"Pshaw—can't I ever be of any use!"
"Good Lord," said Gay, "look!"
There came around the nearest bend a man rowing one guide boat and towing another, which was empty. Arthur called to him in a loud, hoarse voice:
"Where'd you find that boat?"
"Up Swamp Brook," came the answer.
Arthur and Gay went gray as ashes.
"Who's to tell Mary?" said Arthur presently.
Then Sam Langham spoke.
"If you don't mind," he said, "I think I will."
An hour later the entire male population of The Camp was dragging Swamp Brook for what they so dreaded to find.