Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/60



" in the world have you boys been? Why didn't you come back in time for supper? Don't you know it is against the rules to stay away like this?"

Thus it was that Job Haskers, the second assistant teacher of Oak Hall, greeted Dave and his chums as they came in, after leaving the big sleigh and settling with Homer Opper.

"We are sorry that we couldn't get here before, Mr. Haskers," answered Dave. "But something unusual happened and we were delayed."

"I'll not accept any excuses!" snapped the teacher, who had not forgotten how the boys had hurried away without listening to his call from the window. "I think I'll send you to bed supperless. It is no more than you deserve."

"Supperless!" gasped Buster, in dismay. "Oh, Mr. Haskers, we don't deserve such treatment, really we don't!"

"We have been robbed—that is what delayed