Part 15 (1/2)
”Yes,” chi up, ”look at the way they exposed that host out on the Garwood ranch this suot on the trail of the tramps who stole your watch”
”Ye-es,” assented Aaron slowly, as though the concession renched froet there one way or the other I don't knohether it's because they're smart or lucky”
”They're both,” said Mrs Rushton proudly
CHAPTER XIV
A FEROCIOUS ENEMY
When the boys woke the ht was of the weather They had set their hearts on taking the trip over to Milton to call on Mark Taylor and they would have been sorely disappointed at any indication of a storm
But they could have spared their worry There was not a cloud in the sky, the sun was rising brilliantly in the east, and the waves fell in a soft oing to be a dandy day,” reported Teddy gleefully, as he came back from the”Get up there, you sleepy heads,” he commanded, with the conscious virtue of the one who rises first
Three rumpled heads turned on the pillows of the various cots in the big rooht one of them plump and full, and caused a hasty withdrawal beneath the sheet
”Cut out the rough house, or I'll get up there and fan you,” came the drowsy voice of Bill, who happened to be the victier,” jeered Teddy ”You haven't ah to h,” yawned Fred ”Why don't you get up in the ht and be done with it?”
”''Tis the voice of the sluggard, I hear him complain,'” quoted his brother ”I'd hate to be as lazy as this bunch of hoboes If you don't hurry, I'll go out and find that chest of gold all by ical effect It acted like a dousing of cold water In ainto their clothes
”By ginger! I hadn't had time to think of that,” remarked Bill, as he poured the water in his basin, ”or you wouldn't have needed a pillow to rout us out”
”Dad has the coffee pot on already,” said Lester as a savory arole on”
The boys trooped down the stairs to find breakfast ready for them
”We want to eat a plenty, fellows,” observed Lester, setting the sail before us”
The lads needed no urging and the way the food disappeared was almost miraculous
”Now,” said Lester when the breakfast had been finished, ”you fellows go out and get the boat ready to start, while I get enough grub together to last a couple of days We may not always have cla to take any risks”
”Do you think we'll be away over night?” asked Bill
”I shouldn't be surprised,” answered Lester ”Maybe we'll be gone for more than one It's a pretty stiff sail up there, and weon the way back Then, too, Mark et there, and we ets back”
”What kind of a fellow is this Taylor, anyhow?” asked Fred ”Has he any family?”
”No, he lives all alone in a little cabin down near the beach Spends his ti odd jobs He's a little wizened-up fellow
He's fond of talking, and all we'll have to do is to get him started and he'll do the rest I only hope we'll find him in condition to talk”
”What do you mean by that?” asked Teddy