interrupted by excited questions;
thrice Chub literally fell on his neck and hugged him until torn away by
eager members of the audience. And when the story was finished they
dragged Roy from the bench and sat upon him and pummelled him joyfully.
He was more than satisfied with the sensation he had created; he was
even glad for the sake of his aching ribs that it hadn't been any
greater. And then he was dragged off to the beach and made to go through
the narrative all over again, pointing out where he stood and where
"Jim" stood, Mr. Buckman following as interestedly as any. And in the
middle of it they found the note under the stones.

"Found!" (it ran) "Five boats. Owner may have same by applying to
Hammond Academy and describing property."

"Cheeky dubs!" growled Post.

Chub, who during the last few minutes had been looking grave and
sorrowful, broke in aggrievedly.

"It was mighty mean of you to keep the whole thing to yourself, though,"
he said. "You might have let me in on it."

Roy had to explain the impossibility of doing so, but Chub was
disconsolate until, an hour or so later, a boat was seen leaving the
Hammond landing. Then the entire camp went to the end of the island and
watched in silent enjoyment the approach of the Hammond boat. It held
four fellows, and it didn't head straight for the island; evidently they
weren't quite certain what had become of their boats. They passed the
end of the island, each fellow apparently trying to look unconcerned,
waved to the group on the point and kept on toward the other shore. But
when the Inner Beach was in sight and the boats revealed to view they
stopped rowing, talked a minute among themselves and then turned and
rowed slowly toward the beach. The campers walked dignifiedly around to
meet them.

It was a sheepish-looking quartette that beached their boat and advanced
toward the group. The leader was Schonberg. Beside him was a tall,
good-looking fellow whom Roy rightfully guessed to be "Jim." Schonberg
spoke first.

"Hello, you fellows," he said sadly. "You're mighty smart, aren't you?"

"So-so," answered Horace amiably.

"I s'pose we can have our boats?" asked Schonberg.

"Help yourself," answered Horace with a grin.

Schonberg saw the grin, strove to look unconscious and finally grinned
back. That broke the ice. Ferry Hill howled its enjoyment and the three
ambassadors joined in, though with less spontaneity.

"Come on up, you fellows," said Chub.