“Oh, we got here all right,” says Catty, “and dink’s over on the beach yonder.” He pointed. “We pulled it up so it would be safe.”
“Much obliged,” says Mr. House. “Where’s Topper?”
“In town,” says Catty.
“Browning, too?”
“Yes.”
“Huh.... Well, glad you got aboard all right. Good-by.”
“Same to you,” says Catty, “and many of them.”
Mr. House grinned and Catty grinned and I grinned, and they rowed away.
About an hour afterward Mr. Browning came out, and he looked pretty serious. He told us Mr. Topper was very sick and the doctor said there would have to be an operation that very day.
“No sickness ever came at a worse time,” said Mr. Browning. “It will be terrible for Mr. Topper. He has made so many plans depending on the success of the business we came here to look after. Now it looks as if our expedition would be a failure. Poor old Topper.”