All crowded around the Instructor in Woodcraft, shaking hands, thanking him and urging him so warmly to accept the invitation that he could not refuse. The last one with whom he clasped hands was Jack Crandall, who straightened up in his easy chair and declared he was receiving more benefit than a dozen doctors could impart.
Mike Murphy had risen to his feet at the close of the old man’s talk, but kept his place by the door until Uncle Elk came opposite. A nod of the hermit’s head told Mike that he wished to speak with him alone. The signal was observed by several who stayed behind as the two passed out and down the porch to the beach. Uncle Elk did not speak until they were beyond the hearing of the others. Then he halted and looked into the face of the youth.
“Well, Michael, what word do you bring me?”
“I told the docther what ye said and he is agreeable. He will not come to the bungalow in the evening unless we signal for him, which the same doesn’t seem to be likely.”
“That is what I wanted to know, and I thank you for your service. Well, my son, did you learn anything to-night?”
The youth was not sure of the scope of the question.
“If ye ask whither I larned anything from your words to the byes, I may say I picked up a good deal more than I iver knowed, which wasn’t much.”
“I refer to what you did after leaving the home of Dr. Spellman and paddling to the upper side of the lake.”
“Did ye obsarve me?” asked the astonished Mike.
“How could I help it, when I passed within a few feet of you in my own boat?”