As the boys were getting together the clothing and toilet articles they had been given, Patch remarked to Garry, “Maybe the captain doesn’t like us enough for adoption. He may not care for the idea of being saddled with us permanently.” “I hope it’s not that,” Garry answered, “but I still can’t think of any other reason, now that the stowaway business is straightened out.” Patch didn’t answer. He had no explanation either. 11. A FRIEND IS LOST That night, on their way to dinner in the galley, the boys were overtaken by the long-striding Mr. Klecker. “I heard you’re leaving us, gentlemen,” he said to them. “Yes, that’s right, Mr. Klecker,” Garry replied. “Too bad. I was hoping I would have the opportunity to talk to you about the old circus days. Yes, it’s too bad.” Gino, too, showed how much he liked the boys. He baked them special pies and told them that they were his going-away presents to them. After supper, Patch said to Garry, as they were leaving the galley, “Gee, they’re not making our leaving very easy, are they?” “No, Patch, they’re not making it very easy at all,” Garry agreed. “We’re not making what very easy?” asked a voice behind them. They turned and saw the smiling face of Ben. Garry explained to him what they were talking about. “Then I guess you don’t want me to say I’m sorry to see you go either, do you?” Ben said. “Of course we really _do_ care,” Garry admitted. “But it makes us sad when everybody tells us.” “Then, I won’t tell you good-by, fellows,” Ben said. “I’ll just say ‘so long’ for awhile. Before you know it, you’ll come back into space and find us still cruising through the deeps in the _Carefree_. Yes, we’ll all be here.” “It does sound better that way, Ben,” Garry replied. “But until then, we’ll still miss all of you terribly.” “We’ll miss you too,” Ben said quietly, “but we’ll never forget you.” The boys went to bed with a feeling of melancholy that night, for this was their last sleep aboard Captain Eaton’s wonderland space ship. The thought of leaving these good friends, possibly forever, brought a pang to Garry’s heart. But no matter how sorrowful he felt, he was determined to be brave about it. Garry fell asleep thinking of all the fun he and Patch had had in the brief happy hours of their stay aboard the _Carefree_. Since the time passes quickly during slumber, the boy expected he would be awake before he knew it on another quiet morning, and that very soon thereafter he would be bidding good-by to his friends as he and Patch made preparations for the voyage back to earth and the orphanage. But Garry woke far sooner than he expected. It was not morning, nor was it quiet; the air was charged with confusion and alarm.