“It may be,” said Laura, slowly. “We don’t know why the professor is here.”
“To commune with nature, I judge,” said Jess, drily.
“I can’t imagine Old Dimple communing with nature—not as a pastime,” giggled Bobby.
“He surely has some good reason for being here,” Laura murmured.
“We won’t accuse him of robbing the camp that time, I suppose?” asked Jess. “Or being up there last evening in the storm?” 153
“That trail came this way,” declared Bobby, suddenly forgetting to laugh.
“Barnacle’s nose might have deceived him,” said Laura.
“I haven’t faith in much of that dog but his nose,” declared Jess. “He showed particular intelligence in following the trail down here. Why should we suddenly suspect him of being foolish, just because we found what we didn’t expect.”
“Clear as mud!” exclaimed Bobby. “‘Didn’t expect’ is good, however. If you had asked me a minute before we saw him, who was the most unexpected person to find at the end of our walk, I should have said Old Dimple.”
“Why!” gasped Jess, “it couldn’t be Professor Dimp.”