he always was, in spite of his former
experience--and of course he gave full sway to his imagination, and
indulged in pleasing anticipations of the life of glorious ease upon
which he was soon to enter. There would be no Johnny Harding to bother
him (Tom spent a good deal of time in trying to decide upon some plan to
punish Johnny before he left the village); no stern, unreasonable father
to interfere with his grand ideas; no care or trouble of any description
to mar his happiness; but his days would be passed in one continual
round of enjoyment. Every one who came in contact with him noticed that
he was in wonderful spirits--not morose and sullen as he had lately
been, but gay and active, and, for a wonder, industrious. This was
enough to excite the suspicions of his father, who watched him more
closely than ever, but could discover nothing wrong.

Tom remained at the office until four o'clock, and then went home. He
kept the back streets, to avoid meeting any of his acquaintances, but,
to his intense disgust, he ran against two of the crew of the Storm
King, in front of his father's house. They were the ones who threatened
him with a bath in the harbor if he attempted to carry out any more of
his plans against the yacht, and whom Tom alarmed by declaring that he
had another idea already.

"O, now, I'd like to see you duck me in the harbor," drawled Tom. "If
you think you can scare me, you are very much mistaken. I'll astonish
you, one of these days."

"You had better be careful how you talk, captain," said one of the young
tars, placing his hand on the gate as if he had half a mind to follow
Tom into the yard; "we are in no humor to listen to any threats."

"Now, haven't I told you a dozen times that I want you to quit calling
me captain?" whined Tom. "I've stood your insults just as long as I am
going to. I've got a splendid idea."

Tom turned on his heel, and walked down the lawn toward the wharf where
the Mystery lay; and when he had hoisted the sails, he started for the
island, to keep his appointment with Sam Barton. On the way he overtook
and passed a yawl, in which were seated the four members of the Crusoe
band; and the significant manner in which they shook their heads at Tom,
satisfied him that the governor had talked the matter over with them,
and that they were ready to join the expedition.

He found Sam on the rock where he had met him the day before; and when
he had piloted the Mystery into the cov