"Why too late?"
"Because it is time we were starting for home," answered Jack.
"No trouble about that," replied the colonel. "I will walk back with you, and we can talk it over as we go along. Let's see, there are four of you here?"
"Yes, there are four of us," replied Pepper.
"Then you need two more to start with."
"Don't you lock your door when you go out?" was Jack's irrelevant query when they were ready to start.
"Not usually," replied the colonel. "There is no one to bother us up here in the woods. Do you think there is any need of it?" he asked quizzically.
"I should think there was," declared Pepper, "if Monkey Rae is about."
"I hadn't thought of that," admitted the colonel. "Giving me some of my own advice, aren't you? Always be prepared. I don't know but what I had better follow it."
Going back into the house he returned with a padlock with which he fastened the door.