Jane introduced Sherm as soon as they came abreast. "Captain Clarke, this is Ernest's friend, the Sherman Dart I told you about." Captain Clarke scanned the boy's face curiously. His own went a little white after an instant's inspection. "You are right--he is marvellously like what my boy might be to-day. I beg your pardon for my rude scrutiny. Possibly Jane has told you of the resemblance. You will come up to the house and let Wing give you some lemonade. It is hot this afternoon." Chicken Little declined to take him from his course and told him their errand. He hesitated. "You say Mr. and Mrs. Harding and your brother and his wife are going. Would you think me very rude and unappreciative if I declined, dear? I am poor company for anyone these days and----" Chicken Little looked so disappointed that he paused ruefully. "Please, just this once, Katie and Gertie want to see you dreadfully and you could go with us. Pretty please." She thought she saw signs of weakening. Sherm also noticed the Captain's hesitation. "We've all sort of set our hearts on having you, Sir. Chicken Little and Ernest have talked so much about you we feel acquainted, and Dr. Morton says you're a dead shot. I've never hunted anything but squirrels myself." Captain Clarke stared at Sherm as if in a dream for a minute. The boy was embarrassed by his silence and smiled his little crooked smile to cover it. Their host passed his hand over his eyes and sighed. Then he smiled. "It's no disgrace to surrender to a superior force. I am yours to command. But I stipulate that you two stand by me." Chicken Little gave a bounce in her saddle to emphasize her delight and Calico took this as a hint to go on. "Whoa, Calico! Thank you--bushels! Oh, I just know we'll have the best time! Would you mind if we children all went with you because nobody's going to be willing to be left out?" "I can take five nicely and have plenty of room for guns and lunch baskets besides. By the way, please tell your mother that Wing Fan will never forgive me if he is not permitted to get up the lunch for all the young people at the very least." "Have you a gun with you?" he asked Sherm as they were going. "No, but Ernest said I might take his." "I have a new shotgun. I should be glad if you would share it with me." They found Alice and Dick, Marian, Katie, Gertie and Jilly, not to mention Huz and Buz, waiting for them on the Morton side of the ford. "What luck?" Sherm didn't give Jane a chance to reply. "Oh, Chicken Little just put on her company smile and the Captain held out his hands and said: 'Handcuffs, please.'" He was meeker than Buz. "Sherman Dart, you old--" Chicken Little flicked Caliph lightly by way of revenge, and Sherm had his hands full for several seconds, for Caliph resented the indignity.