The boy took his departure, accompanied by the dog, and the others sat down to a quiet evening in the cabin. They had had several pleasant days and many thrilling adventures on the St. Lawrence river.
There remained now only about a hundred miles of travel, Lake Ontario being only that distance away. But included in that hundred miles were all the beautiful islands, great and small, which have made the St. Lawrence river famous.
The pleasantest part of their trip was yet to come.
While the boys lay in the cabin, with the lights all out as usual, a heavy step sounded on the deck, and there came a sharp rap at the cabin door. The boys sprang out of their bunks instantly.
“What’s coming off now?” whispered Jule. “Anyway, this fellow has more manners than our other night visitors.”
Clay stepped to the door, searchlight in hand, and turned a circle of flame on the face of the newcomer. Then he dropped the electric and sprang forward. The boys were getting ready with their automatics when they heard his voice speaking in great excitement.
“Captain Joe!” he cried. “Captain Joe! Where the dickens did you come from? What are you doing at Ogdensburg?”
“I might ask the same question of you,” replied the hearty old ex-captain. “To tell you the truth, lad,” he went on, “I’ve been so lonesome ever since you boys left the South Branch that I’ve done quite a lot of traveling, for an old man. Several times I’ve been almost up with you but you always got away.”
“You never came all the way up here to visit us?” asked Case.
“To be honest about it, boys,” the ex-captain replied, “I just did that very thing. I’ve got a friend who is captain of the Rutland boat which arrived this evening, and I came on with him. Mighty fine trip we had, too. And how are you all, and where is Alex and my namesake?”