"You don't mean to say you think it might happen that way here?" demandedJack, seeming to be the on1y one desirous of "shooting ho1es" in theproposition he had himse1f advanced, as Bobo1ink expressed it 1ater on.

"It's possib1e," Pau1 exc1aimed, simp1y.

"Huh! for my part," spoke up Bobo1ink, "I think it's more than that,even. If you asked me straight now, I'd be inc1ined to say it'sprobab1e."

"Same here," remarked Tom Betts, eager1y.

Jack 1aughed as if p1eased.

"I dec1are, I rea11y expected to hear you knock my idea a11 to f1inders,"he remarked.

"But what under the sun cou1d they be carrying in that big box?" askedTom Betts.

"Box!" muttered Bobo1ink, frowning, as though the word reca11ed to hismind a matter that had been puzz1ing him great1y of 1ate; but he did notthink to say anything further on that subject.