They hastily packed what was left of the contents of the lunch baskets and left the island.
With the two boats as close together as it was possible to get them, allowing for the space that must be left for the swing of the oars, Sadie told of their dreadful experience in the swamp and Jo recounted to an interested audience her belief as to the identity of the man she saw in the launch and her reasons for wanting to lay hands upon him.
"But, Jo, are you sure it was Andrew Simmer?" asked Nan excitedly.
"Not as sure as I was at the time," Jo answered truthfully. "Still, I got a pretty good look at his face, and if one of those men in the boat wasn't Dad's missing clerk, then Andrew Simmer must have a double. Still, what's the use of talking," she added dolefully. "I've lost him now and I don't expect ever to see him again."
They rowed back to the Hall as quickly as they could, for it was growing cooler, and Jo, Sadie, and Nan were shivering in their wet clothes.
"I hope no one is about to see us land," Sadie said as they neared the dock.
"The only thing we need to make this day perfect is a meeting with Lottie and Kate just now," added Nan.
But in this they were fortunate. There were few girls on the campus when they landed at the dock and it was a comparatively simple matter to reach their room without attracting attention.
Jo was disconsolate.
"To think I came so near that Andrew Simmer," she mourned, "and then let him get away from me after all!"