Rook!" said Harvey and Harry Girdwood.

* * * *

"What are you thinking about, Jack!" asked Harry, a day or two after.

"About old Mole."

"What about him?"

"Why, we haven't had a good lark with him since we left Marseilles."

"True."

"The old man will get rusty if we don't wake him up a little."

"Well, what is your idea?"

"Haven't any at the present; but something will turn up."

And something did turn up that very day.

Now it should be known that Mole, although he passed the greater time
with his old friends, had taken a small cottage close by so that he
might not entirely wear out their hospitality.

He generally slept there, but spent his days with the Harkaways.

Jack and Harry called upon the old man, and were admitted to his
presence, as he was putting the finishing touches to his toilet.

This consisted in anointing his bald head with some wonderful fluid,
warranted to produce a luxuriant growth of hair.

This gave the youths an idea, and having invited him to dinner, they
departed to carry out their joke.

All passed off pleasantly during the evening, but Jack and Harry were
absent about an hour. During that time they procured access to Mole's
premises, and having emptied his bottle of hair restorer, filled the
phial with liquid glue, after which they returned to the house.

"I must go early," said Mr. Mole, rising. "I have to attend court as a
juryman in the morning."

"Then you won't be able to dress your hair properly," said Jack.

"Oh, yes; I shall put on a good dose before I leave home, that will
last till evening," replied Mole.

He went home, but overslept himself, and had to dress in a hurry.

Mole had got to the door, when he remembered the hair restorer, and
going back, applied a plentiful dose with a sponge.

He reached the court very hot.

By that time the glue had set, and he found he could not remove his
hat.

"Isaac Mole!" shouted the official who was calling the jury.

"Here!" replied Mole, as he rushed to the box.

A murmur of astonishment was heard.

"Hats off in court!" shouted the usher.

"Really, I----"

"Everyone must be uncovered in court."

"But, I assure you, I can't----"

"Are you a Quaker?" demanded the judge.

"No; but I wish to explain that I kept my hat on because----"

"I can not listen to any excuse except the one I mentioned. Take off
your hat instantly."

"But I say I kept it on becau