“Where is this narrow place you speak of; near the one where we were?” asked Jerry, much interested.
“No, off that way,” and Rose pointed to the south. “Our houseboat is there yet. We must hurry back or father will be alarmed.”
“You must have found another outlet between the two lakes,” was Jerry’s opinion. “That’s just what we want as we can’t use the one we came through, owing to the lowering of Butterfly Lake. Have you noticed that?”
“Yes,” answered Olivia. “Our boat was nearly ashore. But father says these lakes frequently get low in the summer time when there is not much rain.”
“We’ve had enough rain for the last week or so,” replied Ned. “However, no harm is done if we can get back to Lake Okeechobee the way you came into this lake. We’ll tow you back to the place.”
The girls thought this was a good plan. They inquired after the professor and Bob, and were sorry to learn of the latter’s illness.
“I’m sure father has some medicine that would make him better,” said Nellie. “He has a regular drug store aboard the Wanderer. Did the professor get his wonderful butterfly?”
“No,” replied Jerry and he related the scientist’s experience with the ugly negroes.
The Dartaway, towing the rowboat, was headed back toward where the girls said their houseboat lay. As they passed the camp Jerry called to the professor to let him know where they were going, and promising to ask Mr. Seabury for a list of the medicines he had so that the professor might select some for Bob.