As he did so he happened to glance out at the street, to see that two men were making their way up to the house. Each carried a small hand satchel. That they were strangers Joe guessed at once, although they might not be to his father and Mr. Holton.
Joe waited until the men were close and then turned to meet them.
“Naturalists by the names of Lewis and Holton,” one man said. “Can we find them here?”
“Yes,” Joe replied, wondering what was meant. “Come in the house and I’ll call them.”
The strangers did as directed, and Joe went around to find his father and Mr. Holton.
Bob took a chair on the porch.
Joe found the men cleaning their rifles. Neither could explain who the strangers were.
“Perhaps they’re from the museum,” said Bob’s father, as he and Mr. Lewis left for the living room of the Lewis home.
During the discussion Bob and Joe remained on the porch, not wishing to intrude on the naturalists’ private affairs. They were not there long, however, till Mr. Holton called them in with the others.