For the most part they found the river swept clear of snow, although here and there were drifts more or less deep over which they had to plough their way as best they could. This, however, was nothing but fun for the lads, and nobody complained.
Arriving at Henryville, they found that the mail for Timminsport would go out in less than an hour, and also learned that the mail from that place came in twice daily, morning and evening.
"Let's have all our mail re-addressed from Timminsport to Henryville," suggested Fred; "then we can come down here on our skates any time we feel like it and get it." And this was done.
They found a fairly good general store at Henryville, and made a few purchases of such things as they thought they could use to advantage during their outing. They were about to start up the river again when Jack's attention was attracted to a large sleigh drawn by a pair of powerful horses. The sleigh was driven by a man who looked as if he might be a German, and on the back seat, wedged in by a number of packages, were two other German-looking individuals.
"One of those men on the back seat is that Herman Crouse, the fellow we rescued from the burning car," said Jack to the others.
"Yes, and that driver and the other man are two of the fellows we met on the road when we were trying to locate the Lodge," added Randy.
"It's queer that that Herman Crouse should be up here," said Fred.
"Oh, I don't know. He said he worked a small farm somewhere in this vicinity."
"I thought it was down near Enwood," remarked Spouter.
"One thing certain—I don't like the looks of those other Germans," came from Gif. "They look like mighty suspicious characters to me."