"That's all so," spoke up Fred, "but Sam has some reason for being worried. I don't know what it is, and I think he ought to tell us."
"Maybe he will when he comes back," suggested George.
"Back from where?" retorted John scornfully. "He's just started, and nobody knows where he is going or when he is coming back."
"He will be here within a few minutes," said Grant confidently.
True to Grant's suggestion, not many minutes had elapsed before Sam was seen approaching. He was rowing leisurely and apparently was neither alarmed nor excited.
As soon as he came within speaking distance, Fred called sharply, "What is it, Sam?"
"Did you see anything?" inquired Sam as he rested on his oars a few yards from the dock.
"Nothing, except you," answered Fred. "We saw you pulling as if your life depended upon it."
"It wasn't my life, exactly," said Sam slowly, "but there was a man here on the dock."
"A man?" exclaimed George. "Who was he? What was he doing here?"