“I find plenty,” was the Jap’s reply. “You wait.”
They heard him rummaging in Mr. Lawrence’s room and finally he emerged with all the necessary articles. Chot and Tom then took Truem into their room where, when he had stripped, they rubbed him with a rough towel until his skin fairly shone.
A little later, when the boys were again on the verandah, Truem told his story.
“I arrived at Clayton on the New York side, yesterday morning,” he said. “Of course, I had no idea where you fellows were, so one place was as good as another to make a start from—in fact, I’ve had better luck finding you than I thought I should. I took a little passenger launch from Clayton over to Wellesley Island. The launch only went as far as Westminster Park, however, so I bargained with a boatman for a skiff. He wouldn’t rent to a stranger, so I bought it outright.
“That was yesterday afternoon. I spent the night on a little island where a party was camping. They generously shared what they had with me and gave me a place to sleep. I told them I was hunting you fellows, and that you would probably be in one of the most secluded parts of the river, so they directed me this way. I rowed in and out around the islands all day until about an hour ago, when I caught sight of the roof of this lodge. Well, I was two miles away, and it was growing dusk. I wondered if I’d be able to keep a course for the place. Then your lights came on and I steered my course by that.
“As I passed that island to the north of you, I heard men talking in low tones, and thought once I’d stop and ask who lived over here. But I decided to keep on, for the men, whoever they were, had no lights out, and I didn’t like to stop without knowing something about whom I was going to meet. So I started around the east end of this island, judging from the lights where the front of the building was, and as I lay off the island out there wondering where I’d better land, I heard some sort of a boat coming toward me in the dark. It was a big rowboat. She had no lights out; neither had I. Well, she hit me, bowling me over in a hurry. There were three men in her, I believe. I heard a low laugh as she swept by and was lost in the darkness. Then, I shouted for help.”
“In what direction was the other boat going, Truem?” asked Chot.
“I should say that she was heading around the east point there toward the north island. The oars were muffled, and she came upon me before I knew it.”
“That sounds rather suspicious,” said Tom. “Muffled oars and no lights. That’s in strict disobedience to the navigation laws, I am sure. Looks like there’s something shady going on around here.”
“Sh!” cried Chot. He looked quickly around to see if the Jap was in earshot. But Hoki was in the kitchen preparing some lunch for Truem, and could not hear.