“That’s fine, Jack!” said Randy, when his suitcase came up. “I suppose everything will be soaked, but I don’t know of much in there that the water will hurt.”
“You’ll certainly have to do over your neckties, and maybe your shirts,” said Andy, with a grin.
“Oh, well, a little thing like that doesn’t count,” answered his cousin.
Having recovered the things from the bottom of the lake, the four boys set out on a search for the missing rowboat.
“The wind was blowing toward the east shore,” said Jack. “Maybe we’ll find it along there somewhere under the overhanging bushes.”
They pulled around in one of the boats for the best part of half an hour, but without sighting the missing craft. By this time the sun was mounting in the sky and they were beginning to feel hungry.
“Guess we’d better get the other boat and go back to the bungalow and come out again after we’ve had something to eat,” suggested Spouter. “It may take a whole day or more to locate that missing boat.”
They were about to turn toward the other shore of Great Bear Lake when they saw a rowboat coming out of a cove just below them. The rowboat contained four young fellows, two of whom were rowing and the others taking it easy in the bow and stern.
“Must be some of the fellows from the Longley camp!” exclaimed Spouter.
“More than likely,” answered Jack. And then, as the distant boat swung further out of the cove, he added: “And look! They’re dragging an empty rowboat behind them!”