“All aboard!” said Frank, and the band commenced playing “Home, Sweet Home.”

In due time the party were all transported to the shore, and everybody went home highly delighted with the day’s amusements.  The Zephyr was housed, and the crew dismissed, but not a word was said about the purse.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE LIGHTHOUSE.

During the month of May, the members of the two clubs continued to spend many of their leisure hours on the lake; but my young friends must not suppose that life was to them a continuous holiday; and, because these books are devoted chiefly to their doings on the water, that boating was the only, or the principal business that occupied them.  They had their school duties to perform, their errands to do, wood to split, yards to sweep; in short, they had to do just like other boys.  A portion of Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, and of their other holidays, was given to these aquatic sports; so that they were really on the lake but a small part of the time.  Probably, if they had spent all their leisure in the boats, the exercise would have lost its attractions, besides interfering very much with their home and school affairs.  Pleasures, to be enjoyed, should be partaken of in moderation.  Boys get sick of most sports in a short time, because they indulge in them too freely.

Nothing specially worthy of note occurred in either club till near the end of the month of May.  The intimacy between Charles Hardy and Tim Bunker was observed to increase, though no one had any suspicion of the secret which had cemented the bond of their union.

The lost purse was the property of Mr. Walker.  At a subsequent visit to Rippleton, he had mentioned his loss, but he had no idea where he had dropped it.  Tim congratulated his still unwilling confederate on the success of his villainy.  Mr. Walker did not even know whether he had lost his money in the town or not; so, of course, he had no suspicion of them.

“You are a first-rate fellow, Charley, but you are too chickenish by half,” said Tim Bunker.

“I don’t feel right about it, and I wish I had given up the purse when I found it.”

“Pooh!”

“I meant to do so.”

“I know you did.  You were just fool enough to do such a thing.  If it hadn’t been for me, you would have done it.”

“O, I wish I had!”

“Don’t be a fool, Charley.”

“I would give the world to feel as I felt before I did this thing.”

“Don’t think any more about it.”

“I can’t help thinking.  It worries me nights.”

“Go to sleep then.”

“I can’t.  What would Frank say if he knew it?”

“Humph!  Frank again!”

“They would turn me out of the club.”

“You are no worse than any of the rest of them.”

“They wouldn’t steal,” replied Charles, warmly.