"That's so," he said. "You'll be going away soon. Say, we ought to
have some fun before you go."

"Guess I've played enough jokes for a while."

"But we ought to have one more. Come down to Mary Bounder's. Sam
Shoop will go. He'll catch the cat."

"Nope. I'm going home. I got a new book on sea terms, and I want
to look at it."

"All right. Then Sam and I'll go. You'll wish you'd come. We'll
have some fun."

But Bob could not be persuaded. His mother and father noticed the
change in him, and they were delighted.

"I believe we made no mistake when we consented to the captain's
plan," said Mr. Henderson.

"If it will only last," added his wife.

That day a letter came from Captain Spark saying he would be
detained a few days longer and would not reach Moreville until
Wednesday.

"The ship will sail the following Saturday," he stated in his note.
"I could sail Friday, but I don't want to take any chances. Some of
my sailors are superstitious, and I want them all to be in good
humor. I trust Bob has not changed his mind about going."