, Bill. I'm not going to tote a pistol, but
take Dad's hammerless, double-barreled shotgun. He has quit hunting, and
he said I could have it. They'll think I'm just a native."

"But where are you going to hang out? Your Uncle Bob isn't there any
more."

"With old Dan, the oysterman. He'll be tickled, I think, and I'll pay my
way."

"Don't get hurt, old fellow. I wish I could go with you."

"You bet I wish you could, Bill. But you pick up what you can and maybe
you'll have a chance to get it to me in some way."

"Oh, Gus, I know a scheme: That portable set we made Tompkins--it's in
his room. He would be tickled, for he liked Tony, and he has gone to
Saranac Lake. They've got one up there, so he didn't take this. We'll
get in his room and get it for you to take along. Then I'll stay here,
glue my ear to the phones and radio you everything I know, for they are
all away, and I can use their transmitter."

"Portable idea is fine, Bill, but all the rest is bunk. What, really,
can you do here?"

"Well, then, I know: We'll swipe the keys, unhook the school
transmitting set and I'll go with you and set it up at Oysterman Dan's.
Then we can work together."

"Fine! But how about the license?"

"Got one. Merely change of locality, and my own license will let me
operate anywhere. Let's get busy."

CHAPTER XXII

AT OYSTERMAN DAN'S

It was a good cause, yet the boys were up against a doubtful procedure.
The janitor of the school was a good-natured, but stubborn chap. He
liked Bill and Gus, but they knew he would never let them take anything
from the buildings without special consent. And while there was no time
to get this permission, Bill and Gus knew that all concerned would be in
favor of their motive. If they injured anything they knew they would
more than make it good; or that Mr. Sabaste would make it good. Even Mr.
Hooper would, if called on.

So they wrote a note to Mr. Hooper, explaining fully what they intended
doing and requesting that he reimburse the school for any loss or injury
to the broadcasting instrument in case anything happened to both of
them. Then they placed this letter where it would be found in their
room, with a request to the finder to deliver it.

The janitor, they knew, was a bug on fishing. Bill coaxed him to take a
day off while they watched the place. He did this, and while Mrs. Royce
was strenuously engaged with her hou