As the swift little boat swept forward the tents were soon visible, standing as they did near the shore and yet close to the woods which stretched away in the distance. There were two of these tents, and the white canvas outlined against the green foliage presented a wonderfully attractive appearance, at least to the eager boys, who were all unmindful now of their boatman’s financial problems and intent only upon the vision of their abode for the coming few weeks.
Ethan explained to his companions that one of the tents was designed to be their sleeping quarters and the other was to provide a kitchen which could be used on stormy days. On other days the cooking was to be done in the open air, and the fireplace and the pile of logs which was to furnish fuel soon could be seen clearly as the party came nearer to the island.
There was a rude little dock near the camping place, and to this Ethan guided his boat and soon landed his passengers. As the boys leaped out, Bert called to his companions: “This is great, fellows! Let’s give the school cheer!”
Instantly their united voices rang out, and Ethan looked up in astonishment. “What d’ye do that for?” he inquired blankly.
“That’s our school yell, Ethan,” replied Jock. “Give it again, boys!”
As the sharp, clear cry rang out again they saw a young fellow of about their own age approaching from the tents, and his evident surprise was as marked as that of the boatman. Only a brief glance, however, was required to convince the boys that it was Ethan’s son before them. There was the same general outline of features as in the older man, and the same peculiar hitch as he walked.
“That’s yer school yell, is it?” said Ethan. “Do they make ye do it often?”
“Oh, whenever we feel like it,” laughed Jock.
“Well, your pa an’ I used to have a school yell when we went to the little red schoolhouse, an’ I want to tell ye that not one of ye can come up to him either. Many’s the time I’ve seen him toe a crack, an’ when the teacher brought his hickory ferule down ker-whack, yer pa could make a louder noise than any o’ you boys. He was a powerful one to yell, Jock Cope was!”