"No, someone else was ahead of me," answered Frank, as Fenn's question confirmed his belief that his companions did not know of his night trip. "I was just out for a little paddle on the creek."
"How does she ride?" asked Bart, looking the canoe over.
"Fine; like a cork."
"You look as though you were pretty tired," commented Ned, with a curious look at his chum.
"I didn't sleep much last night."
"And I suppose you thought getting up early and paddling would rest you," Ned went on, but Frank did not answer.
"Come on, Fenn, hurry up with breakfast!" cried Bart, and soon the aroma of coffee filled the air.
Frank went to the tent to make a hasty toilet, while Bart, who was going fishing that day, followed him. Ned remained near the canoe. A little bundle in it attracted his attention. He picked it up, and opened it. Inside were several sandwiches, and Ned knew they had come from the camp supply.
"Frank took them with him in the canoe," he half whispered. "He has been away all night, and he had them in case he couldn't get back. I wonder where he was? I'll say nothing about this now," and, as he heard Bart approaching, he tossed the little package of food into the bushes. Puzzling over what Frank's object could have been, Ned went up to the tent.
Breakfast over, the boys took turns trying the canoe. It was a stauncher craft than the three churns had anticipated, though Frank had good reason to know the value of the rude canoe.