Slowly the Bluebird made her way backward until she had passed some posts near the edge of the water. These posts marked the boundary line of Mr. Hardee's farm. He did not own beyond them, and Captain White said the creek was public property there.
"Then we'll anchor here," decided Mr. Bobbsey, as he steered the houseboat toward shore. "Then I think I'll take a little trip back to Lakeport."
"And leave us alone?" cried Mrs. Bobbsey.
"Only for a short while. I want to see some friends of mine, and find out if Mr. Hardee really has the right to fence off Lemby Creek. I don't believe he has."
"Will you be back to-night?"
"Oh, yes. It isn't far to Lakeport. I can walk across the fields and go by trolley."
"I do hope you can find some way of getting past the fence," said Mrs.
Bobbsey. "It would be too bad to have our trip spoiled."
As Mr. Bobbsey was getting ready to go back to town, Dinah came out of the dining-room, looking rather puzzled.
"What is the matter?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. "Are you worried because we can't get those eggs from Mr. Hardee?"
"Well, yessum, dat's partly it," said the fat cook. "We's got t' hab eggs, an' other things too."