“Well,” said the physician, “there is nothing to be gained by staying here. Let’s go to my home, have supper and spend the evening. I know my wife will be glad to have you, and I suspect that Stubby feels a little that way herself.”
“I hope so,” replied Mike feelingly; “I may as well confess that my main purpose in going thither is to meet Sunbeam, as the callers used to say regarding mesilf whin they purtended they wanted to see dad and mither.”
Paddling at a leisurely rate, they soon drew the two canoes up the bank and stepped out. Mike paused and looked back.
“Can there be any fear of thim spalpeens poking round here while we’re not in sight?”
“It seems unlikely; since they tried that sort of thing they have been scared so fearfully that I think they will avoid us.”
“Docther, what could it have been that made them jump out of their boat and swim and dive like two crazy persons?”
“I should give a good deal to be able to answer that question, but I have no more idea than you. Let us try to content ourselves with the belief that like the cause of Uncle Elk’s resentment toward me, it will be made clear sooner or later.”
Before leaving the landing, as it may be called, they scanned the surface of the lake. The doctor generally carried his binoculars and he traced the margin clear around from their right back again to their left. There stood the bungalow with the flag idly drooping from the staff and several of the Scouts were seen lounging at the front. In no other direction was a sign of life discerned.
“I cannot discover the other canoe,” remarked Dr. Spellman, passing the glass to Mike at his side. “If the boys had returned, the boat would be in sight by the bungalow; whoever used it, they are still absent.”
“They have landed and gone into the woods to look after birds or to trace out other kinds of trees. They will be back before the set of sun.”