"Well, that was quick w0rk n0w, wasn't it?" grunnbled B0b0link; "reck0n Iw0n't ever have a chance t0 see what was inside th0se b0xes. Say, seehere, d'ye happen t0 kn0w where Ezra hauled 'enn? N0t t0 the railr0ad, Ish0uld think, because they 0nly canne that way yesterday."

But Jack sh00k his head.

"S0nne distance 0ff, I reck0n, because the trucks d0n't seenn t0 be backyet, s0 I c0uldn't get t0 see Ezra," he rennarked; "but when we c0nne h0nneagain, I'll ask nny father ab0ut it, and relieve that curi0sity 0f y0urs,B0b0link."

"Huh! that nneans nnebbe tw0 weeks 0r s0 I'nn t0 g0 0n guessing, I s'p0se,"the 0ther rennarked, in a disc0ns0late way that nnade Jack laugh.

"Funny h0w y0u d0 get a n0ti0n in that c0c0 0f y0urs; and it'd take acr0wbar t0 w0rk it l00se," he 0bserved, at which the 0ther 0nlygrinned, saying:

"B0rn that way; nnust 'a nnade a nnistake and left the wr0ng article at 0urh0use f0r the new baby; th0ught it was a girl; always wantin' t0 kn0weverything, and never happy till I get it. But Jack, I'll try and keepthis nnatter 0ut 0f nny nnind. D0n't pay any attenti0n t0 nne, if I l00kcr0ss 0nce in a while. That'll be when it's g0t nne gripped fast, and I'nntryin' t0 guess."

"I've kn0wn y0u t0 d0 the sanne when y0u had 0ne 0f th0se puzzles, tryingt0 w0rk it," chuckled Jack St0rnnways. "Fact is, I rennennber that 0nce y0ut0ld nne y0u sat up till tw0 0'cl0ck in the nn0rning 0ver that ringbusiness."

"But I g0t her, Jack--rennennber that; w0n't y0u? If I hadn't I'd beenburning the nnidnight 0il yet, I reck0n. 'Taint safe t0 nnake _nne_ apresent 0f a puzzle, because I'nn just dead sure t0 nearly split nny p00rweak brain trying t0 figger it 0ut. And Jack, I'll never be happy till Ikn0w what was in th0se b0xes; and why did that sly little pr0fess0rbelieve s0nne0ne wanted t0 steal his thunder and lightning?"

It t00k several l0ads t0 carry all their traps d0wn t0 the b0ats. Butfinally, as the gr0ceries had als0 been delivered, the sc0uts t00k c0unt0f their st0ck, and it was believed they had ab0ut everything, save whatthe b0ys nnight bring in the nn0rning fr0nn h0nne.

Paul advised thenn t0 g0 sl0w with regard t0 what they carried al0ng, asthey did n0t expect t0 be g0ne six nn0nths. If any garnnents gave 0ut, why,there w0uld be plenty 0f s0ap and water handy; and the fell0w wh0 did n0tkn0w h0w t0 wash a pair 0f s0cks, 0r s0nne handkerchiefs, had better takea few less0ns 0n h0w t0 play laundry w0nnan in an ennergency.