“I’ll remember,” meekly replied Dick, who almost trembled to recall how near he had come to violating the game laws; “a couple of friends and myself have a tent on the other side of the lake. If you will go there with us I can promise you a good breakfast and a smoke.”
Haley thanked them but declined the invitation, and bidding them good day strode off. His manner showed that he was still a little distrustful of the intentions of the young man, who, it need hardly be said, gave him and his brother officials no further cause to suspect him.
“The next thing to be done,” said Dick, “is to get back to camp for breakfast. On the way we’ll stop long enough to lower the lake six inches in slaking our thirst.”
“What about Bunk?” asked Harvey.
“On his account, I shall give him no attention till after I have had a full meal. If I should run across him before, nothing can prevent me from murdering him.”
“We have a fine mess of fish awaiting us at the canoe.”
“But nothing else; we need seasoning, coffee, biscuit and lots of other things that can’t be had short of camp. I’ll run you a race.”
“Not if I know myself.”
So it came about that Bohunkus Johnson was dismissed from their thoughts for the time, and all their energies were given to making the trip as quickly as possible. Dick plied the paddle with skill and vigor. They found their friends awaiting them and the meal which followed was all that two hungry youths could ask.
While it was under way, Hunter and Wadsworth having concluded theirs, the Hamiltons told their story. The morning was now well advanced and Professor Morgan and his monoplane might appear at any moment. The couple, who were making ready for a tramp in the woods to the eastward, volunteered to go with Dick and Harvey, but it was feared that their presence might prove an obstacle to success.