CHAPTER LII

ON THE TRAIL AGAIN

The most massive minds are apt to forget things at times. The most adroit plotters make their little mistakes. Psmith was no exception to the rule. He made the mistake of not telling Mike of the afternoon's happenings.

It was not altogether forgetfulness. Psmith was one of those people who like to carry through their operations entirely by themselves. Where there is only one in a secret the secret is more liable to remain unrevealed. There was nothing, he thought, to be gained from telling Mike. He forgot what the consequences might be if he did not.

So Psmith kept his own counsel, with the result that Mike went over to school on the Monday morning in pumps.

Edmund, summoned from the hinterland of the house to give his opinion why only one of Mike's boots was to be found, had no views on the subject. He seemed to look on it as one of those things which no fellow can understand.

"'Ere's one of 'em, Mr. Jackson," he said, as if he hoped that Mike might be satisfied with a compromise.

"One? What's the good of that, Edmund, you chump? I can't go over to school in one boot."

Edmund turned this over in his mind, and then said, "No, sir," as much as to say, "I may have lost a boot, but, thank goodness, I can still understand sound reasoning."

"Well, what am I to do? Where is the other boot?"

"Don't know, Mr. Jackson," replied Edmund to both questions. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. what mistake did Psmith make?
2. what did he gain from not telling mike?
3. and what was the result?
4. did edmund know where the other boot was?
Answer: 1. not telling Mike of the afternoon's happenings
2. nothing
3. Mike went over to school on the Monday morning in pumps
4. No

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE BAXTERS TALK IT OVER,

"Tom, we are in a fix."

"So it would seem, Sam. Who ever dreamed of running across the Baxters in this fashion?"

"We are in the hands of a trio of rascals now, for Crabtree is as bad as the others."

"Perhaps, but he hasn't the nerve that Arnold Baxter has. What shall we do?"

"Try to get free."

"I can't budge an inch. Dan Baxter took especial delight in tying me up."

"I can move one hand and if--It is free! Hurrah!"

"Can you get the other hand free?"

"I can try. The rope--that's free, too. Now for my legs."

Sam Rover worked rapidly, and was soon as free as ever. Then he ran over to where Tom was tied up and liberated his brother.

"Now, what shall we do?"

"I move we go after the people on that steam tug and get them to help us rescue Mrs. Stanhope."

"That's a good idea, and the quicker we go the better."

Sam remembered very well in what direction he had seen the tug, and now set a straight course across the island to the cove.

But the trail led over a hill and through a dense thicket, and long before the journey was half finished both lads were well-nigh exhausted.

"We ought to have followed the shore around--we would have got there quicker," panted Tom, as he fairly cut his way through the dense brush- wood.

"I hope there are no wild animals here." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What is the name of this chapter?
2. who got stuck?
3. Who laced him up?
4. Were they on mainland?
5. were they in danger from creatures?
6. Did they walk on the beach?
7. where did the path lead?
8. Which way was fastest?
9. What did they remove?
10. When were they tired?
11. What was he tied up with?
12. Does he become free?
13. Was anyone else bound?
Answer: 1. THE BAXTERS TALK IT OVER
2. Sam Rover
3. Dan Baxter
4. island
5. unknown
6. no
7. dense thicket
8. the shore
9. dense brush- wood.
10. half finished
11. rope
12. yes
13. Tom was

Chapter II

Mr. Tulliver, of Dorlcote Mill, Declares His Resolution about Tom

"What I want, you know," said Mr. Tulliver,--"what I want is to give Tom a good eddication; an eddication as'll be a bread to him. That was what I was thinking of when I gave notice for him to leave the academy at Lady-day. I mean to put him to a downright good school at Midsummer. The two years at th' academy 'ud ha' done well enough, if I'd meant to make a miller and farmer of him, for he's had a fine sight more schoolin' nor _I_ ever got. All the learnin' _my_ father ever paid for was a bit o' birch at one end and the alphabet at th' other. But I should like Tom to be a bit of a scholard, so as he might be up to the tricks o' these fellows as talk fine and write with a flourish. It 'ud be a help to me wi' these lawsuits, and arbitrations, and things. I wouldn't make a downright lawyer o' the lad,--I should be sorry for him to be a raskill,--but a sort o' engineer, or a surveyor, or an auctioneer and vallyer, like Riley, or one o' them smartish businesses as are all profits and no outlay, only for a big watch-chain and a high stool. They're pretty nigh all one, and they're not far off being even wi' the law, _I_ believe; for Riley looks Lawyer Wakem i' the face as hard as one cat looks another. _He's_ none frightened at him." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What does Mr Tulliver hope Tom's education will be to him?
2. Where was the school he had in mind for Tom?
3. Would 2 years be enough in his view?
4. What could Tom have been with 2 years?
5. But what did Tulliver want Tom to be a little of?
6. So did he himself have a lot of education?
7. How did he describe what his father provided him?
8. And what at the other end?
9. Did he want Tom to be an actual lawyer?
10. Well what was one occupation he had in mind for Tom?
11. And another?
12. And still another?
13. Was he thinking that Tom could help him?
14. With what?
15. Anything else?
16. What kind of business did he hope that Tom would get into?
17. Do they need a big investment?
18. Did he mention a Riley?
19. Riley was a what?
20. Is Riley scared of Wakem?
Answer:
1. A bread.
2. Midsummer.
3. No.
4. A miller and farmer.
5. A scholard.
6. No.
7. A bit o' birch at one end.
8. The alphabet.
9. No.
10. A sort o' engineer.
11. A surveyor.
12. An auctioneer.
13. Yes.
14. Lawsuits.
15. Arbitrations.
16. Smartish businesses as are all profits.
17. No.
18. Yes.
19. Lawyer.
20. No.