[CHAPTER XXIV—CLOSING IN]
“Perhaps these are the men!” exclaimed Ruth to the lawyer.
“What men?” he asked.
“Those tramps—the ones who robbed us in the rain storm that day. If they come here—”
“What’s the matter?” asked the man of the cabin—Aleck Martin he had said his name was. “What seems to be the trouble with the young lady?” And, as he spoke, gazing at Ruth, the barking of the dog and the shouting grew apace.
“She is excited, thinking the rascals about whom we have been inquiring might now make their appearance,” Mr. Howbridge answered.
“Mr. Martin laughed so heartily that his black beard waved up and down like a bush in the wind, and Dot and Tess watched it in fascination.
“Excuse me, friend,” the dweller in the cabin went on, “but I couldn’t help it. Those are my two boys coming back. They always cut up like that. Seems like the quietness of the lake and this island gets on their nerves sometimes, and they have to raise a ruction. No harm in it, not a bit. Jack, the dog, enjoys it as much as they do.”
This was evident a few moments later, for up the slope came two sturdy young men, one carrying a gun, and the dog was frisking about between the two, having the jolliest time imaginable.
“There are my boys!” said Mr. Martin, and he spoke with pride.