"Oh, I don't see any sense in shouting 'On board' of anything, when the whole trouble is that we're not on board." There was an echo from a building across the inlet--an insulting echo--which repeated the phrase, or rather the last three letters of the last word in an irritating fashion. "I feel like one," said Mr. Daddles, "but I don't like to be told so by a blooming old echo." Then we all stood and looked at one another, and wondered what we should do. "Friendless and alone, in a strange place," said Mr. Daddles. "Wet," said Ed Mason. "Hungry," I added. "Tired," said Jimmy. "With no money," remarked Mr. Daddles. "And nothing that we could do with it, if we had it," Jimmy Toppan gloomily reflected, shoving his hands deep into his trousers pockets. "And it's ten o'clock," I suggested. "Eleven," said Jimmy. "Twelve," thought Ed Mason. "Our case is desperate," said Mr. Daddles, "but we'll pull through, somehow. Perhaps the Captain went treasure-hunting himself, and has got lost in the fog. This has been a busy little day. Now, let's see. I think I remember a woman up the road here, who used to let rooms, or--" He broke off, and slapped the back which was nearest him,--it was mine. "Well, Great Scott! That echo was right!" "Why? What's the matter?" "The idea of our standing here for a second, when there is a house, and maybe things to eat, and beds to sleep in, anyhow,--all waiting for us!" "Where?" "My uncle's, of course!" "That's so!" "That's bully! Come on!" "And that's not the best of it, either," he said. "We can make an attack on that house like a real gang of burglars, and enter it in true burglar style. I've always wanted to have a chance to commit a burglary. There's nothing so exciting in the world as a burglar's life,--but what chance do you get to lead one? None at all. I was brought up to believe that it's all wrong,--many's the time my poor old grandmother told me: 'Never be a burglar.' And the effect of that teaching has not worn off. I still believe that it's wrong to be a burglar. Besides, they put you in jail for it. But this,--they can't object to our breaking into my own uncle's. Even my grandmother would approve, I'm sure. Of course, there won't be as much plunder as if Aunt Fanny were at home,--she's probably taken all the pie away with her. But there'll be something in the pantry, even if it's only pickles. What do you say,--shall we burglarize the house in style?" We all agreed in delight. Mr. Daddles's enthusiasm, and his curious ideas made us quite forget how tired and wet and hungry we had felt. The fog had settled down thick again, and the air and earth were damp with it. Great drops of moisture gathered on the wood-work of the wharf, and on the burdock leaves that grew between gaps in the planking. High overhead the sky must have been cloudless, for we could see the moon, now and then, like a dim dinner-plate, when there was a moment's rift in the fog.