"Two is company!" ejaculated Andy, shrugging his shoulders and looking back upon the empty trail.
"And three a crowd!" supplemented Margaret.
"And four a multitude!" completed Andy, a tone of satisfaction betraying him.
Margaret tipped her head a trifle haughtily and looked thoughtfully out over the lake.
"We have good company here, at any rate," ventured Andy.
Again Margaret gave him that searching glance. For a moment she studied him, then the glimmers of a whimsical mischief shone in her eyes and throwing back her head she laughed merrily.
"What transparent creatures you men are!" was her naïve remark. "Obviously you and Ned arranged this sudden and innocent happening."
"How do you know?" challenged Andy boldly.
"How very like a man!" she cried, laughing quietly. "There you go confessing it. How do I know? Simply because Mary and I did not arrange it. It just happened. And Mary! I wonder. Was Mary kidnapped or is she an accomplice deep-dyed in guilt? Never mind. There's a loon on the water and two more on the shore. We'll go ahead to the Big Stone and wait for them."
So came Andy's opportunity, effected by his masterly strategy and the conniving Ned.