"Assistance!" repeated the manager. "What's the trouble?"
"We have been burglarized, and we have hardly anything left to eat!" broke in Luke, and at this announcement all of those in the Appleby camp came down to the dock to learn the particulars of what had occurred.
"In one way you have come at just the right time to get those things," said the manager of the moving-picture company to the boys. "We are going to leave here to-morrow to go back to Boston, so we shall want but little of the food that is on hand. And you'll be welcome to use our tableware and kitchen utensils. They belong here in the cottage, so all you'll have to do when you get through with them will be to bring them back."
While rowing to the Appleby camp, Dave had been giving serious thought to his own affairs. He remembered what he had heard concerning Ward Porton and Della Ford, and resolved to question the young lady and the other members of the moving-picture company about the young man who claimed to be the real Dave Porter. Our hero's chance came when the other boys were busy placing some provisions and cooking utensils in the rowboat. He motioned Della Ford and her aunt to one side, and the three walked out of hearing of the others present.
"If you don't mind, I would like to ask you something about Mr. Ward Porton," said our hero, to the girl.
"O dear, I thought I was done with that young man!" cried Della, with a toss of her head.
"He bothered my niece so much while he was a member of the company she got quite sick of him," declared Mrs. Ford. "He was a very forward young man."
"I'd like very much to find out about his past history: where he came from, and all that," went on Dave. "It's something very important."
"I know more about Mr. Porton than he thinks I do," announced Della. "That's one reason why I dropped him."
"But Della, you don't want to get into any trouble," interposed the girl's aunt, quickly.