“Are they coming?” asked Ned.
“No,” replied Bart, pausing in his race, “they seemed to have stopped in that little clearing we just passed through.”
“The Chinese is trying to induce the white man to come back,” said Frank.
This was the case for, as the boys watched, they saw the pig-tailed Celestial grasp his companion by the arm, and, pointing toward the lake, fairly pull him back along the path they had come.
“They must be interested in some boat,” suggested Fenn. “Say, fellows,” he added hastily. “I’ll bet I know what it is.”
“What?” inquired Bart, as he stooped over to pick a lot of burdock burrs from his trousers.
“These men have something to do with the two who chased us back at the elevator fire. I’ll bet they’re part of the same gang, and they’re trying to work some trick on the Modoc! We ought to hurry back and tell Captain Wiggs!”
“Oh, you’re ’way off!” declared Frank. “I don’t believe these men even know those who chased us.”
“Then who are they?” demanded Fenn.
“I don’t know,” said Frank. “Evidently they are interested in some boat they expect from across the lake. That is very evident from the way they acted; looking through the telescope, and all that. Perhaps they have mistaken our vessel for the one they are looking for.”