've stood so many of Billy's jokes that one more wo

one too cordial, but

's the question. What's the

zor, you're sharp

r, you've got the sn

h, you've been round t

he dispensers of

wer," he remarked cuttingly. "Come across now with the answe

material for footwear I

ar nothing but wooden shoes in Holland and

pair of tennis shoes that I've had for more than

d Billy. "You'll have

list of possibilities seemed about e

," said Fred. "What is the

," Billy answ

ked blankly

rged Mouser, "I

"even you ought to know that bana

never be known, for at that moment a summons came from Dr. Raym

was seated on the platform with Mr. Leith and Mr. Carrier, and w

suspend their studies for the month or more that may be necessary before the part of the school damaged by fire can be rebuilt. It may be necessary for them to work a little harder when they return in order to make up for lost time. With the exception of those who are thus excused, the work of the school will go on as usual. While we

t be among the favored ones, and when the reading finished there were many stifled sighs of disappointment on the part of the majority, while the eyes of the elect glowed wit

ion of their parents. Telegrams were already coming in from the latter who had heard or read of the fire, and the

, discussing eagerly the program that had been mapped out by

uting a jig. "Best news I've hea

ut, oh! you vacatio

you'd come up with a fish in your

l have all the more time to think up some p

ood anyway for you boobs to guess, I notice. By the way," he continued, b

crazy again,"

f, somebody,"

en," plea

et a chance, fellows, to make Billy stew in his own juice. It'll break h

what you're missing," warn

the reel," interrupted Skeets, "

haken from his prey, and

k to get good wa

Mouser promptly. The suddenness of the

hat somewhere," he sai

. Noah when they were in

wn accord," retorted Billy, getting at least t

They had feared that the excitement of his experience the night before might have given him a set-back, but on the contr

g saved his life, but they waved these aside and made as

have stupefied me before you came, because I can just remember staggering about the room without even having sense enough

be far enough from de

d of harm," rejoined the boy from the South. "I cert

doctor wouldn't prescribe

the way I hear that you two fell

. "And maybe we're not tickled

t too, Lee, although for that matter you've been having a

e wrong kind

ave to spend it her

to make the trip home in two or three days from now. He thinks the warm southern weather is just what I need to brin

there was a knock at the door, and

lighting up with expectancy. "If you fello

which was an unusually long one, and befo

remarked Bobby, as he saw the flushed

annot tell you how grateful I am to the brave boys who saved your life, and I want you to be sure to bring the

come!" repeated Bobby

vista opened up by the invitation. "That is," he added a

and I don't see why they shouldn't be just as willing to have us go down South on a plantation.

red, who was bubbling over w

bby. "We'll have to write good long letters to

ou can't go with me. And I know that my mother will, too. I want to

"If we can't go, you can be sure t

te, and were especially urgent that the answers should be sent at

elight was beyond bounds when they found that they might go. There were long letters of advice and injunctions to take the best care of themselves. And there was also in each letter a substantial c

ork. It was thought best that they should go South by boat, instead of rail, and a separate letter to Dr. Raymond requested th

h a big send-off from their chums, they took the train for New York. The journey was a pleasant though unev

on the pier. There was great noise and animation as the last freight was put into the hold and belated passengers hur