“Well,” Clay answered, cautiously, “the map doesn’t belong to us. It wasn’t intended for us. It was handed to us by a man who evidently believed that he was turning it over to Fontenelle.”
“Yes,” Case said, “it does look as if the map belongs to Fontenelle, but look here! He doesn’t believe in this search. It is my idea that he doesn’t even care whether he secures the lost property or not. He won’t consider the matter seriously if we give it to him. He’ll just laugh and poke it away among a lot of old papers and that will be the end of it.”
“You are undoubtedly right,” Clay answered.
“Now,” Case went on, “we’ve had enough trouble with these outlaws to arouse my fighting blood. Besides, I’d like to have a look at that lost channel. Lost channels appeal to me, you know! I’d give a lot to find it. Why not keep the map and go on with the search?”
“But the other fellows would be searching, too, and the whole event would deteriorate into a big summer outing,” Clay insisted.
“All right, then,” Case suggested. “Suppose we go on up the river to Quebec, and Montreal, and the Thousand Islands, and then come back after these fellows have gone home, and find that channel.”
“That listens pretty good to me,” Clay answered. “I am willing to go on at once if it is a sure thing that we come back, but I don’t want to sneak away from these fellows after they have started the fight.”
“That shows courage, all right enough,” Case added, “but I’d rather hunt for this lost channel with these toughs on the wharf at Quebec, and,” he added, more seriously, “that’s where I think they’ll be by the time we get back here. They won’t stay here long after Fontenelle goes away.”
“Very well,” Clay replied, “if Jule and Alex are willing, we’ll be on our way this afternoon.”
This understanding having been reached, the two boys went back to their guests, while Jule went ashore in the canoe.