He read the letter aloud, and in a moment his friends were as interested in the contents as he himself had been.
CHAPTER XVI.
AN ALARM IN THE CAMP.
The note extended a cordial invitation to the boys to dine at “The Rocks” on the following day, and Mr. Clarke offered to send his yacht to convey them to his island. The dinner was to be in the middle of the day, in accordance with the custom of the region, and as that fact left the afternoon practically free, all the party were eager to accept. Perhaps it was not merely the expected pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, or of enjoying a trip in his yacht, which was acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful and fleet on the entire river, which moved them; but if other inducements, not referred to in the note of invitation, did appear, no one mentioned them.
After supper, when Ethan prepared to depart from the camp, Tom said, “I think I’ll wait a little while, pa. I’ll come home in a couple of hours.”
“All right, son,” responded Ethan. “I think ye’d better take one o’ the canoes when ye start, and leave the skiff with the boys. It’ll be safer like, ye see, if they take it into their heads to go out on the river.”
Ben made a wry face at the implied slight on their ability to use the canoes, but no one spoke, and the boatman soon departed.
“I wanted you to hear me speak my piece again, if you would,” said Tom, when his father had gone. “I know I don’t do it very well, and as you have had so much better advantages than I have, I’d like to have you help me, if you will.”
Before any one could reply, Bert made a sudden dart from the camp-fire and was speedily followed by Jock. “What’s the matter with those boys?” inquired Tom, innocently, as he glanced up at the departing lads.