Sam and Penrod had forgotten their differences and felt well
disposed toward each other once more. All their animosity was exhausted,
and they were in a glow of good feeling, though probably they were not
conscious of any direct gratitude to Roddy, whose thoughtful opportunism
was really the cause of this happy result.

CHAPTER II. THE BONDED PRISONER

After such rigorous events, every one comprehended that the game of
bonded prisoner was over, and there was no suggestion that it should or
might be resumed. The fashion of its conclusion had been so consummately
enjoyed by all parties (with the natural exception of Roddy Bitts) that
a renewal would have been tame; hence, the various minds of the company
turned to other matters and became restless. Georgie Bassett withdrew
first, remembering that if he expected to be as wonderful as usual,
to-morrow, in Sunday-school, it was time to prepare himself, though
this was not included in the statement he made alleging the cause of
his departure. Being detained bodily and pressed for explanation, he
desperately said that he had to go home to tease the cook--which had
the rakehelly air he thought would insure his release, but was not
considered plausible. However, he was finally allowed to go, and, as
first hints of evening were already cooling and darkening the air,
the party broke up, its members setting forth, whistling, toward their
several homes, though Penrod lingered with Sam. Herman was the last to
go from them.

"Well, I got git 'at stove-wood f' suppuh," he said, rising and
stretching himself. "I got git 'at lil' soap-box wagon, an' go on ovuh
wheres 'at new house buil'in' on Secon' Street; pick up few shingles an'
blocks layin' roun'."

He went through the yard toward the alley, and, at the alley gate,
remembering something, he paused and called to them. The lot was a
deep one, and they were too far away to catch his meaning. Sam shouted,
"Can't HEAR you!" and Herman replied, but still unintelligibly; then,
upon Sam's repetition of "Can't HEAR you!" Herman waved his arm in
farewell, implying that the matter was of little significance, and
vanished. But if they had understood him, Penrod and Sam might have
considered his inquiry of instant importance, for Herman's last shout
was to ask if either of them had noticed "where Verman went."

Verman and Verman's whereabouts were, at this hour, of no more concern
to Sam and Penrod than was the other side of the moon. T