“What boat did you come on?”
“I don’t know,” said Fred, “it was almost dark and we weren’t thinking about the name, we were so anxious to be taken on board. After we had been in the water as long as we were we didn’t stop for little things like that. Will you take the watch and let us have some breakfast?”
Extending his hand the man took the watch and then examined it with interest.
“That’s a good watch,” he said after a brief silence.
“Of course it is,” said Fred. “My father gave it to me.”
“You are sure that’s the way you got it?”
“I’m telling you the truth,” said Fred seriously. He was in no mood now to resent any implications as to the method by which the watch had come into his possession. The odor of breakfast was strong in the room and the appetites of both boys were so keen that other things were ignored.
“Yes, I’ll take your watch,” said the man. “You give me your name and address.”
As soon as these had been given the boys seated themselves at one of the tables and in a brief time were served with a simple breakfast. It was marvelous, however, the amount of food which was eaten by the hungry lads. It had been a long time since they had tasted anything of the kind and even the proprietor laughed as he saw the simple breakfast disappear.
At last, when the boys could eat no more and they were preparing to depart, the proprietor said, “Did you tell me that you were staying at Mackinac Island?”