“He will not leave us,” Ray replied indignantly. “He has no master and no place to go. I would like to know how he happened to be left on this island. Perhaps the boat of some white man, who owned him, was swamped near here, and Tawny swam to the island. The mainland is over three miles away and he never could have reached that through the ice-cold water of this lake, but he is not going to leave us!” [[74]]
CHAPTER IX
THE PROVING OF TAWNY
Ganawa decided that they might as well camp another night on Montreal Island, because the lake was still somewhat rough with big long swells beating against the island from the northwest. But on the following morning the great clear sea lay spread out calm in all its summer glory under a clear sky. White-throats and song-sparrows were singing in the spruces on which the sunlight sparkled and was reflected from a myriad of dewdrops, while the forest on the high mainland toward the east bounded the clear glittering lake like a dark wall of mystery, and aroused in both white lads a strong desire to climb these dark, forested slopes and learn what there might be in the great inland behind.
Ganawa started early and steered a [[75]]course which left a group of small rocky islands now known as Lizard Islands on their right. At a distance of some twelve miles from Montreal Island they came to another island about a mile and a half by two miles in size. This is now called Leach Island.
Ray expressed a wish to land and explore this island. “Are you going to look for another dog?” asked Bruce. “This one will give us trouble enough.”
The younger lad replied that he did not want any more dogs. “Do you think I am so stupid that I think there is a dog on every island?” he protested vigorously.
Ganawa laughed at the tilt of words between his sons and told them that this island was much like Montreal Island.
“We shall camp early this evening,” he said, “in a fine little harbor, and maybe my small son will catch some big fish for our meal.”