“It’s a queer coincidence,” continued Mr. Lanfranc, “that we ran across Boolus, accompanied by one of his negroes, in another part of the swamp, no later than yesterday. He said that he was out hunting, but I didn’t see that he had any gun. But here come the other fellows,” he added, as he caught sight of a party of three coming into view, “and as it is pretty near noon, I guess we’ll have our lunch right now and hurry back home. I can imagine how impatient Mrs. Cartier will be to have you with her as soon as possible.”
The newcomers were quite as delighted as the first party had been, to learn that the missing ones were found and that their anxious search was ended. They chose a spot on higher ground in a clump of trees, and set to work on the abundant lunch with which they were provided. The boys, with their minds free for the first time in days, thought it was the most delicious repast they had ever tasted.
They had not quite finished when Bobby caught sight of two figures at the edge of a fringe of trees some distance away.
“Here come two other men,” he announced.
“Is that so?” said Mr. Lanfranc with some curiosity. “I wonder who they are. Hunters I suppose.”
“No,” cried Lee, who had been studying them closely. “It’s Jim Boolus and that darkey of his.”
“So it is,” confirmed Mr. Lanfranc, after another look. “Lie down flat, all of you. I’m curious to see what the old rascal is up to.”
They stretched themselves flat on the ground and looked through the bushes at the approaching couple.
All unconscious of the scrutiny, they came on, Boolus in the van, his eyes scanning the ground as they advanced.
Suddenly he caught sight of one of the boundary stones, which, having been largely uncovered during the investigation of the markings were now in plain sight. With an exclamation of satisfaction, he hurried toward it, and fell on his knees to look at it closely. Then he rose to his feet and rubbed his hands together in glee.