ANOTHER OUTING PROPOSED


"Will you be so highly condescending and much obliging as to open the
trapdoor of your mind and let us know what it is that beats the
Dutch?" demanded Giant, after he and his chums had looked at the
doctor's son for several seconds in silence.

"Why, yes, of course," answered Shep. "But er---it all fits in with
what I was going to tell you about in the first place."

"And that was-----" burst out Whopper eagerly.

"Wait till we are out on the river, away from the town folks. I don't
want everybody to know our business."

"Great Scott! but Shep's got a secret!" burst out Snap. "What is
it---a treasure hunt, or a new way to make diamonds?"

"Now quit fooling, and come on out in the boat, and you'll soon know
all about it," replied the doctor's son.

"Then we have got to wait?" asked Giant reproachfully.

"And when we are dying by inches to know," added Whopper.

"Yes, you've got to wait. So the sooner we get out on the river the
better---if you are dying, as you say," responded the doctor's son.

While talking the four chums had been watching the departure of the