"
His father's eyes lighted approvingly as they surveyed his truly
heroic frame.
"Yes, I guess you can," he said. "And you carry a cool head, too. At
any rate, I've given my approval."
He smiled whimsically, then looked from one to another of the three
eager young fellows.
"My daughter Delia was right," he said. "When I left home she said I
was wrong to think of you any more as youngsters, and that the first
thing I knew you would be making use of your wit and ingenuity to take
care of me. And now her words in a measure are coming true."
All four were grouped around the dining room table. For several hours
plans for the rescue of Mr. Hampton had been discussed and rejected.
Out of it had grown a plan which called for a daring invasion of the
enemy's territory by the boys.
Mr. Temple had impressed upon them the necessity for preventing the
United States government from being involved in the situation. He had
explained a number of angles not made clear before. Among other
considerations, he said, was the fact that practically all the Central
and South American republics were jealous of their big Yankee
neighbor.
"If our government were to make a hostile move toward Mexico," he
declared, "the other Latin republics would misconstrue our motives.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106