Tearfully he
told the story, how he and some other boys, finding the boat house
unlocked, for some unknown reason, had gone in, and smoked to their
heart's content.
They did not mean to cause the fire, and had no idea that they were to
blame. One of the boys was made ill by too much smoking, and they all
hurried away.
But they must have left a smouldering stump of cigarette in some corner,
or a carelessly thrown match, that started the blaze. Then, when the
fire bells sounded, and they learned what had happened, Danny and all
the boys promised each other that they would keep the secret.
"Well, Danny, I can't tell you how sorry I am," said Mr. Rugg, when the
confession was over. "Sorry not only that Mr. Bobbsey's boathouse was
burned, but because you have deceived me, and your good mother, and
smoked in secret. I feel very badly about it."
Danny did, too, for though he was not a very good boy, his heart was in
the right place, and with a little more care he might have been a
different character. There was, however, hope for him.
"You must be punished for this," went on Mr. Rugg, "and this punishment
will be that you are not to have the motor boat I promised you for next
Summer. Perhaps it will be a lesson to you.
Danny wept bitterly, for he had counted very much on having this boat.
But it was a good lesson to him. Mr. Rugg also told the fathers of the
other boys whom he caught with his son, and these boys were punished in
different ways.
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