"We got there just in the nick of time!" panted Sam, for he was somewhat out of breath. "Fact is, I had to run after the wagon to stop it."
"And we got a dandy lot of stuff," continued Shadow. "Gus and Luke helped us to buy it."
"We are in for a spread to-night," explained Gus Plum. "But you fellows can eat all you wish right now."
The door was closed and locked, and one after another the bundles were opened. The boys who had done the purchasing had certainly "spread themselves," as Dave said. They had obtained some fresh rolls and cake, an apple and a pumpkin pie, some cheese, and some cold ham and tongue, a bottle of pickles, and five different kinds of crackers in boxes.
"This is certainly a spread and no mistake," said Dave, as he and Phil and Roger viewed the eatables with keen satisfaction.
"Chip Macklin has gone off to a farmer's house for two quarts of milk," said Shadow. "And I told him to bring some apples, too, if he could get them."
"We'll have more than if we had been downstairs to supper," said the shipowner's son.
"Whatever is left will do for our spread later," explained Sam.
"Whatever is left," repeated Shadow. "Say, that puts me in mind of a story—and I'm going
