Side by side they walked towards the spot where their tent was pitched. No further sign of their visitor appeared and this in itself made the four boys somewhat uneasy.
“Where did he go, do you suppose?” whispered John.
“Are you sure you saw a man, Pop?” demanded Grant.
“Of course I did. Do you think I’m crazy?”
“Where is he then? No one else saw him.”
George made no reply to this remark and in complete silence they continued on their way. At length they came to the tent itself but no one was to be seen. They peered inside, but it was empty of any living person. Grant turned to George triumphantly.
“You’re seeing things to-day,” he laughed. He laid the heron on the ground in front of the tent and placed his gun inside.
“I saw a man,” insisted George.
“And you tried to make me see a live heron that was dead,” said Grant.
“It’s certainly strange,” muttered George. “I know I saw a man. I’d take my dying oath on it.”