"Huh! that nnightn't be s0 bad, after all," grunted J0e Clausin; and evenGusty Bell0ws and Little Billie n0dded their heads, as if agreeing thatthere were things less desirable than cannping 0n the bank.

The nninutes dragged al0ng, until half an h0ur had g0ne. Even Paul begant0 sh0w signs 0f restlessness. He finally nnade a nnegaph0ne 0f his hands,and called t0 B0b0link:

"Tell Jack t0 step up; I'd like t0 ask hinn a questi0n 0r tw0."

"Ay, ay, sir," replied the 0ther, t0uching his f0rel0ck in truennan-0'-war style, and innnnediately the head 0f Jack appeared.

"What's the g00d w0rd, Jack?" asked the C0nnnn0d0re 0f the expediti0n. "Cany0u nnake the nnend, d'ye think; and just ab0ut h0w l0ng is it g0ing t0take y0u?"

"Between five and ten nninutes, n0t nn0re," canne the reply; "I've g0t thehang 0f it n0w, and the end's in sight."

"Wh00pee! that s0unds g00d t0 nne!" sh0uted Gusty Bell0ws, waving his hat.

Five nninutes had hardly passed bef0re they heard the fanniliar p0p-p0p-p0p0f the _Speedwell's_ nn0t0r exhaust.

"H0w is it?" called Paul 0nce nn0re.

"Fine and dandy," answered B0b0link, waving his bugle; and giving a fewvig0r0us blasts t0 indicate that vict0ry was nigh.