Most of the stores were closed, and there was a general air of holiday festivity among the little groups that talked excitedly here and there. The city people were in festive array. Tennis-shirted and sneaker-shod young gentlemen lolled about.
“Cracky!” said Gordon, “the shoe business must be good here.”
“Yes,” Harry answered. “I don’t suppose there was ever a shoe box but was doomed to carry sandwiches sometime or other. There are a lot of folks here from out of town.”
Presently they were reading a big poster in one of the windows:
WATER EVENTS AT 2 P.M. SHARP ROWING SWIMMING SAILING
MUSIC BY PORT HENRY BAND FIREWORKS IN EVENING
BASEBALL! BASEBALL! PORT HENRY VS. PLATTSBURGH
_SPECIAL_ GOODWIN, THE DARING AVIATOR, WILL FLY IN HIS AIRSHIP TO VERMONT AND BACK, ALIGHTING ON THE GREEN
“Looks as if there were going to be some doings,” said Harry.
“Not much chance of getting hold of a canoe to-day, I’m afraid,” commented Gordon.
They sauntered up the main street, and could not fail to notice that several people turned and stared at them. Harry thought it was because of their rather battered and disheveled appearance. As they passed the post-office, a little crowd of city fellows called tauntingly after them.
“There’s a couple of them, now,” said one.
“Hurrah for the Boy Spouts!” another shouted. “Sh-h-h!” said another. “They’re on the trail of a deer—don’t disturb them!”
Gordon glanced back, laughing cheerfully at his own expense, and noticed that one of the fellows had a flag with the words WELDEN SCHOOL on it, and that several others wore pale blue sweaters bearing a W on the chest.
“Them chaps is goin’ to win the regetty,” volunteered a black-coated man near by, who looked pathetically uncomfortable in his gala attire. “They’re champion experts.”
Presently, as they passed a pleasant cottage, a woman with a battalion of small children turned in at the gate.
“Give me the key,” they heard her say to one of the boys.
“Well,” said the woman, in despair, “we’re locked out, then. I _told_ you to put the key in your pocket.”
“You told me I could leave off my jacket—it’s in my jacket pocket.”
“Could we do anything to help you?” said Harry, vaulting the low fence and standing, hat in hand, before her. Gordon followed and stood beside him.