“Well, you see,” Bob explained, “whoever shot that arrow might take it into his head to shoot at us and he evidently’s a pretty good shot even with a bow and arrow.” He was aware that the explanation was pretty weak but it was the best he could think of on the spur of the moment. Helen looked rather puzzled but offered no objection as they began to reel in their lines.
If she was surprised at the speed with which they sent the light canoe through the water on the way back she said nothing about it, except to caution them a couple of times to be careful or the friction of the water might set the craft on fire. As they rounded a point of land which stretched far out into the lake, and came in sight of the little wharf in front of the camp both boys breathed a silent sigh of relief as they saw the two Sleepers together with Jacques just putting out in the motor boat.
Helen shouted and waved her hand at them and Jacques shut off the engine which he had just started.
“You’re back earlier than we expected,” Mrs. Sleeper said as the canoe drew up alongside. “We were just going up to see how you were making out.”
“Oh, we made out all right,” Helen told her, holding up the salmon by its gills. “How do you like this fellow?”
“Mercy, is it a whale?” her mother asked.
“Not quite,” Helen laughed.
“Did you catch it?”
“No, but I caught this baby,” and she held up the trout for their inspection. “Jack got the big fellow.”
“I didn’t know they grew that large in the lakes of Maine,” Mr. Sleeper said as he reached over and picked up the salmon. “This fellow must weigh all of twenty pounds.”