“They’re going to stay, Frank!” said Lanky in a low tone, after listening to what those who had just come from the camp said to their comrades still clustered near the tree bearing the flaming placard. “Three days’ grace, Frank. Isn’t that just bully for us, though? Sure that telegram must get here before all that time slips past. Say, our folks might read us a lecture if they saw us here, blowing our horns about the grand athletic tournament; but, Frank, when I just remember what we’re doing it all for, I don’t feel that it’s wrong. I’d go still further to help----” but his chum held up a finger, and gave a significant warning hiss, to cut his impetuous exclamation short. CHAPTER XVII THE GYPSY QUEEN’S MOVE “Unless you want to queer the whole business, Lanky, you’ve got to hold yourself in check better,” Frank said, cautiously, making sure that none of the gypsy men was close enough to hear him whisper in this fashion. “That’s right,” muttered the other, in a penitent fashion. “I’m always forgettin’ and blurtin’ things out. And it’s sure lucky for me I’ve got you handy to put me wise to things. I’ll try and chuck it from now on, Frank, believe me, I will.” “Then laugh right now, and don’t look as sober as if you’d got word your great-grandfather’d died, and forgot you in his will,” Frank went on to say, jokingly. “Because I can see someone watching us from the big wagon of the queen, right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s spotted us as the two boys who were in the camp that other time, and means to keep tabs on us.” “Oh! I’ll be on my guard, I promise you, Frank,” Lanky went on to say, with his teeth tightly clenched. “It’s a shame to upset all our fine work by a mistake on my part. But do we turn away now; or hang around the camp a little, to see if we can’t get a peep at that girl?” “Might as well stay here a while,” was the reply his chum made. “It’d look sort of queer if we pushed along in too big a hurry. What we want to do is to act natural, and do what any fellow would be apt to, if he just happened along.” So they walked over to the camp. Most of the gypsies had returned by now. After being so familiar with the two boys, and receiving such important information from them, they seemed to look at Frank and Lanky in rather a friendly way. The boys might wander all about now, and see whatever they wanted, without being greeted by the usual black scowls. “Say, Frank,” remarked Lanky, presently, as they were watching some of the women hang a black kettle over a fire by means of a chain, that had a hook at one end, the other being secured to a stout iron bar above. “Well, what is it now?” asked his companion, without turning his head, as he found himself very much interested in the operation. “She’s beckonin’ to us!” Lanky continued, in a somewhat awed voice. “Who do you mean?” asked Frank, beginning to take notice. “The old lady, the queen bee of the hive, you know,” replied the other. At that Frank turned his head.